Description
The self-titled, seven-track vinyl EP by the American alternative rock band Street Angel, fronted by Bill Romansky, was independently released on Dark Records in 1986, distributed by Refuge Music Group. All songs written by W. J. Romansky except “Falling” co-written with Bam-Boom.
Of the seven songs on this album, three have been previously released. «MTV» appeared on a 4-song EP issued in 1984 and was listed as Bill Romansky; «When the Sun Comes Up» was released last year as the A side of a 45 with «Don’t Do It» by First Degree on the verse. If you missed those earlier items, by all means get a copy of the album. In January of 86 I saw Romansky & Street Angel open for Larry Norman at a local high school and was completely taken by his brand of rock n roll. «The Blood» speaks to a wayward one who has to face the true reason that Christ spilled his blood, while «When the Sun Comes Up» is a straight ahead rocker about living one more day. «MTV» has been re-recorded and the personal references to people such as Billy Idol have been eliminated (probably a wise idea in an age of lawsuits), but the slashing attack on modern TV entertainment, including ads for jeans, has not been toned down. The sound is reminiscent of early Velvet Underground and goes well with the lyrical content. «The End» is eschatological in theme and reminds that we all must be telling the Good News for we do not know when Christ will return. «When the Sun Comes Up» is the most commercially viable of the lot, but «The End» and «MTV» would be impressive on some progressive Christian radio program. [Dan Kennedy, The Cutting Edge, April 1987 (V4-3, Issue 39)]
I have had this one on vinyl for a while, but was sent a cassette rip so time to review here! Dark Records is kind of on the line of the underground – they did attempt to become a national label, and had a good set of initial artists: First Degree, Dennis Welch, and Rob Castles in addition to Street Angel. They had signed other bands (one ad announced Undercover, Adam Again, and Level Heads signings that never produced albums) before folding. They are still obscure enough to count. Street Angel is the band that Bill Romansky formed at some point after his 1979 solo album. He also played on some Larry Norman albums as a member of the Young Lions. For this album, he goes in a distinct alternative rock vein, but closer to The Call and The Alarm than U2 (even though there is some U2 influence as well). After this, he released a full-length called Newland! in 1988 also on Dark Records right before they folded. That one was also on CD. [Christian Tape Underground, June 24, 2025]
EP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “When The Sun Comes Up”
A2. “I Am”
A3. “The Blood”
Side Two
B1. “Together We” – 5:32
B2. “Falling” – 3:33
B3. “MTV” – 3:44
B4. “The End” – 2:47
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl EP by Dark Records.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.