Customer Reviews

Inside the Electric Circus

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

WASP were a tricky proposition in the 1980s. Yes, they were rooted fair and square in the glam metal scene, but they had the problem of being too brutal for many of the glam rockers, but too camp for thrash fans. You just have to look at their image- Blackie Lawless looked like he'd stolen his hair off the Bride of Frankenstein and there were those famous saw blades on his arms. And the guy was 6 foot 6! And then there was the tattooed madman, guitar slinging sidekick in the form of Chris Holmes, a booze fuelled psychopath. WASP's stage show also out-shocked Alice Cooper's. Yes, the image was strong. But WASP always had the music to back it.

And what about the music? Well, Blackie Lawless had been writing songs for the likes of Motley Crue for a period before he put WASP together, and had proved to be pretty prolific as a songwriter. "Inside The Electric Circus" was WASP's third album in as many years, and Lawless' inspiration did not seem to have flagged at all. The decadent sex (9.5-N.A.S.T.Y.), drugs (Douche Bag Blues) and rock n roll (Inside The Electric Circus) ingredients are all there.

Musically, WASP rocked a lot harder than a majority of glam rock bands at the time. Blackie's voice is a lot harsher than the glam standard "nuts in a vice" squeal popular at the time. There are some tasty vocal harmonies and melodies to be found too. Riff-wise, it would not take too much beefing up to see some of the guitar work turning up on the likes of an Ozzy Osbourne album.

While it may have seemed like WASP was living the rock n roll dream to the casual observer, all was not well. WASP became a major target of the PMRC's moral crusade to sanitize music for the youth of America. While this undoubtedly boosted the band's image and career (kids will always want to check out what they're not meant to), it also took away much of the gloss from the band's success. Indeed, Lawless had been fired up by the moral minority, with "I'm Alive" dedicated to "oppressive organisations worldwide".

At the end of the day though, this is still a good fun rock and roll album. A couple of covers ("I Don't Need No Doctor" and "Easy Living") helped lighten the mood, and there are some neglected classics here, like "Restless Gypsy" and "Mantronic".

This is the stuff many a metalhead listened to between Bon Jovi and Iron Maiden.

The first 3 WASP albums (WASP, The Last Command, and this one) are strikingly similar, but this is easily the best of the 3. After the release of Inside the Electric Circus, WASP released a live album (although I'd argue that there's not much that's actually "live") that more or less marked the end 80's era WASP. From The Headless Children forward, the WASP sound changed quite a bit.

This album opens up with 3 killer tunes: the title track (my favorite), I Don't Need No Doctor (a cover), and 9.5 N.A.S.T.Y. This is WASP's most accessible, pop (if you could really call it that) album, and not surprisingly, their best sellling album to date.

In recent years, Blackie Lawless has claimed he's not too fond of this record. He's nuts. He's also probably just trying to distance himself from this period in WASP's history, which was definitely the height of their glam image. Nowadays, Blackie and the rest of the band are more or less Marilyn Manson clones. Glam's out, and Blackie disses this record.

In addition to the aforementioned songs, check out Restless Gypsy, I'm Alive, and Mantronic. Actually, they're all good. If you get the re-issue with Flesh and Fire and D.B. Blues, you'll be treated to perhaps the worst, most laughable, lyrics ever penned. For example, the opening lines to Flesh and Fire: I'm the pitcher, you're the catcher. I'm not talkin' 'bout baseball. You're a sweet switch-hitter, I want it all." What??? The song's OK, but man, those lyrics suck.

Despite those 2 bonus tracks, this album is great. The songs are simple (a la AC/DC) and incredibly catchy. It's their best.

This was the first WASP album I got and I have loved it since the day I first played it. Sure there isn't a lot of variety in the songs and the formula is the same they used on the first 2 albums, but there are plenty of great hooks, riffs and solos here.

There isn't a single song on here that I haven't enjoyed at one time or another, and it says a lot that the two weakest tracks are covers. The two bonus tracks are also great, I'd definitely recommend the remastered version of the album over the original.

Best track? I'd have to say a tie between Restless Gypsy and The Rock Rolls On...which is probably one of the most rip roaring rock anthems ever.

This is quite simply one of the best hard rock albums of the 80s...awesome from start to finish.

After this album was released, Blackie Lawless said he didn't like it much. I must admit that it is rather weak in comparrison to the likes of 'WASP' and 'The Headless Children' but it is still a pretty good album. '9.5.N.A.S.T.Y.' and 'I don't need no doctor' are among my very favourite WASP tracks. There are some dull tracks on this album such as 'Easy living' but in general this album is good.

There are many better wasp albums but this one is worth buying if you like wasp as much as I do.

After the VG+ debut, and Hit or Miss 'Last Command' this CD came next and was a major disappointment. Just didnt feel very honest or heavy. The songwriting wasnt great and the whole album(disc) just seemed like b-sides or half as*ed.
2 cover tracks are on here and the rest is just average.

'9 5 Nasty' sounds like regurgitated debut stuff just a little slower. The title track drags and the rest are, well, just uninspired in my opinion. Best tracks would be 'Im Alive' and the closer 'Rock Rolls On'. Beside those tracks, well, it just sounds like recycled riffs and really bad lyrics ('The Animals Are all Insane. God Help Us!!?')..

WASP die hards may love this, but most casual fans who buy some but not all of their stuff (like myself), or hard rock/metal fans were left with a lot to be desired once this disc ends. It doesnt do much and doesn't sit well in the memory. At this point WASP were seen as a one trick pony playing the same easy riffs with tacky lyrics and they were clearly running out of juice in this direction at the time (I saw them the year this was released and they seemed tired on stage as well).

They would regain their footing next with 'The Headless Children', which would become the bands strongest release. This on the other hand, is quite forgettable to be honest. I have this on cassette tape and still have yet to buy it on CD though I have bought all the discs surrounding it. Maybe the bonus tracks make it a more worthy purchase, but the album itself just doesnt have teeth.

I am really shocked that the reviews here are so positive. Must be the die hards writing most of them.

Inside the Electric Circus was W.A.S.P.'s third album in as many years. While there are many people who find Inside the Electric Circus to be a mixed bag, I personally find it to be one of WASP's finest albums. Songs like Inside the Electric Circus, 95 Nasty, Shoot from the Hip, I'm Alive and a couple of cover tunes I Don't Need No Doctor and Easy Livin' prove that this is one of WASP's best albums. Both 1984's WASP and 1985's The Last Command were good, but with Inside the Electric Circus, Blackie and the boys wrote a stronger batch of songs. Side 1 is flawless, and the second side is almost as strong. WASP are one of those great underated bands.

I've been a W.A.S.P. fan since day one, well at least when I was in eighth grade and their first album was released. Don't be put off by the somewhat goofy cover, Blackie and Co. released a kick ass album in the name of an insane electric circus. 'The Big Welcome' is a mockingly wicked little way for Blackie to say hello before the blistering guitar riffs of the title track rip through your speakers. People think this album is 'simple' but I disagree. As a guitar player I find the guitars a pleasant sound to the ears. Sure "I don't need no doctor" is a simple song to play that anyone mastering the three chords can attest to, but Blackie's deliverance makes it his own.

I personally cannot find a weak track on this album. I love '95 Nasty', 'Mantronic', and 'The Rock Rolls On'. As a extra bonus, we're treated to 'Flesh & Fire' and 'D.B. Blues'. D.B. is Douche Bag. You can see them performing this song during the final credits of "W.A.S.P. videos in the raw". If memory recalls they're sitting in the laundry room on top of washing machines playing this. Hilarious.

C'mon you Headless Children of the 80's, this is W.A.S.P. and they rocked our world.

Blackie Lawless had the concept for "Inside the Electric Circus" long before Kiss put out "Psycho Circus", similar themes, but vastly different executions. This CD covers a lot of ground, Blackie fired back at the PMRC when they were trying to sneek censorship past the public. The song "I'm Alive" is an angry kick in the pants to televangelists & those whom Blackie saw as invading on our right to rock. The cover of Humble Pie's "I Don't Need No Doctor" is tight, fast & mean. :Mantronic" is my pick cut off this disk. At the price you pay here on the Net you can't afford NOT to have this one in your collection.

I have always been slightly embarrassed that I kept listening to, and liking, W.A.S.P., after 8th grade in the 80's. At least with early Black Sabbath, I can get a kick out of the "ewww gross" reaction to one of their t-shirts, or by cranking a tune in my Honda Civic, from the young college princesses and many hipsters these days, and the preppies, jocks and non-rocker girls back in the day.

But lately I've been re-thinking this when it comes to W.A.S.P.. I mean what the hell are these guys about? They don't really fit into any particular scene or stereotype, which is awesome, and I cast them off as L.A. biker trash fodder long ago. I was mistaken, they are some sort of mix of goth/punk, 80's metal and classic rock that got thrown into the harder side of the hair metal scene in the mid-80's.

I actually saw them in 1983, opening up for Kiss, and they shot posters into the crowd from a cannon and wore butt-less pants! Who does that? Of course today they'd be cast-off as gay bikers, but back then it was a statement against overly strict moral art codes. And of course in their early shows in L.A., they threw raw meat into the crowd.

What hurts this album, is the very hair-metal, transexual album cover with Blackie, which is just awful. But the album itself is a top three great for them, along with "The Last Command" and their self-titled debut. It's too bad "Circus" spelled the demise of their greater popularity in the 80's, I remember being the only one I knew who bought and loved it when it was released, and to revisit it, it's suprisingly timeless and full of great songs

Highlights are all over the place, from the title track, to "I'm Alive," "Sweet Cheetah," "Shoot From The Hip" and "Restless Gypsy" making up the best classic WASP tracks. "I Don't Need No Doctor," was a popular cover and is a straight-forward cover with the WASP treatment. The album romanticizes a rogue lifestyle of the typical 80's metal L.A. street lore of "fast cars, girls and booze," riding free, fast, and for the day! "Put my gun in your holster, like a velvet glove" and other such Kiss-like camp lyrics are abundant and will definitely get the "ewww gross" reaction from your favorite overly-serious snob or school princess, or wife or girlfriend. And that is what makes life great, and WASP is still one of the best party bands in the world, rock on.

I'll admit I waited to review this album last, because I hadn't listened to it since the day I bought it; nearly three years ago. This was one album by W.A.S.P. that I was originally turned off by, due to the rather shoddy production. Recently, I put the album back in, and after two straight days of listening to it, I find myself appreciating it much more!

1. The Big Welcome - I liked this opening "skit." It was dark, and very much like something the band would do at the time. Fits the album perfectly! 4/5

2. Inside The Electric Circus - Very heavy stuff here! Classic 80's hair metal W.A.S.P. These guys just seem to have a blast rocking out. A do detect a hint of "The Last Command" in this song as well. Pretty cool. 4.5/5

3. I Don't Need No Doctor - This was one song that took me awhile to enjoy. Being a cover, I thought the band could have done a better job. Pretty heavy here, and a very catchy chorus. 3.5/5

4. 95-N.A.S.T.Y. - Perhaps the hit single from the album that almost everyone has heard. Very cool song. Again, relates directly to that 80's hair metal style that we all love! To me, the beginning sounded something like AC/DC would do in one of their songs! 4.5/5

5. Restless Gypsy - I think this is the under-rated gem of the album! It has an awesome beginning, sounding something similar to a Van halen tune. Kicks right into Blackie and his effortless vocals! Awesome track! 5/5

6. Shoot From The Hip - This song is another about pure rock n' roll! A fun song that just rocks in pure W.A.S.P. fashion! I didn't care for this song at first, but it will grow on you. 4/5

7. I'm Alive - Along with "Restless Gypsy" this song is another under-rated gem from this album. A heavy feel to it, it makes you want to rock out! One of those anthems that the band puts on each album to get the fans pumped! Again, a lot of "Last Command" feel to it as well. 5/5

8. Easy Living - Keeping with the heavy theme, the band again rocks out to another cover song. To me, it was a bit better than IDNND but the taste is within everyone's own personality. 4/5

9. Sweet Cheetah - Again, the band has that raw 80's energy about them. Lyrics are pretty cheesy, but the song has the W.A.S.P. feel and that's all that matters. 4/5

10. Mantronic - I like this song a lot. It has a lot of elements that show up in later works by the band. Again, the lyrics may not be the deepest, but the overall rock feel to it is amazing. The band plays strong and cohesively on this track as well! 4.5/5

11. King Of Sodom And Gomorrah - I have no idea what the title is about, but the song is pretty cool. This song has that "Animal" feel to it. the band just seems to have a lot of fun here and it makes for a killer song! 4.5/5

12 The Rock Rolls On - This is a pretty cool way to end the album on a technical standpoint. Classic W.A.S.P. Can you say "Blind In Texas?" Listen to that and you have this song! 4/5

13. Flesh And Fire (Bonus Track) - This song is awesome and I'm glad it made it as a bonus track on the album. Classic feel about heavy partying and rock n' roll! 4/5

14. D.B. Blues (Bonus Track) - This song is cool because its something you may not be used to hearing from W.A.S.P. has a bluesy tone to it, and the message is funny! 4/5

Overall, this album is a pretty good gem that many may under-rate. I almost made that mistake and wrote this one off. Don't! It is well worth it for any fan of W.A.S.P. and/or 80's metal!