MelodicRock.com Reviews


JK NORTHRUP
PLAY IT ON 11 (Best Of)
MTM Music 0681-52
Produced by: JK Northrup
Released: OUT NOW / Website
Relatives: Paul Shortino, Rough Cutt, Cage
GENRE: Hard Rock
OVERALL: 85%

  1. When There's Smoke
  2. Rough Life
  3. Walk On Water
  4. Here And Gone
  5. Remember Me
  6. The Kid's Back In Town
  7. Ready For The Rain
  8. I.M.N.U.
  9. Bye Bye To Love
  10. Girls Like You
  11. Minds Eye
  12. My Shell
  13. Dancin' Feet
  14. Where You Belong
  15. Used To Be

JK Northrup is an American guitarist who has been around a fair while, without breaking through under his own name. He has played a pivotal role in several albums as guitarist, such as Cage, Paul Shortino, Rail, Billy Thorpe and Flynn.
Jeff only released his own first album last year - the archive release of the self titled JK Northrup - an album featuring Johhny Edwards (ex-Foreigner) on vocals that was recorded in the early 1990's.
This release is a fitting tribute to JK, featuring a selection of his material from past artists such as Shortino, JK Northrup and Flynn (featuring Terry Illous of XYZ).
What more can I say other than buy this CD! It's a great compilation of 15 tracks that puts the best tunes of JK's career in your hands in one easy step.
The title is fitting - do play it as loud as your gear will let you go, as this selection of tunes rocks big time.
For the unfamiliar Jeff Northrup's style is traditional American stadium hard rock, with a strong melodic edge. Band's like Quiet Riot, Rough Cutt, XYZ, Foreigner (heavier), Dokken and King Kobra are Jeff's style.
BOTTOM LINE: For fans of Jeff's, this is an essential purchase, gathering a lot of great songs in one place. For the unfamiliar, it's one of those better compilations that will showcase a great guitar player and a great songwriter.
For too long JK Northrup has stood in the shadow of others. Time to steal some of the limelight for himself.
PRODUCTION: 80% SONGS: 88% VIBE: 85%ATTITUDE: 88%
ESSENTIAL FOR: All fans of American guitar driven melodic hard rock. All Paul Shortino fans.
DISCOGRAPHY:Solo; JK Northrup . 11:11 Project . Play It On 11



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