Billy Idol, the name alone is synonymous with spiky blonde hair, an outstretched, pumping fist, and a perpetual sneer. It has been 12 years since he has released an album of new material, that was 1993's Cyberpunk.
Now in 2005 he is set to reclaim a spot on the new music charts with the release of Devil's Playground. Can he return to the heights of "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding"? Or even "Cradle of Love"? Only time will tell. What I can tell you is that what you will hear will be a very different Idol than what has come before. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is definitely not the same Idol that you first fell in love with 20-some years ago.
As soon as the first track, "Super Overdrive," burst from my speakers, I wasn't sure what to think. My first thought was "that's Billy?" It was strange because I couldn't hear the sneer, so to speak. His music always had the distinction of being able to hear a facial expression, but that seems to have faded a bit.
The first single is "Scream," and that song sounds the most like the Idol of old - he sneer can be heard and it has a recognizable Idol-ness to it. That just serves to ease the listener into the rest of the disk.
Now before you all start thinking that I don't like this album, or Billy, please relax. I cannot claim to be a lifelong Idol fan, but I have always had an affection for the music he put out. It always had that "I don't care what you think" attitude that made for some great music.
This is just different.
After a few listens it was really starting to grow on me, and is slowly revealing itself as a potential sleeper hit. It may not have the same Billy attitude of old but there is an underlying energy that gets under your skin and festers until you find yourself getting into the groove and feeling the new sound that Billy is creating.
Article comments
1 - Temple Stark
Chris,
I launched this and another BI-DP review on the world - or at least the part of the world that scours Advance.net for the (family-friendly) cream of the BC Web log.
Here's the link. Sorry here.
- Thanks. Temple