Various Artists - Another Shot of Old Skool of Rock (Album)
Another Shot of Old Skool of Rock. The name says it all really.
It starts off with Dr Feelgood by Mötley Crue. Quite fitting, as one of the more excessive bands to come out of the 80s, and a good way to kick off disc one. I Wanna Rock by Twisted Sister is silly, catchy fun. To continue the theme of ‘rock’ titles that song is followed by The Scorpions’Rock You Like A Hurricane. I’m not sure how it qualifies as ‘old skool’ but Cats in the Cradle by Ugly Kid Joe is included. Get the Funk Out by Extreme features the chorus “If you don’t like what you see, get the funk out.” Ooh, naughty.
Holy Diver by Dio features over a whole minute of atmospheric noise to set the tone before the song starts. If you’re not tempted to just skip the whole song. Disc Two kicks off with Talk Dirty to Me by Poison. “You know, I’ve never seen you look so good/ you never act the way you should.” Listening to this song, I realise that perhaps lyrics were not their strong point. The Australian artists on this compilation are very scant, with only The Angels and the Baby Animals considered ‘old skool’ enough.
Barracuda by Heart adds a feminine touch to this male-dominated CD. And, hey, what’s old skool withoutLa Grange by ZZ Top? Disc Two finishes with the organic track Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, which is completely at odds with the excessive leather and peroxide tone set by the previous tracks.
Leather studded jackets? Check. Crazy permed hair? Check. Timeless, classic songs? Mostly, no. Do you like the artists mentioned in this review? If so, you’ll like this album. If not, don’t touch with a ten foot pole.
