Once upon a time, before ever imagining running his own heavy metal webzine, a teenage “Metal” Joe was sifting through the bargain bins of some suburban record store, looking for the next lost metal/hard rock/AOR gem. As his fingers sifted past Alabama, Bette Middler, and the two zillionth copy of Frampton Comes Alive!, he came across the eponymous debut from a band named New England. What really caught his eye were the words on the back: “Produced by Paul Stanley”. Being a tried and true soldier in the KISS Army (no matter how often his allegiance was tested), Joe put down a whopping $1 and took that New England album home.
Although New England hasn’t been active in terms of creating new music in my lifetime, in the decade since I discovered them, I’ve immersed myself in their three albums, as well as their creative endeavors that followed. For example, I was shocked to learn keyboardist Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea went onto form Alcatrazz, whom I loved already. And then there was drummer Hirsh Gardner, who amidst his production work, managed to put out the occasional solo album here and there. When I first saw the press release for his long awaited third album, the aptly titled Third Time’s a Charm, I immediately saved the date in anticipation.
What’s fascinating about Gardner’s latest solo outing is that it’s really two releases in one. The first half consists of brand new originals, some of which would’ve been right at home on one of those old New England albums. The second half sees Gardner revisiting his New England roots, tackling half a dozen late ’70s/early ’80s classics, albeit with a heavier production. I’m usually vehemently against these types of affairs. However, in this specific scenario, Gardner makes it work. I’m shocked to hear how well metallic riffing and an aggressive production melds with power pop anthems like “Hello Hello Hello” and “Holdin’ Out on Me”.
As for the originals, those are nothing to sneeze at either. The opening “Luver’s Lullaby” is an all out euro metal assault, boasting drumming, riffage, and melodies straight out of a Pretty Maids song. Considering Chris Laney of the euro melodic metal titans contributes his songwriting and musical talents to this album, it isn’t overly surprising, but perhaps enough so to longtime New England fans. “Reach Out for Love” channels the hook-laden bliss of prime New England, while the feel-good romp that is “Angel in the Sky” sounds like what could’ve been had they stuck it out to the ’80s pop metal era that they unintentionally ushered in. Rounding the original section out is the groovy Zeppelin-esque “Faith in Your Heart”, as well as a pair of ballads: “Miles and Miles Away” and “All I Want”.
True to its title, Third Time’s a Charm is indeed a charm. While I found myself enjoying the re-recordings far more than I expected, I appreciate the original half of this outing even more. Selfishly, I’d love to hear Gardner put his talents towards an entire outing of ragers in the vein of “Luver’s Lullaby”, but that’s the headbanger in me talking. Considering his newfound union with Pretty Maid Laney, I guess anything is possible!
7 out of 10
Label: Deko Music
Genre: AOR
For fans of: New England, Alcatrazz, Pretty Maids
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