"Had this song running round my head since I first heard it"

by Martyn Cummings, Writer & Editor

  Sometimes you have to listen to an album over and over, forcing yourself to get to the stage where you become familiar with the songs and only then will you start to 'get' what the artist is trying to portray. Bud Rogers-Whiteout has me confused, here we have a relatively unknown artist, and he's played in many bands and still does, Whiteout being his first solo project. The word solo takes on a whole new meaning- EVERYTHING on this album is played, sang, produced and recorded by the artist himself (with the exception of 'American Dream' which was co-written with a friend who has since sadly passed away). Here's where the confusion comes into play. How can multi-million pound rock stars and bands produce recordings that makes you want to sit and listen and listen until those recordings find a little hole in your mind to reside, when Bud Rogers has managed to come up with an album that bares its soul as soon as you hit the play button? I'm excited. I can't sit here and write that in ten years' time Bud will be a platinum selling artist, this is just one man's opinion, but, I will say this, over the years I've always had great pride in my ability to pick out people and bands in the music business who I believe will do well and, more often than not I've been right. I remember saying to my other half way back in the late eighties 'Listen to this, these are going to be huge!' The band was Guns N Roses; they were raw, messy and anarchic. Whiteout holds the king spot on the other end of the spectrum. That is what makes it a great album. Far from being a messy under-produced rushed affair, it's a beautifully crafted piece of art digitised to a disc for all to enjoy and you have to thank Mr Rogers for that. You really get the sense there's a lot of life experience gone into the writing and the soundtrack itself is far better than anything I've heard in quite some time.

The album kicks off with the brilliant 'Caught in a Wheel' I, personally have had this song running round my head since I first heard it. A very catchy upbeat song with a very strong 'cougar mellencamp' feel. I can imagine this being a great stomping song in the live setting.

Santa Monica Sunshine, a funk style rock song with chilled and drawling 'Chillipeppers/ Kravitz' style backing. Another favourite of mine.

Let it burn. After an energetic start to the album 'Let it burn' gives you a chance to chill and catch your breath. This is one of the songs on the album I would say shows the artists true vocal talent.

American Dream. The only record on the album that Bud had help with. The song was co-written with Tim Ashford who sadly, is no longer with us. It's a fitting tribute to Tim that he is credited on the album. A brilliant song with fantastic guitar breaks.

You. I myself love the diverse and this is the albums black sheep, haunting guitar and slow breathy lyrics make this a firm favourite. I would love to see this released independently of the album. 'You' reminds me a lot of Marillion during their 'Misplaced Childhood' era.

Slave to Passion. I really think this could be the underdog of the album, coming from nowhere and taking the listener by the throat. The guitar work on the song is outstanding!

Innocent days. Every album has its anthem; this is definitely the one for Whiteout.

Token of Gold. Love this song for its simplicity, lyrically brilliant. Reminds me a lot of very early Manic Street Preachers or maybe Snow Patrol.

Whiteout. The title track for the album takes to the stage and doesn't disappoint. A 'doorseque' start to the song leads the listener into a slow chilled verse with amazing low range vocals complimented by constant guitar breaks and fill-ins - Love these type of songs Brilliant choice for the title track.

Unfortunately we come to the final track, Lullaby. Bud brings the tempo down for the last time. The mood he sets for the final song is perfect. You can almost feel yourself coming down from the highs of the journey through 'whiteout' .

So, I never expected this review to be so comprehensive, but to just give a few words here and there when I could slot it in wouldn't have given the artist the credit he deserves. To say this is Bud's first album we have to wonder what his 5th would be like -I have no muscle in the music business, I'm not a manager, a producer, a record exec -I'm just Joe public, I like good music and I like to give people credit for their talents. I will be looking forward to the second album and many more to come. I'd like to wish Bud all the best for the future; to me it looks very bright.