After the success of their debut album, Cracked Wide Open And Bruised, I was chomping at the bit for something else, anything to continue the good drunken party vibe of their music. One short year later, I get another slab of good old-time sleaze, easily fitting in with the best of Motley Crue and Hanoi Rocks.
Proving that rock 'n' roll is not dead, these Swedes have all the melody, the hooks, and the swagger the greats of the past had. All they had to do is take off where those bands left off and just take command of the stage that was vacated. Unfortunately, the fans of the genre split when grunge hit, a short but highly lethal sound that effectively destroyed a lively, fun crowd that really only needed a fresh kick in the pants.
Well, Babylon Bombs have been that kick in the pants for me, rattling my attention back to the good times of the past, where the only thing that mattered was parties, women, booze, and great music that didn't bog you down into a deep message, usually informing you how the world sucks and you should just go ahead and off yourself with a shotgun. You know, as I get older, the less and less I want to be bombarded with politics, and the more I want to associate myself with fun. The world isn't all dark, the illuminati doesn't give a rat's ass about me (I hope), so it's time to let loose, spend the summer having great fun in the sun, and this album is one that can accompany you on your journey.
Does this second album rank with their debut? I don't believe it does, but then this isn't an attempted remake; a lot of the glitz that had me comparing them to the New York Dolls, KISS and Ram Jam have been pushed aside for a more straightforward rock approach. Tunes that represent this best are the four that comprise the opening and closing of the album. The lead tracks, "Jaded Heart" and "Louder" come the closest to their previous sound, as well as the only ones with a scent of the '70s left. I do think the remainder tend to be a blend of the '80s hair metal with a more up to date mentality best exemplified by the album finishers "White Trash Beauty" and "Moonshine Beat."
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