Vince Neil – vocals

Mick Mars - guitar, vocals

Nikki Sixx - bass guitar, vocals

Tommy Lee - drums, percussion, vocals, piano

            Motley Crue are you serious? Did you think they were dead? Well while fighting amongst themselves some of them almost did and one did then was revived. The band reunited in 2004 to be a reunion tour and then call it officially done, what happened to that? Now in 2008 the band releases its 9^th studio album and in the middle of it all bassist Nikki Sixx released a book and a soundtrack (what a busy guy these days, but he needs to fill his time with something). The guys went back into the studio and came out with Saints of Los Angeles on June 24^th of ’08 and are set to embark on the first (of maybe many) Crue Fest’s, which is a tour much like Ozzfest. The album begins with “L.A.M.F.” which is a minute plus warm up/intro that flows right into “Face Down In The Dirt.” It takes you back to the old great sound with a splash of new spices. It is very catchy saying “I’d rather be dead….I’d rather be face down in the dirt with a bullet in my head.” The high flying music is just like you remember it back in the day with pounding drums from Tommy Lee and great guitar work from Sixx and Mars. The next track “What’s It Gonna Take” is talking about making in the life. Neil talks about having hardly any money, writing a song and being told it’s not going to work. It is classic Crue sound trying finding themselves. “Down At The Whisky” is one of the best tracks on the album. It reminds me of Girls, Girls, Girls type track. It offers up great guitars, drums, and some of the better vocals on the album. Lead single and title track on the album “Saints of Los Angeles” has an old school Crue sound to it. It also has great group vocals on the track that gets the party going like a bottle of Jack or 151. It is concert ready! “MF of the Year” is a gun slinging in your face track that also has group vocals, raging guitars and great drums. “The Animal In Me” the middle song on the album has something special to it. The track could very easier be a single off the album with its steady beat and leading vocals. It is radio friendly and ready for that matter. It should be a fan favorite on the album, but its one of those track that sound more like a radio track and not a live song, unless used to slow the pace a bit and catch a breath or two. “Welcome to the Machine” is full of old school Crue mixed with punk. It is a showcase for Tommy’s drums as that is the part of the track that stands out. Mick has some spots high flying guitars and the vocals are nicely done, but that are all showed up by the drumming in this case. “Just Another Psycho” is a bland track with a bright spot for Sixx as “Chicks=Trouble” is a killer track with great lyrics and an awesome sound. They add in effects to the vocals and just jam. It could and should be a single off the album. Track 11 on the album “This Ain’t A Love Song” is another pretty good track on the top tier on tracks on the album. They add some cool tweaks here and there throughout the song and the vocals are pretty cool too. “White Trash Circus” the second shortest track on the album spins off 12^th. It is a weird track with a lot of energy and a sound that you can’t help but be drawn to. The album ends with the track “Goin’ Out Swingin.’” The 3 plus minutes of jamming is a great way to end the album and the extra wait for them to go back into the studio and add it to the album was worth it. It will be an instant classic!

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

My favorite tracks:

Down At The Whisky, Saints of Los Angeles, Chicks=Trouble, Goin’ Out Swingin

Track List:

1.      L.A.M.F.

2.      Face Down In The Dirt

3.      What’s It Gonna Take

4.      Down At The Whisky

5.      Saints of Los Angeles

6.      MF of the Year

7.      The Animal In Me

8.      Welcome To The Machine

9.      Just Another Psycho

10.  Chicks=Trouble

11.  This Ain’t A Love Song

12.  White Trash Circus

13.  Goin’ Out Swingin’