John Waite

[Memorex]

We were talking before about John Waite's hits and misses. I just got hold of the new CD. Best album since Temple Bar, if not the best of his solo career, in my opinion. This is the one I have been waiting on for years. I have liked most of his stuff, but this album is good start to finish. I was waiting to dislike the songs Andrew reviewed poorly and all I can say is I could not disagree more. Not a bad song on this thing This is one of the best albums I have heard from anyone in years.

Like I said - never judge John Waite by his first single. I'm so jazzed over this. Well worth the waite! See what I did there - adding the e to wait? Get it? Yep - that happy with it.

I watched that video and I thought oh crap, another old rocker saying this is the one, over-hyping it. How disappointing this will be. Well, he was 100% right.

[Andrew]

Still think there are some misses on there, but the first half of the album + Gone is brillaint.

[Rip Rokken]

John Waite blows so hard that I wouldn't be surprised if he ended being hunted on Storm Chasers.



Now, the new MR. BIG!!! Just popped that one in for the first time an hour ago, and it kicks A! First song is really reminiscent of early Van Halen to me. Totally dig it!

[Memorex]

Still think there are some misses on there, but the first half of the album + Gone is brillaint.

Peace of Mind was a little odd to me, but I still like it.

As far as Mr. Wonderful - I found it really interesting to hear his take on an old song. I sometimes enjoy that, sometimes not. Here, I thought it really captured the difference in the Artist then VS the Artist now.

I was listening to some of his stuff over the weekend and it really jumps out how much he sings about the American experience. You can see how enamored he is with it. This sounds like a good ol' mid-western rocker in many places.

So many of the artists I liked either stopped making music or continue to try and make the same album over and over. Waite, like Springfield, continue to reach creatively and damned the record sales. Sometimes though, they get lucky. I know Rick's last one did pretty good. Not sure about this one. Hopefully it won't get looked over.

This album just changed my whole mood. For the better.

[Andrew]

I agree with you about doing something different all the time. Magnum are like that also. Makes things interesting. Mr. Big also for that matter.

[Ehwmatt]

Hm, hope the album is better than Shadows of Love or whatever it's called... that song is awful

[Rip Rokken]

Hm, hope the album is better than Shadows of Love or whatever it's called... that song is awful

It does suck hard, and I'm glad someone agrees with me.

[Memorex]

Hm, hope the album is better than Shadows of Love or whatever it's called... that song is awful

It does suck hard, and I'm glad someone agrees with me.

I wasn't impressed with that song these past few weeks, but in the scope of the album, it actually fits. First single should have been Better Off Gone. But do singles really mean anything to these types of artists?

[Ehwmatt]

But do singles really mean anything to these types of artists?

Not in terms of making money off them like you used to. But, I think they should still be putting their best foot forward and release a good song to pique listener interest, given the way their niche market has contracted over the last several years and the tight economy for most people.

[Andrew]

WTF? That's a GREAT - CLASSIC JW song.

[Ehwmatt]

WTF? That's a GREAT - CLASSIC JW song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOBtk6vpc0k

This song?

You really think so? Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus that leaves you with blue balls/ears - totally unresolved tension and really missing a killer hook. Vocals sound terribly dry too production-wise. And don't even get me started on the guitar tone on the solo - awful.

I like John a LOT but this song is not one of his better efforts, and it certainly doesn't make me want to run out and buy the album. At least his voice still sounds top notch. Just goes to reaffirm the old principle that even great musicians are only as good as the songs they write/perform.

[Andrew]

That song is JW. Sums up his style. Great song.

[Rip Rokken]

WTF? That's a GREAT - CLASSIC JW song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOBtk6vpc0k

This song?

You really think so? Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus that leaves you with blue balls/ears - totally unresolved tension and really missing a killer hook. Vocals sound terribly dry too production-wise. And don't even get me started on the guitar tone on the solo - awful.

I like John a LOT but this song is not one of his better efforts, and it certainly doesn't make me want to run out and buy the album. At least his voice still sounds top notch. Just goes to reaffirm the old principle that even great musicians are only as good as the songs they write/perform.

That song is JW. Sums up his style. Great song.

I TOTALLY AGREE, and it's absolutely HORRID.

[slucero]

JW has a much better chance of getting that "Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus" broadly heard than anything Dorken or MB has cut recently....

[Rip Rokken]

JW has a much better chance of getting that "Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus" broadly heard than anything Dorken or MB has cut recently....

Dokken put out one of the best albums of 2009, and Don will put another rabbit out of his hat again -- you just wait and see!

Who is MW?

[kgdjpubs]

WTF? That's a GREAT - CLASSIC JW song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOBtk6vpc0k

This song?

You really think so? Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus that leaves you with blue balls/ears - totally unresolved tension and really missing a killer hook. Vocals sound terribly dry too production-wise. And don't even get me started on the guitar tone on the solo - awful.

I like John a LOT but this song is not one of his better efforts, and it certainly doesn't make me want to run out and buy the album. At least his voice still sounds top notch. Just goes to reaffirm the old principle that even great musicians are only as good as the songs they write/perform.

That song is JW. Sums up his style. Great song.

I TOTALLY AGREE, and it's absolutely HORRID.

sounds pretty much typical John Waite to me, and fairly close to the sound of Bad English #1. Doesn't do anything for me, but that's nothing new. Not for lack of trying, but I've never been impressed with much of anything that he has released.

[slucero]

I NEVER said Dokken or MB (thats Mr Big)... albums sucked... I said...

"JW has a much better chance of getting that "Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus" broadly heard than anything Dorken or MB has cut recently...."

John Waite's appeal is much broader than either Dokken OR MB.. unless MB writes another "To Be With You".... or Don pulls a ballad out of his hat....

[kgdjpubs]

I agree with you about doing something different all the time. Magnum are like that also. Makes things interesting. Mr. Big also for that matter.

I like the style changes from album to album and most artists used to do that to some extent. Even Journey would fall into that category if you cut the line after ROR.

Magnum would be on the more extreme end of style changes (think the change in Journey from Frontiers to ROR, and then do that kind of a jump consistently for 30 years and 15 albums). The opposite end would be someone like Thunder, who never changed much at all, and the fans didn't mind one bit.

Put out a solid album of songs and style is irrelevant. Change and put out a disappointing album, and fans will blame the style change--go figure.

[G.I.Jim]

That song is JW. Sums up his style. Great song.

Gotta say I agree with you on this. I like it. I wish he'd get Bad English going again.

[Andrew]

Put out a solid album of songs and style is irrelevant. Change and put out a disappointing album, and fans will blame the style change--go figure.

Agree 100%. If you are going to change, have the songs to back it up. And if not - still have songs to back it up

[Andrew]

Dokken put out one of the best albums of 2009, and Don will put another rabbit out of his hat again -- you just wait and see!

Who is MW?

Dokken need a new lead vocalist. Then they would rule.

[Deb]

I NEVER said Dokken or MB (thats Mr Big)... albums sucked... I said...

"JW has a much better chance of getting that "Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus" broadly heard than anything Dorken or MB has cut recently...."

John Waite's appeal is much broader than either Dokken OR MB.. unless MB writes another "To Be With You".... or Don pulls a ballad out of his hat....

Noooooo! I already like both ballads on the new album way better than TBWY. EM's Stranger In My Life is 10x the ballad his TBWY is.

[brywool]

I just want the album so I can count how many times his lyrics say "World".

[kgdjpubs]

I NEVER said Dokken or MB (thats Mr Big)... albums sucked... I said...

"JW has a much better chance of getting that "Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus" broadly heard than anything Dorken or MB has cut recently...."

John Waite's appeal is much broader than either Dokken OR MB.. unless MB writes another "To Be With You".... or Don pulls a ballad out of his hat....

Noooooo! I already like both ballads on the new album way better than TBWY. EM's Stranger In My Life is 10x the ballad his TBWY is.

yes, but TBWY has 10x the commercial potential as Stranger in My Life, even though Stranger is the stronger song.

[Deb]

I NEVER said Dokken or MB (thats Mr Big)... albums sucked... I said...

"JW has a much better chance of getting that "Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus" broadly heard than anything Dorken or MB has cut recently...."

John Waite's appeal is much broader than either Dokken OR MB.. unless MB writes another "To Be With You".... or Don pulls a ballad out of his hat....

Noooooo! I already like both ballads on the new album way better than TBWY. EM's Stranger In My Life is 10x the ballad his TBWY is.

yes, but TBWY has 10x the commercial potential as Stranger in My Life, even though Stranger is the stronger song.

I will agree with you there. The other ballad from the new album is much more commercial than Stranger, probably why it is the second single release after Undertow. All The Way Up ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENvtN0n82Lo

[slucero]

Waite has a song on Rough & Tumble called "If You Ever Get Lonely"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRzUvuts6rs

It's one the best song he's ever written... and a pure hit...

[slucero]

I NEVER said Dokken or MB (thats Mr Big)... albums sucked... I said...

"JW has a much better chance of getting that "Cookie cutter AOR guitar Dsus riff repeating ad nauseum throughout the song, plodding tempo, a chorus" broadly heard than anything Dorken or MB has cut recently...."

John Waite's appeal is much broader than either Dokken OR MB.. unless MB writes another "To Be With You".... or Don pulls a ballad out of his hat....

Noooooo! I already like both ballads on the new album way better than TBWY. EM's Stranger In My Life is 10x the ballad his TBWY is.

ya I get that... my point was that the possibility for Waite to again gain mass appeal for his music is much greater than Dokken or Mr Big... unless they move into territory that Waite pretty much naturally and comfortability stays in...

Obviousley it needs the marketing help... but the songs are just very well written... the guy knows how to write and more importantly he REALLY knows how to write for his voice... Some may say Waite's stuff is more "generic" which is a valid point... but it is much more palatable to a broader audience than Dokken or Mr Big... and the likelihood of Waite getting help with his stuff vs. Dokken or Mr Big getting help with there's.... Waite's a better known commodity and a better bet...