Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll! In Finland???
Yes indeed, folks, the death of English punk produced its most glam grave-diggers right on the Finnish shores (where they speak Swedish though).
It was the year 1981, I was born, and on the opposite side of Europe, 5 guys with star-studded names (Michael Monroe, Andy McCoy, Nasty Suicide, Sam Yaffa, and Gyp Casino!!!) were recording this concentrate of screeching irreverence; then they put on makeup, teased their hair, and slipped into spandex to bring to life the circus of street-glam-sexy-rock (I could have added more adjectives, but make do with these).
It kicks off with Tragedy, a sort of flag for the sound of the band... it’s all there: the driving drums, the mini solos, Monroe’s screams, and that strange mood that makes you want to jump around, get drunk, and pick up an American movie doll.
All the tracks flow in this crazy & glam atmosphere (listen carefully to the lyrics: funny and sick at the same time), tracks like Don't Never Leave Me and Cheyenne will stick in your head for days (only slight off-note is Walkin' With My Angel, a cover by I-don't-know-who, feel free to skip it).
And now you know what to play at the next party, borrow some lipstick and eyeliner from your girlfriend, pass the whiskey and... let's play Hanoi Rocks!
The ten compositions crafted by McCoy's exquisite taste merge extraordinarily with the pompous image of the frontman.
‘11th Street Kids’ moves me with authentic nostalgia and melancholy; beautiful, sincere, moving—just listen to the music, damn it!