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Raquel


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Raquel's 1989 album is some of the best stuff to come out of the late 80's in my opinion. It was released again in 2000 by Metal Mayhem records. Does anyone else have this?? I HIGHLY recommend it, if you haven't heard it already...If you love hair metal with catchy hooks, that just has that "feel-good" vibe to it, you should really check it out!

 

Here is a review for the album, courtesy of Carmine Rose at Sleaze Roxx;

 

RAQUEL

RAQUEL

 

Released 1989, 2000 (Metal Mayhem)

 

Track List:

01. Pop Goes The Music

02. Love Don't Go

03. Dark City

04. Everywhere I Go

05. Angel

06. Darlin'

07. Kiss Her Goodbye

08. Take Me Down

09. J.G.W.

 

Band:

Ron English - lead vocals

Kevin McDonald - guitars and vocals

Eric Gadrix - guitars and vocals

Billy Covert - bass

Sean McDonald - drums

 

 

Production:

Produced and recorded by Toby Wright (1, 2, 4, 6 & 9), Jack Gauthier (3 & 5) and Sean McDonald (7 & 8).

 

Review:

Raquel was a band on the Sunset Strip in the early 90's. They had a song that was in an MTV commercial called "Pop Goes The Music." But because of the grunge explosion in the early 90's Raquel was never given a chance until when this album was released on Metal Mayhem Records - not quite the big break of getting signed to a major label, though. Read on...

Song To Song Review:

1) "Pop Goes The Music" was the song that was featured in a commercial for MTV (and in the introduction to Nirvana's "About a Girl" video). If you listen to the lyrics, this song is perfect for that, with lyrics like "Well I hear people say that we look too good to play real rock and roll, well I guess it don't bother the girls too much sittin' in the front row." It's a mid-tempo rocker with a lot of energy. You don't need a fast tempo to have energy. This is the type of song that should have been a hit on MTV. Score: 10/10

2) "Love Don't Go" is a semi-fast rocker, along the lines of White Lion, Big House, and Attraction. Fans of 80's metal should be nuts over this. This is the type of song to blast at a party. Score: 9/10

3) "Dark City" is a mid-tempo rocker, which should please anyone who wants straight ahead melodic hard rock. The vocal harmonies sound very good on this song. The drumming is very prominent in this song, which is a damn good thing, because the drumming kicks ass here. Score: 8/10

4) "Everywhere I Go" starts out acoustic then the distortion gets this going, there is still acoustic guitar playing the background of the verses. This would fall under the category as the best song on this album. The song is very well written and the musicianship is extremely solid. This song is available as an MP3 download at www.metalmayhemmusic.com. Everybody is perfectly tuned in with one another here, the drumming, guitar playing, bass, and vocals all make this song come alive. Score: 10/10

5) "Angel" is very much along the lines of White Lion and Firehouse, the guitar playing is what really shines here, making this another good one for Raquel. It doesn't quite do for me what the last song did, but that was the best one here, so what would? Score: 8/10

6) "Darlin'" is a good time rocker, Raquel doing what they do best. This is a guitar driven rocker with some awesome lead guitar playing in the beginning. Along the lines of Danger Danger, a song that definitely lifts you up. Score: 9/10

7) "Kiss Her Goodbye" has heavier, not quite as noticeable guitar. The song is not as good as anything else on this album. It's actually a loser as far as this album goes. Raquel at their worst, and it's still a decent tune. Score: 8/10

8) "Take Me Down" has a boring first verse. The chorus is much more exciting but doesn't quite make up for that, but it does save this song some points. Plus the second verse is much more exciting than the first verse. The energy just isn't there in the first verse, the first chorus is where it gains it. Once this gets it, it keeps it. The boredom I thought this song would be is irrelevant. Score: 8/10

9) "J.G.W." starts out with some cool bass playing and a guitar riff that gives birth to this great album closer. What "J.G.W." stands for, I'm not sure, but who cares? Raquel's self-titled debut is finished out nicely. Score: 10/10

Raquel's long-lost debut is actually quite entertaining. This album was produced by Tony Wright, who went on to multi-million sales producing albums for grunge bands such as Korn and Alice In Chains, but grunge Raquel is not. They are 80's hair metal dudes with big hair, and fun for anyone who likes hair metal.

Essential for fans of: Attraction, White Lion and Big House.

 

Reviewed by Carmine Rose for Sleaze Roxx, July 2006.

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I had it and got rid of it. Definitely good-by-the-numbers hair metal though. "Pop Goes The Music" was a cool track. But, too many other bands did this sound much better even back then imo. I'm sure plenty of people around here will disagree with me though.

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Shoot...I thought this was gonna be a thread about late 80s porn goddess Racquel Darrian.

 

2656370782_95c6ddb946.jpg

 

Nevermind then. Carry on.

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A solid addition to anyone's hair-metal collection, but hardly the best of the best (and certainly not in the same league as Tuff/Poison/Trixter). I picked it up when it first came out on Metal Mayhem, spun it a couple times, and it's sat on the shelf ever since, pretty much forgotten like last year's Christmas fruit cake. I literally don't think I've played the CD in at least 4 yrs., which says something about its lack of a lasting impression. Gonna have to dig it out again, get reacquainted; I do recall some catchy pop-metal hooks going on and the overall "feel" of the album was perfectly fine, just a little by-the-numbers...which, oddly enough, is also how Geoff's wife describes his sexual prowess.

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Decent release and worth having if you're into hard rock/hair music but it isn't one of my favs so it doesn't get played a lot....

 

Have to agree. If it not have been so expensive these days I would propably buy it.

 

By the way Racquel Darrian was fairly hot but not as good as Nikki Tyler :crazy:

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By the way Racquel Darrian was fairly hot but not as good as Nikki Tyler :crazy:

 

I remember Nikki Tyler and she was damn hot, but Racquel was my (one of many) dream woman!! :wub:

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Haven't spun this one in awhile...although I do rather like it. Might be a good time to dust this one off.

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Suprisingly of all places I downloaded Raquel - uptight, which seems to be a collection of demos (8 tracks) from a thread on metal sludge.

 

Same band, not as good as s/t but not bad at all.

 

If anyone else wants it, I could upload it. Just recommend me the best free fileserver place.

 

Cheers

Wow man, I would love to hear these! Please. :)

 

I actually really love this CD. Whilst I can acknowledge it is a little by-the-numbers it still really, really appeals to me. I have about 4 songs off this on my Ipod, I think. Love this album.

 

As for Raquel Darrian, zomfg. She was my fave off that whole scene too. I was completely in love with her. :wub:

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Suprisingly of all places I downloaded Raquel - uptight, which seems to be a collection of demos (8 tracks) from a thread on metal sludge.

 

Same band, not as good as s/t but not bad at all.

 

If anyone else wants it, I could upload it. Just recommend me the best free fileserver place.

 

Cheers

Wow man, I would love to hear these! Please. :)

 

I actually really love this CD. Whilst I can acknowledge it is a little by-the-numbers it still really, really appeals to me. I have about 4 songs off this on my Ipod, I think. Love this album.

 

As for Raquel Darrian, zomfg. She was my fave off that whole scene too. I was completely in love with her. :wub:

 

Here we go, sorry its a bit late

Raquel - Uptight

 

Apparently it can only be downloaded 10 times though!

 

Also check out Love, Hate, Survival and drive I posted about them ages ago and no-one really seemed interested but I think they're

really good. Do a search for them on myspace!

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Suprisingly of all places I downloaded Raquel - uptight, which seems to be a collection of demos (8 tracks) from a thread on metal sludge.

 

Same band, not as good as s/t but not bad at all.

 

If anyone else wants it, I could upload it. Just recommend me the best free fileserver place.

 

Cheers

Wow man, I would love to hear these! Please. :)

 

I actually really love this CD. Whilst I can acknowledge it is a little by-the-numbers it still really, really appeals to me. I have about 4 songs off this on my Ipod, I think. Love this album.

 

As for Raquel Darrian, zomfg. She was my fave off that whole scene too. I was completely in love with her. :wub:

 

Here we go, sorry its a bit late

Raquel - Uptight

 

Apparently it can only be downloaded 10 times though!

 

Also check out Love, Hate, Survival and drive I posted about them ages ago and no-one really seemed interested but I think they're

really good. Do a search for them on myspace!

Awesome. Thanks mate! What a great thing to see for a random log-on. Thank you!!

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Good listen. Really loved the ballad around track 3. I got sidetracked towards the end of kind of stopped listening in detail, but is it still the same singer on the last few songs? Sounds like it got heavier... I really should listen again before I type, but oh well, done. :) I'll listen again later. Thanks again for the upload.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Good listen. Really loved the ballad around track 3. I got sidetracked towards the end of kind of stopped listening in detail, but is it still the same singer on the last few songs? Sounds like it got heavier... I really should listen again before I type, but oh well, done. :) I'll listen again later. Thanks again for the upload.

 

I haven't had time to listen properly yet either.

Too much good music so little time, it doesnt help if i like one song I tend to listen to it 1000 times over.

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  • 4 weeks later...

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