Let's make this quick and honest.
Skid Row's debut album is among my all time top 10 albums.
Skid Row's last album
"Thickskin" introduced new vocalist Johnny Solinger and a more modern style. The album proved to be long lasting and still finds way to my stereo regularly.
"Revolutions Per Minute" was very anticipated - but beware -
Skid Row has now become a mediocre modern punk band. To me it sounds like Rachel Bolan has become main song writer, since several songs sound like his side-project Prunella Scales. Scotti Hill and Snake Sabo only trades solo on
Another Dick in the System, but its light years from their fantastic solo on
Youth Gone Wild etc.
Vocalist Johnny Solinger is an asset for the band. He sounds amazing throughout the whole record. His voice has got strength and body that actually can prevent
Skid Row from being compared to an 80's band. The problem with this record is the weak song writing. The turn towards punk rock simply gets boring and monotone.
The album has a handful of approved (not great, but approved) tracks; The opening track
Disease and
Pulling My Heart Out From Under Me are not ostentatious, but both have a groovy feel. Songs like
Another Dick In The System, Shut Up Baby I Love You and especially
Nothing could be pretty cool songs if the had a decent and catchy chorus.
When you re-evaluate the record in its entirety the major problem is that the few "okay" songs is overshadowed by an overweight of bad songs. The jangling and country alike
When God Can't Wait, the tiring
White Trash and the lame country song
You Lie are worse than a
Skid Row fan's worst case scenarios.
You Lie is actually recorded twice - the second version with lap steel guitar, and since it's the most horrible track, it makes no sense that the listener has be exposed to the song twice. This is below standard for a band like
Skid Row.
The album lacks quality songs and there is no flow in the songs from start to finish. "Revolutions Per Minute" is nowhere cohesive in its entirety and the monotone punk gets wearing since there are no catchy choruses at all.
The only great track is
Strength, where
Skid Row rocks. However, after a little research I learned that the song is a cover version originally written by The Alarm. So that almost killed all hope for
Skid Row. This record is soon forgotten and hopefully the band will revenge this blunder with a new studio record that leans towards the great foundation they created on "Thickskin".
Written by
Michael Thursday, November 9, 2006
Show all reviews by MichaelRatingsMichael: 3.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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