"Two Steps from the Move" is
Hanoi Rocks' swan song and the last real album from the classic Finnish band. The album is the most sophisticated release from
Hanoi Rocks.
The reason was the band brought in producer Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Kiss,
Pink Floyd etc) to help with arrangements and Ezrin also co-wrote 7 of the album's 10 tunes. An Example of Ezrin's influence is
Don't You Ever Leave Me, which
originally was featured on
Hanoi Rocks' debut album "Bangkok Shocks Saigon Shakes
Hanoi Rocks" This version has a new arrangement and it really does the song justice.
Don't You Ever Leave Me is a great ballad and the solo from Andy McCoy is absolutely awesome and proves his masterly ability to create an emotional solo that adds another dimension to
Hanoi Rocks' material. Furthermore a remixed 12 inch version of
Don't You Ever Leave Me is thrown in as bonus track.
Another song that underlines
Hanoi Rocks becoming a little classier working with Bob Ezrin is
Underwater World. It's a great track permeated with atmosphere and the abilities of
Michael Monroe as multi instrumentalist shines through with Monroe playing the saxophone along the riff line to
Underwater World. Monroe also plays sax on
Cutting Corners and the beautiful ballad
Million Miles Away, which has fantastic emotional guitar playing. Monroe's sax playing proves the diversity of
Hanoi Rocks and it is in contrast to the dangerous guitar duo Andy McCoy and Nasty Suicide, who fires off great Rock 'n' Roll riffs.
I Can't Get It ranks among the best tracks driven by a cool Andy McCoy riff and great work from Nasty Suicide as well. The track oozes lots of attitude with Monroe approaching the vocal lines very edgy. Another song that underlines the diversity of
Hanoi Rocks is
Highschool, which has a raw edgy verse while the chorus has sugar sweet harmonies.
"Two Steps from the Move" opens with a sparkling remake of Creedence Clearwater Revival's
Up around the Bend, which also was chosen as first single for the album.
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams represents the rocking side to
Hanoi Rocks along with the fast paced
Futurama. Boiler is a fun song sung with heavy English accent, but not a stand out track.
The album was completed in March 1984 and released in October 1984 peaking at number 28 in the UK and earning the band their first gold album in Finland.
Later in 1984 the band started their first US Tour only a month after the release of "Two Steps from the Move". That tour abrupt ended tragic when drummer Razzle was killed in a car accident on December 9th. It is the famous Rock 'n' Roll tragedy with
Hanoi Rocks partying with
Motley Crue at Tommy Lee's house. Razzle goes for a ride with Vince Neil, who loses control of the vehicle colliding with another car killing Razzle and seriously injuring the passengers in the colliding car.
"Two Steps from the Move" stands as a classic album displaying a band on top with a very bright future ahead. The drive and energy of the band is unique and makes the songs timeless. Since
Hanoi Rocks was a strong unit and close friends the band broke up soon after Razzle's death.
The album is just reissued in a very appetizing re-mastered version with 4 bonus tracks and liner notes where producer Bob Ezrin remembers "Two Steps From the Move"
Written by
Michael Wednesday, January 5, 2005
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