Bangalore Choir - On Target [1992]

Country: USA

Year: 1992

Line-up: David Reece (vocals), Curt Mitchell (guitar), John Kirk (guitar), Ian Mayo (bass), Jackie Ramos (drums)

TRACK LISTING
1. Angel in Black
2. Loaded Gun
3. If the Good Die Young
4. Doin the Dance
5. Hold On to You
6. All or Nothin'
7. Slippin' Away
8. She Can't Stop
9. Freight Train Rollin'
10. Just One Night

Fletchanator's comment: Bangalore Choir only ever put out one album, but unlike a lot of one-and-out bands, these guys weren't young strugglers who got one shot and didn't make it. In fact, Bangalore Choir was something of a minor league supergroup. Awesome singer David Reece had previously fronted Dare Force, guitarists Kirk and Mitchell were ex-Razormaid, and the rhythm section was ex-Hericane Alice (incidently, you'll find Dare Force, Razormaid and Hericane Alice all on this blog). Together they combined for one brilliant melodic hard rock album which is very remiscent of Whitesnake's hair metal era stuff (mostly due to Reece sounding quite similar to David Coverdale). It's a shame Bangalore Choir didn't continue for long. Reece went on to form Sircle of Silence, while Ramos and Mayo hooked up with Doug Aldrich (ex-Lion, now playing with Dio and Whitesnake) in Bad Moon Rising and then Burning Rain.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Cadillac Bratz - Fasten Your Seatbelts [1991]

Country: USA

Year: 1991

Line-up: Michael "Spaz" Seville (vocals), Wade Jackson (guitar), Chris Morriah (bass/keyboards), Joey Cotola (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. PYBUM (Put Your Body Under Me)

2. Don't Be Afraid

3. Diamond Disease

4. Hurt So Long

5. Over EZs

6. Down Dirty Detroit

7. Save It

8. Drivin'

Fletchanator's comment: Here we have another one-and-out band who showed plenty of promise but didn't get any breaks in the industry. Miami's Cadillac Bratz play a straight forward brand of radio friendly party rock, sounding like a mix of Europe, Danger Danger and Trixter. Nothing really standout, but good honest melodic hard rock.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Radio Active Cats - Radio Active Cats [1991]

Country: USA

Year: 1991

Line-up: Shel Graves (vocals), Ian Espinoza (guitar), Ron Maldonado (bass), Michael Graves (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. Shotgun Shack

2. Hold On Tight

3. Bed of Roses

4. Finger in the Pie

5. Standin in the Rain

6. Love Razor

7. Cry on my Shoulder

8. Think About Love

9. Cheap Mascara

10. Knock Knock

11. Wet Hot Sweat

Requested by: Khairul

Fletchanator's comment: Another one-album band, Radio Active Cats have an interesting sound, mixing a country twang and a hint of blues into hard rock with a fair share of sleazy lyrics. If you don't mind a bit of country with your rock, you might dig this.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Under Fire - Under Fire [2001]

Country: USA

Year: 2001

Line-up: Moki Demarco (vocals), Cary Sharaf (guitar), Greg Wise (bass), Jim Waldo (keyboards), Steve Schwartz (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. No More Heartaches

2. Crazy for Love

3. Heart in Pain

4. Rolling Down That Road

5. Love You One More Time

6. Hold Out

7. Burning Desire

8. Crossfire

9. Always on the Run

10. When You Feel Lonely

Requested by: Bidyut

Fletchanator's comment: This album, the sole recording by AOR band Under Fire, was recorded in 1988 and released many years later, as seems to be the craze these days (small labels finding obscure hard rock from 10-15 years ago and releasing it now). Featuring the keyboard work of Jim Waldo (from late 70s AOR band New England), Under Fire reminds me of some of Foreigner's 1980s stuff. One for the AOR/keyboard fans out there.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Badlands - Badlands [1989]

Country: USA

Year: 1989

Line-up: Ray Gillen (vocals), Jake E Lee (guitar), Greg Chaisson (bass), Eric Singer (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. High Wire

2. Dreams in the Dark

3. Jade's Song

4. Winter's Call

5. Dancing on the Edge

6. Streets Cry Freedom

7. Hard River

8. Rumblin' Train

9. Devil's Stomp

10. Seasons

11. Ball and Chain

Fletchanator's comment: Badlands were something of a supergroup, featuring future and past members of KISS (Singer), Black Sabbath (Gillen) and Ozzy Osbourne's band (Lee). Don't expect anything sounding like those bands though. On this, their first album, Badlands kick ass with a slice of blues-influenced hard rock, very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin with a hard rock twist. Sadly Gillen died in 1993 - he had a great voice. Jake E Lee is a fantastic guitarist, and Singer's solid on the skins. If you don't already have this one, trust me, you need it!

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Babylon AD - Babylon AD [1989]

Country: USA

Year: 1989

Line-up: Derek Davis (vocals), Ron Freschi (guitar), Danny DeLaRosa (guitar), Robb Reid (bass), Jamey Pacheco (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. Bang Go the Bells

2. Hammer Swings Down

3. Caught in the Crossfire

4. Desperate

5. The Kid Goes Wild

6. Shot O' Love

7. Maryanne

8. Back in Babylon

9. Sweet Temptation

10. Sally Danced

Fletchanator's comment: Oakland, California's Babylon AD were another hair metal band that never got the recognition they deserved. This is their impressive debut, with some great rocking tunes (Bang Go the Bells, Hammer Swings Down, Shot O' Love) and an above-average ballad (Desperate). Derek Davis had one of those great gravelly voices, at times reminding me of Jeff Keith from Tesla. 

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Blue Tears - Blue Tears [1990]

Country: USA

Year: 1990

Line-up: Gregg Fulkerson (vocals), Bryan Hall (guitar), Mike Spears (bass), Charlie Lauderdale (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. Rockin With the Radio

2. Crush

3. Blue Tears

4. Take This Heart

5. Halfway to Heaven

6. Innocent Kiss

7. Racing With The Moon

8. Kiss Me Goodbye

9. True Romance

10. Thunder in the Night

Requested by: Brent

Fletchanator's comment: Ah yes, Blue Tears. They definitely put out the best Bon Jovi albums that Bon Jovi didn't put out themselves. The singer doesn't just sound like JBJ, he sings in JBJ's style too. Heck, most of the songs are structured the same as Bon Jovi songs. If you can look past the obvious lack of originality though, Blue Tears are a great listen. 

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)