After more than a decades absence the most notorious and dangerous Rock band is back. "Saints of Los Angeles" marks the return of Mötley Crüe with their only ninth studio album since 1981. Let us start by setting the record straight regarding the new album. "Saints of Los Angeles" is
 
-         Not as heavy as the "Mötley Crüe" record
-         Not as modern and experimental as "Generation Swine"
-         Not as good as the bands work 1981-1989
 
"Saints of Los Angeles" is a natural progress from "Dr. Feelgood" mixed with a "back to the 80's feel" of "New Tattoo". Nikki Sixx says "We are not a nostalgic act. It seemed to make sense to me to get the bullshit out of the way and make new music".
 
The keyword for "Saints of Los Angeles" is groove wrapped up in a darker sound. The 44 minutes of new Crüe material is in the same vein as Sick Love Song and If I Die Tomorrow, which were featured on "Red, White and Crüe"
                                                            
The record is based on the biography "The Dirt". Mötley Crüe has lived to tell their tales and "Saints of Los Angles" is the audio side to the memories of Mötley Crüe. The record is nowhere as captivating as "The Dirt". Since the record is an insight to the live of Mötley Crüe the lyrics deal with Sex, drugs and Rock 'N' Roll. What's it gonna Take starts with the line "we were drinking dinner on the Sunset strip". The first couple of tunes deal with the early 80's where Crüe earned their reputation living each night on the strip. Down at the Whiskey is self explanatory and it's the song that draws the strongest parallel to 80's Hard Rock.
 
The record is consistent, but is a bit short of hit singles and sing-along choruses. Only the brilliant title track and the power ballad The Animal in Me are cut for big stadium concerts. The dark moody mode works for Crüe on The Animal in Me. Vince Neil sounds amazing on this and his unique voice is the trademark of Mötley Crüe.
 
While Vince Neil sounds amazing throughout the whole album Mick Mars steals the spotlight with his crunchy guitar. Mick Mars delivers some tasty riffs and he plays better than ever. Mars is responsible for the groovy riff on White Trash Circus, which ranks among album highlights.
 
Mötley Crüe has moved away from the typical L.A. Glam Metal towards a darker and groovier approach to the music. Nikki Sixx is Mötley Crüe and he has written all songs. Most of the songs are co-written with James Michaels and partly DJ Ashba. The 3 of them were also responsible for the Sixx: A.M record, so that helps explaining Mötley's newfound groove and updated sound. The best examples of Mötley Crüe in the year 2008 are Saints of Los Angeles (best song of the album) and Motherfucker of the year, which is a swinging swine and a grower. Just another Psycho is another groovy rocker with a catchy refrain.
 
The record is a consolation of the return of Mötley Crüe. "Saints of Los Angeles" is a good record, but a handful songs lack the final punch exemplified on This ain't a love song, which has the subtitle "This is a Fuck song" and unfortunately the music is as primitive as the title
 
"Saints of Los Angeles" is a contemporary record with a pompous sound. Even though Mötley Crüe lost a bit of their snotty edge the record has lots to offer.

Written by Michael
Monday, July 7, 2008
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Ratings

Michael: 7/10

Members: No members have rated this album yet.

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Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Tuesday, July 8, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 Michael- Great review, I couldn't have written a better one myself. I happen to agree on all points, so not much left to state other than a big bravo! Ah and the title track, it's surely the grandest thing they have done since the 80s and if the disc had a few more like it, this would really be a smashing record. Vince sounds great too, more like his solo "Exposed" days than some of the more recent material. It's disappointing AND delivers. How's that for a contradiction? Posted by Alanna (Staff) Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Wednesday, July 23, 2008

View Profile Comments: 135 Ratings: 0 I'm sorry but this album sucks....Vince has a whiny and nasaly voice and the mix is terrible and the songs sound like they try to hard to rediscover the great band they once were..........1/10 Posted by ThraX Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Thursday, July 24, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 ThraX: I think the title track is quite good and very much in the style of classic Motley... the rest of the album not so much but that one song is almost worth it (if you grew up on them like I did anyway). Posted by Alanna (Staff) Thursday, July 24, 2008

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Monday, August 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 135 Ratings: 0 I've tried to like this album and I still honestly cannot stand this album, And Alanna I'm sorry but the thing that irks me about this album is Vince's vocals, I sincerely think his vocals are weak and to nasaly, I grew up on the Crue and this album is not there finest, I do agree the title track is the best but I'm still not a fan. It's sad because this album actually for Tommy anyways is a good drumming album by far Tommy's best drumming on any Crue album (Except for the Crue album with Corabi on vocals.......which is a great album) Posted by ThraX Monday, August 18, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Monday, August 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 ThraX: I certainly can understand why you would not like the album. It doesn't have the "stuff" to stand the test of time and wears thin fairly quickly. I have seen it reel in some amazingly positive reviews (in the "genius" category as we would give it here) and it certainly does NOT live up to that. I still like the title track, the rest has too many problems, and rides more on the insights of the band than on its musical competance. Posted by Alanna (Staff) Monday, August 18, 2008

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Monday, August 18, 2008

View Profile Comments: 135 Ratings: 0 Alanna, I think you are correct, everywhere I read this album gets amazing reviews which irks me, because I feel there hearing something I'm not, Shout At The Devil is maybe the greatest hard rock album ever made in my mind, and I always have to compare any Crue album to that release and this is nowhere near that, and Vince's vocals are just not there anymore, and I feel they are trying to hard to recapture there previous works!.......Fans of the Crue do yourself a favor and spend your money on Sixx A.M. , that is an amazing album!!!! Posted by ThraX Monday, August 18, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Wednesday, August 20, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 I don't really think it's you. You arent really missing much of anything... I believe the problem with the album (and the people reviewing it) is that they want *so very much* to like the album. It has elements that other recent Motley albums were missing but it is in no way up to the standards of their 80s material. Well, except for that one (title track). Maybe they can use this as a springboard for an even better followup. And I will check out Sixx A.M. I had heard of it but did not pursue it but am interested now. Posted by Alanna (Staff) Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Thursday, August 21, 2008

View Profile Comments: 135 Ratings: 0 Alanna, Sixx A.M. is amazing it's a story album of Nikki Sixx's life, the feeling of the album is great, it's honestly one of the best works in Nikki's excellent career......I agree with you that hopefully this album is a springboard to better things to come, I feel they just need to forget about how they use to sound and write good songs!...Also speaking of Vince Neil if you haven't checked out his solo album "Carved In Stone" you should seek that one out, that's one of my favorite albums of all time...alot of Crue fans don't like that album because it's very different style of hard rock music, but I love it! Posted by ThraX Thursday, August 21, 2008

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Saturday, August 23, 2008

View Profile Comments: 245 I haven't heard "Carved in Stone" in years. I remembered being absolutely repulsed by it when it came out though. "Exposed" was always my cup of tea, "The Edge" being just brilliance. However, I'll go dig up CiS and see if I missed anything, my tastes have broaded dramatically since then, so it could just be a gem waiting in the rough. :D Sixx A.M. is also on my must hear list now. I had no idea it was deep as all of that, and only heard about it when they released a track to one of the guitar games - Rock Band I think it was. Posted by Alanna (Staff) Saturday, August 23, 2008

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Monday, August 25, 2008

View Profile Comments: 135 Ratings: 0 You still may not like "Carved In Stone" because it is extremely different for Vince but for some reason I absolutely love it and still listen to it on a regular basis!...And yes the song "The Edge" is my favorite song from "Exposed" excellent guitar work in that song!!!!!!!!! Posted by ThraX Monday, August 25, 2008