Band:	Pushking
Album:	The World As We Love It
Style:	Hard rock
Release date:	February 01, 2011
A review by:	Doc G.

01. Intro
02. Nightrider
03. It'll Be OK
04. Troubled Love
05. Stranger's Song
06. Cut The Wire
07. My Reflections After Seeing The "Schindler's List" Movie
08. God Made Us Free
09. Why Don't You?
10. I Believe
11. Tonight
12. Private Own
13. Open Letter To God
14. Nature's Child
15. I Love You
16. Head Shooter
17. Heroin
18. My Simple Song
19. Kukarracha

Fuck me, I don't recall ever having such bipolar reactions to a single album. This honestly has some of the worst music I've heard in a long time coupled with some absolutely flawless moments. This is not infrequent when it comes to these bands that bring in a mob of big-name guest stars to put in a few bits and pieces on their album. A band that carries it's own weight is a great thing, the chemistry between the guest stars and the core band playing off one another can sometimes be musically orgasmic. Pushking don't do this. Pushking is terrible music saved by familiar faces.

Now, at the risk of sounding like some sour, trendy punk, one thing that stands out about this is how horribly outdated Pushking sounds. Quality music means something different to everyone, but the one thread that is constant in any music that's valued by anyone is the shelf life of it. Now, mind you, tastes do change, but an album from 30 years ago can still sound great to people hearing for the first time today - I believe the word for that is "timeless". Pushking, on the other hand wrote a bunch of power ballads, most of which sound like they belong in a montage of love scenes from bad 80's movies.

The guest stars simultaneously save this album and hurt the band. Most of the guests found on The World As We Love It are incredibly unique musicians that can't be mistaken for anyone else - guitarists like Steve Stevens, Billy Gibbons, and Steve Vai. Then there's vocalists like Jorn Lande, Alice Cooper, Joe Lynn Turner, Udo, and Glenn Hughes. These appearances make this album quite enjoyable. However, the fact is they stick out like a sore thumb - it's quite obvious this band sucks, so when you hear Alice's vocals come in, or Steve Stevens rip a solo, you say to yourself "oh, thank Christ!", followed by a feeling of bitter abandonment once their segment is over.

The guest appearances make this album amazing, everything else makes it worth avoiding. Yes, I'm as confused as you are.