Bonham - The Disregard Of Timekeeping

Bonham Sr skins up

In the UK, Jason Bonham is more famous as a guest star than for his own musical output, but in the late 80s his band had a modicum of success in the US. This album was their 1989 debut and it’s easy to see why it failed to make an impression over here. The music is keyboard-heavy, US-style hard rock with echoes of Led Zeppelin throughout – not only in Daniel MacMaster’s Plant-lite vocals, but also in the phrasing and even pacing of the songs which sometimes, as in Holding On Forever, sits oddly with the MTV-friendly anthemic choruses.

Jason Bonham’s style is more positively indebted to his late father’s and is impressive throughout, but, though it’s hard to imagine today, this wasn’t a huge recommendation at the time, as Led Zep were far from universally loved by the average British rock/metal fan of the 80s. Overall, though it has its high points, such as the bluesy prowl of Guilty, the material is a little weak and not helped by the mix, which admirably captures Bonham’s drums but buries the excellent guitar playing beneath the vocals and synths. Not bad, but not hugely gripping either.

SPV | 306142 CD

Reviewed by William Pinfold
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