Die-hard fans of Cinderella certainly deserve an award for patience having to wait nearly a decade for the highly anticipated release of The Way Life Goes, Tom Keifer's first solo project. But I doubt they'll be disappointed. The Cinderella frontman makes up for his bands’ less than memorable 1994 release Still Climbing, and this outing claims a personal victory for this talented and underrated musician and songwriter.
The opening track "Solid Ground" starts off this album with a bang. It's a solid rock song possessing the rich and familiar texture of Keifer's trademark bluesy guitar work, but with an added nuance of maturity that can only come with time and experience. In my opinion it's Keifer's guitar playing that really stands out overall; not to diminish the efforts from the rest of the band, nor to take away from Keifer's remarkable vocal work (I emphasize that his vocals are quite remarkable considering the extent of the damage he sustained to his vocal chords in the past).
The upbeat rockers "Fool's Paradise" and "Mood Elevator" are what really stick with me. They have a flavor not unlike what you might hear on a classic Aerosmith album like Permanent Vacation. But the ballad "Ask Me Yesterday" is quickly becoming another favorite after repeated listening. The Way Life Goes ends on a high note with “Babylon", a great closing number with its addictive groove and memorable chorus. I'm reminded a little of The Cult meets Keith Richards whenever I listen to it.
Maybe it's a roller coaster ride of life experiences that have shaped The Way Life Goes to be more than just a flash in the pan, but you can definitely see the growth Keifer has undergone since the heyday of Cinderella (and they were still a decent band, even by today's standards). Or perhaps this is the result of being married to a fellow songwriter and living in the songwriting hub that is Nashville, Tennessee. Whatever the case I highly recommend this album. Not just to the older generation who remember Cinderella when they were current, but also for today's younger generation of rock fans. They really need to hear the music of a legend in this industry.
Richard Leggatt, HMS
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