RANSOM (Female Fronted) – Ransom (20th Anniversary Remastered Edition + 4 Bonus)

The two albums from US Female Fronted melodic hard rock outfit RANSOM were requested here and it’s a pleasure to fulfill. Here’s the Anniversary Remastered Edition of their self-titled debut “Ransom” from 1991, a luxury slice of bright melodic stuff with top class vocals and large hooks, is a simile style of SARAYA.
This is a worthwhile purchase as aside the great remaster we have as bonus the band’s 1988 3-track tape ‘Once And For All’ which earned them a recording contract. And I can hear why. Then the remaining bonus #15, is an unlisted hidden track, a recording from am early time when RAMSOM were known as FIRST AID.
While the overall sound of the album is aimed at the more commercial melodic hard rock crowd of the late 80’s / early 90’s, the album as a whole rocks. There is, of course, the obligatory ballads in “Tonight” and the acoustic based “When I Die”. However, other songs such as the metallic “Rumors” and the double-bass led “Break Into the Darkness” are immensely heavy.

“Lasting Love” is an incredibly hooky song for which the band recorded an MTV-style video:

“Fallen Angel” is a mid-paced AOR tune in which Lisa Faxom reminds me of Heart’s Ann Wilson. Actually, the song itself could have been something that Heart would have recorded in their 80s heyday.
Faxom has an incredible range and on this remaster her vocals appears more upfront (and I like it), a colorful tone which can be edgy at places. Guitarist Tony Ortiz is a skilled shredder who could hold his own with some of the guitar greats of his day.

So if second half of the ’80s Lita Ford, Heart, Saraya, etc is your thing, you can’t miss this Ransom’s debut album. You’ll be surprised. And if you already own this record, listen to the crisp remaster and the collectible bonuses.
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – Lasting Love
02 – Rumors
03 – Memories Of You
04 – Fool That I Am
05 – Break Into Darkness
06 – Tonight
07 – Etched In Stone
08 – Fallen Angel
09 – Your Broken Heart
10 – I’ll Never Leave You
11 – When I Die
BONUS TRACKS:
12 – Sin Killer
13 – Sticks and Stones
14 – To Be Like You
15 – All My Heart

Lisa Faxon – vocals
Tony Ortiz – guitar
Michael Preciado – bass
Randy Kantor – drums
Brent Jeffers – keyboards
Jim Morris – keyboards, backing vocals
Doug Beiden, J.J. Honeycutt, Michael Jolly, Steve Manning – backing vocals

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