The first line of "Lonely Side of Town" is another classic Y&T moment. Picking up where "Don't Wanna Lose You" (from "Black Tiger") left off, "Lonely Side of Town" and "Sentimental Fool" are the album's pop-infused, melodic rock moments. "Down and Dirty" could also be thrown into this category, although it is more of a KISS- AC/DC call-and-response, fun-filled ditty.
The former is a rough 'n' ready mid-tempo, stop-start stomper that features drummer Haze's hard-hitting accents and fills, the latter a NWOBHM-tinged rocker with a shout-worthy chorus and (once again) lush backing vocals. In addition to the title track, "Straight Thru the Heart" and "Hang 'Em High" are the album's main balls-out metal rockers. "Midnight in Tokyo" is one amazing song and I'm sure my feeble description doesn't do it justice. The track is also one of many that showcases Y&T's secret weapon, the active bass work of Kennemore ( "Breaking Away" is another great example of it). Then through the smoke the verse emerges with a spine-tingling, laid back Kennemore bass line and light 'n' jazzy guitar, building back again to the heavy section and tossing in more vocal harmonizing before the big chorus hits.
The superb arrangement kicks off with weepy twin-guitar leads that give way to a galloping crunch. My personal love of the title track aside, one could make a strong argument for "Midnight in Tokyo" being the song that includes the best that Y&T had to offer. The vocal harmony line on the chorus immediately tells the listener that the band has found its identity, one characterized by an incredible ability to combine gripping melody (led by that wonderful harmonizing) with riff-based hard rock that was unmatched at the time. The tale of one man's hopeless struggle against his nasty, spendthrift woman is belted out so convincingly by Meniketti that you almost feel as though it is happening to you (and maybe it is). Regardless, no one could argue that the main riff is immediately recognizable and vintage to the bone. Granted, the album was my first introduction to the band, so there is always the risk of nostalgia clouding objectivity. The riffs never sounded better, the vocal harmonizing of bassist Philip Kennemore and rhythm guitarist Joey Alves is fantastic, Dave Meniketti's lead guitar burns hotter than ever before, and the songwriting is elevated to new heights.įans will debate it, but to me there is no better Y&T song than the title track.
Originally released in 1983, "Mean Streak" is far and away the definitive Y&T release. "Mean Streak" is one of two seminal Y&T albums that have recently been digitally re-mastered and re-released on CD. If you are wanting a little background information San Francisco's Y&T, then read the review of 1982's "Black Tiger" first, so I don't have to repeat it here.
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