Riley's L.A. Guns Release 'Rewind' -- New Track

Riley's L.A. Guns will release a new album called The Dark Horse later this year. One of the songs on that upcoming album is "Rewind" and the band shared an audio version of it via YouTube. This is one of those songs that sounds fine for a modern rock track, because it is. This isn't the L.A. Guns of the past because this isn't that band, which makes Steve Riley's decision to fight for the use of the name even more confusing.

I like the guitars and the chorus on "Rewind" and I bet The Dark Horse will be a strong release. I just wonder if Riley and the rest of the band would have been better off going with a whole new name, image and started off clean.

Comments

[Him]

Listened to this song yesterday. Of all their songs thus far, I like this one the most. And, guess what? It doesn't sound like it was recorded inside a tin can, in an echo chamber, in a wind tunnel!

I think Riley has as much right to the name as Guns. Said as much before. And I think Guns and Lewis have acted like arse-hats in the press ever since this thing became a thing (for anyone who was really paying attention). Moreover, I don't think their version of LAG sounds that much better.

But I have also said that Riley is a selective historian when it comes to his involvement in this and other bands. So, I don't think he has clean hands here or should get a standing ovation to go out with RLAG. But he and Nickels were involved in some of their classics. And Griffin was a member. Frohlich? Tough spot. Great voice. But not what I consider 'classic' LAG-style vocals. Then again, see above. People gotta' pay the rent.

Would I see them? Maybe. And, just based on personalities alone, I would probably go see RLAG before I gave money to LAG at this point. When you were an 'almost' and you talk smack like you were on top of the hill (granted, Lewis was in Girl with Mr. Oily and was lucky to play with Torme; Guns kept chasing Sixx like a lost puppy). you should keep your head in check. Just saying. There are only so many bars/clubs that you can play in these days. Be grateful. Be gracious. Heck, you could have been in London (the band, not the town)!

[Mike]

This whole "Steve Riley's L.A. Guns" concept is pure bullocks. Steve "I never left the band" Riley, meanwhile I saw them on the Hollywood Vampires tour with a different drummer....

Imagine Matt Sorum starting his own GNR, and talking Duff into joining to attain a small shred of credibility - all while Axl and Slash are out there doing their thing?? "Matt Sorum's Guns N' Roses" ... I'm sure that would be a blockbuster tour yielding many a hit single.

Agreed, a couple of the recent Phil / Tracii records have had serious production issues (on purpose I think, that is a whole other discussion), still the songwriting and performances are excellent. AND as a bonus, they actually sound like L.A. Guns! What a concept!

This Riley song is not only "nothing special" as a standalone piece of music; it's straight up disgraceful to have this wind up in my "New release radar" as a new release from "L.A. Guns".

Go see Tracii and Phil live, for my money the best of the late-80's hard rock acts still out there doing it. Phil sounds incredible, Tracii always plays his ass off, AND the setlist is actually different every tour, what a concept!

[Him]

Mike, I think we agree on some of the major points. But we also disagree on some. That's fine by me.

If intentionally sound crappy is a thing, then you win that point too! I like my irony more obvious, like rain on a wedding day. Giggle.

But I stand by my comments about how toxic (or, at least, suspect) all of their personalities seem to be at this point. Ruling a small roost doesn't make you less of a chicken. But it might make you seem more like a cock. So, the question becomes: how do you address those that you wish to attract? On that point, I kinda' think the lesser of two LAG is doing a better job. Mind you, not talking about the music.