LOUDWIRE : THE 50 BEST ROCK ALBUMS OF 2019

Cinderella’s Tom Keifer re-emerged a couple of years ago quite successfully with The Way Life Goes, but on his latest “solo” album Rise he’s really made the most of his #KeiferBand, fleshing out a gem of a record that manages to walk the line of recapturing the heart of his early works yet still feels totally vibrant for today. Keifer’s bread and butter is his gravelly great vocals set against a bluesy rocking backdrop, and the moments that shine best here are the album opening “Touching the Divine,” the slow-grooving “The Death of Me” and the Stones-ish balladry of “Waiting on the Demons.” For those who came to rock, there’s something for you too, with “All Amped Up” and “Hype” among those choices. Keifer’s second act is something to rise up and cheer. —CC