The 1986 Listening Post - Alcatrazz - Dangerous Games

Alcatrazz - Dangerous Games

#387/2066

September 20 1986

Alcatrazz

Dangerous Games

Genre: Not so Sweet Glam Metal

2 out of 5

Requisite 80s cover:

“It’s My Life” by The Animals

“Only One Woman” written by the Bee Gees, performed by The Marbles

Opening your album with a cover that is probably your attempt to recreate Quiet/Crue’s successes from years long gone is an interesting gambit. 

Too bad it’s terrible. 

Bonnet’s voice sounds strained and forced. Vai is gone and the new guy is a weak tea replacement. 

It’s really tempting criticism to include a song called “No Imagination”, Guys. 

Fare thee well, Alcatrazz. 

This album proves that Bonnet’s leanings was to early 70s glam, ala Slade, but his voice is to harsh for it and was benefitted in the past by Vai’s guitar. 

Without Steve, it’s trash. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/dangerous-games-bonus-track-version/453584865

The 1985 Listening Post - Alcatrazz - Disturbing the Peace

Alcatrazz - Disturbing the Peace

#80

March 22 1985

Alcatrazz

Disturbing the Peace

Genre: Pop Metal

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

God Blessed Video

Wire and Wood

Stripper

Sons and Lovers

This might be just run of the mill pedestrian 90s metal were it not for Steve Vai’s guitar work. And since that’s extraordinary it helps elevate this in ways that their first album did not but his solo album did.

Graham Bonnet is not a good singer, he’s a screamer but he services the songs with the energy that’s required and whenever the high notes are needed, Vai provides them on his axe. But he does hit them when he can. 

Songs like “Stripper” are Van Halen meets Motley Crue. You can’t be a fan of those bands and dislike this. I mean, the song isn’t good but it’s stoopid and stoopid is to rock and roll what honey is to good triple cream. 

I can’t get over how much “Sons and Lovers” sounds like Van Hagar, if Van Hagar was fronted by…David Lee Roth…?

I’m sorry. I loved the fuck out of this record. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/disturbing-the-peace/714964800

The 1983 Listening Post - Alcatrazz - No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll

Alcatrazz - No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll

#187
October 1983
Alcatrazz
No Parole from Rock ’n’ Roll
2.5 out of 5

We have now reached the Yngie Malmsteen era of modern rock. How do we celebrate? Do we weep. No. We soldier on. And bask in the generic stadium rock that is “Island in the Sun”.
Just kidding.
Look, we all know Yngwie can play the shit out of that axe. But these solos are not in service of anything other than Yngwie. Someone should release an album of just Malmsteen’s solos of this album. It would be more interesting than trying to hang them on “songs”. Case in point, "Kree Nakoorie”. Keyboards? Great. Guitar? Excellent? Everything else? Meh.