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Triumph - Just a Game Audio CD

A fair review of the Triumph "Just a Game" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Triumph reviews here, or go back to the Triumph tabs.

Triumph Band: Triumph
Title: Just a Game
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-01-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Movin' On 2: Lay It on the Line 3: Young Enough to Cry 4: American Girls 5: Just a Game 6: Fantasy Serenade [Instrumental] 7: Hold On 8: Suitcase Blues

Finding their Groove
After listening to this album, one could conclude that the foundation was built for stellar albums to follow. 1979's "Just a Game" by Triumph is a solid release, highlighted with the standout tracks, "Lay it on the Line", "Hold On", and the title track. A few years later, they released ALLIED FORCES, which is their best album, in my opinion. Still, this should go down as a classic album by an extremely underrated band. Triumph has been a punching bag from critics, especially when the subject of the Hall of Fame surfaces. Triumph (like Rush) is taking it all in stride, because they put out great music for their fans, and that's all that matters. I recommend purchasing ALLIED FORCES, NEVER SURRENDER and THUNDER SEVEN in addition to this CD. .


If you don't own this you should.
Wife likes it and thinks it a 80's hair band! They were good! Power trio that sounds like Journey at times. Not bad song on this cd. So she can't tell me to turn it down!.


what a start
Heard lay it on the line all the time on wnap in indy alot , american girls
will take you back also . This was my fist contact with Triumph , what a great lp this was . Triumph at its best . thanks , but it .


WOW!!!!!!!!!!
Somebody made me a copy of it recently, & I thought, "This is cool", but it kind of lay forgotten, & I assumed Triumph was a one album wonder. I remember when "Allied Forces" was the hot new album & all of the buzz. Yesterday, I turned on the radio while waiting for a friend to come out of her apartment & herad "Lay It On The Line". I thought, "Who's THIS?" I discovered it was Triumph & IMMEDIATELY purchased this CD. BOY, AM I GLAD I WAS MISTAKEN ABOUT THIS GROUP! I dont use. . . or take. . . this word lightly, but this album is a MASTERPIECE!!!! Rik Emmett has a classical influence to his guitar style, & it comes through on his slower compositions. (They still rock, but with a slower tempo) Now, I love flat out rocking as much as the next guy, (I'm a metalhead from back in the day!) but I think these slower tracks are where the band shine their brightest. My favorite track on here is the title track. I don't know what else to say but WOW!!! "Young Enough To Cry" is a blues metal masterpiece in it's own right. And for those who prefer the straight ahead rockers, this album has that, too. "Movin' On" & "American Girls" are CLASSIC late 70's/early 80's hard rockers!!! I am listening to "Allied Forces" as I type this, & I may be wrong, but (IMHO)I think the difference between early & later Triumph is the later albums were more produced, making them a slightly commercial power pop metal. NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!! I need my head examined for EVER putting "Allied Forces" in the mothballs! So far, though, I prefer the early sound. Bottom line: If you want to hear some good old fashioned hard rock/classic metal equipped with some of the most beautiful guitar melodies ever laid down, BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.


The breakthrough of Canada's other great hard rock export

The original pressings of the album had a tinny sound but then MCA issued a better sounding version in 1985 and then Triumph reissued it on their own label TRC which is an independent label here in the US in 1995 complete with the original artwork and TML (was TRC) re-issued it with a NEW REMASTER and full artwork in late 2005. Canadian hard rockers Triumph's third album entitled Just a Game was originally released in the spring of 1979 on RCA.
Just a Game introduced us Americans to Triumph which consisted of Gil Moore (drums and vocals), Mike Levine (bass guitar and keyboards) and the great Rik Emmett (guitars and vocals). It wasn't until 1999 that I first heard this album on CD and then bought the reissue and it's well worth the price of admission, so to speak especially for the album's rock radio staples "Hold On" (which was the band's first US Top 40 hit) and the rock radio classic "Lay It On The Line".
However, there is more to Triumph's 1979 breakthrough than the two aforementioned classic rock radio staples. "Moving On" and the rocking "American Girls" are two of Gil Moore's best vocals ever which appear on this album, his blues influenced vocals are a great counterpoint to Rik's searing tenor. The title cut and the closing Suitcase Blues are some of Rik's finest hour as a musician and songwriter. The latter sounds like a song that you could drink a good drink to when your woman leaves you for another man without notifying you.
Unfortunately Rik, Gil and Mike were overshadowed by Geddy, Neil and Alex a/k/a the other infamous power trio Rush whom are the greatest and most successful Canadian rock band in history.
Who would have thought Canada wasn't big enough for two amazing power trios is nuts as both Triumph and Rush are great bands.


You can see a complete list of all Triumph discography, or go back to the Triumph tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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