User Profile
Tom Kellar
I enjoy several types of music, but mostly rock of all types: Southern, metal, progressive, grunge and more. Of course, user reviews tend to be higher. We do not get our music for free and are not paid for our opinions. Unless we are given an album, or try an experiment, we are buying works from artists that we have enjoyed. But I plan to be very stingy with full 5-star ratings, saving them for flawless masterpieces which are ALL KILLER NO FILLER. I expect to be giving many 3 to 4.5 scores.
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Tom Kellar's Album Reviews
After the 70's heyday of Southern rock, most of the bands broke up or faded away. The exceptions, such as 38 Special and Tampa's The Outlaws, generally changed to a more mainstream rock sound.
"Los Hombres Malo" is an excellent album from the group's later period, when they were a quartet including Freddie Salem as one of the guitarists/vocalists. The blistering "Don't Stop" leads off. This was a minor hit and is probably their heaviest song. It certainly has the "rock", and "Foxtail Lily" has the "roll". While The Outlaws earlier hit "Riders in the Sky" sounded like a stampede of cavalry, this song makes you imagine an agile horse trotting and leaping about the countryside. Rock, then roll, then soaring melody: the trio of best songs is concluded by "Rebel Girl". While the original by Survivor was good, this is the definitive version, and had all the makings of a big hit. Have you seen her?
There are no weak tracks on the rest of the album. "Goodbye" is a cowboy story, and "Back from Eternity" is an epic in that vein. "Won't Come Out of the Rain" is mellower rock with female backing singers. "Running" is a mid-paced song with vocals full of sad longing. "Easy does it" is an upbeat jam. "All Roads" is a grand finish.
With a style like a cross between 38 Special and ZZ Top, "Los Hombres Malo" should appeal both to fans of Southern and 80's rock. These bad men make good music.
"Los Hombres Malo" is an excellent album from the group's later period, when they were a quartet including Freddie Salem as one of the guitarists/vocalists. The blistering "Don't Stop" leads off. This was a minor hit and is probably their heaviest song. It certainly has the "rock", and "Foxtail Lily" has the "roll". While The Outlaws earlier hit "Riders in the Sky" sounded like a stampede of cavalry, this song makes you imagine an agile horse trotting and leaping about the countryside. Rock, then roll, then soaring melody: the trio of best songs is concluded by "Rebel Girl". While the original by Survivor was good, this is the definitive version, and had all the makings of a big hit. Have you seen her?
There are no weak tracks on the rest of the album. "Goodbye" is a cowboy story, and "Back from Eternity" is an epic in that vein. "Won't Come Out of the Rain" is mellower rock with female backing singers. "Running" is a mid-paced song with vocals full of sad longing. "Easy does it" is an upbeat jam. "All Roads" is a grand finish.
With a style like a cross between 38 Special and ZZ Top, "Los Hombres Malo" should appeal both to fans of Southern and 80's rock. These bad men make good music.
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