Author: Jernej Vene
Artist: FireHouse
Label: Epic Records
Release: 1992
The band has been known to a wider audience since 1990, when they released a debut album with the simple title Firehouse. The guys come from the US state of Oklahoma, and after just a few gigs at home they had already signed a deal with the multinational record company Sony Music. Firehouse sold more than a million copies of their debut in the US alone. Even on that record they managed to win over fans with the power pop hit Don’t Treat Me Bad and the ballad Love Of A Lifetime.
They did much the same on their second album, Hold Your Fire. Firehouse’s music is typical hard-driving heavy rock with a dash of pop. Of course, they’re not reinventing the wheel in their lyrics, sticking instead to the standard rock themes like love, partying and music, while a few songs take their own angle on the American Dream, which, well, is only for some. Musically, though, there’s nothing to complain about. By rock standards, the Firehouse quartet is plain solid, with bassist Richardson and drummer Foster laying down a foundation strong enough for the guitar and vocal fireworks of the other two members.
Firehouse build their music on guitar phrases you may have heard before, but Bill Leverty is skilled enough to weave his own chops into the foundation of the songs. In support of the album, Firehouse played a long tour, which was a pretty bold move at the height of the “grunge” boom. Solid turnout gave the record a good send-off onto the charts. Their music is interesting and appealing enough for the average rocker, and it let them repeat the success of their debut. Firehouse’s second album has everything a proper popular hard rock product needs.
Lineup
C.J. Snare – vocals, keyboards
Bill Leverty – guitar
Perry Richardson – bass guitar
Michael Foster – drums
Track list
1. Reach for the Sky (4:47)
2. Rock You Tonight(4:35)
3. Sleeping With You (3:51)
4. You’re Too Bad (3:38)
5. When I Look Into Your Eyes (4:00)
6. Get in Touch (5:24)
7. Hold Your Fire (3:51)
8. The Meaning of Love (4:12)
9. Talk of the Town (4:38)
10. Life in the Real World (3:36)
11. Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool (4:00)
12. Hold the Dream (5:02)
