'Self Destruction Blues', though listed as a studio album, is a compilation of singles and B-sides that the band recorded between '81 and '82. (Though I tend to think all these bands, including Hanoi Rocks, borrowed some of their look from Aerosmith and the New York Dolls. Take a look a the cover photo and find out where Guns n Roses, LA Guns, Faster Pussycat, Ratt, etc. Of course some may see that as a bad thing, but regardless, Hanoi Rocks were more influential than their album sales ever let on. Hair metal owes it's existence at least partially to Hanoi Rocks. Hanoi Rocks was all about swagger and pomp.

Of course Hanoi Rocks were a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, but their look and style became the norm for the Hollywood strip in the 1980s, thought their sound was much more raw and punk-inspirted than most of the heavy metal and glam metal bands from that era. Straight out of the gutter! Hanoi Rocks are that band. If that were to happen you would get the most screwed up, deranged rock and roll band ever. Imagine if the Rolling Stones grew up in the streets of Hollywood, California in the 80's and hitched up with David Bowie, and had bastard childen that looked and sounded like the New York Dolls. Hanoi Rocks - Self Destruction Blues (Uzi Suicide) 1982 'Oriental Beat' is pure rock and roll attitude! It's not about pristine recordings and stellar musicianship, rather it's about attitude. Yes indeed! From the bouncy opening 'Motorvatin'' to the sax solo of 'Don't Follow Me' to the gutter attitude of 'Sweet Home Suburbia' to the Clash influenced 'No Law Or Order', 'Oriental Beat' is definitely a candidate for the worst album ever! In fact, I bet the band would wear that label as a badge of honor. The sound is still a mixture of punk rock and glam rock, only they seem to have even more feel, more groove and more attitude. After all, despite their lack of commercial success, Hanoi Rocks was one of the most influential bands of the early 80's on the Sunset Strip.Īfter their legendary, poorly recorded debut album, 'Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks', Hanoi Rocks returned one year after with their second full-length release 'Oriental Beat'. Similarly, I've read reviews on Hanoi Rocks 'Oriental Beat' that state, 'the very worst album I ever heard'. Hanoi Rocks - Oriental Beat (Victor) 1982īack around 1979 or '80 I read a review in a magazine about Motorhead that stated they were one of the worst bands ever! I simply had to check them out and they became one of my all-time favorite bands. 'Walking With My Angel' is a cover of a song from Herman's Hermits. It's just fun! File somewhere between the Rolling Stones and the New York Dolls. It's raw! It's rowdy! It's youthful! It's rock and roll in its purest form straight from the seedy clubs into our homes. Sure, it's rough! That's part of the charm.

The band members themselves have criticized this album, from the production to their individual performances.

His punk background is certainly heard despite the obvious glam rock tendencies. Andy McCoy's writes the music and delivers the gritty guitar sound. Monroe has charisma and attitude and delivers the lyrics with a snidely sneer and youthful exuberance. That's not the point really! Some of the best singers in the world never would have gotten in the door of one of these silly singing talent shows. No, he is not a technically great singer. The band is all about attitude, especially vocalist Michael Monroe. The band didn't have big label backing, so they took a cue from the do-it-yourself punk bands and self-produced the album. The music is a mix of sleazy, glam rock and punk. 'Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes.' is the first album by Finnish rockers Hanoi Rocks and though never a chart topper, it was one of the bigger influences on a new scene that was exploding out of Los Angeles, California in the early 80's. Hanoi Rocks sucks! And the band would have it no other way! 'Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes' is degradation set to music pooled from the cigarette butt infested gutters of the dirtiest streets in the world. Hanoi Rocks - Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (Sanctuary) 1981

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