Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
WASP ain't no hair band, September 28, 2005
I'm writing due to a bad review by another person. Most of the reviews for this album are 4-5 stars, but one individual gave them two stars because "it's hard to tell if they are taking themselves seriously or if the whole thing is a big joke." He continued to lump WASP in with the bands from the 80's as a whole saying "Fans of eighties metal like Motley Crue and Ratt may find something of interest here, but bands like this were a dime a dozen in the eighties and most created music far superior to this."
Wow. This guy is way off the mark. I was around in the 80's, and I was (and still am) into much of the rock/metal from that era. I feel it is my duty to set the record straight.
Do they take thelmselves seriously? Yes and no. WASP's leader, Blackie Lawless, is a very intelligent, well-spoken person. He knows reality from fiction. The outlandish costumes, obnoxious lyrics, and over-the-top stage persona are not to be taken seriously. But their dedication to their fans and their intense, roaring, screaming brand of metal comes straight from the heart.
Fans of the 90's grunge sound do not realize that at one time Rock Stars and their bands were bigger than life. They were charismatic, confident icons who captivated legions of fans with live shows that were closer to a circus than a mere musical performance. Their songs were a vehicle to escape the BS we must deal with in the real world. THAT is WASP!
Those 90's grunge bands think they should be taken seriously because they whine, moan and complain about the pain and anxiety in today's world? HA! They are so depressing they make me want to slit my wrists. They say "Our live shows are all about the music, not the flash", so they go onstage in T-shirts and jeans and have no fireworks, effects, or anything. What a rip-off. I've been to many shows by many of today's leading rock bands and left feeling like I was ripped off. The laugh at the pics and video's from the 80's metal bands and say "It was all about the look...they didn't even care about the music." WHATEVER! For us fans the music was ALWAYS the main attraction to the band. WASP is still releasing albums and touring after 20 years. If the music was weak they would have faded years ago.
WASP started in the 80's, but trust me...the average Bon Jovi fan did not listen to them. WASP is obnoxious, in-you-face, loud, screaming, crank-it-up, party-till-you-puke, no-frills Heavy Metal, and this album is one of their best.
If you are depressed, hate life, hate the world, and constantly feel like blowing your brains out I would recommend Nirvana, Pearl Jam and a good psychiatrist. If you are an arrogant snob who feels that intelligent people only listen to songs that tackle the social issues of the day I would recommend REM and a good dose of reality. Conversely, if your idea of dealing with today's world is throwing a finger in the air an screaming, "Bring It On!", then this album is for you."
|
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the few 80's bands that had TEETH!, December 10, 2004
A Kid's Review
Unlike most 80's metal like Motley Crue, Bon Jovi and Poison, WASP was the only glam band with teeth to it, they had an argressive sound and some preety shocking song subjects. Notice i didn't call them "pop" metal either, that was one of the greatest things about WASP back in the day, they didn't write BS about partying or breaking up with your girlfreind like %90 of 80's cheese rock bands did.No,they wrote about "F"ing like a beast and being tortured,having orgys of blood at their concerts.WASP is the only 80's band i like,they were just different from the pack of jovis,ratts,sisters,cindrellas,and wingers of the day. WASP's debut album is there best (the last command is ALMOST as good as this) there is the outragoues "f" like a beast, the obnoxious fist pumping "i wanna be somebody", the hilarious "school days","the flame" and more on this album.
it's weird because i ussaly don't like 80's rock, espessicaly glam metal, but i love this. Blackie lawless was just a bad @$$ frontman,he rules. Overall, this album is nothing short of perfect and you will have a fun time listening to it as i did, just don't expect any intelligent or meaningful songs here.
|
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL DEBUT, September 25, 2004
When KISS and ALICE COOPER came out with a shocking show, sticky tunes, easy listening songs; too many bands tried to copy the same line. Just a few ones evolve into something good (WASP, MOTLEY CRUE, TWISTED SISTER and maybe another one that I don't remember right now).
Well, WASP at first sight, when they came out (1983) seemed like a tight band, just as Van Halen, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Etc. The members seemed to have a good time but in a few months the one that standed out and stayed in the band was Blackie Lawless. And they seemed tight because they sounded great together. Maybe they weren't as big as some other bands did in the 80's but with this CD they printed a mark on those days.
WASP had a bad attitude with melodic songs, they sound hard and fast but very melodic. Blackie has a voice that only his image could fit, deep and very high range. This album almost did it as a classic, maybe if they had stayed together more time they would have been bigger.
The uptempo part of the CD is "I wanna be somebody", "L.O.V.E. Machine", "School daze", "On your knees", "The torture never stops", we have a very slow (at least for them) and very nice song "Sleeping (In the fire), and not as fast but very dark and crushing are "B.A.D.", "Tha flame", "Hellion", "Tormentor". The music on this CD is very diverse and enjoyable.
On this new edition they included the first EP that they released and it was called ANIMAL (F*!" like a beast). For my taste, they spread the songs cleverly. First they put "Animal" and at the end they include "Show no mercy" and "Paint it Black". This EP was very hard to find in those days (well, at least here in Mexico).
"Animal" is almost as good as any song on the original release, very fast and raw. "Show no mercy" pretty much the same and "Paint it black" is a cover from the Stones and all I can say is that WASP should stick to their music. The cover is bad and frankly I don't like it.
On this edition they included a lot of band information. They printed the original pictures that came on the album but the quality is quite bad because the photos are very grainy and it looks like a copy of a copy.
Is this one recommended? Yes, of course it is.
Highlights: I wanna be somebody, Sleeping (in the fire)
Lowlights: Paint it black
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
by W.A.S.P. 
