Band:	Keel
Album:	Streets Of Rock & Roll
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	January 29, 2010
Guest review by:	vezzy

01. Streets Of Rock 'n' Roll
02. Hit The Ground Running
03. Come Hell Or High Water
04. Push & Pull
05. Does Anybody Believe
06. No More Lonely Nights
07. The Devil May Care
08. Looking For A Good Time
09. Gimme That
10. Hold Steady
11. Live
12. Brothers In Blood

Keel were one of the many heavy/glam metal bands who topped the charts during the '80s, some of the most notable being Twisted Sister and Poison. Except Keel were a more straightforward heavy metal approach and lasted five years originally, gaining their fairly brief spotlight of success and releasing four full-length albums during their initial run, but they became mainly known for their hit "The Right to Rock." A few brief reunions later, they have recorded their first album composed entirely of original material since their 1987 self-titled - Streets of Rock & Roll.

I guess, when you look at it, Keel were more-or-less a "just because" band. Nothing really new, but they came up with some enjoyable rockers that were fine for a spin from time to time. So, this brings us to Streets. The atmosphere is somewhat cheerier compared to the hard style of its predecessors. Age has really affected Ron Keel's voice though. Once having a wild high-pitched tone, it has now been deducted into a more basic and less demanding/energetic one, with minimal shouting or pitch differences. Although it shines at times, it can be weak and laughable at others, such as when he utters "Hell yeah!" in the title track. What's surprising though are the rather catchy instrumentals overall. We still have plenty of "glitter" (soft and cheesy elements), but there are a good stack of memorable rock riffs, choruses and solos. It is also arranged in such a way that it becomes very enjoyable to listen to.

The drums don't extend much beyond basic beats, but for what the album is, they're adequate for it. The new bassist Geno Arce isn't the big cheese either (or extremely audible for that matter), but he goes with the flow, so nothing to pan in that area. The guitar serves as the base of the music, it's what makes it sound filled with passion, vigor and give it appeal.

We have the typical rock assortment. The mid-paced opener ("Streets of Rock & Roll"), some party rock/rockstar life anthems ("Hit The Ground Running," "No More Lonely Nights," "Looking For a Good Time," "Live"), a few ballads ("Push & Pull," "Does Anybody Believe," "Hold Steady") and of course, the hard-rockers ("Come Hell or High Water," "The Devil May Care," "Gimme That," "Brothers In Blood"). All in all, most are enjoyable with the possible exception of the cheesy ballads.

In the end, this could be seen by many as a more-or-less ordinary heavy metal/hard rock album, but it's done in such a way that it truly displays its liveliness and spirit, so it may end up a staple in some of your playlists. Recommended for traditional heavy metal goers.