Artist: Unruly Child
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2010
Length: 57:52
Rating: 5/5
Unruly Child is a band remembered only by those who spent their “teenage” years at the turn of the eighties into the nineties, and by the (increasingly) rare AOR and melodic rock specialists. After their excellent 1992 debut, the band was left without a label deal. Despite having material ready for a new album, they never released it back then, and the songs ended up on singer Marcie Free’s solo studio record “Tormented” from 1996.
And yet! In 2009, guitarist Bruce Gowdy, keyboardist Guy Allison and vocalist Marcie Michelle Free joined forces again. The trio started working on a new studio album, and in the studio they got help from the excellent drummer Jay Schellen, known for his time with rockers Hurricane and for working with members of Asia and Yes, plus bassist Larry Antonino. And so here we have the second studio album from a band that a twist of fate forced into a long creative break far too early.
And the result? You won’t believe it. Put “Worlds Collide” in the player and the golden eighties instantly appear before your eyes, with that all-too-familiar, carefully cultivated American arena production, famous for the voluminous sound of each individual element and for combining their impact into a dynamic sonic fold-out full of ignition-ready bombast.
Once again, this is an album where it’s hard to pick favorites. Every single track is a favorite. They can all boast wonderfully crafty figuration and polished lead motifs that squeeze the maximum out of seductive, ear-invading melodicity. Unruly Child are AOR. This is a type of hard rock with just as much sophistication as you can keep while flirting with pop elements, so it never comes across as sugary, annoying or pushy, while it’s clear all the way through that we’re talking about rock music.
“Worlds Collide” has an extremely smooth production for the modern era, which is hard to pull off in a studio today, since the technology has changed completely, and so has the way modern-day producers hear sound. But Unruly Child reject all that, and with “Worlds Collide” they manage to recreate the true feel of radio waves from the golden eighties and the early nineties. The most important factor is Marcie’s voice. Here we need to be just a bit more precise. Marcie used to be Mark. In 1995, Mark transitioned and became “she” – that is, Marcie. But the voice stays intact. Just like on the studio debut. Even though Marcie is a she, the voice unmistakably hints that Marcie was once a “he”.
And the voice is exactly the most appealing thing about this album. Along with some great arrangements, of course. Marcie is fully immersed in the songs, and when it comes to bringing emotions to life, she belongs among the most convincing singers in AOR. From Steve Perry (Journey) to Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Kelly Hansen (Foreigner), Rick Springfield (solo), and I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone. Songs like When We Were Young, When Worlds Collide and Talk To Me are outstanding proof of this perfection and of the album’s moment of greatness, one that even Foreigner would envy from their golden age of forging their biggest hits. Marcie is especially good at shaping sensuality within mid-tempo to mellow songs, like the closing You Don’t Understand, while the band surprises right from the start with a proper golden-age AOR arrangement, as captured in Show Me The Money. The song has a pronounced, flirty rhythm, the guitars are a little restrained but the riffs stay clear and distinct all the way. And the vocal approach in this song is what instantly enchants any fan of this kind of music. This track also immediately answers the question of how much of the “old” the new Unruly Child have kept, and how much of that vibe of a bygone time, with its spotless carefree attitude from when rock was still young, has spilled over onto “Worlds Collide”. Believe me, you’ll be stunned by how many fitting references there are. The vibe from the start of the album is confirmed by Insane too, which keeps the crystal-clear poise of excellent production and a balance of sonic collages.
Unruly Child do their own thing, despite the comparisons mentioned. In 2010 they put out a lost diamond of the eighties, which surely materialized, among other things, many older, unused ideas that ripened with time. Today “Worlds Collide” is a wonderfully pleasant surprise for every nostalgic soul still dreaming of bygone days, when melodic polish and production perfection were virtues worth chasing. This album would be a classic today if it had come out twenty years ago. As it is, it will adorn the rare collections of music specialists who have kept the strength and ability to listen to the kind of rock greatness that today’s younger generations can barely grasp or follow. “Worlds Collide” is one of the best AOR releases of 2010.
Lineup
Marcie Michelle Free – vocals
Bruce Gowdy – guitar
Guy Allison – keyboards
Larry Antonino – bass
Jay Schellen – drums
Production
Unruly Child
Track list
1. Show Me The Money
2. Insane
3. When We Were Young
4. Tell Another Lie
5. Love Is Blind
6. When Worlds Collide
7. Talk To Me
8. Life Death
9. Read My Mind
10. Neverland
11. Very First Time
12. You Don’t Understand
