Slammin’ Gladys Self-Titled

Musically, this disc isn’t a far cry from the 80’s Metal we’d became accustomed to but it’s not the same ole same – it’s Funk Metal but still not exactly new; we’d already heard music similar to this courtesy of Electric Boys and Bang Tango but the vocals are what separate Slammin’ Gladys from the pack. Vocalist, Brooks had serious vocal range and soulful tone that’s rare to hear in this kind of music, it didn’t hurt that he never shied away from belting his guts out every chance he got; essentially he used his vocals as another instrument which is how it’s supposed to be done. Speaking of vocals let’s go ahead and talk about the cover of Joplin’s “Piece Of My Heart”. Sure, Rough Cutt had already done a cover of the song and Shortino isn’t a slouch, but the vocal work here summons the spirit of Joplin, it’s flat out eerie. From beginning to end Brooks screeches/wails and flat out howls – damned fine outing! The music isn’t much to write home about, but we’ve heard the song a billion times, it is what it is… From there we hit one of the pseudo ballads and my favorite track off the disc – “Down on your knees”. Everything about this track is perfect from the intro lead break to the vocal patterns and the heart wrenching lyrics – those lyrics get me every damned time. There was also a video release for this song which tells a bit more about the story line and so forth – classic in every sense of the word! I think of all the music/songs I listen to I’ve driven my wife the craziest with this one, I turn it wide open every time and when the chorus hits, dude’s vocals just soar and she yells “for the love of God please turn it down and why do we have to listen to this one again, haven’t we heard it enough?!”. To which I answer, NEVER! The next stand out track, “What U Need” is another  pseudo ballad, also another favorite that I blare wide open every chance I get. It’s also the first spot where I hear Lane’s background vocals and I don’t say this because he’s no longer with us, but he was absolutely spot on in his approach here – it’s perfect and adds a great deal more to the song. Without his background vocals I don’t know that the song would be as good, it’s one of those hooky melodies that can’t be denied. The lead break in this track rips too, it just screams!!!! Honorable mentions of tunes you don’t wanna miss out on are “Lay me down (in the roses)”, “Love is my drug” and of course the cd only bonus track “Cum” – an ode to soul/funk/blues/boogie woogie, if you wanna call it that, but lyrically it’s everything you’re thinking it is and you don’t wanna miss it….