By Vinnie Apicella

The rock and roll predator of the deep rises to the surface yet again… Great White, a band with more lives than you can shake a leg at, is back in full party mode here with yet another album, designed to showcase their… well latest and greatest. "Greatest" however is a matter of opinion, and even "Latest" seems to be devoid of anything really post "Hooked" unless we're counting the opening live "In the Light" which they covered from Zeppelin and appeared on "Sail Away…" or was it "On Stage?" They also did this killer "Great Zeppelin" tribute thing a couple years back that's so true to life to the originals it… they'd probably make a better living at doing that at this point! This group has been around now for a good twenty years and I'll give 'em credit, rock and roll's in their blood! They really haven't hit it big-like many of the rest of their mid-80's ilk-since something like "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and while that's not to suggest an overall weakness in performance since, they did seem to get a little self-absorbed and formulaic for a while there. So like with any "Greatest Hits" type thing, there are several songs that deserved to make the "cut" that are nowhere to be found… but truthfully they should've concentrated on the less publicized recent material like "Wasted Rock Ranger" or that kind of stuff. As it is, "Greatest & Latest" is a showcase of sorts that explores the band's achievements from the earlier days up to the present, though it would've made sense to include specifics as far as years and album titles within the tracking… simply for the benefit of newer fans that might not be quite up to speed. This goes as far back as "Shot in the Dark" which really signaled the start of Great White's success even though their self-titled release that preceded it remains to this day as one of the great hard rock albums of the era and one that they've continually ignored throughout the ages… so why bother now? What's left to lose-just go for it! "Face the Day" was the big hit from the "Shot in the Dark" record and like the preceding version of "Rock Me," sounds either remixed to the bone, or possibly re-recorded in a much cleaner context. Is Kendall still with them by the way? Old "Great White" himself is still pictured with 'em but I had heard something a while back… Anyway, there's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" which doesn't play here for some reason… but afterwards there's a new cut from there "Can't Get There from Here" Portrait comeback and "Rollin' Stoned," a typically active summer fun GW party track that goes well on a long, clear stretch of highway. I wouldn't have minded hearing "Move It" which is actually one of the best tunes they've ever done which… well, there's a couple from that "…Twice Shy" album like "Mista Bone" and God forbid they leave that one off… but I like how they roughed it up a bit this time. "Save Your Love" was one of their big radio hit ballads from the "Once Bitten" '87 release-easily their biggest mover. "Can't Shake It" from the not so classic "Hooked" release about a decade ago makes an appearance, surprisingly, but is along with "Desert Moon" two of the better tunes that had to offer. Where's "Psycho City?" "House of Broken Love" a heartily crafted and bluesy ballad from the "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" '89 release along with "The Angel Song" which was done live are two great moments during the second half. I don't quite understand what made them conclude with "Lady Red Light" which I remember to be the first single from "Once Bitten" but they could've come up with something stronger to leave off with a little more impact… something off "Let it Rock" maybe? Nonetheless, this is about what fans should expect to hear from the band… a nice blend of yesterday's hit classics given a smoothing over and a handful of recently recorded live tunes… "Greatest & Latest" will reassure fans that this once formidable rock and roll monster of the deep is still circling, waiting for just the right moment to strike again and not lying dormant on the ocean floor.

More from the Online Metal Journal