Label: Wild Kingdom / Sound Pollution
Release Date: February 27, 2026
Rating: 94%
Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur
While I have listened to Philip Shouse for a long time without realizing it, his roles in bands with John Corabi, Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, and Accept kept him in my line of vision. With 2026, he steps out of the ‘band’ spotlight and casts his own shadow over the rock world with a cool EP that features his vocals and guitar work that stands out and up among his peers. Disc opener “Run Away From You” pulls from other influences in Shouse’s past without sounding rehashed or outdated. His vocal really shines and is a perfect partner for his guitar playing. The overall vibe of this one recalls the swagger of some of my favorite rockers, making this track a new favorite in my playlist. “The Naked Empress” unfolds beautifully and allows Philip to show off a different vocal style that swirls nicely in the mix with the guitars and creates a very ethereal rock sound that gets your foot tapping, head slightly banging, and you might even toss in some air drumming. The song has a fun quotient woven into its musical DNA. “It Gets Better” is another great track that harkens back to a time when music and rock were simpler… more straight-ahead rock with some southern attitude without being a southern rocker. The layered vocals are a nice touch as the song moves between verse, chorus, and back again. The song is catchy and should go well live, if given the opportunity. “Won’t Let Go (Again)” kicks off and I thought for a hot second we were rolling into a cover of “Train, Train.” I can only imagine where that would have taken us, but in its place, we have a cool track that shows off Shouse’s smokier vocal side tied to his acoustic guitars and a driving rhythm that carries the song from start to finish and does so nicely. Disc closer “Time Bomb” swirls together pieces from all the previous track taking us out on a rocking finish that prompts you to play this one over and over, all the while listening for nuances you may not have caught the first time through. The instrumentation at the break takes me back to my 70’s influences and musical loves. Well done Mr. Shouse… can’t wait to hopefully see and hear these tracks live soon.
Tracklisting: Run Away From You – The Naked Empress – It Gets Better – Won’t Let Go (Again) – Time Bomb
PHILIP SHOUSE LINKS:
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Category: CD Reviews
About the Author (Author Profile)
ToddStar – that’s me… just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe – I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.