Every ten years
the Isley Brothers
reinvented themselves and managed to snatch as many consumer dollars and generate enough chart action to remain contemporary.
Go for Your Guns
was a further attempt by
the Isleys
to broaden their fan base; earlier in the decade they redid many
rock
standards to expand from the
R&B
base they were mired in.
The Isleys
shoot for the moon and never make it, but they always land among the stars. This seven-song set got played to death on
urban
radio.
"Living in the Life"
rocks so hard it makes cheap speakers pop;
"Go for Your Guns"
is an instrumental jam featuring the second generation
Isley Brothers
:
Ernie
,
Marvin
, and
Chris Jasper
(
Rudolph Isley
's brother-in-law). The lovely, mystical
"Voyage to Atlantis"
is a staple of their live concerts, its opening strains acknowledged by deafening, enthusiastic applause. Like many
Isley
tunes, the loping, mid-tempo love tale
"Footsteps in the Dark"
has been sampled silly;
"Pride"
is a steady beater with uplifting words for the downtrodden. Nothing dull, no filler. ~ Andrew Hamilton