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PAT BENATAR
Go (Bel Chiasso)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
In the early 80s, Pat Benatar practically ruled the female arena rock roost, though if Joan Jett should happen to be in town on the same night, well... forget it if we're talking street fight. Sales, though, that's another issue. Well crafted pop with power chord rivets was the specialty of Benatar and guitarist/songwriter/husband Neil Geraldo, and songs like "Heartbreaker," "Treat Me Right," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "In The Heat Of The Night" and "Love Is A Battlefield" were monsters.
Twenty years later they're still together and still making music, though it's not exactly the same music. After all, if it hadn't changed, they'd be an oldies act. It's definitely not that. When they rock, they use modern technology mixed with the tried and true power guitar work of Geraldo to achieve a balance that, to some degree, brings the new millennium into the recognizable Benatar sound. The title track is the prime example, and for the rockers in the audience it's bound to be the most memorable song on the CD. Loaded with distorted, powerful guitar and quickly paced, it seems to inspire Benatar to fire it up like she did in the day. My only regret listening to this track - and this is not meant as a knock on drummer Matt Lawg - was that Myron Grombacher wasn't on drums. The guy fit with Pat and Neil like he was born to play with them, and he's insane on the skins, so it could have been twice the song it is. But then... coulda shoulda woulda.
The downside of Go is that it doesn't go much. After the quick start, the tempo drops to medium for a few tunes, then to dreary for the duration. I can't recommend it as a whole, but I do think a few of the songs are going to find an audience. Besides the title track, there's "I Won't," which combines moments of subtlety and in-your-face power and has an overall feel that harkens back to mid-80s MTV Benatar. It's a very well written song that sticks with you, much more so than just about any other on the album.
A younger audience may discover Benatar (if they don't disqualify her for being old enough to be their mom) through a few songs written in the style of modern pop. "Brave" sounds very much like a lot of the songs my 16 year old's radio blasts, only more tolerable to me because Pat Benatar's voice graces it.
The album ends with an unlisted bonus track that I assume by the million repetitions of the phrase must be called "It's Christmas In America." Did I miss this at the time of the 9/11 attacks, or are they just a little late? Or possibly the lost loved ones she's singing about are the troops in Iraq. I don't know. Maybe I'm unpatriotic for saying this but the song is sappy and feels much too contrived.
So there you have it, the good, the bad and the ugly regarding Go. Hopefully this arms you with enough info to know if it has the elements that you look for. Either way, I'll say this for both Pat and Neil: they've still got their chops as musicians.
© 2003 - DJ Johnson