Poison:
Hollyweird
Label: Cyanide
Records
Running Time:
41:58
Rating:
Hollyweird
may as well be subtitled “Coming to a used CD bin near you!!!”
If you’re a Poison fan and you just looked
at the rating I just gave their new release, you’re undoubtedly thinking,
“Well no critics like Poison anyway, so screw this guy.” Although I’d never
call Poison one of my favorites by a long shot, there is a certain respect
I hold for them. Songs like “Unskinny Bop” I couldn’t in good conscience
call “art,” but it – as well as several other songs in the Poison catalogue—does
have an infectious nature that qualifies it as a secret, guilty pleasure.
Honestly, I’d never walk around in public
wearing a Poison T-shirt (I didn’t “back in the day” either), but I have
been secretly rooting for them during their surprisingly successful comeback
tours.
Sure, my expectations may have been unnecessarily
high for the new Poison CD. With their current status, they are THE 80’s
hair champions, successfully (and amazingly) resurfacing as one of the
biggest concert draws over these past few years. Plus, this is their first
studio album of new material since their full-blown reformation with guitarist
C.C. Deville in 1999. Their “Power To The People” live CD a couple years
back included a few new studio tracks, and those songs were good enough
to leave me optimistic for a FULL album. Well, now I have that album, thinking
that surely, they must have plenty of high-quality tunes written in that
time span from then till now, right?
Well, sadly, this disc for the most part
sucks. Sucks as hard as a groupie trying to get backstage at a Poison concert.
The disc’s production makes them sound like they recorded this in their
cousin’s garage in a couple of takes, and although this was probably an
intentional attempt to bring a raw edge to the music, the songs just come
off sounding like incomplete demos as a result. Looking past that, the
songs themselves just aren’t very catchy or lyrically interesting. Like
I said, Poison isn’t supposed to be about meaningful artistic expression,
but even taken as a ‘party-rock’ CD, “Hollyweird” isn’t going to
liven up too many parties any time soon, unless your idea of partying is
a few rounds of Boggle with the grand-folk.
With Hollyweird, there’s nothing new expressed,
and what they retread here they have done much better in the past.
The plusses? Their Who cover of “Squeeze
Box” (the first and probably only single) is catchy, and one of the 2 versions
of “Home” is a lot of fun to listen to. Oh yeah, for some reason, they
put the song “Home” twice on the album—back to back, no less – and they
are musically identical except for the vocalist and lyrics… Both are decent,
but C.C. Deville’s version is just downright entertaining, especially when
compared to the rather tired lyrics of the rest of the album. Sure, C.C.’s
voice doesn’t hold a candle to lead vocalist Bret Michaels’, but he has
a charm that can’t be denied. Personality goes a long way. That has been
the secret to Poison’s success. “Hollyweird” in general, unfortunately,
has a surprising lack of it.
Scott Vile’s Album Pick: Home (C.C.’s
Story) (2:44)
CD Info and Links
Tracks: 1. Welcome To Hollyweird
2. Squeeze Box
3. Shooting Star
4. Wishful Thinkin’
5. Get Ya Some
6. Emperor’s New Clothes
7. Devil Woman
8. Wasteland
9. Livin’ in the Now
10. Stupid, Stoned & Dumb
11. Home (Bret’s Story)
12. Home (C.C.’s Story)
13. Rockstar
Posted by Painkiller:
Go Bret, Go CC, Go Bobby and go Rikky. Poison has, and will always be a legend in the rock and roll industry.
Posted by smackdowner:
this album is their best work yet I mean dont get me wrong their old stuff is awsome.I guess for me hollyweird is a breath of fresh air.The music today today just sucks and gives me a headache to listen to it.poison has always been one of my favorite bands and still are today.I got to see them in concert in 2002 and was the best show I had seen and Ive seen alot.I still wear their shirts and Im almost 30.Also I cant wait for their box set in 2005.
Posted by ColdnHeartless:
This Cd makes it seem like they are trying to change their style. The have a few good songs on it but other than that truthfully it sucks. I would probalbly give it a 3.
Posted by Jarrett Smith:
I am an 11 year old kid, and I love Poison. I have all their songs from the 80's and 90's, and I realy want to go to a concert. I hate all the bands now, cause they are boring, no music, and no solos. I just hope Poison hasnt done that.
Posted by bringbackblues:
first off...im a poison fan. i have all their albums and although i didnt like the direction of native tounge their was a few bright sparks. After picking up Crack A Smile..GREAT STUFF!!. i was expecting more of the same...wrong. Hollyweird has no production of any kind, the guitars are just plain dull (god knows whats happened to c.c) few funny bits..but this sounds more like a poor collection of b-sides. this is a 1/5 for me. blues saraceno was a breath of fresh air to poison...GET HIM BACK!!
Posted by babypoion:
poison rocks andthat is all there is to it but this album is good but i would give it a 5 but over all they rocked in the 80's and they're still rock to this day kepp and rocking
Posted by blurrykitten:
i love poison, start to finish.....brett michaels is hot and i love my poison t shirt...im 35 and wear it with pride
Posted by youmnbeing:
it was `youmnbeing` of course.
Posted by youmnbeing:
..there was actually a N missing.....
Posted by youmnbeig:
i just listened to the songs once or twice now and i think it´s ok the way it is.its poison and nothin else.they never ever wanted to get into lyrical depths.they wanna party and i´ll surely be singing along while cranking up the new poison songs in my car. yb
Posted by problem child:
come on give em alittle more slack they are like the only hair metal band areund anymore and no hollyweird isnt there best work but theres some good songs on there so any poison fan should be intrested so go check it out all you loyal fanz
Posted by karenhunter:
the bass is stacked. hope to c him back here in mn again soon
Posted by karenhunter:
bretts package(cd)is fake! so is the one in his pants.
Posted by WICKED:
I LIKE IT. I'M NO CRITIC (BUT THEN, I SUPPOSE YOU ARE?) IT'S JUST FUN. WHY CAN'T IT JUST BE FUN WITHOUT IT HAVING TO HAVE A "MEANING". TAKES ME BACK A FEW YEARS AND AS FAR AS TALENT GOES, WELL WHO AM I TO JUDGE, I CAN'T CARRY A TUNE IN A BUCKET AND I NEVER LEARNED TO PLAY OR WRITE MUSIC.
I HAVE A 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND THIS IS HER CD AND SHE HAS MY GREATEST HITS CD TOO. THIS STUFF KNOWS NO GENERATION.
Posted by Kimmi:
Poison SO Rocks... What other band do you know can still get away with wearing tight ASS pants and still look good wearing them? Ummm? Who wouldn't die for their hair stylist? Get a grip people... They are one of America's FAV bands of all time... They live up to their motto by FAR!!! Look What The Cat Dragged In... Exactly...
Posted by Tiffany:
the song "i won't forget you" was for the bands girlfriends they left behind to pursue their dreams and my mom was bret's girlfriend before he left!
Posted by BEATCARS:
POISON ROCKS, SCREW THE CRITICS MAN, ITS FUN.
Posted by cindy:
I liked the CD . I felt it was just as good as the rest. I wear my POISON t-shirts with pride. Long live hair metal
Posted by cindy:
I liked the CD . I felt it was just as good as the rest.
Posted by Mr. NASCAR:
Why do any of you care if axl calls it GNR or the axl rose band or even if he called it dog poop galore, wouldnt you still listen to it?? i mean come on, it doesnt matter what he calls it, its almost sure to be good. The hollyweird show in Spring Tx (just north of Houston was bad a$$, in my opnion coulda done without faster pu$$ycat, but they were alright i suppose.
Posted by Joh:
This is giving me some violent memories of their "Un-skinny Bop"... - and that atrocious Loggins & Messina cover...
Posted by Jan Pickens, Anderson, SC:
Well (uncle Jack) your right on with your first sentence. BUT I must say you really think Axl cannot call his band GNR? HE IS GUNS N ROSES....always was and doesn't need your approval to call it GNR! Sure he could have just as much and probably more success even if he didn't use it...BUT IT IS HIS CHOICE NOT YOURS!Now back to Poison afterall this is the FORUM HERE......they are great and YOU (PARockFan) have a great ear for music.....Bret's new Solo album is supposed to be above anything he has done before and I am sure it will be. Hope you got to hear the song on his Official Web-site, remember he lets you download the whole song, it's a great ballad best one yet I have heard from anyone! A BIG YES TO THEY ROCK IN CONCERT......I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Bret looks better than ever and they all sound better than ever.....I wish them the best and would love to see them with Cinderella again and maybe have Axl and Sebastian Bach join in.....WOW what a concert that would be! I would pay whatever amount it cost, just won't tell my husband the ticket prices...LOL! KEEP ON ROCKING BACH, AXL & POISON!
Posted by uncle jack:
umm i just wanna say, first of all that Poison is one of the greatest bands of all time and i cant wait for bret's solo album. But mostly to Jane Pickens. Its stupid that axl is calling the band Guns n Roses.first of all, the reason that IS the name is because orginally the lead guitarist was Traci Guns of LA Guns. Hence, GUNS n ROSEs. So when slash came in the name made no sense THEN, but it was still cool, so who cares right? But GNR WAS Slash, Izzy, Gilby, Duff, Dizzy and Matt just as much as it was axl. I mean come on especially Slash and Duff, everyone knows them. These kids doing Guns N Roses covers are not the greats, and axl could have just as much success with a comeback if he called it "The Axl Rose Band" or something... but he is calling it something it isnt... and frankly, will never be.
thanks.
Posted by PARockFan:
Ya, "Songs of Life" is the name of Bret's new solo album. It's due out in stores this spring 2003. It's suppost to be an awsome album with some killer ballads on it that could give "Every Rose has it's Thorn" a run for it's money. Can't wait till spring to pick it up. One review said it's 100x better then Hollyweird.
Posted by Jan Pickens, Anderson SC:
Well finally someone with really good taste and who makes intelligent comments "PaRockFan"! You may only be 22 but your dead straight about Poison and Cinderella getting the 80's Label of Hair Bands and Glam Rock...who gives a mother trucker about the negatives on this forum THEY STILL ARE GREAT. I also went to see Hollyweird and it was a fantastic show...by the way I am 38 but have the love for Poison, Cinderella, Sebastian Bach minus Skid Row and love Axl with the new GNR and yes for you stupid ones he has every right to call the band GNR! By the way Bret Michaels is coming out with a new solo CD and I will rush to get it, if you go to his official web-site he has songs you can listen too AND ONE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE...they are really good and the ballad "One Last Day" is the best. So all you negative mother truckers get a grip and go to a forum of your choice, I am sure I want be there because I only comment on forums that I actually like and appreciate the Bands and or musicians.BY THE WAY I WEAR MY POISON T-SHIRTS AND CINDERELLA ONES WITH PRIDE ALSO!
Posted by PaRockFan:
I'm only 22 and i do remember seeing Poison all over MTV, and their music being played all over the radio in their prime. I don't get how Poison or Cinderella get labled as 80's hair bands, but bands like Bon Jovi don't. Aerosmith came out in the 70's, but no one calls them a 70's band. Poison only put out 2 of their their 7 albums in the 80's. I don't care what mainstream fans say, Poison is a straight out Rock band who kicks major a$$. And as long as their putting out albums and touring, i'll buy their albums and go to their shows. Long Live Rock!
Posted by Youngster:
Im only 21. I was too young to see these guys in their prime, but I saw Poison this summer and they kicked ass. Glam rock may be dead, but it's far better than this hip-hop crap kids lisen to today. Long live hair metal!
Posted by PaRockfan:
Grunge lasted about 3 or 4 years, if that. Glam, Rock, Metal, whatever you want to call it, lasted from the early 80's, right into the 90's, and the music still kicks a$$ today. Poison's latest tours have been a huge success and one of the best summer tours you can go to. Ya, their music is not all that meaningful as far as world issues, but who the hell cares, they are about having a good time, not suicide and killing your classmates. Poison can play, see them live and you'll know it. As for Hollyweird. Not my favorite album to date, but i've heard alot worse from other bands. They should have had atleast two ballads on it, Poison does ballads like no other band can, Every Rose, Something to Believe in, Life goes on, I won't forget you, you get the picture. So that was dissapointing. Squeeze box is good, but it's a cover. RockStar is a awsome song, so is Wishful Thinkin. The rest, not so good. But Poison is far from done, they'll put out another album in the not so distant future and hopefully it will Rock. Hollyweird really didn't. Oh well, Poison still kicks a$$. And by the way, i proudly wear my Poison T-Shirts in public, why would i be embarrassed to were a Rock band t-shirt?
Posted by Your Momma:
Poison is not grunge!!! Hasn't your momma taught you anything?
Posted by SMIC:
Poison is a novelty act
Posted by Miguel Velarde (Peru):
Poison is for me a great band. Every fan never forget it
Posted by TJ:
Poison rocks! Unfortunately this album overall doesn't.
Posted by slide_up:
i totally agree with scott vile when he says poison's new album sucks. i love poison, but this album... i've already listen to their first single and i just want to say, jezzzzzzz... did they really record the album or it is just the demo tape? the sound is horrible! i would never buy this album. i'm really desappointed with them.
Posted by Jan Pickens, Anderson SC:
Well Grunge...for one I may live here now but did you consider the fact that I might have lived in New York and also Chicago? I have seen more Broadway Shows than you probably have in a lifetime...but then again maybe you have seen them also! Unlike YOU I will give you the benefit of doubt and assume you have seen them too. I have lived in 10 states so far and it is people like you who are so negative and hateful that keeps my family moving! Wouldn't it be funny if I lived next door to you someday, I can play my Poison CD's just to drive you crazier than you apparently are, but again I will not assume you are crazy because I do not even know you, thank God! By the way I agree with TOTAL GORE, Grunge Noise has gone or haven't you noticed? Hair Metal Bands may be dead but the talented singers and bands from that time are coming back stronger than ever, so you might want to turn off your radio.
Posted by Grunge:
F*ck Total Gore!!!
Heh...hair metal is dead. Nobody cares. You look stupid. You sound worse, and Jan Pickens proves once again that South Carolinians know nothing about talent if you think they should be on Broadway.
Posted by Brett Michaels:
We suck, we should just hang it up
Posted by ScottVile:
I like SanityQueen's comments, she said it's not Poison's best, admits some lyrics are overly cheesy, but she still likes it. As a die-hard Poison fan, some of you probably would buy the album and enjoy it, because you're a big fan of the band.
Most casual Poison fans and people unfamiliar will write this album off as poorly done. Their best song (and single) is a cover song, tracks 11 & 12 are the same song ("Poison Kareoke") and most of what lies inbetween falls flat. And RWhitworth, the point I made with Home is they should have just had CC's version, they should make a choice instead of being redundant or egotistical about the song. Your point is you don't like the review because you're a spoon-fed Poison fan who will like anything they throw out at you. As I said, the songs they put out on Power To The People are pretty good. This stuff simply isn't.
Posted by Jan Pickens, Anderson SC:
"greatful"? In the dictionary if you look: great, means: much above the average;most important! ful? means: the greatest degree, completely! The word grateful could be used but it means: thankful, welcome! So in my saying and spelling greatful, my meaning was taking the two: great and ful and putting them together to mean, most important degree! He has too much talent to waste it on a band such as Skid Row. Maybe you should find out the facts on Poison, I am sure they make more money than any of us and they do it with talent. Who gives a crap about what the critics think, to each his own with their taste in music. I am sure they do not buy any CD's anyway, they just like to be negative because they get paid to be negative!
Posted by CC:
Even CC hates this lame CD. Your right typical critics call this stuff what it is total crap. Boyband with guitars.
Posted by Total Gore:
FÜCK GRUNGE!!
Posted by LithiumBliss:
You shouldn't throw stones in your glass house, Jan. Spelling? Well, I'm sure "greatful" that "Sabastian" Bach lost his TV show. Freakin poser! Hail grunge!
Posted by Jan Pickens, Anderson SC:
I agree with SanityQueen, thank goodness someone out there realizes talent and quality! As for (OJ) you can tell just by what you wrote what kind of music you listen to, it must have hurt your hearing and your ability to spell words correctly. Get a grip and if you do not like Poison then why in the world are you even on this forum, let me guess? Freedom of Speech? Shows just how old you are, either know what you are talking about per your comment that I should open my mind up to other music? Well I do, I listen to ALL types of music from Poison, Classical, Latin, Country, Jazz and more! I just prefer the music of the 80's and early 90's, also Sabastian Bach! Greatful he is out of Skid Row and on Broadway, already have tickets for his newest show, maybe the guys in Poison will make it even better and go Broadway also because they DO have talent!
Posted by RWhitworth:
As typical of a critic, you rely on misfired jokes about the band and intentional $#!t-talking without actually saying anything relavent. "Exactly the same except for the vocalist and lyrics" Well your review was great except for the words and pointless rambling. Stop trying to keep your cool points with your Gen-x Cobain mourners and try to write an objective review for once.
Posted by SanityQueen:
This album is cool. No, it isn't Poison's best album, but it's fine with me. It's better than 85% of the new stuff coming out in this generation, and unlike many washed up 80s stars, Bret Michaels can still sing and Poison can still put on a great live show. They have become good musicians, and do a great job of doing what they do. Sure, some of these lyrics could be less cheesy, but werent most hair metal lyrics cheesy? Some of these lyrics are pretty good, like the ones on all CC's songs, "Wasteland","Hollyweird", and Bret's "Home" song, too. I can listen to this CD the whole way through and not be bored. I'm definitely a Poison fan and back them all the way. A ballad on this album would be great, though, but it's fine without too. Listen to this album and try to see the qualities before you start dissing.
Posted by OJ:
WELL I LISTEN TO DEATH EMTAL AND GUESS WHAT I DON'T HAVE ONE PROBLEM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SINGING, IF YOU JUST OPEN UP YOUR MIND INSTEAD OF CLOSING IT OFF CAUSE OF YOOR PREJUDGEMENTS TO THAT TYPE OF MUSIC YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
Posted by Jan Pickens, Anderson SC:
I went to their Hollyweird concert in Greenville, SC and thought it was great. They performed better than ever and I have the Hollyweird CD and think it is quality done and has a different sound than the 80's yet still has tunes that you can enjoy! Best wishes to Poison, I would love for them to tour more. Get rid of the music sound for the last few years with these other bands/musicians if you want to call them that, to where you can actually understand the lyrics rather than strain to understand what the lyrics/words are. At least with this band you can clearly understand the lyrics and always have been able too. As far as loosing brain cells, I think they have proved they are not a "Pretty Boy" band but actually have songs that people relate to that is if YOU are not closed minded and in to this crap that has been out for the past few years such as the grudge stuff or whatever they call it. Go to it Poison and you who have critical comments in the negative, forget them.Poison do what you like with your lyrics/music and look forward to many more years of Poison music.
Posted by LithiumBliss: If you take a can of AquaNet and do it
up like a whip-it, this album doesn't sound that bad. Of course, you lose
a few thousand brain cells.
About the reviewer:
Scott Vile is a feature
writer for antiMUSIC and the iconoFAN Network.
