Ted Nugent

Spirit Of The Wild (1995 Atlantic Records)

1. Thighraceous
2. Wrong Side Of Town
3. I Shoot Back
4. Tooth, Fang & Claw
5. Lovejacker
6. Fred Bear
7. Primitive Man
8. Hot Or Cold
9. Kiss My Ass
10. Heart & Soul
11. Spirit Of The Wild
12. Just Do It Like This

Derek's Review
Derek St. Holmes returns and Nugent puts out his best record in quite awhile. Holmes and Nugent is a great 1-2 combo that has proven time and time again that they can rock out well together. "Thighraceous" starts things off well with some kidding around in the beginning. "Tooth, Fang & Claw" is exactly what you think of when you think of the legend in the loincloth. I love the groove on "Lovejacker," it really switches up the tone of the album. "Kiss My Ass" is a classic and I had the pleasure of hearing this live when he opened for KISS on their Farewell Tour. "Spirit Of The Wild" is a moving song with an enchanting chorus. Nugent's guitar always shines on his releases and this one is no exception. Fortunately or unfortunately Derek St. Holmes is not on Nugent's next release Craveman. The reason I am not sure is because Craveman rocks harder and is a better album.

Derek's Picks: Kiss My Ass, Tooth, Fang & Claw, Lovejacker, Spirit Of The Wild

Derek's Rating

Craveman (2002 Spitfire Records)

1. Klstrphnky
2. Crave
3. Rawdogs & Warhogs
4. Damned If Ya Do
5. At Home There
6. Cum N Gitya Sum-O-This
7. Change My Sex
8. I Won't Go Away
9. Pussywhipped
10. Goin Down Hard
11. Wang Dang Doodle
12. My Baby Likes My Butter On Her Gritz
13. Sexpot
14. Earthtones

Derek's Review
Oh boy, this is a rocker and without a doubt one of Nugent's best. St. Holmes is gone again and Nugent recorded this album as a three-piece band. Nugent is really angry at something (probably liberals) and it shows. Opening song "Klstrphnky" (pronounced 'Kluster–Fuck–Me') is perhaps his hardest song ever. The guitar on this album is absolutely insane. Nugent is coming back with a vengeance. "Crave" is about a six minute song that just sucks you into the groove he's putting out. Nugent writes "I don't believe in the status quo, it kinda leaves me weak" and for this we should all rejoice. "Damned If Ya Do" reunites the lineup for Damn Yankees. Now some of you may be thinking this song is going to be another 80s sounding song with some cheesy lyrics...NO WAY! This is a damn hard rocking number. "Change My Sex," some of you reading this song title may get the wrong impression, but it turns out Nuge doesn't want to change his sex, which I guess we should all give him a pat on the back for. Nugent is shredding at full power on this song. "I Won't Go Away" kind of reminds me of Gene Simmons singing. By the way I should mention at this point that Nugent is singing all the lead vocals on this release to the best of my knowledge. Only Nugent would write a song called "Pussywhipped" and at least he's man enough to admit it! "Wang Dang Doodle" brings to mind his classic "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang." "My Baby Likes My Butter On Her Grits," oh boy, Nuge shows that he's a dirty old man on this song the only thing I can say is Classic. Nuge, like a fine wine, only gets better with age.

Here is where I must warn people so you don't go and get the dick like my good buddy Mikey did when he purchased this album.

I want to digress that this is not the cover of the album but the artwork on the CD. Please get the cool version of the CD if you can. Mike will tell you how to tell the difference.

Okay guys, here's how you can tell if you're getting the good disc or the bad disc without even opening it. When you're at the store, pick it up like you normally would, with the cover facing you. Then, tilt the case to the right, so that the booklet inside slides to the right (away from the spine). This will give you just a little space in between the spine and the booklet to peak at the disc inside. If you see only solid, light grey, DO NOT BUY IT! But if you see color or a variation in the pattern, you have a winner! Even solid black is okay, since part of the picture is black. Good luck guys, don't get screwed over like I did. - Mike

Derek's Picks: Klstrphnky, Crave, Cum N Gitya Sum-O-This, My Baby Likes My Butter On Her Gritz

Derek's Rating