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Band Motley Crue Title Red, White and Crue Type LP/EP Company Hip-O YOR 2005 Style Hard Rock Popular Reviews  
CD 1 is superb as it contains almost every one of the legitimate hits that the band garnered early in their career. Almost everything you expect to find on this one is there, yet they could have included one or two more numbers from their first three albums and pushed the content onto the second CD that is in this package. I felt they should have included “Public Enemy Number One”, “Bastard”, “Red Hot”, and “Tonight” but we don’t get those. Instead when we move to CD number 2, we are given the lesser material or tracks one is not wise to include on a hits piece. CD2 includes a remixed “HSH” which actually had a nicer backup than the original. This seems to be the version on “Decade Of Decadence”. They also chose to include a couple of tracks from the not too well received release entitled simply “Motley Crue”. John Corabi was the singer on the record and while they are not entirely impossible to listen to, the time on the CD would have been better served with surefire material and then perhaps if time allowed these numbers. The Crue has released these later albums in their entirety on the boxed sets I mention earlier, so leave the weak material from these releases to the boxed set. The diehard or completist is the only one who will appreciate it to the full extent. Personally, one track would have sufficed if you ask me. As far as “Planet Boom” and “Beauty” well these are just dreadful and why they made the cut is beyond me. Some will say that this displays a more “mature” Crue. I disagree, and think the band tossed together ideas and the end result still did not work. The blues-rock jam called “Bittersuite” while interesting is very out of place with the larger part of the release. The track “If I Die Tomorrow” is redeemable, but was written by Simple Plan (a group that I don’t think Motley Crue needs input from). “Street Fighting Man” by the Rolling Stones was an interesting piece to choose as a new cover. Yet I am not too sure if I like their take on it at this time. I am only on the second listen of this one. The booklet is pretty decent and has some good liner notes and song histories in it. No lyrics though, which is always a plus to include. Decide for yourself on this one as I was only happy with CD #1. The 7 rating was the result of this lackluster material more than anything else. I know the band needs to showcase the later material as well on an Anthology release. However, on the cusp of their Reunion tour (which will most likely showcase the very best of the killer material) they would have done the fans a service by sticking to what worked rather than what did not. As far an Anthologies go this succeeds only half of the way. CD1 covers a large amount of ground and builds up momemtum for the fan only to have CD2 confuse and make you wonder what they were thinking. Rating: 7/10 --Ken Pierce 02.18.05
When I heard they were finally going to put out a new album, with the 4 original members, I wasn’t sure what to think, or what I should do. I was and did look forward to it. Never have I sat at a store till Midnight to get an album since Def Leppard released X a few years ago. Well maybe I have, but I wasn’t as excited as I was for this one. I went there at 7:30 to make sure they would have it, before I returned at Midnight, in my moms car, since I don’t have a stereo in my car, I needed to hear the new songs before I could sleep last night. I heard “If I die tomorrow” earlier on VH1. I was shocked at the song at first, I didn’t like it. I was disheartened to learn that the boys who created and lived the party rock band lifestyle had grown up. The more I listen to it though, I like it. I have come to accept that the old Motley is dead, and a new Motley is alive and kicking. Red, White and Crue is a greatest hits package but it’s not your typical greatest hits package. You as a listener may not consider this greatest hits, but to the band, and to the life they lived, these are the greatest hits they could have. You hear them grow up on these two disks. The first disk covers their coming of age and their discovery of women, booze and drugs. On the second disk you hear the thoughts of rock stars getting older. Sure the songs still rock and are still Motley Crue. They are just more grown up. The last three songs are the latest of their work. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard them, but after hearing them, I was very happy and can’t get enough of them now. “If I die tomorrow, as I said before is mellow and not what you would expect from these guys. I thought about it a lot and the song is for them, it’s meant for them. “If I die tomorrow” shows the mature side of the band. They aren’t about the sex, drugs and more sex and drugs anymore. They have families, responsibilities and a respect for the music industry now. When they started, they were the rockers, the gods of rock and roll. Today they still are they are just grown up about it. The first disk, which has all the classics and more on it, is great. It gets you pumped up, and thinking of the good days when you could bang your head and rock, mullets flowing in the wind, and your jeans all ripped. On this disk are some songs I haven’t taken a good listen to before. Sure the classics like Looks that Kill, Girls, Girls, Girls, and Smokin’ in the boys room were added to this disk, but also a few others I would of never guessed to be on it. Such as Black Widow; looking at the booklet it isn’t from an album, unless I just don’t see it. I love the song though. Black Widow is a catchy, yet sophisticated song. It was produced in 1982. Motley Crue was ahead of the times with this song. It’s catchy, strong and deep with every aspect. With every lick of the guitar comes a sharp slap to the senses. “All in the name of” was released as a B-side to “You’re all I need” off the album ‘girls, girls, girls” This song has to be the best rocking song. I feel the intense salute to rock and roll Motley Crue gives with this song. The guitar is the best I’ve heard so far on the album. Don’t get me wrong. I love all of Motley Crues work. If this song was released on an album, I think it would have taken them far. People are always looking for a good rock salute and a rock anthem. For me and this would be it. In fact it is it. On to Disk Two… Disk two has some of my favorite Crue songs on it. I have always been a fan of Vince Neil as lead vocals, but John Corabi did a great job filling his shoes with hits like Hooligans Holiday and Misunderstood. My favorite though would have to be Bittersuite. For some reason that song gets me every time I listen to it. It isn’t the lyrics that get me or even the work on the song. I just like the song. The new songs I have yet to totally say I like or dislike. I am feeling “If I die tomorrow” a lot. I love the meaning and the response it has received. I never would have expected them to sing such a song, but they pulled it off. “Sick Love Song” puts Motley back to their roots, it sounds like something that should have been on the Dr. Feelgood album or Girls, girls, girls. I love it. It’s fast and gets you in the heart strings, it may be a strange song, but it’s Motley Crue. What’s not to love about that? If you are a new fan, or have been a fan through the years, and want a collection that you can learn from, or leave in your car. This is the album set for you. For new fans, it’s got all the old classics waiting for your listening along with some new classics for your listening pleasures as well. Motley Crue is Vince Neil-the master on vocals, Tommy Lee-Drummer extraordinaire, Nikki Sixx- the Man with the Master Plan, and a Base guitar, and Mick Mars- the Axe master who keeps the band together. Motley Crue released their first album in 1981, Too Fast for Love began the glorious, painful and decedent life as the world’s most notorious rock stars. --Sarah 02.10.05 ALL REVIEWS FOR: MOTLEY CRUE
ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: MOTLEY CRUE
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