Customer Reviews

Cool From the Wire

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a long time Dirty Looks fan I hafta say, Cool from the Wire is one of they're best Albums. This CD ROCKS from start to finish. Some of my other favorites by D.L. are, Turn Of The Screw, Chewing On The Bit, and Five Easy Pieces.These guys truly ROCK!!!!!

Being from Pennsylvania, I discovered Dirty Looks in a roundabout way. I had gone to college at the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 and, admittedly, I wasn't really ready to be taking my studies seriously. Hormones were driving me crazy and I spent more time studying female anatomy than my major of mechanical engineering. One of the places I frequented on the weekends was The Back Room, a place that would feature showcases of about 4 bands each night of the week, with the most popular local bands appearing on Fridays and Saturdays. I would usually arrive pretty early, having to rely on public transportation, so I'd spend a lot of time sitting drinking soda and admiring the scenery of big haired, made-up, metal chicks while waiting for the bands to go on stage. It was during this time that the DJ at the club would ALWAYS play the first four songs on the COOL FROM THE WIRE album. It was instantly catchy from the very first note of the title track, which opens the album, although I had no idea what was being said in the chorus (I thought it was something like "you, you from the wild"). The second track, IT'S NOT THE WAY YOU ROCK, also caught my interest. Here was a band that was playing straight-ahead hard rock in an era of increasingly over-produced, cheesed-up, synth-heavy poseur metal that favored image over substance. This song ended up on the soundtrack of 1988's Johnny Be Good, although it is hardly even noticeable in the film.

As the third track, CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU, played, it was somewhat of a cooling off period. Not quite as catchy, at least upon first listen, but still was a pretty solid song. The wordplay within the song had a certain charm which made me think, "I don't know what he's saying, but he sounds good saying it." As it turned out, one of the lines that I got a kick out of was "Oh shimmy shimmy co-co gimme gimme more of... more of what you got for me." I still think it's pretty cool today. Then came the song for which they actually had a video - OH, RUBY. It suddenly struck me. Is this an old Bon Scott AC/DC album I had never heard? There is a place in this song where Henrik, the vocalist, breaks into a spoken part in which he sounds like a dead-ringer for Bon Scott... a band who also just happened to be on the same Atlantic record label with them, albeit now 8 years into the growling Brian Johnson era. To me, this band sounded like what AC/DC with Bon Scott would be like if AC/DC had updated their sound with a bit flashier guitar playing, i.e. more than 3-chord songs and faster solos. Upon closer listening, the Bon Scott style voice started to shine thru in all the songs, just slightly higher pitched. I had to track down this album.

When I finally found it and could afford it (I was a starving college student), I bought it and played it to death. My favorite songs from the rest of the album would include PUT A SPELL ON YOU, NO BRAINS CHILD, and GET OFF, although that's not to take away from the remaining tunes. But if I had to pick the "best of" from this album, it would include all of the songs I mentioned, possibly excluding EYES... It's such a solid album that, other than the song TOKYO, it's an album I can listen to from start to finish repeatedly and almost never grow tired of it.

But here's the major problem with this album, and quite possibly the reason for it's failing to make any impact at the time. It was released in 1987, when the LP was still a very popular music format. In fact, I don't think it was even released as a CD until 1990. Couldn't Atlantic have spared at least a LITTLE bit of money to give this gem of an album a DECENT COVER? Imagine looking at this album's cover in 12" x 12" size. What would you make of it? In an era where looks was everything, they put a black and white extreme close-up of the singer (and the singer only) making a not-so-dirty-look, and then overlaying the band's logo in hot pink over his left eye. Compare this to Poison's LOOK WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN or Cinderella's NIGHT SONGS and you'll see there's no comparison (well, the hot pink logo would match Cinderella at least). Who did Atlantic think they were marketing this to? Granted, they didn't wear the make up or outrageous clothes those two bands did, but the audience was still the same. I'd venture to say fans of those bands would have snagged this one if it only had a cover to lure them in. The album title also didn't help matters, even though the song itself is great. Seriously, if I said to you "Hey, check out Cool from the Wire," who WOULDN'T say "...huh?" Unfortunately, listeners of the time judged the book, or I suppose I should say ALBUM, by its cover and its title just gave no indication of what to expect.

Amusingly, it appeared I had to move to Texas to hear a band that hailed from my home state. The local Austin Z-Rock affiliate radio station played a few of the band's songs on a semi-regular basis, but the band just never seemed to catch on with the glam-crazed fans of the time. What amazed me was that this debut album, as good as it was, was about to be topped by their follow-up album entitled TURN OF THE SCREW, which was met with even less fanfare than this one. Truly a shame.

You wouldn't know the differance if you closed your eyes.. Dirty Looks is one hell of a band!!! This group makes what Rock should sound like, TOTALLY 80'S HARD METAL!!!!

This Cd (and cassette tape before that) have been played more times at my house than any or all of my other 800+ discs combined. It never gets old! Another reviewer talked about Brooken Teeth (Paul's project) He should also look into Rumbledog-Rumbledog & Rumbledog-Drowning Pool (Henriks' project) also Burning Orange-Taar (Henrik on guitars) they are hard to find masterpieces. Anyone that likes 80's Hard Rock or Ac/Dc around the Dirty Deeds-High Voltage era should look into DIRTY LOOKS! They are by far my Favorite band and have been since around 1989 when I discovered Cool From The Wire. I done everything I can think of to grow my collection from then. Don't stop with the 3 listed CD's. They are all great. I even have I Want More, In Your Face and the self titled idependant releases. Cool From The Wire, Turn Of The Screw, Five Easy Pieses, Bootlegs, One Bad Leg, Chewing On The Bit, Rip It Out, Slave To The Machine, Rumbledog-Rumbledog, Rumbledog-Drowning Pool, & Burning Orange-Taar close out my collection.

This is the major label debut from Henrik and the boys. It sounds quite well after all these years. Production values are good thanx to Max Norman(of Ozzy fame). I actually saw these guys twice in 1985. Yes, they smoked and Paul Liddel shredded. His major influence was Rik Emmitt of Triumph. You gotta like that!! Overall this album rocks solid, highlights are Cool from the wire, I put a spell on you, oh ruby. This is a fun record with lots of energy. I agree with another reviewer that a reunion with these guys would go over well. So Henrik, Paul, Jack and Gene, one more for old times sake! Either way this is a good rockin/sorta heavy rock record. I say buy it, also Turn of the screw is pretty good also. Enjoy!!

One of the heaviest bands to rule the late 80's and early 90's, Dirty Looks packs a heavy load in this album. Henrik Ostergaard and Paul Lidel will mesmerize you with their powerful guitar licks! Although Henrik has been compared to the late Bon Scott, his vocal ability is definitely his own! This CD is a MUST HAVE! If you really like this CD, you'll also like their 1988 release Turn of the Screw ;0)

Wow, this is some good hard rockin' stuff! I first discovered these guys when I heard their song "It's Not The Way You Rock" on the "Johnny Be Good" soundtrack (it's that film with Anthony Michael Hall & Robert Downey Jr.). I thought the song was awesome, so I was instantly interested in these guys. I special ordered a copy of "Cool From The Wire" at "Barnes & Noble" the next day, and it came in 4 days later. I picked it up the day after it came in. This is great old school metal. Highly recommended. In addition to "It's Not The Way You Rock", other highlights are:

The title track
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
Tokyo
Wastin' My Time
Get It Right
It's A Bitch
and Get Off

DO pick this one up.

If you like music that gets you moving this the album for you! Every song is worth a listen.Lots of bands have those kick ass first albums and this is one of them! Quickly they went down hill and you'll see other albums used for outragess prices so if you haven't heard this one don't try others! This is the one that will tell you if you should even try others!

If your getting tired of listening to the same Motley Crue records and all the other top selling metal bands. Then check out Dirty Looks this band desearves much more credit then they recieved. This is an all balls out record, Yep no cheesy love ballads on this one "Cool From The Wire" rocks from start to finish and will remain in your cd player for weeks.From the title track to "Oh'Ruby" to the last track "Get Off" You'll find your self wondering what ever happened to this band. Henrik Ostergaard and crew pull off a 5 star album in my opinon.

Some people have characterized Dirty Looks as heavy metal. Not quite, but they are a force to be reckoned with in the hard rock category. If these guys would have come out in the early to mid 1980's instead of 1988, they would have been at the top. Instead the grunge movement all but killed true rock and roll for a decade.

I have well over 400 cds and Cool From the Wire is the best title I have. That's saying a lot. This was their debut and in my opinion, their best release. They went on to release 7 more albums under Dirty Looks, had two other projects under Rumbledog and two other import and independent releases.

Check these guys out and start with Cool From the Wire. Guaranteed to be amongst your favorites!