We have a couple of Billy Squier albums to go to complete the entire set. This is one of them.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Billy Squier
ALBUM: Creatures Of Habit
LABEL: Capitol
SERIAL: CDP 7 94303 2
YEAR: 1991
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Billy Squier – lead and backing vocals, guitars, production * Jeff Golub – lead guitar * Kenny Aaron’s on – lap steel guitar * Alan St John – keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals * Mark Clarke – bass * Bobby Chouinard – drums * Jimmy Bralower – drum programming * Godfrey Diamond – production * Doug Lubahn – backing vocals * Slippery B – rap vocal
TRACK LISTING: 01 Young At Heart * 02 She Goes Down * 03 Lover * 04 Hollywood * 05 Conscience Point * 06 Nerves On Ice * 07 Hands Of Seduction * 08 Facts Of Life * 09 (L-O-V-E) Four Letter Word * 10 Strange Fire * 11 Alone In Your Dreams (Don’t Say Goodbye)
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
We have a couple of Billy Squier albums to go to complete the entire set. This is one of them. It’s not as if Billy was heading towards the outer limits as far as his career was concerned. He was still on the books at Capitol Records with (as it turns out) two more records in the can. The only impediments I could see at this juncture of time was two-fold.
These were the changing deck chairs of the music industry (we all know what that was yeah?) and the changing listening and buying habits of the public (flannel shirts and baseball caps). It’s no surprise that whether by accident or design, the album is called ‘Creatures Of Habit’. The album lineup is once again boosted by some musical heavy hitters, and the result is reasonably good from where I’m sitting.
The Songs
The rousing lead track ‘Young At Heart’ is an ideal introduction, like a rowdy hybrid of Jeff Paris and Aerosmith. Pretty good. ‘She Goes Down’ heads more in a pop rock direction, with the synth and sax parts, while Billy’s vocal has a Jack Blades quality to it. ‘Lover’ applies the brakes initially, the organic nature of the song’s sound had me thinking of John Waite.
Bobby Chouinard’s hard driving rhythms are prominent on ‘Hollywood’, stomping it’s way throughout the near 5 minute excursion. ‘Conscience Point’ didn’t quite do it for me though. From the awkward song title, the overly long run time (5 min 28s) to the staggered verses, it only comes to life towards the back end. ‘Nerves On Ice’ takes on the same template as Billy’s 1981 hit ‘The Stroke’ though not quite as heavy handed as that classic
‘Hands Of Seduction’ I’ll go out on a limb and suggest this is one of the better tracks on the album. Some good cranky lead guitar to be found here. ‘Facts Of Life’ returns to that organic rock sound heard earlier. If you enjoyed artists like John Kilzer or maybe Mark Spiro‘s later works, then this might appeal.
‘(L-O-V-E) Four Letter Word’ is all about big chant-a-long vocals, eith prominent piano parts. The song is relatively restrained though not quite a ballad. ‘Strange Fire’ lifts in terms of energy, A rocker straight out of the 80’s with more than a hint of Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones. The album signs off with the melancholy ‘Alone In Your Dreams (Don’t Say Goodbye)’. It’s probably a touch too inoffensive, though the chorus saves it.
In Summary
I’ll admit to not giving this Billy Squier album the required attention back in 1991 that I should have. It’s only in recent years that I’ve been catching up with his back catalogue thanks to YouTube Music. I can also say that we have two more reviews in the can to complete the Billy Squier canon. ‘Creatures Of Habit’ more than favorably matches up when compared to his past works, meaning there’s much to enjoy here. Oh, and that album cover is kinda cool too huh?
Billy Squier on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
