The Golden Age of Hard Rock, Glam Metal and AOR was the time between the second half of the 70s and the early days of the 90s, when such genres were ruling over the North American parades (and as a consequence, throughout the world). But as known to everyone, the coming of Alternative Rock tendencies in the late 1991, these genres decreased in commercial success and seemed dead and gone for a long time. Today, they're back again, and besides the success isn't the same of the past, the quality is always the same, as "No Strings", the new album of GARDNER/JAMES is here as proof. The band, in reality, is a union of forces between Janet Gardner (former singer of VIXEN, a successful North American act of the 80s) and Justin James (her husband, who worked as producer and guitarist for acts as TYKETTO, STAIND, and others).

Their musical work shown on the album is a charming and accessible form of Hard Rock/Glam Metal filled with a recollection of different influences as Folk, Country, Blues, Classic Rock, AOR and many more. It can sound and savage sometimes (as heard on "I'm Living Free") or even accessible and tender (give a try on "Don't Turn Me Away" to check these words), or even explore both sides in a same song. It's always good, because their experiences and influences enable the duet to create songs in a high level of quality. The sonority of "No Strings" is really something great: as both musicians are experienced, they know what 'sounding organic' means and depicts such fact clearly, but always based on a modern and powerful outfit. It's not a sin to say that it brings together both aspects without prejudice for one or other on the album.

All the songs are really excellent, all of them showing that the album isn't a recollection of clichés, or are written in an opportunist way (to earn some bucks). No, things here are really great, as depicted by songs as "I'm Living Free" (a great song, with contrast between silk moments with AC/DC-like filthy parts based on strong guitar riffs), "Turn the Page" (here the duet uses a more Heavy Metal tendency with Hard Rock, with very good backing vocals and vocals), "85" (a song that brings to our hearts the uncompromised and free feeling of the 80s, again with charming guitars riffs and arrangements), "No Strings" (this one has charming and tender moments with silk melodies, with a crescendo during the chorus that's similar to those Pop soundtracks of the 70s), "Don't Turn Me Away" (another silk moment filed with melodies influenced by Folk Rock both on distorted and clean parts), "Set Me Free" (a clear 80s Hard 'n' Heavy song that's full of energy and contrasts between distorted and introspective parts, with a clear focus on Janet's voice), "Hold On to You" (a deeper song filled with charming keyboards arrangements and with very good shifts in the vocals' tunes), and "Into the Night" (a modern and rough Hard Rock with some influences of Glam Rock and AOR). But pay a careful listening to "I'm Not Sorry", "You'll See", "She Floats Away" and "Drink".

Let's hope that "No Strings" (that is the second album of GARDNER/JAMES efforts) will be the consolidation of the duet's career, because it's really amazing!