REVIEW: Sammy Hagar, Red Voodoo (MCA)
- Linda Scott
Sammy Hagar's Red Voodoo is a pure rock and roll album. It follows on the heels of Hagar's popular 1997 Marching To Mars, which featured the hit single "Little White Lie". Like Mars, Red Voodoo rocks with a lighter, party album touch. There's a joyful, good times, party groove going, with visions of audiences up on their feet and dancing in the aisles get YOU up and grooving in your living room. What a great icebreaker for a party!
Sammy Hagar knows about partying with your friends. The Red Rocker owns a Cabo San Lucas club called Cabo Wabo where industry pros like Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Slash and many others come to perform and sip Sammy's own brand of tequila. Hagar's been in the music business since 1972. He's done solo work and worked in the Montrose and Van Halen bands. Now he's put together his own band called the Waborites, recorded an album, and they are off on a US tour.
Red Voodoo has 11 tracks with great lyrics, vocals, and a solid rocking beat. The opening track and first single is a winner called "Mas Tequila". There is no way to stay seated during this one. It's definitely a standing, clapping, dancing track. "Shag" is right behind it with a solid, catchy beat that has the power to be another single. And the title tells you what its about. There's a beautiful breather with "Lay Your Hand On Me". The lyrics are gentle, and Sammy sings it just right. "Sympathy For The Human" is an odd selection about religious diversity, but you can tune out the lyrics and just get into the music. All eleven are good to great, they're made for dancing, and they just make you feel better. Whatever Sammy is bottling along with the tequila, he needs to keep doing it.
To check out the tour schedule and hear clips from Red Voodoo, check Sammy's web site at: http://www.redrocker.com
