Shameless - So Good, You Should (2022)

There are moments when all the older fans of Glam Metal and Hard Rock miss the 80’s, because it wasn’t only the music, but a whole set of cultural traits that were focused on a positive insight. All of us (yes, because I’m 52) looked into the future having in mind that ‘tomorrow will be a great time’. Sorry, but the depressive feeling brought by Grunge Rock bands was too much for us to handle. Today, many bands are trying to make a living on the genres mentioned above, and some older groups are still here, as SHAMELESS, a German act that is releasing “So Good, You Should”.

The album shows the same old and good Hard/Glam Metal that was usual to the 80’s, in some moments being a bit more melodic and filled with accessible melodies, on others a little more aggressive and nasty, balancing elements from some subgenres of Glam Metal (from Sleazy Rock to some moments filled with AOR touches). It’s not the more original work one can hear, but who cares if things are good as presented by the band? As one can think, the sonority presented by the album is very good, indeed, allowing the melodies and musical arrangements to be fully understood without problems by anyone. But it’s obvious that the model used is the most traditional for Hard/Glam Metal the band could find. And it works in an excellent way. And to make things even better, some guests are presented: Jaret Reddick from BOWLING FOR SOUP (vocals), Bruce Kulick, Tracii Guns & Alex Kane (guitars), and Adam Hamilton (drums).

There are 14 songs on the album, some new tracks and some covers (don’t ask me what are the new and the covers, because it’s not clear). But it’s incredible to hear moments as “Get Ready” (a groove Hard/Glam Song with very good arrangements that can remind CINDERELLA’s work on “Long Cold Winter”), “Shout It Out” (here is a more heavy and nasty moment, based on strong guitars and catchy choruses), “So Good, You Should” (an accessible song that could be success on the radios during the 80’s due the BON JOVI’s scent on it, with very good lead and backing vocals), “I Think We’re Alone Now” (another extremely catchy and accessible song, this time based on a solid work of bass guitar and drums, but what good shreds on the guitars), “Eastbound and Down” (a funny song filled with Rock ‘n’ Roll and Country Rock influences), “Does Your Mother Know” (this one shows some traditional Heavy Metal traits in the influences, especially on the guitar riffs), and “Ain’t Got No Sense”. This set is just to begin to digest the album.

It’s really too good to hear such a form of music today, and SHAMELESS did a fine work on “So Good, You Should”. Listen to it and make your own conclusions.