HANOI ROCKS
Twelve Shots on the Rocks
Liquor and Poker Records 2004
www.hanoirocks.com

Read the Michael Monroe interview

What’s the 4-1-1?
Finnish pioneers of glam, who in the early eighties dominated Europe and Japan, only to be marred by tragedy as their big break in the U.S. came to fruition. You’ll probably remember them most from that tragedy that involved Vince Neil of Motley Crue killing their drummer in a drunken driving accident.

Genre
Punk rock / glam / blues rock

The Good
Sit back, strap yourself in, because when we reach 88mph, you’re gonna hear some serious s**t! It’s been nearly 17 years since Hanoi Rocks last left their mark on the rock music world, and with the release of their latest CD, it seems like it’s the next day. Often confused with pop-metal bands, Hanoi Rocks are punk rockers with a glam look. The group makes this perfectly clear on “Obscured”. Andy & Michael’s punk-fueled rhythms are highlighted by their melodic vocals. You can almost smell the hairspray (destroying the ozone layer). “Devious” is equally accelerated. This time the guys pull of some great dual vocal harmonies.

Hanoi Rocks don’t stay the punk route for long. Bluesy guitar rock seems to be one of their strong points as well. “New York City” is a gritty guitar laden track that shows Michael taking on a harsher tone in his delivery. Andy boats some sweet guitar tones as well. There is also plenty of twang on Moonlight Dance. “Watch you Want” kicks it up a notch with heavier riffage and bitter vocals. This song almost rivals some of Motley Crue’s earlier work. One of the discs five bonus tracks, “Winged Bull”, has a little bit of everything. It starts of with some futuristic sounds that lead into a power ballad that David Coverdale (Whitesnake) would be jealous of.

It wouldn’t be the eighties if it weren’t for a couple of my favorite rock record clichés. First you have the infectious guitar riffing in the song named after a famous proverb, “Day Late and a Dollar Short”, and then you have a song written about the gypsy lifestyle, Gypsy Boots. Michael breaks out his harmonica for this one. One things for sure, Hanoi Rocks know how to write a catchy tune. On “People Like Me”, the CD’s first single, Michael sounds off against MTV and radio for discarding the past. He makes some valid points too.

The Bad
The ballads are good, but Michael’s vocal style is a little weathered to pull them off with emotion.

The Verdict
I read a few reviews for this CD and they all said the same thing, “Hanoi Rocks are back with their brand of whiskey soaked rock and roll anthems”. What the hell does that mean? It means they didn’t listen to it! I didn’t see any whiskey, smell any whiskey, or hear any whiskey. What I did hear was some great rock songs. Hanoi Rocks project a great rock and roll atmosphere with their catchy, simple yet effective songwriting, and their punk/blues landscape. Make my “Twelve Shots on the Rocks” a double!

Did You Know?
In 1983 Hanoi Rocks demanded that there should be Smirnoff vodka, Dom Perignon champagne, Jack Daniels whiskey, beer, mineral water and peanuts in the backstage.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne