Warrant

The story has been told many times about how Jani Lane was asked to write a catchy rock anthem to replace "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as the first single and album title. Jani took just 15 minutes, probably with Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and Queen's "We Will Rock You" in the back of his mind, and returned with what would become one of the band's biggest commercial successes. However, Jani himself felt like he became a laughing stock due to that song, which, to be honest, is quite silly. Jani was supposed to be a songwriter and singer, not some gimmicky weirdo competing in pie eating contests to promote his music.

This album should have taken a different direction, considering the initial standard set by the hard rocker "Uncle Tom's Cabin." There's probably a lot to be said about who actually played on the album (CC, pick up the guitar!), the decisions made by the Columbia representatives, and the over-the-top silliness of the music video for "Cherry Pie". But these topics have been discussed extensively already, so let's move on.

Three more singles followed, with the gorgeous piano-driven "I Saw Red" next in line. Jani Lane wasn't one to churn out generic power ballads solely for the money; he was genuinely a talented songwriter and singer. His clear high-toned voice isn't too dissimilar from the legendary (also tragically diseased) Brad Delp of Boston. Just listen to how he effortlessly navigates that bridge and the final chorus, using his entire vocal range.

Speaking of Boston, I can easily imagine "Bed Of Roses" as part of their 1976 debut, with a similar acoustic intro leading into an electric-driven mid-tempo rocker. Yes, it follows the template set by "More Than a Feeling" (notice how his high-pitched scream blends into the guitar solo around the two-minute mark).

Alongside the fantastic "Uncle Tom's Cabin," probably the best heavy song Warrant had released up to that point, the last single would be the traditional power ballad "Blind Faith." It's a simple yet irresistible love story which starts acoustically before erupting into a chorus that has stayed with us since its MTV debut in the summer of 1991.

Another highlight is the faster, pop-driven hard rocker "Mr. Rainmaker," which once again showcases Lane's vocal abilities, accompanied by a great guitar riff and solo that you'd hear regularly on FM rock radio (if such a thing still exists). Once again, it's his voice that elevates the recording from good to great and Jani certainly had his strength in carving out addictive vocal melody lines.

"Love In Stereo", "Song And Dance Man", and "You're the Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised" (yes, that's quite a title) feel more like generic, poppy glam metal, reminiscent of what we heard on the band's debut album. There's also a similarity in vibe and themes to early Poison, and this wasn't the best fit for either Jani Lane or Warrant.

The highlighted songs from "Cherry Pie" are unquestionable classics, while the rest fall somewhere between decent and forgettable. However, as an album, it's much better than its reputation, which was largely tarnished by profit-seeking executives in suits. Still, the feeling remains this could have been a true classic, but was denied to be.