Customer Reviews

L.A. Guns

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's a shame that the LA Guns never really took off. They had some success; a few gold and one platinum album, a few radio hits...but they could only manage middle-of the-road success. Why is that? It's probably because their music wasn't lightweight enough in the vein of Warrant or Bon Jovi to please a general audience. Also, they lacked the "hit" that could have propelled them to the top. Fans of heavier music (Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica) probably took one look at the band and completely wrote them off as being another pop-metal band. In addiction, although singer Phil Lewis has a good voice, he's a little generic and lacks the charisma of Axl Rose. In short, the LA Guns never really got a chance to take off and forever became also-rans and b-rock stars. All of this is a shame because the LA Guns were a good band and their debut remains their finest album. Tracii Guns remains one of rock's more underrated players. He has a knack for writing good hooks and solos, but doesn't come across like an EVH/Vai rip-off like a lot of his peers.

The LA Guns were a pop metal band, but they were heavier than most of their peers i.e., Poison, Ratt, Slaughter, Bon Jovi. The LA Guns are somewhat comparable to Guns N' Roses (Lead guitarist Tracii Guns played in the pre-Slash version of GN'R). The LA Guns self-titled debut doesn't have anything quite as memorable as the songs on "Appetite For Destruction," but it does have its' hedonism, raw energy, and raunchiness. From the opening "No Mercy" to the closing "Down in the City," every song is a winner. The album opens up strong and never lets up. The songs all have good hooks and killer solos. This is a great 80s metal album. And although this album fits in the pop-metal genre, there is nothing overly commercial here. There is no "Heaven" or "Every Rose Has it's Thorn" to be found. It's 11 tracks of up-tempo, raunchy rock n' roll.

In the final analysis, the LA Guns got lost in the shuffle and never really took off. But they were a good band and their debut remains their strongest offering. Any fan of 80s metal will want to add this album to their collection.

The heavy metal band's 1988 stunning debut record. Saw L.A.Guns on this very tour. No doubt about it,this band had their bout with stardom for a few years there. Tracks that I remember digging the most were "Sex Action","One More Reason","Electric Gypsy"(always loved the MTV video for this song),the rocking "B**ch Is Back" and "Hollywood Tease". Couldn't help BUT to notice their Aerosmith and Motley Crue influences. Line-up: Phil Lewis-vocals, Traci Guns & Mick Cripps (does he still have his day job at the Cleopatra label?) - guitars, Kelly Nickels-bass and one-time W.A.S.P. member Steve Riley-drums. Something I wanted mention here, is that L.A.Guns is currently on a stateside tour of clubs. Their ads usually read, 'With Original Vocalist'. What some of you may not know is that their ORIGINAL...'original' vocalist was Paul Black,NOT Phil Lewis. So keep that in mind if you decided to check them out. A should-have, if you a fan of this genre.

For me this album was extremely hard to find and when I finally found it I was so excited to finally get to hear it and when I listened to it I was amazed, this album is a very solid debut, the beginning tracks are just outstanding and the last few tracks it seems that they kind of went down hill but they were still very solid tracks. This album just proves that L.A.Guns is a truly underrated band and should be ranked right up with the likes of Motley Crue and Poison. Recommended!

if you like hard rock then you've come to the right place. the combo of phil lewis on vocals and tracii guns on lead guitar make it happen. definite head-bobbers: no mercy, sex action, electric gypsy, and hollywood tease highlight the disc but there are certainly not any throw aways. get this bad boy used @ a low price and find out for yourself, you won't be dissappointed.

This debut from L.A. Guns is PURE, RAW, ADRENALINE!!!...I think it is one of the best HARD ROCK albums ever made. I bought this when it first came out and still listen to it faithfully today. Very High Energy songs Electric Gypsy, One More Reason, Bitch is Back!!!!....Extremely underrated album.

A lot of people say that Cocked and Loaded is a much better album than this self titled debut, but I'm not so sure. This is a wicked, raw and rocking effort. When I first heard the opening riff to No Mercy as a 17 year old back in '88, I was hooked, and I still am. This album can't match it with Guns n' Roses classic '87 debut: Appetite For Destruction, but is as good as, if not better than Motley Crue's much over rated '87 offering: Girls, Girls, Girls.

I had heard LA Guns was a decent band but had not purchased any of their recordings. I purchased this cd as well as 2 other LA Guns cd's and I have to say that I was very surprised, this cd rocks from start to finish. This band is heavy and they sound awesome!

Many people overlooked this band during the span of its career, with most pointing to "Ballad Of Jayne" as their pinnacle. Honestly, I always thought that they were better when they played the sleazy stuff on this album. More people should check them out and realize that Tracii Guns is more than just the guy who helped form GNR.

This self-titled debut album from L.A. Guns was released in 1988. The material is in a stripped-down hard rock musical direction. The songwriting is good, the musicianship is tight, and the sound quality is pleasing. Of the 11 cuts, nine are straight-ahead hard rockers, one is an instrumental, and another is a power ballad. I like Philip Lewis' energy-filled, meat-and-potatoes vocal delivery. "Sex Action," "Cry No More," and "One Way Ticket" are examples of compositions I enjoy. "Sex Action" is a vigorous tune that sports ambitious, feisty singing from Lewis and a cool guitar riff. The short instrumental "Cry No More," clocking in just over a minute, is pleasantly serene and is augmented by a string arrangement. The power ballad "One Way Ticket" is nice and also contains a string arrangement. The CD insert does not include the song lyrics, but there is a black-and-white photo of the band. The back of the CD jewel case displays a color illustration. The disc is just over 37 minutes. This album from L.A. Guns is worthy, cohesive, concise, industrious, and sprightly.

i never really knew a whole lot about this guys but i have started to listen to them more and stuff and this album when i bought it i listen to it right away and loved it because see am a huge heavy metal and rock music fan and these guys are good