Artist: Motley Crue
Album: "Saints of Los Angeles"
Label: Motley Records/Eleven Seven Music
By Thom Copher
Motley Crue is one of those bands which has always done things its way and somehow managed to survive. Sticking to its
guns, the band unleashes its ninth studio album, the aptly-titled "Saints of Los Angeles."
In many respects, "Saints" can be viewed as The Crue's most important offering in its twenty-eight year career. This is not to
say that the album is a make-or-break. 2005's hits package "Red, White & Crue" and the ensuing killer "Carnival of Sins"
tour were both gargantuan on the success meter. Combine those with bassist/main Crue dude Nikki Sixx's best-selling book
"The Heroin Diaries," it would appear to be Crue Mania (circa 1983) all over again.
However, "Saints" is the first disc in eleven years to feature all four original band members (Sixx, vocalist Vince Neil,
drummer Tommy Lee and guitarist Mick Mars); back in '97 that release, "Generation Swine," stalled in its
grunge-meets-Trent Reznor myre. Neil had previously been booted for '93's self-titled collection and Lee was on hiatus
during "New Tattoo" seven years ago - neither succeeded. Add up the numbers and you don't have to be Einstein to ask:
Can Motley Crue still deliver the goods?
Well, following the intro prelude "L.A.M.F." which eulogizes bands who didn't make the cut in the early '80s ("100,000
fallen, drowning in a cesspool of awareness that they have failed"), it takes about ten seconds for "Face Down in the Dirt" to
firmly jam a middle finger in the face of skeptics. The tune hits like a round-house right and speaks of the arrogant vibrance
which the band surely felt as it began its launch to fame.
From there, "Saints" serves as a soundtrack for The Crue's autobiographical book "The Dirt." Waxing poetic through
multiple media forms seems to be a good fit for Sixx as his lyrics recall the good times and baggage accumulated along the
way -- all rather tongue-in cheek because, after all, it's tough being a rock-star. He also aims pointed words which speak of
his personal turmoil with drugs ("The Animal in Me") as well as the band's realization of its corporate place during metal's
"golden age" ("Welcome to the Machine").
It appears, at face value, anyway, that Nikki has chosen to bring the band full circle back to the streets from which it was
born and explore them through now-sober eyes. "Down at the Whiskey," "What's It Gonna Take," "White Trash Circus" and
the title track are more reflective on the impact of the rock and roll fast lane rather than the glorification of hedonistic
participation therein. As they say, hindsight is always 20/20.
Nowadays, as bands age, self-revelation is often times repetitive and pointless and can be a sign of the well running dry... as it
were. Rest assured, this introspective edition of Motley Crue isn't gonna be rubbing elbows with Kenny G on the Old Farts
station anytime soon. L.A. in its heyday was quite the story in and of itself - one which is best recalled not by screenwriters,
but by those who were there. The Crue wasn't just there... they defined it. And, yes, there are speculations that "The
Dirt/"Saints of Los Angeles" is destined for the big screen... stay tuned.
Through all the hoopla, the story behind the Sunset Strip was a classic rock and roll tale: the victory against all odds, the
crash-and-burn and the resurrection from the ashes for a very select few who had the moxy and balls to carry on the rock
tradition. And, if you break it down to brass tacks, that's all Motley Crue is - a solid band built on rock-and-roll tradition.
And there ain't nuthin' wrong with that.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Motley Crue will be headlining Crue Fest which also features Buckcherry, SIXX A.M., Papa Roach and Trapt. The tour will
make area appearances at Cincinnati's Riverbend Music Center on August 19 and Pittsburgh's Post Gazette Pavilion on
August 31.
(Thom Copher is a local musician who last reviewed Motley Crue's "Theatre of Pain" LP in 1985 for WVU's Daily
Athenaeum.)
Album: "Saints of Los Angeles"
Label: Motley Records/Eleven Seven Music
By Thom Copher
Motley Crue is one of those bands which has always done things its way and somehow managed to survive. Sticking to its
guns, the band unleashes its ninth studio album, the aptly-titled "Saints of Los Angeles."
In many respects, "Saints" can be viewed as The Crue's most important offering in its twenty-eight year career. This is not to
say that the album is a make-or-break. 2005's hits package "Red, White & Crue" and the ensuing killer "Carnival of Sins"
tour were both gargantuan on the success meter. Combine those with bassist/main Crue dude Nikki Sixx's best-selling book
"The Heroin Diaries," it would appear to be Crue Mania (circa 1983) all over again.
However, "Saints" is the first disc in eleven years to feature all four original band members (Sixx, vocalist Vince Neil,
drummer Tommy Lee and guitarist Mick Mars); back in '97 that release, "Generation Swine," stalled in its
grunge-meets-Trent Reznor myre. Neil had previously been booted for '93's self-titled collection and Lee was on hiatus
during "New Tattoo" seven years ago - neither succeeded. Add up the numbers and you don't have to be Einstein to ask:
Can Motley Crue still deliver the goods?
Well, following the intro prelude "L.A.M.F." which eulogizes bands who didn't make the cut in the early '80s ("100,000
fallen, drowning in a cesspool of awareness that they have failed"), it takes about ten seconds for "Face Down in the Dirt" to
firmly jam a middle finger in the face of skeptics. The tune hits like a round-house right and speaks of the arrogant vibrance
which the band surely felt as it began its launch to fame.
From there, "Saints" serves as a soundtrack for The Crue's autobiographical book "The Dirt." Waxing poetic through
multiple media forms seems to be a good fit for Sixx as his lyrics recall the good times and baggage accumulated along the
way -- all rather tongue-in cheek because, after all, it's tough being a rock-star. He also aims pointed words which speak of
his personal turmoil with drugs ("The Animal in Me") as well as the band's realization of its corporate place during metal's
"golden age" ("Welcome to the Machine").
It appears, at face value, anyway, that Nikki has chosen to bring the band full circle back to the streets from which it was
born and explore them through now-sober eyes. "Down at the Whiskey," "What's It Gonna Take," "White Trash Circus" and
the title track are more reflective on the impact of the rock and roll fast lane rather than the glorification of hedonistic
participation therein. As they say, hindsight is always 20/20.
Nowadays, as bands age, self-revelation is often times repetitive and pointless and can be a sign of the well running dry... as it
were. Rest assured, this introspective edition of Motley Crue isn't gonna be rubbing elbows with Kenny G on the Old Farts
station anytime soon. L.A. in its heyday was quite the story in and of itself - one which is best recalled not by screenwriters,
but by those who were there. The Crue wasn't just there... they defined it. And, yes, there are speculations that "The
Dirt/"Saints of Los Angeles" is destined for the big screen... stay tuned.
Through all the hoopla, the story behind the Sunset Strip was a classic rock and roll tale: the victory against all odds, the
crash-and-burn and the resurrection from the ashes for a very select few who had the moxy and balls to carry on the rock
tradition. And, if you break it down to brass tacks, that's all Motley Crue is - a solid band built on rock-and-roll tradition.
And there ain't nuthin' wrong with that.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Motley Crue will be headlining Crue Fest which also features Buckcherry, SIXX A.M., Papa Roach and Trapt. The tour will
make area appearances at Cincinnati's Riverbend Music Center on August 19 and Pittsburgh's Post Gazette Pavilion on
August 31.
(Thom Copher is a local musician who last reviewed Motley Crue's "Theatre of Pain" LP in 1985 for WVU's Daily
Athenaeum.)
Motley as they wanna be: Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx. Mick Mars and Tommy Lee
Motley Crue recalls the Sunset Strip with Saints