Tag: Kelly Hansen
6 Foreigner – Can’t Slow Down (2009)
Finally!! Mick Jones has released a new Foreigner album with the touring lineup that includes Kelly Hansen (Hurricane, Unruly Child) on vocals and Jeff Pilson (Dokken, War & Peace) on bass, and Brian Tichy (Pride & Glory) on drums. If you are expecting a dirty, balls out rocker you may be a little disappointed, but not surprised because that is not what Foreigner has evolved into over the years, but with the release of Can’t Slow Down fans of such releases as 4, Agent Provocateur, and Inside Information will rejoice. Admittedly I was a little iffy when I heard Kelly Hansen was singing with Foreigner a few years ago, that was until I heard the Extended Versions Live album after that I was hooked. I will let everyone know this right now, Kelly Hansen sounds absolutely phenomenal on Can’t Slow Down.
The title track “Can’t Slow Down” gets us going on the right track, it has that classic Foreigner sound everyone knows and loves. I can see why NASCAR wants to use this foot tapping rocker. One thing Hansen never got a real chance to do in Hurricane or even on Unruly Child’s “Waiting For The Sun” was sing on some slower mid tempos and ballads, but on Can’t Slow Down he get his chance in spades and he damn sure makes the most of the opportunities. “In Pieces” is his first shot and he absolutely nails it, this song definitely needs a shot as a single, I have a feeling it will scorch the charts once it is released. Aside from Hansen’s vocals, Jeff Pilson lays down some very nice bass lines, but Michael Bluestein’s keyboards really stand out filling out the song, this is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album. The first single from Can’t Slow Down is next and “When It Comes To Love” is already on the charts, and this mid-tempo number will fit in perfectly with such songs as “Waiting For A Girl Like You”, “I Want To Know What Love Is”, and others. Some more nice keyboards from Bluestein and Tom Gimbel’s saxophone is a nice touch also. “Living In A Dream” picks up the pace with a little nod back to Foreigner’s 70s sound, love the horns laced throughout and Tichy’s drumming as well. “Ready” and “Give Me A Sign” keep the train rolling with two more solid tracks. I can’t see the guys not playing “Ready” live as this upbeat anthem would definitely get the crowd going. “I’ll Be Home Tonight” is another mid-tempo number made for radio, Hansen shines once again. “Too Late” is another nod back to Foreigner’s 70s sound and it could easily fit onto “Head Games” or “Double Vision”. “As Long As I Live” and “Fool For You Anyway” are two more tracks that really stand out on Can’t Slow Down.
Can’t Slow Down is a 2 cd/dvd set from Wal Mart, and like the other Wal Mart exclusive releases like Kiss’s Sonic Boom and Journey’s Revelation there is a remix cd of some Foreigner’s classics, if you have any doubt about Kelly Hansen filling Lou Gramm’s shoes I suggest you give the remixes a listen. Not to take away from the performances of Mick Jones, Jeff Pilson, and the others on Can’t Slow Down because they are sound great on this album, but for me Kelly Hansen’s vocals are what made this album. I’ve always been a fan of his singing but I think his performance on Can’t Slow Down may well be the best of his career. I’m already looking forward to this line-up’s next album, hopefully Mick and the guys don’t make us wait to long.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
Disc 1 – Can’t Slow Down
1. “Can’t Slow Down” 
2. “In Pieces”
3. “When It Comes to Love”
4. “Living in a Dream”
5. “I Can’t Give Up”
6. “Ready”
7. “Give Me a Sign”
8. “I’ll Be Home Tonight”
9. “Too Late”
10. “Lonely”
11. “As Long As I Live”
12. “Angel Tonight”
13. “Fool For You Anyway”
Disc 2 – Remixes
1. “Feels Like the First Time”
2. “Cold as Ice”
3. “Hot Blooded”
4. “Blue Morning, Blue Day”
5. “Double Vision”
6. “Dirty White Boy”
7. “Head Games”
8. “Jukebox Hero”
9. “Urgent”
10. “I Want to Know What Love Is”
Disc 3 – DVD
1. “Double Vision”
2. “Head Games”
3. “That Was Yesterday”
4. “Say You Will”
5. “Starrider”
6. “Feels Like the First Time”
7. “Urgent”
8. “Juke Box Hero”
9. “I Want To Know What Love Is”
10. “Hot Blooded”
Foreigner is:
Kelly Hansen – Lead Vocals
Mick Jones – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals, Piano
Thom Gimbel – Guitars, Saxophone, Backing Vocals
Michael Bluestein- Keyboards
Jeff Pilson – Bass
Brian Tichy – Drums
2 Hurricane – Over The Edge (1988)
It has been quite a while since I have listened to the band Hurricane. I thought I would dust off this CD to give another listen to singer Kelly Hansen’s vocals. Kelly’s career will soon be getting a boost as he is featured on the new Foreigner album, Can’t Slow Down that will be released on Sept 29th, 2009.
Hurricane’s initial claim to fame was the band had two siblings of Quiet Riot, Tony Cavazo, and Robert Sarzo.
How is the music on Over The Edge? I would consider this slightly above average hair metal, and this is being pretty generous. I have a very hard time getting into this disc. There are a couple of solid tunes sandwiched around a lot of filler, and one track that is completely abysmal at best.
The album kicks off with the title track “Over The Edge”. This tune has a ballad like feel to start off with, but turns into a harder rocking tune after a slow beginning. It is a solid start to this disc.
The cover of “I’m Eighteen” plods of along and does not surpass the original by Alice Cooper. I am not sure this one was needed. This was probably the wrong song for this band to cover. (Could you imagine if they did a cover of “Hot Blooded”?)
“I’m On To You” is a solid tune and easily the band’s biggest hit. (see video clip below).
“We Are Strong” showcases Hansen’s excellent vocals. Robert Sarzo throws in some cool guitar licks, although the opening riffs sound as if they were borrowed. It is a cool tune, and one of the highlights on this disc.
The album close, “Baby Snakes” might just be the dumbest example of a song that I heard in my entire life. This is four and half minutes of my life that I will never get back. Let’s listen to a guy get rejected by some girl over the phone, with background guitar riffs. What the hell were producers Mike Clink and Bob Ezrin thinking when they green lighted this crap. This is terrible!
Overall, I think Kelly Hansen’s vocals are better than the songs, and music on this CD. Die hard hair metal fans might enjoy this. All others tread at your own risk!
This CD was out of print for years, but was re-released in 2008 by Caroline Records. You can purchase a copy of Over The Edge at this link. For more information on Hurricane, check out their myspace page.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
01. Over The Edge
02. I’m Eighteen
03. I’m On To You
04. Messin’ With A Hurricane
05. Insane
06. We Are Strong
07. Spark In My Heart
08. Give Me An Inch
09. Shout
10. Baby Snakes
Hurricane is:
Kelly Hansen – vocals
Robert Sarzo – guitar and vocals
Tony Cavazo – bass and vocals
Jay Schellen – drums and vocals
1 Foreigner’s Can’t Slow Down Available For Pre-Order, Available September 29th
Foreigner’s Can’t Slow Down, the Walmart exclusive 2 CD/DVD set is now available for pre-order. Can’t Slow Down is the band’s first album with new material since 1994’s Mr. Moonlight. This CD/DVD set includes a CD with all new material, a second CD with Foreigner classics re-recorded with the band’s current lineup and a DVD with the band live in concert. . You can listen to Foreigner’s new single, “When It Comes To Love” at myspace and in the clip below. Foreigner’s current lineup is Mick Jones – guitar, Kelly Hansen (Hurricane) – vocals, Jeff Pilson (Dokken) – bass, Tom Gimbel – Flute, Rhythm Guitar, Saxophone Michael Bluestein – Keys, Brian Tichy (Pride & Glory) – Drums.
Twelve tracks on the new album are produced by Mick Jones and Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith and Buckcherry), with celebrated Grammy®-winning producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse) contributing the Mick Jones-penned “Fool For You Anyway.” The title track, CAN’T SLOW DOWN, was written by Mick Jones, Kelly Hansen, and Marti Frederiksen as a tribute to NASCAR in celebration of Foreigner’s appearance at the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year. NASCAR fans bought so many CDs that day that Foreigner’s 2008 release No End In Sight: The Very Best Of Foreigner was propelled back into the Billboard Top 200. The collection’s second disc contains 10 remixes by Marti Frederiksen and Anthony Focx of some of the band’s most well known songs, including “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “Urgent,” “Hot Blooded,” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.” The remixes bring a new energy and sound definition to these classic songs.
The DVD captures the band performing many of its hits live in 5.1 surround sound. The DVD also contains performances filmed during the band’s recently completed European tour. Also featured is a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of CAN’T SLOW DOWN, from writing sessions in New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles to the Walmart shareholders meeting where the exclusive partnership behind this project was finalized.
You can pre-order “Can’t Slow Down” at this link.
Track Listing
1. “Can’t Slow Down”
2. “In Pieces”
3. “Lonely”
4. “Give Me a Sign”
5. “Living in a Dream”
6. “When It Comes to Love (Could Have Been You)”
7. “I Can’t Give Up”
8. “As Long As I Live”
9. “I’ll Be Home Tonight”
10. “When I’m Ready”
11. “Angel Tonight”
12. “Fool For You Anyway”
13. “Too Late”
Disc 2 – Remixes
1. “Feels Like the First Time”
2. “Cold as Ice”
3. “Urgent”
4. “Jukebox Hero”
5. “Blue Morning, Blue Day”
6. “Dirty White Boy”
7. “Double Vision”
8. “Head Games”
9. “Hot Blooded”
10. “I Want to Know What Love Is”
0 “No End In Sight” For Foreigner
Foreigner is taking a backward glance at its career this summer with
“No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner,” due July 15 on Rhino. The two-disc set contains hits from throughout the group’s 41-year career, plus a new song and three other new recordings.
Classic tracks on the set include “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Juke Box Hero,” “Urgent,” “Waiting For a Girl Like You” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
The new recordings comprise recent lives takes of “Starrider,” which originally hails from Foreigner’s self-titled 1977 debut album, and a “Juke Box Hero”/”Whole Lotta Love” medley; an acoustic version of the 1987 hit “Say You Will“; and the brand new “Too Late,” which will be released as a single.
“I’m amazed that the songs do have that staying power,” Foreigner founder, guitarist and chief songwriter Mick Jones tells Billboard.com. “I don’t really listen to the old records a lot, so you tend to forget there are this many songs that made the kind of mark they have.”
“Too Late,” meanwhile, represents the first new Foreigner track since 1994’s “Mr. Moonlight” and the first recorded output from the latest lineup of the band, which includes Jason Bonham on drums, former Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson and former Hurricane frontman Kelly Hansen. Jones says there are also plans afoot for an all-new Foreigner album, hopefully sooner than later.
“There’s a long-range plan now that we really do have a great lineup of the band again,” he says. “It’s very exciting. Everyone’s committed to the long haul here.”
“No End in Sight” comes out the same day as Foreigner begins a nine-date co-headlining tour with Bryan Adams in Augusta, Maine. The group will also play its own dates beginning July 29 in Clearfield, Pa., as of now wrapping on the 31st in Jackson, N.J.
Courtesy of Billboard.com
