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Poison - Best of Poison
- Remember college? Remember when fraternity basements were places of innocent frolic, where like-minded young hell-raisers gathered to plan yet another raid on crotchety ol’ Dean Wormsley’s office and roofies were politely referred to as Loner’s Helpers. Remember when it turned out the mysterious new group of students were actually a bunch of cultists that had successfully summoned a group of punk-biker vampires and it was up to you, the girl, and your nerdy best friend to help get the local street gangs together for a final fight against the undead and possibly aliens? No? Well, okay, maybe those times existed only as an illusion, but by the gods, the content of the torrent of cheap 80’s schlockfests that inhabited Cineplex’s throughout that actually boring but apparently “crazy” decade made such experiences a genuine part of my life. However, none of these images would be nearly as arresting without the right, happy-go-lucky hell-raiser pop-rock tunes of bands like Poison.
Every decade needs a good soundtrack, and the resurgence and resilience of 80’s fare, even on college campuses where fewer and fewer students actually have any remembrance of the period, proves that the 1980’s might have had a lot going for it musically. Of course, there are still others who decry the period and bands like Poison for planting the final stake in the heart of music, arguing that this kind of music was brainless, unimaginative and helped spawn a generation of soulless, industry-owned puppets (an archetype that seemed to reach its apex with Brittany Spears). These people are prudes who fail to understand that pop idols and the tussle between the industry and independent, underground producers has been waged across the 20th and into the 21st century. While you’re waiting to see who wins, these hard-nosed head-banging hits of the last 20 years make an excellent Mother’s Day gift or even a pretty fine purchase for yourself, even if the only memories of the 80’s you have are reruns of “Charles in Charge” on late-night TV.
Whether you need something to play in the squad car while you and your ethnically different partner get into all manner of hilarious hijinks before learning to work together to stop drug smugglers or just some walking music as you battle Vietcong in the jungles, there’s something here to help you rock out with your…uh, socks out. I mean, the music is bad, but somehow it makes you wanna rock and roll all night nonetheless. Also, there’s the classic “Every Rose Has Its Thorns,” which flies completely out of left-field for these guys. Good stuff for when you’ve ever just spent a pointless day at the office or when the girl has left and you have to gather the strength to go out and fly that F-16 straight to the enemy’s den for the good of your country. The only question is whether, when the last tune plays out, will there still be a Breakfast Club?
Reviewer: Alexander Rogers
new
Reviewer's Rating: 7
Reader's Rating: 9.33
Reader's Votes: 3
Added: 2-May-2006
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