CHEZ KANE
"Powerzone" (Frontiers
Music SRL; 2022)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
I don't know if it's just because I knew what to expect from Chez Kane this time out, or if she's stepped it up a notch. But I gotta tell ya, I enjoyed "Powerzone" more than the singer's self-titled debut.
"Powerzone" is more of the same type of 80s melodic rock from Kane, complete with lots of keyboards and synthesizers, sing-along choruses and lots of big anthems about love ("(The Things We Do) When We're in Love," "Love Gone Wild," "(I'm Ready) For Your Love," "Guilty of Love"). They're the kind of rock songs you heard in the movies back in the 80s, movies like "DreamQuest" and "Over the Top" to give just a couple examples. If you remember that far back, "Powerzone" is for you.
Kane's voice is big, although perhaps not as bold as, say Pat Benatar. She belts out these tunes with passion and power and they work for what they are. Like I said, maybe I just knew what to expect from Chez Kane this time out. But, whatever the reason, "Powerzone" is a fun listen and, for my money, even better than her previous record.
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/chezkane.music/.
"Chez Kane" (Frontiers
Music SRL; 2021)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Chez Kane's self-titled debut does exactly what it sets out to do: Pay tribute to the great female hard rock singers of the 80s. You'll find hints of Pat Benatar, Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Doro and more throughout the entire CD. There's nothing here as edgy as Benatar's "Hell is for Children" or as heavy as some of Doro's stuff (although "Midnight Rendezvous" comes close) but Kane has a perfect voice for the genre and the pop-leaning hard rock here, complete with keyboards, is certainly entertaining. The soaring choruses of nearly every track are absolutely infectious.
My favorite tracks were the afore-mentioned "Midnight Rendezvous" and the Kiss-like riffs of "Rocket on the Radio" but, honestly, there's not a bad track to be found here if this is your type of music. Chez Kane definitely brings the female rock style of the 80s to the 2020s and gives it a nice shot in the arm.
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/chezkane.music/.
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 © 2022 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
