![]() If the most I can complain about this week is hearing “too much” Cactus, then my life’s really not that bad after all. 40 minutes is all that should be needed for any blues based release, period, but I digress. Back in the old days, 40 minutes was all Cactus needed to blast out your stereo. I’m not sure why this has become standard practice. For whatever reason or another, record labels like to “get the most” of their artists and feel the need to milk an entire CD’s worth of music from them. This is not necessarily the band’s fault. The only real downside of Tightrope is its lengthy running time (an hour and 2 minutes to be exact). That said, it’s a very welcome surprise serving as a palette cleanser on an album dominated by blues and boogie. Cactus? To say this was unexpected would be an understatement. I’d expect an organ drenched, psychedelic progressive rock epic from Vanilla Fudge. The second curveball came in the form of “Suites 1 & 2: Everlong, All the Madmen”. I look forward to hearing it live, in which case an extended jam section is almost definite. This new arrangement is a force to be reckoned with. ![]() You’d never even know it was originally done by The Temptations. The first is a dark blues rock spin on the Motown standard, “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”. The latter two tracks are dance friendly funk rockers, chock full of that hip swiveling Appice shuffle which propelled Rod Stewart to the top of the charts.īeing the straightforward, orthodox band that Cactus is, I didn’t expect them to throw any curveballs on this album, and yet there are two. Cuts like the title track, “Primitive Touch”, and “Elevation” are just too rocking for me to be mad. And although the bass is a tad to low in the mix for my liking, I can let it slide. The guitar riffs are big and brawny, while the guitar solos lie somewhere between blistering and scorching. Kunes is no Day, but his killer vocals shine like a blues rock beacon. At 74 years old, Appice plays with the same vigor he did at 24. Tightrope boasts all the classic Cactus trademarks. Instead, he put together an incarnation of Cactus that plays with the same tenacity, swagger, and chops as the original lineup. He’d never compromise the legacy of Cactus by haphazardly slapping their name upon a cheap knockoff record. Thankfully, Appice is a man of honor and integrity. Fast forward 50 years and one original member later. Even during their initial run, after the departure of McCarty and singer Rusty Day (R.I.P.), the drop in quality was drastic (see 1972’s ‘Ot ‘n’ Sweaty). The original Cactus lineup was such a powerhouse. I must admit that I was a bit weary going into Tightrope. Joining Appice is longtime singer Jimmy Kunes and harmonica player Randy Pratt, as well as some new faces: Paul Warren on guitars and James Caputo on bass. Of the original lineup, only founding drummer Carmine Appice remains, although guitarist Jim McCarty makes a guest appearance on Cactus’ seventh and latest album, Tightrope. Formed out of the ashes of Vanilla Fudge, Cactus delivered hard hitting, hard rocking blues with an extra dose of sleaze and soul. There are very few bands from metal’s earliest years who are still active today.
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