HONEYMOON SUITE
"The
Big Prize" (Warner Bros; 1996)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
Honeymoon Suite was formed in Canada -- Niagara Falls,
to be exact. They won a contest with the single “New Girl Now” and that prompted
the band to use producer Bruce Fairbairn to usher them into rock stardom. Bruce helped Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Loverboy break it big,
too. “The Big Prize” was Honeymoon Suite’s break-through disc. I think their name is fitting since Niagara Falls is a famed honeymoon destination.
Honeymoon Suite doesn’t have a tough sound but they do have a confident one. The guitar was always an
important feature for a band from Canada but for some of those bands, it was a knee in the back when it came to musicianship. If you listen closely to the guitar
on this CD you can hear some early White Lion (minus the over the top tapping).
The band was formed by vocalist Johnny Dee and guitar player Derry Grehen, who possess a voice for back up that soars on “Feel It
Again,” their only Top 40 hit. If you haven’t heard it in a while, it’s a classic to re-visit. Despite the success with “The Big Prize” these guys peaked and never did climb any
higher, despite a string of follow-up recordings, culminating in
"Dreamland," a 2005 Europe-only release.
The vocals are strong and Johnny Dee sings in a secure tone. The guitar rips in a few spots and you can tell they knew that Derry Grehen had talent because he uses every lick in his arsenal. The drums don’t overpower and the bass just gallops along. There are keyboards on a few songs but the guitar makes enough melody for both. Ian Anderson interjects his flute on the song “All Along You
Knew.”
The “Suitest” songs are, “Bad Attitude,” “Feel It Again,” “Lost And Found,” “What Does It Take,” and “All Along You Knew.”
Honeymoon Suite: Johnny Dee – vocals; Derry Grehen – guitar; Ray Coburn – keyboards; Gary Lalonde – bass; Dave Betts – drums.
For more information, check out http://www.honeymoonsuite.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2007 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 28 Oct 2024 12:36:40 -0500.
