Some people got it, some don’t. Got what? I’m referring to keeping the voice intact. Many are the veteran singers who has lost their voices many moons ago but there are still a few who can still deliver. Ronnie James Dio sounded magnificent until the day he passed away, Glenn Hughes, Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids) and Michael Sweet (Stryper) are a few that still nails it. Sammy Hagar belongs in that category as well. Hagar turned 76 on October 13 and while it’s impossible to keep the same strength and range as back in the day, let’s just say that no backing-tracks are needed when it comes to Sammy Hagar – and thinking of the way he sings, that’s nothing short of impressive.
Not only is Sammy still a great singer, he’s also a very creative person who refuse to sit idle and do nothing – the guy is a multi-millionaire so it’s not like he needs the green. He keeps on releasing new albums and plays live as much as he possibly can and he’s still very successful. Montrose, Van Halen and a solo career – he touches gold no matter what he does. At least it feels like that. With his latest outfit The Circle containing guitarist Vic Johnson, bassist and old Van Halen band-mate Michael Anthony and drummer Jason Bonham. With 15 solo albums under his belt, this new album is his second with The Circle, the follow-up to the underrated Space Between from 2019.
The opening with the slow, mellow and hazy acoustic number “Intro: The Beginning Of The End” gives a stripped and organic impression which leads us into the real opener “Slow Drain”, a blues-rocking mid-tempo number with a slammin’ outlook. It’s a raw, punchy piece with a distinct live-feel and edgy groove. Good stuff. The following “Feed Your Head” is a crunchy and punchy rocker that holds a pulsating groove, a pumping bass-line and some raucous guitars. It’s a heavy powerhouse of a song with attitude and fire and some hooky melodies with high backing vocals that screams Michael Anthony. Killer stuff.
Next up is a cover of an Elvis Costello track called “Pump It Up”, also a single. Hagar’s version is slamming, rowdy and rhythmic with a beefy, fat stomp. It’s very straight ahead and energetic Classic Rock with a Rolling Stones-esque vibe and a huge live-feel with edgy guitars and kicking rhythms. I’m not a fan of Costello at all and therefore I’m not familiar with the original but I sure dig this version. On a slower note “Be Still” is a country-tinted slow-burner on the threshold of power balladry. The verses are a bit folky with a bluesy singer/song-writer touch based on acoustic guitars whereas the chorus is electrified and brings on the power ballad flirtations. Said chorus is catchy as hell and holds a distinct hook. Great stuff.
It’s back to the uptempo, groovy and raunchy stuff again with “You Get What You Pay For”. It’s a firey Classic Rock stomper made for the stage and brings on the big backing vocals, striking melodies, a solid chorus that sticks and the “yeah, yeah, yeah” chants sure is a nod back to Van Halen and “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love”. Sure, Sammy wasn’t on that one back then but Anthony sure was. Good one. The title-track and leading single is a bouncy and direct ass-kicker with fat and raunchy guitars and an in-your-face outlook where Anthony pulls out some bad-ass bass-lines over Bonham’s shit-hot drum-grooves. The 80’s laden melodies and the big chorus makes it a winner here. Very good.
Latest single “Funky Feng Shui” is a raw and crunchy groove-fest deluxe. It’s firey swinging with intense riffage and a major live-vibe that makes you feel like you ended up right in the middle of a jam-session. It’s a funky, fun-loving party-gem with a edgy hook and a refrain that hits you in the face right from go. Good one. The big ballad and single “Father Time” blends Hagar’s time in Van Halen with his earlier solo stuff. It sports a Classic Rock balladry vibe more than a power ballad one, a bit Bruce Springsteen esque where acoustic guitars meets electric, clean ones inside a solemn soundscape. The melodies are mesmerizing and the chorus hits right where it should with Hagar’s emotional vocals. Great number.
On the border of a ballad, “Childhood’s End” is a down-beat slow-burn with a darker atmosphere and a melancholic touch. It holds smooth melody arrangements but also some rough-edged guitars, a tough beat and a juicy rock-groove. It’s a serious tune yet also uplifting and catchy. It’s the closing track but some versions comes with bonus tracks too. One is an acoustic version of “Father Time”, stripped and earthy and the other is a song titled “2120”, a live-friendly, stompy rocker, intense and organic with a feel of four guys ripping it up in the rehearsal room. Classic Sammy Hagar it is with hooky melodies and a kicking chorus on top. Awesome.
Just like its predecessor, this one’s a down-to-earth and bang-on-target album with no bull, just a shot straight from the hip Hard Rock meets Classic Rock record. The whole production here makes it seems like four guys in the studio rocking out and pushing record while playing. We get eleven good songs with no fillers involved and all of them would fit a live-set without a doubt. Everyone involved is a flawless musician and Sammy still got the pipes. Has Sammy made better records than this? Sure. Does that mean it’s not worth a purchase. Hell no. Quite the contrary. It’s a solid record that makes me wanna go see the band live.
7/10
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Tracklist:
11. 2120
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