- advertisement -

ST. JAMES
Resurgence
2016

Back in the ‘90s, THE RODS drummer/producer Carl Canedy was part of a band based in New Haven, Connecticut. ST. JAMES featured vocalist John James and brothers Robert Jacobs and James Jacobs on bass and guitar, respectively. This lineup recorded some demos that grew to a large collection of songs over time. The band played live shows with a different drummer, but never got to tour with Canedy due to his schedule as an in-demand producer. They also never released the songs properly– until now. Regarding the cache of songs, Canedy remarked, “I listened to a bunch of the songs and felt like this stuff was just too good to never be released. The writing, the playing, the production, even after all this time they still hold up.”

The songs feature big vocal hooks and tons of swagger. Make no mistake, while the ‘80s metal influences can be heard, ST. JAMES is a band with its own unique sound. The album opens with the powerful “Attitude”, which punches you in the face from the beginning. The BANG TANGO-ish “Worth Fighting For” follows with a pulsing bass riff from Robert. James Jacobs’ guitar squeals and John James’ amazing voice raise this song to another level. The BON JOVI-flavored “This Distance” is next, with a big hooky chorus. You just don’t hear the confidence that a song like “Let It Rain” preaches much anymore. If you’re feeling down, this song will give you a boost. There is a playful prance in the song “What’s Your Situation?” that keeps your head nodding. “The Road” is one of the best songs on the album, featuring some George Lynch–style guitar riffs. The ballad “Castles In The Sand” is another winner, featuring harmony vocals galore. “Somewhere Between Here And There” is another bright spot as well, featuring upbeat vocals from James. “In Your Heart” is a good example of the emotional, hooky tracks that are on Resurgence. Along with “Ain’t It Sad”, a bluesier number featuring acoustic guitar and harmonica, this song, (along with many other ones on the album like “Princess Of Pain”), could have been legitimate hit songs back in the day. Overall, this is an impressive collection that has finally seen the light of day with this remastering twenty-five years later.

Many of these songs are just so catchy; they have stayed in my head for quite a while. They are just too good to let sit on the shelf forever. With 17 songs at an hour long, Resurgence is an interesting release that should appeal to fans of DOKKEN, POISON, BON JOVI, NELSON, CINDERELLA, WARRANT and BANG TANGO. The album cover features a slick logo and impressive cover artwork. A fantastic release!

4.5 Out Of 5.0