Review Summary: I don't wanna live forever!
Quote:
You remember the rumour about Keith Richards getting his blood changed? I thought it’d be a good idea because speed is habit-forming and I’d been doing it and drinking for over twenty years. If you have your blood changed, I’d suppose that there’s nothing in it and that it’s clean – maybe like when I was a kid. Once the doctor saw what I’d done and the hours I keep he told me to forget it:
‘Pure blood will probably kill ya!’
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So says the frontman, vocalist and bassist of Motörhead in the liner notes of Ace of Spades. Best know by his stage name Lemmy, Mr. Ian Kilmister is perhaps one of the finest embodiments of ‘badassery’ to roam the surface of the earth, instantly recognizable by features such as his facial moles and always having a cigarette dangling from his mouth. His rough voice was probably earned through a combination of heavy smoking and drinking. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s his voice that mainly drives the songs, together with the guitar, and what makes Motörhead what it is. And along with that, he plays great bass lines as well.
Lemmy has always been the driving force behind the band, being the only constant member. His other nickname ‘Lemmy von Motörhead’ ain’t there for nothin’, of course. The by many considered classic Motörhead line-up, however, lasting from 1976 to 1982, is the one found on this album.
On guitar we find ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke, who truly honours his name. Having great speed and technique, Mr. Clarke is just as important as Lemmy in characterizing Motörhead sound on this here album. Where Lemmy is the most important, Eddie is probably the most talented member. His guitar work is very intense and his riffing is always great, but his solos are even better, in most cases consisting solely of pure adrenaline, they keep the listener interested, in all cases. This is very important in compensating a few of the flaws the album has. One of these flaws are the lyrics. As everyone is probably aware of, Motörhead has never had a deep sense of lyricism. What they write however, suits the music immensely (title track anyone?). Sometimes though, the lyrics are just too boring, evident in tracks such as Fire Fire and Jailbait. This is where Eddie Clarke comes in and saves the day, making an average track into a decent one. He is arguably at his prime on this album, having also claimed this to be one of the better albums in an interview with UK rock paper Sounds:
Quote:
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‘I love it. BOMBER felt wrong. I dunno why, but it wasn’t all there. This one feels right though. This album is really fast. Maybe we had some good speed…’
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Motörhead is usually a trio, and was in this line-up completed by drummer Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor. Phil is not a very technical drummer, but he does what too many drummers these days fail to do; keep the pace in the songs and add a proper extra layer to them. Logically, his playing is fast-paced like his band mates’. Of the three, he stand out least, that’s also why there’s least to say about him, but he is an excellent drummer.
The re-release also features some bonus tracks, and I have the same problem with them as with most bonus tracks. They’re nothing special. Bands should really consider whether these tracks actually add something to an album, instead of putting them there without thinking. Luckily, these tracks do not ruin the feel of the album, therefore I will not take them into account with my rating, although they are a slightly negative aspect.
Now that this all has been summed up, surely we must conclude that Ace of Spades is one hell of a superb album. Unfortunately, it is not THAT good. The major flaw comes in form of something many bands suffer from, some more strongly than others, bands such as AC/DC, but also my personal favourite Iron Maiden, for instance. That problem is called repetitiveness. The songs on Ace of Spades (or most other Motörhead albums) are ALL fast-paced, full of adrenaline, and led by Lemmy’s voice, and have often similar themes. Luckily, this is not to such an extent as aforementioned AC/DC. Not all songs are about rock & roll.
That said, I would refrain from buying more than one album from these guys, but that one album you bought will be great fun. Real great fun. And which one should you buy, you ask? This one, cuz it’s the best! And maybe just a bit because it has this epic opener…
Although not a classic by any means, Ace of Spades is a must-buy, it belongs in anyone’s record collection. Unless you have something against Lemmy, that is.
+ Mr. Kilmister’s voice
+ Mr. Clarke’s solos
+ The combination of lyrics and music is near-perfect
+ It’s fun
+ It’s adrenaline
+ The title track
- The bonus tracks feel a bit redundant
- Slightly repetitive
Recommended tracks:
Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades
Hell, the rest is great stuff as well.
