Joey Molland Demos: US Review

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Joey Molland Demo’s Old and New Review by G. W. Hill Joey Molland is probably best known for his work in Badfinger. He’s done a lot of solo music, though. This album collects a lot of his demos over his career. As with most demos, these sound a little rough around the edges. There are definitely some diamonds hiding on a lot of these cuts, though. Track by Track Review I Said It's Alright '92 This straight ahead rocker reminds me a little of Bad Company. Of course, there is also some Badfinger in the mix. It’s definitely raw like a demo in terms of production. The song, though, shines even in the rough. Borderline '84 More of a stripped back rock and roller, the harmonica lends a lot to the mix here. While this is still “demoish,” the quality is better than on the previous tune. That Bad Company element is still here, but there is some Muddy Waters and some Led Zeppelin built into this beast, too. Birdsong '92 A bluesy rock and roller, this is not bad, but a little raw and a little unremarkable. Cadillac Blues '88 This has a clean guitar sound. It’s echoey and distant in the demo quality. It’s also a cool tune. It’s more of a melodic rocker and there are hints of space rock here. A false ending gives way to a reprise that’s even more space rock. That section is short and purely instrumental, but also very cool. Can't Stop '84 More of a psychedelic rocker, this is a good tune. It’s still demo quality, but better than some of the rest. The bridge is more along the lines of Badfinger. Clouds of Love '80 More along the lines of power pop, this has a little bit of a Rolling Stones vibe to it, too. The mix on this is rough, but not rough enough to keep the song itself from working. This isn’t all that special, though. Isn't That a Dream '95 This is one of the best songs of the set. First, the recording is better than some of the rest. Then, there is the tune itself. It has some vintage rock in the mix along with psychedelia and even hints of prog. It’s a melodic rocker that works really well. It's True '88 More of a folk rocker, there are a lot of Beatles elements here. This really feels like Badfinger. It’s definitely demo quality, but good demo quality. The guitar solo brings some hints of country. Mirrors '95 This is a cool modern sounding rocker. It’s accessible and energetic. It’s also one of the least demo-like in terms of sound. This is one of the highlights here. Miss Misunderstood '72 The sound quality on this one is pretty good. It’s an acoustic guitar based, folk rock styled number. It’s not one of the best of the set. Moonlight ’81 I love the intricacies of the acoustic guitar lines on this one. It’s also an acoustic based, mellower tune. It’s sublime, though. This is one of the best here for sure. There are Beatles-like elements. The recording quality is quite good for a demo, too. Panning Gold '82 This melodic rocker is okay, but nothing special. It’s got a drum machine backdrop and is quite demo-like. Sometimes ’94 An acoustic guitar based folk rocker, I like this one a lot. Walkin' The Floor '83 A raw, punky rocker, this is just not all that special. It’s quite definitely a demo, too. What You're Doin '73 The drum machine at the start gives this up as a demo right away. It’s a cool, echoey, psychedelic rocker, though. It’s quite a good tune, and the bits of demo-ness actually add to its effectiveness in some ways. When '80 There’s an energized glam rock texture to this one. It reminds me of Sweet a bit. It’s a fun rocker and the sound is quite good, if a bit flat. Miss Misunderstood ’72 Here we get another version of the earlier track. It’s not as good as that one, I think. This is pretty lackluster. CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO: After The Pearl CD - £9.99 The Pilgrim CD - £9.99 Demos Old And New CD - £9.99 Return To Memphis SCD - £9.99 This Way Up CD - £9.99