| Gynger Lynn - 'Self-Titled' |
re-released through Eönian Records in 2009 |
THE BAND:
***See Track Fragments***
TRACK FRAGMENTS:
The Band:
Dean Pressley – vocals & guitar
Will Hair – lead guitar
Jim Stuppy – bass
Frank Paul - drums
1.) “Dirty” – This track opens with a cowbell count-off. This leads into a tom-tom bass drum/snare fill. There is a minor lead guitar solo over the top of the intro section. Throughout the minor solo Dean sings these scattered out vocal accents. There is a small rhythm guitar arrangement change underneath the lead vocal lines of the verse. When Dean begins to sing the lyric lines of the verse the song takes on a muffled sound. There is a small riff change connecting the verse with the musical chorus. There is a second minor solo connecting the first chorus with the second verse. Because of the way this song was produced the second minor solo was heavily drowned out. As a drummer I noticed the drum line had several tom-tom fills in it which I really liked. There is another solo after the second chorus because of the notes that were used I would say this was the major solo section. There is a breakdown section connecting the solo with third chorus.
2.) “Reason Why” – This track opens with a clean electric guitar arrangement. Over the top of the intro there are a couple vocal accents. Listening to this intro is one of the few times I have been able to say the vocal accents of the intro actually accent the guitar riffs. The rhythm guitar switches from a picking pattern of the intro to a strumming pattern for the musical verse. The song does not kick-in until the chorus. There is a huge drum fill leading into the lead guitar solo. The solo itself was very laid back and melodic.
3.) “One and Only” - This song consisted of a very basic intro section. There is a small musical rest underneath a vocal accent that separates the musical intro with the musical verse. For the musical verse Dean changed the rhythm guitar riff just enough to give it a different sound. Towards the end of the musical verse Frank slowly alters the drum line. He does this so the hook of the chorus will work. There is a small musical rest right in between the first musical chorus. The musical rest did not fit in with the music at all!! I will say however, that Dean pulls off a perfect early Mike Tramp for the vocal accents. Unless I’m impressed with the solo that just may have been the highlight of this track. I take that back, the drum fills are a nice highlight; I say that knowing I’m a drummer. The lead guitar solo was short and somehow got swallowed up with-in the arrangement.
4.) “My, My Lisa” – You could not get any simpler than this intro. There is a small rhythm change for the musical verse. As the song progresses the drums build causing what you will hope to be a great hook. However, musically I was very let down. The song has that first written song has a band sound to it.
5.) “Why Is It” – This track opens with a clean electric guitar riff. About a measure into the intro a small orchestrated string section begins underneath the electric guitar. As the lead vocals begin Frank plays a simple cymbal crash. The lyrics follow along with the notes of the electric guitar. The drum and bass line kick-in underneath the musical chorus. In the way Dean sang the second chorus really showed his vocal ability. There is a small lead guitar solo connecting the second and third chorus.
6.) “On My Way” –There is a lead vocal accent echo over the top of the rhythm guitar lick that opens this intro. Because there are so many musical rests in the intro it allows the bass line to bleed through. There is a small lead guitar effect connecting the intro with the musical verse. This lead guitar effect had a very early classic eighties metal feel. There is a rhythm guitar change for the musical verse. The vocals along with the musical verse were very reminiscent of Madame X. It’s about damn time someone throws this band a bone! There is a small rhythm guitar change for the musical chorus. Connecting the first chorus with the second verse there is a major lead guitar solo section. There is a small breakdown connecting the lead guitar solo with the next musical verse.
The band:
Dean Pressley – vocals & guitar
Will Hair – lead guitar
Jim Stuppy – bass
Frank Paul - drums
7.) “Tell The World” – The intro to this track opens with a tom-tom fill. There is a small rhythm guitar change for the musical verse. The way the guys arranged the lyrics was very reminiscent to The Ramones. The musical chorus change is so simple you don’t even notice it. The backing vocals of the chorus are very tight and probably the best part of the song. The solo licks of the lead guitar solo do not work well with the song.
8.) “In My Heart” – This track opens with a small orchestrated section. The orchestra carries out the last note of the into carries out intro a whole-note. There is a small musical rest connecting the intro with the musical verse. The musical verse consisted of orchestra underneath a piano arrangement underneath a lead vocal line. The song kicks-in for the musical chorus. The music was produced in such a way that it drowns out the lead vocals. Which really sucks because they could have sounded great!!! The rhythm guitar was turned up way to loud for this type of ballad. Because the backing music was so loud it ruined the lead guitar solo!
9.) “Wanna Be Your Lover” –This intro opens with a very simple tom-fill. There is a vocal accent connecting the tom fill with the main intro. These vocal accents are scattered throughout the intro section. There is a small lead guitar lick that connects the intro with the musical verse. So far it is the lyric lines that ruin this track. There is no rhythm guitar change between the musical verse and chorus. I have to say if I was the band I would keep the solo from this track and through everything else out the window.
10.) “I Love The Lights” – There is a small vocal accent over the top of this classic intro arrangement. This first vocal accent had a small echo attached to it. There are several vocal accents over the top of the main musical intro. Really when you stop and think about all of the vocal accents had an echo attached to them. There is a small lead guitar lick connecting the musical pre-verse with the intro section. There is a small rhythm guitar change for the musical pre-verse it a does doesn’t sound as thick as the rhythm guitar of the intro does. All of the lyric lines for the pre-verse were echoed at the end. The same lead guitar lick that connects the musical intro with the musical pre-verse also connects the musical pre-verse with verse. There is a guitar arrangement change for the musical verse. Outside of the solo the song has a very basic sound and too be honest the solo wasn’t that impressive.
The band:
Dean Pressley – vocals, guitar & percussion
Will Hair –guitars
Frank Paul – guitar & percussion
John Hunter – Piano on “Faces” & “Love”
11.) “Arms Around You” – This track opens with a solo lyric line. Much like what Poison did on “I Want Action” taken off of their ‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’ released on August 2, 1986. I don’t think there is a backing harmony underneath this as much as just a small echo. The musical intro is fairly standard for this style of music. There is a small rhythm guitar change for the musical verse. For the musical pre-chorus the band picks the hook up just a little. Musically and lyrically the band kept the chorus very short and sweet. There is a lead guitar solo after the second chorus. All in all this track is fundamental hair metal songwriting.
12.) “Faces” –
13.) “Love” –
Here is what I can about track 12 & 13, these songs were heavily influenced by the sixties and I would put up one hell of a fight to say their probably the best songs on the CD!
Most of the tracks on this release sound like they were ripped right off of the original cassette tape. (Back before there was CD’s kiddies there was a technology called cassettes.) So for those young hard rock fans out that do not remember cassettes may not understand this sound and be automatically turned off. However the older fans, I for one not only remember the sound but still have a cassette or two that sound like this, will like this nostalgic feel the song have. The rest of the songs just are not good quality songs in the writing department. Outside of tracks 12 & 13 which completely blew me away!!!! Here is what I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around. Out of all the bands that released CD’s to a local market why did Eönian Records, not so much choose this band, but choose this album. The band had potential however these sets of songs did not. I apologize to the label, band, and any Gynger Lynn fans that are out there however I cannot recommend the CD to anyone.