Y&T – Mean Streak [Rock Candy remastered +1] (2018)

Rock Candy Records has just ‘Remastered & Reloaded’ the early ’80s Y&T albums, for many, the band’s finest moment. “Mean Streak” (in this reissue including a bonus track) was a gateway album for Y&T, and the one which made the group finally get noticed by American audiences. There’s no mistaking that the opening riff to title “Mean Streak” represent the melodic (hard) rock music scene of the early Eighties, together with Night Ranger and alike.

The band and the recording label secured respected studio wizard Chris Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne) to produce “Mean Streak”, another molten slice of face melting melodious rock in the finest Y&T tradition.
Recorded in their native San Francisco, the record continued to enhance the band’s reputation as one of the most potent outfits of the era, delivering great songs and incredible performances.

Produced & mixed with pin-point accuracy, the album resonates with explosive authority, harnessing razor sharp guitar riffs and impressive songs.
Meniketti delivers his trademark melodic yet husky vocals reminiscent of Sammy Hagar & Ronnie Montrose. It should come as no surprise that Dave has collaborated with Ronnie many times.

Tracks such as ‘Midnight In Tokyo’, ‘Hang ‘Em High’, ‘Down And Dirty’ and the title track itself are all Y&T classics, allowing Meniketti to ride the tiger with all his might.
There’s a killer riff on ‘Straight Thru the Heart’, while more of that great Y&T vocal harmony is present on my favorite ‘Lonely Side Of Town’, while the group chronicles their first-ever trip to Japan on “Midnight in Tokyo”.

“Hang `Em High” has Y&T crossing the line from AOR to hard rock as they pump up the distortion, quicken up the riffs, and lay down some pounding drum beats. “Sentimental Fool” has a great melodic rock radio appeal to it, as the main arrangement is instant and catchy.

There’s a previous remaster of Y&T’s “Mean Streak”, very good in my opinion.
This Rock Candy sonic treatment is equally fine, with a little more emphasis in the mid-frequencies and ‘air’ between instruments, and on this particular one, brighter lead vocals.
“Mean Streak” was ‘the album’ that put Y&T on the US rock map, and if you love early album from Night Ranger, Foreigner and even Quiet Riot, this is a must have in your collection.
Highly Recommended

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

01 – Mean Streak
02 – Straight Thru The Heart
03 – Lonely Side Of Town
04 – Midnight In Tokyo
05 – Breaking Away
06 – Hang ‘Em High
07 – Take You To The Limit
08 – Sentimental Fool
09 – Down And Dirty
BONUS TRACK:
10 – I’m Not Sorry

Dave Meniketti – vocals, guitar
Joey Alves – guitar, vocals
Phil Kennemore – bass, vocals
Leonard Haze – drums, vocals

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Mean-Streak-Y-T/dp/B07BFB2SNZ
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