Decline of Western Civ Part 2

Remember this post here?

Man, I was totally right on, if I do say so myself. I've been listening to my new music today, and I've gotta' say there is very little to recommend Motley Crue's Girls, Girls, Girls over their earlier albums, especially Shout At The Devil. Yeah, the title track is pretty kickin', as is a couple others but for the most part it is an exercise in decadence and squalor. Do I really need to hear about the guy's fantasy to get it on with a 15 year old?

On the other hand, they're still quite creative, both musically and lyrically...I doubt I've heard such un-restrained raunchiness anywhere else in the last 20 years (other than a rap album or two)...and all without resorting to profanity. These guys are cringe-worthy sleeze, but man they're still rock n roll without being "shock n roll" (or even "schlock n roll").

Of course, Girls, Girls, Girls was put out (no pun intended) circa 1987, and was still a step better (rock-wise) than the 1989 Dr. Feelgood, in my less-than-humble opinion.

But compare it to Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, and PowerSlave. Wow...it's been awhile since I've heard these (the last time I had a working cassette player in my car was around 1997), but they still rock. And all of 'em were out before 1986.

In fact, Iron Maiden is just crazy prolific...they were putting out something like an album per year for like five years, and all with great, sometimes mind-blowing music.

Even so, listening to 'em back-to-back (or rather, back-to-front, since I started with PS and worked my way backwards) there is a noticeable decline in quality, at least to my ear. And that's withOUT factoring in Somewhere In Time and 7th Son. When I was younger (like 13 or 14) I was all over songs like The Evil That Men Do, but it just doesn't hold up compared to Die With Your Boots On, the Trooper, or even Gangland.

Of course it's not really fair to compare anything to the Number of the Beast. That has got to be one of my favorite albums of all time by any band. Hallowed Be Thy Name? Are you kidding me? This is one of the most rocking songs ever written, hands down. I just can't praise it enough. And it's from 1982.

Iron Maiden is not especially raunchy...aside from Charlotte the Harlot, they more regularly refer the listener to authors of raunchy books than (Heinlein) than provide any vicarious sleeziness. In fact, they are so concept oriented they'd probably be a good platform for "RPG Rock" (you know who you are, Three Inches of Blood)...IF they had any interest in RPGs, which I doubt they do.

Doesn't mean role-players don't have any interest in them. Anyone else ever notice the striking resemblance the protagonist of The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh bears to lead singer Bruce Dickinson circa the 1980s? No? I'm the only one that sees it? Come on!

Well, ANYway...it's nice to have some new/old music on Ye Olde IPod...it sure makes the work day go faster.

Up the Irons!

: )