Customer Reviews

VH-1 Storytellers

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Billy Idol is truly an enigmatic rock star. He was, arguably, the driving force behind Generation X, a late 70's punk band. He saw the wave coming (new wave) and got on it in the U.S. with his MTV good looks and bad boy style and dynamite delivery. Idol knew how to make good music, but he was an even better at marketing himself. He made sure he surrounded himself with excellent people (Steve Stevens). He kept up his style and his image and it served him well. Unfortunately, as the 90's came about, Billy seems to have begun to believe his own press and he started spiraling down a drug addicted path that saw him become creatively deprived and his career dried up.
With this Storytellers album, Billy and Steve prove that what they had previously crafted wasn't just about fluff and image. It was real music with real emotion behind it.
They're the same songs we knew and loved (and still do), but they're much more acoustic here (for VH1 Storytellers show). Rebel Yell is not the stadium song it usually is. Eyes without a Face is even more achingly painful. Catch My Fall is emotional with a bit of a rockabilly twist to it. You get the picture.
Left to deliver his music without his stage antics (and hopefully sober - come on Billy we're nuts about you - get off the drugs), Billy proves that he was and is a real talent.

Billy Idol, one of the great rockers from the 80s gets the VH1 treatment here. "Storytellers" is a fresh take on Idol's best songs and there are truly exhilarating moments. The acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" is excellent, incredibly well-played and sung. Those who have come down on it being changed to acoustic obviously lack a good melodic sense. "White Wedding" remains an interestingly emotional, deep yet hard-edged song. My favorite moment was the closing track, a treat which is a cover of The Doors' "L.A. Woman." It is explosive, dirty and exhilarating, superior to the original album version. It actually does Jim Morrison some justice. Overall it is a great showcasing of Idol's talent as a singer and his band's overall incredible skills with the instruments they play.

With Steve Stevens back on guitar this album builds to a climax that flat-out rocks concluding with "Mony Mony" & a great cover of the Door's "LA Woman". The songs sound as fresh now as the did almost 20 years ago. Billy Idol is one of the few singers who combines good ole' 50's Eddie Cochran-Gene Vincent era rock and roll, 70's punk, and hard rock. Write off Billy as an MTV cartoon character, but he has more balls and a better voice than any other singer from that era. Billy's ace in the hole is Steven's guitar. He rips thru the Gen X classic "Ready Steady Go" and the acoustic playing on "Cradle Of Love" is killer 50's style Hank Marvin or James Burton.
A must.

To too many people nowadays fashion dictates whether or not they should show any interest in Billy Idol, and unfortunately the striking image that worked so well for Mr William Broad in the 80s has now convieniently bracketed him vaguely among, if not into, glam or kitsch rock, with all the associated negativity. Fortunately, though, for himself, and for those who care to just listen, Billy Idol had amassed what is actually a classic repetoir of pop rock songs, ones that tend ALWAYS to lift listeners into mock angry-dangerous states, and the abandon of violent singing and prancing. Which is buckets-full more rock rock and roll than much released today.
But enough of the requisite old-timer's swipe. This session presents the familiar favourites in a more intimate setting than the stadium days of old, and therefore the quality of the songs and musicianship are squarely centre stage. Stevie Stevens must be given equal billing for his sterling fretwork, from the chunky buzz of Mony Mony to the panic acoustic strings on Rebel Yell.
In all a quality set. Enjoy the party.

I'm an old fan from the early 80's and was pleased with the new sound - Billy sounds great - Steve Stevens is AWESOME!!! on guitar and Stella Soleil on backgrounds was a pleasant addition - "To Be a Lover" is great rockabilly! Keep on rockin!!!

this is a great record
it captures steve an billy in rare form
that being a mostly acoustic cd
but enough about details
you can read those in other peeples reviews...
i just wanted to note that even though this is a story tellers cd,
there is no storytelling at all, on the cd
if you wanna hear billy talkin bout the songs
i guess your gonna hafta get the dvd
:-(
but its a good record none the less
just buy it...

Billy Idol is without a doubt one of the finest artists of our time, and also is very underrated. But this 2001 performance at the legendary House Of Blues for the VH1 show "Storytellers" is a great way to bring Idol back into the spotlight.

This album is unlike nay other album Idol has done, live or studio. It's a mostly acoustic perfromance, which gives the songs performed new lives. For instance, when listening to "Cradle Of Love", the opening track and Billy's best song, one does not hear the hard rocking 1990 hit. Instead one hears a jaunty barroom rocker complete with some excellent piano flourishes. Similarly, electric guitar driven numbers like "White Wedding" and "To Be A Lover" are done brilliantly acousticly. And who but the great Steve Stevens can help revive these classics with his siganture guitar talents? The only track that I thought could have been better is "Rebel Yell". To hear a really good acoustic version of this classic, pick up "Billy Idol - Greatest Hits". That has an awesome version of that song and it's done acousticly.

Towards the end of the show, Billy plugs in, kicking off with a blistering "Dancing With Myself", a nod to his Gen X days. That 1970s' puk band is also represented finely on "Ready, Steady, Go", another underrated gem. "Blue Highway" is a rocker from "Rebel Yell" that is great for a long carride. "Mony Mony" has a foul mouthed Billy really getting inot the song with Idol flair. Clsoing out the album is an explosive "L.A. Woman", which I prefer to The Doors' original.

This is definitely a must own for all Idol fans. Heck, most people wo like anything music will love this. Just go out and get it.

I think overall this is my favorite Idol album ever.
The songs here are the same Songs every fans know but done differently that the album versions or with alternative lyrics.

I honestly like the versions here of White Wedding , Rebel Yell, and Flesh for Fantasy better than the originals and considering what classics they are, thats saying a lot.

Billy and his guitarist Steve Stevens were in top form here technically and Billy seems to have a genuine rapport with the audience and both the singer and audience seem to be greatly enjoying themselves.

Highly recommended for any fan or anyone whose curious to hear different takes on these famous songs.

Unplugged Billy Idol at his best, also some "plugged In" selections as well and overall it Rocks!

Both this and the DVD are fantastic! Every time I listen or watch I'm impressed. Really superb.