Song Titles:
Disc 1
1) Intro 1:27
2) Play Dirty 4:31
3) Skin to Skin 3:22
4) Find Another Way 5:06
5) Up Against The Wall 3:32
6) Hold On To Tonight 6:15
7) Can't Catch Me 4:31
8) Bad Reputation 6:42
9) Daddy's Little Girl 4:33
10) Is That All You Want? 5:54
11) Come Play the Game 4:04
12) Don't Stop, Don't Go 4:49
Although this band did respectable business back in the day, they're needless to say not that well remembered. Heaven's Edge was formed in 1987 when vocalist Mark Evans and guitarist Reggie Wu began writing music together. Where does the name Heaven's Edge come from you ask? It came from someone entering names for one of Mark's previous bands. The name was never used but Mark remembered it and decided to use that name. This album here was released in the spring of 1990. The video for "Skin To Skin" became one of the top 10 most request videos on MTV. Everything was all good. Not so much within the record company though. Turmoil led to confusion, and Heaven's Edge leaving their record company. They recorded an album with Capitol Records but Heaven's Edge and Capitol parted ways due to the changing music scene. That album was finally released in 1998 on MTM. I'll tell you more about that in the near future as I'll be reviewing it then. For now let's get on to the review.....
Mark Evans lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Reggie Wu guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
David Rath drums, percussion
G.G. Guidotti bass, backing vocals
Steven Perry guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
1) Intro 8/10
An introduction to "Play Dirty." No real music, but a very cool intro.
2) Play Dirty 9/10
Starts out with cowbell then goes into an ass kicking guitar riff. This is what I look for in a song. Heaven's Edge doesn't have a fake sound. Everything is natural, and they work really well with one another. I like the lyrics "go for the throat, you gotta play dirty, there's not other way, you gotta play dirty." Perfect for the way its sung. Needless to say, Heaven's Edge gets a perfect score.
3) Skin To Skin 8/10
If you remember Heaven's Edge at all and didn't buy the album, chances are this is the song you remember. This is the song that made Heaven's Edge a potential smash. This is a very, very awesome song. Great beat, guitar riff, and choruses.
4) Find Another Way 10/10
The intro here is a total rip off of Van Halen. It has the exact same finger tapping harmonics. Then the vocals harmonies kick in. Their TNT influences really show here. The keyboards, the verses, and the choruses. This is one of the better songs here (not like there's a bad one in sight). This song was supposed to be their second single, but Columbia pulled the plug on the video for this after half the footage had been recorded for some reason or other.
5) Up Against The Wall 8.5/10
Very similar to Firehouse's "Shake & Tumble." The song has the some of the same guitar riffs and beats. What I haven't mentioned yet is Heaven's Edge also sounds something like Firehouse. I couldn't say they're influenced, because they came out the same year.
6) Hold On To Tonight 9/10
There's a very strong keyboard presence here. The guitars show come out and fight like a man during the chorus. OK, maybe they don't fight like a fan, but they show themselves a little more during the chorus. Perfect to get in the mood to.
7) Can't Catch Me 9/10
WOW! This is a departure from anything else here. I'll bet this song is called Can't Catch Me, cause the beat is so damn fast in the intro. This is very, very thrashy. Don't worry there's no screaming or fucked up vocals, this still has a Heaven's Edge feel.
8) Bad Reputation 10/10
Has a keyboard intro that lasts for about 53 seconds, then it turns into a rocker. At around 3:33, it goes back into the keyboards, but with drums and a little bit of lead guitar. At 4:30 it goes back into a rocker. Then towards the end it goes back into keyboards to finish the song. Easily the best tune here. They can really manipulate the music. Longest one here, it clocks in at 6:42
9) Daddy's Little Girl 9.5/10
This is kind of a diverse band, they stick to their sound, but they don't do the same stuff over and over. I can't say we've hit a bad song yet. HEAVEN'S EDGE SUCKS...at playing bad music that is!
10) Is That All You Want? 9/10
This has the longest damn intro I've ever heard. It lasts for like 1:34. Later on in the song, it goes "is that all you want...from me?" There is a lot of audience sounds here. It picks up then and there. I like how it's mellow and then picks up later on in the song, very cool.
11) Come Play The Game 10/10
The song rocks out and mellow out at about 25 seconds. It has the keyboards going again. The song picks back up in the chorus again. 11 songs running Heaven's Edge is on a roll.
12) Don't Stop, Don't Go 9/10
Heaven's Edge does a little more going that stopping to finish the album they way it should be done! Damn, it's over, OK, I'll play the CD again!
Comments
Great album overall. It is apparent that TNT is one of their influences, but Heaven's Edge is no clone. They sound like themselves, and don't try to succeed as a clone of some other band. When you hear Heaven's Edge, you'll be on the "Edge" of your seat. Who knows? Maybe you'll even fall over the edge.
For fans of...
Firehouse
TNT - Intuition
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Hericane Alice
For more info go here http://come.to/heavensedge
Score Key:
0: (scratches chalkboard with fingernails) ahh...I'm relieved
1-2: Weaker than weak.
3-4: Mediocre
5-6: Average
7-8: Good to Very Good
9: Great
10: Masterpiece
11+: How did I ever live without this?
