TUFF - What Comes Around Goes Around... Again (2012)

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A quarter century has passed since Sunset Strip rockers TUFF attacked the US hair metal scene with loud guitars, pounding drums and party anthems.
Now, the band is back with an album that revisits some of their best known songs plus never heard early recordings, entitled "What Comes Around Goes Around... Again".

Tuff was one of the most under-appreciated of all the Hair bands. They were clearly the 'Poison with talent' of the era, and yet it was Bret Michaels and his crew that got all the love while Tuff never really gained a lot of traction.
The years have gone by, and after forever apart, leader Stevie Rachelle has found his way to bring the band together, invited some friends along for the ride, and re-recorded many of the old classics from the catalog.
Where most of these 'then and now' type releases suck, the new recordings themselves sound far better than what most bands put into these types of projects.
The songs aren't simply re-recordings, all have been re-worked for a good measure, with a hot approach, great playing and a party vibe.

Tuff chemistry is intact, the band is tight, fun and really rocks here.
Rachelle's voice hasn't changed, still plenty of power with its characteristical raspy but melodic attack, and together with original founder member bassist Todd Chaisson, drummer Tod Burr (in the band since 2001) and new guitarist Swedish-born Staffan Osterlind, the quartet delivers a good hard rockin' performance.
If this reunion wasn’t enough to lure you in, maybe the inclusion of many guest stars will be. Tuff has recruited a bunch of old friends to sing and play: George Lynch of Dokken, Stephen Pearcy from Ratt, Steve Brown of Trixter, Black 'N Blue's Jaime St. James and more.

"Good Guys Wear Black" is done much more hard rock oriented, complete with gang choruses and a melting solo by George Lynch.
Rachelle's voice sounds strong on the nicely reworked, and lyrically modernized version of "All New Generation". Just listen the ton of new bands mentioned here (Crazy Lixx in example). Unlike most '80s metal guys who think that music started with Motley Crue and ended with Nirvana, Rachelle has always had a sense of the growth of the scene as time has gone on.
Perhaps the best 'new version' is the take on the heartfelt "I Hate Kissing You Goodbye", one of the best power ballads of the hair era. This one is even better than the original.
The acoustic / electric "So Many Seasons" is a very good melodic tune, the tongue-in-cheek "What Comes Around Goes Around" rocks with an appreciable contribution by Stephen Pearcy on vocals and an excellent guitar work by Jeff Loomis, whilst "Put Out Or Get Out" is a hard rocker with a big potent riff.
Also included are six of the earliest demos the band recorded. They have been remastered and sound excellent.


Surprisingly solid, and even more unexpected, "What Comes Around Goes Around... Again" will rekindle in the ears of the hair metal fans the days that are long gone, but don’t simply rip-off them with a desperate, uninspired cash grab.
Tuff rocks here, with a sharp US hard rock sound (this isn't sleaze) and really good performances. The guests add nice touches here and there, and production is meaty.
Good Stuff.


01 - Good Guys Wear Black (ft. George Lynch & Jaime St. James)
02 - The All New Generation (ft. Steve Brown)
03 - I Hate Kissing You Goodbye (ft. Keri Kelli)
04 - So Many Seasons (ft. Michael Raphael)
05 - What Comes Around Goes Around (ft. Stephen Pearcy)
06 - Put Out Or Get Out (ft. Howie Simon & Lizzy DeVine)
07 - Round 'Em Up (Remastered demo '88)
08 - Summertime Goodbye (Remastered demo '88)
09 - Want Trouble - You Got It (Remastered demo '88)
10 - Down On Sinner Street (Remastered demo '89)
11 - Forever Yours (Remastered demo '89)
12 - Ain't Worth a Dime (Remastered demo '89)
13 - Move Along [Bonus Track]
14 - So Many Seasons (Piano Version) [Bonus Track]


Stevie Rachelle - lead vocals
Todd Chaisson - bass & background vocals
Staffan Osterlind - guitars
Tod Burr - drums & background vocals
Jorge DeSaint - guitar & background vocals (tracks 7-12)
Michael Lean - drums and background vocals (tracks 7-12)

Special guests;
Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) - vocals
Jaime St. James (Black 'N Blue) - vocals
Lizzy DeVine (Vains Of Jenna) - vocals
George Lynch (Dokken) - guitar
Steve Brown (Trixter) - guitar
Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) - guitar
Keri Kelli (Pretty Boy Floyd) - guitar
Michael Raphael (Jailhouse) - guitar
Howie Simon (Jeff Scott Soto) - guitar



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itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-comes-around-goes-around/id510967584