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There is something magic in the music of Billy Idol…
the kind of magic that, when listening to this CD on the way to work,
made me walk in and declare to my boss that I was not old and needn't
be responsible, but that the rock I had been listening to had made
me realize that I was born to rock… not sit in an office. And
that is the feeling that I get when listening to the edgy rawness
of Billy Idol's music from over the years. From his gritty beginnings
with punk rockers Generation X to the smooth crooning of "Eyes
Without A Face", Idol has always been at the helm of a fantastic
rock and roll machine. When he made his foray into exploring "Cyberpunk"
the goodness was mostly overlooked, and on his newest hits collection,
Idolize Yourself, the king of snarl has included two brand
new tracks never before released. "John Wayne" has a smoky,
dark, Western vibe, harkening back to the mid-80's when Idol was at
the top of his game. The guitars are subtle and brilliant while the
synthesizers carry the basic chord structure beautifully. The other
new track, "New Future Weapon", also sounds like classic
Idol, but more of the up-tempo sort, with throbbing bass lines and
throttling drums and guitars that chug along with a tremendous, thundering
energy. Along with these new tracks are classic Idol at its finest.
"Dancing With Myself" is as smoothly punk as it was over
25 years ago, while "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell"
are as relevant and rocking as they were two decades ago. "Eyes
Without A Face" is smooth and smoky, while "Flesh For Fantasy"
still holds some of the finest drum sounds of all time and the perfect
blend of soul and rock that just bleeds sexuality. Also included are
some of his middle career highlights, including his great cover of
Tommy James' "Mony, Mony" and the rocking "Cradle
Of Love".
Are you an older person who needs some escape from the doldrums
of the work-a-day life? Remind yourself of your youth and rebelliousness
with a healthy dose of sexy, loud Billy Idol. If you're a younger
person who doesn't really understand the hype and thinks that all
80's music sucks, then give the old guy a chance. You'll be surprised
how much you like the smooth punk and soul that that Idol churned
out, and still continues to purvey.
-L. Keane
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