Welcome to the Club ranks a cut below
Vices, with a cleaner production and performances that push
Kick Axe into more radio-friendly territory, but also tend to mute some of the exuberance of the debut. Lead singer
George Criston sounds a bit more reigned in, and, while he continues to deliver uniformly strong performances, his over-the-top personality is slightly less dominant than before. But even if
Welcome to the Club doesn't quite capture the essence of
Kick Axe the way
Vices did, that's not to say it isn't a good record. The title cut is one of several strong rockers, and tracks like "Comin' After You" help broaden the band's sonic palette. The album closes with a surprisingly serious rendition of "With a Little Help From My Friends," done as a bombastic "We Are the World"-style charity single. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide