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Rating:
Here is the old buccaneer William Broad, known as Billy Idol, in the new millennium version, with his hair still dyed wheat-colored, showcasing his still good physical shape with a slight contraction of the abs for the camera, and, meanwhile, the usual smirk on that unchanged, invaluable roguish face, just a bit bulkier from the onset of middle age.
Even the album (not recent, mind you, it's from 2005) doesn't offer many new developments or surprises: in the process of complete restoration (both the producer and guitarist, the architects of the great successes of the eighties, Keith Forsey and Steve Stevens, return) the contribution of electronic keyboards, which were in full development and very fashionable at the time, is reduced, so now the usual, distinctive punk/pop/rock performed by our hero is conveyed by big, robust, masculine, essentially guitar-driven sounds.
The music is still the same as always: punk tamed to pop metal, abrasive only formally, in reality very attentive to the search for accessibility and commerciality... it's just that the train for Billy passed thirty years ago, and the trends and collective imagination of the two-thousands have moved on to other icons; commercial rock travels on different paths, and this album, though good, even excellent in its genre, wasn't highly noticed.
The return of the Middlesex rocker transplanted to the United States is very well put together: on drums is Brian Ticky, a true hammer whose resume includes Whitesnake, Foreigner, and Ozzy Osbourne... in short, the classic hard & heavy banger (fun fact: he keeps in shape by furiously boxing the speed bag, apparently a sport in its own right, with many fans and proper conventions!). As for the bit of keyboards present in the arrangements, the person responsible is the well-known and skilled Derek Sherinan (Dream Theater and Black Country Communion, among many various appearances in the hard and progressive field).
The album in question is only the sixth of his career... besides making music, Billy has been involved in quite a few follies, spreading children around the world, facing lawsuits for drugs or hotel room damages, destroying his leg in a motorcycle accident in 1990 (he still limps slightly), basically living the classic and reckless rockstar life and burning many bridges in terms of artistic efficiency and reliability. This anticipated comeback (the previous album was twelve years prior) is resolute and powerful, a more than respectable recycling of his image and talent, although it certainly does not compare to his reference work, the 1983 masterpiece "Rebel Yell."
Back then, there was an unparalleled state of form in the collaboration between the three protagonists Forsey, Stevens, and Billy himself. The guitarist, in particular, excelled with rhythm patterns, decorative pads, and solos of inestimable class and uniqueness... Even here, the talented Steve does his part, as he remains one of the best rhythm guitarists rock music has produced, incredibly precise and tight, but nothing guitaristic sounds truly genius this time, as often happened in the previously mentioned work released twenty-two years earlier.
There is nothing more to add, only to try to enjoy these healthy and solid rock foundations, half punk and half hard, topped by a mocking and sly baritone voice, effective and characteristic although posed. Billy Idol can be obnoxious or intriguing depending on your choice, maybe even useless. He's a professional, a good craftsman, the inspiration isn't particularly deep, but his music is tough and enjoyable, there's dedication and even artistic intelligence, his and that of his collaborators. My thumb is up.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Super Overdrive (04:18)
In the devil's playground
With an Idol mind
Straight up, ready to go
Announce the time
Does he still have the magic?
Yes he does
He'll be famous
Just because
Just because
You know you're gonna have
To turn around
Just because you have to change
Your mind sometimes
Yeah, you're gonna have to
Turn around
Ride my rocket
Round and round
And round we go
One time before I die
Round and round and
Round the world
In super overdrive
See the world through a little hole
See it fly by
Here I am in super overdrive
Super overdrive
Super overdrive
I'm slidin' on the swings
I'm swinging' on the slides, I'm Alive
Fuel-injected, passion-erected, death-defied
One day it's gonna come, boy
You're gonna pay oh
That ain't today ridin' on the Milky Way
On the Milky Way
You know you're gonna have
To turn around
Just because you have to change
Your mind sometimes
Yeah, you're gonna have to
Turn around
Bite the Bullet
Round and round
And round we go
One time before I die
Round and round and round the world
In super overdrive
See the world through a little hole
See it fly by
Here I am in super overdrive
Super overdrive
In super overdrive
Take it
1,2,3,4
Well in the devil's playground
With an Idol mind
Straight up, ready to go
Announce the time
Does he still have the magic?
Yes he does
He'll be famous
Just because
Just because
Round and round and round we go
One time before we die
Round and round and round the world
In super overdrive
Round and round and round we go
One time before I die
Round and round and round the world
In super overdrive
See the world through a little hole
See it fly by
Here I am in super over
Here I am in super over
Here I am in super overdrive
Super overdrive
Repeat....
04 Sherri (03:17)
Chorus:
Come home, it's a brand new day
Come home, my Sherri, Sherri runaway
Come on, there's a devil to pay
Come home, my Sherri, Sherri runaway
Sherri's on the run
'Cos no one seems to listen
There's something deep inside
Heartfelt that she's missing
They are not in your shoes
They are not you
Poor fools
You know it's a world of confusion
All usin' and self-abusin'
So...
Chorus
"When I'm out having fun
The whole world seems to glisten"
She said
"There's a fire going on
The choppers ain't detecting"
She said
"We have such simple veiws"
So I must see inside of you
Now that my world is changing
C'mon back, I should be celebrating
So...
Chorus
Duckin' in and out
Hiding from authority
Sittin' in a wayside home
I said come back to me
Duckin' in and out
Hiding from authority
Sittin' in a wayside home
I said come back to me
Chorus
There is a day in a life as it happens
Play by play, minute by minute
This is the way of life as it happens
Day by day, hour by hour
Chorus
Sherri runaway
Sherri runaway
Sherri runaway
Sherri run
Come home
There's a brand new
Brand new day
05 Plastic Jesus (04:53)
I DON'T CARE IF IT
RAINS OR FREEZES
AS LONG AS I GOT MY
PLASTIC JESUS
RIDIN' ON THE DASHBOARD
OF MY CAR
THROUGH MY TRIALS
AND TRIBULATIONS
AND MY TRAVELS
THROUGH THE NATION
WITH MY PLASTIC JESUS
I'LL GO FAR
RIDIN' DOWN THE THOROUGHFARE
WITH A NOSE UP IN THE AIR
A WRECK MAY BE AHEAD
BUT HE DON'T MIND
TROUBLE COMIN'
HE DON'T SEE
HE JUST KEEPS HIS EYE ON ME
AND ANY OTHER THING THAT LIES BEHIND
CHORUS
WITH MY PLASTIC JESUS
GOODBYE AND I'LL GO FAR
I SAID WITH MY PLASTIC JESUS
SITTING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR
WHEN I'M IN A TRAFFIC JAM
HE DON'T CARE IF I SAY DAMN
I CAN LET ALL MY CURSES ROLL
'COS JESUS' PLASTICO DOESN'T HEAR
'COS HE'S GOT A PLASTIC EAR
THE MAN WHO INVENTED PLASTIC
SAVED MY SOUL
CHORUS
AND IF I WEAVE AROUND AT NIGHT
POLICEMEN THINK I'M VERY TIred
THEY NEVER FIND MY BOTTLE
THOUGH THEY ASK
'COS PLASTIC JESUS SHELTERS ME
FOR HIS HEAD COMES OFF YOU SEE
HE'S HOLLOW AND I USE HIM LIKE A FLASK
WOA WOA WOA
SAVE ME
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S DARK OR SCARY
LONG AS I GOT MAGNETIC MARY
RIDIN' ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR
I FEEL THAT I'M PROTECTED AMPLY
I'VE GOT THE LOVE OF THE WHOLE DAMN FAMILY
RIDIN' ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR
WITH MY PLASTIC JESUS
I SAID GOODBYE
AND I'LL GO FAR
AND I SAID WITH MY PLASTIC JESUS
I SAID SITTING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR
OUTRO
WHEN I'M GOIN' FORNICATIN'
I'VE GOT MY CERAMIC SATAN
SITTIN' ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR
WOMEN KNOW I'M ON THE LEVEL
THANKS TO THE WIDE-EYED STONEWARE DEVIL
SNEERIN' FROM THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR
06 Scream (04:42)
Ooh, yeah!
You can fill my cup,
You can fill my bowl,
This train is ready to roll,
Your eyes of fire,
Have stole my soul,
Still coming back for more,
You are the lock,
I am the key,
Climb up my lemon tree,
You are the one,
You're on your knees,
You are my little queen,
You know just what I mean,
Climb up my lemon tree
[Chorus]
Make me scream,
All night, all night long,
Gonna get extreme,
All night, all night long,
Make me scream,
All night, all night long,
Gonna get obscene,
All night,
All night long,
All night,
All night long
Pretty baby in the back of my car,
Look now, you've gone too far,
Have a slice of my lemon pie,
One more will get you high
You wanna know,
You wanna see,
How much you can squeeze,
You are the one,
You are a tease,
You love my demon seed,
You know just what I mean,
Climb up my lemon tree
[Chorus]
Suck it!
You took me in the wild,
No one around for miles,
You ain't too proud to beg,
Juice runnin' down my leg,
I want a chick who makes me feel,
Hmm, closer dear,
I want you to be free,
I want you lovin' me,
I want to hear you scream,
I want you just like me
[Chorus]
One more time now
[Chorus]
07 Yellin' at the Xmas Tree (04:14)
Yellin' at the Xmas Tree
When I was a small boy
Here in London town
Seasons snow was falling on the ground
All the friends and family
Here on Christmas Eve
Gather round to dress
The Christmas tree
But daddy’s down at the pub
Full of Christmas cheer
Probably won’t come home
Until next year
Chorus
Oh the Christmas bells are ringing
And the carolers are singing
But Daddy, he don’t hear ‘em
He’s yellin’ at the Christmas tree
Santa’s balls are jingling
Mommy’s hips a-wiggling
But Daddy, he don’t hear ‘em
He’s yellin, he’s yellin’
At the Christmas tree
All right now yeah…
Uncle is a sports fan
Granny likes a joke
But no one laughs when
Daddy’s stumbles home
But he don’t fall asleep
Wah! The night was getting black
You see, oh God,
Dad had too much Jack
Oh Lord!
Every year is the same old thing
Like Rudolph’s red nose
Telling this story will never get old
Chorus
Well alright now yeah…
Well alright now…
Yellin’ at the Christmas tree
Santa came down the chimney
But then he ran upstairs
Jumped in bed with Mommy
She didn’t care
Across the room went the fruitcakes
Ah, the wreath came off the door
If these are holidays I can take no more
Every year it’s the same old thing
Like Rudolph’s red nose
Hearing this story will never get old
Chorus
Santa’s balls are jingling
Mommy’s hips a-wiggling
But Daddy, he don’t hear ‘em
He’s yellin’
He’s yellin’ at the Christmas tree
Well alright now yeah…
He’s yellin’ at the Christmas tree
He’s yellin’ at the Christmas tree
He’s yellin’ at the Christmas tree
He’s sleeping it the Christmas tree
12 Cherie (03:47)
Like the moon moves the tides,
You influence my mind,
Like the planets and the stars,
Keep the rhythm to your time,
Are you happy with him,
Yes, I let you go
[Chorus]
Girl, I love you,
Cherie, I love you,
Girl, I love you,
Cherie, I love you,
I was a fool to let you go
Like the alchemist,
Who couldn't resist the devil's kiss,
Base metal into gold,
And the psychiatrist,
Who's battling deep within his own soul,
I was like them down the hole
[Chorus]
All the memories of our life,
Like Venince in spring,
New York City summers,
Paris, London winters' chill
[Chorus]
I love you so,
Want you to know,
I love you so
As the apples fall, the leaves turn,
Make it to autumn's call,
But you still know your way,
Never be outdone at all,
And if I falter, I see it in our child
Girl, I love you,
Cherie, I love you,
Girl, I love you,
No, I won't let go
Girl, I love you,
Cherie, I love you,
Girl, I love you,
No, I can't let go
Girl, I need your sunshine to feel alright,
Girl, I need your sunshine to feel alright
[Repeat Chorus]
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Other reviews
By ez
With this handful of songs, Billy Idol discovers himself as a songwriter and leaves aside his suburban macho appearance.
Surely an album to listen to before putting it aside as I was about to do.
