THE LIZARDS: Against All Odds

Cover	Release	Style
	2006	Classic rock
	Label
	Hyperspace Records
	Website
	www.thelizardswebsite.com
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	67:11	HSR 1014
	Review by	Rating
	Edwin	9,5/10
nederlands	Review
Ah, do you remember those exciting 70’s? LED ZEPPELIN, DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE, FREE, CACTUS, BAD COMPANY, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD… Those were the days. They don’t make bands like that anymore. Or do they? I first saw THE LIZARDS when they opened for TRAVERS/APPICE some two years ago, and I immediately knew this was my kind of band. I awarded their previous album, Cold Blooded Kings, 8,5/10, which turns out to be a bit meagre. I’ve been paying it so many times since and it has become one of my favourite albums ever. A perfect 10 would be more like it. Anyway, my expectations for the new one, Against All Odds, were very high, especially since I found out that none other than Glenn Hughes would be guesting on a couple of songs. Well, I’m happy to report the album doesn’t disappoint at all. Glenn Hughes’s duets with Mike Di Meo are welcome additions, but even without ‘Big Poppa’ this would have been a memorable release. THE LIZARDS’ distinct mix of rock, blues and funk was already evident on their three previous albums, but the versatility on this new one is staggering. ‘Can’t Fool Myself’ is an obvious nod to DEEP PURPLE’s ‘You Fool No One’, while the funky ‘On A Wire’ will be instantly recognizable to fans of Glenn Hughes’s solo work. There’s more funk with ‘Up The Stairs’, where the band even includes brass in order to go straight into James Brown territory. Then there’s blues (‘Planck Time’ – with some excellent harmonica playing by Randy Pratt), prog (the superb ‘Ariel’ & ‘My Dark Angel’), jazz/fusion (‘Take The Fall’) and a beautiful soul ballad in ‘Revelation N° 9’. The BAD COMPANY-like ‘Bad Luck Is Come To Town’ and the moody ‘Eleven’ are also highlights. All band members perform brilliantly, which is no surprise, except perhaps for the fact that singer Mike Di Meo also shines on keyboards. Another brilliant album by this much underestimated band. Now why is it so hard to get hold of their cd’s?
Musicians
Mike Di Meo: vocals, keyboards Patrick Klein: guitars, background vocals Randy Pratt: bass guitar, harmonica Bobby Rondinelli: drums
Tracklist
I’m No Good Can’t Fool Myself On A Wire Plack Time Ariel My Dark Angel Bad Luck Is Come To Town Revelation N° 9 Take The Fall Up The Stairs Eleven The Arrival Of Lyla
Discography
The Lizards (2002) Rule (2003) They Live (2004 – live) Live at BB King’s, NYC (2004 – DVD) Cold Blooded Kings (2004) Live In Stockholm (2005 – DVD) Against All Odds (2006)


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