The self-titled album was two years in coming and hideously over budget, but it turned out to be Motley Crüe’s heaviest album since ‘Shout At The Devil’ as well as one of the best of the whole sorry 90’s hard rock scene.
Written by: Dangerzone
ARTIST: Motley Crüe
ALBUM: Motley Crüe
LABEL: Elektra
SERIAL: 61534-2
YEAR: 1994
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: John Corabi – vocals * Mick Mars – guitars * Nikki Sixx – bass * Tommy Lee – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Power To The Music * 02 Uncle Jack * 03 Hooligan’s Holiday * 04 Misunderstood * 05 Loveshine * 06 Poison Apples * 07 Hammered * 08 ‘Til Death Do Us Part * 09 Welcome To The Numb * 10 Smoke The Sky * 11 Droppin Like Flies * 12 Driftaway * 13 Hypnotized * 14 Babykills * 15 Livin’ In The Know
Background
After a decade of dominating the North American hard rock scene Motley Crüe sacked vocalist Vince Neil in less than acrimonious circumstances during 1992. With Neil gone and heading straight into his first solo album ‘Exposed’, the Crüe made the best decision of their career and hired The Scream‘s John Corabi, a more deep throated and traditional hard rock belter.
The self-titled album was two years in coming and hideously over budget, but it turned out to be Motley Crüe’s heaviest album since ‘Shout At The Devil’ as well as one of the best of the whole sorry 90’s hard rock scene. Although it reached no 7, the album quickly faded from the charts, Motley Crüe out of favour with a grunge orientated rock scene.
The Songs
Masters of the anthem, Motley Crüe don’t mess about, launching into ‘Power To The Music’, far more bottom ended courtesy of Sixx’s bass and with chunky riffing from Mars. Corabi’s range is instantly more tangible than the one dimensional pitch of Neil, giving the sound some credibilty.
There’s a stunning trio of memorable tunes immediately following, ‘Uncle Jack’, ‘Hooligan’s Holiday’ and ‘Misunderstood’, all melodic while remaining aggressive, a Crüe trait that ended in 1983. ‘Loveshine’ is Led Zeppelin like acoustic fare, very pleasant in tone and ultra commercial. ‘Poison Apples’ is a slight 80’s throwback, but in reality it’s classic rock that fits any decade.
‘Hammered’ and ‘Til Death To Us Part’ are slow, sludge like tunes, intensely moody, the exact opposite of the faster ‘Smoke the Sky’, with what sounds like fifty guitarists riffing at once to massive impact. Listening to ‘Droppin Like Flies’ reminds one of 1989 in the verses, but the band are happy to conclude affairs with more acoustics, this time ‘Driftaway’, aptly titled with it’s light, dreamy feel.
In Summary
Despite producing a latter day classic, Motley Crüe were accused of flirting with grunge, an incorrect observation. The styles range from 70’s through to the 90’s, the first time Motley Crue had diversified their sound. The tour unfortunately was a major flop, with shows ending up in clubs as Motley Crüe found out the hard way that 80’s rock was obselete in the mainstream, fair or unfair.
Typically the fault was laid at the shoulders of Corabi and as the band readied their next album, Vince Neil was brought back at the whim of Elektra who decided Neil would bring the glory days back. He wasn’t able to, and after two insufferable albums, 1997’s ‘Generation Swine’ and 2000’s ‘New Tattoo’, the Crüe packed it in, with more interest in their sordid past than their music. With Corabi, the band could have gone on to do anything, their loss. Satisfy yourself with their lone masterpiece.
Video
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
