Monthly Archives: April 2009
FASTER PUSSYCAT – Wake Me When It’s Over
Faster Pussycat – Wake Me When It’s Over (1989, Elektra Records)
1. “Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way”
2. “Little Dove”
3. “Poison Ivy”
4. “House of Pain”
5. “Gonna Walk”
6. “Pulling Weeds”
7. “Slip of the Tongue”
8. “Cryin’ Shame”
9. “Tattoo”
10. “Ain’t No Way Around It”
11. “Arizona Indian Doll”
12. “Please Dear”
Band:
Taime Downe – Vocals
Greg Steele – Guitar, Piano, Backing Vocals
Brent Muscat – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eric Stacy – Bass
Mark Michals- Drums
Produced by: John Jansen
Faster Pussycat is a band that I don’t think gets enough credit. I feel pretty bad for them after reading Slash’s autobiography and how low of an opinion GNR had of them. In the lineup of Aerosmith/Rolling Stones influenced bands from the Strip, there’s Guns ‘N Roses, then L.A. Guns, then Faster Pussycat. FP was more glam and less dangerous than both Guns groups, but still had a really great strong Aerosmith bluesy rock ‘n’ roll sound.
This release is way better than their self-titled debut. The band starts to branch out a bit with songs like “Arizona Indian Doll” and “Poison Ivy” (which has a bit of a swing music vibe to it). They songs are definitely much more catchy. “Poison Ivy” and “House of Pain” (one of the best power ballads around) were the first two songs that exposed me to Faster Pussycat and they remain my favorite from them.
One of my favorite albums from the hair metal days.
Highlights: “Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way”, “Little Dove”, “Poison Ivy”, “House of Pain”, “Gonna Walk”, “Pulling Weeds”, “Slip of the Tongue”, “Please Dear”
KISS – Lick It Up
KISS – Lick It Up [Remastered] (1997, Mercury Records)
Original Release: 1983, Mercury Records
1. “Exciter” … 4:11
2. “Not For The Innocent” … 4:23
3. “Lick It Up” … 3:56
4. “Young And Wasted” … 4:06
5. “Gimme More” … 3:44
6. “All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose” … 4:34
7. “Million To One” … 4:10
8. “Fits Like A Glove” … 4:04
9. “Dance All Over Your Face” … 4:16
10. “And On The 8th Day” … 4:03
Band:
Paul Stanley – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
Gene Simmons – Lead Vocals, Bass, Backing Vocals
Vinnie Vincent – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eric Carr – Drums, Backing Vocals
Produced by: Michael James Jackson, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons
One of my absolute favorite KISS albums and it had a lot to do with Vinnie Vincent co-writing most of the album. Despite the struggle for power between Vincent and Simmons/Stanley, they made for a great musical force.
KISS in the 80s is extremely underrated, even by Gene & Paul themselves, but Lick It Up was the second punch in a great two-hit hard rock combo (1982′s Creatures of the Night is a definite Top 5 KISS album). Every song is full of bravado and great 80s metal. Despite starting the 80s with a solid, but very non-KISS album (Music From ‘The Elder’), the band was roaring by this point, full of the sex and sleaze they were known for in the 70s, but now with a more polished, faster and heavier sound. “Lick It Up” is the only non-make up song to have survived through the 80s and the reunion to still be played today.
It’s also a remarkable album in that it’s the very first without Ace Frehley (well, the first where he wasn’t credited as being a band member) and the first non-make up release. A must have for KISS fans and should convert those who like to bash anything done without the make up.
Highlights: “Exciter”, “Not For The Innocent”, “Lick It Up”, “Young and Wasted”, “Gimme More”, “All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose”, “Million to One”, “Fits Like A Glove”
THE SCORPION KING – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Scorpion King – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2002, Universal Music)
1. “I Stand Alone” – Godsmack … 4:05
2. “Set It Off (Tweaker Remix)” – P.O.D. … 4:11
3. “Break You” – Drowning Pool … 2:48
4. “Streamline” – System of a Down … 3:36
5. “To Whom It May Concern” – Creed … 5:10
6. “Yanking Out My Heart” – Nickelback … 3:36
7. “Losing My Grip” – Hoobastank … 3:56
8. “Only the Strong” – Flaw … 4:18
9. “Iron Head” – Rob Zombie Feat. Ozzy Osbourne … 4:11
10. “My Life” – 12 Stones … 3:03
11. “Along the Way” – Mushroomhead … 3:17
12. “Breathless” – Lifer … 4:40
13. “Corrected” – Sevendust … 4:31
14. “Burn It Black” – Injected … 2:43
15. “27″ – Breaking Point … 3:38
16. “Glow” – Coal Chamber … 3:08
Most “original motion picture soundtracks” are made up of filler. Previously released songs or songs that weren’t good enough to make the artists’ album get dumped onto these releases and it’s no different here. The line-up of bands is actually really strong collection of popular late 90s/early 00s rock & metal acts (with a few “who are they” groups thrown in) but let’s be honest– that era doesn’t really have an impressive resume of bands or originality.
The whole album just kinda blends together and comes off as generic despite the names involved. It’s also sports a bloated number of tracks. Did we really need 16 songs for THE SCORPION KING? The fact that most of these songs are generic and filler is fitting because that’s exactly what the movie was as well.
Highlights: “I Stand Alone”, “Set It Off (Tweaker Remix)”, “Iron Head”
