BRASS KITTEN is back for round two! Once again teaming up with Demon Doll and Metal Legacy Records to reissue their sophomore effort 'Across America". About The Band Brass Kitten (BK), based out of St Paul, MN, toured extensively from 1988 to 1992, playing 250 to 300 shows a year. From Winnipeg, Canada to Key West, Florida, Brass Kitten rocked the live music circuit from coast to coast. BK's original 4-member line up included: John Jeremi – lead guitar and vocals, Sid – drums, Steve Philbrook – lead vocals and guitar, Kiar Olson – bass and vocals. The foursome wrote and released their first album, EZ-N-Pretty, on Emerald Records in early 1990. After Kiar’s departure from the band in mid-1990, Kellie Roulette joined as his replacement. BK continued to tour EZ-N-Pretty extensively, eventually winning ‘National Pick Hit of the Week’ on Z-Rock National Syndicate radio. The band continued to write numerous songs while on tour and in late 1991, Brass Kitten hooked up with engineer/producer Dave Kent (Skid Row, Queensryche) to collaborate on their 2nd album, Across America. However, shortly after recording the album's tracks, bassist Kellie was in a serious motorcycle accident. Across America's release was put on hold while the band awaited Kellie's return. Kiar filled in for Kellie while Brass Kitten continued to tour. Upon hearing news that a full recovery was doubtful, Brass Kitten decided to disband and Across America's release was near forgotten. A couple singles from the album were in circulation due to their release for radio promo: "Can't Hold Back The Young" and "Sweet Love Affair". Due to fan inquiries, the album Across America was resurrected and finally released by Nightmare Records in 2001. Fortunately, over time Kellie made a full recovery. Today, all the members of Brass Kitten still play music regionally and nationally in various projects; however, the band has not played a show together since 1992. Brass Kitten made their own unique mark on the 80's & 90's music scene with their hard rock hook-driven music and theatrical stage show. Brass Kitten's albums, EZ-N-Pretty & Across America, have been out of print for some time but thanks to Demon Doll Records, they are both available again.
Jam packed with everything a Hair Metal fan could ever want, this delicious gem opens up in the "Crossfire" and doesn’t let you out until the final notes of the never before released bonus track "Time To Say It's Over." The Kitten bears it claws with the above mentioned killer tracks as wall as "Sweet Love Affair". "Can't Hold Back The Young”, “Bite The Bullet" and "Can't Wait Another Day". Highlighted by front man Steve Philbrook's outstanding set of pipes and John Jeremi's killer fret work, the boys bring it home in style to close out the Brass Kitten era with two excellent albums under their belts...if you don’t have a copy of their debut "E-Z ‘N’ Pretty” - do yourself a favor and grab both of these and relive the glory days of the 80's and early 90's. If you are a fan of Skid Row and Bon Jovi, Brass Kitten definitely checks off a few boxes in that direction. Highly recommended listening! This release is digitally remastered and repackaged in an eight page booklet with a full set of lyrics. This CD is silver pressed, officially licensed from the band and exclusively available from Demon Doll Records. Brass Kitten Reviews Brass Kitten is a great example of all that was positive in regards to the hard rock / pop metal scene. The influences of many of the better bands of the genre are apparent. Nightmare Records is to be commended for issuing this CD. A reissue of the band’s debut release “EZ – N Pretty” would be most welcome. For those of you who, like me, really enjoyed the 80s long hair heavy metal sound from bands such as Skid Row, Great White, Kix and Europe, you'll love these guys. Brass Kitten are the best thing I've heard in a long time. I highly suggest you check out this CD. - The Pure Rock Shop It's definitely NOT comparable to any "Top 40" or "Rap" crap you hear on the radio today; which makes this band extraordinary in the fact that it has not jumped on any "bandwagons" to promote what the public wants, but stayed focused on what their fans want. It's unabashed 80s metal, performed unashamedly. - RoughEdge.com Kind of like a mix of Steelheart and Skid Row. Now if you dig these other bands that I mentioned, which I do, there is a chance you’ll treat this release by Brass Kitten like GOLD. This is one of those albums that comes as a pleasant surprise. Everything seems to fit together. Good songs, good hooks & melodies, worth a place to collectors list!!! - Melodic-HardRock.com Across America 1992 Across America was the album we were all really excited for! It showed the maturity of the band and had some great songs that came from our real life experiences of being on the road for over 250 shows! On "Across America" we took a completely different approach. The band had grown a lot as performers, players, singers, but most importantly songwriters. We knew what sound and direction we were after. We wanted a raw "live" sound. We hired Dave Kent (Skid Row & Queensryche) to engineer the album. The album was tracked at Entercore Studios. The rooms were nice and lively! All basic tracks were recorded live. Vocals and solos were overdubbed. For the final mix we included the input of Sandy Marks & Chris Mislinski (the bands FOH sound tech) to help keep the "live" feel. For the rhythm guitar tracks we used a 1969 Marshall 100 watt Super Lead with a Furman parametric eq boosting the input. For doubled rhythm tracks we used a 50 watt JCM800. Guitar solos were recorded from the various amps pictured below. The amps were close mic'd with a Shure SM57 and room mic'd with a Neumann U87. Bass tracks were a combo of direct and a vintage Ampeg SVT. All vocals were recorded with a Neumann U87. EZ-N-Pretty 1990 Our debut album EZ-N-Pretty was recorded relatively quick due to the band's extensive touring schedule. The band had to squeeze studio time in as soon as we got off the road. The entire album was recorded mixed, and mastered about 9 days. We as a band were trying to find our sound and direction during this recording. We had no recording experience before and were learning to write songs as a band. Songs like "One Life To Live", and "On The Run" were written in the studio during the recording sessions. We really had no expectation on what the album would sound like except we wanted to capture a "live" feel to it because the band thrived off our high energy shows. In the studio band recorded the songs together live to try and capture that feel. However, Control Sound Studio was a very dead sounding studio! No ambient sounding rooms at all. Thus made it difficult us have to try and capture an ambient live sound so we had to resort to using outboard effects instead of live room ambience which ended up sounding artificial. Musically & vocally we did very few punch-ins. Again due to limited time we had available. This also helped with budget as we were able to get in, record, and get back on tour again. For the guitar tracks we used a Randall RG100 tube head and a Marshall JCM800 2204 50 watt head into a Marshall 4x12 cab loaded with 70watt Celestion speakers, BC Rich & Jackson guitars. Bass was recorded direct, drums were recorded in the main room (very dead sounding room). All vocals were recorded using an AKG C414 mic. We were guitar freaks like many guitar players. We used an assortment of BC Rich, Jackson, & Charvel guitars. We also used a variety of amps over the years. John initially used a Randall RG100 rack mount tube head. Steve used a Laney AOR Pro Tube 100. Both were great sounding heads. John eventually switched to an Ampeg 100 watt tube head and a Marshall JCM800 2204. Steve went all Marshalls, a JCM800 2204 and a JCM800 2205. The rigs were very basic. All we used in the signal chain were Samson wirelesses and Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive pedals for solos. All effects were run from front of house. Kiar & Kellie used Ampeg SVT's.
Here Kitty, Kitty!!
BRASS KITTEN'S epic 1990 release 'E-Z- 'N' PRETTY' has now officially been reissued by the titan tag team of Demon Doll and Metal Legacy Records - another Hair Metal gem "Uncovered, Rediscovered, Restored & Remastered"! And a gem it truly is, BRASS KITTEN brings the hammer to the party and throws it down with reckless abandon bringing us all back to the perfect sound of the late 80's and early 90's. From the opening harmonies of "On The Run", to the guitar riff laden title track "E-Z 'N' Pretty' to the earth rattling double bass drums on "Lies" - this album flat out kicks some serious tail!! The boys had it all and give it in spades, the hooks - the looks - the four octave front man/ vocalist - ripping guitars and a tight and slamming rhythm section. They hit the pavement and hit it hard touring the US and Canada nonstop to the tune of over 250 shows. A magnificent band that left a great legacy and an amazing debut record that finally gets it's very long awaited reissue to sit proudly in your collection next to the Skid Row and Ratt albums where it firmly belongs. This monster release has been digitally remasterd by Lance V. and amazingly repackaged in an 8 page booklet with a full set of lyrics. A few spins of the KITTEN and you will be hooked - highly addictive and highly recommended listening! This CD is silver pressed, officially licensed from the band and exclusively available from Demon Doll Records. |
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