Continuing the rock of ages
-- Jimbo's Garage --
14/07/2022
Stijn Daneels
Album genres:
■ | Hard Rock |
■ | heavy metal |
Album artists:
■ | Jimbo Mäkeläinen | Drums, keyboards |
■ | Taage Laiho | Vocals |
■ | Peter James Goodman | Vocals |
■ | Maya Liittokivi | Vocals |
■ | Kari Riihimäki | Guitars |
■ | Jari Riitala | Bass |
Review
written by David Hardy.
Well then,
... for the oldest among us, of which I am a part, some will remember the
tv-series "Miami Vice" with Don Johnson, that blessed time when hair
spray was more important than wearing socks, and where flashy colors were so
successful that we almost forgot that they were not natural at all! So, all
this to tell you that the famous Don Johnson was also a singer and .. what he
did reminds me a lot of what I’ve heard here with Jimbo's Garage.
Then, when
we see the name and we say to ourselves "well a group of regular young
people, it is odd to hear this type of music and this type of voice,” and then
we dig a bit deeper and read the credits to see who’s part of Jimbo’s Garage
and there we directly understand why we’re on this 1980s rock trip!
THE DISCOVERY
Jimbo’s
Garage lineup consists of several highly experienced musicians including drummer/keyboardist
Jari "Jimbo" Mäkeläinen (known from his work with Ironcross and Lordi)
Vocalists Peter James Goodman (who worked in bands like Conquest and Metal Gods),
Taage Laiho (known as part of acts like Altaria & Mad Hatter’s Den) and
Maya Liitokivi (known for Deathlike Silence) and on guitar Kari Riihimäki and
finally bass Jari Riitala (both of them having released a lot of solo material in
the past). So, we are apparently in front of real enthusiasts of a certain age,
experiences and taxes included around 50 years, who propose us a back to the
future in the Finnish way which will speak in my opinion more to the people of
my time than to the millennials.
“Living The
Hard Way,” is a rather surprising beginning (for who, like me, jumped into the
album without having the business card of the speakers) because this song
features a level of synth that I haven’t heard since 1989! We quickly realize
the direction Jimbo’s Garage is going with their eponymous debut thanks to the attention-grabbing
vocals, the raunchy style, it’s clearly 1980s-1990s inspired hard rock just like
it was during that time period. It's nice, it's pleasant, it's mastered, it's
hyper melodic, it's a beautiful throwback! Do not come to look for great vocal
performances (although!!!) or texts of Rimbaud here, but... just auditory
pleasure.
Next up is "Now
we're strangers,” a song that could’ve easily been credited to Def Leppard, it
feels so much like that legendary rock band. The raw emotion, the beautiful
guitar work, topped off with a perfectly constructed guitar solo. The momentum
continues with “Dancing with the devil" a catchy song despite its subtle
atmosphere. A excellent triple-song combo that already sold me completely on
Jimbo’s Garage.
But there’s
more. Then comes the intimate, piano-driven tune "Dreamer" and it makes
me wonder. For me, the part until 2:32 as well as the bridge instrumentation,
are magnificent. But I do have an issue with this: from 2:32 to 3:32 and at the
song’s ending the same lyrics just keep on getting repeated. Not that it's bad,
but I would’ve like some extra lyrics. But what a voice! After this small break,
Jimbo’s Garage relaunches with "Wings" always in the style that reminds
us of "Europe" or "Survivor." It’s pro-made from the first
to last note. An example of style for generations to come.
"Stranger"
begins with a piano ballad that feels familiar to the Scorpions (but with a
deeper voice) and, like the aforementioned legends, this “Stranger” tune gradually
builds in intensity until its hard rock power explodes by the end. The next
song is cover of “Hello” by, of course, Lionel Ritchie. The cover features
guest vocals from Maya Liittokivi. So, it's going to make you feel weird, me,
anyway, it's like it was the original version! It's really very special
because, without taking her out of her time, they take her totally in the
universe of the band in a natural way and it matches! She has a great vocal
technique and fits very well with the other vocalists featured on this track.
"Echoes"
doesn't leave me with an unforgettable memory, it’s a short, acoustic track and
a little bit bland, almost unfinished compared to how polished the rest of the material
is on Jimbo’s Garage’s debut album. Maybe they lacked the time to properly
finish this song or had to record the track without all the necessary personnel.
I don’t know.
THE CONCLUSION
The problem
with this album is that it’s pretty much solely for people who are soaked in
this kind of music, metal/rock juice from the end of the 1980s! For me, they
should give rock courses at the university! So, what can I say? It's so typical
for the era and so well written and performed that there's pretty much nothing
to really criticize expect for the defects which are “Echoes” and “Dreamer.”
Other than that, it’s all a real pleasure to the ears.
Clearly, I
would advise it even to the young people who did not know this time so that
they understand what it is that to make music of this time and to make it well!
which téciture, which modelling of voice, which plans, which rhythmic, which
scales, which type of solo, which effects, in which proportion... Listen and
learn!
As I said,
fans of "Def Leppard," "Don Johnson," "Europe," "Survivor"
will find their happiness and more here in Jimbo’s Garage’s presence! Very
clearly mandatory for those who like the style. Completely dispensable for
those who expect double pedal, grunt, heavy bass. It's up to you to see where
you stand! Personally, I keep it! and I'm happy about it!
THE SCORE
8/10