Popdose: You Again?: Foreigner, “Can’t Slow Down”
steed
· 1 month ago
Wow. "In Pieces" is actually pretty good. I too am kind of shocked.
JonCummings
· 1 month ago
"Cold as Ice" came on the car radio yesterday afternoon, forcing me to wonder whether it is the song I have heard most often in my life (on radio & record). Anybody else ever wonder about that kind of thing? It's still ubiquitous on most of the old-guy radio stations I listen to--probably even more ubiquitous than stuff like "Stairway to Heaven" or "Dream On" or "Satisfaction" -- and yet I almost never turn it off when it comes on. I was doing the math, figuring I must hear it on various radio stations & TV shows & commercials at least 20-25 times a year -- which means at least 600-750 possible airings over the last 30 years ... and who knows how many airings in 1977-78 alone?
I have nothing to say about the new album, except that I avoid Wal-Mart like the plague. Dude does sound a lot like Gramm, though. Are we sure that this guy and the new Journey guy aren't in fact the SAME guy--a man with a thousand AOR voices?
bkharmony
· 1 month ago
Fact! Styx, Journey, Foreigner - it's all done by the same guy. The same guy, actually, who does the "Real Men of Genius" Bud Light commercials.
(Actual real fact Jefito may or may not be aware of, but will certainly appreciate - the Real Men of Genius vocals are crafted by ex-Survivor vocalist, Dave Bickler.)
Michael
· 1 month ago
"In Pieces" would have absolutely ruled the charts in '89. Based on this track alone I completely agree with your assessment. This is just Foreigner, pure and simple. Kelly Hansen does sound eerily like Gramm in that "I'm not trying to sound like him, I just kinda do" way. Now if only I could bring myself to walk into a Walmart to purchase this...
bkharmony
· 1 month ago
You like everything nowadays. I was gonna make a joke about Chickenfoot, but then I remembered you liked that too.
Never thought I'd miss snotty rock criticism.
jefito
· 1 month ago
I believe you're looking for Pitchfork. They're down the road a bit.
David_E
· 1 month ago
(giggles)
DwDunphy
· 1 month ago
It's pretty good. I have my qualms, specifically with the remake of "Fool For You Anyway" which doesn't have the charm of the original, what with the hip-hop beat track and all. However, "Give Me A Sign" is the very first of these Wal-Mart or Best Buy exclusives to sound like it could be a real hit.
That cover art is still a baboon's armpit though.
Matt
· 1 month ago
I actually like the remake of "Fool" which suggests that they might have thought about going the Journey route to re-record the hits for the Wal-Mart package, and perhaps had second thoughts. What a great tune.
The bridge 40 seconds into "Ready" is totally signature Gramm/Jones stuff (er, minus Gramm) and it's one of many tunes on the album that could have come straight off of any of the classic Foreigner albums from back in the day.
Hansen impressed me when I saw him live with Foreigner, and I'm glad to finally hear an album of material with him singing - I had a feeling that Jones might have one more classic Foreigner album in him, and also felt that Hansen might be the guy to deliver that album - I guess I might have been right on both counts.
"Unusual Heat" however, might be one of the worst albums released with a replacement singer, and I'm really happy that "Can't Slow Down" isn't the awful sequel to that time period that it could have been.
Matt
· 1 month ago
One more thing - I almost didn't want to listen to this album based on how awful the song titles were. Thankfully, the music delivers.
DavidMedsker
· 1 month ago
Being snotty is easy. It takes guts to admit that something terribly uncool also happens to be good.
Wow, that guy does an uncanny Gramm impression.
bkharmony
· 1 month ago
Wow. I never thought of it like that. Thank you.
Kurt's Krap
· 1 month ago
Says Jeff: "On the other hand, Foreigner — like a lot of other so-called corporate rock bands — had the advantage of being utterly anonymous; they may have been radio mainstays for decades, but only the most dedicated rock nerd could pick any random member of any random version of Foreigner out of a lineup. "
Doesn't that basically describe EVERY band since about 1992?
DwDunphy
· 1 month ago
True, but every band since 1992 has been in complete denial about their utter anonymity.
jefito
· 1 month ago
Only to you, Kurt. Only to you.
sneezebag
· 1 month ago
Recently, just for fun I did a memory exercise and tried to come up with the names of all of Foreigner's members (I do this kind of thing a lot - to assuage my fears of getting old and forgetful). I was amazed that in less than a minute I remembered all six of the originals as well as Rick Wills. I'm not sure what that says about me but I believe I had a stronger connection to the favorites of my youth than my current ones. I cannot name all the members of Spoon, for instance...shit, I can't name all three (three?) Jonas brothers, but I have a good excuse for that. So, I don't feel that the band is anonymous, but they made a name for themselves before the video age and that's commendable. C'mon, the music is the important thing, and even though it's totally meat-and-potatoes in Foreigner's case, sometimes that's what I want. That said, I must admit I laugh out loud when I hear the album version of "Hot Blooded" (nearly every damned day on the classic rock station on the radio I have no control of at work). Those lyrics that are edited out of the single version are possibly the most stupifyingly inane words ever to come out of Lou Gramm's mouth. That's quite an achievement in the classsic rock world. The first time I heard them I stopped dead and wondered "are these dummy lyrics for the demo that they accidentally forgot to replace?" No. It almost sounds improvised - possibly while alcoholically impaired. Hats off to the genius who edited down the 45. I mean it. I'd be willing to try the new album if I were not so unwilling to go to Wal-Mart to get it. They helped put so many of my favorite stores out of business that I just don't feel like giving them my money. Maybe I'll hire some yo-yo-yo caphead to go in and steal it. Then he'll probably run out and toss me the Drake cd instead. Fucker. Imaginary fucker.
jefito
· 1 month ago
I think you should be able to order it from Amazon soon -- if you click on the album artwork or the link in the album title, you should get to it.
Name
· 1 month ago
Because Amazon hasn't helped to put any independent record stores out of business?
Kurt's Krap
· 1 month ago
Cmon, who can name any of the anonymous members of Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Everclear, Sublime or any other 90s or even 2000 rockers?
But we can all still name the Beatles, Zep, Van Halen or even more than one member of Bon Jovi (3 if you're from Jersey).
Just sayin', rock is as corporate as it ever was.
Michael
· 1 month ago
If you are going to make an example you should probably have chosen more obscure bands because I'm pretty sure even my mother knows who Billy Corgan and Chris Cornell are.
mojo
· 1 month ago
Was it Ritchie Havens or Richie Valens that was in By Jovi?
David_E
· 1 month ago
Wait wait -- Kelly Hansen from HURRICANE?
He was a good singer back when he was tissue-tracing Dokken.
jefito
· 1 month ago
The one and only!
Eric S.
· 1 month ago
I think I have every song on the first four Foreigner albums committed to memory. After that, it gets a little foggy beyond the hits (Although, I will nominate "All I Need To Know" from "Mr. Moonlight" as one of the best AOR songs that no one has ever heard).
I haven't paid much attention to the "new" Foreigner since it was Mick Jones and a bunch of hired hands. I thought it would depress me as much as Lou Gramm's now barely recognizable voice. However, I do find myself hoping that the new album doesn't suck. I know there won't be a hit or radio play, but hopefully it comes off as something more than a desperate grab for cash.
I recently picked up a $5 copy of Foreigner's remastered "Double Vision" CD at WalMart. At $12, it's likely the new album set will be a similar impulse purchase. If it reminds me of their glory days, I'll be pleasantly surprised. If it doesn't, it will reinforce my feelings about a music industry that has abandoned developing new artists in favor of trying to squeeze another buck out of boomer nostalgia.
Matt
· 1 month ago
Eric, as a fellow fan of the Foreigner albums that you mention, let me urge you to take the plunge and buy the new album. It's worthy.
SteveA
· 1 month ago
I am a huge fan of Foreigner and saw them in concert years ago! My brother saw them in the 70's - anywho - I am no big fan of Walmart or comebacks - I think I will just remember Foreigner as that 70/80's band that had some great rock songs and ballads. But since you have recommended the album - I am now intrigued.
Sharon
· 1 month ago
Ah, this explains why I'll be seeing them before the NASCAR race on Sunday. (I have got to read Popdose more frequently!) I'll be there about 3 hours before Foreigner is set to play, so I should be able to stake out an area on the grass (no seats) to enjoy it all. Should be entertaining with the NASCAR crowd.
BB
· 1 week ago
If you like Foreigner in the 70's and 80's you'll love this new CD. The first song will rock you! The second song, a beautiful mid-tempo, ballad/rocker, might almost make you cry. It sounds to me like they carefully crafted these songs to make you feel good. Worth ever cent.
All Comments
I have nothing to say about the new album, except that I avoid Wal-Mart like the plague. Dude does sound a lot like Gramm, though. Are we sure that this guy and the new Journey guy aren't in fact the SAME guy--a man with a thousand AOR voices?
(Actual real fact Jefito may or may not be aware of, but will certainly appreciate - the Real Men of Genius vocals are crafted by ex-Survivor vocalist, Dave Bickler.)
Never thought I'd miss snotty rock criticism.
That cover art is still a baboon's armpit though.
The bridge 40 seconds into "Ready" is totally signature Gramm/Jones stuff (er, minus Gramm) and it's one of many tunes on the album that could have come straight off of any of the classic Foreigner albums from back in the day.
Hansen impressed me when I saw him live with Foreigner, and I'm glad to finally hear an album of material with him singing - I had a feeling that Jones might have one more classic Foreigner album in him, and also felt that Hansen might be the guy to deliver that album - I guess I might have been right on both counts.
"Unusual Heat" however, might be one of the worst albums released with a replacement singer, and I'm really happy that "Can't Slow Down" isn't the awful sequel to that time period that it could have been.
Wow, that guy does an uncanny Gramm impression.
Doesn't that basically describe EVERY band since about 1992?
So, I don't feel that the band is anonymous, but they made a name for themselves before the video age and that's commendable. C'mon, the music is the important thing, and even though it's totally meat-and-potatoes in Foreigner's case, sometimes that's what I want.
That said, I must admit I laugh out loud when I hear the album version of "Hot Blooded" (nearly every damned day on the classic rock station on the radio I have no control of at work). Those lyrics that are edited out of the single version are possibly the most stupifyingly inane words ever to come out of Lou Gramm's mouth. That's quite an achievement in the classsic rock world. The first time I heard them I stopped dead and wondered "are these dummy lyrics for the demo that they accidentally forgot to replace?" No. It almost sounds improvised - possibly while alcoholically impaired. Hats off to the genius who edited down the 45. I mean it.
I'd be willing to try the new album if I were not so unwilling to go to Wal-Mart to get it. They helped put so many of my favorite stores out of business that I just don't feel like giving them my money. Maybe I'll hire some yo-yo-yo caphead to go in and steal it. Then he'll probably run out and toss me the Drake cd instead. Fucker. Imaginary fucker.
But we can all still name the Beatles, Zep, Van Halen or even more than one member of Bon Jovi (3 if you're from Jersey).
Just sayin', rock is as corporate as it ever was.
He was a good singer back when he was tissue-tracing Dokken.
I haven't paid much attention to the "new" Foreigner since it was Mick Jones and a bunch of hired hands. I thought it would depress me as much as Lou Gramm's now barely recognizable voice. However, I do find myself hoping that the new album doesn't suck. I know there won't be a hit or radio play, but hopefully it comes off as something more than a desperate grab for cash.
I recently picked up a $5 copy of Foreigner's remastered "Double Vision" CD at WalMart. At $12, it's likely the new album set will be a similar impulse purchase. If it reminds me of their glory days, I'll be pleasantly surprised. If it doesn't, it will reinforce my feelings about a music industry that has abandoned developing new artists in favor of trying to squeeze another buck out of boomer nostalgia.