Artist: Y & T
Album: FACEMELTER (DIGI)

Year: 2010
Media type: CD

Before Motley Crue, before RATT, even before there was a Metallica, Y&T was slogging away in sweaty rock clubs around America. When the band formed in the early 1970s, little did they know they would set the standard for hard rock bands that trailed. Many of the biggest acts of the '80s became popular opening for headliners Y&T—and cut their teeth on the band, as evidenced by the Y&T mentions in tell-all books by acts such as Metallica and Motley Crue.

Born in Oakland, California, Y&T is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's own innovators of the hard rock sound. World-renowned headliners on their own, the band also remained the most requested support act on the hard rock road, touring with icons Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Mцtley Crьe, and more. Whether performing to a festival crowd of fifty-thousand or in an intimate nightclub, Y&T's high-energy set still captivates legions of fans around the globe, proving Y&T's music timeless.

Originally formed as Yesterday and Today, the initial powerhouse quartet—featuring Dave Meniketti (lead guitar/lead vocals), Phil Kennemore (bass), Leonard Haze (drums), and Joey Alves (rhythm guitar)—tore through the '70s and '80s with their own brand of hard rock. After two '70s albums on London Records, they shortened their name to Y&T and released eight albums on A&M in the '80s. Two more albums with Geffen Records marked an era of change with Jimmy DeGrasso (Alice Cooper, Suicidal Tendencies, Megadeth) on drums and Stef Burns (Alice Cooper, Berlin, Huey Lewis) on guitar.

With a discography of 18 albums and three greatest hits collections, Y&T has sold over four million albums since their 1974 inception. The band received extensive airplay with hits such as Forever, Rescue Me, Mean Streak, and Summertime Girls—which played in heavy rotation on MTV. Y&T songs have been featured in a multitude of movies and television shows, including Real Genius, Out of Bounds, Baywatch, and Hunter. After five top 100 albums, songs that tipped into the 40s, two Bammie Awards, and many international television appearances, Y&T's hits are still played on VH1 Classic and classic rock radio stations everywhere.

In 2010, Y&T recorded their first studio album in 13 years, featuring original members Dave Meniketti and Phil Kennemore, with longtime members John Nymann on guitar and Mike Vanderhule on drums.

As the title indicates, Facemelter is a hard rockin', song-oriented album that lives up to its name. Recorded mostly live in the studio, it captures the band's raw energy and tightness that they've become known for. Featuring heavy grooves, powerful guitars, and strong melodies, the band shows their versatility, delivering a range of high-energy rockers, mid-tempo head-bangers, modern rock grooves, majestic ballads, and signature Y&T rock anthems.

Face-melting is a term that has been with Y&T since the mid-'70s, when a rabid fan ran backstage and told the band, "you melted my face," which inspired the group's first publishing company: "Facemelting Music." If you haven't yet taken Y&T's new album for a ride, grab your leathers, strap yourself in, and prepare to have your face melted.

TRACKLIST:

1. On With the Show prelude 1:39
2. On With the Show 4:09
3. How Long 4:26
4. Shine On 5:00
5. I Want Your Money 4:42
6. Wild Child 4:09
7. I'm Coming Home 5:13
8. If You Want Me 4:33
9. Hot Shot 5:04
10. Blind Patriot 4:08
11. Don't Bring Me Down 4:22
12. Gonna Go Blind 4:27
13. One Life 4:22
14. Losing My Mind 4:56

LINE-UP:

Dave Meniketti – lead vocals, guitar
Phil Kennemore – bass
John Nymann - guitar
Mike Vanderhule – drums