Big Money

Album Review

Big Money is House of Lords' fifth album since its early 2000s reunion, which is two more albums than the band made in its heyday of the late '80s and early ‘90s. That says something about the long-term half-lives of even second-tier acts when they're willing to soldier on and play the oldies circuit. This version of House of Lords is long-since down to one original member, singer James Christian (which come to think of it is no different from Guns N' Roses), the lineup filled out by guitarist Jimi Bell, bassist Chris McCarville, and drummer B.J. Zampa. No matter. The musical approach remains the same, and it is a sound that was at its most popular about 25 years before this album was released, whether it be called hair metal or lite metal or ‘80s metal or whatever. House of Lords was not one of the major proponents, nor a particularly distinguished one, even at its height, and now it remains in the shadow of the style's major players. In fact, it's possible to cite specific antecedents for particular songs. As Christian sings about being in the jungle in the Vietnam-themed "One Man Down," he sounds like Axl Rose growling "Welcome to the Jungle" with Guns N' Roses. "Living in a Dream World" comes close to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer." "Run" might be any number of songs by Foreigner. "Blood" recycles the main riff of Metallica's "Enter Sandman." And so on. Of course, the point here is to come up with some fresh material for House of Lords to play in concert, material that isn't too fresh, however. And that goal is reached easily on Big Money.