TMB Spotlight: Motley Crue 1982-2008

By Wendell Muthafuckin Rose • June 22, 2008

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I have loved Motley Crue since I first began listening to music, they have always been in my life, Thanks to older siblings rebeling in the 80’s, I got to hear what my parents didn’t want me listening to and I loved it. Motley Crue’s second album Shout at The Devil was my first glimpse of the band, even though I thought they looked ridiculous in those black and red outfits with the face paint and big hair. I liked the way they sounded, the crunch and raunchiness, their street smart style. But I was very young and didn’t appreciate it like I should of.

As I grew older and started choosing my own music, I discovered Dr. Feelgood. I remember instantly moving my head to its grooves and heavy riffs. At that time I only had a few cds so I listened to them over and over again. this album was pounded in my head constantly. Now that I’m a lot older I still revert back to Dr. Feelgood when I want to hear a solid Rock album. It is one of the greatest rock albums of all time. I started getting Motley Crue crazy, I “acquired” the rest of their albums, Girls, Girls, Girls was pretty goddamn good as other albums like “Shout at The Devil” which I heard before and “Theatre of Pain” didn’t appeal to me the same way. I mean they both had songs that I liked but none of them as much as “Dr. Feelgood” or “Girls, Girls, Girls.”.

1. TOO FAST FOR LOVE (1982)

Official Bar Score:

LISTEN TO “PIECE OF YOUR ACTION”

The first album from rock bad boys Motley Crue, I can’t lie even though this album has a few great songs on it, in it’s entirety its not that great. The production quality isn’t as good as the other albums (unless you own the re-masters like me) and the songs don’t have the same feel to them. “Live Wire” saved the album in my opinion, I’d have to say not only is it the best track on the disc it’s also one of their greatest hits. I love the song and thinks its a great Introduction to the band. “Too Fast For Love” doesn’t have much to offer other than “Live Wire”, “Piece of Your Action” is a great song and the title track is bad ass. Other than that the album is pretty weak.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “LIVE WIRE”

2. “SHOUT AT THE DEVIL” (1983)

Official Bar Score:

LISTEN TO “SHOUT AT THE DEVIL”

The second release from the Crue, Shout at The DEvil stepped up a notch from “Too Fast For Love” the production quality is way better on this disc but yet still has the garage feel to it. Tommy Lee is on point and doesn’t miss a beat, the choruses are catchy and the riffs are memorable, This album is great, it has some really stand out songs on it and it rocks. The title track “Shout At The Devil” gained the band a devil worshiping image that really helped their sales even though the band doesn’t in fact worship the devil, the song is bad as shit though. “Looks That Kill” is my favorite song on the CD, its definately the attention grabber on the album. “Helter Skelter” is a great cover and deserves some respect. “Too Young To Fall In Love” is also a really good jam. This was Motley Crue’s last album before the glitter and glam, when rock was raw and dirty.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “THE LOOKS THAT KILL”

3. “THEATRE OF PAIN” (1985)

Official Bar Score:

LISTEN TO “SAVE OUR SOULS”

After the success of their second album, the band goes back in the studio and records their more rock oriented “Theatre of Man”. On this album you can tell that a little of that “Shout at The Devil” money come in handy when producing this album. It sounded like a studio disc not a garage recording. All though the sound was better, I think that the band didn’t have the razor sharp edge that they had before. I’m not a big fan of “Smokin’ In The Boys Room” but it seemed to be pretty popular among other fans. I personally like “Use it Or Lose It” and “Save Our Souls” the best. Lets not forget the super popular power ballad “Home, Sweet Home” the song showed a softer side of the band and the life of being on the road. Great song.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “HOME, SWEET HOME”

4. “GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS” (1987)

Official Bar Score:

LISTEN TO “WILD SIDE”

“Girls, Girls, Girls” well that about sums it up for this album. Motley Crue’s fourth studio album is the ultimate strip club CD. By now you must know that the Crue is all about cocaine and strippers. This is a good album with a few gems on it, “Girls, Girls, Girls” is an awesome song that shouts out some of the groups favorite spots to frolic around at. The video has nudity in it as well. This is definitely a milestone for the band. “Wild Side” is the best song on the disc, its hard and heavy and tells the tale of the band getting fucked up all the time. Even though “Wild Side” is my fav, I think it’s in a close race with the disturbing love song “You’re All I Need” which is twisted, but is a very beuatiful song. The “Jailhouse Rock” cover rocks as well.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS”

5. “DR. FEELGOOD” (1989)

Official Bar Score:

YOU CAN READ THE REVIEW FOR THIS ALBUM BY CLICKING HERE TO GO TO THE TMB CLASSICS SECTION OF THE BAR

6. “MOTLEY CRUE” (1994)

Official Bar Score:

LISTEN TO “DRIFT AWAY”

Even though Vince Neil isn’t doing the vocals on this album, I really like it. The rest of the band sounds great and I like dudes voice. This album is heavy and has some really good songs on it, I think that because is not the original line up that it is very under rated, most Crue fans can’t except it as being Motley Crue without Vince but I like this disc alot. I love “Hooligans Holiday” that is one bad ass track, other greats include “Uncle Jack”, “Hammered” and the ballad “Drift Away” is tight. I also really like “Misunderstood”, this is a good album, But I agree that it isn’t the same without Vince Neil, but if you take it for whats worth it is a solid rock album.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “HOOLIGAN’S HOLIDAY”

7. “GENERATION SWINE” (1997)

Official Bar Score:

LISTEN TO “FIND MYSELF”

This album is O.K. I like quite a few songs on it but I don’t love any of them. It seemed to me that this album was poorly put together and just an excuse for a reunion tour. I’d call it a failed attempt at a Motley Crue album, it feels like there was still some animosity with the band. “Flush” is a pretty good jam, the title track is awful, I don’t care what anybody says (Mike Lundie) “Glitter” is a good song. “Shout at The Devil ‘97″ is the SHIT. Thats about it for this album, unless you count “Brandon” sang by Tommy Lee, I don’t.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “SHOUT AT THE DEVIL ‘97″

8. “NEW TATTOO” (2000)

Official Bar Score:

LISTEN TO “HOLLYWOOD ENDING”

As the band matured and changed their sound up in the 90’s and all grew a little wiser and realized that it was about time to go back to their roots and put out an album that sounds like it came from the 80’s. This album is really good and takes the band back to its raunchy, dirty sound. After “Generation Swine” I thought the band should just hang it up and call it quits, then they let the world now that there still hope for Motley Crue. “New Tattoo” is a great ballad and deserves to be the title track. “Hell on Highheels” is about scoring a hooker with HIV, thats got to suck. Every song on the album is pretty good in its own way. The down fall of the album is that Randy Costello is on drums, which he is a great drummer but it not the Crue without Tommy Lee!

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “FAKE”

9. “SAINTS OF LOS ANGELES” (2008)

Official Bar Score:

LISTEN TO “JUST ANOTHER PSYCHO”

The First Motley Crue album with all original four members in over a DECADE! This is the Crue’s 9th studio album and it is the best I’ve heard from the band in a long time. When a band has been around as long as Motley Crue has its safe to say that they know what the fuck they’re doing, this album is proof. The band hasn’t sounded this good since Dr. Feelgood. I like every song on the album, not one of them lacks the fire that makes up the quartet. I like the fact that the band took their time writing and recording this album, I hate it when a band rushes into it and puts out a half assed rock album. They lived up to their potential here.

You can’t help but rock out to this album when you hear it, it is classic Crue at its finest and I believe that will be undistputed by fans and critics. The title track is the shit, it hits hard and sounds awesome, “Motherfucker of the year” is also a great song. My favorite track on the disc is “Just Another Psycho” its got a wicked groove and flow to it, the chorus is great and it sounds really cool. I could go on and on about every song, but your just gonna have to trust me and go out and buy this album.

Its as raunchy as ever, and shows off the party life style that the band is so a custom to. Motley Crue are veterans in the game and will always be one of the greatest bands in rock history.

About the Author

Wendell Muthafuckin Rose

Is more famous than J. LaRose!

13 Responses to “TMB Spotlight: Motley Crue 1982-2008”

Winston Jun 23rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Damn… that was a LOT of shit. Good stuff.

I agree on classic for Dr. Feelgood, but I’m surprised you didn’t give it to “Shout at the Devil” too.

Anybody else notice that Mick Mars looks exactly the same in every single picture?
Wendell Muthafuckin Rose Jun 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm

That dude is old as balls, he looked old when we was young.
Michael Lundie Jun 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 pm

Have you actually listened to “glitter”? That is one of the worst songs of all time. I don’t even care that its about a stripper. That song absolutely sucks! You know I love the Crue, but come on, that is not a real song…
Wendell Muthafuckin Rose Jun 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 pm

I knew you’d have something to say about “Glitter”, thats why I put it on there.
mattrix Jun 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am

bunch of glam homos is what i see but hey if the “glitter” fits wear it hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaahhhhahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhhhhhhhhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha

no wait hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ok im done
Winston Jun 24th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

heh, I’m am S.O.S man myself…
Mike 'F' Lundie Jun 25th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

You put Glitter in there because you have shitty taste in music, and you actually like the song. Don’t kid yourself…
Winston Jun 26th, 2008 at 9:36 am

A) “Glitter” is horrbile. I know this because I have never heard it.
B) “SOS” is the best Motley Crue song. Period.
C) Mick Mars is a fucking zombie, I know it.
mattrix Jun 26th, 2008 at 11:25 am

lets go house of the dead game style on his ass we can shoot off a leg and put a hole in his cheast and see if he still gets up then shoot him in the head and end it
Winston Jun 26th, 2008 at 3:32 pm

Dude, that would be an awesome game. An army of Mick Mars’ zombie clones that feed on brains and opiates attacks Los Angeles, and you gotta kills them all.
Michael Lundie Jun 26th, 2008 at 6:21 pm

While the song Glitter plays, over and over and over in the background. Kill me now!!! I think Shane pre-ordered that game!
Wendell Muthafuckin Rose Jun 27th, 2008 at 1:15 am

Thats not Glitter in the back ground douche. Hey Lundie you should tell everyone about your Johnny Depp THING.
mattrix Jun 27th, 2008 at 11:24 am

that game would would be great but no

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