Wake Up!

One of the myriad of hard rock bands to form during the '80s, Tennessee's Every Mother's Nightmare, despite strong label support, was also one of the bands of the genre to be swept aside by the alternative rock acts of the early '90s. Formed in 1987 by lead singer Rick Ruhl and guitarist Steve Malone, they added bassist Mark McMurtry and drummer Jim Phipps to flesh out their lineup and became a successful draw in the clubs of Nashville and Memphis…

Drummer Matt Wilson refuses to be pigeonholed into any one category on this wide-ranging CD. With keyboardist Larry Goldings, bassist Dennis Irwin and trumpeter Terell Stafford (who doubles on flugelhorn), Wilson and company obviously enjoyed themselves in the studio. Goldings' quirky post-bop "Sticky Mack" inspires some of the best solos of the date, followed by Wilson's slightly funky "Free Range Chicken." The group also delves into works by departed greats, including Jaki Byard's infrequently heard ballad "Aluminum Baby" and drummer Tony Williams' unusual hymn-like "There Comes a Time," with Goldings' driving organ, Stafford's saucy trumpet, and guest Curtis Stigers' potent vocals…

The second half of the '90s was difficult for the Cranberries, not just because of changing fashions, but because the group embraced both a social consciousness and a prog rock infatuation, crystallized by the Storm Thorgerson cover of Bury the Hatchet. Thorgerson has been retained for their fifth effort, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, but the group has hardly pursued the indulgent tendencies of their previous collaboration with him – instead, they've re-teamed with producer Stephen Street and come up with an album that's as reminiscent of their debut as anything they've done since. So, even if it's wrapped in new clothing, this is essentially a return to basics, and it's a welcome one, since it's melodic, stately, and somber – perhaps not with the post-Sundays grace of "Linger," but with a dogged sense of decorum that keeps not just the group's musical excesses in check, but also O'Riordan's political polemics (although she still sneaks in cringe-inducing lines like "Looks like we've screwed up the ozone layer/I wonder if the politicians care").

Over the past ten years, Hoey has established himself as one of the world's top instrumental rock guitarists, praised not only for his technical prowess, but even more so for his unique sense of melody and soul. He continues this tradition on "Wake Up Call", but adds a twist–he sings on five tracks. The record also contains four of Gary's most popular previously released songs, all of which were big rock radio hits.