LITTLE YANKEES All Or Nothing 1997
Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...
Despite their name, LITTLE YANKEES was a Swedish band with a British vocalist... a little messy isnt it? Well, their album "All Or Nothing" is not a mess at all, but an enjoyable slice of European Melodic Rock / AOR.
The cover artwork also disorientate a bit (you may think of a Southern Rock band) but these guys were inspired by the late 80s Scandinavian AOR scene, and due to Paul Dexters smooth vocals you got a feel of British bands like Overlands FM, Heartland, Dare, etc.
The CD starts with "Go To America", a commercial tune with an obvious radio target, melodic but too cheesy and ends up as the only weak track on the record. But the rest is really good since track 2 "The Power", a pumping melodic rocker where the band show its skills in writing catchy melodies and performing their instruments with taste.
More in this style is heard in "Die For You", the groovy "Give It To Me", title track, and later on "Give It Up" (great chorus!), while Little Yankees go for AOR smoothness in the atmospheric "Cant Live" (reminds me Virginia Wolf) or "Dont Leave Me" with an After Hours feel.
All the aforementioned songs are really good, as are the ballad "Ill Be There" adorned with fine orchestrated synths and in the middle featuring an arrangement akin bagpipes (perhaps Dexter is Scottish?).
As far I know only released in Sweden, Little Yankees "All Or Nothing" is a pretty unknown and good Melodic Rock / AOR album finely produced. The CD appeared in 1997 - obscure years for this genre - and the band split soon after.
Recommended.
01 - Go To America
02 - The Power
03 - Famous
04 - Cant Live
05 - Die For You
06 - Ill Be There
07 - Give It To Me
08 - Burning Feeling
09 - Dont Leave Me
10 - Give It Up
11 - All Or Nothing
Paul Dexter: vocals, guitars, keyboards
Heavy Eddie: bass, backing vocals
Johan The Preacher Rydberg: drums, percussion
Tobias Snake Wernersson: guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
LITTLE YANKEES - All Or Nothing
.