by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
One of the travesties of the late ’80s/early ’90s Hard Rock scene is how many talented, fun, and frankly kick ass bands were sort of lost in the shuffle before Grunge hit. Then it was basically over for any band not into flannel and bleak depression, at least for a while. Lord Tracy and Little Caesar are two of the better bands everyone should have been cranking, but thanks to the reissue, Deluxe Edition of Little Caesar’s Redemption, there’s still time to redeem yourself.
“Same Old Story” kicks things off, a thumping, driving anthem that’s as good as anything you heard back in the day. It’s bouncy, catchy, a little bluesy, and this is not your “hair spray/make up/cigarette & booze only diet” kind of music. No, while those bands were trying to find the perfect tease for their hair, Little Ceaser was changing the oil on an 18-wheeler while getting a tattoo of your mom.
The bass heavy “Supersonic” continues that vein of high quality, danceable jump around anthems. Their choruses are more addictive than Oxy.
The title track is one of the few times they slow it down for the ladies. Singer Ron Young has a whiskey-drowned voice, but melodic and one of those singers who convey honesty in everything they sing. He’s not trying for a certain singing style … he just IS. It’s the perfect voice for the band and the kind of music they create.
The studio tracks come to end with “Just Like a Woman.” Again, they tap into their blues side, and even bring some gospel sounds your way. Just the title alone makes you wonder if it’d be a playful track critical of the ladies’ tendencies. But no, it’s an ode to all women. Honey versus vinegar, these gents learned that lesson long ago it seems …
The remaining tracks are live versions of what you’ve heard earlier. They pull off live what the studio brought out, but with even more energy and unleashed fun. Nice add-on to the reissue.
Little Caesar needed to be heard back in the day, and today. Their latest release 8 (review here) shows time did nothing but percolate their talent. They are a damn good band, and you need to start paying attention. So take out the Wild Boyz or whatever cavity-inducing Hair Metal you are unironically playing on purpose, redeem yourself by blowing up your speakers to Little Caesar and get your Man Card punched.
Genre: Hard Rock
Band:
Ron Young-vocals
Loren Molinare-guitar
Tom Morris-drums
Pharoah Barrett-bass
Mark Tremalgia-guitar
Tracklisting:
01. Same Old Story
02. Supersonic
03. Loving You Is Killing Me
04. Redemption
05. Sick And Tired
06. Real Rock Drive
07. Every Picture Tells A Story – Happy
08. Woodstock
09. Just Like A Woman
10. Supersonic (Live)
11. Every Picture Tells A Story (Live)
12. Sick And Tired (Live)
13. Real Rock Drive (Live)
Label: Dirty Deeds Records/Deko Entertainment
Online:
www.littlecaesar.net
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.7 / 10)
