Monsterous Teaser

A few days ago, I wrote an article about B-sides for my blog over at www.hairballjohnradioshow.com. It's not coincidental that I recently purchased Supersonic Relics, a 1999 release by Motley Crue. The album includes a lot of b-sides, previously unreleased tracks, and songs recorded specifically for the now outdated releases Decade of Decadence and Greatest Hits.

Starting at the beginning, here's the track listing:

Teaser
1. Primal Scream
2. Sinners & Saints
3. Monsterous
4. Say Yeah
5. Planet Boom
6. Bittersuite
7. Father
8. Anarchy in the U.K.
9. So Good, So Bad
10. Hooligan's Holiday
11. Rock 'N' Roll Junkie
12. Angela
13. Mood Ring
14. Dr. Feelgood  (live)

Of this list, "Primal Scream," "Planet Boom," "Bittersuite," "Anarchy in the U.K.," and a different version of "Hooligan's Holiday" are included on Red, White and Crue. "Rock N' Roll Junkie" is on the soundtrack of The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.

 Supersonic Relics is an uneven listen, still, the album provides more hits than misses for the die hard Crue fan. My favorite song on this album is "Say Yeah." To me, this track sounds good enough to be on a studio release, and would fit nicely on Girls, Girls, Girls or Dr. Feelgood. According to the liner notes, Nikki Sixx wrote the song early in the Crue's career when Matthew John Trippe was trying to steal his identity. Trippe was nuts, and it got to the point where fans kept asking Sixx if he was real or fake.

"Monsterous" is also a great track. I love the chorus and it makes me want to shove my fist in the air and scream "Yeah!"

I can do without "Mood Ring," because the boys are trying too hard to be psychedelic. Despite the copious amount of drugs, the Crue is not psychedelic. According to the liner notes, the boys were just goofing around and someone rolled tape. I'm not so sure I believe this because the track sounds awfully slick.

My top three favorite Crue songs all time are "Danger," "Shout at the Devil," and "Hooligan's Holiday." The version of "Hooligan's Holiday" included on this compilation makes me mad. It's over 11 minutes and includes a very long industrial interlude performed by Skinny Puppy. I don't like industrial music and I don't appreciate Skinny Puppy messing with such a great track written and performed by Mr. John Corabi.

"Rock N' Roll Junkie" is another great track. I've never seen  The Adventures of Ford Fairlane but the soundtrack looks awesome, including artists like  Queensryche, Billy Idol, and Richie Sambora.

The live version of "Dr. Feelgood" is a nice addition to this package of lesser-known tracks. I also really like "Teaser," including the smart lyrics:

"That woman's got a smile/
Puts you in a trance/
And just one look at her/
Makes you want to dance.

Those dark an rosy lips/
Only passify/
With just a hint of ruthlessness/
Sparkling in her eye."

It doesn't get any more glam than that, folks.

Overall, I give this album a B-.
It's not necessary unless you're a die-hard fan. Still, if you love the Crue, you'll get your hands on any recording that money can buy.

 [Teaser lyrics by Tommy Bolin and Jeff Cook. Copyright 1989].

Comments

[Max Lee Dagger]

Tommy Bolin! *the Bolan guy, if I remember correctly, was a guitar player for Doro Pesch once* One of the most underrated guitarists/songwriters/singers ever.

Me and Nikki Sixx seem to be among the dying breed of glamsters who also happen to be diehard Tommy Bolin fans. BTW Tommy was a very close friend of Glenn Hughes who is also one of the Sixx' idols *the very Hughes who sang backup on the 1994 album...*

[rev richard Hauter]

I will just start off with ,Yes I know Matt !
Matt stayed at my homless place . I payed his way , lawyers & mind way to L.A. To meet with the Crue
Matt could play bass and lead, Write infact I have
Songs Matt wrote .Not only did Matt write the songs
Matt played lead fill bass used my drum machine . wrote three songs , With my recoding studio .
Matt is the werdest person you might meet
Matt is not to understand This I know Matt could have
Mixed in the crue And done what he said:
Yes I have the record Shout with the Devel it had to
be changed to shout at the devel .
matt Loves all things Matt gave a possom mouth to mouth resesation that got hit trying to save it
I don't think you know MATT ! OH one of the songs
Matt recored was Jesus it is GOOD
THanks Richard