Customer Reviews

Two Steps Form the Move

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you like high energy hard rock, you will never regret ordering this album, the first major label release of Hanoi Rocks' short but absolutely brilliant career. This album launched the U.S. promotional work for the band, but then the drummer was killed in a car wreck and Hanoi said goodbye, poised on the brink of international stardom, having already made a huge impression in Europe. This album has a range of great rock songs, all presented in that savvy, over the top manner that Hanoi Rocks specialized in. Hanoi was not a band so much as they were a way of life. This album gives you a clue into their unique energy and perspective. Songs like "I Can't Get It" and "Underwater World," the latter of which was a direct inspiration for Guns n Roses "Welcome to the Jungle," are unforgettable. Hanoi is hard rock with a sexually free, street-tough, melodic, punk-informed sensibility. There's no other band like them and will never be.

THis is the very first US released Album for Finnish great band "Hanoi Rocks". I remember when I bought this Album back in my high school days. I was really a Hanoi mania at that time, playing their songs,had a long hair and wore dressy cloth, and bought all their stuff as long as those are availale in Japan.
Back in late 80s, they are very successful in England and other Europe countries. They are about to be big in states.
As you might have known, there are series of Hanoi Rocks songs titeld "Malibu beach nightmare", "Tragedy" and Dead by "CHristmas". They had really wild rockn'roll tour in States, toured with Motley crue. ANd it is not necessary to notice that their life also was very wild, I mean ROck'n'roll life.
One day, I was watching music program on TV, the caster said that the drummer of Hanoi Rocks died of car accident. I never knew about that and I felt sorry, I was in deep grief to hear that news. Like, their nightmare came true.
THis particular album reminds me of the news of the accident.
The band keep on playing after the death of the drummer, but no one could be the drummer of hanoi rocks, and the band stopped playing.
Since ever, I had no chance to see their live perfermances.
In 1997 I went to Los Angels and went to Malibu beach where the drummer said to be dead by the beach. In 2000, i went to NY where they played really great shows.
And in 2002, I experienced the real Hanoi rocks show in Japan. Michael and Andy playing togather, that was my teenage dream come true.
They are the real rock'n'roller and real musician after the silence over the decades.
And this album still remains as the sign of death of the drummer
for me.

thanks

This is one hell of a piece of music. Songs are great. Sound is great. The whole concept is just what good old Rock'N'Roll was ment to be. They don't make albums like this anymore, but fortunately we have this one.

It is truly heartbreaking that such a wonderful record would ultimately become the band's swan song! Listening to it, I get the same feeling as when I'm listening to Ozzy's "Diary of a Madman", thinking about what Randy Rhoads could have achieved... This was the last studio album from the original incarnation of Hanoi Rocks, which was tragically cut short by the reckless and irresponsible behavior of a drunk driver, whose name I won't even mutter in order to avoid promoting the guy.

Anyway...melancholy and anger aside, "Two Steps from the Move" is probably Hanoi Rocks shiniest moment: released through a major label, produced by a big name producer, chock-full of great songs, featuring fantastic playing... This should've been as big as "Appetite for Destruction" but...After struggling for many years, coming all the way from frigid Finland, establishing themselves as a competent band in the London club circuit and independently releasing 4 studio albums and a live record, the band was primed for world domination.

They went to Vancouver to work with their dream producer, Bob Ezrin (famous for his production of Alice Cooper's finest work, a major influence for HR) and came up with this jewel. Ezrin managed to extract the best out the band as a whole and as individual players as well, and the sound is punchy and aggressive, yet perfectly suited for radio airplay. I have to admit that it took me a little longer to diggest this album in comparison with their previous records, which essentially became instant hits in my collection, and that was probably because the production is more refined and focused, whereas their previous work was mostly fueled by their sheer energy and enthusiasm. Not to say that they were lacking songwriting before, or that this record lacks spontaneity, but simply that this records takes the best of both worlds.

The record opens with an awesome rendition on CCC's "Up Around the bend" that I personally prefer over the original. Next is "High School", which is a bit of a departure from vintage Hanoi Rocks, not so much in the music, but mostly in the nature of its lyrics: songs lyrics such as "Don't Follow Me", "Café Avenue", "Sweet Home Suburbia", etc, frequently depicted the lifestyle of the outsider with an almost tragic undertone, and therefore had an undeniable appeal to them; this one rather tackles the typical (and somewhat topical) teenage feelings of awkwardness that were very common for 80's bands. I'm guessing that was probably Ezrin's doing. But after a while, the song grew on me; "I can't get it" takes us back to Hanoi Rocks familiar lyrical content, and the track is a slow burner that really cooks; "Underwater World" has the distinction of using the phrase "welcome to the jungle" some 4 years before that other L.A band...what was their name...? sorry, I seem to have misplaced it somehow...

"Don't Ever Leave me" is a new arrangement of the classic "Don't Never Leave Me" from their independent debut, and while I do like it, I still prefer the original's raw beauty. But then comes the crown jewel: "Million Miles Away" is a sax infused, poignant ballad that changes its beat and pace right in the middle to go in an excursion into the realm of gypsy music (guitarist/songwriter Andy McCoy is of gypsy lineage), already experimented in earlier songs such as "Kill City Kills", "Sweet Home Suburbia" and "Village Girl". "Boulevard of Broken dreams" is somewhat reminiscent of AC/DC, and it's a fantastic track; the lyrics to "Boiler" could have easily been written by Bon Scott, and I'm sure Bon himself would be proud, as it reaches new highs (or lows, depending on where you stand...) with its horny male imagery; "Futurama" is a fast and furious track, little bit of a detour as well, expressing similar thoughts, obsessions and concerns as "High School", but great overall, and the final "Cutting Corners" is a fitting conclusion for the record, with a rather festive swagger.

All in all, this is my #2 favorite Hanoi Rocks record, second only to "Self Destruction Blues", but I must admit that I am a tad biased, Hanoi Rocks being my all-time favorite band. Simply put, they were the best!!!! If you like their previous work, this is a must, and if you're looking for a first taste of the band, this is probably the best place to start.

This is a good place to start if buying your first Hanoi Rocks album. They're all great. "Two Steps to the Move" was to be the band's big break into the U.S. market, but when the drummer was killed in a car crash while on tour the group disintegrated. All the songs are great, but there is definitely a Bob Ezrin influence. If you liked his work with Pink Floyd, KISS and Alice Cooper, then you're bound to enjoy this as well.

If you do not own this, you must not like rock...

I had to write this review...as the review below this one has a tonne of mistakes...so here are the corrections:

The band, founded in 1979, not 1980.
Michael MOnroe, not Munroe - real name Matti Fagerholm
Andy McCoy - real name Antti Hulkko
Nasty Suicide - real name Jans Stenfors
Sam Yaffa, not Jaffa - real name Sami Takamaki
Gyp Casino, not Gypsy - real name Jesper Sporre

Hanoi did not tour America til the fall of 84, not 83.
'Two Steps From The Move' was released in 1984, not 83.
Razzle died on Dec 8th, not November 9th.
Demolition 23 was Nasty, Sam and Mike. Not Andy and was 94, not 1990.

Also, to the Motley Crue fan who wrote the silly review (several reviews below) in an attempt to shock or alienate the Hanoi fans...you need new material. YOur attempt was lame. It's all been done before. We all know the truth. Vince has never apologized and by his own admission, deserved more punishment. And no, no one forced Razzle into the car.

So yeah...go get Two Steps...still my fave LP by anyone, anytime.

This album was brought to my attention because another band I like said they grew up to this band. I wanted to see if there was a connection, and musically there isn't. But that didn't stop me from growing some love for Hanoi Rocks. The album is incredibly sweet. Glam Rock or Sleaze Metal, Hanoi Rocks has some really kickin' riffs. The melodies in their song are awesome, it isn't too intense or too soft, it's just beautiful music. Blending some sounds of the 70's with the 80's metal craze that they came from. "Don't You Ever Leave Me" is one of the greatest songs on this album. "High School" is a hilarious metal song to just jam to. The playing on this album is not the most intense, but it's enough to make you cruise down the highway at 90 and above, to let your hair fly to the wind. Forget comparing these guys to anyone else, Hanoi Rocks is in a class of their own. Don't get it twisted!

This Bob Ezrin -produced album is one of a very small handful of 80's hard rock that has well and truly stood the test of time. Even vocalist Michael Monroe concedes that "2 Steps" is the only Hanoi album he is so pleased with that he still sporadically listens to it.

If you've been looking for the missing link between the New York Dolls and Guns N' Roses, this is it. It's a HUGE pity that the drunk-driving antics of Vince Neil had to end it all.

Two Steps from the Move is the most consistent glam rock album of it's time. This is the music Motley Crue, Poison and GNR were listening to while they formed their own sounds. Catchy, anthemic, humourous and explosive, Hanoi Rocks were truly ahead of their time and "Two Steps" ahead of the rest of the pack. "Underwater World" and "Futurama"(this song was covered by Bang Tango a few years later) are highlights along with "Cutting Corners" and the hilarious "Boiler(me boiler n me). 5 stars