Even amidst the already seedy underbelly of the late-'80s Los Angeles glam metal scene, L.A. Guns were the undisputed kings of the bottom-feeders. A ragged collection of leather clad outcasts from various other bands (guitarist Tracii Guns was the original "guns" in Guns n' Roses, drummer Steven Riley had recently vacated the stool with shock-kings W.A.S.P., and British vocalist Phil Lewis had done time with London glamsters Girl), they elevated the unrepentant sleaziness and undeniable tackiness of their environment to an all-new VD-encrusted low. The union of such an unsavory cast of characters could only result in a wildly over-the-top rock & roll album, and while it may not have been as successful as their later efforts, this eponymous debut rocked with a bile and fury not seen since Mötley Crüe's second album Shout At The Devil. Shit-kicking anthems like "No Mercy," "Sex Action," "One More Reason," and the marvelous "Bitch Is Back" slap the listener silly while still making room for slightly more commercial but equally hot offerings such as "Electric Gypsy" and "Down in the City." And despite clashing terribly with its surroundings, "One Way Ticket" is a surprisingly effective power ballad.
Good stuff. Good memories too
ReplyDeleteSome great memories from this time and some great music too
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