Customer Reviews

Self Destructive Blues

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This album shows that a group does its best work on the B-sides of its singles, because that is when they are not afraid to fool around and maybe fail.

Except that on this collection of B-sides and unreleased tracks, nothing fails. Every song is fresh and exciting.

When Hanoi Rocks was in existence I never paid them much mind. Recently I got this album and listened to it. The first listen I was playing it in the background and did not appreciate it.

Later on I listened seriously. Everything about this album is first-rate. Songs like "Self-Destruction Blues" are the best Blues Rock ever. The guitars, the harmonies even the little hooks in the melodies, everything. This band was a bunch of geniuses. In their own way they were as melodic as Burt Bacharach and as rocking as the Rolling Stones.

And to think they pulled it off in the era of the hair bands.

Do whatever you have to do, but get a copy of this album.

I just happened to be watching VH1 Classics and saw a Hanoi Rocks video the other day, a remake of CCR's "Up Around the Bend". I had heard of Hanoi Rocks, but basically because of the Vince Neil incident, and I hadn't heard thier music until just the other day. I picked up a copy of Self Destruction Blues in the used bin at a local record store. I was expecting just another hair band similiar to Cinderella or Poison, basically judging the band by the lipstick and hair on the disc's cover photo. WoW! Was I wrong! This album is a link between late 70's punk bands like The Nervous Eaters and the Hair bands of the 80's like Britny Fox. I loved the raw sound of the guitars and vocals. The songs are catchy without being mainstream at all. If you are a fan of bands like The Cramps, New York Dolls etc you have to pick this up. If you like the Hair Metal of the 80's you should also like this if nothing else just to hear the roots of bands like Guns n' Roses.

This CD means so much to me. I fist got the Uzi Suicide cassette version back in '95 (which I still have in mint condition, and that I will keep until the day I die... I AM SERIOUS!), and I got hooked for life...in 2002, I got the remastered, english version that I am reviewing here for a real low price, which, in addition to the music, includes a series of essays that are really insightful about the Rocks, Hanoi Rocks that is, my beloved Hanoi Rocks to be precise!

It is through those essays (all 5 remastered cd's include one: Saigon Shakes, Oriental Beat, Self Destruction Blues, Back to the Mystery City and All those wasted years)that i got to know that "Self Destruction Blues" was not,in fact, a "new" record at the time of its release, but rather a compilation of B-sides and unreleased songs from the first recording sessions the band made, recorded all over the place: Finland (where the band is originally from), England, etc. I would have never figured that one out if not for the included essay, because the quality of the songs, and the record as a whole would never hint that.

Even tought I love every single Hanoi Rocks song ever recorded (I actually wonder if there are any more unreleased songs... seems to be the case, since there is a boxed set prepared for release...), this record is just one of those few that, as far as i am concerned, is perfect. Not a weak link here, not a average song, all of them are top notch!! My absolute favorites are "Cafe Avenue", "I want you", "Kill city kills" (simply unbelievable!), "Self destruction blues", "Whisper in the Dark" (awesome!!!), "Taxi Driver"...well, I guess i am naming them all, am I not? Sorry, I can't help it...

If you think GN'R rule, you should give the Rocks a listen, so you can have a taste of the real thing...god only knows what could have been... but let's not get depressed, let's celebrate life, and as long as we have the music that Hanoi Rocks crafted, we will be safe from the hordes of boring, lackluster music... so go on, get a cold one, raise your glass to Razzle and enjoy...

ALthough, not technically a studio LP as we all know. It was a collection of left over tracks and b-sides first issued in Finland and eventually released all over the world via this LP. This is simply a rocking LP. I mean, look at the tracklisting:

1. Love's an Injection - yeah baby!
2. I Want You - and you will want this one too.
3. Cafe Avenue - great. There is a remix on the boxset.
4. Nothing New - This song is odd, but addictive.
5. Kill City - the first Hanoi single actually.
6. Self Destruction Blues - bluesy, harmonica stuff.
7. Beer and a Cigarette - I don't want no love affair, i just love the clothes you wear...i got a deal...before i...
8. Whispers in the Dark - synth rock - experimental. Nice.
9. Taxi Driver - thee classic. Travis fave tune.
10. Desperados - love the lyrics. Shoot the children???
11. Problem Child - punk, punk and more.
12. Dead by Xmas - eerily prophetic. Those lyrics are amazing..and bitter.

After Two Steps, this is the CD you need. Production is very good....grab any pressing, they're all good. The Japanese version is a little weak though. Uzi Suicide version is better.

this is a collection of odds and ends to appease the record buying public while Hanoi Rocks started practising with their new drummer, Razzle (he of the infamous Vince Neil carcrash; which left Razzle dead). even though this is a batch of songs recorded at different times, it sounds surprisingly coherent and gels really well as a proper album. "Taxi Driver", "Beer and a Cigarette", and "Cafe Avenue" are all classic songs in their own right; but the one song that stands out (for more reasons than one) is the prickly glam stomp of "Dead By Xmas." one cannot help but get a little chill in the bones and think of the now-departed drummer as the haunting vocal refrain of this song closes out the album.

Before hair metal there was a rock n roll beast that only ansewered to the name of HANOI ROCKS. From the simple truths of 'Love's An Injection', to the last words words of 'Dead By Xmas' (Christmas is forever)
There is not a flaw in this record. Granted Michael Monroe doesn't have the best voice but even still this record holds true that bad asses can wear makeup (unless you wanna be gay and go ahead and like poison)
Self Destruction Blues has possibly the best harmonic I've ever heard Michael do and everything done by Andy McCoy is awesome.
Buy this. This record is only outdone by All those wasted years, but not by much

There was the band they all tried to be, Hanoi Rocks.
This is one of Hanoi's best all around albums, from the melodic Cafe Avenue to the driving bluesy Taxi Driver, this is one album that you MUST have in your collection. Three of my favorite songs are on this album, Taxi Driver, Dead by Xmas, and the title cut, Self Destruction Blues, each showing off the band's strengths, without trying to hide their weaknesses behind over produced dubbed garbage (like the aforementioned hair bands).

This is glam at its best.

Finland's Hanoi Rocks were making a name for themselves in the London club scene in the early `80's. Playing a classic punk hard rock hybrid with a New York Dolls/Rolling Stones look and lifestyle, the band - led by super androgynous lead singer and sax man Michael Monroe and guitarist and main songwriter Andy McCoy were seemingly running against both the new romantic safe new wave and the more aggressive NWOBHM in terms of marketplace competition during this era. `Self Destruction Blues' was actually a compilation of non-LP singles and b-sides but it has earned official album status on any list of the band's discography. "I Want You" which was their first single perfectly represents why Hanoi Rocks really seemed to be a band out of sorts with the rest of the rock world."Kill City Kills", "Taxi Driver", "Beer and a Cigarette" and the title track are often cited in any survey of the best of what Hanoi Rocks had to offer and for that `SDB' is an essential purchase. Also this was the last release to feature original drummer Gyp Casino who was fired and replaced by the late Razzle (featured on the cover but not on the tunes). "Dead by Xmas" closes the record in fine fashion and probably won't bring much holiday cheer but it is a memorable tune nonetheless. Considered among the best in the catalog, `Self Destruction Blues' would be a solid purchase for those who wish to discover the contradiction that is Hanoi Rocks.

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