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Free Music Notes for Saints of Los AngelesFree Music Review: A More Mature Motley, But Still A Filthy Crue Hit: 4 StarsMotley Crue's "Saints of Los Angeles" joins a growing list of new material from prominent hard rock, hairband, and metal acts from the 70's, 80's and early 90's. Whitesnake, AC/DC, Def Leppard and Alice Cooper are just a few of the other acts on that list. What's really amazing about all of them is that sales of these albums have been excellent and the music sounds great. It proves that some things do get better with age.
With "Saints," the Crue offers up tunes that reflect on their wild past (especially the first half of the album), their ever-present resistance to authority and the fact that even though they've aged a bit, they can still out-rock the majority of today's so-called hard rock bands.
Vince Neil's vocals have matured to a solid level. While the squeals and squeaks are still around, they have a much more manly tone to them. Nikki Sixx' bass sounds excellent. Tommy Lee keeps everything moving at a good pace and Mick Mars is still one of the greatest guitar slingers in the business.
The title track's message is obvious: We came, we saw, we rocked and we still rock. Show us some respect. Filthy rockers include "White Trash Circus" and "This Ain't A Love Song." "Face Down In The Dirt" is a pounder that kicks the album into gear. Other solid tunes include "MFer of the Year," "The Animal In Me," "Just Another Psycho" and "Goin' Out Swingin'."
If there are any shortcomings on this album, it's the fact that some of the reflections on the band's wild past can get tiresome. "Down At The Whisky," while a good tune, gets lyrically bogged by this. Granted, the Crue was never known for their brilliant lyrics, but Nikki Sixx has written much better material than this.
Overall, "Saints of Los Angeles" proves that some rockers get better (or at least sound tighter) with age. "Dr. Feelgood" and the oft-forgotten John Corabi-fronted "Motley Crue" album are the best albums by the Crue in my opinino, but "Saints" definitely deserves a spot somewhere around "Girls, Girls, Girls"
If you grew up on Motley, like I did, I highly recommend this album. It will feed your hunger for hair/hard rock. If your knowledge of hard rock begins with groups born after the grunge era, I suggest you pick this up to see how much fun rock was before Nirvana and company killed it.
Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: Best Since Dr. Feelgood! Hit: 4 StarsThis is a very solid new effort from the re-energized Motley Crue. This new cd, featuring all four original members (Neil, Lee, Sixx, and Mars)is an honest straightforward rock album with solid catchy grooves. Vince Neil's voice has truly never sounded better, and the band has terrific chemistry on this sleazy expose of LA rock life. Saints of Los Angeles, and White Trash Circus are my picks for standout tracks, but there really isn't a bad track on the album. This is without question the best, most true to form cd the band has released since Dr. Feelgood. Fans of early Crue will not be disappoiinted, and the band sounds fresh enough for modern rock fans as well.
Free Music Review: Where are these guys from again? Hit: 2 StarsOk guys we all know by now you're from LA and you hung out on the strip and played the Whiskey and got into fights and did alot of drugs and got into fights and banged all the girls...yadda...yadda...yadda...but will you please quit bragging about it and find something else to write about for once PLEASE! It's bad enough to have to sit through all your between songs banter at your concerts about how you've been through this and done that. WHO CARES? I would much rather listen to a karaoke version of this cd because musically it rocks.
Free Music Review: Lyrics kinda ruin it for me Hit: 3 StarsFirst off let me say that if you're a fan of the Crue then go ahead and buy this. It is a farely solid album. It's just that the lyrics make a few songs unlistenable for me, and even some of the songs I like suffer a bit. That being said the lyrics aren't anything new for them. It's not like they haven't done songs about screwing as many chicks as possible or anything, but it just gets to me here, as it has on past albums too. Overall this is a farely solid album. My only other complaint is that there isn't as much variety in the pacings of the songs as I'd like.
"Face Down In the Dirt 5/10 A nice rocker to start the album, good music, good vocals, but this starts what I was talking about with the lyrics. The chorus is something like several I'd rather be deads followed by something like face down in the dirt with a bullet in my head, or something. It's been a while since I've listened to this one. That just bugs me.
What's It Gonna Take 6/10 This one's ok. Although my rating would stay the same, I'd probably like this one more if it were on another album. There are a couple more songs that kinda seem similar. It's a farely slow-paced song.
Down at the Whiskey 7/10 I guess you've got to be familliar with L.A. to completely get this one, lyrically. I'm guessing it's about a bar they used to play at, or just drink at. It's a toned down song, with an uper mid-tempo pace.
Saints of Los Angeles 9/10 This is my favorite song on the album, although there are a couple that come close. This is probably the only song that feels like a classic. I love the energy in this one. I wish more songs on this album had this kind of energy level. It's a rocker that kind of reminds me of Dr. Feelgood. It's a must have for any Crue fan's collection.
Mutherfu-ker of the Year 5/10 Most people seem to like this one, but it just doesn't do it for me. It's a huge letdown after such a great track. It's a farely slow song. I could take or leave the lyrics, and really there's just nothing appealing to me with this one. Not a bad song, but nothing special.
The Animal In Me 7/10 Yet another slow song. I think these two should have been seperated by a faster one. This is my favorite of these slower ones. Some of the lyrics are a bit, eh, but it's still a decent song. I like the guitar riff in the verses.
Welcome to the Machine 8/10 Another of my favorites. This is a faster song. I like the vocals, and the music complaments them well.
Just Another Psycho 8/10 The other of my three favorites. This one's a little slower than the last, but it's not a slow song. Everything fits together well.
Chicks = Trouble 4/10 This one would be pretty good with better lyrics. Really the only line that bugs me is the one I always step in the sh-t. Otherwise it's an ok song.
This Ain't a Love Song 4/10 Kind of mid-tempo if I remember correctly. I don't like the lyrics at all. It's not that I don't like songs like this, Crue's Piece of your action comes to mind, but maybe I'm just past the point of wanting new songs about f-ing. Yet I like Buckcherry's crazy bi--h. Go figure. Most fans will probably like this one.
White Trash Circus 4/10This is another one that I like the music, I like the vocals, but I hate the lyrics. It has a nice beat.
Goin' Out Swinging 6/10 The album ends on a fster-paced song. It's a pretty good song, but there are too many going out swingings for me. Solid music, great vocals.
Overall if you like Motley crue then you'll like this one. I know most people won't have a problem with the things that bother me on this one. I will admit I'm not the biggest Motley crue fan, bigger than most. With this band I tend to like about 4-6 songs per album so this one at least reaches that. I wish there were more classics on here. All and all definately an album worth checking out.
Free Music Review: Great Album Hit: 5 StarsI usually don't write reviews but Motley is and will always be my favorite band. I've been a fan of Motley for quite some time now, so I wanted to take the time and write a review for Saints. I absolutely love this album. One thing I've always loved about Motley is their creativity and ability to change and grow with each album. I personally don't think any Motley album sounds the same and I love this perspective. With Saints I think you get the classic Motley with a new vibe and feel to it. I also think there is so much energy on this album, and I think the chemistry of the band shines (as with the other albums). Vince sounds great, Nikki's bass blends in awesome, Tommy's drumming is crushing and Micks guitar work is stellar. One thing I've always loved about Mick is his style and creativity. It's like when I hear this album the guitar sounds like nothing I've heard before, and sure enough it's Mick. He seems to always be able to create something new and totally cool sounding. I love the opening riff to psycho and love the guitar solo. I really like all the songs, if I would have to pick Favorites I would choose Saints, MF of the Year, Psycho, Chicks = Trouble, actually I should just say all of them.
Another reason I wanted to write a review was because of the respect that has grown on me for this band and all the members. It's been kind of a difficult year for me, my Dad was involved in a very serious accident and it's kind of taken a toll on me. When I start to get down or depressed I think of Motley and what they have been through. This band has been through everything, but they have moved on and they have never gave up. With Vince's accident and Daughter, Nikki's rough childhood and addiction, Mick's bone disease, they have soldered on and I respect them so much for that. To go through those situations it makes you a stronger person and I know I have grown from it. It's like Motley did it so I can do it.
My personal opinion, you put these 4 guys together and they can make music better than anyone. Long live the CRUE Forever.
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