Disco Blows Dogs For Quarters (Detroit Rock City - Soundtrack)

Member Name: bandcamp

Product:	Detroit Rock City - Soundtrack
Date:	05/07/07 (121 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: classic 70s rock songs + alcohol = happy bandcamp

Disadvantages: horrendously awful inclusion of a cover version...

Disclaimer: This review was written over several days under the influence of alcohol, and will more than likely be a bit essay-ish (I'm sorry, I tend to ramble but it's usually relevent), contain sweary words, insults to disco music and emo poseur-c...types, and the author cannot guarantee she can keep her libido in check if we have to discuss good-lookin' folk. C'mon people, I know you've all got a little rock 'n' roll in you. And if you don't, you could have... :P Does that chat-up line work coming from a girl? Hmm...


+ "DISCO SUCKS" +

Seeing as how Detroit Rock City is probably my number one favourite movie and also stars the Object of My Lust (Giuseppe Andrews... be still my heart and girl parts...), it was pretty obvious that the moment I found out that there was a soundtrack available, that I would be moving mountains to bag myself a copy.
Thankfully, the relocation of landmasses was not necessary as I managed to track down a copy online. I just can't feckin' remember where. Coulda been eBay, coulda been amazon marketplace... and since I can't remember where I got the thing, do you really think I can remember how much I paid? In time you'll forgive me, I'm sure.


+ THE MOVIE +

It's 1970-something in America, and four friends (Hawk, Lex, Jam and Trip) are determined to see their all-time favourite band KISS at their concert in Detroit. But as much as they are determined to see KISS in concert, there are outside forces in the form of Jam's Bible-bashing mother, their High School's sleazy janitor and plain dumb luck who are equally determined to stop them.


+ THE SOUNDTRACK +

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Since the movie is set in the late 70s, the soundtrack features some kickass rock tunes from that period - some originals, some covers - none of that Bay City Rollers or Donna Summers shite. Now just kick back with a beer (or in my case a coupla bottles of wine) and prepare to rock out.
___

01. THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN (originally by Thin Lizzy, performed by Everclear)

Excellent way to start an album, with a great cover. Some bands utterly destroy songs (I think Girls Aloud have covered this for a shampoo advert... I almost stopped fancying Nadine due to my horror and disgust), and despite some folk thinking Everclear are a bit soft-rock / sell-out-y, I think they've done well with this. And the video for it is fuckin' class too!

We kick off with a quick drum intro, then you've got your guitars goin' with catchy wee riffs that really come to life during the chorus - this is what power chords were invented for - and the obligatory bridge in the song where we do that slow headbang thing. And the lyrics? Some guys from the past have returned in style, and if you interefere in their business or fun, you're gonna get burned.

"Friday night they'll be dressed to kill
down at Dino's bar and grill
The drink will flow and blood will spill
and if the boys want to fight, you'd better let them "
___
02. SHOUT IT OUT LOUD (performed by KISS)

This is pretty much an anthemic song, spanning across generations (I mind I was in the pub once and this song came on, and my friends and I were singing away with our arms in the air and I looked across the room and saw my 40-something college lecturer doing the exact same with his pals. Class.)

The song is short (ahering to punk's 'less than 3 minutes' rule), with some nice and steady drumwork and guitar riffage (I'm sure I heard a keyboard and maracas in there too) and we're singing about making yourself heard, having a party, and of course - rock and fuckin' roll.

"Don't let 'em tell you that there's too much noise
they're too old to really understand
You'll still get rowdy with the girls and boys
'cause it's time for you to take a stand, yeah, yeah"
___
03. RUNNIN' WITH THE DEVIL (performed by Van Halen)

A slow but steady one next, that has definitely lasted over time and that would kick seven shades of shite outta these wee modern day poseur cunts.

A bit of a weird intro - sounds a bit like a train or truck horn blasting, I think (I checked, it's the band members' car horns apparently) - and we've got some awesome metal guitars doing simple, yet effective riffs. The lyrics aren't exactly upbeat, but the guy's got nothing to lose and is taking risks, living life in the fast lane and 'running with the devil'. Self explanatory really (though some folk seem to read into it wayyy too much and dissect each line as an allegiance to some dude called Stan... wait wait... satan, my bad), and some of those vocals are pretty impressive with some notes - think balls in a vice.

"I found the simple life ain't so simple, no
when I jumped out, on that road
I got no love, no love you'd call real
ain't got nobody, waitin' at home"
___
04. CAT SCRATCH FEVER (originally by Ted Nugent, performed by Pantera)

This is an instantly recognisable song, thanks to the catchy-as-hell guitar riffs and never fails to put me in a 'mission to rock' mood (or mood for something else... *ahem*) and I love the downright filthy innuendo dotted throughout the lyrics!

Deep, gruff vocals really do the song justice and seem to make it even dirtier, somehow, and the metal-sounding guitars are absolute perfection without going overboard into a random amalgamation of noise - I'm sure Ted Nugent really won't object as this cover. After all, isn't rock and roll partly about getting laid? Oh, and air guitars of course.

"I make the pussy purr with the stroke of my hand
they know they gettin' it from me
They know just where to go when they need their lovin' man
they know I do it for free"
___
05. IRON MAN (performed by Black Sabbath)

Is there anyone who doesn't know this song, or at least THAT riff? Starts with nothing but a slow bass drum beat, then the ominous distorted voice declaring 'I am Iron Man'. Oo-er. We're talking heavy metal at it's peak here! It even won a Grammy award in 2000 apparently, for 'Best Metal Performance'. Mind you, since Milli Vanilli won one... kinda takes the special-ness out of it.

Slow, steady verses (kinda like how a man of iron would move, perhaps?) and distorted buzzing guitars guide us through the track, with the speeding up only through a bridge and then dragging us to the climax of the song. The lyrics - which some find disturbing - are in reference to a song where a man travels to the future and witnesses the destruction of the world, but when he returns to try and prevent this nobody bothers to listen to him, so he goes a bit mad...

"Now the time is here
for Iron Man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
kills the people he once saved"
___
06. HIGHWAY TO HELL (originally by AC/DC, performed by Marilyn Manson)

This is an amazing cover, with an impressive modern twist. We've got a kind of industrial feedback / computer-y noises throughout, and heavy heavy guitar riffage through the chorus. And with Marilyn Manson yelling that we're on the highway to hell, you almost bloody believe him!

Although some over-zealous MATMOK types (Mothers Against The Music Of KISS - they're a protest group from the movie!) felt the song was encouraging Satanism, the track actually describes the hard life of being in in a band on tour. Marilyn Manson covering this is really quite apt considering the amount of controversy he's had to put up with over the years!

"Hey Satan, payed my dues
now I'm playing in a rocking band
Hey Momma, look at me
I'm on my way to the promised land"
___
07. 20TH CENTURY BOY (originally by T.Rex, performed by Drain STH)

This is my least favourite track, and as much as the track could be seen as dark and sexy, it really does not fit on the album.

It's really slowed down with nice guitar distortion, the vocals are deep and I suppose some would find them sultry, but it should not be on this album. It belongs on the Queen of the Damned soundtrack - not an album for a film about rock and roll. This is about rock and roll, not trying to seduce someone. It sticks out like a ned at the Cathouse. (ned = chav, often in white tracksuits. Cathouse = well-known Glasgow rock/metal/punk/goth/alternative club).

"Friends say it's fine
friends say it's good
Everbody says it's just like rock 'n' roll"
(it's not rock 'n' roll, it's PISH!)
___
08. DETROIT ROCK CITY (performed by KISS)

You cannot have a soundtrack for a movie called Detroit Rock City, and then not include the song that inspired it.

The song itself isn't actually the whole track- at the beginning you should hear a radio report about the news, in which it mentions the death of a young man in a car accident. He was a KISS fan on his way to their concert when his car collided with a delivery truck, and this song was written as a result.

It's a firm favourite with fans, not surprising given it's catchy wee hooks and drumbeat that just keeps propelling the track onwards to it's climax.

"Twelve o'clock - I gotta rock
there's a truck ahead, lights starin' at my eyes
Oh my God, no time to turn
I got to laugh 'cause I know I'm gonna die"
___
09. JAILBREAK (performed by Thin Lizzy)

A piercing guitar and cymbal crash commands your attention. 'What the feck?' you cry! But you then quickly hear a simple, yet catchy guitar riff being repeated over and over... throughout the entire first verse, while almost-spoken vocals are informing the listener about an impending jailbreak (oo-er!) and how we'd better not interfere (no thanks). In true rock fashion, we don't move onto the chorus, no... we CRASH into it, with the dual guitars leading the way into the fray.

Decades after the song was written, it is still a classic. Could probably do with slightly heavier drums, but apart from that - it's superb.

"Tonight there's gonna be trouble
some of us won't survive
See the boys and me we mean business
bustin' out dead or alive"
___
10. SURRENDER (performed LIVE(!) by Cheap Trick)

Sometimes live recordings can be a bit iffy, but hearing the audience cheering in the background to this track gives it a bit of charm. And it's always good to know that a band can perform in real life the way they're portrayed through studio recordings.

The song goes at a steady pace, hardly a ballad (thank god, they bloody bore me), and is kinda happy-go-lucky with a kid realising that all the stuff his parents are telling him (like stay away from certain girls, you'll probably get an STD) is sound advice since they've experienced the same things he will, and although he's a bit freaked out (he catches them smoking joints, for example) he's accepting what they're telling him. I think I'd be surprised if I found out my Mum smoked weed, mind you...

"Whatever happened to all this season's losers of the year?
Every time I got to thinking, where'd they disappear?
When I woke up, Mom and Dad are rolling on the couch
rolling numbers, rock and rolling, got my Kiss records out"
___
11. REBEL REBEL (performed by David Bowie)

This is yet another song on the soundtrack with an opening that is instantly recognisable and apparently Bowie's most covered song (over 20 bands, including some of his peers, have recorded or performed this).

Drumsticks hitting together in a count-off, we hear that classic guitar riff that is soon met with a bassline that nicely compliments it (along with those awesome 'doo doo doodoo doo doo doo doo's). And there we go, Bowie launches into lyrics some define as 'gender-bending', and that some class as 't0tally, lyk, describin me!!!11!!1!' (hey, although they and their spelling is moronic, I'm just pleased they're listening to classics). Put it all together, we've got a lovely rock song that's not too fast to get you out of breath while dancing, not too slow to reduce your attention span.

"You like me, and I like it all
we like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they're playing hard
you want more and you want it fast"
___
12. STRUTTER (originally by KISS, performed by The Donnas)

First off, I love this song. I love The Donnas (they're all very talented, and also very hot. Especially the drummer... good to know she can keep a rhythm going... *ahem*), and I love the video. It was partly this movie and the soundtrack that let me appreciate the band more, and attempt to perfect my air drumming (still quite bad, but better than my air guitar, which is better than my real guitar).

Some quick whacks on the drums, and we fire right into the song with drums, guitars and basses distorted - no fannying about here, sir! This carries on throughout the first verse, and changes only for the guitar's power chords for the short, but anthemic, chorus. The solo is impressive - not an epic metal one, but certainly satisfies for those with rock and roll running through their veins. An excellent choice for the soundtrack, certainly redeems itself after that track 7 shite.

"She wears her satins like a lady
she gets her way just like a child
You take her home and she says "Maybe, baby"
she takes you down and drives you wild "
___
13. SCHOOL DAYS (performed by The Runaways)

Quite an appropriate choice to follow The Donnas, as The Runaways could be considered their mentors, with the press having made similar 'jailbait' remarks in regards to appearance and bad-girl attitude. Doesn't hurt that they were all more than capable of handling their instruments, and were really the first all female punk-rock band. (Anybody who mentions Avril LaGobshite near me, will get my stratocaster upside their head).

We hear a dirty, distorted guitar and then a well-paced drumbeat that gets your foot tapping and head nodding, when the vocals begin... slightly rough (someone's been sneaking ciggies!), which is good for the 'we're bad girls, we don't do melodies or harmonics' thing. The track continues in all it's 70's glory, no complicated solos, no dodgy effects indicating drug-induced 'Floyd aspirations... feckin' brilliant.

"Never made the honour roll
hated rules what I was told
Now I am almost free
it's a dangerous scene when you're eighteen"
___
14. LITTLE WILLY (performed by The Sweet)
Ahhh another laid back rock song, I love it when bands are thoughtful to make sure their fans don't get over-exerted while dancing away. Now, the meaning behind the song is subject to discussion. I've came across one theory considering that the lyrics are about a pitched tent that won't go away (standing to attention... popping up to say hello... an erection, for God's sake! Jeez, you people...)
While we hear the guitar gently getting started, we've suddenly got clapping... c'mon everybody, join in! We suddenly hear steady, deliberate beats to set the pace of the track... I'm sure I can hear tambourines and a wooden block as well in there. It's catchy as hell, I'd always known part of the chorus but it was a couple of years until I discovered the whole song. And the song doesn't exactly climax, it fades out... which is alright but you're always left standing there like a feckin' eejit if you're dancing and the song just fades. At least with rock and roll climaxes you can end with a killer pose or high five your pal or random stranger.

"Way past one and feelin' alright
'cause with little willy 'round
They can last all night
hey down, stay down, stay down, down"
___
15. NOTHING CAN KEEP ME FROM YOU (performed by KISS)

Ahh jeez, KISS did a ballad. Ok, they did more than one but y'know... and christ, they did a disco song... no mention shall be made of this monstrosity! Excellent, we're all clear on that.

Cymbals go, guitars play so gently it's almost like what George Harrison was going on about... in typical 'rock ballad' style, it's all very heartfelt, slow paced drums, making that fist in the air and then pulling down... oh and the violins. Let's not forget the violins, making this a big girly song. There's nowt wrong with talking about feelings and confessing your love for someone - when a big rock star hardass does it, it can be quite impressive. But as we have already established - rock star or not, I cannot dance or rock out to ballads because they are slow and therefore am not a big fan of them.

"I gave you my word - I would be there for you
and you can be sure there's no mountain that I would not move
Just to lie beside you spend my whole life lookin' in your eyes
Yeah I swear, I'm there for you, forever"

God, it makes you wanna puke. If it was anyone but KISS who did this, I'd be mocking them right now.
___
+ THE C-WORD... erm... CONCLUSION! HA! IN YOUR FACE, THESAURUS +

Excellent, excellent album. Very very appropriate to have some KISS tracks (but why the ballad? Perhaps because in the movie there is a love interest, but still... I suppose the ballad could be considered the last track for the listener to 'wind down' a bit after all that rockin' out.
Chronologically speaking, some of the tracks weren't actually released until after 1978 (when the movie is set) but who gives a flying feck, so long as it sounds good. Which brings me to the track 7 abomination. Why oh why oh why could they have not just asked for the original version? Or at least chosen another band who recorded a cover? This really does belong elsewhere - not on an album about rock and roll, with no goths in sight. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was a deal between the movie and record company... but can't be arsed researching for the validity in my outlandish claims.
Seriously, if you listen to it yourselves you'll see it's all wrong! It makes me quite happily go along with KISS's ballad at the end! So, apart from that track, the remaining 40-odd minutes of the CD are bloody brilliant. So due to this horrendous oversight or misjudgement by the folk who compiled this, I've got to dock a star... yes, a whole star. It fecks up a perfectly good rock-out session.

Do excuse me, I have to fill a vodka bottle with water so I can pretend I'm sober.

Available from:
virginmegastores.co.uk - £13.99
amazon.co.uk - £13.49 (or from £1.35 from marketplace)

Summary: Awesome album for rock fans, if you ignore the atrocity that is track 7