Anyhow, back in 1993, some of the videos off this album received airplay - alas, I've lost them all now to the villainy of mould and time. They are not even preserved on YouTube (come on Paul, release them, I dare ya to!). I once had "Key to the Shade" and I'm pretty sure "Now You Fly" had a video too. Sadly, lost in the voids of space and time.
I don't currently have the cover of this album, because I kinda acquired it via the library.
The album opens with the rather rocky, almost glam-sounding "Merry Go Riding". Catchy rhythms, nicely melodic vocals and a good beat. Not particularly original or unique, but an appealing song indeed.
It is followed up by even more glam-style "Young, Single and Dangerous". Unlike some of the other NZ music from this era, this is very clean and polished, akin to the quality of Warrant, Motley Crue and other bands of the era - just going to show that NZ did have proper music studios. Lyrics are somewhat sexist. But this was the early 90s, after all. Some pretty skillful guitaring there from the Axeman.
There's something familar about "Now You Fly" and I'm not just talking about the fact that I've heard it on numerous occasions and really like it - it is rather reminscient of Queensryche's "Silent Lucidity" with similar structures and the melodic, almost lullaby feel. Vocals soaring, guitar and drums playing light accompaniment. Building into a powerful chorus with an almost classical vibe to it. Okay, so there ARE some classical instruments involved.
A rather heavier follow-up, "Little Trouble" gets off to a dramatic start with a very kiwi-accented news report. Vocals are somewhat funkier, with a quick beat and a catchy, commercial chorus.
Guitar chugs us into a "One Step Sunset". Solid drums, vocals a little lower and less melodious.Solid, powerful bass. Has a kind of Californian vibe. Not sure why - maybe because it's making me think of palm trees? But then, why California? There's a slightly ominous edge to it.
The rather sentimental "Mother" has some heartfelt lyrics and is a touching and beautiful ballad - but just a wee bit sappy and saccharine. And dare I say it - a bit sissy. I'll have to say though - it'd make a nice Mother's Day card and is very well timed:
"M is for memories and a life filled with love, Over and over she's there. T is for her tears, and there were many, H is for the home we all shared. E is for every time she catched me from falling and R is for the reasons when I asked her why?"This is followed up by the rather rockier "Key to the Shade", which has a good build to it, and a rising feeling of passion, leading into a nicely triumphant guitar chorus.
Another funkier number, with a nicely sleek chorus, "Burden of Freedom" sort of rolls off the tongue. It has a kinda Living Colour feel to it. The way he sings "burden" makes me think "Bird in of freedom" and it sort of soars and swoops like a bird, taking flight after captivity. Nicely jaunty guitar rhythms.
Nifty choral melodies in "Outta Here". Good rhythm, straightforward and a little bit funky.
Another slower, almost Marillion-esque number, "Spinning Wheel" has nifty vocals - low and smooth.
There are two additional bonus tracks. The first being the "guitar version" of "Little Trouble". It is a heavy and energetic rendition with a less technical sound to the former version, stripped of the sampling.
This is followed by the radio edit of the dream-like "Now You Fly". I believe it has less of the classical instrumentation going for it.
Blackjack have a very clean, commercial sound that is sophisticated and polished enough to be truly professional and should have taken them far in the mainstream. It apparently made them the most well known band in Hamilton. Alas, they appeared at a time when NZ music was largely overshadowed in the media. And now the cd is very difficult to find. They're very melodic, pretty mainstream but very appealing and with a nice amount of variety to their tracks. And I rate them an 8/10.
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