W.E.T. "Rise Up" Review

Has it really been 4 years since the debut recording of W.E.T.? It's a rare feat that a first album can stay that fresh, regardless of genre. So to see the band reunite for a sophomore effort makes one excited and anxious. Well, anxiety be damned, because this group of gentlemen aren't the best of the best for no reason. Jeff, Erik, Robert, et al deliver nothing but what you would expect from their collective union: soaring vocals, powerful hooks, driving rhythms, and some of the best songwriting on the globe.
So without further ado, let's dive in to the lead track "Walk Away", which starts off the way any album should: energy, fire, and a pronouncement of what is coming for the next 60 or so minutes. A massive driving beat brings an urgency to the verse section, transitioning to a Journey-esque chorus. JSS is in his best AOR throat, pushing the upper limits of his versatile range. One thing I really like about Erik Martensson's songwriting is the tightness, keeping the listener wanting more.
Track two & lead single, "Learn To Love Again" is reminiscent of "One Love" from the debut. The difference is Erik & Jeff trade off vocals in the verse, providing a wonderful contrast of melodic styles. This track also features some driving guitar riffs. I defy anyone to not hum this melody after first listen. A nice one-two punch to open the disc.
Up next is the album's namesake "Rise Up". I'll be honest here, I was into this tune up until the chorus which just didn't grab me like the two previous tracks. Now don't get me wrong, it's a good song, but maybe could've been dropped lower in the order. Again, not a lot of wasted energy here: concise, galloping melodic rock.
Ballad #1 & second single: "Love Heals" at first listen sounds like another cookie-cutter of the genre. I just can't help getting lost in JSS at the top of his range, pushing for every ounce of emotion written on the page. The emoting continues through the solo & into the wonderful, arm-raising, "Whoa-oh" sing-along immediately following. If I need to sum up this song in one word, it would be "soaring".
"What You Want"... well, more of this wouldn't suck. A haunting single guitar riff starts everything off, before moving into a driving mid-tempo verse featuring some beautiful band vocals. The chorus is pure melodic rock heaven, huge and flowing. It really almost grabs you into the rest of the song. Another example of this group of players coming together to form a BAND, not just a gimmick.
We've come to "The Moment", which almost sounds like something Khymera would write. I would imagine JSS had a big hand in this song considering the driving beat & Journey undertones. While it's nothing special, there's something about this song that I just can't deny. Maybe it's the sun-roof-open, cranking-on-a-summer-day feel. Whatever it is, it's just a perfect place for an upbeat rocker.
"Bad Boy", the purported album opener... there seems to be some backlash on this song, though I don't see why. It's a great, upbeat rock song, almost in the spirit of Sammy Hagar melded with Rick Springfield, if that makes any sense whatsoever. Bottom line, it's FUN & fun is fun. Well... this is fun.
Track #8, "On The Run", hits the ears & hits it like a hammer. There's a little Talisman feel to the intro, proving once again these guys are taking the best of each & creating something special. Driving, driving groove in the verses gives way to a chorus more in line with their debut: laid back, melodic, multi-layered.
"Broken Wings" starts with a flurry of instruments creating a lush waterfall for a Mr Big "Take Cover"-like verse riff. The chorus is pure, unadulterated full & huge. I could see this song ending the album as it really brings a calm to the listener. Stick around for the outro guitar... stunning.
Now we come to what, for me at least, is the shining jewel of the disc, "Shot". There are so many elements of the respective bands involved, I simply cannot decide what part of this song is the best: verse, bridge, chorus. Some see this as a throwaway, but there's more there than meets the ear, shall we say. Dark, tension, driving beat, the genius of one Jeff Scott Soto... "You've gone and broke another promise, you think I should've known the truth from the start". There's so much emotion in the vocal and urgency in the music, I find myself coming back to this song the most.
Ballad #2, "Still Believe In Us". Here's a challenge: find another rock ballad written, performed, and emoted this well. What an incredible chorus. JSS at his underrated finest. You would never know these guys were thrown together and haven't been a band for a decade. Simply beautiful from note one to note one-hundred.
We've come to the closer, "Still Unbroken" and while it seems the ride hasn't been long enough, everything good must end. And end in sparkling fashion it does. Just another example of the many talents of Erik Martensson. This doesn't have the soaring chorus of previous album closer "If I Fall", but more the power of Soto's latest solo finisher "Afraid To Die". Metal muscle delivered by all involved: galloping groove, massive solo, and towards the end, JSS throws a little gravel on the voice for the final lines. A fitting end to a more than capable sophomore disc.
Whew! I'm spent... Obviously, the first disc, written mainly by Martensson, was a massive hit worldwide and re-energized the genre, but this is a wonderful follow-up, chock full of everything you would expect from the boys. I've always loved JSS versatility vocally and I think he's brought some nice elements into the songwriting. Erik Martensson is without a doubt at the forefront of the melodic rock genre & can seemingly do no wrong, as evidenced by Eclipse's new disc "Bleed & Scream".
Bottom line here, if you don't come away whistling these songs you may need to check your heartbeat. This isn't throwaway, formulaic crap... this is talent writ large on all fronts. Stellar production, concise songwriting, epic performances.

The rebuilding of my golf arsenal is complete. It took a fraction of the dollars it could have thanks to sites like Hurricane Golf:

Driver: Nike SQ Machspeed 10.5 Str8-fit

Fairway woods: Callaway Octane Diablo 3 & 5

Irons: Nike SQ Machspeed 4-AW

Putter: Ping Scottsdale Wolverine

Now if this damn snow would just go away...

Michael Bourn gets 4/$48... goodness, the going rate for light-hitting, fast CF is a tad overpriced & overyeared. Speed guy on the wrong side of 30? No thanks.

I'll take Carlos Gomez every day & twice on bobblehead Sundays.

Iron Man 2 was on, giving me a chance to ogle Scarlett Johansson for a couple hours. Led me to watch The Avengers before turning in... she can look SO good at times, then so homely at others. I choose to think of her this way:

Good Lord, the genetic lottery is better to win than the real lottery.

I love KISS... but, it's changed

I've spent most of my life defending KISS. In fact, I remember one of my best friends commenting a few years ago "Slick, I remember seeing you in the library wearing an "I went crazy with KISS" shirt & thinking 'Damn, I respect that dude for wearing that'" That incident happened in 1988 at the height of the "KISS is a bunch of hack followers" time. Long-winded story short, I think my fandom has now changed to loving the image more than the band. At least, the last 15 years of the band, that is.

The douche-ness of Paul & Gene is well documented. The ridiculousness of new players impersonating Ace & Peter is also. And while I love many moments from '82 on, my KISS fandom is really embedded in the original 5 years, '74-'79. The rawness & sense of danger inherent in those first few years is clearly superior to the formulaic decades to follow.

Obviously, I can't be a true fan without showing proper respect to the latter years. The entire Creatures Of The Night disc is monstrous. Highlights from future albums include "A Million To One" & "Not For The Innocent" from Lick It Up. Gene was in full bitch-mode on that album, as evidenced on "Young & Wasted".

Animalize was a mostly Paul vision as Gene was emersed in Hollywood. Still, there were some choice tracks: "I've Had Enough(Into The Fire)" slammed, and "Thrills In The Night" may be the shining moment of any 80's KISS song selection.

Asylum saw the band veer off into a more melodic area. Highlights included "Who Wants To Be Lonely" & "Tears Are Falling", simple yet so effective.

Last from the non-makeup 80's is Hot In The Shade. Certainly, it was a major stepping stone to the brilliant Revenge. Paul & Gene chose to produce it themselves, most likely to save dollars. However, there were several strong moments in a 15 song disc that would've been just as tight at 11 or 12. The single shining moment would have to be "Forever". It's acoustic/electric intermingling is damn near genius & emphasizes how KISS does not get nearly the credit they should as musicians.

Bucks lose 20 point lead to the Cavs, much the opposite way they built it: Missing shots. They're a good team with many solid players, but when they don't hit jumpers, they just don't have the ability to work inside.

The answer, Mrs. Clinton, is it makes ALL the difference... 4 Americans were killed, the administration claimed it was due to a YouTube video & arrested the filmmaker, then for two weeks this line was thrown around before being changed, then ignored. Help asked for, none given, none even remotely offered.

The absence of answers should be damning for a president who promised to be "the most transparent" ever... that is, unless, the media is simply a shill for the con man aimlessly shuffling the shells around on the street corner.

The Bucks go without an All-Star representative again, though Brandon Jennings was certainly deserving. To add to the lack of Bucks knowledge, or awareness even, Larry Sanders is receiving ZERO consideration for Most Improved. I am by no means a basketball aficianado, but I can tell when a dude elevates his game. Side by side, there is no one in the NBA affecting games with a newfound talent level than the long arm of Larry.

The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau released estimates today that [show] that our surplus is up to $419.7 million.--Governor Walker

I fail to see how anyone could argue with a $3B deficit being turned into almost a half-billion surplus... but then again, I must hate kids since it's all about them, right? We should ALL thank our lucky stars there is strong leadership in WI, as the states surrounding us are floundering in fiscal irresponsibility.

I always hear about everyone paying "their fair share"... well, that's what is happening. No longer can the cadillac benefits be strapped solely to the backs of the taxpayer. If I have to save for all my retirement AND part of yours, you can shoulder some of the burden too.

EDIT: Ann can be pretty funny

Wow. Just Wow. I don't get how these people can be the voice of information read by millions when they clearly are disconnected from right & wrong. This fool should be, at the very least, suspended.

Honestly, fella, a couple degrees above zero when you can comfortably stay inside your four walls isn't a tragedy of historical proportions... it's a couple days of sub-freezing temps. That's all. Assbag.

I STILL don't know what the guy stands for other than "gimme more cuz the lazy need to stay lazy"

Watching Green Lantern & it occurs to me that Blake Lively is about 80% leg, 15% chest, & fill in the rest... gorgeous, gorgeous young lady

No reason for posting this other than I think it's criminal that Jeff Scott Soto is not a bonafide star... absolutely insane versatile voice.

If you have not heard Heart's rendition of Stairway To Heaven from the Kennedy Center Honors, run, do not walk, to iTunes & grab the full version. (Here's a link to the shorter version from the broadcast, which, while good, does not do the entire performance justice)

Now anyone who follows Heart knows that the ladies worship at the altar of Zep, from their beautiful acoustics to chugging riffs. Just listening to "Barracuda" & "Mistral Wind" back to back will essentially tell you everything you need to know about this talented sisterhood: Epic, intense, driven.

This tribute is one of those rare performances that somehow transcends mere music. There is an ethereal presence at play here, whether it be the gospel choir, Jason Bonham sitting in his father's chair, and the otherworldly vocals of Ann Wilson. In a time when Jon Bon Jovi has gone country, Eddie Money is doing commercials, & most other bands are tuning down to play their hits, Ann's voice seems to be getting stronger & more vibrant.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the lush acoustic talents of Nancy Wilson. If you listen closely, there are subtle additions, yet you never get the feeling that the song has gone off course from the original. Once the electric comes in, the fullness of the mix is brought to the forefront. None of the individual pieces intrudes on each other. They are separate, yet melded together, foreshadowing the power yet to come.

I thought the solo was an impressive amalgimation of one of the most recognizable guitar vocals in recorded history. It had just the right amount of familiarity & homage that it did not distract from the entirety of the song.

Where this recording truly hits the stratosphere is after the solo, when Ann winds on down the road. The sheer FORCE of this woman's voice is unmatched by anyone making music on this planet. I did enjoy the addition of the gospel choir, which added a certain immediacy to the crescendo. The true star of this single, however, is and will always be Ann's delicate handling of an iconic vocal delivery. Notice the ability to deliver lines like " There walks a LADY we all know" with every bit of power as Robert Plant ever did.

Then there is the defining moment, for me, when the goosebumps literally jump out of my skin & I feel a little closer to forces I cannot verbalize... "To be a rock and not to roll". Ann Wilson holds that last note a FULL 8 SECONDS, wringing every last emotion left in this performance. The penultimate tribute to a band that should top all lists, given by a pair of sisters that really don't get their due for changing the musical landscape in their own right.

My only summation is that I lived long enough to enjoy the Wilson sisters paying homage to their own heroes. I would like to thank them for allowing me to come along on this journey. You didn't need the R&RHOF to validate your impact and this performance proves that.

Clearly the performance of the year in any category, any day, any time, and twice on Sunday.

Wow, Suzy Favor Hamilton... so I get the "favor" part now, but the real question is "Who was the fastest out of the blocks?"

Congrats to Montee Ball on the career TD record... but the real story is yet another example of poor coaching, IMO.

The late TD to get within one of Penn State should have been followed by a 2pt try. And for those that think this is second-guessing after the loss, I said at the time they had nothing to gain by playing OT.

1. WIS is already in the BIG10 championship game
2. They're on the road
3. Why subject your players to more injury opportunities

Sure, the team isn't a world-beater & are horribly inconsistent, but that situation screamed for 2pt.

I guess this is the new "pistol-whipping"?

You don't need a degree to understand that raising taxes is short-sighted. Open your eyes, people... It's a spending issue, not a revenue issue.

Let this sink in a little, then try to explain how Robin Hood economics is a good real-life philosophy.

I think the ladies in my family were drinking too much from the huge jug of wine in this video...