by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
You may have known them as D Drive back a few years ago, an intelligent and raucous classic rock n’ roll band. The band has gone through changes, number one, the name change, which in hindsight … was not just a name, but foreshadowing, when they morphed into Lips Turn Blue.
Cytantosis occurs due to low oxygen content sent to red blood cells in the body, or abnormal hemoglobin, thereby causing the “lips to turn blue.” That aforementioned foreshadowing? Well Phil Naro, one of the smoothest, dripping with melody, insanely underrated singers (Talas, Coney Hatch, Druckfarben, Tango Down, etc.) in music, sadly passed away from cancer before the album could be released. If you are a Naro fan, the band name alone brings forth images and feelings you don’t necessarily want in your head, especially since Naro was a pure celebration every time he recorded or hit the stage.
Although Naro has left us, his songwriting partner in crime, guitarist Don Mancuso and the rest of the band, including new singer Iggy Marino, are here to carry on what Naro and team started on Lips Turn Blue. And it’s so good …
You are going to get a Foreigner vibe from the album, since Mancuso was a guitarist for the legend Lou Gramm, it makes sense. “Just Push” is one of those catchy songs, a bouncy, danceable rocker painted with Naro’s playful voice and Mancuso’s deft playing. Eric Bieber on keys plays a large role in the track too, which just sounds like a hit, the way they used to be written.
The slower “Pray for Tomorrow” may be a tough one to digest, but in this case, nothing fails like prayer when you run out of tomorrows. It’s life. “And you keep moving on, my father said to me, and pray for tomorrow,” flow the lyrics, somber and uplifting simultaneously.
“Better Than I Used to Be” is more the band’s speed, a racing, thumping, fist-raised pumping at being alive. It’s about overcoming those obstacles, better yourself and thereby everyone in your life, and it’s one of those songs you know Naro sang with a smile on his face.
“Blood Moon” is more a current construct, menacing and keeping you on edge. They can do the ballads, the rockers, and then the mid-tempo ragers with ease all around. Whatever Lips Turn Blue attempts, it succeeds.
“Hey Bulldog” is a toe-tapper, innocent in its ability to just make you want to get up and dance your ass off. Mancuso shows his licks on this one, with deft, precise and melodic leads. It’s not the best song on the release, but it’s the one stuck in your head after hearing it once.
“A Little Outside” sees Lou Gramm taking over lead vocal duties, and it’s clear Lou has a place in his heart not just for Mancuso, but Naro and the band in totality. It’s not a sappy tune, but the kind of Rock Gramm is known for. Mancuso even delves into his heavier side on his solo, making everything old new again.
Lips Turn Blue has a strong label behind them. The fact their PR team uses Cision and not some cultivated list for press releases proves the label’s professionalism. Yes, MIG Music is a German company, but world-wide means exactly that. Lips Turn Blue needs to be heard by everyone who just loves Rock N’ Roll, and obviously, there’s facets of the band that will draw you in if you dig Foreigner, or anything Naro or Mancuso created apart, and it comes together on their debut which, tragically, is the only one with Naro on it. But no one knows what tomorrow brings, and COVID, cancer or cyantosis aside, the album is life-affirming–no bawl babies allowed.
Genre: Hard Rock
Band:
Don Mancuso- Guitars, backing vocals
Eric Bieber- Keyboards, backing vocals
Mike Mullane- Bass, backing vocals
Roy Stein- Drums & percussion
Iggy Marino- Lead & backing vocals; keyboards, guitar
In Memoriam:
Phil Naro (1958-2021)- Lead & backing vocals, guitars
Tracklisting:
Just Push
Build My Castle
Pray for Tomorrow
Sit Up
Better Than I Used to Be
Miles
Chain On Me
Crazy in Love
Blood Moon
No Need for You to Call
Hey Bulldog
Life’s Crazy Ride
A Little Outside
Label: MIG Music
Online:
www.Lipsturnblue.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.7 / 10)
