Metal Edge Goes Top 25

In the April issue of Metal Edge, various contributors list their choices for the top 25 Glam (they say "Hair Metal) albums of all time.

Here are the choices:

25. The Darkness - Permission to Land (2003)
24. Pretty Boy Floyd - Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz (1989)
23. Slaughter - Stick It To Ya (1990)
22. Winger -Winger (1988)
21. Europe - The Final Countdown (1986)
20. Bulletboys - Bulletboys (1988)
19. Whitesnake - Whitesnake (1987)
18. Lita Ford - Lita (1987)
17. W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P. (1984)
16. Faster Pussycat - Faster Pussycat (1987)
15. Guns n' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
14. Dokken - Tooth and Nail (1984)
13. Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry (1984)
12. Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987)
11. White Lion - Pride (1987)
10. Cinderella - Night Songs (1986)
09. Warrant - Dirty Rotten Stinking Filthy Rich (1989)
08. RATT - Out of the Cellar (1984)
07.Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)
06. Def Leppard - Pyromania (1983)
05. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (1986)
04. L.A. Guns - Cocked & Loaded (1989)
03. Skid Row - Skid Row (1989)
02. Quiet Riot - Metal Health (1983)
01. Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil (1983)

Now, I will agree that most of these albums deserve a spot in the top 25 - my main problem here is the number placement, and also the commentary that goes with each selection.

My friend Cheryl A. Hoaning did a great job introducing this special feature - her authorial voice is lively and positive. I can't say the same for the other writers involved in the piece.

Let's tackle the album selection and numerical placement first. I don't agree with The Darkness earning a spot on this list. If the editors wanted to chose a modern band and album, then the only option is Crashdiet Rest in Sleaze. As a matter of fact, I would put Rest in Sleaze in the top 10.

I also don't necessarily think Lita Ford deserves a spot on this list. I'll agree, Lita is a good effort, but not one of the best. I would think Poison's Open Up and Say...Ah! deserves a mention, considering many of their live staples come from this album. 

I don't think anyone will dispute me here that Appetite for Destruction deserves a spot in the top 10. Really, I don't know what the editors were thinking when they gave Guns n' Roses the 15th spot. After all, Appetite for Destruction is one of the best Metal releases of all time.

Speaking of mistakes, I think not adding Hanoi Rocks to the list is a grave oversight. Two Steps from the Move is a Glam classic and the band would be a lot bigger today if not for fate getting in the way.

Metal Edge got it right by placing Motley Crue's Shout At The Devil in the top spot. This album sums up and entire genre and Motley always takes the prize for reigning the Sunset Strip during the 1980s.

Now, we'll tackle the editorial content. Some of the contributors are genuine in their responses, others less so. Many write comments like "aging rocker dude," and, when talking about GnR "...Tonsorial choices and power ballads aside, though, one thing set Appetite for Destruction apart from the rest of the L.A. hairspray-and-spandex crowd: it absolutely didn't suck."  

What a glowing endorsement.

As for the photos, we finally get a glimpse at the glory days of Metal Edge. The photos are from the classic period, taken by veteran rock photog Eddie Malluk.

Thoughts on this list? Thoughts on my thoughts?

Comments

[windbag]

I don't think that the placement of the albums, really matter so much. I think overall it is a pretty good list, with the exception of Bon Jovi and Europe, these two are weak and they border more on pop music than anything else (think Journey). I do think the last two on the list are probably questionable choices to say the least and I would vote for Dangerous Toys Dangerous Toys at No. 24 and then probably Kix Blow My Fuse at number No. 25.

[windbag]

I would like to say one more thing too. I got Cocked and Loaded when it was brand new, but never really realized how fucking great that album sounds. This album fuckin rocks from beginning to the very end. Even the ballad on the album, which is not typical of LA Guns, is a great sond and it was about something that actually matter, the death of a close friend.