Customer Reviews

Revolutions Per Minute

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Before I picked up this disc I must've read a half dozen negative reviews about it, so I went in thinking this thing is going to be weak. Not true, in my opinion. It's very different than anything Bach-era, and even a step in a different direction than ThickSkin, but it still sounds like Skid Row to me. It's just Skid Row 2006.

The pros:
1. Catchy songs (even the 2 country-ish sounding ones that most people seem to hate).
2. There's more cohesion here than on ThickSkin, which seemed to jump back & forth style-wise from Slave to the Grind-ish rock to Matchbox 20 pop.
3. Johnny Solinger can sing. Bach was good, but I like this dude, too.

The cons:
1. Recording quality isn't as good on here. Sounds like they didn't spend a lot of $$ on the recording, especially the drum sound. ThickSkin sounded better.
2. The album's back cover looks like some piece of $%@* I'd make on PhotoShop. Not a big deal, but it looks cheap.
3. I agree with the other reviewers who can't tell the difference between the 2 versions of "You Lie" on here. They sound just about the same. What's the point? I do actually like the song, though.

Bottom line, if you're looking for 18 & Life 2006 it's not on here. I'm sure I'm in the minority here but I actually prefer ThickSkin & Revolutions Per Minute to the Bach-era stuff.

Let me say at the start that I don't hold the opinion that 'Bas IS Skid Row'. I'm more of the opinion that 'Rachal Bolan IS Skid Row' being that he's been the primary songwriter from the start, as well as a dominating guitar presence on the metal scene since the late 80's. I love Bas, but Johnny Solinger is a worthy successor and Bolan continues to write incredibly memorable songs with big riffs and metal sensibilities - as aptly demonstrated on 'Thickskin'- Skid Row's initial post-Bas offering.

Which is what makes it difficult to rate this album. It has the classic Bolan writing, Sollinger's vocals are solid, and the songs are memorable, but it's probably the least 'Skid Row' sounding album of the bands career. It doesn't compare by far to "Slave to the Grind" or "Thickskin." It's only comparable to "Subhuman Race" - Bas's final effort with the band - in that it has both the classic Skid Row sound, but several nasty suprises. The nasty suprises being two country/metal songs ('When God Can't Wait' and 'Lie') that would sound more at home on a Flogging Molly or Dropkick Murphy CD than on a Skid Row record. Further, the 'bonus track' is the 'corn-fed' mix of 'Lies' that for all intents and purposes sounds exactly the same as the original. Being the weakest song on the album - why make us listen to it twice?

I'm all in favor of bands growing and allowing their influences flow into their writing, but these two songs along with 'White Trash,' and 'Shut Up Baby I Love You' are so far off the beaten track, that it's hard to reconcile them with anything else in the Skid Row catalog. Sometimes this can be a good thing, but here it's just...odd. Additionally, the lyrics are a bit silly in places - reminding of Blink 182 or even Green Day - than the typical top notch lyrics Bolan and Snake have produced over the years. No doubt Sollinger will be blamed for this, but check the writing credits for each track - all Bolan and Snake (excepting the excellent Alarm cover 'Strength'). Since "Slave to the Grind," Skid Row lyrics have taken on pretty weighty issues and dealt with relationships in more mature prose than most any other metal band. This album seems to miss that angle in favor of flippancy and out of place profanity. Possibly to attract a younger fan base?

At first listen, this seems to be a transitional album. The guys are trying a few new things - which is not all bad. They retain their killer musicianship and production, as well as growing a bit sonically from the Thickskin album. If you like Skid Row, it's worth the price, but sadly, I'd say this is their weakest offering next to their hair-metalish self-titled debut. To the band I say - we want to hear you grow and change, but not radically, and not all at once. Skid Row's new line up is obviously a work in progress and I don't want to judge too harshly too soon. We'll see what the future brings.

Make sure to catch these guys on the road with King's X this fall and winter.

Don't offend Rachel Bolan on myspace or he'll comment back and then block you from defending yourself! He's really an a*s hole and Skid Row is a has been.If you want something that rocks get Angel Down from Sebastian. Don't waste your time or money on this new lineup. I have the cd and wished I didn't!

2.5 Stars

Skid Row's debut album with Singer Johnny Solinger "Thickskin" (2003) may not have been a great album, but it was a decent enough effort. While Bolan's songwriting wasn't bad, the bands attempt to modernize their sound left something to be desired, as the band sounded more like the Goo Goo Dolls than Skid Row. And as if an 80s metal band trying to sound like a mid 90s alternative-pop band wasn't bad enough, newcomer Solinger came off as faceless and bland, a far cry from the charismatic Sebastian Bach.

Returning three years later, Skid Row's second offering with Solinger is about as good as the first; which means that "Revolutions Per Minute" (2006) is an okay-but-not great album. The good news is the band rocks a little harder and sounds a little tighter. The Goo Goo Dolls type alt.rock has been left behind in favor of a more rocking album. Solinger, perhaps more confident, has stepped out of Bach's shadow a bit, as he comes across as less generic than he did on "Thickskin."

The bad news, however, is that the album just isn't that great. It doesn't suck; it's mostly enjoyable and listenable, but great songs, like "Monkey Business" and "I Remember You" just aren't there. Most of the songs, like "Disease," "Another Dick in the System," "Love is Dead," etc. are very average. You can listen to them once and enjoy them, but you soon forget them. Ironically, and sadly, the band sounds best when they are trend-hopping. The two standouts, the pop-punky "Strength" and "Nothing," seriously border Good Charlotte/Blink 182 territory, but are well-written and memorable none-the-less. Unfortunately, the album is weighed down by the awful "White Trash" and the rock-a-billy "You Lie." Imagine Larry the Cable Guy fronting a rock band on a bad SNL skit, and that's what you get.

To be blunt, Bolan may write the songs, but the band needs Bach. It's Bach's signature voice and strong melodies that helped make vintage Skid Row great, and without him Skid Row has limped-on ever since. Plus, there is no-way that Bach would have sang on most of these songs as he is smart enough to know mediocrity when he hears it. Bach's solo material (heard on his recent tour as well as 1998's "Bring `Em Bach Alive") blows Solinger-era Skid Row out of the water.

The Bach-factor aside, the band just isn't as good musically as they once were. The totally underrated "Subhuman Race" (1995) saw some real creativity and solid songwriting. By contrast, Skid Row's last two albums have seen a once promising band digress, half rehashing past glories and half embracing trends that are already five-years passé. I guess by 2012 it will be time for Skid Row to make an emo album.

If you are a big fan of Skid Row, check "Revolutions Per Minute" out; as there are a few stand-out songs and the album, overall, is an enjoyable, if unmemorable listen. That said, the album is far from the band's best work and casual fans are advised to stick with the band's first three Bach-era albums.

What ever happen to the Skid Row I love? This CD is not worth buying unless you have some extra dollars,... but on the second thought it's better for you if you buy some burgers with that!
They used to have an anthem songs and hits like "I remember you", "Youth Gone Wild", "Slave to the Grind", "Monkey Business", "My enemy", "Into another", "Breakin' Down", and so many more... but all gone now.
Solinger is nothing compared to Bach, and if you listen carefully to most of the songs, it was like that Solinger trying so hard to sound like Bach. The drummer also poor, very poor, the guy playing (I don't even remember his name) looks like a junkie with no spirit to live. Rob's playing is much better than you, man!!
Only 1 song that a little bit worth hearing is "Disease". The rest is like the band trying to be badboys with dirty lyrics, but that's not the Skid Row I used to know. My advice for the band management is recruit back Bach

Too be far, I've only listened to it twice, so maybe I'm not qualified to review this. But that's because it just doesn't interest me enough to give it another listen. Don't get me wrong, I loved SKID ROW back in the day, except for the Subhuman CD. Even "THICKSKIN" had some pretty cool tracks on it. I only heard a few potentials on this one, I know they've got better writing skills than this. WAY TOO much "punk" influence for me. And alot of the lyrics just seem to be too jokey. I don't know, it just doesn't "do it" for me.

In my opinion, if you were a popular 80's band and want to appeal to your fans,you need to do one of 2 things. Either come out with an album that has the sound that made you famous, or come out with an album that's heavier and just kicks your teeth in. Cause lets face it, if you didn't listen to SKIDROW in the 80's, you're not going to be interested in anything they do now. So why not put something out that you KNOW you're real fans will like at least.

So I've been on both sides of the fence with this Skid Row battle. I've seen some bands carry on pretty good with new singers and I figured hey we'd get the usual two sides with both having good results. Well Mr. Bach is still metal and hard rock just the way I like it and this.........UM Skid Row? Is it really. Starts out with something similar that has a Bach era feel to it then BAM!!!! Country music?, Country music REALLY!!!!!!!! Did I miss something here? I wouldn't even of minded if you went back to more of your sound from the first skid days or if you have to toy with a country feel then it better be sounding more like Dime and Vinnies project not this crap. I'm disappointed with Skid Row, it's not Skid Row anymore and it sounds like they don't know if they want to be Skid Row any more. Very disappointed. Another legendary band bites the dust.

don't believe the negative reviews, this is a good cd. not as good as thickskin. i can't give a "skid row" cd without bach 5 stars.

I have always loved this band, this is not my favorite of their albums but it is pretty good

Very disappointed in this cd after really enjoying Thickskin. The new singer's voice is amazing but the songs are just badly put together.

Ok songs include Disease, Pulling My Heart Out From Under Me and Strength.

Everything else is par or well below.