Tag: Gynger Lynn
0 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
1 Gynger Lynn – S/T (Release Year – 2009)
Arriving from the vaults of hair metal resurgence, Gynger Lynn’s self titled debut record is finally seeing the light of day, thanks to Eonian Records. While they never quite made it out of the Chicago music scene back in the late 80s, Gynger Lynn did manage to gain the interest of quite a few record executives. Unfortunately, they never signed a deal and thus were never thrust into the spotlight. Now, thanks to the resurrection and demand of hair metal music, Gynger Lynn is available for your listening pleasure.
Gynger Lynn’s self titled debut kicks off with a less than memorable song, Dirty. As an introduction to the band, this song does not deliver, and set the stage for disappointment. Fortunately, the band is able to recover from this less than stellar first track.
The second track, Reasons Why, is a soft ballad in typical hair metal fashion. It’s a solid track, but I was surprised that it came so early on the disc. The acoustic guitar is a nice (albeit cliché) touch and the guitar work on this ballad is enjoyable and well played.
Tell The World is hands down the best song. It’s a catchy, infectious tune that gets into your ear and doesn’t leave. A guaranteed sing along by the third listen, Tell The World is a foot tapping, fist pumping, head banging good time meant to be played while cruising the streets on a hot summer night.
On My Way sounds like it could have been placed right on Skid Row’s debut album. It resembles a morph between Big Guns and Sweet Little Sister. The song is catchy in its own right, but the nonstop resemblance to Skid Row makes me think less of this song, because it’s lacking in originality.
Wanna Be Your Lover is another strong song that sings about love and romance. The guitar riffs are catchy with solid hooks. The song starts with a fun yowl from lead singer Dean Pressley. This is another song about love and romance, typical of the late 80s music scene. The basic back beat pattern of quarter note time helps this riff get stuck in your head and makes for an enjoyable music experience.
Arms Around You is another excellent song that battles for the spot of best song on the disc. The guitar solo is spot on, 1988-era. This is a fun song about young lovers never wanting to let go of each other. This song brought me back to the late 80s, hanging out on a summer night, just holding your best girlfriend and never wanting time to move. A fantastic and fun-filled tune.
Lead guitarist Will Hair does a decent job throughout the record. The guitars are sharp and tight, and his note playing is clean and memorable. While sometimes simplistic in nature, the guitar work is right for the songs and Will really shines on the power ballads, of which there are several.
Dean Pressley’s voice is typical 80s hair metal lead vocalist falsetto. His style is similar to Sebastian Bach, Mark Slaughter, and Steve Whiteman. While limited in range, Dean has a good voice and sings well on Gynger Lynn. His voice stands out on the ballads and while lacking in strength for the rockers, he can carry the tunes well enough.
Even though they never made the big time during hair metal’s peak years, Gynger Lynn is still worth picking up and getting to know now. The music is classic 80s and the songs hold up over time. Packed with memorable, fun hits, and more than a few power ballads, Gynger Lynn is definitely worthy of your time and your money, especially if you are searching for a new band to help you embrace the past.
For more information on Gynger Lynn, check out the band’s official myspace page.
Rating: Out of 10
Track Listing
- Dirty
- Reasons Why
- One and Only
- My, My Lisa
- Why Is It Over
- On My Way
- Tell The World
- In My Heart
- Wanna Be Your Lover
- I Love The Lights
- Arms Around You
- Faces
- Love
Gynger Lynn is:
Dean Pressley – Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitars
Will Hair – Lead Guitars
Jim Stuppy – Bass Guitar
Frank Paul – Drums
Reviewed by Ryo Vie
1 New Releases From Eonian Records
Eonian Records is proud to announce the release of its first four releases: Charlemagne “S/t,” High Noon “No Turning Back,” Gynger Lynn “S/t,” and Pistol Dawn “Conversation Piece.” All four will be available worldwide on March 19th.
Charlemagne “S/T” To Hollywood and back, these Sunset Strip veterans have owned the legendary stages of The Whiskey, The Troubadour, The Roxy Theater, Coconut Teaszer and the infamous Gazzarri’s. This self-titled release is evidence that the Charlemagne of today has yet to slow down or stop kickin’ ass. Covered by many and ignored by none, they were a part of history in the making, fuel for electricity that never waned and would impact our culture for years to come.
Track Listing: 1. Secret Romeo 2. I Don’t Wanna Lie 3. She’s Only Young 4. So Far Away 5. Is It Ever Easy 6. I’ve Got You 7. Chance Is Calling 8. Last Chance 9. Wait and See 10. I’m Not That Easy 11. I Wish I Knew
High Noon “No Turning Back” East Coast meets West Coast in 1989 and sparked High Noon, creating an experience of “groove and soul” that hooked the Hollywood scene and rocked the world! “No Turning Back” is THE chronological overview of High Noon, featuring straight ahead gut wrenching tracks produced by Michael Lardie of Great White and mixed by the legendary Michael Wagener (Skid Row, Dokken, & Extreme.)
Track Listing: 1. High Noon 2. Bad Moon Risin’ 3. Rude Boy 4. Don’t Come Running 5. Have My Heart 6. Skatin’ On Thin Ice 7. When the Night Calls 8. Just Like a Woman 9. Who Do You Think You Are? 10. Around Midnight 11. Faith Hope and Love 12. Bed of Lies 13. Weight of the World 14. House of Glass
GYNGER LYNN “Self-Titled” Not just another “hair band,” Gynger Lynn rose from the depths of basement rehearsals and took Chicago stages by storm for over a decade; becoming one of the hardest-working and most enduring rock legends the area has ever seen. Gynger Lynn lands hard on both feet here with their debut, self-titled release for Eonian Records. Gynger Lynn is armed with seductive ballads complete with haunting vocals and crying guitars while bringing it all home with their signature sound in “I Love the Lights,” the hard-hitting screaming anthem for a generation of musicians.
Track Listing: 1. Dirty 2. Reasons Why 3. One and Only 4. My, My Lisa 5. Why Is It Over 6. On My Way 7. Tell the World 8. In My Heart 9. Wanna Be Your Lover 10. I Love the Lights 11. Arms Around You 12. Faces 13. Love
PISTOL DAWN “Conversation Piece” Offering up their own brand of high-energy heavy metal sleaze with a wink and no apologies, these touring giants show us why they have shared stages the world over with the likes of Cheap Trick, Enuff Z’Nuff, Dangerous Toys and Lillian Axe. Featuring tracks produced by Chip Z’Nuff, ‘Conversation Piece’ is Pistol Dawn’s confirmation in this new millennium. From the raw-edged title track ‘Conversation Piece,’ to the harmonic intertwining of vocals and guitar showcased in ‘Still Running Wild,’ this compilation of “dirty power pop” songs captures and delivers Pistol Dawn at their loudest and proudest with just a peek at their tender side.
Track Listing: 1. Conversation Piece 2. Message in a Bottle 3. Dreams Come True 4. Be My Girl 5. Hard Way 6. Gone Away 7. Stocks and Blonds 8. Still Running Wild 9. Talk of the Town 10. Wish Upon a Star