Gilby Clarke

"Swag"
(Spitfire Records) 

If the lead track's any indication sounds like old Mr. Clarke's been digging up the old Cheap Trick records-"Alien's" a dead-ringer for late model 'Tricksters when Rock was Rock and radio was receptive. Clarke was a latecomer to the machine that was Guns N' Roses as their second guitarist replacement for Izzy Stradlin. His new solo release, though "solo" in name only, he's accompanied by some pretty big time players-Sherinian, Tichy, Guns, Burke (that's Clem you may remember from Blondie) is an up tempo fiery roots-driven style, organically inclined and Bluesy with no distraction. The tunes are about where you'd expect 'em to be, straight and narrow middle road Rock with a bit of swagger that catches fire from time to time-"Broken Down Car," "I'm Nobody," but usually stays a safe distance away from danger. There are those occasionally restive moments-"Margarita," and "Judgment Day" where the porchside crooner airs it out a spell, otherwise your typically meat and potatoes fare. Clarke's been a busy man since the dismantling of G n' R, with his own solo projects (remember "Pawnshop Guitars") some forty years ago, and there were a few others that at the time wouldn't have stood a chance; He's lent some layers to old buddy Slash's solo ventures and more recently involving himself in the production house scaling down the L.A. Gunners on their "Man In The Moon" release. "Swag's" got that head of steam gimmick-free seventies' Hard Rock vibe to it, a little of the "it came from the eighties" wow and flutter-Enuff 'Z Nuff's in there somewhere, I don't see 'em but I know they're there… got a little of the ol' Cathouse thing going too, but without the fluff. Think Zakk Wylde with an honest face, vocal harmonies, cowboy hat and chorus and ya ain't far off.

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