Lou Gramm Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
On paper, it's unlikely that one of rock's greatest singers ever, who fronted one of the biggest mainstream bands of the 1970s and 1980s, would take a detour into the world of Christian rock. But that's just what Lou Gramm did in 2009 with his new group and its self-titled album, The Lou Gramm Band. It's his first "solo" effort since 1989's Long Hard Look. The album rocks convincingly, and the lyrics vividly reflect his born-again Christian faith. It's a miracle that the ex-Foreigner vocalist lived to reach this point. After surviving surgery to remove a benign brain tumor in 1997, he struggled to regain his health and his voice. He left Foreigner for the second time in 2002 and eased back into performing with his own band, which now includes two of his brothers, bass guitarist Richard Gramm and drummer Ben Gramm, as well as guitarist Don Mancuso and keyboardist Andy Knoll. According to the liner notes, the band originally planned to just "re-record spiritual classics." The focus shifted to strong original material although two interesting covers remain: Billy Preston's "That's the Way God Planned It" and the Parliaments' "(I Wanna) Testify." Sonically, The Lou Gramm Band has some production flourishes, but it's mostly no-nonsense and straightforward. The best originals are "Made to Be Broken," "Willing to Forgive," "Baptized by Fire," "Single Vision," and "Rattle Yer Bones." "Single Vision" includes a bridge lyric that has Lou jumping from merely faithful to political: "Don't take our Lord from the classrooms/Please let us say our prayers of thanks/And when we pledge to our country/I know that without him, we would never be free." "Rattle Yer Bones" has the strongest Foreigner vibe, and it wouldn't have been out of place 30 years before on Head Games. Truth be told, Lou's voice isn't what it used to be, and sometimes on The Lou Gramm Band he strains to reach notes he hit effortlessly in the past, but that's to be expected given the natural toll of aging and the effects of his health battles. It still has power, and a less than prime Lou Gramm is light years ahead of most others. Few "classic rock" singers have come close to sustaining their vocal abilities over the decades, even without fighting a life-threatening illness. The Lou Gramm Band proves that inspired music can still emerge when the spirit is willing but the flesh is (slightly) weak. ~ Bret Adams, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
1989's Long Hard Look was the second solo album from Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm, and its modest success led him to officially -- but ultimately briefly -- leave the enormously popular band. Long Hard Look is another slice of sleekly professional pop/rock, similar to Gramm's 1987 solo debut, Ready or Not. But whereas Ready or Not rather consistently combined melody with bite (side one specifically), Long Hard Look is spotty. Sonically, the difference between Foreigner and Gramm's solo albums is considerable and can be summed up in one word: warmth. Foreigner's music has a richer guitar, keyboard, and drum sound thanks to guitarist/keyboardist/producer Mick Jones, but Gramm's solo albums are more brittle. The tinny snare drum sound is juiced too high in the mix -- not quite to the threshold of pain, but darn close. Long Hard Look includes the Top Ten hit "Just Between You and Me" and the Top 40 hit "True Blue Love." Both were smooth pop singles, but the latter is the superior tune despite charting lower. Gramm does manage to rock a bit on three songs: "Angel With a Dirty Face," "I'll Come Running," and a cover of Small Faces' "Tin Soldier." The atmospheric "Warmest Rising Sun" is pleasant, and background vocals are contributed by Merry Clayton, best known for her astonishing work on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." Other well-known musicians providing assistance on Long Hard Look include guitarist Vivian Campbell (who later worked with Gramm on the one-off Shadow King project), guitarist Nils Lofgren, bass guitarist Pino Palladino, and vocalist Siedah Garrett. Bass guitarist/rhythm guitarist Bruce Turgon later joined Foreigner when Gramm returned to the band and resumed his partnership with Jones. ~ Bret Adams, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm's 1987 solo album Ready or Not is a winner. It came at a precarious time for Foreigner, despite coming off the success of 1985's Agent Provocateur and the band's first number one single, "I Want to Know What Love Is." Ready or Not is rich with melody and snap, but its sound does vary just enough from Foreigner that Gramm can't really be accused of stealing from himself. The production by Gramm and Pat Moran definitely has that bright 1980s style. Gramm's main sidemen include guitarist Nils Lofgren, keyboardist Philip Ashley, bassist/guitarist/keyboardist Bruce Turgon, and drummer Ben Gramm. Side one absolutely sizzles. "Ready or Not" is a strong, hard-rocking leadoff track and it was a minor hit single. The melodic, lyrical, and vocal hooks on "Heartache" are massive and Lofgren's guitar solo adds an edgy bite. The Top Five hit "Midnight Blue" is a terrific pop/rock song; despite its hit status, it's one of the decade's truly underappreciated singles. Lofgren's rolling, effective guitar riffing and a captivating chorus make "Time" one of the best cuts. Foreigner helped create and master the rock power ballad, and Gramm utilizes that gift on the dark, ethereal "If I Don't Have You." Side two is generally a letdown considering the high quality of the first half. Fortunately, there are two exceptions, "Arrow Thru Your Heart" and "Until I Make You Mine." The commercial and artistic success of Ready or Not was a turning point for Gramm. Foreigner issued the lackluster Inside Information late in 1987, and Gramm followed that troubled project with a second moderately successful solo album, Long Hard Look, in 1989 and then left the band for a few years before returning. ~ Bret Adams, All Music Guide
