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██▌ Artist...: Bonham ░▐██▌
░▐██ Album....: Mad Hatter ░██▌░
▓▐██ Year.....: 1992 ▓▐██▓
▓▐██ Rel. Date: 2024-12-22 ░▐██▓
▐██ Genre....: Hard Rock ██▌░
░ ██▌ Label....: WTG Records ██▌
▐██ Source...: CD ▐██
░▐██▌ Type.....: Expanded Edition ▐██▌░
▓▄████ Quality..: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo ████▌░
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1. Bing 4:48
2. Mad Hatter 5:19
3. Change of a Season 6:59
4. Hold On 4:20
5. The Storm 5:56
6. Ride on a Dream 5:47
7. Good With a Bad 6:36
8. Backdoor 3:33
9. Secrets 4:37
10. Los Locos 3:52
11. Chimera 5:55
12. Waste No Time 5:15
62:57
Ripper's note: this is Japanese edition with extra track "Waste No
Time".
---
The first Bonham album in 1989 was a criticÆs darling. Produced by Bob
Ezrin, it sold well enough and made plenty of year-end lists. For the
year 1989, it was a breath of fresh air compared to the Motley Crue, Bon
Jovi and Def Leppard tracks dominating the airwaves. Those who thirsted
for the rarified air of Led Zeppelin got some of that with Jason on
drums and the incredible Canadian Daniel MacMaster on lead vocals. It
was easy to imagine that ôWait For Youö was a new Zeppelin single built
for that year. But every band has to grow, and where would Bonham take
it? Further down the Zeppelin road, or try and find their own identity?
Bob Ezrin did not return, and most of the followup album Mad Hatter was
produced by Tony Platt, with the rest produced by Ron Saint Germain.
The band grew from the debut, establishing more of their own groove. It
was a more diverse and challenging platter. Unfortunately, the album
arrived in 1992, amidst the Pearl Jams, Soundgardens, Nirvanas and the
rising tide of grunge. Despite the strong single ôChange of a Seasonö,
the album tanked.
What an opener ôBingö is, a word that doesnÆt seem to be in any of the
lyrics. At first, it has a very old school Zeppelin groove, akin to
ôCandy Store Rockö meets ôBlack Dogö. But then it goes to a completely
different place on the chorus. The sonics are clearer and sharper than
the debut. JasonÆs drums are huge as the should be.
Yet itÆs the title track that really shocks the system. Opening with a
blast of horns, ôMad Hatterö goes one of the few places Zeppelin never
went: full-on funk with horns. This would be the Tower of Power horn
section. It would be lazy to compare ôMad Hatterö to ôGet the Funk Outö
from a couple years past, as it has its own vibe. Ian Hatton on guitar
proves himself to be diverse talent with licks-o-plenty.
Another direction is explored on ôChange of a Seasonö, the
shoulda-woulda-coulda single that would have been huge a year or two
prior. The melancholy ballad was simply the wrong temperature for 1992.
The gothic tone of the video was cool, but the video got zip for
airplay. ItÆs the backing strings (synth) and epic chorus that make
this song. It sounds less like Zeppelin and perhaps more like something
from David CoverdaleÆs Reptile Emporium.
Another cool direction is explored on ôHold Onö, a unique song with
elements from multiple genres. Funk, soul, progressive, blues, and even
bluegrass. This is followed by another song with epic overtones, ôThe
Stormö, a six minute track that takes the Zeppelin influences to the
craggy progressive peaks of another land.
Although thereÆs no side break on a CD, there are a natural place for it
as you can pause for a breath before plunging into ôRide on a Dreamö. A
breaknace pace and metallic riff make it unlike anything else on the
album. Perhaps a band like the Scorpions could do ôRide on a Dreamö,
but even Klaus would be challenged by the outstanding MacMaster lead
vocal. This plutonium-fuelled track would give anyone a run for their
money.
But after all that drama, you need something a little more laid back.
That would be ôGood With the Badö, a jazzy piano ballad and the longest
song on the album. It doesnÆt remain in ballad territory forever,
going to the swamps of Florida where Savatage reside halfway through.
The comparisons are easy to hear. Next, we go to a bluesy, funky blast
of Zeppelin-flavoured ale on ôBackdoorö. Another cool tune with a
different vibe from the others. Things drag a bit on ôSecretsö, which
tries to marry the funky side with a ôKashmirö-scale chorus but doesnÆt
really follow through.
Moving on to the end, itÆs ôLos Locosö in second to last position. This
is a tender blues guitar/violin instrumental with dark piano accents.
That would be bassist John Smithson handling those wicked violin licks
and a lot of the keyboards. Perfect track for this spot, setting up for
the closer. ItÆs up to ôChimeraö to take you out, and it does with a
shiny upbeat vibe. Although itÆs probably sheer coincidence, it sounds
a bit like Marillion circa the same period.
Lo and behold, that is not all! The Japanese fans got a little bonus on
their CDs called ôWaste No Timeö. ItÆs definitely not an also-ran. It
has a heavy bass groove that isnÆt like the other tracks on the album.
MacMaster really lets it blast on the chorus too. Definitely Zeppelin
vibes come solo time.
This album was available with two covers. The majority of copies have
the surreal Dali-esque landscape that you see here. The alternate cover
was plain white with just the new Bonham logo. Which looks rather silly
without the proper cover art for context. ThatÆs the cover that
retailers such as Columbia House sold in the 1990s.
In 1994, Jason Bonham reconvened with Ian Hatton and John Smithson, but
not Daniel MacMaster. The new singer was Marti Frederiksen ù yes, that
Marti Frederiksen, the one that writes massive hits for everyone today.
The band took on a new modern grunge sound, and renamed themselves
Motherland. ?? For Me was the pretentious name of that album. As a sad
final coda, Daniel MacMaster died too young at age 39 from a strep
infection that he thought was a cold.
At least we can say that Bonham with MacMaster really did outgrow the
Zeppelin tag by the second album. Still a part of the DNA, but
expressing itself more rarely. ItÆs a shame about the timing of the
album, because had it sold like the first one did, maybe we wouldnÆt
have had the Motherland debocle. Mad Hatter is a pretty fine second
album that does all the things that second albums should do. Shame it
was the last.
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