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On disc: Unruly Child



Worlds Collide - Claudia Ehrhardt - 8 stars
Unhinged - Live From Milan - Claudia Ehrhardt - 8 stars


www.unrulychild.net







Unhinged - Live From Milan

Unhinged - Live From Milan
(Frontiers Records - 2018)


Unruly Child started back in 1991, disbanded after two years, got back together in 1998, disbanded again in 2003 and once again reunited in 2010. Their self-titled debut album soon became a classic. For Frontiers Records festival 2017 they were invited and now you can listen / watch their performance. Don't be fooled, it's the line-up of the debut even if Marcie Free is listed on vocals. Singer Mark Free suffered gender dysphoria and in 1993 he became Marcie Free.

They kick off with Wind Me Up, a track of their debut, but it sounds fresh and a bit heavier live. It's fun to listen to the old tunes, some songs are just timeless. And so it's time to sing along and have fun! After another one from their debut, they offer Rock Me Down Nasty from their 2002 release The Basement Demos which is a bit more AOR with big backings. Time for the power ballad Let's Talk About Love, another classic.

One of the heavy melodic rockers is On The Rise, where Bruce Gowdy's guitar is building a counterpart to Free's vocals - spiced up with Guy Allison's keyboard play. One of my faves is Forever off Waiting For The Sun, in my opinion this tune covers the musical spectrum of Unruly Child as it has a catchy hook, big backings, melodic parts and heavy riffs.

The closer is Who Cries Now and there is a video for this one, so get an idea what this live album is about!



It's a CD / DVD package and the DVD is one additional track - This Is Who I Am -, there is also a Blu-ray available.



8 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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Worlds Collide

Worlds Collide
(Frontiers Records - 2010)


Sixteen years after disbanding Unruly Child is back, the original line-up recorded this new album. Worlds Collide brings back the original singer Marcie Michelle Free who on the first album - before gender change - was called Mark Free. But the gender change didn't effect the vocal chords and so Unruly Child sound as powerful as always. Musically they offer the sound of the debut album, but with a modern production.

The opener Show Me The Money has a nice groove and heavy riffs. Only critic point, the line 'Show Me The Money' is used too much... The pumping bass of Larry Antonio and the guitar solo by Bruce Gowdy give the song the special something. When We Were Young is an ear catcher! A balladesque rocker which will enchant you. Afterwards you get a power ballad called Tell Another Lie which is well done, but I can imagine that a stripped down version would have been even more touching. One of my favorites is Love Is Blind. This melodic rocker is hooking you up immediately. And the following title track isn't a bit weaker! Actually I would have picked this one for the first video... Anyway, the song shows Unruly Child strong points - great melodies on top of a guitar-based melodic rocker. Marcie Free proofs that she is an extraordinary singer on every single track. After some more balladesque tunes they add some heaviness and present Life Death which also offers some Oriental sounds and back in the early 90's would have got quite some airplay. Then it's time for the Very First Time, but fans will have watched and know the song. The closer is You Don't Understand, another balladesque tune, even if not one of the highlights, it's a good one.

Unfortunately not every band presents such a strong comeback album, let's hope they promote it live and that there will be more of Unruly Child in future!


8 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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