"This city full of plastic
angels will seduce you. Welcome to
Los Angeles... "
Let’s begin with some essential
information. "Saints Of Los
Angeles" is based on a book
called "The Dirt", which
narrates band’s history from
oblivion to zenith of their glory
and then from decline through an
overdose of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll
to their current turnaround. Therefore,
it would be an essential prerequisite
for you to be reading the lyrics,
while you will be listening to the
songs. If you are searching for a
band that deserves to be honored
with a rock-way-of-life prize, don’t
look any further. The mighty MC were
responsible for influencing hundreds
of other groups worldwide, for selling
over 40 million copies back in the
day and for performing about a dozen
times around the planet the most
energetic lives this world have ever
seen.
For me SOLA is like the real follow
up to their 1989 monster of an album "Dr
Feelgood", as MC94 did not
include Vince Neil (Corabi on vocals), "Generation
Swine" was too bad for words,
and "New Tatoo" without
Tommy Lee was just a pass. All these
were taking place until the year
of grace 2008, which found them back
together again and in top form. From
the first listen I thought SOLA was
more like a Nikki Sixx project than
a MC one. However, that feeling changed
over time as I realized that it is
actually their classic sound mixed
with some modern elements. Let me
put it straight with an example: "Face
Down In The Dirt" comes from
their "Too Fast For Love" era
bringing back that raw and aggressive
attitude, but with an updated sound.
As it has been mentioned above,
each song is about certain experiences
like "Down At The Whisky" that
refers to the famous rock club where
MC were performing after their arrival
in L.A. Neil sings "We never
made a dime, but God we had a good
time... L.A girls they paid the
rent while we got drunk on Sunset
Strip", and please don’t
tell me you’ve never heard
of Sunset Strip before... One
of the highlights this one. Other
front-page songs are the "Mutherfucker
Of The Year" with its fine
backing vocals and a nice flowing
chorus, "The Animal In Me" with
its Sixx A.M feel all over it and
a superb drumming by Lee, "Just
Another Psycho" built upon
huge riffs, "Chicks = Trouble" that
focuses on their divorces, and "White
Trash Circus" ("we’re
busy getting high, another lawsuit
another arrest") that comes
marching in taking advantage of its
natty chorus. For last I’ve
left the two tracks that could belong
to their heydays set list: "Saints
Of Los Angeles" and "Goin’ Out
Swingin’" are two fine
examples of what this band is capable
of. The s/t song is probably one
of their best so far and certainly
one of the best of the year 2008.
A song of anthemic proportions. The
second one it’s like watching
fireworks in the night. The perfect
choice for the curtain’s fall
in which the gang of four takes no
prisoners...
I forgot to say something about
the production. Bob Rock may not
be around so the big in your face
sound may seem long gone, but "SOLA" goes
with the tide and it is modernized
yet heavy, as Sixx A.M also was last
year. Neil vocals are in a very good
shape, Sixx is on fire, Mars contributes
in many songs (in the songwriting
department) and Lee’s creative
performance is equal to his MC94
one.
Without being anything
really earthshaking, this comeback
hopefully signals the beginning of
a new era. "SOLA", perhaps, isn’t a classic but
certainly is their best album since
1989. For any late fans of the Crue
I have one note to make: along with
this one, go and grab their 3 classics "Shout
At The Devil", "Theatre
Of Pain" and "Dr Feelgood".
You can thank me
later. |
