Contraband - s/t (1991)

Contraband were a one album wonder supergroup featuring the talents of Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Richard Black (Shark Island), Share Pedersen (Vixen), Bobby Blotzer (Ratt) and guitar master Michael Schenker. What they produced on their 1991 self-titled opus was a brand of catchy hard rock, sewn together by Schenker's unmistakable shredding, although on a track like 'All The Way From Memphis'(cover version) there was a little too much of a pub rock vibe going on excluding those solo's of course. Vocally Black was a relatively standard vocalist, plenty of beef in the throat but nothing distinctive, sadly. 'Loud Guitars, Fast Cars, Wild Wild Livin' most certainly had more sleazy swagger about it, but it's still relatively mediocre middle of the road American road, except with tighter musicianship. 'If This Is Love' and the lighter waving 'Tonight You're Mine' are probably the album high points. If you're a fan of late '80s sounding heavy rock then you'll probably savour this opus, but for me it doesn't do enough. 6/10