Heat In the Street

For Heat in the Street, Canadian hard rock bluesman Pat Travers put together his most formidable group to date. Drummer Tommy Aldridge and bassist Mars Cowling are a powerful rhythm section, locked in and loaded, while guitarist Pat Thrall is enough of a player to spur Travers onto even greater solos. Don't overlook the band's funk: it's a major component to its growling hard rock, and tracks such as "Killer's Instinct," "Evie," and even the pre-thrash "Hammerhead" benefit from the group's elasticity. Travers' vocals are pure '70s-era machismo mixed with a soulful rasp that gives the songs a heartfelt sincerity. Even the keyboards for "One for Me and One for You" evoke the oncoming wave of '80s power ballads, yet with a genuine earthiness that was often missing in the video age. Fans of hard rock guitar can't go wrong studying "I Tried to Believe," "Prelude," and the title track. There's a reason Metallica's Kirk Hammett lists Travers as one of his favorite guitar players.