Scarem Takes Em Back…

Los Angeles. The Strip. Hair Spray. Make up. Long Hair. Harem Scarem takes you back to a much simpler time. Where guys sang harmonies and you had to dress up to play music. Only difference? They’re from Canada and it’s 2014.

Harem Scarem have been playing together since 1987. During that time the band has released 13 (!!) albums and seven, yes seven, live albums. Their fanbase, mostly consisting of their home country Canada, as well as Japan, has remained consistent since the beginning and is devout to Harem’s gospel ever since. They broke up in 2008, but as we all know the good times had to keep coming. Four years later they reunited for some festival shows and that led to this album.

The first song on Thirteen, “Garden of Eden,” is the best classic rock song to come out this year.  Big hooky guitar riffs, followed by big arena style drums and soaring vocals really set the stage for the rest of the album.  The solo on this song and the one following it, are almost comical. The performances are spot on, and the musicianship is high so it is impressive.

The second song, “Live it,” has the incredible solo that I talked about above.  It, again, sounds as if it has been on the radio for years. It has that kind of familiarity that a lot of bands are lacking these days. The chorus on this song will, for better or for worse, stick around in your brain for god knows how long.  Say what you will about the album, what I cannot take away is how great the musicianship is. The talent level is really high.

“Early Warning Signs”, the third song on Thirteen, is clearly the heavy song on the album.  It’s train-on-the-tracks rhythm is enough to get the toes tapping. The chorus sounds like it could’ve been on any Van Halen album. Big harmonies on the chorus with what sounds like everyone in the band taking a back up part. Again this is big time talent. Big guitar licks and solos abound on this tune, almost too many to write about.

If you are a Harem Scarem fan, this record is for you. The album is certainly one that fans of the band will, most likely, enjoy from cover to cover. It’s got a signature sound that most will immediately gravitate to. If you aren’t into hair/glam metal, then this album will not be for you..It’s the kind of album that you will either love or hate. The thing that we can all applaud them for is sticking to what made them a band who is known all around the world. They are giving the fans what they want and they seem to enjoy giving the fans what they are thirsting for.  What they want is the strip, the hair, the make up, the simpler time.  Harem Scarem are here to give them just that.