Unruly Child “Can’t Go Home” album review – out February 24th
FollowThe original members of the legendary melodic hard rock quintet Unruly Child have reunited to release a brand new album with Frontiers Music Srl entitled “Can’t Go Home”.
Marcie Michelle Free (vocalist – King Kobra, Signal), Bruce Gowdy (guitarist Stone Fury, World Trade), and Guy Allison (keyboardist Lodgic, World Trade, Doobie Brothers) together with the original band members from the first record, drummer – Jay Schellen (Hurricane, World Trade, Asia), and bassist – Larry Antonino (Pablo Cruise), comprise the lineup for this recording. We gave the resulting new album a listen.
I’d like to start off by saying that I like Unruly Child. I’m also a fan of Free as a vocalist; in fact, the first melodic rock compilation I ever purchased was “Dream In Colour The Best Of Now & Then” which featured “Hard Heart To Break” from Free’s solo album and I instantly starting tracking down every album represented on that compilation. So i was excited to listen to a new album, featuring the original lineup. However, the best thing I can say about is that it’s “nice”.
It certainly is a solid AOR album, and I listened to it 3 times, and at no point did I think “I’m bored of this now”, but at the same time at no point did it really grab me either. All the right ingredients were there – Free is still excellent on lead 
vocals, Allison and Gowdy respectively both played fine – but there wasn’t a song that made me think, “I want to sing along to this”, or “I want to play this in the car”.
The better songs on this album include “”Point Of View” which reminded my wife and I of the beach, and is probably the best song here. “Get On Top”, “She Can’t Go Home”, and “Someday, Somehow” also stand out from the rest.
In my opinion, “Can’t Go Home” is by no means a bad album. As I stated earlier, it’s a solid piece of AOR, by a very talented group of musicians. It did however, leave me feeling a little underwhelmed. I felt it needed something with a little more punch to it. That said, I can imagine having it playing in the background while I’m having a relaxing evening with friends.
I’d have to give this one a 7 out of 10.
“Can’t Go Home” was released on February 24th through Frontiers Music Srl. There is also talk of a possible European and American tour, which I would find very exciting as that is something that Unruly Child has never done before.
The band is also working on a box set release of their independent albums, which will be released in spring on Frontiers. You can read more information on the band and hear “Someday, Somehow” below.
Since the initial release of the critically acclaimed “Unruly Child” album, the band members have had accomplished careers in the music industry. Marcie Michelle Free, one of the world’s finest, and in recent times, most renowned transgendered vocalists, first released a solo record as Mark Free entitled “Long Way From Love” in 1993 and then another solo record as Marcie Free titled “Tormented” in 1996.
Guitarist Bruce Gowdy and keyboardist Guy Allison produced two more Unruly Child records without Free on vocals, and participated in another World Trade album with Schellen. They have also pursued other projects and their reputation as writers, performers and arrangers is second to none with work with the likes of Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Doobie Brothers, Boz Scaggs, Air Supply and The Moody Blues under their belts. Drummer Jay Schellen and bass player Larry Antonino are a powerhouse rhythm section. After Schellen worked with Gowdy and Allison on World Trade’s “Euphoria” in 1995, he rejoined Hurricane with Kelly Hansen on “Liquifury”. He also was part of the Asia album “Silent Nation” and keeps touring and recording with Asia featuring John Payne.
Antonino has played with Ambrosia and Air Supply and in addition to being one of the world’s most respected bass players, he has pursued acting, with his most notable role being that of “The Wolfman” in the movie “That Thing You Do” starring Tom Hanks.
UNRULY CHILD
Marcie Free – Vocals
Bruce Gowdy – Guitars
Guy Allison – Keyboards
Larry Antonino – Bass guitar
Jay Schellen – Drums