The third and final Kulick review from our Kulick week at mikeladano.com!
Tuesday: Blackjack – Blackjack (1979)
Wednesday: Blackjack – Worlds Apart (1980)
UNION – Union (1998, 1999 Spitfire reissue)
A mighty Union was formed from the ashes of two classic bands’ lesser-known lineups. First up is Bruce Kulick, formerly of Kiss and now in Grand Funk. Kulick had been taking an increasingly important role within Kiss, leading to the Carnival of Souls LP which Bruce was instrumental in writing and recording. With him was John Corabi who had just been booted from Motley Crue after making (arguably) their best album (or one of). Corabi was in a bit of a state. His confidence in himself was shaken after the Motley experience, who seemed impossible to please when their album tanked. John told Bruce that he didn’t want to sing anymore, he just wanted to play guitar. Bruce’s response was “Dude, you’re fuckin’ high!”
And so it was that Bruce and John teamed up (with Brent Fitz and Jamie Hunting) in the aptly named Union.
You wouldn’t call Union a supergroup, but they did create a fine album. It is in the mold of the last albums these guys made separately (Motley ’94 and Carnival). Union turned out as an angry, dark rock record, very much a child of the 1990’s. With Kulick on guitar, Union was more than a 90’s alt-grunge retread. The 90’s are omnipresent in the droning riffs and staggered rhythms, but then Bruce dumped out his tackle box of guitar tricks. Bruce evolved over the years from a guy who played really fast on 80’s Kiss albums to a serious player interested in pushing his own limits. Where he used to be content to play flurries of notes, on Union he goes for maximum gut impact. It’s less about playing the notes than bending them to his will.
It’s also quite clear how much writing Bruce and John did in their respective bands, judging by the sound of this. “Around Again” bears groovy similarities to tracks like “Jungle” by Kiss and “Uncle Jack” by Motley. There’s a pissed-off attitude, and musicianship that would make Nikki Sixx crap his pants. Thankfully Union have a good batch of songs backing them. Much like the previous Kiss and Crue records, Union is not instant love. It takes about three good listens to penetrate its metal-grunge (with a touch of Beatles) hybrid sound. Union usually seem to go for the guts rather than singalong melodies.
One of the exceptions to this rule is the pure fun “Love (I Don’t Need it Anymore)”. This is the one that hooks you on the first round. With a funky little riff and a chorus that sinks right in, it slays. The ballad “October Morning Wind” is another catchy track, an acoustic number a-la Zeppelin. Think of a track like “Loveshine” from the Motley album for the right ballpark. Stealing a Zeppelin title, Union’s song “Tangerine” is a groove rock tune like a heavier Aerosmith.
On the other side of the spectrum: psychedelic rock. “Let It Flow” is a trippy song broken up into sections called “The Invitation”, “The Journey” and “The Celebration”. I think John was smoking something green when he wrote the lyrics, but Bruce’s sitar-like guitar is the perfect complement. “Empty Soul” has similar scope, being a pretty huge song with musical goodness coming out the wazoo.
Adding the Beatles cover “Oh Darlin'” to a reissued version of the album is a little greedy, but fortunately worth it. As it turned out this band only made two studio albums, so more Union is good Union. If you recall the original song, Paul McCartney gave it his best rasp screams. Up to bat is John Corabi who can sing that way in his sleep. It’s a perfect match and “Oh Darlin'” is a nice little extra on which to end an exceptional album. The only issue I have with “Oh Darlin” is actually its placement as the last song. Previously, the solo-written Corabi acoustic ballad “Robin’s Song” was the closer, much like “Driftaway” was on the Motley album. You become accustomed to “Robin’s Song” as a closer, because it has that quality to it. “Oh Darlin'” is not a closer. It would have worked better earlier in the track list, so feel free to shuffle as you choose.
Whatever version you acquire, any fan of Kulick and/or Corabi would be foolhardy to live without this CD. It ranks as one of the best albums by either.
4.5/5 stars
Never really got into this one myself. Wanted to like it so much… Just not for me. I want all that into Corabi though so hard for me to judge fairly…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Question for Scott: Did you hear/like the second album? That one I didn’t like, but I know people who love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I didn’t bother with them after the debut.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well one day you will read about it right here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They had a live release too didn’t they? I was a bit tempted by that one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah and I’m struggling to even remember the name now! I’ll get to it, but there IS such a thing as too much music.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Live in the Galaxy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool, found it more intriguing cause it had some KISS and Crue stuff on it… if I remember correctly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheap Trick too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah! They do Surrender…Kiss reference right? And they do an old song by John’s old band The Scream.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That makes sense I suppose! And The Scream… there’s a band I forgot about. I remember them being hotly-tipped (until Crue stole Corabi). Never heard them though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There were some guys in that band who were in Racer X with Paul Gilbert. Good players. The album is a bit generic but there was room to grow! I remember they had a song on a soundtrack in the early 90’s. Encino Man, I think?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Again, I don’t know anything about this lot. From the tune and what you’ve written here, I’m fairly intrigued …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked ’em. Unfortunately their second LP wasn’t as good.
LikeLike
A difficult second album, eh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
My friend Len and I disagreed on the second one, but I never got into it. They do have a killer live one though!
LikeLike
I know it’s Kulick Week, but I am all about that Corabi. Love anything and everything JC does. Totally slept on, that guy is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s brilliant. I would buy anything John Corabi sings on. He’s earned a lot of respect from rock fans of all stripes.
LikeLike
Love the bit about making Nikki Sixx crap his pants. That would be something to see, okay, maybe not. As this is my first introduction to Union, I can hear a bit of the grunge trying to poke through as well as Bruce’s guitar mastery. Must investigate Union more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bruce is a really underrated player. He’s not showy, he’s not for the spotlight. I love his stuff. I have two more solo albums of his that will be looked at later on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Underrated he is. I shall await to read your takes on those two solo albums.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I shall get there some day!
LikeLike
Thanks. I hadn’t heard this one and needed something to listen to this morning in the car and this was it. I enjoyed it. I am digging Corabi lately with the Dead Daisies so this was great to hear as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Corabi has been consistently great. Dead Daisies are pretty awesome too. I was listening to his cover version of Rod Stewart’s Maggie May and he nailed that too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, yes he did!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Taranna, Dude. I’d like more Corabi.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ll find some, do you have Motley?
LikeLike
Nice series, Mike!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thank you Jay!
LikeLike