Lemon Tongue (©2001 Wildfire Music)

1: Lemon Tongue 2: What I Know 3: So Hard 4: Undone 5: Don't Make Me Want You 6: Touch The Sun 7: Lagavulin 8: Knew You When 9: The Way I Do 10: Gone 11: Into Me, Into You

After a lot of years the boys are back with a new studio release. They never went away, they just didn't put anything out for a few years. This is a comeback of sorts, and for an independent release this is a surprisingly good album. I'm glad the guys aren't pretending it was still 1986 and moved on, but still kept enough of their "sound" to make a decent rock and roll album.

None of the tracks really knocked me on my ass, but there's not a stinker in the bunch, and it's great to be able to put on a CD, turn it up and let it run through.

Derry hasn't lost his chops, and Johnnie's voice is still a very recognizable part of Honeymoon Suite.

Welcome back.

Reviewed August 12, 2002

Dreamland (©2002 Frontiers Records)

1: What I Know 2: So Hard 3: Still Lovin' You 4: Just Love Somebody 5: The Way I Do 6: Dreamland 7: Too Little, Too Late 8: Gone 9: Undone 10: Lagavulin 11: Radiant 12: Even Now

This is a re-issue of many of the tracks from Lemon Tongue (I bought both at the same time, so it was interesting listening to them back to back), with a few new ones mixed in for fun. I like this one better. Although given what a CD will hold the boys could have gone and put all of Lemon Tongue on here as well as the additional tracks. In a way I'm glad they didn't, more isn't always better. "Still Lovin' You" is a piece of vintage Honeymoon Suite, and after the first few listens really stands out, although the whole album is good all the way through.

Frontiers is a great little Italian record label who appears to specialize in giving rock acts a second shot. The art is very cool, and the packing includes lyrics and took more to produce than the indie Lemon Tongue. I suppose if I were to recommend one over the other I'd lean to Dreamland. But then you'd miss out on songs like "Into Me, Into You", and "Lemon Tongue".

Sigh. Choices. Sigh, I'll burn them all onto a single disc for myself to avoid having to make a decision.

Reviewed August 12, 2002

Clifton Hill (©2008)

1: She Ain't Alright 2: Tired O' Waitin' on you 3: Riffola 4: Ordinary 5: The House 6: Why Should I? 7: Down 2 Bizness 8: Sunday Morning 9: That's All U Got 10: Restless 11: Separate Lives 12: Sittin' In the Garden

This was a surprise, and something I picked up when I heard the band had a new album out. It's been a few years, and although I remember enjoying their last album - it really didn't have much in the way of anything memorable that stuck with me. I play it, I like it, I forget it.

Clifton Hill, is one of those odd albums that can be taken as either a desperate attempt to go back in time, or to the band's longtime fans, it's a welcome return to form. For me it's a little of both. The cover colour, and logo evoke memories of 1986's The Big Prize and the music is vintage Honeymoon Suite which is cool. The band sounds great, and the songs here fit right in with their best work. Derri is as tasty as ever, and throughout the album he's given a lot of room to stretch without seeming to be a solo hog. "She Ain't Alright" is a good start to the album, and "Riffola" is one of the best rockers on the album, "Separate Lives" is a smokin' tune as well that blends the best of the old and the new HMS. Of course, Honeymoon Suite is good with the ballads and mid tempo stuff. "Ordinary" is a typical HMS ballad, and the album's closer "Sittin' in the Garden" is a nice mid tempo piece of music.

The band really is as good as they've ever been, and there's not a weak song here among the dozen tunes on the album. Clifton Hill will appeal to fan's of the band's 80's heyday. The band obviously has more to offer than nostalgia, it does make me wonder if anyone other than the faithful really gives a crap or cares.

In the end does it really matter?

I for one am glad these guys haven't just faded away.

Reviewed November 7, 2008