Thin Lizzy
Chinatown - Vertigo 1980 Comments:At the time Thin Lizzy released their tenth album, ”Chinatown”, I was a pretty big fan of the group, and I had bought the previous two ”Bad Reputation” and ”Black Rose” almost at the time of release. The same, of course, came to apply to "Chinatown". Even with the positive glasses I was wearing, I couldn't hide the disappointment from myself after having listened through the album a few times. There were not the really good numbers I had expected, and I ended up slowly losing interest in the group.
I later returned to them, and despite the fact that a certain weariness can be traced on "Chinatown", it's actually not such a bad album at all.
The classic Thin Lizzy ingredients are present; dual guitars, syncopated riffs, strong vocals, etc. So what the album may lack is a bit of renewal and overall musical inspiration.
"We Will be Strong" is a classic Lizzy rocker and one of the album's high points. The title track is a rather ordinary boogie blues. "Sweetheart" is also typical Lizzy, but hardly a number you will remember for long. "Sugar Blues" is a solid blues, with lots of fast guitar playing. "Killer on the Loose", which was released as a single, is another of the tracks you will probably remember the album for; it's a fast rocker – almost punk. "Having a Good Time" and "Genocide" are quite nice, but sound like something you've heard before.
The ballad "Didn't I" is another highlight with fine dual guitars and the album ends solidly with the rocker "Hey You".
Although the album does not match the previous albums, it is still a solid release and of course a must have for fans of the group.
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