Silverhead was a band fronted by Michael Des Barres. Purple Music has just reissued three of their albums with a lot of bonus tracks. Of the three, this is my favorite. It just has a more polished rocking sound. I wish they had kept creating music beyond this point because they were definitely on the cusp of greatness here.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2016 Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Hello New York
This rocker is so classy and classic. It's part Stones, part Faces and all cool. There is a bit of a David Bowie vibe here, too.
More Than Your Mouth Can Hold There is a bluesy rock edge to this number. It's another that has a lot of that Stones vibe, but with some Sweet and more in the mix.
Only You A slow, bluesy balladic tune, I like this quite a bit.
Bright Light A raw rocking tune is the concept here. This has a blues riff at its heart, and it's a glam rocker. The powerful jam later in the track is killer.
Heavy Hammer Another rocker with a lot of blues in the mix. The Stones and the Faces are again valid references here.
Cartoon Princess Glam rock is definitely the idea here. This is fast paced and quite entertaining. It's a great rocker.
Rock Out Claudette, Rock Out Another straight-forward rocker, this is great stuff. It even has some hints of Southern rock and perhaps early Alice Cooper.
This Ain't a Parody With some cool jamming in parts of it, this is another strong 70s rocker.
16 and Savaged The Allman Brothers seems a valid entry in terms of influences here. This is a strong rocker.
Bonus Tracks
James Dean (Previously Unreleased) Hard rocking and a bit on the raw side, this is a classy tune.
Marilyn (Previously Unreleased) The sound quality here isn't as good as on some of the rest of the stuff. Still, it's a solid rock and roller.
Leon (Michael Des Barres Solo 45) This is a rather catchy ballad. It's a classy tune.
New Moon Tonight (Michael Des Barres Solo 45)
There are hints of country music built into this cool rocker.
Cartoon Princess (Live)
The sound quality leaves a bit to be desired on this live recording, but it's a cool rocker, nonetheless.
More Than Your Mouth Can Hold (Live) I dig the slide guitar on this thing. The sound is a bit better, too.
Bright Light (Live) Another bluesy rocker, this thing is pretty solid, but the sound quality has some problems when it powers up to hard edged jamming.
Rock Out Claudette, Rock Out (Live) This hard rocker is a solid one, and the sound isn't terrible.
16 and Savaged (Live) I love the balance between rocking and mellower stuff here. This is a strong tune. The sound is pretty decent, too.
Hello New York (Live) A hard rocking tune, the sound quality here isn't the best, but it works.
