Blowing A Lion To Smithereens

Today's post is from our friend HIM.
 

Let me explain. Well, first I will let you listen to Mike Tramp’s “Coming Home:"

As many of you know, the second White Lion album, 1987’s Pride, is sacrosanct to me. There is nary a dud on that album (even the self-help sweetness of “Don’t Give Up”). After that things get a bit spottier. But you always knew it was White Lion, except when it wasn’t. Tramp’s late-1990/early-2000’s Bratta-less reboot was a thing to scowl at, a thing that even Tramp now dismisses as a rather dumb idea.

 

His solo work has never really grabbed me. Sure, some of his acoustic versions of the White Lion classics are interesting. But that is a huge step down for me. I want something that moves me. And much of it seems to be middling and mid-tempo. That isn’t a slam on Tramp. If he wants to put the lion in the rear-view, on his own terms now, that is his prerogative.

 

Which is why this song surprised me. This is mellow Tramp that harkens back to White Lion while engaging some very clear Smithereens-ish sounds. Which is fine by me. I always liked DiNizio’s band, even when they had to slum for gigs at corporate parties (sidebar: the original members are reuniting this month for a series of shows).

 

I know that most of us who like White Lion would like to see the duo of Tramp and Bratta back for another attack (no offense to LoMenzo or D’Angelo). I also know that Bratta teased that idea . . . a decade ago (even after threatening to sue Tramp for his revamped aforementioned version of the band). But I think it is safe to say it likely won’t happen. Which is a shame.

 

“Coming Home” isn’t the homecoming we might want. But I, for one, will take it. You?