 PAUL
DEAN
Hardcore
Columbia/CBS Records 1988
www.loverboyband.com
What’s the 4-1-1?
I had a hard time compiling history on this release, but here’s what
I’ve come up with. While Loverboy was on hiatus at the end of the eighties,
guitar Paul Dean cut a solo album with a little help from his friends. To
open up his debut solo album, Paul picks a catchy little song written by
the ever-popular Kiss called “Sword and Stone”. Prepare to be
assaulted by one of the heaviest riffs that Dean has ever produced. It even
has a Kiss circa 1988 feel to it. There are plenty of fuzzy riffs on “Doctor”,
but it’s the keyboard that dominates the track. Dean weaves in cleaver
metaphors to his lyrics about really wanting a nurse. The chorus is so effective
that you’ll be singing along the next time around.
“Draw the
Line” was co-penned by Bryan Adams and contains some impressive guitar
licks and driving chord patterns. On “Dirty Fingers” Paul proves
that your can’t go wrong with a section of ahh…ahhs and whoh…whohs.
He even matches that section with an identical guitar run. Jon Bon Jovi and
Richie Sambora helped pen “Under the Gun” with Dean and fellow
Loverboy alum Mike Reno. I’m guessing Richie contributed the tube vocal
doohickey at the beginning a la “Living on a Prayer”. The track
also has a charging bassline, hammering drums, and a wailing guitar solo.
“Action” could
easily be called “Turn Me Loose II” due to it’s similar
sustained keyboard and thumping bassline intro. You have to respect the drawn
out intro though, it really sucks you in see hear what’s next. A meaty
riff that morphs into a muted chugga-chugga riff on “Down to the Bottom”,
which builds to a strong chorus. The album draws it’s name from the
piano heavy intro of “Black Sheep”. Hardcore is now a sought
after collector’s item, although I heard a few months ago that Dean
was planning to re-release it. The Verdict
It’s far from hardcore, but the former loverboy shows that he
has an edgy side to him.
Did You Know?
“Sword and Stone” was originally written for Kiss’ Crazy
Nights album.
Rating:  out
of 5
--George Dionne
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