I have always been a fan of the bar bands, especially those that go on to capture huge success, well that would include the band Motley Crue, and this review is gonna need some backstory before going forward. Often bands have a falling out with the bandmates, friends, drinking pals, living for a long time together in a studio apartment, hauling their own gear to a tiny venue, curled up in a van, sometimes its short-lived, they all need to separate, other times its major riff. The frontman/woman gets the attention, and responsibilities, egos play-in and of course it comes to the money. Well in 1993 Vince Neil (singer of Crue) and the band parted ways over several issues including the band thought the singer missed too many rehearsals and lacked the focus from Vince, while he didn’t like that band was abandoning their traditional sleazy roots and heading into backup singers and keyboards. Look at these hard rock bands often a few ballads, and garnished the love of the ladies, I mean the fans. So, led the intense public split and sadly both the music and fans suffered over trivial matters. Vince would get his new material out before the band with a new singer released theirs in 1994, (11-months later) and he made sure to keep that core direction that proceeded the previous 5-albums in the music namely sexual content. He knew he had to prove what he was capable of and dismiss the all-to-common negative smucks.
So how the album come about, it all started with single release for the film Encino Man called You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come) the video contained a cameo of Pauly Shore and prompted Waner Brothers to offer a record deal the song was later re-recorded with Steve Stevens who was on the outs with Billy Idol and presented both as a hired shredder and label’s suggestion.
Next Vince needed to create a new band and with help of his manager Bruce Bird (who died during the production of a brain aneurysm), for those unaware death twirls Neil’s life. Anyway, helping to write the songs was Phil Soussan, a former bassist in Ozzy’s band then with the insistence of Vince he wanted two guitarists as opposed to one in his former band, hence Stevens was the lead and Dave Marshall as rhythm guitar and Robbie Crane took up the bass position with Vik Fox on drums. However, this was not a bed of roses rather path of thorns, the biggest was in front of 50,000 fans but on tour as the opening act for Van Halen and with some tour bus problems and arguments, fights, thefts all caused the band to fractured had Vince perform with other musicians
Vince’s vocals were in fine shape, & he’s in physical good shape, a key to deliver powerful enthusiastic singing, having that positive affliction in his classic style, and was accompanied by wild spacey moments from Stevens guitar riffing. “Look In Her Eyes” works for the most part though Stevens goes off in weird direction as if honing some alien rock. Clearly the intent was carry the Motley band sound but with different players, to pull fans over to this release it worked with sleazy tone shining on “Sister of Pain” and carrying through a hard rocking opening for “Can’t Have Your Cake” really cools riffs, and powerful drumming, makes one recall most recently for Neil his song “Kickstart My Heart” drifting away from the metal intensity to more of hard rock. “Fine, Fine Wine” is similar to “She Goes Down’ from the Dr. Feelgood album, in fact consider it the flipside of that some giving as good as one gone for equal pleasure; it is serious full-on raunchy the meaning is clear as ever, and works for really anyone to put a devious smile on their face, a lip smacking enjoyable song. “The Edge,” as Stevens presenting is talent for about 20secounds, and then repeating that classic strumming later in the song, present his skillset expands past mere shredding like a speed freak, which was about the Vince’s passion of racing. Once again showcases his classical guitar style for the ballad “Can’t Change Me,” a powerfully good moving song, basically the messenger that could work today with so many people to accept one for themselves, and that they who they are, no plastic or phony representation – a rebellion anthem.
We have a cover of the band Sweet’s “Set Me Free” that feels it set over “Kickstart my Heart” especially how it zooms upward in a feverish fast way, zonks its cool, its real shockingly he does a cover, but he was testing the waters with his new freedom. “Living is a Luxury” made me think of Ratt’s “Way Cool Jr.” that sultry mix not quite a ballad but not a hard rock song either – then halfway through there’s Stevens pouring too much into the song, though don’t discount it. “You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come)” re-recorded with the new album and is just fine a version. “Gettin’ Hard” not much too to say a just another hard rock filler, driven no slouch something you’d hear in bar atmosphere. Curiously enough the album closes with another ballad track don’t get me wrong it full nostalgic meanings, noting how things never stay the same they change for good and bad it’s about learning to accept the struggle and the caring, and it contains some wonderful play first by Stevens and then the entire band coming together for the song.
Track List:
Look In Her Eyes
Sister Of Pain
Can’t Have Your Cake
Fine, Fine Wine
The Edge
Can’t Change Me
Set Me Free
Living Is A Luxury
You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come)
Gettin’ Hard
Forever
Band Members:
Vince Neil – vocals
Steve Stevens – all guitar and bass
Dave Marshall – guitar
Robbie Crane – bass
Vik Foxx Vik “Vikki” Foxx – drums and percussion
The album tries and for the most part to be the formula used often by Motley Crue itself, that fun energy, upbeat and just looking for a wild time, served with a side sexualized lyric. There’re about four singles, even though the fourth one was originally recorded by different band members which is You’re Invited (But You’re Friend Can’t Come)” but redone for the album, the others two rockers “Sister Of Pain,” and “Can’t Have Your Cake” and solid ballad “Can’t Change Me.” The sleaze factor and wild hard rock with some hints to that classic metal sound of their carries throughout the record and while not setting the charts on fire and the band overall was short lived, as the band they all knew more of a hired guns rather a band of buddies who slaved for the music and struggle for stardom.
Vincent’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
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