Review Summary: Doesn't really warrant your attention, but you will be entertained if you choose to listen to it.
Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich was released in early 1989, when the airwaves were still dominated by glam metal and one band in multicolored clothes and with Aquanet-treated manes quickly replaced another. Many albums were sold in millions of copies, providing record labels with a stable financial income and artists, with throngs of fans and, more importantly, female fans. Warrant also wanted a slice of the pie, and for that, they signed a contract with Columbia Records and began recording their debut LP.
Stylistically,
Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich is no different from the albums of the band’s contemporaries: it includes more rocking cuts and the genre-mandatory requirement, power ballads. There are two on the album –
Sometimes She Cries and
Heaven. Both were released as singles and in terms of chart success were very popular. However, these ballads have no distinguishing qualities whatsoever that would allow them to be separated from the plenitude of similar songs by other bands. They were recorded with a clear understanding of the elements that catch the ear and pull the heartstrings of a potential listener: melancholic acoustic plucking (or an emotional electric intro), an epic solo as a culminating point, lyrics devoted to the feelings of the lovelorn, and heartfelt vocals. To be honest, it is not entirely clear why these songs became the most popular from the record; most likely, the moment of release was just right.
Other cuts presented on the album are of a more rocking nature and hence somewhat more interesting. The first three that open the debut –
32 Pennies,
Down Boys, and
Big Talk – are probably the most driving. Specifically, some of the things in the last two songs should be noted, as they echo 70s rock. Over the whole duration of
Down Boys, synth backing is noticeable, eliciting thoughts of the aforementioned time period, and
Big Talk (undoubtedly the best cut on the album) was clearly inspired by the ever-great
Thin Lizzy (not the worst source of inspiration) and in a certain manner reminds us of their
The Boys Are Back in Town. As for the other songs, they are of varying levels of success and interest. The faster and more aggressive
Some Damn Pretty and the eponymous
D.R.F.S.R. contain some elements that manage to maintain the interest of the listener, as well as
In the Sticks, but the last two songs start to run into one another and bring nothing to the table.
Overall, the album leaves the impression of being precalculated, with a conscious understanding of what can hook, line, and sinker a prospective buyer. Obviously, there was not much artistic intent behind it. The musicianship of the band members also affects the perception. Everything is on an average and solid level: guitars are interesting enough, but do not attract too much attention, serving only as backing; drums maintain a simple rhythm and do nothing beyond that; the bass can be barely heard, which was standard for glam metal. In addition, the sound is given a thick layer of studio polish, which producer Beau Hill (
Ratt,
Winger) had firsthand knowledge of. (Also, as a curious side note – there were rumors (many years later confirmed by Mr. Hill) that the two guitar players in Warrant failed to produce satisfying solo sections, so a decision was made to bring in an experienced session musician.) The only band member to manage to stick out above the others (but not by much) is the singer and songwriter Jani Lane, who creates some decent hooks to keep the listeners entertained. In addition to having a pretty good voice in the medium register (without the excessive wimpiness or squeakiness present in some of the bands), he also tries to extend the subgenre boundaries, though with varying degrees of success. Typical themes of tough boys, sex, and money are delivered somewhat ironically, but this becomes ironic in itself from a certain standpoint.
To sum up, it can be said that Warrant’s debut LP is more of a product aimed at multimillion sales than an artistic statement. The songs are written and performed slickly, professionally, and with the required polish, and are pleasant to listen to. However, it might be difficult to recall anything you have just heard the moment the album ends.
