Thursday, May 11, 2006

Xciter, 2006

Not to be confused with Canadian speed metal band Exciter, this Xciter is the LA band that featured George Lynch and Mick Brown who both later went on to join Dokken. It seems that in recent years many artists are raiding their basements, closets or wherever to dig out tapes that might be cleaned up and slapped together to make an album of rarities or demo tracks. Sometimes you get a gem, but most of the time you find out very quickly why the material wasn't released right after it was recorded. This album is actually has gems and forgettable material that probably should have stayed on the shelf. Even though the album is called Xciter and 3/4 of the band plays on all eight tracks, it is still like two entirely different bands. The first half is four tracks that were recorded in 1977 and they are surprisingly decent for the time. Maybe a little like Rocka rolla era Judas Priest with some touches of early Van Halen thrown in. Some impressive guitar licks from a young George Lynch. The singer on these tracks was a guy named Greeg Sanford(that's not a typo on the first name) and quite honestly he's pretty solid although I never heard of him doing anything else. The real main attraction from these songs is an early version of "Paris is burning" some five years before Dokken would record it live and slap it on their debut "Breaking the chains". I am sure Dokken fans would find it very worthwhile. Well, the band didn't get signed at this point and apparently they changed singers and brought in a female vocalist named Lisa Furspanker (not a typo either). This line-up recorded four songs in 1979 and they make up the second half of this album. To be frank it's a bit of a train wreck other than a few interesting guitar bits here and there. The music is much more low key and commercial and the vocals are screechy and tough to take. The first version of Xciter sound like a band I can imagine playing on the Strip to decent crowds. The second Xciter sounds like a band that would be playing some dive in a nowhere town to a crowd of five people. Even though just half of the album is good, I found it worthwhile enough. I have listened to the first half several times already. So there are some gems sitting on shelves waiting to be released and there are other tapes that should maybe never see the light of day.

10 Comments:

Blogger Metal Mark said...

I forgot a few things. This is on Wounded Bird records and they have been releasing some old hard rock recordings lately and doing a decent job of it. This was liscened through George Lynch so he gave his approval. My copy cost $9.99 new on eBay which seems to be about what it's going for at most places.

5:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've never heard of this band. I think that I would probably like Exciter a bit better.

6:39 AM  
Blogger Metal Mark said...

fred- I am surprised that you don't know Exciter and you probably would like them. Way back in 1983 their debut Heavy Metal Maniac was considered one of the three big speed metal debuts of the year along with Metallica and Slayer. Their next two albums Violence and force and Long live the loud were even better. Then they changed guitarists, slowed down and kind of faded into the background. Their original guitarist still has them going today. I believe their first four albums have been re-released on cd.

7:17 AM  
Blogger Jay Noel said...

I've never heard of Exciter...although it's a kick ass name.

9:39 AM  
Blogger Metal Mark said...

Phoenix-I used to have an Exciter shirt in high school and a lot people commented on the name for some reason. They also had a unique situation for a metal band and that is having their drummer also be their lead singer or he was for the first four albums. He was actually quite good at both duties.

10:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know of Exciter but I never got around to checking them out. All that I remember is that album cover with the guy trying to break into the house. There is an arm sticking through a door with a knife, lol.

1:45 PM  
Blogger Metal Mark said...

fredcq-That would be Violence and force.

6:08 PM  
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