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Skid Row
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Revolutions Per Minute
SPV/Steamhammer Records
Release: 10/24/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
J Sherrod
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I can't tell you how fuckin' stoked I was when I found out I
was gettin' an advance copy of the new Skid Row record
Revolutions Per Minute. I can honestly say I
own everything this band's ever put out and still listen to
their albums and watch the home vids regularly. (Actually, I
don't own the Oh Say Can You
Scream! home
video. Maybe one day I'll move into the 21st century and get
an E-bay account to see if I can find a copy.)
Though the days of wild front man Sebastian Bach and
cowbell-happy drummer Rob Affusso are long gone, Skid
Row are still very much alive and kickin'! Founding members
Rachel Bolan, Dave "Snake" Sabo, and Scotti Hill are back
with singer Johnny Solinger - who made his debut with the
band on 2003's Thickskin - and brand new
drummer Dave Gara (replacing ex-Saigon Kick drummer Phil
Varone.)
I remember when the band released their self-titled debut in
1989 and churned out hits like "18 & Life," "Youth Gone Wild"
and "I Remember You" (which I'm not a damn bit ashamed
to admit my first love and I called "Our Song"). You're
allowed to snicker but make it fast and keep
readin'.
Then came 91's Slave To The Grind, which to
this very day is in my top three albums of all time. Following
that was 1995's highly underrated and overlooked
Subhuman Race, and was the last recording
from the original line-up. The band took some downtime and
revamped to release the lukewarm 2003 album
Thickskin. There's nothin' bad about the album,
but definitely not a groundbreaking comeback.
Now that I've provided some band history and how
important this band has been not only to the music world but
also in my personal life, we move forward to what I'm
currently blasting in my sound system.
Revolutions Per Minute should be the
triumphant return of this mighty hard rock/metal band. This
album sees the band delving into punk rock "When God
Can't Wait," and even a funny country-esque song, "You
Lie," as well as pounding out the heaviness fans have come
to know and love.
"Another Dick In The System" is brilliant, although the title
probably doesn't give the indication. Listen to the lyrics and
see what you take from them. "Pulling My Heart Out From
Under Me" has a catchy chorus and has the promise to be a
radio-friendly single. "Shut Up Baby, I Love You" ain't a love
song but it has sounds reminiscent of Old School Skid
Row.
The album also features a cover of "Strength" by The Alarm,
and a gut-busting song that will have you trippin' out every
listen - appropriately titled "White Trash."
I've had people tell me that I'm one of the most loyal people
they've ever met. To me, when you find somethin' good you
stick with it. Be it a tattoo shop or artist, a restaurant, brand
of vehicle, or in this case, a rock band. So, Skid Row has
lost two original members. Big deal! Van Halen remained
strong up 'til Gary Cherone - and it wasn't his fault the album
flopped. Motley Crue's self-titled album with John Corabi was
way better than anything they did with Vince Neil. It may not
have been truly "Motley Crue" but it kicked mucho ass in
substance, and that's what counts most at the end of the
day.
I for one am happy as a pig in shit that Dave, Rachel and
Scotti have kept the band goin'. It's called evolving, and it's
essential in music as well as life. Some people are just too
closed-minded to accept it. It's in doing so, you miss out on
a fresh-sounding record like Revolutions Per
Minute.
Any Skid Row fan should buy this record, and any young fan
of hard rock/heavy metal should pick this up first and
appreciate it for what it is. Then go out and collect the rest of
their catalog (especially Slave To The
Grind.) |
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