It was an age of unbridled hedonism and hair spray, the place spandex was the uniform and energy ballads dominated the airwaves. Glam is likely one of the most polarizing genres of steel, however for one decade on the Sundown Strip, it was a scene as dominant as any in rock historical past.
The overall consensus amongst metalheads is that almost all ’80s glam steel did not stand the check of time. It was too corny to outlive, with method too many bands making the identical stuff time and again. Which may be the reality, however these 10 albums had been extra than simply a part of a development. They’re genuinely nice.
Let’s make one factor clear — Cinderella was a fucking nice band. They’d the tacky glam steel title and look, however the band’s songwriting was simply so rattling tasteful. Cinderella‘s debut album is full of rock n’ roll grooves, some southern vibes, nice guitar work, Sundown Strip swagger and killer vocals from Tom Keifer. This band had simply as a lot in frequent with Aerosmith as they did with typical L.A. hair steel.
Twisted Sister by no means thought of themselves a “hair steel” band, however their monstrous look and anthemic cuts put them side-by-side with the Poisons and Wingers of the age. “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” “Burn In Hell,” “I Wanna Rock,” “The Worth”… solely the sickest motherfuckers (like Pee-Wee Herman) understand how phenomenal Keep Hungry is from entrance to again.
Tooth and Nail typically will get the nod for Dokken‘s greatest album, however the opening trio of “Unchain the Night time,” “The Hunter” and “In My Desires” on Below Lock and Key is incomparable. Dokken was by no means one of many cool, heart-throb hair steel bands, however a mastermind like George Lynch was by no means going to be correctly appreciated by informal listeners. These songs had been constructed to final, not simply to satiate the Sundown Strip crowd.
Welcome to the Nuno Bettencourt present. The guitar mastery all through this traditional album is simply ridiculous. No one might contact Bettencourt within the glam scene… and what number of hair steel bands might’ve pulled off throwing horns into an album? Excessive II: Pornograffitti was really a mad scientist sort of experiment, however thank goodness somebody had the balls to aim it.
Y&T was one other ‘80s act whose lack of coolness prevented them from hitting Mötley Crüe ranges of infamy. Although Y&T did not have a lot of an edge to them, their songwriting on Imply Streak is top-notch. The band’s rhythmic work is outstandingly tight, the dual guitar assault on tracks like “Midnight In Tokyo” is tremendous wealthy, and “Lonely Facet of City” has a large ‘80s refrain. Give this each other spin.
Hanoi Rocks‘ earlier, extra punk-leaning works are inclined to get essentially the most reward, however the band’s glam-tastic 1984 album Two Steps From the Transfer has actually held up. These guys did all the things effectively… from their Rolling Stones angle, Seashore Boys vocal harmonies, Conflict-like anthems and unapologetic ballads. This album is a lot fucking enjoyable to hearken to. It made me need to ditch highschool and I am 36 years outdated.
This band had a lot god rattling angle earlier than Blackie Lawless turned a born-again Christian. The guitar tone alone captured on W.A.S.P.‘s self-titled debut is ’80s supremacy in a nutshell — just like the Terminator caught his D-1000 within the high loader of a Sega Genesis. There’s not a boring second on this album. “I Wanna Be Anyone,” “L.O.V.E. Machine,” “The Torture By no means Stops”… even with out the enduring “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast),” this document is a traditional.
The truth that Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan ended up in the identical band is actually a present from the steel gods. Lean Into It was launched proper earlier than the grunge explosion of 1991, making it one of many glam Zeitgeist’s final nice albums. Mr. Big‘s huge hits, “To Be With You” and “Simply Take My Coronary heart,” are each tremendous corny, however they’re undeniably well-written and simply flippin’ nice to hearken to. Plus, the remainder of the album simply straight-up rocks.
Proper out the gate, Tesla‘s The Nice Radio Controversy solidifies itself as a must-hear album. “Hold Robust” goes so onerous with the Iron Maiden riffage, whereas “Girl Luck” brings the ‘80s super-chorus to rattling close to hedonistic ranges. This document is simply stable, all the way in which till the dreamlike “Paradise” and the climactic “Celebration’s Over.” Few hair steel acts had been in a position to craft such a whole work.
What else will be stated about Whitesnake‘s self-titled album? It is simply enormous music after enormous music — a lot extra than simply one other glam steel album. David Coverdale sounds just like the second coming of Robert Plant, the guitar work on cuts like “Nonetheless of the Night time” is gigantic, it is obtained all-timers like “Right here I Go Once more” and it is one of the vital pristinely produced albums you will ever hear. Lush is an understatement.
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