Quiet Riot

So we come to the latter half of 2006, and Quiet Riot is still around. This is not the original Quiet Riot, or even the Quiet Riot that was insanely successful in the mid 80's. This is a much different, and more mature Quiet Riot. Why do I mention this? Well, I was old enough to listen to QR in 1983 when they hit seriously large. Thing is, unlike the majority of the fans, I kept listening. Since Metal Health in 1983, they've had seven other studio albums (84, 86, 88, 93, 95, 99, 01) excluding 2006's Rehab. I bought almost all of them. I rather enjoyed them for what they were. Mindless light metal. Most people don't even know that QR is still around, let alone continuing to record albums all this time. 2001's "Guilty Pleasures" was the one I did not buy. It was "OK" - I borrowed a friend's copy, but I didn't buy that one - at that point I had pretty much burnt out on Quiet Riot.

Fast forward to 2006, and a couple of breakups, several lineup changes, and I got word the band was working on a new album. I admit to being curious given my past history in listening to Quiet Riot, but after Guilty Pleasures, it was NOT an automatic purchase. QR at this point is primarily Kevin DuBrow (vocals), Frankie Banali (drums), and a rotating group of guitarists and bassists. In mid 2006 I was reading interviews with DuBrow & Banali talking about how the new album was nothing like anything they had ever done before. They wanted to do something different, something "classic rock" sounding (I'm paraphrasing there). Again, I wasn't that enthused about it.

Why all this background info? Because I wanted to show that this is not a knee jerk reaction from someone who only casually likes the band.

So I decided to take a chance and roll the dice. Wow. I mean WOW! They were NOT kidding. This is NOT like Quiet Riot that has come before it. It's not like they're playing disco or country music or something - it's still hard rock. But it does not sound like any other Quiet Riot album before it. This is good, I like bands that take some sort of musical experiment, but don't stray too far that they're unrecognizable. I've been reading some negative reviews on the Internet about this album. I know a lot of "opinions" on the Internet are negative, I don't understand this. This is a good album - and unless you were expecting them to re-record Metal Health again, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't like it. Now I'm not going to say it's awesome on the order of Led Zeppelin IV, or Black Sabbath's Heaven & Hell or something like that, but it is a good, quality, solid album. One that makes me want to buy Quiet Riot again. I seriously hope they do another album in this same vein - it would be an automatic purchase for me. The album starts off well with "Free", and never lets up. The bassist on this album is Tony Franklin, who has been in Blue Murder, The Firm, & Ozzy's band. Former Deep Purple & Black Sabbath vocalist Glenn Hughes makes an appearance, too. I can't say it enough - a good, solid album.

Give it a shot, and open your mind. Don't have a prejudged opinion based on "Metal Health" for this album. You might find you'll like it.

Considering the lack of attention the band had gotten since they reformed a few years ago, it doesn't surprise me they released an album with this title. It's more Quiet Riot. You like them, you'll like this. Metal Health era QR bassist Rudy Sarzo returned to the band too. On this album they re-recorded several of their best known hits (six to be exact) in addition to the new music on the disc. They did put out another album after this (2001's Guilty Pleasures), but I didn't pick that up, because I'd gotten bored with their discs by this point.

Well, I picked this up and I wish I had gotten a different GH package (QR has like 3 of them). The reason is that I wanted it for the songs from the Metal Health & Condition Critical albums I didn't have on CD. I was also hoping it would have more from the QR III album - but it does have 3 from the QR album. I don't know, it just kind of disappointed me. One of these days I'll get around to getting something else.

...we get another from them. It's much like Terrified. It's not going to be an album that sets the world on fire, but for Quiet Riot fans, they'll probably like it. My favorite track here is "Dig" - and I like "Pretty Pack of Lies", too.

After a several year break, Quiet Riot puts it back together, and Kevin DuBrow joins up again with Carlos Cavazo & Frankie Banali (and Chuck Wright) to make a new album. The result is Quiet Riot. It's Hard rock, but nothing serious. It's a fun little album, and at the time it was new, I didn't think there'd be any more - I thought that would be it, but...

After Quiet Riot's big success in the 80's they just slid downwards into a situation where the band had NO original members left. This is the album that Quiet Riot made with another singer - and I liked it alot, although it got ZERO in the way of notice. I tend to like albums like that, it seems. Highlights here are Run to You, Stay With Me Tonight, & Callin' The Shots (The Joker is good, too). Probably not for anyone except Quiet Riot hardcores.

I did own the Quiet Riot albums before this on cassette tape, but never got 'em on CD for some reason (these being Metal Health & Condition Critical). The two original Japanese albums with Randy Rhoads I've heard, but never have seen them on CD.