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Every Bad Boy has his Soft Side.... By Sarah Wright Perhaps you've heard the age-old question: "Is it love? 'Cuz it's really got a hold on me." But it wasn't until recently that I finally understood what David Coverdale of Whitesnake was asking. All I can say now is this: David, yes, Monster Ballads is indeed love. It is often hard to find a compilation album that can supply hit after hit. Sure there are a few on MTV's Party to Go Volumes one through 10 and there are some fine remixes on Pure Moods, but I have never found myself longing for fifth through seventh grade so badly. Upon hitting the "play" button, my heart exploded with fire like a pyrotechnics display at a Skid Row concert. I was suddenly thrust back to school dances and those
slow meaningful skate sessions during the "couples Song" at the rollerink.
Not only do the songs bring me back to those days of big hair and tight-rolled
jeans but the mere breadth of the artists on this album is enough to
leave anyone in awe. If you're looking for Top 100 hits, there's Warrant, Poison, Mr. Big and Billy Idol. And if you long for those rockers who rarely let their defenses down, there's Europe, L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat. INXS, the Bangles and 38 Special are on this bill as well. There's even Stryper for those of you who weren't allowed to listen to anyone other than DCTalk and the like. Nothing is more moving than a guitar solo that cuts through the vocals, drums and bassline of a song. The whammy bar has never been put to better use than on this heartstring-tugging release. A tear rolling down one's cheek is almost unavoidable when Tom Keiffer of Cinderella sings those first few notes of "Don't Know What You've Got 'Till It's Gone." It's impossible to ignore Ted Nugent and those Damn Yankees as they plead "Can you take me high enough? And don't tell me you can turn away while imagining Kip Winger's mullet blowing in the midnight air as he serenades you with "Headed for a Heartbreak." There are one or two tracks that stretch what I might consider a "monster ballad" such as the 80s hit "Missing You" by John Waite. It doesn't quite fit with the Glam Rock I looked so forward to hearing. And there are some tracks, I myself, would have added such as "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'n' Roses, "Angel" by Aerosmith and "Love Song" by Tesla. But I'm willing to overlook those few. I guess not everyone with tight leather pans and scarves on their teased tresses can be a part of Sony Music, this CD's distributor. On the Whole this CD has met and surpassed my expectations. It's variety and pick of songs is exquisite. If you missed Def Leppard's rockin' show at the New York State Fair this year or if you just miss those good old days, this 2 CD set full of rockin' sweet stuff is for you. Sarah Wright is a senior print journalism major at Ithaca College. |
