I can tell you exactly two things about this band. Well no, three things. First of all, their lead guitarist Paul Gilbert later joined snooze merchants Mr. Big. Second of all, the graphics on this record were done by Guy Atchison, who has become something of a big cheese in the tattoo world. Third of all, they released more records than this one, none of which I own. Other than that, I don't know squat about Racer X except that this is a great record. For years I had this crappy version of it that had been dubbed onto a Rachmaninoff tape of all things. Some Beklee goon I worked with at a long defunct sandwich shop had given it to me, telling me how much I would like it. It took awhile for the record to work it's way into my consciousness. But once it did, it's remained firmly lodged there. 

Racer X played a now extinct brand of music that fused guitar heroics with peelingly melodramatic lyrics and over the top slickness factor where production was concerned. Not quite hair metal, but a little too proficient to be plain old hard rock. Want an idea of the sound ? Well, the two covers on this are Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" and "Heart of a Lion" by Judas Priest. In fact, vocalist Jeff Martin sounds a bit like a young and more mannered Rob Halford. Other than that though, I can't think of any other band that sounds quite like this. 

It isn't all glory. The guitar wankery goes straight into parody on a few occasions, and the band could have thrown a little grit into the machine oil to liven things up in spots. Racer X sounded like a band that was busy trying to figure out what niche to fit into in spots. No matter, though. The thunderous "Hammer Away", in which Martin threatens to "lower the boom" on those who "think they know what it's all about" could carry this whole disc alone. Classy stuff. Damn classy.