Record Label: Eleven Seven Music
Genre: Hard Rock
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com link

I wasn’t expecting much, as Motley Crue have grown in notoriety in the past 20 years for everything but their music. In fact, even as various members became superstars, I don’t think I or anyone else gave their stuff since Dr. Feelgood a passing glance. And maybe for good reason.

But this album is interesting. Not just because it’s the original lineup, but because the album seems autobiographical or a recap of the band’s heyday in LA, living the rock n’ roll life the way only an 80s hair metal band could.

Conceptually, it’s kind of cool for this type of band to look back, and not to regain former glory but to sort of bittersweetly digest their past. It’s like when you’d sit on your grandfather’s lap and he’d get that far off look in his eye as he quietly recounts haunting war stories. Only, this grandfather wears eyeliner and his lap has hepatitis.

A line in “Down At The Whisky” sums it up: “Do you remember when…?” That’s the crux of the whole album.

Musically, the album is solid, straight-up rock and they avoid sounding cheesy, embarrassing, or too metal/modern as if they’re trying too hard. The music sounds effortless and natural. The only problem is that none of the songs are hits. With the exception of the title track and the classically sleazy “Chicks = Trouble”, nothing is catchy enough to stick in your head or encourage you to sing along. The album clearly kickstarts their heart, but not mine.

I like the album conceptually, but no song on here comes close to anything from “Decade of Decadence,” which should be the measuring stick for all rock n’ roll.

PS – Dr. Feelgood came out almost 20 years ago. Holy shit.

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