Back to Mystery City

Not really sure how this made it onto the 1001 list, but I can only assume it's bribery.

I'm genuinely confused by this album, or at least its inclusion on this list. Nothing I heard seemed new, novel, or influential. The recording quality was mediocre, and song writing basic, the execution lukewarm. Maybe I missed something, but I don't think I'll be listening again to find out.

Bad 80s Glam. The sound of doing blow off of a Macy's credit card

Never listened to this band, but this is stupid glam metal and I am absolutely here for it. This was better than I thought and influenced Poison/Motley Crue and others. Great album as long as you are willing to have fun with it.

Um, interesting choice for this list. I have never heard of Hanoi Rocks but they aren't terrible. This album feels like one on your guilty pleasure list - don't really want to tell anyone you like it but deep down there's something about it that you're drawn to. For that reason, it gets an average rating. But nothing more. I just can't justify a higher rating for a fun sounding album by, from what I can tell, just another 80's glam rock band with some tragedy. Really don't know why they're on this list.

I was going to give a two, but then when I heard the saxophone I decided to add another star.

Beach boys punk rock

I'm sure Hanoi Rocks were pretty great live in a small club in 1981; a bit of glam, rock and roll fun. But this album is... just sadly amateurish. The very existence of this album is both a calling card to help the band get live bookings and a souvenir for their live fan base. But it's not a good record. The songwriting is basic, the lyrics were clearly written by someone with pretty rudimentary English, and it sounds like it was recorded in a cardboard box using a tin can on a string. I can hear their energy, which is commendable. I like an energetic album by an enthusiastic band, and I don't even mind if the recording is a bit shoddy, but this is just paper thin. I can hear how this was the beginning of 80s glam metal, but there are much better examples of that genre (if you really felt like 80s glam metal needed representation). Really, I suspect the main reason that this band is included on the list is the tragic death of drummer, Razzle, and the way that intersects with the more prominent story of Motley Crue. I am increasingly uncomfortable with the way that the story behind a record becomes an integral part of the status of that album, especially when predicated on the suffering or death of the people involved. I'm sure Razzle would rather be a live drummer (even a live retired drummer) than a dead legend. 2.5 stars, rounding down for the emotional vampirism on the basis of a dead man.

Pretty dumb but... fine I suppose. I dunno, I think there's better stuff out there in this style.

The Mystery: What would it sound like if Poison made a Replacements album? The Answer: This record.

This one surprises. Loved it and hope to find a copy.

The infamous Glam Punk band, criminaly underatted and undeapreciate, i'm accually suprised to see one of their album here. It started with a accoutisc oppening with river and bird songs, absoluttly not preparing us for the rest, but still kinda funny. It then go with the powerfull riff of Malibu Beach Nightmare. some songs are very good, others forgettable, The best songs are: Malibu Beach Nightmare, Mental Beat, Lick Summer Love, Betting getting faster, Ice Cream Summer and Back to Mystery City. But honneslty the songs all have some cool intro, riffs and Mike Monroe always give a hell of a good vocals job. The songs are bluesy, metal, rock and punk, sometimes all at once, showing their vats music skills and influences of others bands like New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, english glam Rock (Bowie, T.Rex, Roxy Music), The Sex Pistols or more classical rock band like the Stones or Aerosmith. In addition of their songs, they have an authenticity, a street wise glam punk attitude and way of telling their songsd, that is more than just the girls and party vibe of others Glam bands (that i also like but i more authentic here). Micheal Monroe is one of the best frontman in rock, vclarly in that period of time, because all thoses band kinda immitte him. Their songs just genuily feels real and still got that good vibe of others glam band, its a shamed theyr never get big. The influenced Hanoi Rocks have, with this album and all their others, is significant, especially when you look at all the american Glam Metal scene (Especially in the Sunset Strip) its undiable, from their songs, to their attitude and their look. Huge band have praised them, Guns N' Roses in particular, memebrs have often said good things about Hanoi Rocks an sayin how much they have influence them. The list of bands is long, Ratt, Alices In Chains, Poison, LA Guns, Skid Row, Foo Fighters, Mötley Crüe and even Def Leppard. To conclude the album is very good, i dont know if its the best album of Hanoi Rocks cause i dind't listen to all of them, but this one is one of the best 80's Glam Metal album i have heard, because of the attitude, the feeling and the music. But we have to regognise their influences, but some songs are not very good, a bit repetitive and it almost feel like some songs were not at maximum potential. Anyway love it.

I loved this album, even though the first time I listened to it tracks 2-8 were not the correct songs. Seems Apple Music has the wrong songs associated with tracks 4-8 were the wrong songs. Whatever songs those were I listened to the first time sounded like Hanoi Rocks and I really liked them... After re-listening with the correct tracks (than you YouTube): I LOVE THIS ALBUM. This band is really amazing. Some pretty strong rock tracks in here ("Malibu Beach Nightmare") with some punk and glam and 50s stuff - all blended together into BACK TO MYSTERY CITY. There are touches of Queen, Meat Loaf, the B-52s, the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack - all have done some similar mixing before… What's great here is Hanoi Rocks has their own spin on these winning combinations. I loved every song on here. The styles varied a bit but still felt like a cohesive album. Some wild fun sound-effect shenanigans in the opening and scattered here and there - like the farm animals in "Tooting Bec Wreck", the spacey echoey effects in "Until I Get You,” the bells in “Ice Cream Summer.” Well done without being overdone. This is some of the best punk/rock/glam/50's style music around. I wish I had discovered them in the 80s as I think it would have enhanced my adolescence. Nevertheless lots of fun now, the lyrics were interesting, and I will listen to this often. And after being exposed to some additional Hanoi Rocks through the misidentified mystery tracks, will follow up with some more of their albums. HANOI ROCKS ROCKS!

In an effort to keep my reviews consistent, I keep these attributes in mind when I choose an album's rating: recording, performances, and songs. The performances and recording of this album are fine but the songs are not good. Say what you want about Motley Crue and Poison, they had song craft figured out.

This kicks ass. Early punk energy. Adding this to my collection.

5/5 - shockingly good. I can see where GNR got it from

What works here – and not very well, TBH – are the new wavey elements, including sax and keyboard flourishes and also Strummer-esque vocals on the first part "Mental Beat" and the overall feels on "Tooting Bec Wreck." On balance, this could scarcely be more forgettable (or more regrettably '80s for that matter). One can't confirm that "Lick Summer Love" (among the least bad cuts here) is a Spinal Tap cover but the title suggests it must be. The hair styles alone require a full point deduction. The lyrics also suck for being sub-sophomoric. They can't be Finnish, can they? Or is Finland some neighborhood in LA that one doesn't know? Perhaps the best that can be said is that this coulda been much worse, and the packaging tees up that expectation.

This album is wildly eclectic. It borders simple and genius at the same time. Don't sleep on this band.

A really good album, I like Malibu Beach Nightmare, Mental Beat and Tooting Bec Wreck the most.

Classic glam rock

I don’t know much about Hanoi Rocks, but I do know that the drummer Razzle was killed by Vince Neil’s drunk driving, who served only 19 days in jail. Mötley Crüe then went on to carry on making music. It’s one of the most bizarre things to happen in rock music and a massive injustice, and it really needs a Netflix exposé. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Malibu Beach Nightmare, Sailing Down The Tears, Beating Gets Faster I don’t know why I haven’t listened to much Hanoi Rocks before. Glam rock and metal was a big part of my life for a good while, but I just didn’t look much into this band for some unknown reason. This album was pretty spectacular. It has plenty of catchy melodies, nice distorted guitars, and vocals that don’t tend to shriek quite as much as some similar styled bands. I liked this a lot, and I’m very glad I’ve finally given them a good listen.

Peacemaker rocks! :D

Yeah, this is great. Due to the fatal car incident with their drummer and the Motley Crue singer, I somehow always associated this band with MC and never paid it the attention it deserves. Turns out: it does not have those silly glam rock sing along refrains, but it is much more rock n roll: think New York Dolls a decade earlier. My bad.

I spent my entire 8 hours of work listening to just this artist.... good stuff

Long time music listener, first time glam rock enjoyer. Seriously, the 80s form of glam rock has never really jelled with me, but *man* did I enjoy this album. Sounds like it was made for huge stages and big festivals, insert your own crowd chanting while listening. I'm not sure if it's the use of the name "Rosalita" and the killer saxophone solo in "Ice Cream Summer", but man, it sounds just like Springsteen went glam. Early on in the record, I thought, "this isn't bad," and near the end I was super into it. Fuck it. I'm feeling generous tonight. Favorite tracks: "Mental Beat", "Tooting Bec Wreck", "Beating Gets Faster", "Ice Cream Summer"

Everything that I love about rock!

Was expecting hair metal, but these guys definitely have a more punk/glam sound - owing more to Bowie or T Rex than other hair metal bands.

Well this was a nice new guilty pleasure. By all measures, Hanoi Rocks sounds a bit ridiculous. It's glam rock after glam rock fell out of fashion. It's punk when everyone else was going post punk. It's very rough around the edges and hard to take seriously. But honestly, I kind of loved it. The first half in particular packed some good punches. I can completely understand why they attracted such fans as Mott the Hopple and Axl Rose. Shame that they didn't last as a band. I can easily see them having matured, with this album being the slightly embarrassing fan favorite that no one admits to. But honestly, it was pretty good.

## In-Depth Review of *Back to Mystery City* by Hanoi Rocks Released in 1983, *Back to Mystery City* is the fourth studio album by Finnish glam-punk band Hanoi Rocks. This record marked a pivotal moment in their career, blending elements of punk, glam rock, and 70s pop into a unique sound that influenced future bands like Guns N’ Roses and Poison[1][2]. Below is a detailed exploration of the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its pros and cons. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Back to Mystery City* are diverse, ranging from introspective reflections to carefree celebrations of youth and rebellion. Andy McCoy wrote most of the album, with Michael Monroe contributing to some tracks. The lyrics often feel like snapshots of the band’s life at the time: - **"Malibu Beach Nightmare"** captures a playful yet edgy vibe with its depiction of escapism and summer fun[1][2]. - **"Tooting Bec Wreck"** is inspired by the grim realities of living in a rat-infested London apartment, showcasing a raw and introspective side[2]. - **"Until I Get You"** is a melodic ballad about longing and romance, reminiscent of Alice Cooper’s style[1]. - **"Lick Summer Love"**, controversial for its explicit content, reflects youthful hedonism but has been criticized by band members as overly sleazy[1][2]. The lyrical themes oscillate between gritty realism ("Tooting Bec Wreck") and carefree glam-punk anthems ("Malibu Beach Nightmare"), which adds depth but occasionally feels inconsistent. --- ### **Music** Musically, *Back to Mystery City* is a vibrant fusion of glam rock, punk energy, and 70s pop influences. The album’s sound is characterized by: - **Dynamic Guitar Work**: Andy McCoy’s lead guitar and Nasty Suicide’s rhythm guitar create intricate dual-guitar arrangements that are both melodic and raw[2][3]. - **Catchy Hooks**: Tracks like "Malibu Beach Nightmare" feature irresistible hooks that blend punk aggression with pop sensibilities[2]. - **Diverse Styles**: The album ranges from upbeat rockers like "Beating Gets Faster" to mid-tempo tracks like "Sailing Down the Tears," showcasing versatility[1]. - **50s Rock Influence**: McCoy drew inspiration from early rock’n’roll and girl groups, lending songs a nostalgic yet fresh feel[2]. Standout tracks include "Mental Beat," with its driving rhythm and infectious energy, and "Back to Mystery City," which combines glam-rock swagger with lyrical storytelling about their adventures in Asia[1][3]. --- ### **Production** Produced by Dale Griffin and Pete "Overend" Watts of Mott the Hoople fame, the production balances raw energy with polished arrangements: - **Live Feel**: The album retains a gritty edge that mirrors Hanoi Rocks’ live performances while avoiding overproduction[1][2]. - **Instrumentation**: Morgan Fisher’s keyboards add depth to certain tracks, while Miriam Stockley’s backing vocals provide texture[1]. - **Drum Work**: Razzle’s drumming brings vitality to the record, especially on tracks like "Mental Beat," despite initial recording challenges[1][2]. While the production captures the band’s essence effectively, some critics have noted that it doesn’t fully showcase their potential. Monroe himself expressed mixed feelings about certain songs like "Lick Summer Love," feeling they didn’t represent their best work[2]. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Back to Mystery City* explores: 1. **Youthful Rebellion**: Songs like "Malibu Beach Nightmare" exude carefree energy and escapism. 2. **Urban Decay**: Tracks such as "Tooting Bec Wreck" reflect the harsh realities of living in London during the early 80s. 3. **Romance and Lust**: Ballads like "Until I Get You" delve into longing and love, while "Lick Summer Love" explores more explicit themes. 4. **Adventure**: The title track celebrates the band’s experiences abroad and their growing fame. The album balances lighthearted themes with darker undertones but occasionally struggles with tonal cohesion. --- ### **Influence** *Back to Mystery City* played a significant role in shaping glam-punk and glam-metal scenes: - It inspired bands such as Guns N’ Roses (Slash praised Hanoi Rocks as “the real deal”), Poison, and Alice in Chains[2][3]. - The album helped revive authentic rock’n’roll during a period dominated by post-punk gloom and pre-party metal trends[2]. Despite modest chart success (peaking at #87 in the UK), its cultural impact was profound. Songs like "Malibu Beach Nightmare" became anthems for a new wave of rock bands seeking to combine glamour with grit[1][3]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Innovative Sound**: The blend of glam rock, punk energy, and 70s pop was ahead of its time. 2. **Strong Songwriting**: Andy McCoy’s compositions are memorable and diverse. 3. **Energetic Performances**: Michael Monroe’s charismatic vocals and Razzle’s dynamic drumming elevate the album. 4. **Influence on Future Bands**: It laid the groundwork for glam-metal acts that emerged later. 5. **Standout Tracks**: Songs like "Malibu Beach Nightmare," "Mental Beat," and "Back to Mystery City" are timeless. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Inconsistent Tone**: The mix of lighthearted tracks ("Ice Cream Summer") with darker ones ("Tooting Bec Wreck") can feel uneven. 2. **Production Limitations**: While solid overall, some tracks don’t fully capture Hanoi Rocks’ live energy or potential. 3. **Mixed Lyrics Quality**: Certain songs (e.g., "Lick Summer Love") have been criticized for being overly explicit or lacking depth. 4. **Limited Commercial Success**: Despite critical acclaim, it didn’t achieve substantial chart performance outside Finland. --- ### Conclusion *Back to Mystery City* is a landmark album that showcases Hanoi Rocks at their creative peak. Its blend of glam-punk aesthetics, catchy songwriting, and energetic performances make it a cult classic that influenced an entire generation of rock musicians. While it has its flaws—such as inconsistent tone and mixed production—the album remains essential listening for fans of 80s rock’n’roll. For those seeking authentic rock energy combined with glam swagger, *Back to Mystery City* delivers in spades despite its imperfections.

Hanoi Rocks delivers a delightfully catchy glam rock record, with favorites coming out of 'Until I Get You' and 'Mental Beat'. The arrangements are quite methodical and measured, with Razzle's familiar classic rock drum patterns fastening the album. A Finnish band singing in English could make you mistake Hanoi Rocks for a Brit band, which affords it extra substance as a generally pleasant listen.

Je ne connaissais pas, ça rock !

That's crazy how they added crazy sax solo in rocks songs at that time and that actually is really good especially in "Malibu Beach Nightmare". "Tooting Bec Wreck" wtfff was that intro and in the mid part of the song the singer sounded like Donnie Thornberry ahaha but the rest of the song was clearly awesome probably my favorite of the album. The rest of the album was good but a bit weird, I mean there is a weird atmosphere but that means they succeeded to create their own vibe that's dope for sure.

These guys didn't sound Vietnamese or Finnish.

Had no idea of what these folx were going to sound like, but apparently, every movie that is set in the 80s uses their styling to imply the 80s.

Another reviewer describes this album as "dumb glam." I mean, yeah. Isn't it great? Well, I had a blast listening to this album, but it turns out if you're listening on Spotify, this is not Back to Mystery City. About half the tracks are mislabeled. With a little digging on YouTube, you should be able to find the others. These are the actual songs Spotify shows as being on the album: 1) Strange Boys Play Weird Openings; 2) Malibu Beach Nightmare; 3) Mental Beat; 4) Don't You Ever Leave Me (mislabeled); 5) Lost in the City (mislabeled); 6) First Timer (mislabeled); 7) Cheyenne (mislabeled); 8) Beating Gets Faster; 9) Ice Cream Summer; 10) Back to Mystery City. In spite of the annoyance of having to find the right tracks, I really enjoyed listening to this. Hanoi Rocks gets associated so much with 80s glam metal that I was expecting not to like this, but they're better than a lot of those bands. This album has a Mott-Meets-Sweet-Meets-New York Dolls vibe to it, ramshackle but with a surprising pop sensibility. The songs are glammy and trashy and tongue in cheek, all of it in good fun. Fave Songs: Tooting Bec Wreck, Beating Gets Faster, Until I Get You, Ice Cream Summer, Mental Beat, Malibu Beach Nightmare

Not on Spotify, and the track order is backwards on the YouTube playlist. Fuck you, nerds. This guys hair is so amazing. I wish I had enough hair to rock that look. This is an otherwise solid rock and roll album from the 80s. Definitely worth the listen.

Back to Mystery City Do you think the recording of the acoustic guitars in the intro to Strange Boys is supposed to sound so wobbly? I guess it might make you think you are about to listen to a vaguely pastoral album based around Blackbird. But by looking at the cover you clearly aren’t in for that sort of thing. Indeed you’re actually in for some occasionally pleasingly schizophrenic and stupid but ultimately not particularly good and quite badly recorded Finnish rock. Is it a joke or are they serious? I can’t really work it out if the dumbness is real or deliberate but I am significantly reminded of Anvil. Malibu Beach Nightmare was apparently originally a calypso. I wonder what that was like if they thought this was a better way to do it? Among the rest of it I quite like the looming (synth?) bass on Tooting Bec Wreck, Sailing Down the Tears is quite a decent pop rock song, as is Ice Cream Summer, and I don’t mind the New York Dolls influenced 60s-sih garage punk of Back to Mystery City at all. So overall it’s as completely terrible as it might suggest, but apart from some fun dumbness on a couple of tracks it’s not particularly great either. Probably a high 2, not enough to get into the 3s but not totally abject either. 🇻🇳🇻🇳 Playlist submission: Back to Mystery City

Didn’t find it to be particularly innovative or inspiring in anyway… May have been much more so it is time, but I found it very run of the mill …. Pretty good, nothing special for me. I certainly see how others could listen and get all hyped by it ….

So Hanoi Rocks “Back To Mystery City” was fine, as I liked the idea of a Finnish rock band – especially since I had a really hot blond Finnish girlfriend once… : ) Was not very familiar with them – though I had heard some of their music… Remember thinking that they were one of early “hair metal” bands along with Motely Crue and a few others in like 1981 – which was cool… And I do remember hearing about them alot when their drummer was killed in that car accident with Vince Neil of Motely Crue driving, while they were on a “beer run” after a heavy night of drinking… Seems like they were never the same after that… As for the album, every track on the album was solid – though there were moments of goodness scattered throughout… The 2 best tracks IMO – we the “Summer” songs… “Lick Summer Love” – 4-stars out of 7… “Ice Cream Summer” – 4-stars out of 7… Again – a fairly straight-forward rock/punk sound, with decent musicianship and song-writing – and would have been fine seeing in a bar in the early 80’s, but certainly nothing exceptional for sure… Would probably give this a 2.25 if I could, for being part of the origin of “hair metal” – especially a commercially-friendly band as well, and Finland’s greatest contribution to rock…

Solve the puzzle! Hanoi + (Rocks - R - O + S + U) = ? I quit listening to a song when I lost interest and didn't make it to the end of a single one! Pass.

Only listened to the songs available on spotify. Kinda disappointing ngl. Just some more wanna be rock stars

why i gotta listen to this

Wondering how this got onto the list. The band was known but never really suggested anything original. For this album the band doesn't seem to know whether it should be rock, not powerful enough or pop, lacking memorable catchy tunes. So it fails on both.

Um yeah, not too sure. Some sort of 80s punk/hair metal from Finland. If this has any relevance to the world of music, it must be lost on my ill-informed ears, but this could safely have never been made.

Dumb glam that doesn't really go anywhere or do much interesting. A couple of fun hooks

Finnish gem

fun glam rock

Büro, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Sehr tolles Album!

I’ve heard for a long time that this band was apparently influential as hell on all the 80s hair metal bands, and now that I’m finally listening to them for the first time that is certainly evident. They are such an interesting mixture of hard rock and art rock with a very European sensibility.

this shit is fire, you better come right in

I really enjoyed this album. Hadn’t heard of Hanoi Rocks prior to showing up in the generator. Had some good guitar work, saxophone, songwriting and vocals. Had a late 70s early-early 80’s vibe. They be in my radar and my playlist.

Never heard any of this. Unreal. I dunno if they tried to be tongue in cheek but I love it. More proto-punk than glam and just unbelievable. My first 5.

I thought I was going to hate it seeing the reviews - But not even close, loved every minute.

Energético y divertido

Sehr gut. Leider ist das Album zu kurz

Album Nr. 10 Einfach gute Rockmusik.

cool

Normalnie byłoby 4, ale 5 za kickoff ;-)

*I lost all the notes I wrote for nearly half the album... I'm totally mad. System went: [Couple of sentences per track] [Favourite Tracks] [Overall impression] [Inspirations/Visuals/Reminds me of...] Skip the impression yo... Overall, it's a very fun album, blending genres like rock/metal/psychedelic/ rock and roll/ pop for their sound. Favourite track is Tooting Bec Wreck for it's chaotic mix of a little bit of everything. These guys are considered Glam Metal and apparently became one of the biggest inspirations for later bands in that genre like Guns and Roses, Skid Row and Poison (according to wikipedia.) They were also Finnish! Front man Michael Monroe's voice totally fooled me! Tooting Bec Wreck reminded me of Earthworm Jim with it's farm animals and grimey reverbed bass tone introducing the song. You can imagine the band's total lean into childish fun on stage while they performed this.

From and album cover and name of the band I thought this was going to be some awful 80s synth thing, but this was actually great. Was always on the verge of going full cheese, but this was just a really fun album to listen to. Surprisingly great bass lines on this one.

Apparently... 💥 Why Back to Mystery City is 1001-worthy 1. It’s the band’s creative peak. This 1983 record is generally considered the definitive Hanoi Rocks album — the moment where their street-punk energy, glam swagger, and melodic songwriting all came together. Earlier albums were rawer; later ones more polished. Back to Mystery City nails the balance. 2. It bridged punk, glam and hard rock before anyone else did. Hanoi Rocks fused the attitude of the Sex Pistols with the hooks of Mott the Hoople and the flash of early Aerosmith. That mix directly inspired the next wave of glam-metal bands — especially Guns N’ Roses, who cited Hanoi Rocks as their template for Appetite for Destruction. 3. It’s packed with cult-classic songs. Tracks like “Malibu Beach Nightmare,” “Mental Beat,” “Until I Get You,” and the title track showed real sophistication beneath the sleaze. They’re full of restless youth, romance, and desperation — what Michael Monroe called “the beautiful chaos of being alive.” 4. It captured a global moment in rock. Recorded in London and produced by Dale Griffin (of Mott the Hoople), the album gave European glam a new identity just before MTV and Sunset Strip rock exploded. You can hear the DNA of this record in bands from The Cult to Skid Row. 5. It’s historically influential. Without Back to Mystery City, the entire glam-metal movement of the mid-’80s would look and sound different. It’s cited by Slash, Nikki Sixx, and Duff McKagan as a direct influence — Duff even said seeing Hanoi Rocks live “changed everything.”

Very good. Cool. Hard rock. Glam metal. Like Kiss but i might even say it's a little better than their average song (but Kiss hits are like no other). It's a little more garage it's a little more real. i like it but probably not as much as i should

Upbeat and authentic, it feels like the band is having fun. Maybe a bit basic sounding, but apparently they're on this list for their influence in glam metal. Tracks to Track: Sailing Down the Tears

Fun! I never heard of Hanoi Rocks before but I liked listening to it. I enjoyed the saxophone that was added in some songs. Favorite songs: Back to Mystery City, Until I Get You, Malibu Beach Nightmare

Vilken överraskning, en genre jag vanligtvis ringaktar. Detta svänger och är lite lagom skitigt. Otroligt mycket bättre än Guns n roses. Köper gärna ett ex av Hanoi rocks om jag ramlar över en vinyl

Not bad!

Lovely punk rock album!

This feels like a bridge between the glam rock of the 70s and the glam metal that would dominate the 80s. It has more of the artistry and musical inventiveness of the former, with the jocular energy of the latter.

One of the pioneers of the "makeup rock". It's actually pretty good. 4 stars.

Classic suomirock. One more star for the haircuts!

Another one I didn't know, but I'd listen to them again.

This is one of those sleazy albums I just can’t help but enjoy. It’s a gritty mix of glam punk and hard rock, and what’s really cool is that it came before glam metal and hair rock really took off. In fact, this album is often considered one of the first glam and hair metal records of the 1980s, and it had a huge influence on bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Guns N’ Roses. Like I said, it leans heavily into that sleaze rock vibe, so it’s definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who get it, there’s a lot to appreciate.

This one is a lot of fun. You can hear a little classic 70's rock influence as well as how they pushed the boundaries into hair and glam rock of the 80's. High energy and surprisingly enjoyable!

Álbum muito bom. Sonoridade bem diversa com aquela pegada do punk rock e um pouco de progressivo.

This kicked ass more than it should have for me. I think it might be kinda bad? But I loved it. Back to mystery citayyyyyy

Strange Boys Play Weird Openings - NR/10 Malibu Beach Nightmare - 8/10 Mental Beat - 8/10 Tooting Bec Wreck - 10/10 Until I Get You - 9/10 Sailing Down The Tears - 10/10 Lick Summer Love - 7/10 Beating Gets Faster - 8/10 Ice Cream Summer - 7/10 Back To Mystery City - 10/10

This was fun! I can't tell if some songs sounded familiar because I have maybe heard them or because this sounded a bit like The Clash. 3.5 rounding up

Very solid and fun!

Glam Metal as it should be, easy listening with lyrics that are as creative as my left toe.

Toca hoy nuevamente una banda completamente desconocida. Glamera a morir, me recuerda con el segundo track a un sonido con atisbos a los Ramones pero más relacionado al glam rock. El mood se mantiene y por momentos se vuelve más post-punk ("Tooting Bec Wreck" es un gran ejemplo, que me recuerda desde las voces a Nick Cave, salvando las distancias enormes). Gran recomendación ochentosa. Hasta mañana

I really enjoyed their vibe. Right in my wheelhouse.

This was kinda random, Finnish, 80s hair metal, but it left a really good impression on me. All the tracks were well done and fun to listen to, and not something you can say about most hair metal.

Glam rock in its rawest form, I loved this album!

Really enjoyed this album.

Très surpris du nombre d'écoute pour se retrouver dans la liste. Par contre, l'histoire derrière le groupe est super intéressante; un beau Rabbit Hole. Pour la musique, j'aime beaucoup l'énergie, et la vibe "beach rock" Glam, ayant grandi avec les sons de Kiss, Guns and Roses, etc. Quelques sons et licks très intéressants qui te gardent attentifs. Solide! La seule chose que j'aurais à reprocher est que les beats sont parfois simplets, et la production qui est moyenne.

8/10, super fun!

“Malibu beach nightmare” is a fantastic song. What a way to open up the album. “Sailing down the tears” is another fantastic song. I was always aware of this band but never really heard songs by them. Listening to this album I’m guessing it’s because no one knew how to market them. They look like hair/glam metal, but sound like the Ramones with a heavy pop influence. There are great songs on here and as I listen I wonder how many of these were either in an 80s movie or inspired the song in an 80s movie. “Beating gets faster” has a UK pop punk sound. And this song reminds me of “out ta get me” by GnR, so clearly GnR were listening to this album. And that makes sense because this leans heavily towards rock. “Ice cream summer” sounds like “modern world” by the Jam(?). Definitely a UK influence here. Ok, so the closer and title title track is one of my least favorites, but there are parts I really like. On the “oooohhh” part is sounds simultaneously like the Clash and the Ramones.

Glam but with actual substance

Solid hair metal

In general good album, but there are some parts that i didnt really enjoy

Sleazy stupid rockin fun

4/5

Quite enjoyed this. Some good tongue in cheek tracks. Reminiscent of New York Dolls

Ended up really liking this. Definitely not music I typically gravitate towards. But this one was fun. Great musicianship too.

This one surprised me!! I really enjoyed it!

Enjoyed my day with Hanoi Rocks. It's not for me to question why it's on the list. But it is and I'm happy about that. Fun fact : My stepbrothers' band supported them on their 1984 UK tour. Sadly I never went to any of the gigs.

Beter dan alle andere glam metal uit de tijd. Niet super boeiend maar wel geinig.

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I always wondered what these guys sounded like. I expected more of a glam metal sound, like Motley Crue, but it's closer to Mott the Hoople or the Clash. Has horns and harmonica. Title track sounds has the Mony Mony...riff (is that would you'd call it?) I liked the album OK, but it's no Shout at the Devil, which came out the same year. I don't know if Shout at the Devil or Metal Health are on this list, but they should be, especially considering this one is here.

I want to hate this, but I can't. And I'm not happy about it. It's weirdly fun and catchy. It's a big old mess and it's all over the place. Is it a joke? What is happening?