McQueen Street – McQueen Street

 

Producer: Tom Werman

Released: 1991

Rating: ****

Late comers as far as the hair metal scene goes, McQueen Street offered fans of the genre a nice little slice of goodness at a time when critics were preparing to write the epitaph for bands like this.

I’ll be the first to say that some of you may not appreciate Derek Welsh’s, at times non stop squealing and screeching (check out the final minute of the album’s opener, When I’m In The Mood). At the same time I am quite shocked that these guys haven’t received more kudos from members of the hair metal nation.

Produced by hair metal master Tom Werman (Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, Kix, Dokken, Poison & L.A. Guns) this album is dialed in to the late 80′s early 90′s hair metal sound. Some may call it a formula (let’s be honest, it was), but is sure sounds awesome on albums like this one. Take one screaming lead singer combined with soaring background vocals and a perfect balance of riff heavy rockers and radio ready ballads and voila! You’ve got yourself an underrated hair metal gem.

It’s not quite that easy, though, because as much as fans of the genre sing (scream?) the praises of nearly every hair band past and present, there were a few bands who attempted this formula and produced some absolute garbage. While not curing cancer with their tunes, songwriting is just as important in this genre of music as any other (I feel that production was a HUGE part of hair metal’s popularity). McQueen Street’s album is filled with sing along rock anthems and ballads including

When I’m In The Mood
Woman In Love (shameless “We are rock Gods anthem.”)
Time (a fantastic ballad with fairly original lyrics)
Money (one of my favorite fist pumpers on the album)
Stick It
In Heaven (an extremely haunting, yet awesome ballad. Perhaps the best song on the album)

Time and In Heaven were in non-stop rotation in 1991 on 103.5 The Blaze! (Chicago’s hair metal headquarters). Perhaps that is why I am surprised these guys have received little if any mention on hair metal sites. They may not be for everyone, but I am guessing you’ll like this if you like Wildside.