Though Up Your Alley isn't her best album, it did garner Joan Jett considerable attention, mostly due to the hit single "I Hate Myself for Loving You". Though most of the material on this album isn't as good, there are a f... more »ew high points, including the cover of Chuck Berry's "Tulane", the original songs "Desire" and "Ridin' With James Dean", and "Little Liar", which was co-written with hit-making songwriter Desmond Child. While not as energetic as her earlier material, Up Your Alley contains plenty of Jett's crunching guitars, gravel-throated voice, and defiant sneer. -- Genevieve Williams« less
Though Up Your Alley isn't her best album, it did garner Joan Jett considerable attention, mostly due to the hit single "I Hate Myself for Loving You". Though most of the material on this album isn't as good, there are a few high points, including the cover of Chuck Berry's "Tulane", the original songs "Desire" and "Ridin' With James Dean", and "Little Liar", which was co-written with hit-making songwriter Desmond Child. While not as energetic as her earlier material, Up Your Alley contains plenty of Jett's crunching guitars, gravel-throated voice, and defiant sneer. -- Genevieve Williams
Michael Neiss | Princeton, NJ United States | 02/10/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm sure that in any serious discussion of rock-chick luminaries there would be the inevitable nods to the incendiary booze-blues of Janis Joplin, the subtle explosiveness of Grace Slick or the swirling sorcery of Stevie Nicks. Unfortunately, within the very narrow corridors of the rock caste system you'll never talk (or drink) long enough to get around to a performer who is every bit their equal - Joan Jett.
In many respects she never escaped the extremely long and suffocating shadow of her one monster hit, I Love Rock and Roll, a heavy rotation radio staple of the early 1980's. Unfortunately, while her mega-watt star turn was fleeting her early body of work has more than guaranteed her legacy - specifically Bad Reputation - a balls-to-the-wall rock record that is still incinerating iPods even today.
However, Jett remains the ultimate guilty pleasure. And, if the rock Illuminati who all talk a good game about Joplin (my bet is that they have not voluntarily played her records for twenty years) were truthful, any party is a much better affair with Jett's snarling, erotic swagger on soundtrack.
All of which brings me around to her late 1980's comeback recording, Up Your Alley. While many performers facing a make-or-break career crossroads would slip into another guise to broaden their appeal (Rod Stewart, anyone?) Jett stayed true to herself and unleashed what I believe is her best and most satisfying work - forty minutes of decibel shredding power-chord rock that is relentless and life affirming. From the opening of the one prominent single, I Hate Myself For Loving You through Riding With James Dean, Little Liar and a blistering cover of Chuck Berry's Tulane, Jett delivers the booming pyrotechnics in leather and bass-line spades!
Up Your Alley was... is... the welcome return of an authentic rock original - and one of the best driving records around. Five Stars!
"
I LOVE ROCK 'N' ROLL years later
J. O'Brien | Malden, MA | 06/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Every track on this CD is WORTHY of singing, playing, and praise! I bow to this CD! It's definately 'Up Your Alley'!"
Best album!
Mauibluecat | California | 03/02/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is Joan Jett's best album by far! I'm a huge fans of hers, but I mainly like her hard, fast songs. Most of her albums have about 3-4 great songs, and then the rest are too slow and not rock enough for my taste. That is why I've taken the best tracks off of all of her albums to make my own "Greatest" Joan Jett songs. However, of all of her albums, this one is the best.
"I Still Dream About You" and "Back It Up" are fantastic rock songs, even though they weren't big hits for her. "You Want In and I Want Out" is a good song also!
Joan is by far my favorite musician...hope she keeps rockin' hard!
"
JOAN JETT UP YOUR ALLEY
M. J. BURKE | Bradenton, FLA. | 06/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Joan Jett is I do beleive the first lady to break through male dominated "Hard rock". She opened the door for many others.
Truly one of the "GREATEST ROCK N ROLLERS". You can't, not like this album if you like Hard Rock. She gets your head bobbing !"