Billy Sheehan - Holy Cow
1. In A Week Or Two (I’ll Give It Back To You)
2. A Lit’l Bit’l Do It To ’Ya Ev’ry Time
3.Dynamic Exhilarator
4.A Bloodless Casualty
5. Make It To Another Day (I Keep Rolling On My Way)
6. Just Another Humanoid
7. Turning Point
8. Theme From An Imaginary Sci-Fi
9. Another Broken Promise
10. Two People Can Keep A Secret (If One Of Them Is Dead)
11. Cell Towers
12. She Goes From Cruel To Missionary (bonus track)
13. Sweat On The E-String (bonus track)

    Billy Sheehan is probably best-known for his work as the bassist for Talas, Niacin, Mr. Big and he David Lee Roth Band, and this album puts him behind the microphone, whilst handling guitars and bass. What might sound as some pretty standard hard rock fare at first will most certainly grow on the listener after a while. Some of the tracks exhibit a grunge-tinted sound, such as the resonant groove of ‘In A Week Or Two (I’ll Give It Back To You)’, especially with the chilled out nature of Mr. Sheehan’s voice. Others fall into a faster category, such as ‘Dynamic Humanoid’, which features some double kick drumming and experimental rhythms from session drummer Ray Luzier.

    An interesting element of this album is the various guest appearances, which lend a unique flavour to a few of the songs. As one would hope, the addition of Paul Gilbert to a track is a very good move, and the fantastically arranged ‘Dynamic Exhilarator’, well and truly lives up to its name, with some excellent playing, and an outstanding solo from Mr. Gilbert. ZZ Top’s Billy G. Gibbons lends a hand with the guitars on the apostrophe-packed blues rocker ‘A Lit’l Bit’l Do It To Ya Ev’ry Time’, which gives a spotlight to Sheehan’s harmonica skills. Things get more than a little Kings X-esque for the grungier, more soulful ‘Turning Point’, with Dug Pinnick providing all the vocals.

    This album has a lot going for it thanks to its chameleon-like nature, varying its sound and keeping things changing with help from a select group of artists. Luckily, one thing which remains consistent is the high quality of the playing - there are many bass licks and intricacies which shine out of a deceivingly straightforward album, and this will guarantee that you will be listening to this album for a long time to come.

Reviewed by James Young
‘Holy Cow’ is available now through Mascot Records!
 







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