Has it been twenty years since these guys became Motley Crue? It certainly has been a long time. They’ve got a lot of history, both as a group and individually. Lately the problem has been a few rotating band members and side projects. First it was Vince Neal out; now it’s Tommy Lee. The two constants have been Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars, both as the heart and soul of the group. Vince Neal has always provided the mouth, but Tommy Lee was the backbone. Which did they miss more? Read on for that answer.
“New Tattoo” is the album’s best track. It isn’t hard to see why the album is named after it. It’s the typical Crue ballad. “Hollywood Ending” isn’t as much of a teary eyed track, but it’s still a solid ballad.
The biggest problem I had with this album is that it’s very pompous. Just listen to “1st Band On The Moon”. It sounds like they’re dreaming of the world that once deemed Motley Crue godlike. The next track, “She Needs Rock ‘N’ Roll”, is an anthem not only for the Crue itself, but also for metal. I mean, it’s pretty damn cocky to give yourself props within your own song on your own record. Even the Rolling Stones aren’t that brazen. “Fake” is another kiss to their own asses. They brag about their lofty past and the heights they hit. This song would have worked in their prime, but it’s ten years after the fact.
I guess Motley Crue needed to find something to relate themselves to the current trends with the impotent track “Porno Star”. It’s a completely cliched song about the internet. It has so much potential, but falls on its hands. The Crue take one last shot at cover song brilliance with The Tubes’ “White Punks On Dope”. Another song that would have hit ten years ago but really has a lack of spirit here.
To answer the question posed, is the mouth more important than the backbone? It seems the drummer was a lot more important than anyone would have thought.
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