  
Collectors Dream Records/Sound Pollution
LA GUNS was formed in 1983 by guitarist Tracii Guns, who actually merged it with HOLLYWOOD ROSE and thus made it in the first lineup of GUNS´N´ROSES. They strived on their own soon again and Tracii together with Phil Lewis (ex. GIRL), vocals, Kelly Nickels, bass, Steve Riley (ex. WASP), drums, and Mick Cripps, guitars, became the famous bestselling band that released their self-titled debut and “Cocked & Loaded”. But many have come and gone, a.o. JIzzy Pearl (LOVE/HATE), Chris Holmes (ex.WASP), Keri Kelli (ALICE COOPER etc) and Brent Muscat (FASTER PUSSYCAT) have all participated. The band has released 14 studio albums, including Greatest Hits and cover albums. This was studio album no. 10 in 2012, and was performed by Phil Lewis, Steve Riley, guitarist Stacy Blades, and bass player/keyboard player Scott Griffin.
The opening sort of title track is by far the best on the album. It is like the Guns back where they belong with both pace and melody. Things often cool off with punk inspired tracks far from the successful and Fan-friendly LA GUNS. They tend to sound either rough as in “Eel Pie”, or a bit depressed, as in many tracks, e.g. “Sweet Mystery”. The fan base must have been there, why go for so many styles? Tracks like “Vine St. Shimmy”, “Dirty Black Night” and “Venus bomb” must have been better received than the depressive sounding ones! One depressed song that actually works since it´s a bit more arranged is “Requiem (Hollywood Forever)”. The structure and the sincere feeling of it all go down quite well with me. But I could have been without the final track “Arana Negra ((Black Spider)”, which seems like a hurried affair around some very basic sleaze rock. Aw well, they are still around and I hope for a return to full form!
Track List
Hollywood Forever
You Better Not Love Me
Eel Pie
Sweet Mystery
Burn
Vine St Shimmy
Dirty Black Night
Underneath the Sun
Queenie
Crazy Tango
Venus Bomb
I Won´t Play
Requiem (Hollywood Forever)
Arana Negra (Black Spider)
www.massacre-records.com www.myspace.com/lagunsofficial
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