Tokyo Motor Fist have a party vibe happening amidst all the anthem driven rockers.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Tokyo Motor Fist
ALBUM: Lions
LABEL: Frontiers SRL
SERIAL: FRCD 1048
YEAR: 2020
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Ted Poley – vocals * Steve Brown – guitars, keyboards, vocals, production * Greg Smith – bass, backing vocals * Chuck Burgi – drums
Additional Musicians: Dennis DeYoung – keyboards (#5) * Forest ‘Frosty’ Lawson – horns, keyboards (#9) * Mark Rivera – sax (#9) * Cherie Neve – backing vocals * Michael Hunter – violin, strings
TRACK LISTING: 01 Youngblood * 02 Monster In Me * 03 Around Midnight * 04 Mean It * 05 Lions * 06 Decadence On 10th Street * 07 Dream Your Heart Out * 08 Blow Your Mind * 09 Sedona * 10 Look Into Me * 11 Winner Takes It All
RATING: 70/100
WEBLINKS: FB Page
Background
I was a big fan of the first Tokyo Motor Fist album back in 2016. For some reason they got bagged for a supposed lousy production. My ears aren’t as good as they once were, but I thought that was a throwaway opinion from many who should have known better. The four-piece return in mid-year 2020, and it sounds like more of the same. I didn’t quite get into ‘Lions’ as much as the debut. Perhaps I’ve moved on in four years?
The Songs
‘Youngblood’ is an immediate attention grabber, a good choice as their lead-off track. The stronger songs seem to be frontloaded on the album. ‘Around Midnight’ is borderline melodic manic, while the title track is a lengthy ballad, reflecting Planet Earth’s current malaise, and how we can be ‘lions’ to fix it.
‘Decadence On 10th St’ is all about raw guitar power, and the former Trixter six-stringer Steve Brown sure knows how to deliver. Other highlights include the dense ‘Dream Your Heart Out’ and the closer ‘Winner Takes All’. The track which is kinda oddball is ‘Sedona’ which is heavy on brass (horns and sax). Tokyo Motor Fist certainly can’t be accused of being one dimensional.
In Summary
Tokyo Motor Fist have this party vibe happening amidst all the anthem driven rockers contained within. Some of you will enjoy what’s on offer here. It is good for what it is so don’t be discouraged by my review and ultimately my final summary, but for me, my tastes are somewhere else right now, so I’ll skip on this one in the meantime.
Video
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
