Karen Greening aka Lee Aaron have since her come back into Hard Rock in 2016 been a very creative and fast working artist. Tours and albums has succeeded each other in a quite fast tempo. The quality has been high for the most. Her come back album Fire And Gasoline was an uneven affair where Aaron saw herself taking a strange direction with pop-skate-rock tunes more in the vein of artists like Avril Lavigne and such teenage artists. Things got very much better with the follow-up Diamond Baby Blues (2018) and her last effort Radio On! (2021) was a really good melodic Hard Rock record that impressed me quite a lot. With Aaron’s new-found creative spirit she and her band hasn’t wasted any time coming up with new material.
The album opens with the lead-off single “Rock Bottom Revolution”, a crunchy rocker with a big bluesy feel and an organic outlook. The quite ballsy opening with bass, drums and vocals is earthy and the big riff that cuts in is raunchy and edgy and when the song gets going it gets punchy with a striking main melody. It’s a live-friendly tune with a simple and distinct refrain. Great stuff. “Trouble Maker”, single # 2, comes on in a more 70’s Classic Rock with a guitar riff and sound that throws a nod toward Rolling Stones. Again, the tune is quite rootsy but it also brings on some huge pop-vibes that brings on a nice contrast. The chorus is splendid and sounds like a hit to these ears.
“The Devil U Know” shakes and tumbles with a rough Rock ‘n’ Roll groove built on a crunchy riff and a lively rhythm. The tune feels like it’s written for the live environment with it’s uplifting vibes and big melody-arrangements that goes for a slightly more pop-touch, 80’s style but with smaller detours that run into Beatles territory. A direct and catchy tune and a damn good one too. On a pumping bass line and bouncy, sharp drums the rhythmic “Freak Show” takes the route down Classic Rock lane with muscular AC/DC influenced riffage and a beefy outlook. The melodies are highly catchy all over and the chorus brings forth a late 80’s Arena Rock vibe. Very good.
“Heaven’s Where We Are” is more of a pop-rock number, slightly modern but also with Classic Rock inserts. It’s a hooky little thing with smooth melodies all over that flirts with with radio-friendly arrangements. Why this isn’t a single is kinda strange as it would have been perfect for that media especially the catchiness deluxe chorus. Good one. One a bluesier outlook “Still Alive” takes a slower pace on a heavier ground and goes into a more 70’s Classic Rock vibe complete with a rougher organ and some juicy, meaty guitars. the song comes off as pretty rootsy with a chunky edge. It’s a memorable tune for sure but the least poppy one on the record. A brilliant tune perfect for the stage.
In a faster tempo “Highway Romeo” blends crunchy pop-rock with some classic Rock’n’Roll, quite stripped down and raw on a straight ahead beat. Some of the vocal melodies bears some resemblance to her late 80’s stuff especially in the chorus which holds a sharp hook that sticks pretty much right away. A good tune albeit maybe not extra-ordinary. Also quite stripped even though it holds some keyboard orchestration is the ballad “Red Dress” that comes along low-beat and laid-back with acoustic guitars and piano. It’s a mellow tune with a flowing, dreamy soundscape and a smooth vocal melody. It’s lyrically nostalgic with a gorgeous melody arrangement which really gets under my skin. A brilliant piece.
The mid-paced “Spitfire Woman” has the bass and drums creating a chunky groove before the raw and robust guitar comes in throwing a raunchy riff our way. It’s darker in atmosphere with a held-back piano in the background and low-key vocals before it gets going with a hot, busy groove on a heavier note. The use of strings gives the tune another dynamic too and the big, uplifting chorus is splendid. Good one indeed. The album closes with the title-track and the albums latest single. It’s a beefy and steady rocker with a stompy AC/DC beat, a pumping bass and edgy guitars. It’s a punchy and driving tune with a striking vocal-melody and distinct refrain. Very good.
Lee Aaron and her cohorts goes from clarity to clarity with each album and this one is easily her finest release since her come back into Rock. This is a pure, no-bull rock-record that holds an in-your-face structure all the way through without any real skippers. Lee herself still has the pipes left and the whole affair feels passionate and alive. Let’s hope that there are more where this comes from in the future. Well done!
7/10
More Lee Aaron reviews:
Fire And Gasoline
Diamond Baby Blues
Radio On!
Tracklist:
1. Rock Bottom Revolution
2. Trouble Maker
3. The Devil U Know
4. Freak Show
5. Heaven’s Where We Are
6. Still Alive
7. Highway Romeo
8. Red Dress
9. Spitfire Woman
10. Elevate
CD & Festival reviews 