Vain
ON THE LINE
Alright, so maybe the release of this CD doesn't excite you the way it does me. That's ok. As long as you take notice and discover what is, arguably, the best band that didn't make it from the 80s. Vain's NO RESPECT rocked my CD player in the 80s more than Guns N' Roses, Queensryche, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Poison, Warrant and Slaughter combined did. The song "Who's Watching You" blipped onto radio for 1/2 a second, and just like that, most people forgot them. The few and the loyal, such as myself, stayed with the band and picked up other great albums like FADE and MOVE ON IT, and even the less spectacular ALL THOSE STRANGERS. Hell, I even grabbed up Davy's solo release of 2000, IN FROM OUT OF NOWHERE. So while many may not have been excited to hear that Vain were releasing a new album, I was.
Even more exciting - the return of guitarist Danny West to the Vain fold. With his return, Vain seem to have stepped back into the time machine and created an album that falls somewhere between NO RESPECT and FADE. ON THE LINE clearly shows that Davy and company have a lot left in the tank when they get together to get creative. For his part, Davy sounds just like he always has. His clear, somewhat nasal and upper octave voice is as crisp as ever. Songs like "So Free Now" find him in top form. Even after all these years, Vain can still sing his ass off.
While Davy is good on this, the best part of this release is the playing of West. This guy has always been a "big sound" guitarist that mixed contemporary riffs with clean, fat guitar tones. He's really exceptional on songs like "On The Line" and "Last Sin". The band as a whole really bring some solid performances to the table.
But, ultimately, any band making a comeback will either sink or swim on the strength of the music they are creating when compared to their past. This is where this release is most interesting. For me, a total fan of the moodiness of this band's catalog, ON THE LINE fits right in with all the previous stuff. It's even better in a lot of cases due to the lack of limitation they've put on the songs to "sound" like anything specific from their past. There are songs, like "Drag Me" that could easily have fit on any album they did, while other songs like "Turn To Sand" offer a new wrinkle to what this band does. Fans of NO RESPECT only might not like this album as much as people that are aware of songs like "Shooting Star" or "Looking Glass".
RATING - 8/10 - A reunion that doesn't disappoint. While many of you are probably going, "who"; I am celebrating that Davy Vain is still creating music long after the original demise of this band that should have made it long ahead of bands that did have success, like Faster Pussycat, for instance. One of the best unknown bands of the era comes back with a cool reunion album here.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
You're right, most people don't remember Vain very well. :-)
2 - Temple Stark
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3 - JR
I remember Vain, though I only got the first album. They disappeared off my radar when the bottom fell out of the melodic hard rock boom.
Decent tunes. I didn't rate them quite so highly as I found Davy Vain's voice a bit weak and the production values weren't that great; but I could say the same about the White Stripes, so there you go.
4 - Andrew Ian Dodge
I rather like Vain. Their debut was rather good but didn't get the backing it needed to push it into the forefront.
5 - Lesa May
VAIN are one of the most underrated, super talented bands from back in the big hair days. Davy has gone on to work with some really well-respected people, and I could say that those people are just as lucky to have been able to work with him. VAIN are awesome, and I look forward to their release party for the new CD "ON THE LINE" at the Whisky in Hollywood on AUGUST 28th.
xo
6 - Tim
I'm with Lesa May on this one..........
Vain Rock!!
If only they had had the backing that the likes of GNR etc enjoyed in the 80s they would have been huge.
I can't wait to here the new album.
7 - anthony
If only I had visited this site earlier. I missed the show at the whiskey. Vain is the best hard rock glam band ever! Chris, How can I get a copy of the All Those Strangers album you have? I'm desperate. Thank you, Anthony Lee
8 - mike
Vain should've been so much bigger than they were - it's really criminal. Like LA Guns, painfully underrated, and like LA Guns, still making awesome music for the few thousand of us who still care (Want to get depressed? Go pull Soundscan sales info on these bands.)
Anyway, this record is another great addition to their catalog. DAvy is a great writer and the playing is top notch all around. WELL WORTH checking out - even if it's 15 years too late.
9 - Charles Williams
I just bought a new car with Sirius Satellite radio and 90% of the time it is on the Hairband station. I have been waiting for them to play some Vain, but no luck. I just found out tonight that they have a new album and I am going crazy. Heard they are going to be at Whiskey in December and I will try to be there. Vain is definetly one of my favorite bands of all times. I have a good friend that would agree and we have all the 80's hair band albums. Can't believe more people don't know about them. I think rock is coming back, heard Shark Island has a new album coming out. Long live the 80's (and some 90's)
10 - Dustin Campbell
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11 - Allison
This is the greatest news!! My friends and I never missed a Vain show.You guys have supporters come on out a play a gig in SF!!!!!!!!!!!!
12 - Peter A
I'm from Australia where many bands didn't get a mention on the radar here. My brother and his friends always seemed to be getting me into those great bands including Vain, Fifth Angel and Leatherwolf. Only recently I got Vain's No Respect (reprint) CD; ohh how nice it would be to fork out $US60 for an original pressing :-)
I guess it is better to enjoy a band that didn't make it that big given the current standards. They are still making music which says something about their priorities :-)
13 - aron
lookin for a copy any copy of all those strangers, got a girl who will marry me if i find it lol....anyone out there help me?