Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Mendoza, Marco
Label: Mighty Music
Release: 2018
Runtime: 43:07
Rating: 4/5
Marco Mendoza belongs to that handful of musicians on the international rock’n’roll scene who never rest. He’s usually involved in several projects at once, or various artists “hire” him to come into the studio and lay down at least a bass line or two. Marco needs no special introduction. The man has served time with Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and Ted Nugent, and since 2013 he’s been playing very successfully with the super rock outfit The Dead Daisies, which makes him a generally sought-after “musical attraction” for plenty of artists. Even though his schedule is permanently jam-packed, he’s still found enough time to deliver a third solo studio album.
Marco Mendoza isn’t just a bassist. As a musician he’s carved from many layers, and he’s also an exceptionally good singer, which he puts to great use on his new solo studio release. Of course, he found most of his guitar backing and help in the album’s producer Søren Andersen, who temporarily filled in for David Lowy on one of The Dead Daisies’ tours, while the drums were played by another Danish musician, Morten Hellborn Mogensen.
“Viva La Rock!” is everything that stands behind this album’s name! Rock’n’roll to the bone. Surely emboldened by the success of The Dead Daisies, Mendoza told himself he’d put out an album totally devoted to the magic of rock music, with no sonic or compositional adventures and no side trips into musical experimentation. It’s a bundle of hard-hitting rock slaps in the face, on which Mendoza, as arranger and songwriter, shines as a master tightrope walker, balancing straight-ahead rock punch with musical hunger. The choruses are often ripe for comparison with AOR-style pomp, deepened further by their careful dressing in multi-part vocal harmonies. As expected, the man also veers into funk territory, which is no surprise given he’s a bassist (Sweetest Emotion, Love 2 U), and the album gets a touch darker at times, as hinted at in the track Burned.
The album also includes two covers, namely Chinatown (orig. Thin Lizzy), where the guitar solos are played by Mendoza’s former The Dead Daisies buddy Richard Fortus (Guns N’ Roses), while the vocal duties were taken up by a third Danish musician on this album. That’s Mike Tramp (White Lion).
So, no wacky musical experiments on this album. It sounds and speaks in an elemental way: musically infectious, rock-potent, and bombastic too. The songs are really easy on the ears, which he achieved through compact songwriting. If you count as a hardened old-school rocker, this album will fit you like a glove. Aces like Mendoza simply know and understand exactly how to handle the magic of rock’n’roll so it catches fire with full blood. I can say that from head to toe, this is a true character album for this musician. Right time, right place, and it confirms once again how brilliantly accomplished Mendoza is as a musician. It’s certain that this album will also make its mark on the old continent, where he regularly tours as well, including with his solo tours!
Lineup
Marco Mendoza – vocals, bass guitar
Søren Andersen – guitar
Morten Hellborn Mogensen – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Richard Fortus – guitar on track no. 5
Mike Tramp – vocals on track no. 5
Production
Søren Andersen
Tracklist
1. Viva La Rock
2. Sue Is On The Run
3. Rocket Man
4. Sweetest Emotions
5. Chinatown
6. Burned
7. Love 2 U
8. Leah
9. Hey Baby
10. Let It Flow
