Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak

This is an album with "male bonding" written all over it.
Why? Well, listen to it for christ sake! I mean, the lyrics are full of great lines like "if that chick don't wanna know/the forget her" and "brothers fight or fall" and "breakout!", and more songs about cowboys and being a "warrior and fighting for the death machine". This band has 2 lead guitarists! I know! Like Spinal Tap! Except, I don't laugh when I listen to "Jailbreak".

It's quite amusing, this was the "breakthrough" album, and it was album no. 6 for these guys.

My love for the album goes back to my early days around age 4/5. My mom worked at a school and occasionally, we'd go to a place called the Dugout right across the street from her school. Other than the place being decked out in Blackhawks and White Sox stuff, there was always music and cherry coke. And for some reason, the hit song "the boys are back in town" would be on when I would go there. I guess it was just that time on the radio or what have you, but listening to this throws me back some 14 years.

A few years ago, I actually got this album (soph. year?) and i thought it was great. Of course, my jam was there, as was "jailbreak", a darned fine single in its own right. then you got jams like "the cowboy song" with a fist-pumping chorus (something like "i am just a cowboy lonesome on the trail/lord, i'm just thinking about a certain female" and "angel from the coast", a story with ends with "the crook, he got away". some lighter moments can be found in "fight or fall" and "running back" which are near perfect pop song craft with great guitar licks. Then you have "warriors" and "emerald" which aren't as much songs as they are shredding showcases for the guitar and drums. But, its awesome! It's not some Joe Satriani crap thats just "dodollooododollooododollooododollooo" for 5 minutes. Instead, its well thought out soloing and harmonizing and phaser sound effects.

Oh hey, they're Irish too! (waffles)

Cramming 9 songs into the time it takes to make 3 seperate boxes of Annie B's Bunny Mac and Cheese, you got some sweet happenings here.

I picked this because after the night of music and eating and snow-fighting, I thought, "enough of this bill frisell crap! let's kick out the jams!". so i drove home by myself listening to this album that should be listened to by large groups of people.

Hey Gary, remember when we were listening to it after we rehearsed for Kim's recital at Feingold's house and then went to Byron's? Wasn't that great?

Hey family, remember when we were listening to it numerous times when we were boating the past few years?

Hey Mike, owner of the Dugout, remember when this song would be on the radio and I'd go there and get food? Where's the cherry coke?

Hey Weekly Sunday Nite Record Review friends, remember when I reviewed this album and you subsequently listened to it and then we all went to play billiards and darts and go bowling?

OVERALL RATING - Gumby-level awesome
KEY TRACKS - Boys are back in town, romeo and the lonely girl, cowboy song.

for anyone wondering, the Dugout IS still around at its original location 6300 W. 79th St, Burbank, IL. I went there the day I got my learner's permit, the day I took the ACT and after landing for Thanksgiving break. The owner Mike is a swell guy.