Album Mini-review: Lita Ford — Time Capsule
File next to: Heart, Poison, Jim Steinman
Is there a place for big-guitar power ballads in the 21st century? Former Runaways guitarist Lita Ford certainly thinks so. All of the grandeur and excess of hair metal is on display within the disc’s eleven tunes, compiled from Ford’s archives of previously unreleased material. On the snarling “Where Will I Find My Heart Tonight,” you can all but smell the leather and spandex. Dave Navarro‘s mandolin on “Killing Kind” nods briefly in an Americana direction, but mostly this is earnest power rock that often threatens to take itself a bit too seriously. If you’re hungry for guitar heroics 1980s style, replete with overly dramatic arrangements, you’ve come to the right place. But in general, the fist-pumping, over-the-top emoting songs are best experienced with tongue firmly in cheek. Time Capsule is just that: the essence of an era, boiled down to a compact size for modern-day listeners.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.