 | Tracklist:
1. In the Beginning
2. Shout at the Devil
3. Looks that Kill
4. Bastard
5. God Bless the Children of the Beast
6. Helter Skelter
7. Red Hot
8. Too Young to Fall in Love
9. Knock \'em Dead Kid
10. 10 Seconds to Love
11. Danger
| Ranking: #18 for 1983 | |
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On 16 Lists
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Motley Crue issued their debut album, the wonderfully titled Too Fast For Love, in 1982. It was issued first as an independent release before securing a major label release later the same year with Elektra Records. Despite the band already having established itself as the biggest band on Sunset Strip, the album was a commercial flop in the rest of the U.S. as the band failed to capture the MTV audience as it had the LA glam audience. Thus, it was imperative that the band follow up the album quickly in order not to lose the footing it had gained in the market. That album, released in April 1983, was named Shout At The Devil.
The album was to be preceded by the single, which also bears the name Shout At The Devil, but as great a song as it is, it essentially must be heard in conjunction with the album’s opening track, In The Beginning.
Likewise, In The Beginning is not to be taken as a stand-alone song, but an introduction to “Shout". Featuring synths increasing in volume, the track features a short narrative written by Sixx and read by the elusive Allister Fiend. Building to a crescendo, the narrators voice reflecting the youthful sense of invincibility expressed in the lyrics, this most ambitious beginning lets the listener know they’re not in for just any heavy metal album. This is a Motley Crue album.
With the instantly memorable prose, " And it has been written/Those who have the youth have the future/So come now, children of the beast/Be strong/And Shout at the Devil", we are treated to that timeless heavy metal opening that is the distortion-soaked chords which begin Shout At The Devil. Tommy Lee’s cymbal-heavy drum style combines with Sixx’s basic one-note-per-beat to create a thumping rhythm over which Mick Mars can lay his classic guitar riff. One can hear the distortion dripping from the amp.
Within 20 seconds, we are greeted with the first vocal of the album, the meaty backing cries of "Shout. Shout. Shout", before Vince Neil, in one short burst, makes the song his own. The high-pitched squeal telling us to again “shout at the devil" is hardly pretty, but Motley Crue were never a band to make pretty pop songs. The pop songs on this album are ballsy, often dark, affairs. Shout At The Devil, originally titled “Shout With The Devil" with “I’s" in the place of “He’s", was written by Sixx after his dabbling in the occult invited a poltergeist into his home.
The album’s second single, and the third track on the album, is a slightly less intense affair. Looks That Kill encompasses one of rock n’ roll’s oldest clichés, being as it is a song about a girl who’s “razor sharp" and If she don’t get her way/She’ll tear you apart." She’s a maneater; she’s irresistible and she uses her power to her advantage. We’ve heard it a millon times before, we probably even know the girl in question. What separates this song from the rest is Mick Mars’ infectious guitar riff; the two-part chorus, one a trade-off between Neil and Mars, the other an impossibly catchy group effort; and, of course, a classic guitar solo featuring huge bends and tasty palm-muting. Tommy Lee’s drumming on the song is basic but inspired, the “hole"(to borrow a term from Stewart Copeland) on the last beat of the chorus is worth particular note.
Bastard follows, a straightforward metal song by all counts, driven by Tommy Lee’s thundering drums. If the guitar riff puts the ‘rock’ in this song, then Lee gives it the ‘roll’. He dictates the pace without ever becoming showy. To borrow an often meaningless phrase, he “plays for the song" – his drumming is integral to the song but doesn’t dominate. The lyrics are angry and, charmingly, express the group’s willingness to kill one who has crossed them. "(Bastard!) Consider that bastard dead … Don’t you try to rape me"
Following Bastard comes the instrumental God Bless The Children Of The Beast, written and performed by guitarist Mars. Continuing the satanic theme of the album, with a lyrical nod to the opening track’s narrative, this track is a pleasant blues-rock guitar solo which shows Mars’ melody-writing talent. Unlike the first track, “God Bless…" is not a companion track to that which follows it, but clocking in at just 1:33, but hardly feels like a stand-alone track either which leaves it an odd, almost awkward, inclusion sandwiched between two heavy rock tracks.
That which follows it is Helter Skelter, an unexpected Beatles cover. The Crue cover is heavier, more distorted, more brutal in every way than the original except, interestingly, in the vocal department. While the guitar riffs gain greatly from Mars’ heavier tone, Vince Neil seems unable to muster as violent a vocal as McCartney. Though Vince’s cleaner voice sounds good at times, he’s exposed as soon as he takes a more aggressive approach, as when he exclaims, "You may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer." His voice cracks when pushed, which is unfortunate as the song is performed perfectly by the rest of the band. Neil’s vocals let down what is an excellent cover of a classic song.
The next is mosher’s favourite Red Hot, another song driven by Lee’s “rolling" drumming. Featuring a fun, poppy chorus preceded by a pre-chorus which exhibits Sixx’s great ear for a melody. "The kids scream in fright, through the night/Loving every bit with delight/And we blow out our minds with your truth/And together we stand for the youth." While not Sixx’s best moment lyrically, the words do adequately express the sentiment of the opening track and, to a lesser extent, Bastard. The feeling of camaraderie and youthful vigilance seeps from the song, infecting the listener with that same energy.
Third single, Too Young To Fall In Love, is somewhat of a forgotten classic. The least popular of the three singles from the album to date, the song is a favourite of fans and critics alike. Built on Lee’s solid drumbeat, the song features the album’s most memorable guitar riff and some of Sixx’s strongest lyrical images. "You say our love is like dynamite/Open your eyes, it’s like fire and ice." “You’re killing me/Your love’s a guillotine." Also worth noting is Mick Mars’ blisterin guitar solo.
Knock ‘Em Dead, Kid could be considered a cousin of Bastard and Red Hot. It features Nikki’s angriest, and best, lyric on the album and is my personal favourite track from the album. A biting satire written from the perspective of a truncheon-happy police officer, the song sees the bassist unleash the anger stirred up as a result of the treatment given to an average junkie in early 80’s Los Angeles. The chorus is one for the moshers but, disappointingly, the band has chosen not to play it on the current tour. "Knock ‘em dead, kid/(Knock ‘em dead)/The blade is red, kid/(Knock ‘em dead)"
Another fan favourite follows in the punk-metal anthem Ten Seconds To Love. This is the ultimate blowjob song, inviting the listener to be “my ten second pet". Charming lyrics include: "Touch my gun/But don’t pull my trigger" and "Shine my pistol some more/Here I cum/Just ten seconds more" The lyrics are awful, but fun to sing along to. This leads us to the final track, Danger.
This track, more than any other on the album, shows a musical depth which belies the hair metal awfulness which has become the band’s enduring image. The song can be seen as the conclusion to the album, beginning with a similar theme to earlier songs, that of the power of youth, but taking a tragic turn, "All my friend’s are dead/I lost my head/It made me hate." “Out of my head/Lost in gin/From riches to sin" A repetitive guitar riff drives the song. The riff needs to be good to occupy such a central role in the song, and Mars doesn’t disappoint. The chorus is perhaps the least poppy on the album, but perhaps the most enduring, consisting of, simply, "Danger/You’re in danger when the boys are around." It’s a mature ending to an album characterized by immediacy – musically and thematically.
Overall, Shout At The Devil proves itself to be a worthy landmark of a time before glam metal became a parody of itself. The album expresses real purpose, real aspiration and real musical vision. That the band would never fulfill the promise shown by their breakthrough effort is a shame. The album which followed, Theatre Of Pain, was a commercial success but was critically panned and hasn’t aged well. A few flashes of genius followed in the 2 albums which followed, but the Crue had grown up by the time they returned to such musical heights, and so had their fans.
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Well, your good review has convinced me to check this album out. Im actually not surprised they covered Helter Skelter. I bet they do a good job too but I guess I'll just have to listen for myself.
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Awesome review. I gotta check this whole album out now.
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The only Motley Crue album even worth a look at is Dr. Feelgood.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Feelgood is a very good album, but I find it's a bit Bob Rock for my tastes. That said, it contains one of the Crue's greatest songs, Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away).
Digging: Adebisi Shank - This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called... | | |
The songs that I've heard from this album are horrendously thin sounding, and annoy me beyond belief. I don't really like the songs themselves, either.
Actually, I don't even like Motley Crue much. They would be a lot better without Vince Neil.
P.S. - I hate Bob Rock, just for the fact that he made Metallica worse than they may have been.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
He's a very powerful producer. He seems to have a power over the guitarists he works with that makes them record their guitar parts in the exact same way, so that they all sound like Matchbox Twenty.
The Crue did make an album without Vince Neil, but Bob Rock produced it. :p
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May I add that that album without Vince Neil, the self titled one is horrendous. I bought it at a used CD store and then returned it cuz it was so bad.This Message Edited On 08.03.05
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
I think it's a decent CD. The second guitarist adds a huge depth to the sound, they've never sounded as heavy, and Corabi's vocals are at least decent. The follow-up, Generation Swine, if recorded with Corabi may have been great but we'll never know.
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I didnt like Corabi's vocals AT ALL. I much prefer Vince Neil. And thats saying somthing cuz I find his singing SO anoying.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Yeah, neither are hugely gifted technically, and are acquired tastes. I find Vince's vocals have improved with age, he doesn't struggle to hit notes anymore.
| | | Album Rating: 5
Great review dude!!! Shout is an amazing album, along with Too Fast For Love. I'm a total early crue kinda guy, like before the crap that was Theatre of Pain, and Girls. The Corabi album was pretty killer too, I find I really dig his voice, and the more bluesy approach that the second guitar brought to the music.
Digging: The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen | | |
very well written, and i agree with alot of what you said, too young to fall in love is my fav crue track
| | | Album Rating: 5
Great album I'm gonna have to disagree with the fav song. My truly favorite song is "Bastard" gotta a great hook that will pull your ass in.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Bastard is one of my favourites too. There's some great hooks on the album for sure.
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BEST ALBUM EVER! It was dirty, mean, and loud. The way it should be. Screw Dr. Feelgood, this is the best crue album to date.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Now this guy, I like :cool:
| | | Album Rating: 4
shout...shout....shout...SHOUT AT THE DEVILLLL!
long live crue
my friend and i rock out in his firebird to this every weekend...and it never gets old.
great review man
Digging: High on Fire - Snakes For The Divine | | | Album Rating: 5
The album with corbai sucked man, giving him his due he did sing some good songs, but he was nothing compaed to Vince Neil. There not Motley Crue without Vince, once a band changes singers it isnt the same band, just like when sabbath replaced Ozzy.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Vince really isn't all that good a singer. Technically Corabi is a better singer and overall the musicianship on MC94 is much better. The only thing lacking is great songs.
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Plath, have you read The Dirt?
I'm not that big into Motley Crue, but goddam, after reading that book I have nothing but...well not really respect...I guess I'm just incredibly astounded by their lifestyle.
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