Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
At the tender age of 75, the rock n roll queen that is Suzi Quatro has released her seventeenth studio album.
`Freedom’ is the third album to be written in collaboration with her son, L.R. Turkey. It is a content could be viewed as semi-autobiographical when you listen to the lyrics. This is an unapologetic Quatro, warts n all, in yer face and proud to be doing what she does.
The roof is well and truly raised as the barn storming `Freedom’ stomps it blues rock groove with Quatro’s trademark raspy vocal, tasty basslines, wailing harmonicas and a tight snare beat gets this party started. `Little Miss Lovely’ moves into hard rock/punk territory as crunchy guitars and an attitude fuelled vocal growls along this fast-paced track which takes no prisoners. Not even the copious amount of cowbell can clam this ball grabber of a song!
`Choose Yourself’ is a rousing epic number. Meaty riffs build the energy as Quatro’s voice oozes feeling and tone in this soulful delivery. The slide guitar followed by a blistering solo and a slight southern rock feel has an element of Bon Jovi/Sambora about it. We return to an earlier musical era with `Goin’ Down’ which pulls in screaming blues guitars and funky bass parts and moulds together with a deep, darker toned Quatro to conjure up images of a Detroit blues bare jam in the late seventies.
The tempo increases on the fun `Hanging Over Me’ as crisp, spanky guitars and honky-tonk piano make this a riotously great track which keeps up the pace and ends all too quickly. `Here’s Ya Boots’ punches out a groove that blends acoustic rhythms with an infectious vocal that makes this track seem familiar and upbeat despite the song being about excess baggage in a relationship.
`Can’t Let It Go’ slows things down as slide guitars usher in this monster of a song. Acoustic guitars pound out the rhythm as Quatro delivers the vocal goods with a menacing power that once more makes this an outstanding and memorable track. `Nobody Held My Hand’ grooves along with a guitar chug that lays the foundations for Quatro to make her mark on the bass and vocally alongside tasty backing vocal layers and more lead guitar breaks.
`Shakedown’ has a much more modern feel as gritty guitars smash out the fast-paced rhythms as the track increases in intensity as it goes pausing mid track for a breakdown ahead of some wah fuelled soling which rips your head off. Attitude to set to max for Quatro here. `Take It Or Leave It’ with its tremolo filled guitar intro is a steamroller of a track that tramples on everything in sight and pulls in tasty blues licks, tight drum parts and chant back vocals and has a tinge of Nick Cave to it. Is this `Can The Can’ for the modern era?
`Woman’s Song’ swaggers along with purposeful conviction. Superb hook lines, modern guitar phrases and shout back type vocals make sure this energetic track hits home. `Kick Out The Jams’ is an air punching rocker of a track. Which is not surprising as it features none other than Alice Cooper. Thunderous beats and screaming guitars meet with the Shock rocker and the Queen of rock n roll to make this a surefire winner.
We finish with a track that is nothing like any of the other tracks. `It All Comes Down To You’ is like Quatro does Kylie! Electronic drums and sampled grooves sit together with synths and an effect filled vocal as Quatro becomes a dance queen without a guitar in sight showing that you should always expect the unexpected from the amazing Suzi Quatro.
Whether you’re a Suzi Quatro fan or not, I defy you not to enjoy this album. There are no sugar coatings here, no over processed sounds (well maybe on the last track!) and is a rollercoaster ride plotting the different eras of Quatro’s sound in new tracks. So, if you like the old `Devil Gate Drive’ era, or her more recent releases then you’ll find something to please you here. Suzi Quatro has got a lot of rock n roll in here yet!
The album ‘FREEDOM’ released 27th March will be available if the following formats: –
- Standard CD
- Standard 1LP
- Limited Edition CD
- Includes bonus track, alternate artwork, and postcard insert with English message to fans
- Signed CD Exclusive (European Exclusive)
- As per the Limited Edition CD but includes an additional postcard signed by Suzi.
- Exclusive vinyl (exclusive to Suzi’s D2C store)
- With signed insert, vinyl effect
- Merchandise bundles (exclusive to Suzi’s D2C store)
Tracklist
1.Freedom (Single Version)
2.Little Miss Lovely
3.Choose Yourself
4.Going Down
5.Hanging Over Me
6.Here’s Ya Boots
7.Can’t Let It Go
8.Nobody Held My Hand
9.Shakedown
10.Take It Or Leave It
11.Womans’ Song
12.Kick Out The Jams (feat. Alice Cooper)
13.It All Comes Down To You (Bonus track)
“I will retire when I go on stage, shake my ass, and there is silence.”
