· RUFFYUNZ - II (RUF02) ·
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::T R A C K S::
01. HYPE IN MY HEAD
FORMAT: Audio CD / 4 PANEL DIGIPACK |
Awesome second disc by this excellent hard rock riff:machine from NYC
featuring these killer guest guitarists: DAVE MENIKETTI (Y&T), TRACY G (Dio),
PAT THRALL (Pat Travers Band / Hughes-Thrall / Meatloaf / Automatic Man),
JOEL HOEKSTRA (Whitesnake / Night Ranger) & keyboard maestro DON AIREY
(Deep Purple / Rainbow). The Ruffyunz - "II" disc is a kick-ass, hard groove
rocker that includes 11 tracks of world-class, blues-based, retro-70s, heavy
guitar riffage that lands on solid ground & will rock your good jam:house.
Ruffyunz is the "musical brainchild" of Randy Pratt (Cactus / The Lizards);
an authentic "old-school" bassist & music producer who has true passion
for real rock n' roll. Ruffyunz also features the outstanding, soul-powered
vocals of Ed Terry (Rage And Beyond / American Mafia / Vinnie Moore),
JZ Barrell & Jesse Berlin on guitars and last but not least, Bobby Rondinelli
(Black Sabbath / Rainbow / Blue Oyster Cult) lands on powerhouse drums.
The Ruffyunz - "II" is an essential, funky hard rock disc that is Highly
recommended to serious, bad-ass, groove riff rockers worldwide.
MP3 Sample Clips 
|
01. HYPE IN MY HEAD |
PHYSICAL DISCS RULE IN THE GUITAR ROCK WORLD. WE TAKE PRIDE
AS TRUE "OLD-SCHOOL" MUSIC COLLECTORS WITH PHYSICAL CD'S
LANDING AS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF "MUSICAL DOCUMENT".
SCORE YOUR CD COPY @ THE "ADD TO CART" BUTTON ABOVE.
THE GROOVEYARD THANKS YOU FOR KEEPING THE ROCK ALIVE.
· VIDEO ·
RUFFYUNZ: "Hype In My Head" (promo video)
· reviews ·
As we already explained in the news about the album to be discussed here, the Ruffyunz is a project by the three musicians Randy Pratt (including Cactus ), Ed Terry and JZ Barrell , who play the basic tracks and the vocals ( Terry) and then invite guest musicians primarily for the guitar parts. This is also the case on this second work, aptly named "II", which wants to convince the fan community with eleven new tracks and a playing time of a good hour. Bluesy Hard Rock is hip, which likes to delve into the fringes of other genres and thus gives the disc an additional freshness. Except for "Undercover Agent Of The Blues" ( Tony Joe White ), the three musicians mentioned above also did the songwriting, while they had additional co-writers on three tracks.
Tracks such as the opener "Hype In My Head" or "Back It On Up" are really cool due to their funky impact, while the first-mentioned song also benefits from Pat Thrall 's strong guitar work. The tracks are all tightly arranged and despite all the power they have, they still have plenty of room to breathe. The only thing that is unfortunately a bit missing are the necessary hooklines, the compelling melodies that are responsible for the fact that something nestles in the listener's ear and doesn't even want to get out. Otherwise, the record hardly offers any points of attack, which is basically pleasing. Pat ThrallBy the way, is used a second time on "Slither Man" and with his fine licks provides the highlights in an otherwise rather weak album track.
But the other guest musicians are also convincing. For example, the Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey refines the tracks "Back It On Up" and "Keep It Coming" with his fat organ sound, which then forms the basis for Jesse Berlin 's powerful guitar tracks and the polyphonic vocals in the chorus. Great track and a reviewer's favorite on this album. Joel Hoekstra ( Whitesnake , ex- Night Ranger ) really gets going on "Can't Slow Down", a number that already stands out simply because of its great arrangement and Ed Terry 's strong vocalscan score big. The guitar literally jumps out of the speakers during the solos. Which brings me straight to Dave Meniketti , who should be known to hard rock and heavy metal fans as the Y&T frontman . Meniketti leaves his mark on "Back It On Up" and makes an excellent team with Don Airey .
In summary, it can be stated that the Ruffyunz have delivered a more than rock-solid Hard Rock album with "II", which works great despite - or perhaps because of - the many guest contributions. As already mentioned above, there are only a few deductions in the B-note because of the missing hooklines and not very catchy choruses. Otherwise a fine work, to which one can swing the mat more often than not really nicely. Basically a recommendation. If you still want to try it out first, I would recommend tracks like the opener "Hype In My Head", "Keep It Coming", "Back It On Up" and also "Undercover Agent For The Blues".
Marie Rauschen / Rock Times (December 2022)
In order to fathom their funk and other disorderly leanings, American ensemble measure the distance from Earth’s surface to its inner limits.
The wait between this band’s 2019 debut and its follow-up was meant to be short but the pandemic shuffled their cards – and possibly for the best, because bassist Randy Pratt and his compadres, singer Ed Terry and guitarist JZ Barrell, used the grounding period to let the group’s next album become immensely deep. Drilling further into their intent of having a top-notch drummer and guest players on each new platter, the core trio decided to be backed by Bobby Rondinelli, Pratt’s colleague from THE LIZARDS, and flanked by a few other friends whose passages help lift the record’s pieces to an epic level without losing the music’s levity, and such contrast is what should make the ensemble’s sophomore effort stand out and rock in style.
It may not seem obvious from the album’s opener “Hype In My Head” where blunt bluesy riffs threaten to overshadow the sharpness of funky shards Terry’s pipes and Pat Thrall’s licks spearhead with a lot of panache, leading up to the catchy chant on the chorus. Then Randy’s belching strings rise to the surface in a manner that will be molded in the spacey, tastily layered “Bubbles” later on, yet the streamlined assault of “Back It On Up” which Don Airey’s ivories fill with Eastern solemnity will find the collective exercise their swagger to exorcise any worry. And once the bad things are banished, the band can work their slinky magic and push “Undercover Agent For The Blues” to the fore for all to jive along towards the sweet, soulful wigout of “Doesn’t Matter” and the heavy menace behind “Candyman” and “Dark Side”: the dynamic-scoping cuts highlighting the group’s power. However, Terry and Thrall’s predatory delivery and Pratt’s rumble turn “Slither Man” into a groovy film noir, while the speedy “Can’t Slow Down” feels just as infectious with Joel Hoekstra’s shredding.
So when “Keep It Coming” begins to glimmer, the listener is likely to agree with the song’s sentiment, Airey’s runs on the organ rendering it even more irresistible until the acoustically tinctured and effects-laden balladry of “The Game” brings on hypnotic glamor to the table and the platter’s drift to a spiritual close. So yes, “Ruffyunz II” was worth the wait if only for this pseudo-occasional otherworldliness.
Dmitry M. Epstein / DME Let It Rock (December 2022)
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