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From the Vault...
07/02/2000
#688 |
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info
Gary Moore
"Wild Frontier"
© 10/Virgin Records
Year of Release: 1987
Rating:
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track listing
Over The Hills
And Far Away
Wild Frontier
Take A Little Time
The Loner
Wild Frontier
(12" Version)
Friday On My Mind
Strangers In
The Darkness
Thunder Rising
Johnny Boy
Over The Hills
And Far Away
(12" Version)
Crying In The Shadows
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Gary Moore
"Wild Frontier"
Gary Moore, for those of you who may not recognize the name, was a
replacement guitarist for the group Thin Lizzy. He pursued a very successful
solo career as a rock/blues guitarist. His fourth solo album from 1987,
Wild Frontier, defines Moore and his band as a rock act, that would
be compared to the common hard rock sound of the 1980s.
"Over The Hills And Far Away" and the title track both have the
common rock sound of the 1980s. If you're a fan of heavy metal hair bands of
the 1980s, these songs could easily fit that criteria, especially the title
track. In listening to "Wild Frontier" (title track), you could easily
hear the Thin Lizzy resemblance in the vocals, where you could close your eyes
and visualize TL's lead singer Phil Lynott singing this great rock song.
And speaking of 1980s hair bands, "Take A Little Time" could be a
song that would easily be compared to Bon Jovi. "The Loner" is a
guitar-driven, yet slower instrumental song, that easily fits the sound of
Joe Satriani.
Surpringly, there is a 12" version of the title track, "Wild Frontier."
It's 2 minutes longer than the first "Wild Frontier" track, yet the
sound is just the same.
Ah, the Oldies... Remember "Friday On My Mind" by The Easybeats?
Gary Moore does a much better version, 1980s rock style. "Strangers In
The Darkness" and "Thunder Rising" are medium-tempo rock songs, a
bit slower than the previous rockers heard on this album, and they could also
pass as a songs recorded by the likes of Bon Jovi.
And talk about real slow: consider "Johnny Boy" a soft-rock ballad.
As it easily relaxes the mood from the previous hard rock-to-medium tempo'd
rock songs. Very impressive.
Like the title track, there is a 12" version of "Over The Hills And
Far Away." Again, it's 2 minutes more than the previous version, yet on
this one, at the beginning of the 12" version, there is some "experimentation" :
where you hear some rock guitar, and it stops, then another blast of rock guitar.
This repeats a few times, then the regular song as heard in the original version
is heard. And this version also has some more hard-driving guitar solos than
the previous version. Again, it's experimental. The album's closing song,
"Crying In The Shadows" is another soft-rock ballad, a great way to
end out the album. This one could easily fit the Monster Ballads
format.
If you're a fan of hard rock, 1980s hair-band rock, or even heavy metal,
Gary Moore's Wild Frontier is an excellent album. Mostly hard rock,
there are some medium-tempo rock songs, likewise a few soft-rock tunes.
Gary Moore is best known for the blues, as in such albums as Still Got The
Blues and After Hours. He also pursued the blues by teaming up
with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, forming the group BBM (Bruce Baker Moore).
(Was BBM supposed to be the Cream reunion album with Eric Clapton?)
Wild Frontier is definitely rock, not blues. So for the die hard
rock fan, (especially hard rock) this one's for you. It's an excellent album,
and it will make the hard rock fan want to hear more of Gary Moore's music.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
10/Virgin Records
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