Renowned Guns ‘N Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed is an extremely talented fella, of that there can be no doubt. This 12-track solo effort of his (well, 13 if you count the bonus track that comes with the digital edition) is a delightfully uplifting and life-affirming collection of kick-ass rock tunes firmly rooted in the sort of classic rock dating back to the 70s and 80s that we all love and cherish. There is something timeless about "Rock ‘N Roll Ain’t Easy" that is impossible to resist. It is not as if Reed is reinventing the wheel here or revolutionizing rock ‘n’ roll by any stretch of the imagination, but that matters fuck all, because the superb songwriting skills and hook-laden tracks that are on display here are just what any lover of classic rock music needs.

Prominent musicians such as Ricky Warwick (Black Star Riders, Thin Lizzy), Richard Fortus (Guns ‘N Roses, Thin Lizzy), Mike Dupke (W.A.S.P.), and Mike Duda (W.A.S.P.) also make an appearance on the record, which is cool in and of itself, but these guys all add their own personal touch to the infectious album opener "This Don’t Look Like Vegas". Other cuts such as “Mother Theresa”, “Mystery in Exile”, "Forgotten Cases", and “I Celebrate” are just as captivating and inspiring as the aforementioned tune, but in general the song material comes across as inspired and inspiring. The musicianship is simply stellar; Reed has obviously surrounded himself with some of the best people out there and it has paid off tremendously.

There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm to the songs that constitute this album. You can tell that writing and crafting this album was a labor of love to Reed and that he poured his heart and soul into it, otherwise it would never have sounded as convincing and entertaining as it does. The keyword here may well be passion, because nothing on it sounds forced or contrived. Everything has a natural flow to it. I do wish that the guitars had a bit more punch and raw power to them, as they sound a little flat and murky here and there, but other than that, I am most pleased with this fiery and spirited record. A tour de force of energetic rock music – check it out.

 

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