RUDE AWAKENING: A Tribute to Thin Lizzy

Released: 2007

I'm really not sure what to make of this. Bands doing covers albums aren't unusual these days, but bands dedicating entire albums to one artist's work are rare. And those that are out there are generally shit (Six Feet Under, I'm looking at you). Rude Awakening is a band that has been around in some form since the mid-80s according to their extensive but confusing bio, with a short string of albums and former lead vocalists behind them. In recent years it would appear they have reinvented themselves as a Thin Lizzy tribute band, the end result of which is this 13-track CD.

Thin Lizzy invented twin-guitar heavy metal, and indeed if it hadn't been for them then Iron Maiden would have ended up sounding like Jethro Tull, so any band attempting a tribute hasa heavy responsibility to ensure it is done with the respect this most important but these days oft-overlooked Irish group deserves. Rude Awakening has all but totally succeeded with A Tribute to Thin Lizzy. So good is this album that the band has been invited to Dublin to perform at a show celebrating what would have been Phil Lynott's 58th birthday in August.

This is Lizzy right down to the finest details. Only "Wild One" is a bit on the ordinary side; otherwise, this is close to superb. Mitch Urban pulls off a near-perfect Lynott impression most of the time and the guitar team of Johnny Goodwin and Bill Sablan nail everything. "Emerald" was so perfect it almost made me weep.

The only question I have to ask is why bother? There's no shame in being a Thin Lizzy tribute band when you're as good at it as Rude Awakening, but with so many Lizzy compilations available, most with the same tracks as this, it does seem a bit pointless to have spent time and money recording such a thing. It is excellent though, so at least it wasn't a wasted effort.

I'm not sure what Gary Moore would think of it, but Lynott himself would probably approve.

1. Jailbreak
2. Don't Believe a Word
3. Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)
4. Wild One
5. Johnny the Fox
6. Cowboy Song
7. The Boys are Back in Town
8. Emerald
9. Still in Love With You
10. Massacre
11. It's Only Money
12. Sha La La
13. Warrior

Rating: 92%