Back to Mystery City

Not my genre, not well done and not enjoyable. Vapid pop rock that is more dated than carbon.

3.5

This has taken a bit of a beating on the 1001 site, and I seem to be in the minority of users who enjoyed this enough to want to listen again in future. Supposedly an inspiration for the likes of Guns N' Roses, Motley Crüe and Skid Row, although the choruses didn't feel overly memorable on first listen, and although there were undoubtedly a handful of weaker offerings towards the album's tail end, it broadly gave off the impression of being greater than the sum of its parts. It sounds like a halfway house between the DIY energy of punk rock and arena-hair metal, whilst remaining slightly off-kilter and somewhat eccentric the whole way through. It also attempts, and largely manages to pull off more expansive songwriting on the likes of "Lick Summer Love". Definitely enough of a curiosity to warrant further spins.

the album is produced by Dale Griffin and Pete Overend Watts from Mott The Hoople and you can certainly hear their influence stamped throughout the recording, but the songs are weak and lacklustre, half-arsed hair metal.

Just ok, better than i expected though

This was just okay. I don't think I understand what the appeal is. Felt like generic rock music, and nothing really interesting happening here.

Why is this generic Hair Metal on here? Plenty of other Finnish bands could have fit the bill.

Ive heard some Hanoi Rocks songs but none from this album. Razzle is a good drummer, hopefully he doesnt get into a car crash with another musician that makes this type of music but worse (you know who you are).

Not that bad, not that good

You can hear the influence of their work on glammy punky indie rock of the 90s and 2000s here (Bands like the early Manics, Fratellis or The Vaccines, for example). It is a fun record, but ultimately just sort of as good as a mid tier Ramones album without being as essential. Sonically they might be most similar to a band like The Vapors in being more musically talented than the average punk, but also a bit less edgy. I do love the Vapors though, so that is not a criticism from me. I had a good time though. It sounds good and the hooks are catchy, with occasional dabblings in weird instruments and sounds. I will definitely add Malibu Beach Nightmare to my 70s/80s lite punks at the beach playlist (Undertones "Here Comes the Summer", Barracudas "Summer Fun", Vapors "Sunstroke", Blondie "In the Sun", Violent Femmes "Blister in the Sun", GoGos "Vacation" & "Beatnik Beach" and Dead Milkmen "Beach Song" & "Beach Party Vietnam", for the record)

2.5

It was fine

Fairly bland glam rock, but I've certainly heard far worse

consistent throughout, very rock. i like it but, probably not my style of music but i did enjoy listening.

Never heard of these guys. 80s hair/glam metal, not exactly something I seek out. This does start strong. But as it goes on, wears out its welcome. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? No Owned: No, 112/450 (24%) Will I get: No

Muñeco batea ahh 3/10——>2/5

My expectations were set pretty low, but the album fun :)

Fine

rock im namen, rock it is. war aber sicher in den 80ern nicht in den top10, heute auch nicht.

Solider Hardrock 4

metal albums of all time and I felt the lyrics were not great. Good energy but it’s place here is a mystery to Not sure why this hair metal album is here. It’s not included in Martin Popoff’s top 500 heavy me.

Bara venjuleg hljómsveit að spila sín venjulegu lög í áttunni.

Decent

Yeah not a fan of hair rock it feels like. Was probably a 2.5 but rounded up to a 3 as the music itself wasn't too bad.

Familiar with the name, but not a band I’ve ever listened to. They sound just like the run-of-the-mill cookie-cutter hair bands of the 80s. Flatline 3.0

this was fine. some more fun than others. textbook 3.

what do i know? not too much but this sounds like 80s trash

The missing link in the evolution of Rock from The New York Dolls to Poison. Some times evolution goes too far.

Nothing really stood out for me in this one. I don't know why it made the list. It was enjoyable at times, but not exceptional. 3/10

That was a lot of fun

I can't say that the song I like the most is the short folk-ish opening without feeling like a hater or that I'm just provoking, but man this album is incredibly inoffensive, bland and absolutely forgettable. What I'll give it credit for is for not being formulaic and having a palpable diversity, even though nothing sounds interesting. It is also worth praising the fact of not being over-the-top cheesy glam rock/hard rock, and the addition of some weird or different sounds to try and give the album the bare minimum of personality. There are also some almost catchy melodies. Regardless of doing the necessary to avoid being obnoxious, it doesn't get saved from being an empty experience

Back to Mystery City is the breakthrough album of Finnish glam metal outfit, Hanoi Rocks. Widely credited as the band who kick started hair metal and the androgynous look adopted by bands on the Sunset Strip, the list of bands who credit them as a major influence is a who's who of the era (including heavyweights like Poison, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Skid Row, and Guns n' Roses). What makes Back to Mystery City such a good album is that they had the benefit of three previous full lengths under their belt, making the record sharp, well performed, and focused. Along with excellent production (something woefully out of reach of their poverty ridden contemporaries), Hanoi Rocks provided a filler free experience (also rare for the era). Back to Mystery City is an essential and woefully overlooked record by a band that could've and should've been bigger.

⭐⭐⭐+ Positiv överaskning. Detta var inte vad jag förväntade mig, trodde det skulle vara tråkig daterad hair-metall men det här är ren engagerande rock med blandad inspiration och soundet känns inte alls daterat. Albumet är kul, lättillgängligt och meldodiöst, en blandning av Ramones, Beach boys och allmänt polerad garage-rock. Tvekar om jag ska ge en 4a men det får bli en stark 3a. Bäst är Malibu Beach Nightmare, Mental Beat, Until I get you, Back to mystery city

The music is catchy until you hear the lyrics. Like a bunch of teenage kids trying to be cool, doesn't work.

I already love hanoi rocks and this is such a great rock, summertime album, highly recommend.

Nice listen

A solid rocknroll album. Pleased to see a Hanoi Rocks album on this list. There is nothing here that is going to change any worlds, but a feel good upbeat collection from a very influential band. Also, Michael Monroe is a dynamo. Still fit as a fiddle and still performing to his peak in his mid 60s.

These guys were hanging out with Motleu Crue? I guess Vince and the boys were way higher than I gave them credit for.

Torille!

Ain’t nothing special

Rett fra allsang på knettsetra🤟🏾☕️🍺 Glamrock er stemning Hørte ut som de hadde lest oppskriften mens de skrev. Og hørt på glamrock. Eks-Lick summer love. Klisjé tekst Mystery city, heftig by🤟🏾🫶 wham bam gangbang everynight! Likte elva og fuglene i første. Ellers var det basic og litt kjedelig. Ikke no særpreg.

Det svinge

I do like these goofball inclusions that really don't merit much of a place on the list. Hanoi Rocks didn't move the needle much and didn't make unique music and their most famous achievement is one of their members dying next to someone who should've been included instead. The album isn't that special. Not bad enough to dislike but only really interesting if you listened to all the other more famous Hair Metal acts beforehand. I don't even like Hair Metal. Godspeed to Robert Dimery for being the only person to think of Hanoi Rocks since the 1980's.

This album sparked the LA rock re-generation in the mid 80s. It draws on Thin Lizzy, The New York Dolls, Alice Cooper, and adds a new layer of sparkle to it. They lost their great drummer, Razzle, to a drunken car crash by Vince Neil, and their singer Mike Monroe is still rocking. 4 stars for swaggering punky glam rock

Hard rocking anthems that I don’t remember honestly.

criminally under-rated, under-appreciated, Hanoi Rocks from Finland, the original glam metal band. without them, you would not have a Poison, Ratt, Cinderella, etc etc. Hanoi Rocks was on the verge of stardom but in 1984 their drummer was killed as a passenger in Vince Neil's car while he was driving under the influence in LA. the band broke up a year later (they did reunite in the early 2000s for two albums). honestly, i was surprised this one made the list. i consider this one as one of their weaker ones. me, i would have chosen their debut, "Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks". i own their first five albums (the catalog until they broke up in '84). the two songs on this album for me are "Malibu Beach Nightmare", "Until I Get You", and "Back to Mystery City". go listen to their "Bangkok Shocks..." album, that's the true sound of the band.

Surprise surprise. Another, yes, ANOTHER 80s post punk album. I guess this one has tinges of hair metal, which makes it different enough from the other 245 eighties post punk albums we have listened to so far to add it to the list. Nothing special. Borderline annoying. I did kinda like the uniqueness of the almost animal like singing at times.

When i saw the cover art and the year released I was thinking ok here we go expecting the worse. We'll as the saying goes "You can't judge a book by it cover" is true. I was expecting to give a 1 or 2, it is a well deserved 3.

I really liked sailing down the tears. The rest was alright. Not bad overall.

I’m sure it was a fine album in 1983.

At a bit of a loss for words on this one.

Whatever. I don’t know if it’s just that hair metal isn’t for me or if this genuinely just isn’t interesting. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever heard, but it washed off of me like rain on a smooth stone. In one ear and out the other. Something something mystery city.

Ein Rock-Album aus den 80ern. Rockt gut, aber für mich keine Highlights zu finden. 3/5

Saw hair band and thought it'd be awful. It was good for hair band, but still bad but I guess I'm giving it a two since it exceeded my low expectations.

This has got a bit more creativity to it than your average hair metal album.

Listened to this 2x. It was less metaly the second time but still not hearing any hooks or interesting stuff. Might be decent as a relic of another time but hard to get through.

I'm glad it existed to fuel the band I like inspired by them. I didn't mind it and wouldn't avoid hearing it, but wouldn't seek it out again either.

I love the frontman Michael Monroe and he is actually still touring and just as pretty. Fun band. Love the glam punk genre for fun.

It’s actually better than I thought, above average but not quite good enough to deserve a 4

Pretty non-descript and won’t listen again.

I understand this is for someone. It's very dated, it's very what it was for that time, era and what poor influences it had. This being said it led to some great music and some real trash. I would like to think these guys would have to had influenced Mõtley Crü and Poison. But also the New York Dolls and some pretty less than stellar hair bands.

The 3-est 3 to ever 3

Liked it more than I expected, but not as much as I could have. This genre is kind of a mess, but it's not a joke.

Glam punk eh? I dont hear the punk. I do hear the Glam, Heavy Rock, Proto Hair Metal and I dont like it.

This was fun! If The Clash made hair metal. Probs 3.5 but will round up

No. 431/1001 Strange Boys Play Weird Openings NR Malibu Beach Nightmare 3/5 Mental Beat 3/5 Tooting Bec Wreck 4/5 Until I Get You 4/5 Sailing Down the Tears 3/5 Lick Summer Love 3/5 Beating Gets Faster 4/5 Ice Cream Summer 3/5 Back to Mystery City 3/5 Average: 3,33 Thought this was a pretty nice listen. Liked the arrangements and the vocals.

It was good

Boring. It's a product of its time and pretty generic.

80’s hair band pop rock. Meh.

Would listen on repeat

This was a lot of fun! It was pretty standard rock, but it grooved. The horn lines were so good and did help spice it up! This was very enjoyable! Liked Songs: "Malibu Beach Nightmare" , "Mental Beat" , "Sailing Down the Tears" , "Beating Gets Faster" , "Ice Cream Summer" , "Back to Mystery City"

Okay this album has been pretty fucking fun man. I love the 80s punk attitude that comes through in this. These guys are Finnish apparently. Good stuff! 4 stars.

If I liked hair metal more this would hit harder

This (Hanoi) rocks! Too bad it's not properly on streaming.

Always pigeonholed these guys as hair metal based on their appearance and wrote them off. This actually has a lot more of a diverse sound than most of those acts, with much of it leaning hard into '70s glam and proto-punk rather than heavy metal. It's actually got a very approachable sound; fun and upbeat.

A pleasant surprise. Good album.

A great album that shows what glam rock / glam punk could’ve been before corporate hair metal took over.

This was cool, my radar had never picked up these guys before. Pretty typical 80’s hard rock, very Mötley Crüe - and while I’m on the subject, researching Hanoi Rocks has led me down the Wikipedia rabbit hole of Vince Neil and his associated controversies. What an absolute loser, I’ve lost all respect for him. Anyway, I digress. A high 3 to Mystery City.

Kinda fun, kinda goofy. Always tough when the high point (Malibu Beach Nightmare) comes so early.

Punky rock, solid

A bit stunned but I kinda dug this album. A Finnish sleaze metal band is pretty far off the map for me but these guys are having fun.

Mostly a frivolous and silly fun glam metal album, but every now and then something like a sick saxophone solo hits you out of nowhere and it is great. I enjoyed it even if I am very confused as to why this is here.

I had no idea about Hanoi Rocks other than Vince Neil killed their drummer. Nice going, asshole! But I was charmed by their different approach to— well, I was going to call it hair metal but it’s more sophisticated than that. They employ harmonicas and horns and have a pretty cool, engaging sound. The songs don’t really hook me, though, which was likely true for others and the reason they never hit the top. But I’d listen again.

Uff

I’m usually mixed on Hair/Glam Metal but found myself enjoying this one. Feeling a solid 3/5

not my thing

Very typical 80s pop/hard rock. Heard of them back in the day but never listened. I did not miss much.

Interesting first instrumental. Then it just descends into nothing. Absolute piffle

Hair metal is one of my all time least favorite genres, but even I'll admit there are loads of better and more important albums out there. Why this one??? This is all just fluff. Mid 2.

And it starts so well - the unsettled pastoralism of "Strange Boys Play Weird Openings" has so much promise. And then the moronic Football chant rhythm of Malibu Beach Nightmare starts, and you realise - that opening was the best thing about it. Oh man, this is awful. The tastelessness of Hair Metal. The 80s polish on punk. Apparently they're from Finland, so I guess that makes it alright (these are the original Tygörz!). But there's so many cliches, it's like Spinal Tap without any self awareness. Maybe they're actually being ironic. Either way, I found it a difficult listen. Also, I strongly recommend not reading the lyrics to "Lick Summer Love" if you want to keep your lunch. Yeesh. Horrible.

start slow but picked up near the end will definetly give it another listen

The only song I liked was tooting bec wreck

Не сильно интересный и довольно проходной альбом заполненный стандартными для хэви и глэм рока приемами

Kind of cheesy rock. No standouts. 3/10

This album really solidified my hatred for hair metal. The only redeeming quality was the occasional piano, which apparently was provided by a guest musician. The performances are otherwise not outright bad but the songs are just so corny and uninspired and the lyrics sound like unsuccessful love letters by a 7th grader. Thoroughly annoying, I do not get why this is on the list. 2/10

Not bad rock - maybe trying a little too hard

Not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Kind of bland generic 80s glam metal/rock. It’s not bad to listen to, but I can’t imagine this existing as anything other than background to just make something feel vaguely 80s-ish

First time listen, nice

I did not know what o would be getting with this album. I du not know the band or album and it was generic enough to not give it away. What I found was a fun not dated sounding album full of enjoyable music that was at the same time new to me but also nostalgic.