SAMMY HAGAR With VIC JOHNSON – Lite Roast
November 12, 2014, 9 years ago
(eOne)
Sammy Hagar, along with his Waboritas guitarist Vic Johnson, have stripped down 11 of the Red Rocker’s previously released tunes and recorded new, acoustic versions for this casually cool album. Beginning with the oh so enjoyable “Red Voodoo” and “One Sip”, an easy going, laid back Jimmy Buffett atmosphere is invoked. Up next is the first of two Van Halen songs; an unplugged “Finish What Ya Started” doesn’t fare as well as the original, but “Dreams”, initially on 5150, resonates proudly. “Eagles Fly” and “The Love” are introspective and alluring, whereas “Father Sun” from last year’s Sammy Hagar & Friends has an undeniable commercial appeal to it. “Deeper Kinda Love” is a pleasant strum along, and while “Who Has The Right?” is great musically, it gets a little too serious with the lyrical subject matter. Wrapping it up are a couple of tracks from Livin’ It Up; “Sailin’” and “Halfway To Memphis”. Yes, the album is called Lite Roast, but these two are almost too mellow, especially with the prominent accordion played by by Andre Thierry. Interesting that Hagar avoided reworking any Montrose or Chickenfoot material; but all said and done, Lite Roast is one savoury endeavour.
