Of all things that stand out on this latest and last recording from
this most "twisted" of performers - I mean, the CD cover booklet in
itself is as outrageous and outspoken as one would expect with all
the many faces of Dee Snider - but would you get a look at that
tattoo on A.J. Pero? I mean the guy's got this thing that just jumps
right off the page! Well this final statement in what supposedly is the
end of Mr. Snider's storied rock and roll career definitely sees this
walking heavy metal outrage leaving with a full blown bang, definitely
not a whimper. Sad in that, while this may never go down in history as
one of the all time great metal releases, it shows that there's still
plenty of mileage left in this multi-faceted machine that now, as he
enters another stage in a damning and diverse career, plans more in the
way of being seen, than being heard. Unless, of course, you haven't totally
given up on rock radio where Dee does that old "House Of Hair" thing.
Snider's first and last, as it were, solo album, is an exercise in both
history and complete musicianship. Yes this sounds like an '80s record
in that most of the material was originally written during the Twisted,
Desperado, Widowmaker days, but the recording's been done in the here
and now with a new assembly of studio musicians which add a fresh
element to the rekindled rock and roll spirit that these were first born
from.
For anyone who's followed Dee's career over the years, much of
what you'll hear comes as little surprise, from the opening thrash attack
of "Hard Core," to the anthemic bursts of "Our Voice Will Be Heard,"
(and if anyone's ever could, it's undoubtedly his!), and the melancholic
"Isn't It Time" which ranks up near the top here. Think of it as "old
school," but run with a new faculty.
"Cry You A Rainbow" explores the
lighter side of this elemental personality, a family man who has
little trouble tapping into the resource of sentimentality when a change
is needed. Like "Leader Of The Pack" was to "Come Out And Play" all
those years ago (come on, admit you loved it!) we get the bluesy strut
and swagger of Dion & The Belmonts' "The Wanderer" here - one that
undoubtedly remained in hiding this last decade or so within the whole
context of the ill-fated Desperado project.
Altogether, what we're
getting now is another little piece of a man's past. Not just any man,
but a man who will go down in the history books as one of rock and roll's
most colorful and outspoken leaders. One that more often than not
managed to create some memorable music behind the "curtain."
