CD Review: 2-Disc Carnival Of Sins - Mötley Crüe

by Ignacio Gonzalez.

Love them or hate them, Mötley Crüe hit the nail on the head of the '80s revival craze with the release of their new live, double album Carnival Of Sins (Eleven Seven Music). Among other reasons, Carnival Of Sins is an enjoyable listen simply because it represents what the '80s glam metal experience was all about: live, high-octane, arena-rock madness. The Crüe’s 2005 Carnival of Sins tour may not have mirrored the outrageously well-attended shows in the '80s (20 to 30 thousand people a night was the typical minimum), but the band’s recording of the tour in this new album is the perfect way for fans to re-live the madness and for young generations to know that there’s more to Mötley Crüe than drummer Tommy Lee’s spousal-related exploits.

A companion to the live DVD of the same name, Carnival Of Sins was recorded during the Crüe’s 2005 performance at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Supported by cable music channel VH1, the top grossing tour for that year supported the band’s release of the greatest-hits compilation, Red, White & Crüe, and reached approximately one million people in the U.S. Singer Vince Neil, drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Mick Mars, and bassist Nikki Sixx are captured in Carnival Of Sins performing live versions of 23 tracks spanning their entire career.

Mötley Crüe appeared on the '80s metal radar with the release of Two Fast For Love in 1982 (actually re-released on Elektra after an earlier release in 1981) and Shout At The Devil in 1983—and that’s exactly where Carnival Of Sins begins. In fact, all of the first CD features tracks from the Crüe’s reigning era in the early '80s. In addition to album title tracks “Shout At The Devil” and “Too Fast For Love,” other anthems included are “Ten Seconds To Love,” “Red Hot,” “Looks That Kill,” and “Too Young To Fall In Love.”

“On With The Show,” also featured on the first CD, was Mötley Crüe’s first stab at power ballads—not quite perfect, but a sign of things to come. We also get a taste of their third record, 1985’s Theatre of Pain, with “Louder Then Hell.” To round out the first CD, we’re treated to some of the best from 1987’s Girls, Girls, Girls – the album’s title track and “Wild Side.” Girls, Girls, Girls was fun to listen to in 1987 and a work of genius when looked at today. The album, in tracks like “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “Wild Side,” is the epitome of Mötley Crüe’s ability to create songs that are excellent caricatures of the band’s crazy, and real, rock 'n' roll world. The songs are fantasy played out in real life. Mötley Crüe is exactly who and what they sing about, and they are not ashamed to rock their lives away on stage and make your head bang while your ears go bust.

The second CD is interesting. It’s a back-and-forth extravaganza of tracks that spans from the good ol’ early '80s to the present. Most of the second CD’s tracks are from 1989’s Dr. Feelgood, which closed the chapter of fame and fortune for the Crüe. After 1989, grunge rock came on the scene and wiped out just about every '80s rock/metal band. In fact, Dr. Feelgood itself was a test of Crüe fanhood for those of us who were growing into more “serious” music and beginning to feel a bit silly when we paid close attention to the Crüe’s lyrics. But, the best of Dr. Feelgood shows up in Carnival Of Sins (“Dr. Feelgood,” “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away,)” “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S),” “Without You”), and we are treated to live renditions of the songs we jammed to behind closed doors and away from the new REM-loving friends we were making as we greeted the '90s.

One great travel back to the early times is the much anticipated power ballad “Home Sweet Home,” which turned out great in this live recording except for a couple of long pauses between parts. There is a frustratingly long pause between the piano intro and the first verse when, just as you expect the verse to begin, Vince Neil pauses and asks Tommy Lee if the drummer is “ready.” There’s also a look back at the band’s cover of the song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles, which was also stolen by U2 after Mötley Crüe stole it in 1983 - “Helter Skelter.”

The rest of the second CD basically consists of a single track from 1997’s Generation Swine, “Glitter,” and several tracks released in later compilation albums. These are a mix of hits and misses, and the hits capture the Crüe sound (except for “Glitter,” a not-so-rocking departure from the rest of the album) but fail at the kind of songwriting that made Mötley Crüe one of the most influential '80s metal bands.

Throughout the album the band’s playing is tight and full-throttle, with every band member holding his own very well. Vince Neil’s high-pitch vocals are the perfect voice for the songs. Nikki Sixx’s bass playing still drives a good bottom end and accentuates the riffs, and Tommy Lee’s drumming is fast and loud.

Guitarist Mick Mars, the oldest of the quartet (56) and frail due to degenerative bone illness, sounds phenomenal. Mars carries the entire guitar operation on his frail shoulders, both rhythm and lead, and does so with skill and perfect fidelity to the original, recorded songs. Power chords blare from his hands, his riffs are super crunchy, and his solos are succinct and razor-sharp. At some point one can hear the wobbling sound of a Theremin synth, which was likely played by Mars. His playing is as aggressive on Carnival Of Sins as it was more than 20 years ago.

Take a listen to Carnival Of Sins. It’s a fun show, and the music is colorful, exciting, and raunchy. And note the roar of the audience. Two decades after the Crüe was at the center of cool, people still like to bang heads, raise fists and have fun listening to rock.

Personnel:
Vince Neil - lead vocals
Mick Mars - lead and rhythm guitars
Nikki Sixx - bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Tommy Lee - drums, keyboards, backing vocals

Carnival Of Sins Tracklisting:

CD 1
Shout At The Devil
Too Fast For Love
Ten Seconds To Love
Red Hot
On With The Show
Too Young To Fall In Love
Looks That Kill
Louder Than Hell
Live Wire
Girls, Girls, Girls
Wild Side

CD 2
Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
Primal Scream
Glitter
Without You
Home Sweet Home
Dr. Feelgood
Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S)
Sick Love Song
If I Die Tomorrow
Kickstart My Heart
Helter Skelter
Anarchy In The U.K.

Related Links
Win Mötley Crüe's New 2-CD Album from Modern Guitars
Official Mötley Crüe website
Mötley Crüe on MySpace

[Editor's note: We recommend a visit to Ignacio Gonzalez's IG blog, which provides guitarists with inspiration, education, insights and ideas through the eyes of an everyday guitar player, teacher and writer.]

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