Behind the Orange Curtain＜Red/Black Marble Vinyl＞

Someone who hasn't spent time in southern California might not fully appreciate the title Behind the Orange Curtain. Back in the '70s and '80s -- when there was still a Soviet Union and the communist governments of Eastern Europe were referred to as "behind the Iron Curtain" -- folks in Los Angeles County jokingly referred to Orange County (their neighbor to the south) as "the Orange Curtain." That term became dated when the Cold War ended and there was no longer an Iron Curtain separating Eastern and Western Europe, but it's still a funny term. Well, the L.A.-based Bulletboys ventured "behind the Orange Curtain" when they recorded this live hard rock/metal album at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana. The credits, unfortunately, don't tell listeners when Behind the Orange Curtain was recorded, but it was probably around 2002-2003 because lead singer Marq Torien refers to Sophie (a 2003 release) as a new album that would be out soon. The Bulletboys lineup heard on this 55-minute CD is not the old Torien/Mick Sweda/Lonnie Vencent/Jimmy D'Anda lineup; Torien, the only remaining original member, is joined by guitarist Tommy Pittman, bassist Jimmy Nelson, and drummer Pete Newman. But a lot of old favorites are performed, including "Hang on St. Christopher," "Hard as a Rock," "Shoot the Preacher Down," and the O'Jays' "For the Love of Money" -- and Torien fares well by letting his bluesy, R&B-ish instincts prevail. Occasionally, Behind the Orange Curtain ventures into alternative rock/post-grunge territory ("Walls" and "Toy," for example), but much of the time, this album is a tribute to the Bulletboys' late-'80s/early-'90s heyday (before alterna-rock became an influence for the band). And while it falls short of essential, Behind the Orange Curtain is a generally enjoyable release that the Bulletboys' die-hard fans will appreciate. ~ Alex Henderson