| Cover:
9 Kidd Wickeds out of 10
It's a cartoon drawing of a giant Billy Morris running down a
city street. Buildings are on fire, Billy's stepping on overturned cars,
and people are running and screaming trying to get out of his way. I
love mass hysteria. The picture would've gotten a full 10/10 rating
if Billy were stepping on various members of Warrant, but I guess you
can't have everything.
Booklet:
10 Warrants out of 10
The booklet's only 4 pages with no lyrics, but it's full color and has
some live photos on the inside. The back of the CD has a picture
of Billy playing his guitar and he's making a face like he's about ready
to blow his wad. So why the perfect score? Billy's listed "all
at the mighty METAL-SLUDGE!" under his list of 'essential friends.'
See? Billy knows how the game is played. He also thanks Jani Bon Neil
by name and it makes me extremely happy to see a Sludge staff member
listed right alongside Jani Lane, Erik Turner, Jerry Dixon, and Obi
Steinman. I'm so proud, I actually think I'm glowing! Though I've been
drinking for hours, so maybe it's just the liquor talking.
Songs: 7
Hi-Fi Clubs out of 10
This CD has a dozen modern rocker songs and a lot of it is really pretty
good. It's very un-Warrant like, so if you were expecting anything like
"Down Boys" you'll be sadly disappointed. It's more in the
vein of 40 Ft. Ringo, Mars Electric, etc. but a little darker and with
a lot more guitar. Billy's no slouch on his instrument and he's not
a bad singer either, even if his voice does sound a little like Weird
Al Yankovic in spots. The disc kicks off with the catchy "1994,"
and having a song about the summer of 1994 makes me start to realize
how long ago that actually seems. Thanks for making us feel old, Billy.
Uh, the other early album tracks "If I Lose You" and "Without
You" are really good. Of the rest of the songs, nothing really
sounds generic, but a few of the tracks are just kind of so-so. Not
terrible. Not great either. A few of the melodies have kind of a Beatles
vibe, but not to the degree that I'd compare them to Enuff Z'Nuff. The
songs I do like a lot are "Flyin High," which sounds a bit
like a Foo Fighters song, and probably my favorite here, "Barely
Breathing," which is also just about the most unique track on the
entire CD. Production is good all the way through, as are the other
musicians in Billy's band. All around, a decent first effort from the
Billy Morris Band.
Comments: Of course, Billy
Morris was the lead guitarist in Warrant from 2000 through the end of
2003. He was in the band when they recorded Under the Influence...
you know, that CD of cover songs they put out in 2001. Billy even sings
lead on one of that disc's songs, "Down Payment Blues." He
also was in the band for the "Glam Slam Metal Jam" and Metal
Edge Rockfest tours. But in addition to his illustrious career with
Warrant, Billy was in a band called Kidd Wicked, played guitar in Paul
Gilbert's touring band, played Kurt Cobain in a Nirvana tribute band,
owned a club in Cleveland called the Revolution and another called the
Hi-Fi Club, the latter which he still co-owns to this day. And he co-owns
a recording studio. It's pretty clear that Billy has his fingers in
many pies, yet that doesn't even begin to address all the ways his life
has been tethered to Metal Sludge: Billy's done 20
Questions, a Rewind, played at 2 shows
on our 2003 MSX Tour, and helped
bring about our Metal Sludge Extravaganza #7
which was held at the Hi-Fi Club. But most importantly, the Billy Morris
Band recorded a brand new track, "Killing Time," exclusively
for our Hey, That's What I Call Sludge
Vol. 1 CD. In fact, what better way to get your first taste of the
Billy Morris Band than on our CD, which you can purchase right
here. Do it now!
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