Light 'Em Up
John Corabi's return gives The Dead Daisies plenty to work with on Light 'Em Up. His rough, bluesy voice fits this band's straightforward hard rock very well. The songs give him room to use it, with Doug Aldrich's guitar close by and a rhythm section that keeps everything moving.
The title track is a strong introduction. It has a large riff, an immediate chorus and no obvious interest in making the arrangement more complicated than it needs to be. Times Are Changing continues in a similar spirit. These are songs built to make sense quickly, with the performance doing much of the work.
I Wanna Be Your Bitch makes the album's attitude particularly clear. The title is not hiding a complicated metaphor. What saves the song from being only a gesture is the hook and the band's firm sense of rhythm. Corabi sounds comfortable giving the material some character rather than simply pushing for the loudest note.
Aldrich remains a major part of the appeal. His leads add energy without pulling the songs away from their main ideas, while David Lowy's rhythm guitar helps give the riffs their shape. Michael Devin and Tommy Clufetos keep a strong foundation underneath them. The individual experience is obvious, but the album works because they sound involved in the same job.
Way Back Home offers one of the more melodic moments. It gives the voice a different setting and stops the harder material from becoming the record's only language. The closing Take My Soul also leaves a strong impression through its combination of bluesy feeling and a clear chorus.
The writing stays close to familiar hard-rock territory. There are no major surprises waiting in the lyrics or structures, and that may limit its appeal beyond people already interested in this sound. The band seem to understand the audience they are playing for.
Light 'Em Up delivers what its title promises. The riffs are good, the performances have purpose, and Corabi's return gives the record a welcome personality. Sometimes that is exactly enough.
