Description

To describe the ongoing saga behind this release and to then describe each of the two discs on offer would result in this CD taking several months to review. If you are not aware of the ongoing legal and organizational sags that have prevented this album being released to the public, then where have you been?!! Well, the liner notes should catch you up, so get this pronto. I don't want to get into a Ted Poley VS Paul Laine debate within this review and the beauty of this release is that the band have made the decision to market both albums together as a 2 disc set. ‘Cockroach’ was supposed to have been Danger Dangers third album. The album was a bold step forward for the band as this one has the songs – big rock anthems with attitude and swagger. It also has the tongue in cheek good time rock that the band was known for. The music was tougher, it has a much heavier edge and in the case of Ted Poley, it was in a style that he hasn't sung before. The band went out on a limb and things went awol. Shame, as the music was awesome. Paul Laine's came in and re-recorded the vocals after the departure of Ted and his version of the album sees a revised track running order and a bonus track, a cover of the 70's classic Time In A Bottle. Whatever vocal version you prefer the music is still pure American fist pumping uptempo hard rock. There's parts of Def Leppard in there, (anthems, backing vocals), parts of Van Hagar, (guitar riffs, song delivery, anthems, backing vocals), parts of later day Poison at their best (the glam and blues influences on a few tracks, backing vocals etc), and a large dose of their own cool sound. Several of the songs on Cockroach will be familiar to the owners of those last 2 albums, as the band re-recorded a few songs each album. Fans of any American stadium rock that haven't discovered this band, or previously wrote them off as being too light n fluffy, need to take a serious new look at this release. This is a band that should be where Bon Jovi is today. Track List: Disc One: 1994 version with Paul Laine on vocals: 1. Still Kickin' 2. Sick Little Twisted Mind 3. Good Time 4. Don't Break My Heart Again 5. Tip Of My Tongue 6. Walk It Like You Talk It 7. Goin' Goin' Gone 8. Afraid Of Love 9. When She's Good She's Good (When She's Bad She's Better) 10. Shot 'O Love 11. Don't Pull The Plug 12. Time In A Bottle Disc Two: 1993 version with Ted Poley on vocals: 1. Still Kickin' 2. Sick Little Twisted Mind 3. Good Time 4. Don't Break My Heart Again 5. Tip Of My Tongue 6. Walk It Like You Talk It 7. Goin' Goin' Gone 8. Afraid Of Love 9. When She's Good She's Good (When She's Bad She's Better) 10. Shot 'O Love 11. Don't Pull The Plug