Great White - Elation

Great White

Elation

by YngwieViking at 28 May 2012, 10:55 PM

Wahoo, I just experienced an emotional rollercoaster and a carousel of mixed feelings for this album. The resignation / sack of Jack Russell was a shock, the lawsuit and the fact that the band decided to keep going on without him was another disappointing decision. I wasn’t convinced by their last works but I always high rated Russell, like the Ace in their deck & the brightest element of GREAT WHITE.

Later, when it was clear that the vacant position of singer in the shark tribe was attributed to Terry Illous (XYZ / CAGE), I was truly curious in a very positive way. In fact, I always thought that Ilous was an unsung hero of the L.A. 80s Scene and deserved to be much more remembered by the community. So maybe it was a chance for him to shine again and perhaps even be the fin for a brand new direction. Then I heard here and there some quite flattering comments about this release. I also read that the band was ready to reach the top shore again, so I was very hot for it and even quite sold to its potential quality and dangerousness without listening to a single note.

Finally, after giving some spins it’s obvious: This is a letdown. Don’t get me wrong, the voice and the performance of Mr. Illous is more than satisfactory but the song-writing is lame and dull, sometimes lethargic or even boring, More like a BLUE PILCHARD than JAWS. Nah, sorry for this but it’s not exciting at all. GREAT WHITE sound like a good Bluesy Hard Rock band but nothing more. I think this is more of the same, lack-lustre music already displayed on “Rising” of 2009. If you liked that one, maybe you can give it a go.

I still recall the first time I heard “Bad Boy” from their early LP, back in 1984. What a blast it was, what a thrill. Ok, it was in another life, time changed it all. Sorry, I think I am not the right guy for this CD review. I also changed a lot so maybe I’m not interested in this kind of stuff anymore. Therefore I invite all the GREAT WHITE fans to respond and post comments about how wrong & how pathetic I am and how shitty my ears are.