Illusion - I Like It Loud (1986)

♫

This is the second album by Illusion and it would turn out to be their last. Featuring Gary "Moses Mo" Moore (Mother's Finest) on guitar, this is another blast of commercial sounding 80's Hard Rock. I quite like both albums, I do enjoy the squeaky vocals and think the songs are worth repeated listening. Why they re-recorded "Call In The Law" from their first album is beyond me, but it doesn't bother me. The first album had a more recognizable Southern tone to it, but this record you should not pass by if you dig some punchy rocking. Shake!

Illusion - Illusion (1985)

♫

Ok, some loud Southern AOR for you. Illusion has two former Mother's Finest members in the band, Gary "Moses Mo" More on guitar and Barry "B.B. Queen" Borden on drums. Barry went on to play with Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws and The Marshall Tucker Band. But let's not get ahead of ourselves too much just yet. This is the mid 80's, when big hair was the big thing, and every song you had to be able to shout along. Very few albums of that period have stood the test of time, most sound dreadfully outdated. Yes, that's me speaking my mind. But there were some memorable albums. And I think this is one of them. Virtue of this album is, it has some actual songs. Sometimes very reminiscent in sound to the Mother's Finest "Iron Age" album. Squeaky but powerful vocals by some guy named Jay, and a true fine Rock duet with former Small Faces front man Steve Marriott on the song "She Weighs A Ton". This is in your face, loud & sleazy Rock & Roll with just a touch of Southern. Though you've got to strain to spot that. Still, I love it lots. This is not the vinyl rip already circulating (I did steal their artwork, however), this one is new and done by yours truly. And I did a hell of a job, if I say so myself. And why not?! Oh well, Won't You?