Finnish glam rock group Reckless Love has been maybe one of the most questioned bands in rock during the last year and a half. Super-positive and -energetic band released their debut-album (Reckless Love) in the beginning of 2010.

The debut got mostly great reviews and band got some space in UK-markets, which is such rare for a Finnish band. Did the success after all set too big pressure for the new-coming merry metallers? At least “Hot“, the 1st single for Animal Attraction, was too much for many people listening their radios.

After such a great debut it’s always difficult to reach the high expectations – album should be different but still the band should keep their face and sound the same. Whoever could have imagined poppish“Hot“ to be one of the best-rocking songs of Animal Attraction? In my point of view Reckless Love has done great job with their brand new album.

“Animal Attraction” is a whole lotta juicy riffs, great, catchy melodies and of course huge stadium choruses and strict solos. The opening defleppardish name-track is a compact package of all above, with great grinning lyrics. Olli Herman has criticized Reckless Love’s old songs but look what the cat dragged in, the riff for the latest single is from “Light But Heavy” –single (2005).

The opening-track rises the expectations still and following “Speedin’” and “Born To Break Your Heart” have both the same groove. As “Born To Break Your Heart” is bit different to earlier Reckless Love, “Speedin’” is very recognizable. Even though the energetic rally’s got catchy chorus and good verses “Speedin’” tastes a bit lame and many good hooks don’t get what they deserve. “Born To Break Your Heart” is a whole and a working song, a possible single.

Right after the summer hit “Hot” album returns to Def Leppard –vibe. “Fantasy” ballad is all 80’s. Though some parts of the album are very cheesy and tongue-in-cheek-built, “Fantasy” has the right restrained feeling and it’s not ruined with stupid lyrics.

Getting to the mid-album you hear the most courageous Reckless Love so far. Catchy “Dirty Dreams” and “Dance” are annoying with their catchiness and habit to get stuck in head.

With its confusing verses and fitting to the dance floors the second one will be the most hated song of the album, but still such beloved one, especially on the dance floors and at the night clubs. And yes, I like it too – it’s not too foolhardy and unsuccessful to mix rock and pop this way.

“Dirty Dreams” is a great dirty stadium rock chorus monster and it hits my top-2 with “Dance”. Fabulous.

The aggressive “Fight” pushes forward with its strong guitar playing and heavy, what a great surprise, catchy chorus. There are some good and bad parts in this song; the wrestling match going on in the background of amazing solo works very great, but the dirty bad-tasting part is the end of the song. You can easily recognize Gary Moore’s “Out In The Fields”’ legendary guitar riff being played almost exactly note by note. Unintentional or not, such lame a thing anyways.

“Switchblade Babe” is packed up with great vocal melody and recallable guitar playing. Solo is great again and it takes its space with nice change of rhythm.

“On The Radio” makes my smile very wide. It’s just hilarious. Tune in BLOWME69 –station and you’ll hear how they’re following the steps of the great Howard Stern. Love is not in but on the air. “Listen up closer, can you hear that sound / turn it up louder, can you hear it now, oh no”. What more can I say? This bonjovian song is exactly what you can expect from Reckless Love, tongue is in the cheek like it’s supposed to be and the chorus, it is huge and very gripping.

“Coconuts” is too hard to take. Though I’m able to take some wild stuff seriously, this Donkey Kong –style piece of joy is too much, at the latest when bananas and coconuts are getting highlighted very carefully. Monkeys, elephants and bongo drums are not for bad at all, actually they fit into the song very well. But making sex out of fruits is a thing for 10-year-old boys, isn’t it? Forgetting the bad lyrics the last track of album sounds good.

On the UK-release there is a bonus track, “Young & Crazy”, the B-side of “Hot” -single. A rebellious kick-ass song is heaviest and greatest-rocking stuff of the album breathing youthful energy and joy. Reckless Love guns one of the completely greatest choruses over a double bass drum mat. This rocks!

Overall the album is not as whole as the first one but Animal Attraction is yet at least as good. The street rock has got some cleaning but the band sounds itself even more than in the debut. When on first album you can hear the influencing bands song by song, this time there are not too many “hey I’ve heard this before” -moments.

Reckless Love has earned their success, the songs are getting better and better and it’s very difficult to name favourite ones. On this album there are many great single candidates to fit almost any radio station.

Critics are calling after street credibility but Olli Herman calls for street incredibility. Animal Attraction is a great move – it’s got the both! Whatever they say, the album is total fun and enthusiastic passion wrapped in a great package.

Triumph of rock.

Rating: 9/10

- Henri Mutanen -

Tracklist:

1. Animal Attraction
2. Speedin’
3. Born To Break Your Heart
4. Hot
5. Fantasy
6. Dirty Dreams
7. Dance
8. Fight
9. Switchblade Babe
10. On The Radio
11. Coconuts
12. Young & Crazy (UK Bonus track)

Lisätietoja Henri Mutanen

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