UAWIL #140: Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil
The Crue's sophomore effort has killer riffs, gets them on MTV & sells 4 million in the US but does the album stand the test of time?
Motley Crue followed the platinum success of their debut record Too Fast For Love with 1983's Shout At The Devil. With a provocative title and a cover featuring a pentagram, The Crue were courting controversy in an attempt to gain fame and grow their teenage fanbase. Never known for their musicianship or lyric writing prowess, their sophomore effort helped define a sleazy LA sound that may have eventually been perfected by Guns N Roses. Thanks to their outrageous looks, stage show and attitudes, Motley were able to get airtime on MTV, opening act slots with bands like KISS and Ozzy Oxbourne and get invited to play big festivals. Looks That Kill became a hit on the radio and it helped buoy the album to over 5 million in sales worldwide.
But does it stand the test of time? Hearing the album as a teenager in the 80s is a different experience than hearing it 40 years later and between the simple song structures, the purile yet x-rated lyrics and overall lack of prowess with their instruments, sonically this might not be a classic for the ages. However, thanks to the imagery, the attitude and pure punch of the Mick Mars riffs and Tommy Lee's drumming, this will always hold a place in the hard rock pantheon of albums and is what helped propel Motley Crue to the worldwide success they still enjoy today.
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