Skid Row - S/T

Released in 1989

Skid Row's career can be compared with a flare; they shot out of nowhere and rose to the top, but like the flame of a flare their rise to the top just wasn't destined to last. But oh, what a glorious release these rockers provided 80's fans.

To be fair to the band, they are one of the few 80's bands that are still going strong today – their last album was released in 2003, in fact. The problem is their debut was in 1989, which was towards the backend of the days of hair metal. Their subsequent albums modified the melodic and addictive sound of their original to an aggressive, borderline thrashy sound with alternative influences. Due to this fact, like most of the 90's music scene, their subsequent releases were forgettable affairs for me.

It would probably be unfair to criticize the band too harshly for their musical changes, for the birth of a new decade made the 80's bands and styles of music we all loved an endangered species. Skid Row was wise enough to modify their sound to fit the times and thereby survive to today.

At any rate, Skid Row's self-titled debut album is near perfection. Sebastian Bach, the lead singer, had a great set of pipes and could bark out infectious rockers and stirring ballads with ease. While I refer to their initial album as hair metal, one could argue their style was in fact heavier than typical hair/glam metal. They somehow managed to possess the fury of Guns N' Roses with the melody of glam metal, creating the equivalent of musical crack.

Standout tracks on the album include:

· Youth Gone Wild – An exciting rocker of an anthem that rouses the listeners and makes them want to pump their fist in the air.
· I Remember You – Who can't remember this gorgeous power ballad? It was a mainstay on the radio and a favorite of teenage couples everywhere.
· 18 And Life – Quite simply one of the 80's best songs ever. Although it possesses the slower intensity of a power ballad, it's actually an edgy and absorbing tale about a troubled fellow named Ricky.

The above tracks, not surprisingly, were also the ones that received regular airplay on radio stations across the United States. Although the other tracks on the album aren't necessarily as memorable since they weren't as melodic or commercial as the above, they are fantastic rockers that will please any 80's metal fan.

Skid Row is not one of my favorite bands due to the direction they took, but their debut album will forever remain one of my favorite albums.

Rating: 9 stars

Track List Big Guns Sweet Little Sister Can't Stand the Heartache Piece of Me 18 and Life Rattlesnake Shake Youth Gone Wild Here I Am Makin' A Mess I Remember You Midnight Tornado

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