Gynger Lynn – Baby’s Gone Bad (2010)
The first thing that stands out on Gynger Lynn’s sophomore LP Baby’s Gone Bad (culled from material originally recorded in 1993) is the guitar work of Will Hair. Between blistering solos and clean notes, Will Hair stands out as the most talented member of this group. While I like lead singer Dean Pressley’s voice it is Will Hair’s ability with the ax that gives Baby’s Gone Bad some merit.
Oozing with 80s hair metal riffs, lyrics, and topics, Baby’s Gone Bad is a great album for the hair metal fanatic. Whether it’s singing about a girl, fast times, or partying, Gynger Lynn covers the 80s scene in full force for 16 tracks. Some of these songs are very catchy (Baby’s All Talk, Need To Know, Baby’s Gone Bad) and some are nothing more than filler (Take Me Away, Yes It’s True, The Chance).
Ultimately there is nothing outstanding or new in the presentation. Gynger Lynn is a band that would have made it big back in the day if they had the proper marketing. What that adds up to in 2011 is a mediocre effort that the nostalgic metal heads will love. That leaves little room to grow an audience though.
The power ballads on the album (of which there are several) do stand out and it’s these romantic jams that make Baby’s Gone Bad worth paying attention to. Pressley’s voice is a perfect companion to Will Hair’s moving guitar riffs and Gavin Jadwin’s keyboard playing. A quick listen to songs like Along The Way or Lonely, Lonely will leave you yearning for the innocent days of high school and your fringe leather jacket.
Part of the problem with Baby’s Gone Bad is that not enough songs were excluded from the album. If the band and the producer had decided to trim this album to 11 songs, it might be regarded as one of the strongest hair metal records released in quite a while. Unfortunately, Gynger Lynn decided to take the more is more approach which left a glaring error on the disc. Filler songs are far too many and actually take away from the stronger songs that stand out in their own right.
Overall, Baby’s Gone Bad isn’t a bad album; it’s just that it never rises above the level of average. If you’re seeking a hair metal sound from back in the day, Gynger Lynn is worth checking out. If you’re looking for a record that has depth and a little innovation, this is not the record for you. Hopefully for their next release Gynger Lynn will decide to write some current material that will include current topics. It would certainly be an interesting listen.
Key Tracks – Need To Know; Baby’s All Talk; Lonely, Lonely
Track Listing
- Take Me Away
- Need To Know
- Baby’s All Talk
- Along The Way
- Yes It’ True
- Need A Little Love
- Goin’ Home
- Summertime
- Lonely, Lonely
- Never Gone Find A Better Girl
- Wanna Be Your Lover
- The Chance
- Stay With Me
- Baby’s Gone Bad
- Way Of The World
- Bad Luck
Gynger Lynn is:
Dean Pressley – Vocals and Rhythm guitar
Will Hair – Lead Guitar
Jim Stuppy – Bass Guitar
Luke James Lorraine – Drums
Gavin Jadwin – Keyboards
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