Review by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
The King is back, long live the King. Mr. Corabi is back where he belongs and to celebrate we have 10 new songs to dust off the cobwebs and rock your world… it’s like he was never gone.
I may be being a little harsh on Glenn Hughes here, but even though I consider the guy a rock god, he just didn’t fit with the Daises for me, so this album and upcoming tour were a shot of adrenaline straight into my veins, and Light ‘Em Up does not disappoint.
The title track kicks off with a hint of AC/DC, the tempo picks up and the groove is sexy as hell. Mr Corabi part two follows on directly from part one and you are immediately reminded of how great this band is. Aldrich and Lowry are divine and Clufetus has also returned to the fold and this could well be the best version of the band.
“Times Are Changing” comes at you with Corabi’s merciless lyrics and the tempo doesn’t let up. This has a 60’s vibe cranked up to 11.
With a track like “I Wanna be your Bitch,” it’s no surprise that it sounds like a cross between Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper, and John channels his inner Mr. Furnier, instantly becoming one of my absolute favorite DD songs.
With “I’m Gonna Ride” we slip back into the late 80s/early 90s and are in cult territory here, but just listen to the production on this (and the whole album) because it is flawless. The songs go by too quickly and every note is perfect.
We’re in for a strong vibe on “Back to Zero,” a repetitive beatdown that sways and slithers along with some very unusual destinations, leading into “Way Back Home” with its salty swagger, sing-along beauty, and that DD intensity.
On “Take a Long Line,” Michael Devin lets go of his bass and creates a rousing, high-octane classic that Aerosmith built a career on.
“My Way and the Highway” slips back into the Iggy/Cooper category, and this catchy son of a bitch is reminiscent of the songs that made me fall in love with rock and a lifelong devotee.
Everything is slowed down on “Love That’ll Never Be” and this is Corabi at his best. This is his slowed down Crue numbers or his excellent solo stuff. When it comes to ballad mode, John is unbeatable, his voice is made for it and this is a quality track.
We end the album with “Take My Soul” and this is a musical western, forget about whether you’re wanted dead or alive, this has balls. The drawn out opening, the staggered guitars and Corabi chewing tobacco and spitting rhymes and when the breakdown comes, man oh man, it’s sublime.
Light ‘Em Up is the latest chapter and after just a few listens it’s one of the best songs in the Daisies’ career. Old fans will love it, new fans will jump right in and everyone else will be saying who the hell is that, they’re amazing.
Pre-order your copy of LIGHT ‘EM UP! https://thedeaddaisies.com/light-em-up-album
ROCK IS ALIVE AND GOOD! See you at a gig on the Light ‘Em Up UK Tour in September!
TOUR DATES:
UK – SEPTEMBER
06 – Chalk – Brighton
07 – The Foundry – Torquay
08 – The 1865 – Southampton
10 – Picturedrome – Holmfirth
11 – SWG3 – Glasgow
13 – Rock City – Nottingham
14 – KKs Steelworks – Wolverhampton
15 – Boiler Shop – Newcastle
17 – O2 Ritz – Manchester
18 – Patti Pavilion – Swansea
20 – O2 Academy – Bristol
21 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – London
https://thedeaddaisies.com/light-em-up-tour-2024
https://www.thedeaddaisies.com
https://www.thedeaddaisies.com/merch
