Album Reviews - T

Tora Tora - Surprise Attack (1989 A&M Records)
Bill's Best Rock Music Page - Tora Tora (unofficial site)

1. Love's A Bitch
2. 28 Days
3. Hard Times
4. Guilty
5. Phantom Rider
6. Walkin' Shoes
7. Riverside Drive
8. She's Good She's Bad
9. One For The Road
10. Being There

Derek's Review
This is a group that isn't talked about very much, but they put out two releases and unfortunately came a little late into the metal scene. These guys are from Memphis, and I don't know if they necessarily sound like it or not, but they do have an original sound, which is hard to say of most 80s rock bands.

"Love's A Bitch" starts things out right with a chorus that's easy to pick up by the end of the song. "28 Days" has a wicked guitar intro and has a sleazy sound to it. "Hard Times" has a cool, jazzy solo to it. I can't quite compare who Anthony Corder sounds like, but he has somewhat of a unqiue voice. "Phantom Rider" is an amazing song, I think it's one of the best of the 80s metal genre. The song needs to be heard to be believed. The next song, "Walkin' Shoes" doesn't disappoint either. The beginning of "Riverside Drive" sounds like the intro to "Highway To Hell" (AC/DC), and there's nothing wrong with that. "Being There" is a nice way to end this album. The song isn't quite a ballad and it isn't quite a rocker. Perhaps it's the most perfect way to end an album since Van Halen did "Happy Trails."

Derek's Picks: Phantom Rider, Walkin' Shoes

Derek's Rating

TSOL - Hit And Run (1987 Restless Records)
TrueSoundsOfLiberty.com

1. It's Too Late
2. Road Of Gold
3. The Name Is Love
4. Dreamer
5. Good Mornin' Blues
6. Hit And Run
7. Not Alone Anymore
8. Sixteen
9. Stay With Me
10. Where Did I Go Wrong
11. You Can Try

Mike's Review
Hit And Run is a decent hard rock effort from a band that originated as a hardcore punk group. I'm sure old school TSOL (True Sounds Of Liberty) fans despise this record, but it's much more my musical style. I will admit, most of the album is mediocre, with a few exceptions. "It's Too Late" and "The Name Is Love" are the album's best, most memorable rockers. "Sixteen" is quite good also. "Good Mornin' Blues" is a Leadbelly cover featuring saxophone and congas, two things I'm sure most punk fans hate. "Hit And Run" is a frenzied rocker, but never quite obtains "kickass" status. "Dreamer," "Where Did I Go Wrong," and "You Can Try" all find the band in softer, almost ballad territory. "Dreamer" is probably the best of the three. "Where Did I Go Wrong" features female background vocalists, also not something expected from punk rockers. "You Can Try" is dedicated to guitarist Ron Emory's late brother, William Scott Emory. The song is good, but also depressing. It appears the events leading to his death were very tumultuous for the family.

In the liner notes, the band states: "We, the True Sounds Of Liberty, feel that this is the best record we have done to date. It is in keeping with our ideal of complete freedom in music..." Then again, the lineup on Hit And Run was only two of the original members. But I'm glad the band chose to experiment with their sound, since this album is much more for me. I agree with the band's statement, since this is much better than their earlier punk releases.

If you're a fan of the other TSOL and you happened to stumble across this review, you'll probably want to stay away from this album. But if you're a rock collector interested in hearing what a former punk band sounds like trying their hand at tough 80s rock, here you go.

Mike's Picks: It's Too Late, The Name Is Love, Sixteen

Mike's Rating