Great White - Rising

I've heard a lot of rumblings about Rising over the past few weeks. (One thing I hate is when people get online and piss and moan about an album they downloaded/stole. Just shut up until you've sacrificed a little hard-earned cash.) The main complaint has been that it's not very rockin', too mellow. To which I ask: when the hell has Great White been anything but that? They've had their moments, of course, especially on the first few albums. In general, though, all their albums have mixed in those mid-paced bluesy rockers with ballads and slower numbers. Rising is no different.

On the heels of the excellent Back To The Rhythm—an album with more "rockers," which may explain why some fans had their expectations in the wrong place—this new album is no slouch. If you're looking for a comparison point, look no further than Can't Get There From Here, a very underrated album. Rising is more mellow than not, with a handful of slower tracks, like "I Don't Mind" and "Is It Enough," and the ballads "Only You Can Do," "Last Chance" and "My Sanctuary." Standard fare material here, but done very well. Then there are the rockers...you know, those tunes that apparently are too few on this album.

The album starts with "Situation" and "All Or Nothin'," the proverbial one-two punch, and the result is a knockout. Both tracks channel some old school ZZ Top; the former with some excellent Billy Gibbonsesque lead work, and the latter with a main riff that is without a doubt way too similar to "Sharp Dressed Man," but they mask it well with some great melodies. "Shine" and "Danger Zone" bolster the heavier side of the album, but it's "Down On The Level" that really solidifies things. It's another rockin' track, but it pulls in some of that old time 70s rock/funk, big harmonies, horns, and a smooth groove. Definitely the highlight for my (increasingly hairy) ears.

All in all, Rising should please longtime fans of the band. It's another solid effort in a long line of really good albums.

Video: All Or Nothin', I Don't Mind

Website: http://www.greatwhiterocks.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/officialgreatwhite

Note: Many of these links are external. In time, they may become obsolete.