Search - Hanoi Rocks :: Twelve Shots on the Rocks

Great Songwriting is ck

marcos lara | IL | 06/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hanoi Rocks are back and if you don't know who they are, it doesn't matter. If you have a love for creative and high energy music, this is the album for you. It is a raspberry in your face approach to attitude and emotion based rock `n' roll.
This is the album that took 17 years to make and it's their best ever. When I got this and saw that only two of the members were back (Michael and Andy) I was skeptical, especially since most of Michael Monroe's work has been absolute crap (he even got my favorite guitarist, Steve Stevens, sound bad on their failure of a collaboration, Jerusalem Slim) and their last studio album, Two Steps From the Move, was their worse album ever by far. I was, however, quite pleasantly surprised. I would call "12 Shots" the best album to come out since AFI released Sing the Sorrow (yes, it's even better than Outkast's Grammy winner). I find it rather strange though that neither Nasty Suicide nor Sam Yaffa played on this album considering that they often collaborated with Monroe throughout the Hanoi-less years. This would seem a disappointment especially since their work on the Johnny Thunders tribute seemed to point to an all out Hanoi reunion. Fortunately, the new band performs wonderfully on this exquisite collection of songs. The absence of the original rhythm section, Sam and Razzle (RIP), is felt by the lack of any songs reminiscent of the camp classic, "Tooting Bec Wreck." This cloud definitely has a silver lining, though, as it is good to see Hanoi not recycling previous failsafe ideas like so many other bands do when they have their "reunions." Without a doubt, the classic Hanoi sound is still there, but continues to move forward. This may be due to the change in songwriting leadership. While before, almost all of their songs were written exclusively by McCoy, this time around sees Monroe taking the helm as he writes or co-writes almost all of the original songs on the album (which scared me at first considering his track record). The best song on the album by far is "In My Darkest Moment," a collaboration between the two. This song, along with "Obscured," is a testament to the fact much focus has shifted away from camp and goofiness of their original sound as showcased on Back to Mystery City, it has shifted toward depth and lyrical maturity. There are still songs like "Delirious" to give listeners are chuckle, but this album has a far more urgent sound than previous efforts.
Unfortunately, Hanoi will never get the respect they deserve because they refuse to sell out. They are deeply rooted in glam which has the biggest stigma of any genre attached to it. Fear not though, this is not some Motley Crue/Poison sounding band. While the aforementioned have obviously taken their cues from the Rocks, the eyeliner veterans are much closer in sound and attitude to Iggy Pop than Whitesnake, Great White, or any of those ozone-depleting bands. Actually the climatic buildup and depth of several of the songs remind me a bit of 1970's Springsteen. Hanoi would no doubt be much more respected if no one knew what they looked like. First of all, no self-respecting punk should be without at least one Hanoi Rocks album, as their sound is as punk as anything out there. However, Hanoi also have a tender side to them which is evident on every album (and fortunately this album didn't need yet another version of "Don't You Ever Leave Me" in order to display that). If Hanoi Rocks were to comb down their hair, stop dressing like Debbie Gibson wannabe crack [prostitutes], and reinvent their image, they would probably be sharing chart success with Jet and the Darkness, but instead they stick to their guns and lipstick.
This is a great album for people who may not be Hanoi Rocks fans or glam rock fans at all. It is highly recommended for people who like innovative and high energy artists like the Sex Pistols, Andrew WK, AFI, HIM, Outkast, early Springsteen, Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell, Prince, Siegue Siegue Sputnik, and of course, Johnny Thunders. If you like bands that take chances and push the envelope you will love this album. Just don't look at the damned pictures and you'll be fine."

Rebirth of Rock'n Roll

Thomas | Helsinki, Finland | 04/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This IS the "Appetite for Destruction" of 21st century, period. Just listen to the samples and make your own decision. This is a bit harder than 80's Hanoi Rocks but all the good stuff is still there and this CD is just as good as all the classical Hanoi stuff. Mark my words: real Rock'n Roll is coming back after more than a decade of commercial and gutless crap. Once again Hanoi Rocks is showing the world the direction of music."

Song " Winged Bull "

Michael J. Lubrano | Staten Island, New York, United States | 01/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not sure if many know this.....But Winged Bull is actually a Hall & Oates song from their 1977 album Beauty On A Back Street."