Reviews roundup – Status Quo vs. Missing Persons vs. Whiskey Six

Reviews roundup – Status Quo vs. Missing Persons vs. Whiskey Six

STATUS QUO
Piledriver: Deluxe Edition
Mercury 2014

So, here it is, the best ever Status Quo album, all buffed up into a deluxe edition, ahead of what they claim will be the final Frantic Four shows. We’ll see. If you have the slightest interest in the Status Quo, then you’ll already have a copy (or two) of “Piledriver”.

This version sees the album expanded into a 2CD set, with a second CD of bonus live performances and radio sessions. There are liner notes by Dave Ling and a photos provided by former tour manager, Bob Young. The live tracks are taken from the band’s Peel Sessions recorded on 20 November 1972 and 09 January 1973 respectively, plus a BBC “In Concert” performance recorded at the Paris Theatre in London on 01 March 1973, as well as the Reading Festival 1973 rendition of ‘Don’t Waste My Time’.

Fans should note, however, that the “In Concert” was included in a 2010 box set, along with three of the tracks from the November Peel session. However, there are additional tracks from that session and also two from January 1973 which are previously unreleased. Sighs. Still, it’s a fabulous release, and should keep me happy until the 4 CD deluxe edition of the “Status Quo Live” album comes out later this year, which will include the “Tokyo Quo” album and the previously unreleased ‘live’ in Sydney Australia on 20th November 1974 recording. [Drools].

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MISSING PERSONS
Missing In Action
Cleopatra

Or Missing Persons Feat. Dale Bozzio as I believe we are legally obliged to call them.

Minor players back in the early days of MTV, back in the early days of MTV, with a few low charting singles to their name, they’re probably best known for being the home of drummer extraordinaire Terry Bozzio and latter day Duran Duran guitarist Warren Cuccurullo. There were sporadic attempts at reunions, and Dale Bozzio even had a Prince produced solo album, but here “they” are, 28 years on from their last album.

“They” are actually Dale Bozzio and one time Yes guitarist Billy Sherwood, the latter writing, producing and playing everything on the album, with Ms Bozzio doing the singing. However, it is very eighties synth pop, which is what Missing Persons were doing the first time around. But, it sounds a whole lot better than it did back in the day, with some excellent alt-pop tunes like ‘Covert Operation’ and ‘Siren Song’.

Chuck in a couple of bonus acoustic tracks including a visit back to their 1983 hit ‘Walking In L.A.’, and this was an enjoyable surprise.

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WHISKEY SIX
American Grit
Whiskey Six

If you were to see a picture of Whiskey Six (and I’m very kindly sparing you that). I reckon you would know exactly what kind of music they were purveying on looks alone. Because they are very much a biker bar band. Which means its ZZ Top and Motorhead spitroasting Jackyl. I’ll let you clean up your vomit after that last mental image.

They’ve bunged out a few EPs since 2009, but this is their debut full length album, and sees them mixing up classic rock, southern rock, blues rock and even some Crowbar / CoC styled modern metal. Which is a good thing in my world. They can tough it up as they do on ‘Watch It All Burn’ and get a bit loose on ‘Double Barrel Man’. I’ll let you decide what ‘Long Necks (And Open Legs)’ is all about, but they get a bit mellow(ish) on ‘Home’ and still come out on top.

Folks who think that Zakk Wylde peaked on “Pride and Glory” will really lap this up..

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