On disc: Tyketto

 
 Don't Come Easy
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Strength In Numbers
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Dig In Deep
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Dig In Deep

(Frontiers Records - 2012)



 
 

 

Tyketto was found in New York in 1987 and with their they 1991 debut Don't Come Easy they took the hard rock / glam metal world by storm. For awhile it was impossible to watch MTV and not get Forever Young. The follow-up Strength In Numbers was 1994, a strong album which they promoted live a lot. After Danny Vaughn left for private issues Tall Stories singer Steve Augeri replaced him and they released Shine. I think it wasn't just the change in music scene that let their following shrivel, Steve Augeri is a great singer but couldn't replace a charismatic singer like Danny Vaughn. Anyway, in 1996 they called it quits. Little later Danny Vaughn started releasing some solo work and played some shows where he presented Tyketto songs, they reunited for some shows and finally in 2008 they gave it another try. And now they are back with the original line-up and a new album called Dig In Deep.



They kick off with Faithless, but luckily they have faith and believe in what they are doing. The opener shows that they still know how to write songs and Danny Vaughn's voice is still a trademark for the Tyketto sound. Sure, they sound a bit more mature now, but after all these years it's no surprise. And with Here's Hoping It Hurts they finally take you back in time and onto a sonic journey. For Battle Lines they slow down, and somehow this one reminds me of End Of The Summer Days... The Fight Left In Me sounds quite dramatic and offers some heavy riffs, it surely shows a different facet of Tyketto. Another melancholy rocker is Monday, a song you'll soon sing along. with the title track Dig In Deep they have a riff-based rocker for you, not a typical Tyketto tune - but a good one. One of my favorites is Sound Off, a bit more aggressive and ennobled by Brooke St. James' guitar leads. After Let This One Slide they finally present a ballad! This Is How We Say Goodbye is based on acoustic guitar and vocals, not one which gives you goose bumps.... And hopefully this isn't how they say goodbye to their fans!



Okay, it's not as strong as Don't Come Easy, but almost as good as Strength In Numbers! Even if slightly different. If you still love the sound of that time, you won't regret spending money on Dig In Deep! Hopefully they hit the road to support Dig In Deep live...

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Strength In Numbers

(JVC - 1994)



 
 

 

This is the 2nd strike of the New Jersey boys and it's called Strength In Numbers. The album offers 12 new tracks and a remix of Standing Alone of their debut Don't Come Easy. And again the band of Danny Vaughn decided to start with a rocking, up-tempo song, this time with the title track. Brooke St. James added a few unusual guitar lines and screaming parts to this one. The musically floor is build by drummer Michael Clayton and new member Jaimie Scott on bass. But still the voice of Mr. Vaughn is crowning the compositions. The album offers everything from ballads, mid-tempo rock tunes to fast, up-tempo tracks. The four-piece created different atmospheres. The ballad The End Of The Summer Days is the first single / video clip, but this time they chose a ballad, not a catchy rocker like Forever Young. The songs are catchy, so if you hear them one or the other might keep spinning in your mind... It could be a heavy rock track like Ain't That Love where Danny Vaughn has a certain aggression in his voice. Or the powerful balladesque song Catch My Fall... Wouldn't this be the better choice for a single? Or the acoustic ballad The Last Sunset.... Perhaps the bluesy rocker Write Your Name In The Sky.... Why Do You Cry? is an unusual track, more R&B, but it rocks. There is a large variety and I think that not everybody expected another high class album from the Jersey boys. Perhaps that they'll do another Don't Come Easy and don't risk anything. Actually this is more mature then their debut. Perhaps the touring made them grow together or they just grow up. Anyway, a good album. So, don't ask for the reasons.

If it was necessary to do a remix of Standing Alone? I don't know, guess there are reasons for... At least I should mention, that this is the Japanese release and has with Wait Forever a bonus track which the European version don't have. I can't tell about the American edition, sorry. Okay, what's Wait Forever? It's a heavy mid-tempo track with a catchy chorus. A little bit like Rescue Me and Catch My Fall... Not one of their best songs, but a decent one.



If you liked their debut, buy this album and you won't be disappointed. I also can recom­mend Strength In Numbers to all fans of White Lion, Giant and melodic metal in general.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Don't Come Easy

(Geffen - 1991)



 
 

 

Starting with Forever Young, their first single and video clip, the New Jersey quartet offers a powerful melodic metal track which lyrically is a ballad, but has power! You might ask: "Who?" Tyketto is a new band and most will just know singer Danny Vaughn (also playing acoustic guitar) for his work with Waysted. The rest of the bunch are Brooke St. James on the six-strings, Jimmy Kennedy on the four-strings and Michael Clayton on drums. What makes this band special? I don't know, but they have the certain something which John Kolodner saw as well and signed them. A company like Geffen Records is doing a big production, if they believe in a band and so the quartet recorded their debut at the famous A&M studios in Hollywood under the command of producer legend Ritchie Zito and engineer Phil Kaffel.



So, what more to expect than Forever Young which is on MTV? Melodic, but heavy and catchy tunes the quartet recorded. 10 tracks which enchant the listener. Okay, there are hundreds of melodic metal bands these days, but on this album you won't find any fillers, even if not all songs are killers... They have found the right balance between rocking tunes (e.g. Burning Down Inside) and ballads (e.g. Standing Alone and Sail Away).



I'm sure that they are no one hit wonder and personally I think that I'll listen to this album even in years! So, if you like this kind of music or just have seen the video on MTV, check them out!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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