Category 5
Firehouse

You have to applaud Firehouse for their courage; their current recording, Category 5, features a style of music that has been decidedly un-hip for almost ten years. Ever since Nirvana turned the music world upside down in the early 1990's, the "glam rock" era has been generally been looked back upon with scorn, and even embarassment.
This apparently doesn't concern Firehouse, whose music sounds at times recalls Bon Jovi (thanks largely to singer C.J. Snare, who often sounds startlingly similar to vocalist Jon Bon Jovi). Firehouse has embraced the genre fully, and the results are generally rather convincing. Tracks like "Bringing Me Down", which starts off acoustically, but, as is common with tunes in the genre, quickly turns electric, offer genuine cross-over appeal. A firmer hand in the producer's chair was needed though; some tunes are far too long, clocking in at well over 5 minutes, when the point of the tune was made after 3 minutes. The inclusion of a hidden track is rather puzzling... displaying the band's interest in a much darker, more angry style of music.
If you're not a fan of the genre, Category 5 will surely not change your mind about glam rock. Many may find the music to be somewhat fallow, cliche, and unappealing. If you're a listener who still champions the musical prowess of bands like Poison and Whitesnake, however, chances are you'll find much to like about Category 5.