L.A. Guns [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

L.A. Guns

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2001)
• Original Release Date: January 4, 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Mca Special Products
• ASIN: B000008HH2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,502 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First and best album from an underrated band, March 28, 2005

By	Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It's a shame that the LA Guns never really took off. They had some success; a few gold and one platinum album, a few radio hits...but they could only manage middle-of the-road success. Why is that? It's probably because their music wasn't lightweight enough in the vein of Warrant or Bon Jovi to please a general audience. Also, they lacked the "hit" that could have propelled them to the top. Fans of heavier music (Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica) probably took one look at the band and completely wrote them off as being another pop-metal band. In addiction, although singer Phil Lewis has a good voice, he's a little generic and lacks the charisma of Axl Rose. In short, the LA Guns never really got a chance to take off and forever became also-rans and b-rock stars. All of this is a shame because the LA Guns were a good band and their debut remains their finest album. Tracii Guns remains one of rock's more underrated players. He has a knack for writing good hooks and solos, but doesn't come across like an EVH/Vai rip-off like a lot of his peers.

The LA Guns were a pop metal band, but they were heavier than most of their peers i.e., Poison, Ratt, Slaughter, Bon Jovi. The LA Guns are somewhat comparable to Guns N' Roses (Lead guitarist Tracii Guns played in the pre-Slash version of GN'R). The LA Guns self-titled debut doesn't have anything quite as memorable as the songs on "Appetite For Destruction," but it does have its' hedonism, raw energy, and raunchiness. From the opening "No Mercy" to the closing "Down in the City," every song is a winner. The album opens up strong and never lets up. The songs all have good hooks and killer solos. This is a great 80s metal album. And although this album fits in the pop-metal genre, there is nothing overly commercial here. There is no "Heaven" or "Every Rose Has it's Thorn" to be found. It's 11 tracks of up-tempo, raunchy rock n' roll.

In the final analysis, the LA Guns got lost in the shuffle and never really took off. But they were a good band and their debut remains their strongest offering. Any fan of 80s metal will want to add this album to their collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars L.A.Guns - self-titled (MCA), October 24, 2006

By	Mike Reed (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The heavy metal band's 1988 stunning debut record. Saw L.A.Guns on this very tour. No doubt about it,this band had their bout with stardom for a few years there. Tracks that I remember digging the most were "Sex Action","One More Reason","Electric Gypsy"(always loved the MTV video for this song),the rocking "B**ch Is Back" and "Hollywood Tease". Couldn't help BUT to notice their Aerosmith and Motley Crue influences. Line-up: Phil Lewis-vocals, Traci Guns & Mick Cripps (does he still have his day job at the Cleopatra label?) - guitars, Kelly Nickels-bass and one-time W.A.S.P. member Steve Riley-drums. Something I wanted mention here, is that L.A.Guns is currently on a stateside tour of clubs. Their ads usually read, 'With Original Vocalist'. What some of you may not know is that their ORIGINAL...'original' vocalist was Paul Black,NOT Phil Lewis. So keep that in mind if you decided to check them out. A should-have, if you a fan of this genre.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Debut!, September 18, 2005

By	Steve -o "Steve-o" (Des.Moines, IA) - See all my reviews

For me this album was extremely hard to find and when I finally found it I was so excited to finally get to hear it and when I listened to it I was amazed, this album is a very solid debut, the beginning tracks are just outstanding and the last few tracks it seems that they kind of went down hill but they were still very solid tracks. This album just proves that L.A.Guns is a truly underrated band and should be ranked right up with the likes of Motley Crue and Poison. Recommended!