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Roth Brock Project: Roth Brock Project

Who are the weirdly named Roth Brock Project? They are (unsurprisingly)John Roth (Winger, Starship, Giant) and Terry Brock (Strangeways, Giant, Leroux) who first met in 2009 while working on Giant's Promise Land record. They soon developed a unique song writing chemistry and musical bond which all these years later has led to their debut release for Frontiers Music and it's one that I have been looking forward to since the project was announced mainly because of Terry Brock's days in Strangeways – wasn't Native Sons a brilliant album?

In many ways so is Roth Brock Project – it's ridiculously chock-a-block full of brilliant melodies almost all the way through. The whole album is a love letter to the 1980s with a production sheen firmly rooted in the here and now. Both of the main protagonists are in fine form throughout and I am highly confident that the album will find favour with fans of both Roth and indeed Brock as well as the dwindling army of melodic rock fans. The only negative I can find is that some of the lyrics are unintentionally funny/bad. Here's an example from "What's It To Ya" (not a .38 Special cover.)


"The band was up on the stage and you were losin' your mind
In your black leather heels you were lookin' fine
In your tight little skirt and your bloodshot eyes
Lookin' high as a kite like 1985"

Even Paul Stanley would balk at those and my dislike of this song means that half a star comes off the overall grade despite the many good things about the record.


Track Listing:

  1. Young Gun
  2. What's It To Ya
  3. Young Again
  4. If That's What It Takes
  5. I Don't Know Why
  6. Distant Voices
  7. We Are; Fighter
  8. My City
  9. Never Givin' Up
  10. Reason To Believe

Added: January 2nd 2017
Reviewer: Simon Bray
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1928
Language: english

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Roth Brock Project: Roth Brock Project
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2017-01-01 19:53:30
My Score:

I've found myself less and less excited by the 'projects' Frontiers Records have long made their name with, a revolving cast of characters somehow coming up with remarkably similar fare (possibly through the label's long reliance on utilising one or two producers for so many of their releases?). However with a love of all things Winger, fondness for Strangeways and admiration of Giant, the prospect of guitarist John Roth (Winger, Starship, Giant) and singer Terry Brock (Strangeways, Leroux, Giant) coming together to form the Roth Brock Project, was too good to pass up. Thankfully the album – I'm pleased to say, produced by Roth – shows much more inspiration than the band name, or self titled album's monicker.

Few of these all-star hook ups live up to the individual's talents, but nothing could be further from the truth here, Brock's voice every bit as rich, full and seductive as ever, while Roth seems to have been let off the leash, tearing up some gritty riffs, scintillating solos and generally having a blast. And so will you as "Young Again" lifts the spirits, "I Don't Know Why" offers up the sort of slower vibe that used to all but guarantee chart success back in the 80s and "We Are" marries a Dokken like riff to a Def Leppard like melody. Drummer Scott Tramell puts in an excellent performance throughout, rock solid, at times flash but never overbearing.

Impressively, the standard never really dips throughout, "Fighter" pulsating with energy as it celebrates the spirit of women, Brock providing a real shot of passion and power to his delivery. "My City" adds an easy-going, but still forceful Giant meets Tyketto vibe, upbeat without being throwaway, before "Never Givin' Up" dares to veer into power ballad territory. However with hard rockers like "Reason To Believe" and "Young Gun" (one of a couple of songs that reminds in terms of sound of David Lee Roth's Skyscraper album – definitely a good thing in my eyes) simply putting their foot to the floor and having great fun, RBP have all the bases covered.

It may not happen quite as often as it should, but when the talent that comes into these albums is really allowed to shine, the results can hit the heights. Roth Brock Project is one such endeavour, and as such is thoroughly worth investigating. There may still be a whiff of the 'project' about it, but more releases like this from Frontiers would be most welcome.



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