BABYJANE – Make It Sick (2012)
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There’s an obvious ‘true-Rock’ resurgence all over the world, and Australia is one of the places popping up really interesting acts lately.
Over a year and a half ago BABYJANE debuted with an interesting platter filled with guitar driven groovin’ rockers.
“Make It Sick” is the just released sophomore CD from Perth Western band recorded in the US with legendary producer Michael Wagener.
The opening title track is arguably the best song BabyJane have ever recorded. “Make It Sick” is the type of over-the-top ball-busting rocker that the good Sunset Strip bands back in the ’80s used to write, and recruiting former Motley Crue frontman John Corabi to record the lead vocals is simply icing on the cake.
Following up with the sure to be a live favorite “She’s Just A Liar” you take note of the dynamic, raw power lead vocals of singer Andy Smith, a guy born to this kind of hard rock.
The wonderfully titled “New York Queen/London Whore” is a pumping sleazy track that L.A. Guns would willingly exchange a couple of their finest groupies in order to have in their repertoire — and they might be willing to make a deal with the devil to get a hold of the furious “Fakin’ It”, another of the album’s standouts.
The sonic attack of “Nu Sonic Plague” – indeed plagued by Shotgun Messiah-like fantastic gang backing vocals all over – shows the band’s versatility, as the song has a steady pace but it’s extremely catchy.
One of my favorites arrives with the melodic semi-ballad “Bad Woman”, a stupendous song with clean yet punctuating guitars recalling Baton Rouge and ’87 Def Leppard. Here you can appreciate Andy’s vocal maturity and presence.
As if the first half of the album doesn’t have your head spinning then the 2nd half will blow your mind.
“Ruby Roulette” perfectly captures the sound of the ’80s with its furious guitar leads and gang chorus. I love the line ‘I wish I could forget what I remember and remember what I forgot’.
Then we have the polished “Bittersweet” where BabyJane shows their more stylized side in this melodic tune, but soon is followed by the furious 2-min rollercoaster of the aforementioned “Fakin’ It”.
Next, bass player Paul Judge takes control of the vocals in “Underground Detention”, another surprise that I was not expecting. Not only for the change of roles, but also musically, as this track has a much more modern feel than the rest of the CD.
Rounding out the album with the fun rocker “Somebody Up There Hates Me”, there’s the 49sec dark mellow story called “Bleeding Eyes” filled with acoustics, and then the album finishes abruptly and you sit up and go: ‘Hang on! I want more!’.
Well, there’s more if you buy Make It Sick’s digital version as it’s included as bonus the title track this time with the band’s singer Andy Smith on leads. His performance is on par or even better than Corabi’s, proving Smith’s progress as performer.
With “Make It Sick” BabyJane have done a big step to become one the best Australian hard rock bands in present time.
While the comparisons with the more commercial and polished side of L.A. Guns and alikes are unavoidable, to say these Aussies are strictly copycats would be an injustice.
They have the energy and drive of hard rock’s forefathers but also add enough modern conveniences to not be considered carbon copies. Prove of this is the style exploration on the above mentioned tracks.
“Make It Sick” rocks really good, and one of the factors to this success is the solid production by maestro Michael Wagener, who knows ‘something’ about this game.
Recommended.
01. Make It Sick
02. She’s Just A Liar
03. New York Queen/London Whore
04. Nu-Sonic Plague
05. Bad Woman
06. Ruby Roulette
07. Bittersweet
08. Fakin’ It
09. Underground Detention
10. Somebody Up There Hates Me
11. Bleeding Eyes
12. Make It Sick (Bonus Track) [feat. Andy Smith]
Andy Smith – Vocals, Guitar
John Gerasolo – Lead Guitars
Paul Judge – Bass, Vocals
Nik Kats – Drums
John Corabi – guest Vocals on 1
Produced, mixed and mastered by Michael Wagener
BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Make-It-Sick-Explicit/dp/B00AC4K0LS
