Album Rating: 2.5

I didn't hate my life. I just wanted to party. And Hair Metal was the best music around to party to



^



fucking THIS

Album Rating: 4.0

Haha! Somehow I knew you'd weigh in Hans. m/

Wonderful review, Sitar. Well written and thoughtful. Reminds me of blasting the Scorps when I was in 7th grade.

Amazing review, dude, although this band is still lol. Pos'd.

Sitar I appreciate that through radio, decades of incredible music were instantly laid out to you, much like the youth of today instant accessibility through the internet (however amazing it is) dilutes the message because ironically it all becomes disposable.

From the outset rock n roll was the anti-movement. It united those who were against the ideals of the American, nuclear family because that was not “reality.” That rebellion connected throughout the world as it was a rejection of what was being force fed into everyones’ daily lives through a political and corporate system built on untruths and outright lies formulated to control the mind and sell what was not needed.

Hair metal and all that nonsense is the embodiment of the product first, message later ideals that are the complete opposite of the anger, passion, resentment and confusion that Rock, N Roll, Hip Hop, Electronic and all them other labelled genres espouse, and again unfortunately are sold back to us eventually by “the man”.
Hair metal is packaged “fun” buff it up and sell it the kids who are sure to lap it up cos all they want is “fun.” Right?
As me man Chuck D said “Don’t believe the hype.”

Album Rating: 2.5

The way I look at it is I have music i turn to when I want to hear the message, and music I turn to when I want to get balls out blitzed or just have a good time.



Hair metal works for that. Ive had more fun at hair metal shows and 80s/hair metal themed parties than I can possibly describe, and that is worth its weight in gold.

Nice arguments by all dudes as always and I feel that there is no right or wrong is what you've written because at the end of the day art is all about perception. For example, if hair metal makes people feel happy and have a good time that's fine with me. I feel the same way when I listen to AC/DC.

On the other hand, the fact that the movement lasted for only a couple of years says a lot to me about the actual value of the genre. However, it did produce some great records and bands such as Cinderella, White Lion, Great White, etc.

I do understand why someone likes to listen to that genre but I've met people who listen to that music exclusively and I feel that they're missing a lot. But who knows what are each person's motives when they listen to music? Lastly, hair metal might be someones introduction to more styles rock music which is always good.

I can't argue with that, I'm not such a miserable bastard that I'm not going to have a laugh at a themed party as long as the beer and companys good me poodle perm will be a flyin.

Album Rating: 4.0

That was a great response indeed, zak!



I don't disagree with you about the issue with packaging. Sure, hair metal can be seen as the corporate antithesis to the Message or Ideal of rock n roll. However, any perceived anti-established Message that rock n roll, or by extension any other genre is immediately diluted the moment it gains a corporate avatar. Thus, the only true Message is that of the resolutely underground, the hardcore punks, the black metallers and the hippie indie acoustic folk duos.



Simply put, is Public Enemy's Message diluted by the fact that their albums were distributed by Columbia Records? Should it be?



That is the paradox that any perceived overarching anti-corporate musical Message suffers. That's why I ardently believe that the internet, despite the disposability that it creates (100% agree with you on that) is a good thing for music. It's the great leveler we've been praying for. But then what happens? Gangnam Style goes viral with people who aren't even buying into it for its socially satirical elements. It turns out that kids really are just dumb and want to have fun.



But yeah, as Hans said, there is indeed a time and place for everything. Hair Metal outlived its welcome and Grunge came along and Grunge outlived its welcome too. And we had to grow up and get jobs and haircuts. It is the way of the world. So let's all get blitzed and serenade some seventeen year olds while we still can. :D

Ha what a total dude :D
Let's rock!

lol didn't realize cricket players were considered jocks

pos'd but album suxxxxx

Album Rating: 3.5

Winger has some kickass songs and Reb was one of the best non-virtuoso guitar players of the '80s. This band really isn't as bad as some make them out to be.

Hair metal and all that nonsense is the embodiment of the product first, message later ideals that are the complete opposite of the anger, passion, resentment and confusion that Rock, N Roll, Hip Hop, Electronic and all them other labelled genres espouse

it's not the message it's the vehicle used to deliver it. but some hair metal i do enjoy.

The hair is a lie JT bro.

"it's not the message it's the vehicle used to deliver it."

this has been a highly stimulating thread so far. I count myself lucky to have missed the Hair Metal craze by a few years because I tend to lean towards Zak's perspective.

It was really great to hear your personal experience Sitar, (especially since we grew up across the world from one another!) and when I stack this up beside some of the previous discussions we have had, I get a lot more insight into your perspective.

Hair Metal was always the stuff my friends and I made fun of, cause we grew up listening to Slayer, Fear Factory, Pantera and Faith No More, who are all very stripped down bands who play gritty music. We considered MTV to be a joke and we eschewed it at all costs. The only types of ppl we ran across who actually seriosly enjoyed Hair Metal were the dudes 5 years older than us who tried to crash our high school parties. Dudes who seemed normal until they got their turn on the stereo and started pumping out 'Nothin But A Good Time' or something of that ilk in the middle of a group of ppl who had been perfectly happy chilling to Seasons of the Abyss or Arise a moment earlier.

Now that I have the perspective of a decade or so, I can see that I was just the subject of yet another generation of media brain-washing. The messaged used to sell heavy music to me was that "Metal is for tough-minded, free-thinking individuals, not hair-teased crotch pheasants." I guess I wasn't as free as I thought I was.

Album Rating: 4.0

Good point man. And it's true about media brainwashing. Someone somewhere always has an agenda.

Ive had more fun at hair metal shows and 80s/hair metal themed parties than I can possibly describe, and that is worth its weight in gold.

this.

Also I don't really get the whole "product first, message later" argument. Most bands that were part of the hair metal scene lived and breathed the lifestyle they wrote/sung about just as much as, say bluesmen lived and breathed what they sung about. However contrasting those examples may seem, both have a certain sincerity.

JT., the delta blues wasn't a lifestyle choice it was a music born of the surroundings that inspired it and in turn a message resonated.
Hair metal is a conscious effort to stylise, conform to a model and reguritate ad infinitum.