On May 22, 2012, Great White is set to release their twelfth studio album, “Elation.” This new version of Great White features original guitarists Mark Kendall and Michael Lardie and original drummer Audie Desbrow as well as Terry Ilous on vocals and Scott Snyder on bass. After suffering through numerous lineup changes over the years and the horrific fire at The Station nightclub in 2003, Great White is hoping for a new beginning with “Elation.”
The record attempts to get back to the gritty, bluesy sound we have come to expect from Great White. The result is a release that sometimes achieves that goal and other times fails miserably. The musicianship on the record is top notch. The band sounds great and Ilous is a talented vocalist. The songwriting, however, does not always do them justice. The more uptempo tracks like “(I’ve Got) Something For You” and “Feelin’ So Much Better” are lacking something. There are no catchy choruses or great hooks to get excited about.
The good news is that several of the more blues based tracks are phenomenal. Great White really is in their element on the slower, more down and dirty type numbers. “Love Train” and the bonus track, “Lowdown,” are worth checking out along with “Hard To Say Goodbye.” The raspier Terry sings, the better he sounds and his style meshes really well with the rest of the band on these songs.
New beginnings are often about discovering what works for you and in that sense “Elation” is a success. I hope that Great White recognizes their strength and continues down a blues based path. If you’re expecting to hear another “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” on this record, you will be disappointed. But, if you’re a fan of the blues and appreciate what Great White is attempting to do, you may just find something on the record to get elated about.
