By Monk
The annals of rock ‘n’ roll are filled with the stories of hundreds, if not thousands, of could have, should have, would have beens, many of whom never really could, should have or would have really made it anyway, but an equal number of whom genuinely stood a chance of breaking out into the big time and making it large, as I believe the kids on the streets say these days… Most of these stories lie buried in the cold case files of the glam, hair and sleaze metal scene which dominated LA’s infamous Sunset Strip back in the late Eighties and early Nineties, when the pervading odour hanging in the air was that of cheap hairspray and even cheaper make-up…
One such story, revived and dragged, kicking and screaming into the modern era is TAZ, who somehow managed to lay down two entire albums worth of material which have never seen the light of day until now, thanks to the perserverance of Eönian Records boss Stephen Craig, who has spent the past three years pulling together this retrospective double album package, featuring the band’s complete back catalogue, from demos recorded for the record companies who ultimately would send them those career-ending “Dear John” rejection letters to their only “official” release – 1989’s ironically and ultimately fatefully titled ‘Cold Shoulder’ EP (only originally available in Japan) to recently unearthed live recordings from sold-out performances at the likes of Gazzarri’s and the Whiskey A Go Go.
Despite having undergone the de rigeur remastering process, both albums still sound very much of their time, touching all the relevant bases prevalent in the era from which they emanate, referencing every classic LA glunk-infused hair/bunch of rock ‘n’ brawlers you came to name, from da Crüe to Poison, the Guns to Pretty Boy Floyd via the funkier aspects introduced by the likes of Enuff Z’Nuff and the nascent Extreme.
There are some sonic gems, especially on the first of the discs: ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Rodeo’ lives up to its title with its rollicking rambunctiousness, while ‘Sex’ bumps and grinds with suitable lasciviousness, giving you the feeling that if TAZ had got them breaks back in the day they they could have given all of their aforementioned contemporaries and rivals a severe run for their money… As it is, this collection is definitely a story of “coulda, maybe shoulda/woulda…” and definitely one for true aficionados of the Strip sound… But, then with the huge renaissance in legacy bands, you never know what maybe could (or should) or would happen in the near future…
- ‘Wake Up & Sweat‘ and ‘Shipwrecked‘ are both out now.
- All content © Über Rock. Not to be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of Über Rock.