Blue Murder--Blue Murder

Blue Murder--Blue Murder (1989/Geffen) Rating--7.4

Formed by John Sykes following his departure from Whitesnake, and also includes hard rock mainstays Carmine Appice and Tony Franklin. Sykes' big breakthrough was the 1987 self-titled Whitesnake disc. In many ways this album is much closer to the sound and feel of that offering than any of Whitesnake's followup work would be. Certainly much better than the commercialized 'Slip of the Tongue'. But that's another album, another review...
Sykes does a commendable job with the vocal duties, as his rough rasp actually reminds of Coverdale, while his more mellow pieces are a bit like the talented Jani Lane. A strong album through-and-through.
"Riot" begins the album in decent fashion, and the mystical "Valley of the Kings" is the first real sign of prowess and intrigue on the disc. "Jell Roll" is a winding treat, and two of the album's best tracks come at the end: "Ptolemy," with its harmonic-induced slow riffs, and the faster and energetic "Black-Hearted Woman," which smacks of a certain aforementioned '87 offering...
TRACK LIST: Riot/Sex Child/Valley of the Kings/Jelly Roll/Blue Murder/Out of Love/Billy/Ptolemy/Black-Hearted Woman

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