Customer Reviews

Full Metal Jackie Certified: The 50 Most Influential Heavy Metal Songs of the 80s and the True Stories Behind Their Lyrics (Cengage Educational)

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

 

 

This book is amazing, and hard to find, but I eventually ended up finding a used copy for 14.99 at Strand Bookstore in Lower Manhattan, and was extremely excited. First, let me say that this book is a great read, and it is VERY up to date, regarding what is going on with the current situations of the mentioned bands, and the interviews and comments are awesome. It's great that she was able to contact these guys and gals, and get them to explain their deepest lyrics and how they feel about their songs and how they influence the scene.

I completely agree with her on the songs that she picked, with very few exceptions. The one reason that I gave it four stars was because there is not a single Iron Maiden song mentioned in there, and the Judas Priest, Slayer, Black Sabbath songs aren't the best. Are you serious? No Iron Maiden as one of the 50 Most Influential Songs from the 80s? Iron Maiden is metal, no matter who or what looks at it. I think any Iron Maiden song is more influential than D.R.I, King's X, Suicidal Tendencies' "Institutionalized," Lizzy Borden, Living Color, Danzig, etc. Half of the bands in this book wouldn't even be around if it wasn't for Maiden. They are the primary influence on most of these bands. Some other things that weren't mentioned/things I gave it four stars for:

1. First, No King Diamond?

2. No Black Metal references? Where's Mayhem, Venom, Celtic Frost, etc.

3. No Jackyl? WTF!

4. Metallica didn't get anything from Kill 'Em All or Justice mentioned. One, maybe? Four Horsemen, maybe?

5. She chose W.A.S.P's WORST track, and there were tons more influential from "Last Command" and "W.A.S.P"

6. There is ONE Motorhead song mentioned...gimmie a break...and you'll NEVER guess which one it is...

7. Even though they aren't completely metal...No mentions of Kiss, Rush, etc.

8. Heavy Metal of the 80s had many subcategories. She did include Dokken, Twisted Sister, etc., but not Cinderella, Extreme, Great White, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Slaughter, Saxon, or Warrant etc. Come on, Jackie, I usually agree with you...but you had some useless songs in there, and the three Ozzy songs in a row weren't neccessary.

Overall, it may sound like i am complaining a lot, but the things that I mentioned should just be common sense. The no Iron Maiden, Black Metal, Kill 'Em All, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, and Motorhead thing really was disappointing. She is a great person, a great author, and the book is great, I just feel that it was lacking a little bit to make it a five star book. This was just a forewarning, not telling you not to buy it; definitly buy it. It's awesome. Thanks for reading, and I hope my constructive criticism was a help to all of you. Raise the Horns, crack a beer, and open the book and dive into the world of Full Metal Jackie's Heavy Metal influences. Rock on!

Great bands and great songs . . . not so great interviews or stories of creation. The author even includes songs where interviews weren't conducted with the artists! For metallica's stuff, she talks to unrelated people who tell stories about their life and how they interpreted the song. Why not just omit metallica's songs if you couldn't interview Hetfield? So, "True stories behind the lyrics" is interpreted pretty loosely.

I gotta say this was a bit disappointing. While some of the stories were a little too familiar-sounding, I was most bothered by the format (back-to-back tunes by the same artists at times) and the repetitive and unimaginative nature of the narrative. It's ok; cool idea.

Some songs are so iconic, that they influence their genre for years to come. "Full Metal Jackie Certified: The 50 Most Influential Heavy Metal Songs of the 80s and the True Stories Behind Their Lyrics" delves into the history surrounding legendary metal and the stories behind them. From Ace of Spades deeper meaning not truly being there when Lemmy was winging it, to the Cult of Personality gaining a personality bigger than the band, "Full Metal Jackie" looks at rock through hard rock through metal and how the eighties proved powerful for music. "Full Metal Jackie Certified" is a top pick for anyone who wants to know the deeper meaning behind the music, written by famed metal writer, Jackie Kajzer.

Absolutely wonderful book! I knew it would be! I love hard rock and it is great knowing about the songs and where they came from!