LITTLE RIVER BAND – Cuts Like A Diamond
- Posted on 18-08-2013
My memories for this Australian melodic rock band go back 30 plus years. Pizza parlors and bowling alleys used to own jukeboxes filled with the latest vinyl singles- and "Lonesome Loser" left quite an impression as an adolescent struggling to come to terms with changing hormones and developing social relationships with the opposite sex. Fast forward to last year, where I finally got the chance to witness the band in a live environment at an outdoor weekend fair festival – at this point more of an American band as Nashville, TN is their home base and bassist/vocalist Wayne Nelson the only remaining entity of note from their string of 1980’s hits.
Finally gaining the chance to release new material for the first time since 1990’s "Get Lucky", "Cuts Like A Diamond" is an 11 song, 47 minute record full of the noted multi-part vocal harmonies, shimmering guitar hooks, and steady tempos that the band continue to churn out gracefully. The Eagles, The Hollies, Poco- these are acts in a similar class as the Little River Band. Be it the country-light oriented title cut, the first single "The Lost and the Lonely" which is a tribute to the US armed forces on through to the softer, light rock of "Someone" featuring some great jazzy sax work, the quintet deliver high quality songwriting without over extending their range, and I feel that any of these songs would fit in well next to the stable of hit songs they perform for audiences far and wide.
Who says veteran bands need to rest on their hit laurels? Not the Little River Band- may "Cuts Like A Diamond" be a signal that good music remains timeless no matter what time period it is created in. Guitarists Greg Hind and Rich Herring get the chance to unfurl some cool dual lead harmonies on personal favorite "Who Speaks For Me"- and the album closes on a tender note with the acoustic ballad "Love Is", a specialty that should be a future set favorite.
Mandatory for all LRB fans, welcome them back with open arms.