Do you remember the days when Kiss me Deadly was all over MTV and Lita Ford was hot? Well those days are long gone. On Lita Ford's new CD "Living Like A Runaway" She doesn't even come close to anything remotely as catchy or good as her glory days in the 80's. I won't bother going into her past because that was covered by Wren in his review of her horrible album "Wicked Wonderland". Even tho this album isn't great it is much better then her last album because it at least sounds like Lita Ford.
The overall theme of this album is as in her own words "It‘s like walking through fire and being able to come through the other side unscathed.” So basically what that comes down to is I've been hurt but I'm still tough. This is very noticeable in the first track on the album "Branded". This song is clearly about her recent divorce. Lyrical it's pretty typical lady scorn type stuff and musically it is probably the heaviest song on the album. It is a good way to open the album with a decent rocker. The lyrical theme is pretty much the same throughout the entire album whether it be ex husbands or parental figures it's about how they hurt her.
The best song on the CD is the title track "Living like a Runaway". It is the closest she comes to sounded like the Lita Ford of old. It is a ballad but if you are a fan of metal/rock bands from the 80's you know you are going to get at least a couple of those, and this CD is no different there are 3 ballads on this CD which actually are the best songs on here. One of the other ballads "Love 2 Hate you"is a duet with producer Gary Hoey(The Endless Summer II Soundtrack ) and it harkens back to the days of poppy ballads of the hair metal days of the 80's. This is were Lita Ford is at her best on this CD, when she is doing what comes naturally to her.
For you guitar aficionados out there one thing Lita Ford does have going for her is she is a very solid guitar player. There isn't anything mind blowing here or inventive but all the solos fit the songs and are pulled off very well. Just check out the riff on "Devil in my Head" reminds me of "No More Tears "by Ozzy and also has a pretty good solo. Here abilities on the guitar where never really in question and this CD is no different.
Don't get me wrong this is not a great album by any means, it's barely good. Just listen to the Nikki Sixx produced track "A Song to Slit your Wrists By" it is a weird industrial song that sticks out like a sore thumb. It sounds like a Powerman 5000 throw away which is sad because that band is garbage. Also listen to the boring and repetitive "Relentless" That uses the same old recycled riff which you will here more than once on this album, and the worse song on here "Hate" which never goes anywhere or does anything.
Overall this CD will appeal to Lita Ford fan's(all ten of you) But for the rest of you it won't be anything worth checking out. It is leaps and bounds better than her last album, but seeing how bad her last album was that wasn't to hard to do. I suggest if you want to listen to good pop metal just listen to her older material because her new stuff, although better is still not that good.
Staff Rating
2.50/5
User Rating
0/5
otherwise, excellent scathing review. makes me want to listen to see how bad it is