Did somebody make a mistake here? Maybe someone at the CD pressing plant accidentally laid down a jam session between Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Roger Rose. Surely this isn't Randy "I'm a big Trouble fan" Rose -- or is it?
This is not a mistake. Randy Rose, whose first two studio albums sounded like Danzig belting out the heavy blues-influenced rock, has shifted gears and jumped completely out of the mayhem and moshpit genre.
I can relate to Randy's new style and see it fitting into the new music revolution, but there's a decided lack of passion and enthusiasm. It seems he's taken the whole nonchalant sub-pop attitude too far. At least Nirvana has some all out emotional outbursts like "Heart Shaped Box." The guitar sounds found on much of the album are retro-fitted with a 60's strum and jangle. "Life Passes By" sounds like a melody/harmony rip-off of The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
Lyrically, Randy is more positive than the past. He still talks about God's healing, but it seems he's after an audience of people wearing bright clothes, rather than the ritual abuse survivor in black.
Randy shouldn't have a problem finding a whole new audience (which I'm sure he'll have to do, since I can't see his old headbanger fans following this new direction). It will be interesting to see where he builds from here.