PAUL LAINE
Stick It in Your Ear
Elektra Records 1989
www.shugaazer.com

What’s the 4-1-1?
Before vocalist Paul Laine fronted the sleaze-rock metal group Danger Danger in the mid nineties, he had a brief solo career of his own. Stick it in Your Ear was his first major release. “One Step Over the Line” builds with drums and keyboards a la Van Halen’s “Everybody Wants Some” before kicking you in the teeth with a thunderous riff. If that’s not enough, Laine kicks you while you’re down with his powerful vocals. “We Are the Young” has a chugga-chugga riff that barrels down on you like a freight train. It also has an over-the-top anthemic chorus followed by a lightening quick solo.

80s rock cliché alert: A song named specifically for a woman, “Dorianna”. Warm keyboard chord changes are doubled over with piercing guitar licks. Laine is soft and subtle in his vocal delivery during the verses, but lets it all out with passion and emotion during his declaration of love. “Is It Love” mixes nature effects and cosmic keyboard effects with acoustic guitar and great vocal melodies. “Heart of America” is about how the working man is what keeps our country moving. It’s a keyboard heavy anthem rocker that you could put at the end of any of your favorite 80s hero movies.

“Doin’ Time” has Laine laying down some gritty vocals while he is backed up by twangy blues riffs. The energy builds with each passing verse. Do you remember Mr. Mister’s “Kyrie”? (If you don’t, refresh your memory with my review) I’ll bet that Paul was a big fan of that song. How else could he explain “I’ll Be There”? I swear it’s the same cosmic intro, followed by the same bassline. Once the vocals and drums came in, I was almost convinced it was the same song.

The Verdict
Commercial hard rock at its best! Flawless production and over-the-top everything!

Did You Know?
So where is Paul Laine now? He was replaced in Danger Danger in 2004 by original singer Ted Poley. Laine now heads up the band Shugaazer.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne