Customer Reviews

Twelve Shots on the Rocks

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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hanoi Rocks are back and if you don't know who they are, it doesn't matter. If you have a love for creative and high energy music, this is the album for you. It is a raspberry in your face approach to attitude and emotion based rock `n' roll.
This is the album that took 17 years to make and it's their best ever. When I got this and saw that only two of the members were back (Michael and Andy) I was skeptical, especially since most of Michael Monroe's work has been absolute crap (he even got my favorite guitarist, Steve Stevens, sound bad on their failure of a collaboration, Jerusalem Slim) and their last studio album, Two Steps From the Move, was their worse album ever by far. I was, however, quite pleasantly surprised. I would call "12 Shots" the best album to come out since AFI released Sing the Sorrow (yes, it's even better than Outkast's Grammy winner). I find it rather strange though that neither Nasty Suicide nor Sam Yaffa played on this album considering that they often collaborated with Monroe throughout the Hanoi-less years. This would seem a disappointment especially since their work on the Johnny Thunders tribute seemed to point to an all out Hanoi reunion. Fortunately, the new band performs wonderfully on this exquisite collection of songs. The absence of the original rhythm section, Sam and Razzle (RIP), is felt by the lack of any songs reminiscent of the camp classic, "Tooting Bec Wreck." This cloud definitely has a silver lining, though, as it is good to see Hanoi not recycling previous failsafe ideas like so many other bands do when they have their "reunions." Without a doubt, the classic Hanoi sound is still there, but continues to move forward. This may be due to the change in songwriting leadership. While before, almost all of their songs were written exclusively by McCoy, this time around sees Monroe taking the helm as he writes or co-writes almost all of the original songs on the album (which scared me at first considering his track record). The best song on the album by far is "In My Darkest Moment," a collaboration between the two. This song, along with "Obscured," is a testament to the fact much focus has shifted away from camp and goofiness of their original sound as showcased on Back to Mystery City, it has shifted toward depth and lyrical maturity. There are still songs like "Delirious" to give listeners are chuckle, but this album has a far more urgent sound than previous efforts.
Unfortunately, Hanoi will never get the respect they deserve because they refuse to sell out. They are deeply rooted in glam which has the biggest stigma of any genre attached to it. Fear not though, this is not some Motley Crue/Poison sounding band. While the aforementioned have obviously taken their cues from the Rocks, the eyeliner veterans are much closer in sound and attitude to Iggy Pop than Whitesnake, Great White, or any of those ozone-depleting bands. Actually the climatic buildup and depth of several of the songs remind me a bit of 1970's Springsteen. Hanoi would no doubt be much more respected if no one knew what they looked like. First of all, no self-respecting punk should be without at least one Hanoi Rocks album, as their sound is as punk as anything out there. However, Hanoi also have a tender side to them which is evident on every album (and fortunately this album didn't need yet another version of "Don't You Ever Leave Me" in order to display that). If Hanoi Rocks were to comb down their hair, stop dressing like Debbie Gibson wannabe crack [prostitutes], and reinvent their image, they would probably be sharing chart success with Jet and the Darkness, but instead they stick to their guns and lipstick.
This is a great album for people who may not be Hanoi Rocks fans or glam rock fans at all. It is highly recommended for people who like innovative and high energy artists like the Sex Pistols, Andrew WK, AFI, HIM, Outkast, early Springsteen, Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell, Prince, Siegue Siegue Sputnik, and of course, Johnny Thunders. If you like bands that take chances and push the envelope you will love this album. Just don't look at the damned pictures and you'll be fine.

This IS the "Appetite for Destruction" of 21st century, period. Just listen to the samples and make your own decision. This is a bit harder than 80's Hanoi Rocks but all the good stuff is still there and this CD is just as good as all the classical Hanoi stuff. Mark my words: real Rock'n Roll is coming back after more than a decade of commercial and gutless crap. Once again Hanoi Rocks is showing the world the direction of music.

This 2003 release of the infamous HANOI ROCKS is a must to own. I don't think you'll find a used copy of it though for the simple fact that "HANOI ROCKS" (duh!) Hanoi and myself go waaaay back, although they've stray'd away from sounds and melodies that I ever thought that they would, I'm impressed, very impressed; after-all, it is the year 2004. The fact that they're able to slightly bend their riffs to mesh with the times and yet still completely play from their heart is only something an ICON type of band could do; ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER HARD ROCK BAND FROM THE 80'S COULD PULL THIS OFF. I highly recommend the singer MICHAEL MONROEs' solo stuff also, every-one of his cds ROCK!!

Not sure if many know this.....But Winged Bull is actually a Hall & Oates song from their 1977 album Beauty On A Back Street.

The description above states that this CD contains "an enhanced video not available on the import version for the song 'Winged Bull'". I find this highly doubtful, as no video has been made of that song... 'People Like Me' and 'A Day Late, A Dollar Short' were the videos. My guess would be that 'ADL,ADS' is the one on this CD. If you already own a previous version (Finnish, Scandinavian or Japanese) then this is a major upgrade as far the sound is concerned. The bonus tracks are also VERY good, especially the Moon Martin cover 'Bad News'. The UK release is the same version as this one, as far as the music goes. This would be your best bet amongst different pressings/versions. Rock on!

I just love great rock tunes and this album is full of them. The songwriting is very good, I think they are more consistent than Guns n Roses songwriting, I mean Use Your Illusions was experimental which is good, but I like those kind of bands that stick to their formula for greatness. Hard rocking beats, great choruses, etc. THis is one of my favorite bands, up there with Wildhearts, FAith NO MOre, and Mr. Bungle. I love that lucky song. Its killer. ITs a great album, buy it NOW!!!

I always liked Mike Monroe's/Hanoi Rocks' stuff back in the day when I discovered that they were almost every glam band's dirty little secret.

Hanoi Rocks was dirty and less polished back then. But 12 Shots is just great! It's polished and classy while being dirty, high energy, bluesy, sentimental and very true to it's punk/glam roots.

Get this album. You won't be disappointed.

What's Good About It?

Sit back, strap yourself in, because when we reach 88mph, you're gonna hear some serious s**t! It's been nearly 17 years since Hanoi Rocks last left their mark on the rock music world, and with the release of their latest CD, it seems like it's the next day. Often confused with pop-metal bands, Hanoi Rocks are punk rockers with a glam look. The group makes this perfectly clear on "Obscured." Andy & Michael's punk-fueled rhythms are highlighted by their melodic vocals. You can almost smell the hairspray (destroying the ozone layer). "Devious" is equally accelerated. This time the guys pull of some great dual vocal harmonies.

Hanoi Rocks don't stay the punk route for long. Bluesy guitar rock seems to be one of their strong points as well. "New York City" is a gritty guitar laden track that shows Michael taking on a harsher tone in his delivery. Andy boats some sweet guitar tones as well. There is also plenty of twang on Moonlight Dance. "Watch You Want" kicks it up a notch with heavier riffage and bitter vocals. This song almost rivals some of Motley Crue's earlier work. One of the discs five bonus tracks, "Winged Bull," has a little bit of everything. It starts off with some futuristic sounds that lead into a power ballad that David Coverdale (Whitesnake) would be jealous of.

It wouldn't be the eighties if it weren't for a couple of my favorite rock record clichés. First you have the infectious guitar riffing in the song named after a famous proverb, "Day Late and a Dollar Short," and then you have a song written about the gypsy lifestyle, Gypsy Boots. Michael breaks out his harmonica for this one. One things for sure, Hanoi Rocks know how to write a catchy tune. On "People Like Me," the CD's first single, Michael sounds off against MTV and radio for discarding the past. He makes some valid points too.

Anything Bad?

The ballads are good, but Michael's vocal style is a little weathered to pull them off with emotion.

Bottom Line

I read a few reviews for this CD and they all said the same thing, "Hanoi Rocks are back with their brand of whiskey soaked rock and roll anthems." What the hell does that mean? It means they didn't listen to it! I didn't see any whiskey, smell any whiskey, or hear any whiskey. What I did hear was some great rock songs. Hanoi Rocks project a great rock and roll atmosphere with their catchy, simple yet effective songwriting, and their punk/blues landscape.

I first bought the import version of this CD that was released last year (which only had 13 tracks). When this CD was released stateside, I had to decide if 4 extra tracks were really worth a re-buy. Well, I bought it again, and it was definitely worth it. The bonus tracks are all above average tracks (I'm not counting L.A.C.U. which is just a short drum solo), with "Moonlite Dance" being one of the best songs on the disc. The other two bonus tracks are covers, but they really add to the overall feel of the album. The song order has been tweaked to better effect, making the album flow much better than the original. Packaging-wise, there are new photos of the band live on stage, which helps you buy the fact that this is supposed to be a BAND, and not just Michael, Andy, and three other guys. Combine all this with a digipack case and a 12-page booklet with full lyrics, you'll definitely not regret buying this CD twice.