Band : JK Northrup

Album title : Wired In My Skin

Label : Alien

Distributor : NL Distribution

Release date : May 2007

Release : CD

J.K. Northrup is the name chosen by Rail guitarist Jeff Northrup for his "solo" endeavours. This talented axeman started his career as a live musicians for Billy Thorpe 's band in the early '80s. 1988 saw the formation of the Northrup band with singer Johnny Edwards ( Montrose , later with Foreigner & Royal Jelly ). One song they wrote, "Ready For The Rain" , would be recorded by Foreigner for their 1991 Unusual Heat album. They also recorded and performed on King Kobra 's III album. Between 1991 & 1994, Jeff recorded, wrote, played guitars and produced the Paul Shortino album Back On Track . This album would only surface in 2001, credited to both artists. During the mid-nineties, Jeff spent time working on the Cage project with XYZ singer Terry Ilous (the self-titled album, which featured such guests ad Vinnie Appice , Randy Castillo , James Kottak , Tony Franklin , Phil Soussan , and Sean McNabb , was issued through the King label during 1996). In 1998, he co-wrote, co-produced and played guitars on the Flynn, The Day I Spoke To Dog album in a renewed cooperation with Terry Ilous . In 2001, JK Northrup released his self-titled solo debut, which was again fronted by Johnny Edwards (and co-produced by none other than Ronnie Montrose ). In 2002 a JK Northrup credited "best of" album, subtitled Play It On 11 was released. The guitarist also contributed all guitars to XYZ 's 2003 album Letter To God , and 2004 saw the release of a new Shortino / Northrup album titled Afterlife .

During January 2005, Jeff joined XYZ on US tour dates, but broke his hand on a flightcase accident halfway through that same month. Luckilly, he recovered completely and returned with the Acoustic Outcasts , a project completed by Terry Ilous , Ron Keel , Kelly Keeling (of Michael Schenker Group , Blue Murder , Baton Rouge and George Lynch ), Charlie Wayne (of The Bulletboys , Hawk , Keel , and Wayne repute), and Danny Vaughn (of Tyketto , Waysted and Vaughn repute).

No handicaps apparent on the new solo album either. Quite on the contrary! Guests on drums are DanZoid and Glenn Hicks (also does backing vocals on one song). One Michael T. Ross plays piano on one song, and with Jeff playing all guitars, bass, synths, and also additional percussion and backing vocals, he has Johnny Edwards , Kelly Keeling and David Zaragozo doin' lead & backing vocals on a song each. His buds Terry Ilous and Ted Poley do three and two songs respectively ( Poley doin' the only ballad on the album with the album closing and strangely titled "If I Were James Taylor (I Could Finish This Song)" ). Which makes for only 8 songs, and the rest of the 11 tracks on the album are some of the greatest instrumentals ever! However, my favourite track on the album is without question "Big Blue Sky" with its wonderful harmony vocal chorusses!

Great album by a guitarist worthy to be named among the greatest Melodic Hard Rock artists! An album which should definitely be picked up by fans of that genre, and a record with a homogenous sound, in contradiction of the use of different vocalists! Definitely one for the "Best (AOR) Albums Of 2007"-list!

98/100

Tony.