Album Reviews - L

L.A. Guns - Cocked & Loaded (1989 Polydor/PolyGram Records)
LAGuns.net

1. Letting Go
2. Slap In The Face
3. Rip And Tear
4. Sleazy Come Easy Go
5. Never Enough
6. Malaria
7. The Ballad Of Jayne
8. Magdalaine
9. Give A Little
10. I'm Addicted (Guitar Solo)
11. 17 Crash
12. Showdown (Riot On Sunset)
13. Wheels Of Fire
14. I Wanna Be Your Man*

Derek's Review
Ah, this was released in 1989, and I can still smell the hairspray drifting in from the ozone over L.A. now. This is a sleazy release and that's just how I like it. Tracii Guns plays some wicked guitar on this album and vocalist Phil Lewis does things the right way with his less-than-stellar voice. Sound wise, this release isn't much different from a typical glam metal release by a band coming out of L.A. in the 80s, but the song writing is consistent on this album, which helps tremendously. Supposedly their first album L.A. Guns is quite good, but I don't own it, so Mike will review it for everyone later. "The Ballad Of Jayne" was this group's only Top 40 hit and deservedly so. It's an atypical ballad which is another reason to give this group some props.

Derek's Picks: The Ballad Of Jayne, Sleazy Come Easy Go, Never Enough

Derek's Rating

*Note that the song "I Wanna Be Your Man" was not included on the cassette version of this album and was used to bolster CD sales in the late 1980s.

Tommy Lee - Never A Dull Moment (2002 MCA Records)
Mötley.com

1. Afterglow
2. Sunday
3. Body Architects
4. Ashamed
5. Face To Face
6. Fame 02
7. Blue
8. Higher
9. Hold Me Down
10. Why Is It
11. People So Strange
12. Mr. Shitty

Mike's Review
Well, fake Tommy Lee is back with his first album under his own name, and it's only slightly better than Methods Of Mayhem. The atrocious rap-metal is less prevalent, but the dominant nu-metal is almost just as bad. Never A Dull Moment is an appropriate title, since there are no dull moments, just shitty ones. At least Tommy bothered to pick up a guitar for this release, but that still isn't good enough, since he's supposed to be a drummer. Even though Never A Dull Moment narrowly beats out Methods Of Mayhem, this new incarnation of Tommy Lee is still "Mr. Shitty."

Mike's Picks: I guess if you HAVE to, pick this album over Methods Of Mayhem, but it still sucks.

Mike's Rating

Note: Although this is an album that would not normally appear on this site, I reviewed it because it derives from a former rock musician.

London Quireboys - A Bit Of What You Fancy (1990 Capitol Records)
Quireboys.com

1. 7 O'Clock mp3 clip
2. Man On The Loose
3. Whippin' Boy
4. Sex Party mp3 clip
5. Sweet Mary Ann mp3 clip
6. I Don't Love You Anymore mp3 clip
7. Hey You mp3 clip
8. Misled
9. Long Time Comin'
10. Roses And Rings
11. There She Goes Again
12. Take Me Home

Derek's Review
Wow, what can I say about this killer album. Unfortunately these guys, who play excellent Stones/Faces music with a slight southern flavor, didn't quite get the success as some other artists such as the Black Crowes. "7 O'Clock" starts off the album and as soon as you hear Spike's vocals only one person comes to mind: Rod Stewart. Some of you may be turned off by this at first, but let me tell you, this is one rockin' Rod Stewert imitator. Just about every song on this album totally rocks, with the exception of "Sex Party," which just doesn't fit the sound of the album and sounds slightly contrived. Ironically, though, the few songs after it make the album for me. Starting with the moving "Sweet Mary Ann" to the excellent ballad "I Don't Love You Anymore" onto the more rockish "Hey You," this album flirts with greatness. This album is now out of print unfortunately. There are a few other London Quireboys albums, but I have never heard any of them. You can, however, buy the first album combined with their second album, Bitter Sweet And Twisted, for an import price. Somehow the London Quireboys managed to capture lightning in a bottle for their debut album. Originally, I was going to give this album 8 guitars, but I'll throw in an extra one because it's their debut.

Derek's Picks: 7 O'Clock, Sweet Mary Ann, I Don't Love You Anymore, Hey You

Derek's Rating

Mike's Review
Wow, what can I say about Derek's review except, "Damn, Derek really loves this album." Not that I don't like it, but it must've really tickled his rockin' bone or something. This album is a bar classic. The rolling piano intro of "7 O'Clock" actually makes you feel like you're right there in the pub with your best blokes. Derek already mentioned the Faces/Rod Stewart influence, but let me second that. In fact, I was with a casual Rod Stewart fan, and when she heard "7 O'Clock" she just assumed that it was Rod Stewart. Unlike Derek, however, I actually like the song "Sex Party." It's a fun, raunchy rocker that reminds you, "No, this isn't an old Faces record." Not that it would be a bad thing, but let's not forget that the London Quireboys are their own band. "Sweet Mary Ann" is pretty much this band's version of "Maggie May." "Hey You" is a fun sing-along number that begs your lady to treat you right. These guys made a really fun record and it's a shame we don't hear such feel-good music very often these days.

Mike's Picks: 7 O'Clock, Sex Party, Hey You

Mike's Rating