Salutations™!!
Last week, I actually dug what Eugene was throwing down. Much better than the previous week’s anyway. This week kind of reverts to the previous week. Oh, Jon, where art thou!? Let’s hit it.
#44 – Rose Tattoo by Rose Tattoo.
“They” talk about Def Leppard being a cursed band. And, they very well could be. But, this band from Australia, called Rose Tattoo, may be even more so. This is almost reminiscent of the cast and crew of the film The Conqueror (1956). In that film – produced by Howard Hughes – the cast, the director and a few others, all were diagnosed and eventually died or was dying from cancer. The theory of that was that they filmed on a nuclear test site in Utah and when they moved back to California to do the set scenes, they moved some of the radioactive dirt there, too, so the sets would match. I’m not saying they did the same thing, recorded in a contamination zone, or anything. But, all but two members of the band (the singer Angry Anderson and replacement bassist (but most prominent) Gordie Leach), eventually died from cancer. Weird and scary stuff, I say.
Anywhat! The original bass player (and one of the cancer victims), Ian Rilen left after the initial recording sessions to form the legendary punk band, X. I say legendary. If I’ve heard of them and don’t listen to that style, I say it’s legendary. It’s my blog, I win. That’s why Leach came in and recorded most of the bass lines for the album.
I think I was unfair in the intro when I said this reverted back to the prior week’s sentiment, but that’s not really true. I like this better than Deep Purple. Not a whole lot, but I do. Again, I think it goes to the singer. Angry Anderson has a strong voice with a lot of range, but I just don’t like listening to him sing a few songs on the album. For the most part, though, he does a decent job. The musicianship on the album is pretty good. I don’t hear a whole lot of bass as it’s buried deep behind the rest of the mayhem going on, but I’m sure I’d miss it if it weren’t there.
I think what bothers me the most is that it is a bit noisy and punkish. Just a bunch of hurried nonsense at times. It doesn’t sound bad, it just isn’t “me.” That being said, there are times when I do enjoy it. For example, I do like “Butcher and Fast Eddy” and “Stuck on You,” especially. It could be that they’re not trying to slap me in the face but have some song design. And, they mention the band and album title in the latter.
Another reason for my apprehension could be my disdain for slide “blues” guitar and Peter Wells plays that (it’s his official designation) throughout the album. Mick Cocks is credited as both lead and rhythm guitarist for this album. Dallas “Digger” Royall is a solid drummer but there’s nothing too flashy about him. That is probably a good thing. He’s straight-forward and on it.
So, I guess what I’m saying is that I didn’t mind it. I liked it better than Deep Purple. Perhaps what I’m questioning is why it’s on this list. That was something that I asked regularly on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time list. Why? It’s definitely not as good as most of the previous albums and while I liked it I’m thinking it’s not even as good as some of the ones that I didn’t like. I am going to assume that it’s here as a “possible gem.” If you remember the list is called Eugeology: Eugene’s List of Hard Rock Albums and Possible Gems. Bottom line, I don’t really care for it but I see its merit as a good album for those into that. I’m not. It did have some good moments for me but overall, I’m not a fan. Thanks, though, Eug, for introducing me. Jon. Well, Jon.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
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“Got tattooed arms and rings in my ears. Never gonna suffer a straight man’s fears. Better have a drink, crankin’ with the mates. Movin’ fast I’m gonna make the grade. That’s why they call me one of the boys.” – “One of the Boys” (Leach, Anderson, Royall, Wells, Cocks)