{"id":55368,"date":"2017-08-20T18:31:52","date_gmt":"2017-08-20T23:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=55368"},"modified":"2017-08-21T16:14:18","modified_gmt":"2017-08-21T21:14:18","slug":"moonlight-desires-just-the-hits-1981-1985-music-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2017\/moonlight-desires-just-the-hits-1981-1985-music-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Moonlight Desires | Just the Hits 1981-1985"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Derric Miller<\/span>
\n– Managing Editor —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"This kind of album needed to be released today. Like literally, whatever day you read this \u2026 THAT day. If you are paying even the slightest bit of attention to the world today, everything kind of sucks. You know what doesn’t suck? Moonlight Desires covering some of the biggest hits of the ’80s and not just covering them, but infusing them with some steroid, testosterone-driven riffs, solos, vocals, pummeling drums and oh yeah \u2026 fun.<\/p>\n

Hailing from Canada (because of course), the band features past\/present members from bands like Chore, Threat Signal, The Inflation Kills and DAVIDS, while frontman\/guitarist Trevor Ziebarth (aka Ricky Butcher from the cartoon Sons of Butcher<\/em>) sings with surprising versatility yet never, ever forgets that Tenacious D expects, no demands<\/strong> of them to bring the Rock.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Criminal Mind\u201d from Lawrence Gowan is the first cover, and if you remember the dramatic video from the hit, it makes this song even funnier. The original is so damn earnest, and Moonlight Desires strips away all the pageantry and proves that a good song is a good song, no matter how you dress it up. Yes, the original is awesome, but the cover is dirtier in a \u201cpick up this half-smoked alley cigarette and light it up\u201d way.<\/p>\n

Knowing Canada is part of the equation, you kind of had to guess that \u201cSunglasses at Night\u201d was going to be part of this hit parade, and it should be. Corey Hart’s version is timeless, but bringing it into the now with sharper riffs, a lot more brightness and less brooding makes things as cool as buying a vintage car your grandfather lost his virginity in. (That’s cool, right?)<\/p>\n

It’s hard to pick a \u201cbest\u201d on a covers album, but if it’s not the Corey Hart cover, then it’s Duran Duran’s \u201cHungry Like the Wolf.\u201d Since you already know the words (if you are a human person), this is one of those songs (and albums) you can just hit \u201cplay\u201d and just start rockin’ out to. This get uber-heavy on this track where a guitar solo would be, and the breakdown kills.<\/p>\n

It’s almost ridiculous how much sense all of these covers make. Simply Red’s \u201cI’ll Keep Holding On\u201d holds up when turned to 11, and the vocals are the best on the album. The Steve Winwood song \u201cValerie\u201d gets turned into a bit of a \u201cSummer of ’69\u201d style anthem and OH YEAH WHERE’S BRYAN ADAMS YOU GUYS?<\/p>\n

They made a video<\/a> for \u201cSomething About You,\u201d the Level 42 hit. Again, Trevor can SING. He’s got an oddly effortless melodic delivery but he’s not trying, it’s just intrinsic in his vocal delivery. Yeah, it gets a bit yell-y here, but there’s notes, and he hits them. Amen.<\/p>\n

Music can be a lot of different things, but there’s no importance of being earnest, ever. Like the Straight to Video<\/em> franchise in the UK, in that case taking movie hits and covering\/updating them sonically, Moonlight Desires nails it. They are party anthems, it’s all one big rock n’ roll show, and if there’s anything better than that, it should be listening to Moonlight Desires too.<\/p>\n

Genre: Metal, Hard Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nTrevor Ziebarth – Vocals, Guitar
\nJay Ziebarth – Bass, Vocals
\nMarco Bressette – Lead Guitar
\nNicholas K. Daleo – Lead Guitar
\nChris Bell – Drums<\/p>\n

Tracklisting:
\n1. A Criminal Mind (3:43)
\n2. Sunglasses At Night (2:56)
\n3. Out of Touch (3:17)
\n4. Hungry Like The Wolf (2:59)
\n5. Young Turks (3:51)
\n6. Bettie Davis Eyes (3:01)
\n7. Holding Back The Years (3:31)
\n8. Valerie (3:15)
\n9. Promises Promises (3:03)
\n10. Something About You (2:50)
\n11. The Power of Love (4:38)<\/p>\n

Label: Infamous Butcher Records<\/p>\n

Web: http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/moonlightdesires<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: [usr 8.1 size=20]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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