Audio CD review:
Firefall - Undertow

Firefall - Undertow

Band: Firefall Title: Undertow Rating: Release Date: 1995-08-15 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Love That Got Away 2: Headed for a Fall 3: Only Time Will Tell 4: Laugh or Cry 5: Stardust 6: If You Only Knew 7: Some Things Never Change 8: Business Is Business 9: Leave It Alone 10: Undertow 11: Just What You Need [CD Bonus] 12: Crying in the Night [CD Bonus] 13: Lips! [CD Bonus]

FIRE-FALLING APART The sucess of the first three releases had sent Firefall to the Top of the Charts and Stages of the World. This the Fourth Record by Firefall would be last to feature the Original Band before the guys started to Jump Ship. But it was about to Fall Apart due to Internal tensions between Rick Roberts and Larry Burnett. The very thing that made Firefall great was the Ying/Yang of Rick's Soft Rock Ballads and Larry's Blues based rockers that always Counter-Balanced their Records to great effect, and that is what would destroy them in the end. All the 70's Excesses are here, Drugs, Alcohol, Women, Too Much Cash Too Fast. Firefall fell victim to being the Right Band at exactly the Wrong Time. UNDERTOW came forth on the heels of Firefalls two best Records: "Luna Sea" & "Elan" and Millions of Records sold. To say the Pressure was on would be quite an Understatement. As all of Firefall's Records had begun in turmoil UNDERTOW would not be the exemption to that rule. But even with everything going against them the Music here never seems to decline from Excellance, UNDERTOW is the Last Great Record Firefall Made. It all begins with "Love That Got Away" an Up-Tempo lively Rick ditty with great Flute Playing (David Muse is really the unsung hero of this band, Hands Down). This Opener along with "Headed For A Fall" were both released as singles but the Days of Top-20 Sucess were over for our Heroes, and this was the begining of the end. There are Plenty of Great Songs on UNDERTOW from Larry's Ballad "Only Time Will Tell" that could have been a Single and it should have been. "Stardust" is about Rick's early days in the Music Business in California and watching the Byrds Breakup. "If You Only Knew" is about Firefall and the fighting between Band Members that was pulling them down, there is some steaming Lead Guitar on this track from Jock and it Rocks. "Business is Business" is just Larry and his Acoustic Guitar, and I like this one plenty, again the Words tell the tale, Larry is not to happy here but whew, this is a Great Tune. The last song of the Original Record is "Undertow" and it's a cry for help from a Drowning Man (Rick) and he has never sounded like this before or since. . . Man, the pain is begining to show. There are three Bonus Cuts on "Undertow" with the Stevie Nicks song "Crying In The Night" standing out as the best track. I have heard "Lips" before on a Bootleg Tape and it's a Throwaway Blues by Larry and Mark, but it show's the Band CAN go in this Direction and get away with it. I like this Record. . . but it's not their Best, That's a toss-up between "Luna Sea" & "Elan" but, it's Good. . . FOUR STARS . This Is One Of The Few CDs... It probably spelt the end for Firefall because it was such a departure from what they did before. Where I really enjoyed every single song, including the out takes. Still I think it hold up better than anything with the exception of their self titled release {Firefall} which is better than any greatest hits album they could have released. One of those lost treasures It is what you would expect from Firefall; a mixture of rock/country arrangements and excellent harmony vocals. Overall this is a really great cd. I believe this was the last album with the original lineup. It really needs to be re-issued (again) so people can afford to buy a new copy and appreciate this great music. Features the hits Love That Got Away and Headed For A Fall, but nearly all of the songs are really good - no filler. This band was truly one of a kind. You can see a complete list of all Firefall discography, or go back to the Firefall tabs