Vince Neil
Exposed

From someone who has written Hollywood on their ID under "born in" and "residing in," one can only expect diva-like behavior. From someone who was the frontman of the most ill-mannered band in the 80s Californian rock scene, one can only expect chaos upon chaos. From someone named Vince Neil, recently booted out of Motley Crue, one can only expect a character-driven revenge.

1993. Having put together a band with musicians who, in absolute terms, were top-notch, the blonde rockstar decides to go into the studio and chastise his former bandmates. And let me tell you, he succeeds. Reaching the 13th spot on the U.S. charts in 1993 was an enormous achievement for an old-school rocker.

The musicians. Steve Stevens on guitar, a loyal of Billy Idol and Michael Monroe. Vikki Foxx on drums, the rhythmic pulse of Enuff Z'Nuff. There's also Dave Marshall from Brunette on rhythm guitar and bassist Robbie Crane. If this isn't a superband, we're close. With Ron Nevison coordinating production, there's an expert in hard rock in the recording studio. This immediately tells us that the peak reached with "Dr. Feelgood" marked Vince's artistic life.

On a human level, it’s a kind of tragedy and the reason why Sixx and company make what turns out to be a suicidal decision for Motley Crue—never again able to create music as before—, namely firing Neil and leaving him alone in his troubles. His troubles are many: fights with men and women, fights with those approaching his woman, or with those approaching their own to defend them from him. A physique devastated by normalized abuse of hard drugs and alcohol to fill a stomach-churning pool. A psyche out of control because it’s known that when excess becomes daily, mood becomes a beast. These aren't star-level indulgences. It’s success typically going to the head of a rotten Hollywoodian. Yet, he finds the strength to reclaim a shred of image and artistic dignity, producing what could rightfully be considered the swan song of the last member capable of creating something decent among the Crue survivors.

"Exposed" manifests great ambitions even from the title. Showing oneself naked and unmasked in a musical tabloid that spares no energy at full force. Demonstrating to be the strongest of the band and flexing muscles to the world. Proving not needing anyone.

Vince tries and achieves extraordinary results. "Dr. Feelgood" is clearly just an irretrievable page of history now, but with his first solo effort, the Motley frontman pours all of his frustration into an album that isn’t self-destructive and doesn’t recite mea culpa. It’s an album serving to admit in a brief lucid moment that “Can't Change Me”, from the title of the only ballad present on this release. For the rest, to keep Vince’s head in the toilet are the fantastic musicians mentioned earlier, who, in terms of energy released, still recall the best Crue, even if they don't introduce anything truly new. It’s a lightning-fast shock rock at times, soaked in the naughtiest hard and rock 'n' roll. A whirlwind of fizzy and unruly emotions that would make anyone dance, generated by people who play excellently and a gentleman determined not to end up there. Track by track is truly unnecessary. Just listen to this album and judge. Controversial enough even for fans and critics' opinions. If you browse the web, you'll see Vince has succeeded, as always, in dividing opinions. It’s not a 5, but had it been created by a Mr. Nobody, this record would have come close. To me, it fully deserves the 4 I give it. Because it’s a post-detox production, sincere, finally on the path of objectivity. So much so that it doesn’t promise anything good with the marvelous close left to the best cover of "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones. Which says it all both musically and psychologically. Someone who cannot change and eighteen years later found himself with the Crue, continuing to sing on stages worldwide, is an old fox indebted to fate. I am sure that when he leaves, he still won't have settled it.

A great one.