Stray Cat Strut
Mike Tramp, ladies and gents is a pin up in the truest sense – sky rocketing to the top with White Lion (sigh….), with his glorious head ( dare I say, mane) of hair, and such wondrous songs like “Broken Heart” and “Wait” he sent many a young girl’s heart a-flutter, including mine.
All good things come to an end and for musicians in particular, it can be extremely difficult to continue in the industry without people constantly remembering the “good old days”.
A word of warning, please do not approach this album expecting White Lion, this is a world away but beautiful in its own right.
Having said that the first song “No End To War” instantly transports me to White Lion’s “When The Children Cry”, not meaning to compare but the spirit and sadness is still there, quite stirring.
The lead single is “Dead End Ride” and I see a nearly hairless Mike in the video ( sorry but I miss his hair) but what a solid tune this is and the words,
“tired and frustrated, I got no one to call” simple enough but knocks the ball out of the park.
We have a fab foot stomping intro for “You Ain’t Free No More” strap on your six string and boogie my friends! There’s something very Tom Kiefer (swoon… ) about this. We continue in the “no luck, no hope” vibe of “One Last Mission” as we swing and sway between having “No Closure” and yearning for salvation in “Messiah” and getting a little “Homesick” on this revelatory and insightful journey.
With “Live It Out” you find that “ I won’t get one foot in heaven, and they shut the door to Hell” sounds like a been there, done that scenario that is played out all too well here.
Straying not too far from the flock that is Rock ‘n Roll this delightful record is rooted in the grit and blue-collar honesty of a humble life, of a proud and valiant people that were grateful for what they had, no matter how little, and who weren’t shy of a day’s work.
“If we got pushed, you bet we pushed right back” from “Best Days of My Life” highlights childhood memories, something most of us still treasure as we look back on how things were for us and how children are now.
We close with the haunting “Die With A Smile On Your Face” a poignant reminder of being true to yourself, even if people don’t understand, you have to find your way, your place in this world and you can be happy.
This touches somewhere deep within, quite sentimental, and makes you tremble in a praise the Lord kinda way.
Mike Tramp has every reason to primp and preen his feathers, stick his chest out and strut around proudly.
Believe me, my friends, there is life even after a broken heart, ( swoon….faint).
Mike Tramp – Stray From The Flock out on 1st March via Target Records.