There is something appealing about Billy Idol. The former Generation X singer had the ability to fuse a pop song with hard rock, and act like a punk rocker in the process.
The songs have aged well, and to this day, are still as appealing as when they were first released.
The irony about his punk look, is that he was embraced by mainstream audiences, rather than the audience he was going for. He originally started out as a punk rocker, pledging his allegiance to the Sex Pistols, but ended up being a punk cliché.
This CD, is a collection of probably some of his biggest hits, even if it does miss some of his edgier songs that made Idol, Idol. Some of the more brilliant tracks of this are "Dancing With Myself," "Mony Mony," "Rebel Yell," and the blistering "White Wedding." All tracks that made Idol a big name in the 80s.
However the late 80s were not so charming for Idol, who dabbled in one too many drugs, and disappeared from the spotlight. He managed to make a comeback with "Sweet Sixteen", and his blistering cover of The Doors "LA Woman", which became the single for Speed.
The album rounds off with a acoustic version of "Rebel Yell", and a hardier version of Simple Minds, "Don’t You (Forget About Me)". Punk Rockers would be horrified that most people still consider Idol punk rock, but this album is a gem, and must have for fans of Idol’s snarling voice, spiked hair, and leather pants. But then they would even be more horrified to discuss the punk rocker had released a Christmas album, yet again drawing him into the stereotype of what a punk rockers should and should not do.
I am always drawn by good beats, and everyone of Idol’s songs have a beat that makes you want to toe tap your way through the whole song. "Cradle Of Love" is a fine example of that, and the drumming is the most evident instrument of the song.
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