

Newest Review: ... at their peak. A fantastic song to end the first disc on. Inbetween there are 18 songs to rock along with. Standout tracks include the bal... more
SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK N ROLL
Red White & Crue - Motley Crue

Member Name: MrQuomps
Product:
Red White & Crue - Motley Crue
Date: 27/10/08
Rating:
Advantages: Perfect Introduction to the band
Disadvantages: Includes the hits from the not so good years
This is the most recent and and the most definitive Motley Crue compilation available.
It's a two disc album. The tracklisting is chronological, therefore the majority of the band's classics, and arguably best work, is on the first disc. The second disc contains singles from the band's not so glamorous years - the 90's and beyond.
Disc one is excellent. Starting with early classic Live Wire and ending on the world famous Dr Feelgood which showcases Motley Crue at their peak. A fantastic song to end the first disc on. Inbetween there are 18 songs to rock along with. Standout tracks include the ballad You're All I need (about killing a girlfriend!), the HUGE single Girls, Girls, Girls and Kickstart My Heart, which is a high energy hair metal gem, all about Nikki Sixx's heroin overdose. Nice.
The low points for me on the first disc are mainly found in the earlier records where Motley were still finding their feet. Tracks like Black Widow are a little hard going. And the production on the earlier stuff sounds pretty tame up against the glossy later material.
Disc 2 is pretty hit and miss. It starts with the lame cover of Anarchy In The UK (which was recorded as a bonus track for a previous Best Of album) then moves on to Primal Scream which has some some great guitar sounds on it so I always like this. 3rd up is the '91 remix of Home Sweet Home, which is Motley's 'Bon Jovi' moment. An over-produced classic ballad.
But then it's time to hit the skip button through below par tunes (some with Vince Neil's replacement - John Corabi) from the 90's, with the occasional more enjoyable track like Generation Swine which reminds you of the snotty Motley of old, until you get to the 3 'new' tracks specially recorded for this compilation.
The 1st is another hard to stomach cover of Street Fighting Man. The second is If I Die Tomorrow and is absolutely excellent. With an updated sound and some super-heavy guitars it's the best Motley song for at least 15 years. Great stuff. But then it's followed up by the album closer - Sick Love Song which seems to see the band regressing again. Most frustrating.
Summary: Peaks and Troughs. But well put together, and contains so many classics it's worth getting a copy.

