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2003 album for melodic rock act featuring Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Axel Rudi Pell) & Marcel Jacob (Rising Force, Norum, Power). Frontiers Records.
Customer Review: Kickin Butt...Talisman back strong.
You know, everyone talks about Jeff Scott Soto, but the truth is, there is a reason he keeps Marcel Jacobs with him, because he kicks butt. Alot of people don't talk about the Bass player, but this one makes Talisman what it is...A Great Band. Why do you think he's compared to the great Billy Sheehan? This cd really showcases the talents of Marcel Jacobs playing. Great cd all around, voice, bass, guitar, drums. It is too bad this type of rock has died in america because this is what should be being played on the radio, not that alternative rock crap were they can hardly play riffs on the guitar let alone sing.
Customer Review: a great rock album
Counting all of Talisman's studio releases "Cats & Dogs" is already number 7. Since the debut in 1990 the band has gone through musical as well as line-up changes. But the main actors still remain the same, vocal-acrobat Jeff Scott Soto and bass-monster Marcel Jacob. Fredrik Akesson the guitar player from the "Genesis" and "Humanimal"-albums has returned for "Cats & Dogs", drummer Jamie Borger has also played with the band on a couple of albums. All 12 songs of "Cats & Dogs" are Soto and Jacob originals, so the band doesn't include any cover versions that were among the best songs on "Truth" and "Life". This time the band puts a lot of effort in making the hooklines as catchy as possible but we are certainly not talking about poppy songs. On the contrary every song is rocking hard; no ballads in sight ! The bass playing of Marcel Jacob stands out superbly in the mix; you can't help drawing parallels to Billy Sheehan and Mr. Big. "Outta My Way" is a neck breaking song in the tradition of "Addicted To That Rush" and it showcases a duel of bass and guitar in the solo section. The Opener "Skin On Skin" kicks off the record with a splendid hookline, the same can be said about the slightly funky "In Make Believe". A bit off the beaten path goes the very good AOR song "Sorry". Some tracks like "Lost In The Wasteland" and "Hell In Paradise" are provided with a more gloomy guitar sound from Akesson. With "Cats & Dogs" Talisman deliver their best sounding album to date and most of the songs are destined to become the band's glory days....


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