JACK RUSSELL/TRACII GUNS – Medusa

Medusa turned out to be a rather uplifting and enjoyable listening experience to these ears – more so than many of the other Frontiers projects conceived by the label – due to the style and tone of the record having a cool, groovy, and seventies-ish hard rock vibe to it. In other words, the LP comes across as positively bluesy in so many wonderful ways. Although the employment of outside songwriters for the project does entail that a number of parts seem slightly derivative and bland, or without much substance, if you will, the idea of combining Russell and Guns is most certainly an inspired one, and there is no mistaking their musical identities nor can there be any doubt that they lend a certain charisma, swagger, and rock ‘n’ roll authenticity to the proceedings. Jack’s vocals sound pretty damn good on top of Tracii’s big, crunchy riffs, and there are some real barnstormers to be found in ‘Next in Line’, ‘Tell Me Why’, and ‘In and Out of Love’.

Medusa offers good, energetic hard rock with pedigree and quality songwriting to it, and it would be interesting to see these gentlemen collaborate again in the future. This is about excitement and atmosphere rather than originality and musical innovation, and as to personal favorites, I have a soft spot for the moving ‘Where I Belong’, which is simply a great fucking track.