Y&T - Facemelter

Release Date: May 21, 2010
Label: Frontiers Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  On With the Show (Prelude)
2.  On With the Show
3.  How Long
4.  Shine On
5.  I Want Your Money
6.  Wild Child
7.  I'm Coming Home
8.  If You Want Me
9.  Hot Shot
10.  Blind Patriot
11.  Don't Bring Me Down
12.  Gonna Go Blind
13.  One Life

Total playing time:  56:14

May 28, 2010

Reviewer: M.J.

Y&T is back and rocking like the 80s never went away. For those unfamiliar with the band, they started out in the late 70s under the name Yesterday & Today. They released a couple of albums before shortening their name and gained a measure of success through a couple of radio and MTV hits (notably “Summertime Girls”). The excesses of 80s metal scene was killed in the early 90s with the onslaught of grunge. Many of the bands that rose to prominence on that wave disappeared rapidly. Y&T never had the breakout success of fellow California bands, Motley Crue, Ratt, or Van Halen despite a full court press on all fronts - non-stop touring with just about any metal band (including Metallica who opened for them), multiple studio albums, being on a major label, radio and MTV exposure. The public, for whatever reason, didn’t quite catch onto what the band had to offer.

After a few attempts to redirect their sound and careers the band took a break. Lead singer Dave Meniketti released a couple solo studio albums that were heavily blues influenced and the other members mostly dropped off the radar. With Facemelter the band went back to their roots. The album opens with a (throw away) prelude track that would have been better without the cheesy circus barker narration vocals, as the brooding guitar snarls and simmers fine on its own before we rip into the actual song. “On with the Show” is classic Y&T. It’s a great reminder of how the band used to “rock a heavy groove” with a simple and catchy hook. Obviously, this is made for the stage to get the crowd pumped up at the start of a show.

From there it continues with a Contagious era sounding “How Long”; about a guy who ruefully worries about his cheating ways and is wondering about when he will be found out and if he will be forgiven (once it’s been discovered). I love that Phil’s bass is given a good mix and that he is able to pop in and out, supporting the guitar riff especially through the solo section. “Shine On” is reminiscent of Van Halen (circa 1982) rocking with its mid pace riffing and lazy throw your head back sing-along chorus complemented by the slowed down sections. Dave tosses in some great fretwork in the middle to give it heft.

Sadly, the filler material kicks in at this point with “I Want Your Money” which is a rather typical Y&T rocker that is graced with more of Dave’s tasty guitar.  “Wild Child” is more of the same and lacks anything to set it apart. The energy drops a notch on the first single promoting album, the clichéd “I’m Coming Home” and the even further as we get a ballad (“If You Want Me”) that feels unnecessary at this juncture. Thankfully, things pick up with “Hot Shot” and the “facemelting” “Blind Patriot”. The album finishes off on a high note with the “One Life” affirmation that this record seems, at times, uneasy to embrace as it doesn’t fully commit to the lyrics.

In the end, this is probably going to please fans looking for a continuation of In Rock We Trust or Down for the Count. Rocking solid at average or a bit above it does nothing to hurt the band’s legacy, though a few better songs would have elevated this album to be on par with those aforementioned classics. This is a good buy for longtime fans.

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