The Deal: Original line-up releases ninth studio effort, first new studio album in more than a decade.
The Good: Most people know the story by now, especially if you read the autobiography, The Dirt. Mötley Crüe has been rocking for decades – the only surprise is that they’re still alive. Saints takes those themes found in The Dirt and becomes a soundtrack to the book and the band’s history. In a recent interview, bassist Nikki Sixx summed up the album perfectly, “It’s Mötley Crüe without sounding dated.” The band stays true to their sound – heavy drumming by Tommy Lee, solo-heavy guitar by Mick Mars, high-pitched vocals of Vince Neil and the bass of Sixx keeping the background beat. “Saints of Los Angeles” is making its way around radio. “Mutherfucker of the Year” has a good riff, solid groove to it, but I’m sure the title will keep it off mainstream radio.
The Bad: Some of the lyrics can get a bit cheesy … like they are trying too hard to make it follow the book and be a story. “Do you remember when/We slept all day in our clothes/that’s OK in Hollywood,” from “Down at the Whisky” would be one example where it gets distracting.
The Verdict: Fans of the band will be happy with its latest effort. Sure, there isn’t a “Girls, Girls, Girls” or “Wild Side,” but the album is a more mature, still rocking version of the Crüe. It’s not groundbreaking, to say the least, but sometimes the music landscape needs a good ol’ shot of rock ‘n’ roll. They’ll be in Charlotte on July 5.
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2008.
