It has been three years since the last time anyone heard from one of Hard Rock's female pioneers, Lita Ford. 2012 states her 8^th studio album "Living Like a Runaway". On this album Ford's went back to the roots, where Hard Rock met Metal along with pure guitars and melodies. Ford has been moving through ups and downs in her career and her personal life, especially recently with her ugly divorce from NITRO's singer Jim Jillete. The album brings modernity along with old Hard Rock riffs. It has some magical moments but I didn't feel the energy once generated from her old masterpiece "Dancin' On the Edge".

Ford sounds very good when it comes to production, you can hear it from the opening track "Branded", a rockin' song that paves the trip back to roots with heavy riffing. Unfortunately I expected a killer guitar solo that would accompany such a heavy song, but it didn't come. There is only a short guitar harmony that I am sure it could have been played different with an interesting concept just as it was in the past. "The Mask" starts with a few electronic elements but pretty soon gets into the Rock ring. The lyrics are so true and talks about taking off the mask and see what there lays within. Like a comparison to the "Jekyll & Hyde" tale. "Living Like A Runaway" ,supplies a taste of gentleness next to a nice melodic chorus while making it accessible and catchy. The song reminded me a little bit of MOTLEY CRUE's song "Girl Don't Go away Mad".

If there was ever a chance to release "Lisa" # 2,the song"Mother" could have definitely become a competitive nominee. In my opinion this ballad is the best track on the album. Behind this song hides an ugly story where Ford was in the middle of her divorce process. She found out that her sons stop talking to her along with her ex-husband Jim Jillete. "I Will Always Be Your Mother" is the one of the strongest lines on this song. The songs evolves with deep and sadden emotions, this is one of Ford's strongest ends, at least when it comes to composing a ballad. Another great track is "Asylum" which starts with thrilling opening that melts into a rocking melodic guitar lick. The song is another reminder of the comeback to the roots, straight into the lungs of the 80's. It has a driving feel, especially with the guitars.

I could sum up this album as an average one. Most of the songs were not like I expected. Ford described this album: "We want to strip away all the electronics and plug-ins and keep it to vocals, guitar, bass, and drums. Going back to basics is going back to what Punk, Metal and THE RUNAWAYS was for me". I didn't feel that she went back to the basics, there are less kicking ass songs here than what I expected and only a few songs really got me.