This time around, we're going to sit down and listen to me talk about the Motley Crue discography. This is another fantastic discography, and while I have a least favorite, that does not mean that I don't love the album. Unfortunately, some album as to be at the bottom of the list. As usual, you may not agree with my list, but that's okay, because music is wildly subjective, and no two opinions will be exactly the same. Enjoy!
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Rob's Discography Review: Motley Crue
New Tattoo:
This is the band's one and only album without Tommy Lee on the drumkit. I'm not saying that that is the reason that this album falls at the bottom of the list for me, but his drumming style is missed. He may not be the world's greatest drummer, but he has always fit well with Motley. The band brought in Randy Castillo to fill the drum throne, and released an okay album. It's not amazing by any stretch, but I do enjoy it. A lot of the songs were co-written with James Michal (who would later go on to form Sixx AM with Sixx!), and those I think are the best tracks. The album may be largely forgotten, but songs like "Hell On High Heels", Hollywood Ending", and "Dragstrip Superstar" are all amazing songs.
Theatre of Pain:
"Theatre of Pain" was a bit of a flop. There were a few great songs, but overall, even the band weren't overly happy with it. Of course, that could have something to do with the fact that only Vince Neil was sober enough to know what was going on during the making of the album. That's not to say that the entire album was a waste. In fact, there are some really great tunes to be heard here. In addition to the albums two most memorable tracks, ("Smokin' In the Boys Room", and "Home Sweet Home"), I really enjoy "City boy Blues", "Fight For Your Rights", and "Save Our Souls". While this isn't my favorite album by any stretch of the imagination, it's still a damned good listen when I'm in the mood.
Motley Crue:
The self-titled album was the first, last, and only album with John Corabi as the lead vocalist. This album gets a lot of crap from the fans because they just couldn't see a Motley Crue without Vince Neil. But I'll tell you this, if this album were recorded under a different name, it would have done very well. This album is straight on hard-rock, done so superbly that it's hard not to lo ee it. With songs like "Uncle Jack", "Welcome To the Numb", and "'Til Death Do Us Part", it may have some of the best writing in the Motley Crue catalog. The band went on to write a second album together, but Corabi quickly saw that his time had come to an end. Still, I would be sad if this album were to suddenly disappear from history, because it's a really fantastic release.
Saints of Los Angeles:
To date, this is the ninth and final full length Motley Crue studio album. It's also their first concept album, as it is loosely based on their autobiography, "The Dirt". Much of this album was written with Nikki's other band, Sixx AM, which I think breathes new life into the album. The album is heavy, it's in your face, and it is truly classic Motley Crue. If the band never record another full length studio album, I believe that "The Saints of Los Angeles" was one hell of a great way to go out! A few of the highlights here for me are the title track, "This Ain't A Love Song", and the fun rocker, "Down At the Whisky".
Generation Swine:
After just one album out of the band, Vince Neil was coerced back into the band, giving his replacement John Corabi the axe. I'm not sure how well this album was received by other fans, but I really enjoy this disc. There is some fantastic material here, and the album showed the band flexing their creative chops, and trying some new things out (with mixed results, as I'm not very fond of Tommy Lee's "Brandon"). I'm still confused how this one wasn't bigger, especially with "Afraid", which is one of my very favorite Motley Crue songs. Other highlights for me are "Flush", "Let Us "Prey", and "Glitter" (which is unlike anything else the band had ever written).
Shout At the Devil:
For the boys in Motley's second outing, "Shout At the Devil", the band recorded an album that is much in the same vein as the debut disc. Loud, rude heavy metal. And while this album isn't quite the classic beast that "Too Fast For Love" was, this album is quite an enjoyable collection of songs. Like much of their albums, there is some filler, but again, not much. And though Nikki Sixx wrote most of the songs, Mick, and Vince have their stamp on some of the bests songs here, like "Red Hot", "Danger", and even "Knock 'Em Dead, Kid". Though this album falls around the middle of the pack, it's still better than many band's best efforts.
Girls, Girls, Girls:
For their fourth album, Motley Crue knocked off the slump of "Theatre of Pain" and returned with a fantastic album. "Girls, Girls, Girls". This album is definitely a real party album, telling about their crazy lifestyle. And while I find there to be a little filler here, there's not as much as some of the band's other albums. Favorites here include "Wild Side", "You're All I Need", and "All In the Name Of...".
Too Fast For Love:
"Too Fast For Love" is the band's debut album, and one of the best metal album to come out of the 80's. To hear an album so perfectly flawless come from a band new band isn't unheard of, but can be a bit rare. This is one of the albums that I can still put on to this day, and love each and every moment. And if cowbell is your thing, well, Tommy brings his along for the ride, and uses the hell out of it. After all of these years, Motley Crue only produced two perfect album (in my opinion), and this is one of them. My favorites here are "On With the Show", "Live Wire", and "Take Me To the Top".
Dr. Feelgood:
Okay, so this may be a bit of a cliché choice for favorite Motley Crue album, but it really is my favorite. I think part of that is because this is the album that I discovered Motley Crue through. And what is not to love about this fantastic album. I don't know if it was the focus of an (allegedly) sober band, but this time around, each and every song is flawless. At least to my ears. There isn't one bad tune in the bunch. Even the forgotten songs are phenomenal. To whittle this album down to a few favorites would be very difficult for me. However, if I had to pick, I would sway "Without You", "Time For Change", and "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)".
The Compilations:
In addition to nine studio albums, Motley Crue released several other songs on one compilation or another over the years. The compilation "Decade of Decadence" had three brand new tracks (in addition to one that had only been available on a soundtrack). "Primal Scream" was the best of this bunch, but the song "Angela" is a fantastic gem as well. "Supersonic And Demonic Relics" featured some previously unavailable material as well. Of these, "Monsterous", and "So Good, So Bad" are my favorites. This album also has some leftovers from the self-titled album that were released on an EP called Quaternary. "Red, White & Crue" was another compilation, and featured three new songs. Once again, the best of the bunch sits high atop my favorites list. The fantastic "If I Die Tomorrow" is one of the best songs Motley ever wrote. The most recent compilation, the soundtrack for the biopic "The Dirt" features four new songs as well. And from these four, all I can say is that I hope Motley Crue write some more, because the three original tracks are fantastic!
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