Robin Brock - Hidden Power

1. I'm Doin' Fine (without you)
2. These Walls
3. (I wish you could) Read My Mind
4. Don't
5. The Game
6. You Let Me
7. I Surrender
8. In This Skin
9. After The Storm
10. Naked
11. Goddess OF Rock 'n' Roll
12. That Scares Me

Album Cover:

Total Playing Time: 47:57 m:s

Review date: 05/11/2001

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If you’re unfamiliar with the debut, you’ll want to know what Robin sounds like. Heart & Pat Benetar are still the two names that spring to mind. Given the success of female artists, such as Shania Twain & Faith Hill, in the country field, I might have expected a move in that direction, but Robin, as the title of the one of the songs says, Robin still sees herself as the "Goddess Of Rock and Roll".

Robin displays a feisty nature on the uptempo opener as she declares "I’m Doin’ Fine (Without You)". On slower tracks like "These Walls" I get the feeling that the pace isn’t quite right – unnaturally slow. When the chorus kicks in or the guitarist does his bit, I’m happy, but the rest of the song just seems to be treading water. "(I Wish I Could) Read Your Mind" reiterates the point. On "Don’t" Robin’s voice displays plenty of emotion on this jangly affair.

Robin’s rocks out on "The Game", which displays a street-wise funk vibe during the verses. On the slower tracks Robin sounds a lot like Anne Wilson and this is true on "You Let Me". Unlike elsewhere, the pace seems the suit the song and the results are much more acceptable. The guitars are much more to the fore on "I Surrender". This fine slice of rock has a suitably cool chorus and the guitars seem to crank up at just the right moments.

The good work is continued on "In This Skin". Remember what I said right at the start about country, well the next track, "After The Storm", proves that Robin has been paying attention too. However, I’m reminded most of Jamie Kyle, who always manages to keep on the rock side of the rock/country boundary. Despite the provocative title, "Naked" is all about not wanting to expose her soul rather than her body. On the next track Robin arrogantly declares herself to be the "Goddess Of Rock and Roll". I’d be more inclined to believe her if it were a decent song. After that faux pas, Robin exits on a high note with the catchy "That Scares Me".

Robin puts in a fine vocal performance and is backed up by some excellent playing and production. Yet, it takes more than that to make a really compelling album. With this impressive foundation, I want some killer songs to knock me out and give me a killer album. What we get here is a set of OK songs that occasionally tease you, but never quite satisfy you. Can the performances compensate for the shortfall in the song writing department? Well, yes, because a final score of 79% is very respectable.