Devil's Playground/billy Idol

[fallenangel]

Out on March 22nd, just to get that out of the way. You can hear the single HERE, wait for it to load n' it'll play by itself.

However, not what I'm making a thread about. I just got around to downloading the video for his first single, "Scream", and holy hell. Good thing no one was around to see me watching it, 'cause I'm sure my face was a lot like the girl in the video.

Most fun to watch. Billy's hair is a bit longer than it was, and he's still made a deal with the devil to look like that at his age. The song doesn't hurt, either. Back with Steve (who is still at the top of his game and lookin' mighty good), and all is good. I loved the bit at the end with the girl fainting, mostly because he could read the phone book n' I'd be fascinated.

Thoughts, comments, on either the video, single, or album (since it comes out so soon). I'll probably put an album review up in the next couple days for those who are on the fence.


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"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[fallenangel]

Woot, album review...

[b]Devil's Playground[/b]
Billy Idol

[b]Cover:[/b] 7/10
Not entirely sure what he's doing, but he's lookin' tough doing it. It's a black and white photo of Billy leaning against a brick wall covered in posters. He's lookin' all pissed and intimidating with a jacket and no shirt on. His stomach is graphically enhanced a bit (probably)...but I'm not complainin' (and it's not [i]that[/i] much improved from real life ). The back is a silhouette of him with fists up against a red background and his signature in the corner. Overall it's pretty cool. Not overly eye catching if I didn't know what I was looking for, but it's interesting enough to take a second look and check it out.

[b]Booklet:[/b] 9/10
This is how booklets are supposed to be. Several pages with the collage of black and white posters covering it. All the lyrics have the design really faded so you can easily read them. The centerfold has a great group picture on the left and individual pictures on the right. Plus thanks and credits n' all that stuff. Only thing that could make it better would be a little something extra. Comments about the songs or whatnot. But all the important stuff is there, and it looks good.

[b]Songs:[/b] 9/10
People who liked Billy's earliest work, especially in Generation X, should love this. It's goin' way back to his roots in the punk scene. Don't get me wrong, it's not punk at all, more a cross between punk musical style and his more well known solo work (which is really hard to classify). It's fast and driving, but catchy as hell. His voice is often rougher than his earlier hits, like White Wedding and Flesh For Fantasy, but all the power is there. Then there are songs like Rat Race where the typical low, sarcastic sound is there. From live performances and bootlegs, he still sounds as good as he used to, unlike some other artists who have released new material that doesn't hold up to their live performances.

All Billy fans should like this. There's something for everyone. The hard guitar and fast melodies from the old punk days and pop-ish melodies and other times of the soft vocals like from White Wedding. "Sherri" is a particularly catchy song, with fast guitar but lighter vocals. "Plastic Jesus" is a really cool ballad. Lowest of his vocals and awesome lyrics with a strong chorus.

[b]Summary:[/b] 8.5/10
Everyone should love this. If you're not a fan of his solo work, give it a chance and perhaps check out some online sample sites (Bestbuy.com). If you like nu-punk bands, you'll probably like this as well. It's got driving guitar and strong vocals but with a significant amount more of technical skill and such. Catchy as hell. And of course, Billy fans in general will love it. Generation X or his solo work, this one's a huge improvement from his last releases before he took a decade long break. Is it groundbreaking or a new Rebel Yell? No. But it's an awesome record and will be stuck in your head relentlessly.

May have to post a song by song later just because they're all great in a different way...
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

Seen the music video. It was my first exposure to Billy Idol. I loved what I saw. The only thing that bothered me was his eyes. Gosh damn could he bulge those suckers out. Almost scared me. But I saw Steve Stevens playing the guitar and I melted. Very pretty men, the both of them. I love Billy's voice though (from the end of the video when he says "You all right sweetheart?") it made me want to have his children.

Its a great song though. Never would've thought he'd make a comeback. Looks like he's doing better than Motley even!

If he's up North around the fall then I'm definetly going to see him in concert. But only because of Steve Stevens. :wub: Hear that fallen? Steve Stevens is a sexy beast.
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Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

[quote]I love Billy's voice though (from the end of the video when he says "You all right sweetheart?") it made me want to have his children.[/quote]

Ain't it the truth. I still remember a clip of him from way back in the 80s where he was being interviewed and he says "And that's what Billy Idol's about. It's good fun, but he means it". That's always stuck in my head, the way he says it. Or in The Wedding Singer at the end. He only has about four lines, but they're good ones. His voice, singing or talking, is a favorite of mine.

His eyes in the Scream video are pretty freaky, as is his face on the album cover. But it's pretty typical. Not quite the half pout/half sneer of yester-year, but all Idol nonetheless. You should watch some of his other videos. You can find them HERE. I suggest most all of them. Shock To The System is pretty freaky in the same way as Scream, though. His hair is in spikes.

[quote]Hear that fallen? Steve Stevens is a sexy beast. [/quote]

I won't argue that. Never. I just prefer the platinum punk.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

I had a choice this weekend between Devil's Playground or Red White and Crue...I choose Red White and Crue. But now I really want DP badly because ever since I bought Motley instead of Idol, VH1 won't leave me alone with the Scream video and I end up needing to watch it. And its only for that one guitar solo where Steve is laying down with the guitar on top of him...playing like a madman...making sweet, sweet love to that gui-um *cough, cough* Sorry, what were we talking about again? :wub:

This is my first exposure to Billy Idol and I'm loving what I'm seeing. Its almost making me regretting borrowing the NIN album instead of one of Billy's albums from my uncle (he has all of them. I remember that much and he lets me borrow any album I want for five months.) Any good albums you could recommend to me?
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Of Billy's? Really can't go wrong with the Greatest Hits. He's got about four of them, but the one actually called "Billy Idol: Greatest Hits" is the best. He's also got Vital Idol from '87, Idol songs: 11 of the best from '88, and The Essential from '03, but "Greatest Hits" has the best collection of the best songs from all his albums.

If you want the best full album, I'd go with either his self-titled debut or Whiplash Smile. Rebel Yell is also pretty good, but my favorite songs are on the other two.

I'd avoid Cyberpunk, lots of filler. The good songs from it are on the Greatest Hits.

Yeah, there isn't an Idol album I don't like, even though lots of people bag on Cyberpunk. Red, White, and Crue isn't a bad alternative, though. It's got a lot more of the amazing songs, if you don't already have them on other discs. Devil's Playground is great, but I'd still take the Crue classics over it.

I've just stopped buying Nikki's marketing. They've got way too many box sets/Greatest Hits and not enough bonus reasons to buy them if I have their complete set of albums, plus the reissues with bonus tracks. But it's a good collection all the same. Nothing against it, as I do the Gn'R greatest hits.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

[quote]. Red, White, and Crue isn't a bad alternative, though. It's got a lot more of the amazing songs, if you don't already have them on other discs. Devil's Playground is great, but I'd still take the Crue classics over it.

[/quote]

I get you mean. I don't regret getting Red White and Crue at all. I haven't listened to the first disk yet but I can't get enough of Hell on High Heels and Anarchy in the UK and If I Die Tommorow. I ended up tearing up the CD case though. But I always do that to my CD cases. So now I have a ripped up Motley CD cover hanging on my wall next to GnR's Greatest Hits cover and then theres some pics of Vince 'n friends under the back cover of GnR's Hits. Did that on purpose because of the whole Axl v.s Vince issue that was never resolved.

[quote]If you want the best full album, I'd go with either his self-titled debut or Whiplash Smile. Rebel Yell is also pretty good, but my favorite songs are on the other two.
[/quote]

I've heard of Rebel Yell and now I'm kicking myself in the ass for not borrowing it from my uncle when he offered.

"So do you like Billy Idol?"
"Eh, he's okay. Never really heard of him before."
"Do you like Nine Inch Nails?"
"Yeah! I love them!"

And now I can't even listen to that CD without giving myself chills. Long story... <_< I just don't get Trent's music on half of the CD I borrowed. Would've preferred Idol to Reznor.

[quote]I've just stopped buying Nikki's marketing. They've got way too many box sets/Greatest Hits and not enough bonus reasons to buy them if I have their complete set of albums, plus the reissues with bonus tracks. But it's a good collection all the same. [/quote]

Never knew Nikki could have Greastest Hits.



_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Hell on High Heels has one of their best videos. It's all animated and funny as hell. Their cover of Anarchy is pretty awesome, too.

[quote]Never knew Nikki could have Greastest Hits.[/quote]

Nikki is a walking contradiction of himself. Before Motley was big, he said they weren't really a top 40 band. Soon as they had some hits, it was "we're a strong top 40 band". Said he hated live albums and that they'd never release one. Years later, they released their first live album. And he's released several Crue packages with the same songs everyone has on all the other CDs with little to no bonus features.

Their reissues are good, though. I really like all the bonus tracks on them. It's just all the compilations I don't bother with. Their actual Greatest Hits album was released in '98, I think, and a couple other compilations followed in the next few years. Then there was the box sets, including the poorly named "Music To Crash Your Car To".

But it's that same spirit that gives Motley a line of merchandise to die for, so I'm not complainin'. He's got a lot of mouths to feed.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

[quote]He's got a lot of mouths to feed.  [/quote]

Awwww. I almost forgot that there's about six little Nikkis running around his house aren't there? Crap load of kids for him to take care of.


And to keep on topic, Billy don't have 'lil Billys running around does he? I mean, is he actually still single after all these years? What about Steve? (It would be funny if Steve were poppin' out kids like Nikki. Then I would swear that they were like twins.)
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Five little Nikkis, although the oldest is just Donna's.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/blackleatherart/family26.jpg[/img]

Billy has two kids. A 16-year-old son (Will) who has his own band doing club gigs. Don't remember what his other one is. He's toned it down a bit over the last decade to "properly" raise them, but he's still far from settled down.

I don't think Steve is married nor has any kids. Last I heard, he lived in a "luxury apartment" in LA with a home studio and wanted some cats. But they often don't make those things overly public, so for all I know he is married, but the way he talks about his living arrangement doesn't sound like it.

But I'm sure they've all left a scattering of genetic information around the world over the years of tours.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

Nikki just can't have ugly kids, can he? Its funny that almost none of them have his hair color (except for the kid in the dark blue and the cute 'lil bugger kneeling down.) All very cute kids.

[quote]But I'm sure they've all left a scattering of genetic information around the world over the years of tours. [/quote]

No doubt about that. Remember, there's at least one child of Steve Tyler's in every state in the U.S. For some reason, people like to joke around saying "Oh you don't know who your real dad is? Maybe you're really Axl's daughter. Or Steve Tyler's!" Yeah, right... <_< The joke's old now. People saying that you might look like Steve Tyler isn't exactly a compliment. (And I don't but my friends say that alot. <_< )
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Ah, Billy's other kid is a girl, Bonnie Blue.

Here he is with Will...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/blackleatherart/billywill.jpg[/img]

"I realised my son would never be able to have friends round my house and because their parents would never trust them with me. It was their unconditional love that made me think, 'You've got to stop doing this.' Since the overdose in 1994 they haven't seen me fucked-up, drunk or anything."

"[b]What do you like to dance to?[/b]
I've been listening to a lot of dub reggae. At the moment, my favorite is King Tubby's in Fine Style. You can have sex to it. It's slow and grindy. "

That one's recent. See, he has his priorities straight.

"My son is sixteen, plays guitar and sings. I think he's playing the Roxy [in L.A.] two days before me! It's like a joke! He's stealing all my girls!"

Must find someone with a current picture of Will, see how much of his looks he got from daddy...
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

Figure its a good time to revive this thread considering I just bought Devil's Playground today. I thought it would be a good album to start off with because you said there were no filler songs and I can't get enough of his single, Scream. I have to agree with you though. No real crappy songs on here. It starts off great with Super Overdrive. Thats what got me really hooked to this CD.

I think Will has got Billy's high cheekbones. You can see it when he smiles in that picture. He probably has the same face structure which is, to say the least, not a bad thing. Probably the best part about Billy's looks that he could've inherited.

And one last thing, the CD book is awesome too. I love the fact that there are song lyrics in there. Its almost a shame I had to cut it up, dissect it and hang up the good stuff on my wall. I do that to all my CDs though. I have a collage on my wall of CD covers, band pictures, and song lyrics and quotes. Billy Idol was definetly a nice addition to this (God, I'm a rock geek at best sometimes...) I took apart pretty much everything. I cut out Steve Stevens from the group pic and taped him over the picture of Billy thats actually behind the CD in the case (that was a bitch to rip out.) And I taped the lyrics to Scream next to two pictures of Steve Stevens. I think I mostly like him because he reminds me so damn much of Nikki Sixx. I mean, maybe its the hair but I dunno. Maybe I just like guys with long hair and I'll settle for anything.
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

Sorry for the double (soon to be triple post.) But I think its my turn to fill this thread with some pics of my own.


Billy with Steve Stevens. Earlier days I think. Good times.
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

Now for a picture of Nikki Sixx. I just think him and Steve look alike. Its errie. I think its the hair. The noses are different but they have the same black pineapple-ish cut.

And I just realized that Scott Weiland's expressions and anorexic figure is very much like Billy's.
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Billy does not and never has looked as anorexic as Scott. Now, were Billy a heroin junkie instead of blow, he would have, but the coke bloat filled him out for awhile.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/blackleatherart/idolrollingstone.jpg[/img]

He's toned up lately.

But yeah, Steve does look a bit like Nikki.

With Mike Monroe.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/blackleatherart/jerusalemslim.jpg[/img]



_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

That picture of Billy just reminded me of the CD booklet in Devil's Playground. I just found it funny how Billy's stomach is really toned up on the cover but in the pics inside, he's missing the abs he had on the cover. Not that I'm complaing though.

Okay, so he's not as anorexic as Scott but he does make similar face expressions and for some reason the fact that Billy and Scott both wore jackets in their new videos and then somehow conviniently lose them around the end of the guitar solo is a pretty funny. Coincidense? Probably. Either that or all the famous rock stars are calling each other up and exchanging stage moves and outfits.

Billy should get more tattoos. He's got really nice arms. He should spruce them up a bit. Its never too late to.
_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

Great, you made me go get the CD booklet to look. The cover is carefully lit to cast those shadows over his stomach, plus a little bit of airbrushing probably. Not much, though, 'cause he's looked pretty damn close to that in various live appearances recently. The inside shots are more ambient with less definition, but there's a bit.

[quote]Either that or all the famous rock stars are calling each other up and exchanging stage moves and outfits. [/quote]

That's quite possibly the funniest image I've had in a long time.

Taime: "So Tracii, I was thinking of wearing my fishnets and purple boots with all the buckles on them tomorrow night. What color shirt should I wear so I don't clash with you?"
Tracii: "I really like that polka dot one. But we should go without shirts, ya know, just leather jackets. It looks cooler."
Taime: "No, I'm feeling puffy. "

[quote]Billy should get more tattoos. He's got really nice arms. [/quote]

He doesn't like tattoos. That one he has is from a drunken afternoon in Hollywood where he grabbed that image off the coffee table and went n' got it inked. Don't drink, kiddies, it may literally haunt you for the rest of your life.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[eclipsedmoongoddess482]

[quote]Taime: "So Tracii, I was thinking of wearing my fishnets and purple boots with all the buckles on them tomorrow night. What color shirt should I wear so I don't clash with you?"
Tracii: "I really like that polka dot one. But we should go without shirts, ya know, just leather jackets. It looks cooler."
Taime: "No, I'm feeling puffy[/quote]

Lol! I'm feeling puffy...after seeing pics of Taime (just got back from Metal Sludge) he does look like the type who would be like that.

[quote]He doesn't like tattoos. That one he has is from a drunken afternoon in Hollywood where he grabbed that image off the coffee table and went n' got it inked. Don't drink, kiddies, it may literally haunt you for the rest of your life. [/quote]

I never thought I would hear about a rock star who didn't like tattoos. Damn shame too. He's got a really nice body thats just begging for a chest tat...or at least a nip piercing.

[quote]The cover is carefully lit to cast those shadows over his stomach, plus a little bit of airbrushing probably. Not much, though, 'cause he's looked pretty damn close to that in various live appearances recently. The inside shots are more ambient with less definition, but there's a bit.
[/quote]

I just figured that people wouldn't buy the album if Billy didn't have abs of steel. Abs sell more than sex you know. I don't have the inside pic of Billy anymore. I ended up throwing it out along with 3/4 of the rest of the booklet. The rest is on my wall collage. Billy Idol looks good against a black and white pic of Vince Neil But thats like saying Axl is the hottest member of the new Guns n' Roses.

_________________
Vaccum cleaners may look fun, but are deadly sex toys. as are certain vegetables like, terri schiavo -Powtaz

[fallenangel]

[b]QUOTE[/b] (Billy)

I never - ever - wanted a tattoo in my life . I just hated seeing them lizards and dragons . I mean sometimes they're done brilliantly that you really admire them , but I thought ' I don't want a dragon ' I wanted something that people would say. ' Yeah , that's great ! ' and sort of add to the tattoo world . I had this book all about these Russian art students in the sixties and they had created this cartoon character -- this Amazon Brigitte Bardot , Mata Hari spy type person who vanquishes the foes of  Oktobriana ( The October Revolution ) , you know , the foes of real communism . Well , in the end all these students got put in psycho hospitals , except for one guy who got out and brought the cartoon to London and printed it. I think Bowie must have seen it , thats why he wore that disc on his forehead , because Oktobriana , has a star on her forehead.  Well , I really liked this book and I'd been out of my mind at the time . So I just marched down to Cliff Ravens's studio on Sunset Strip with this book in my hand and went  ' oof, I want that on me arm ' to the guy behind the counter .   Lucky enough , he was brilliant . His name's Kevin Brady , and he has this very thin  style , almost dot -print- like . I was asking him to draw a cartoon , basically , and someone who's used to the traditional Chinese things wouldn't be able to do it . But he had exactly the right style to draw a cartoon on my arm , so much so  that people think it is a transfer. I was really mad out of my mind , Los Angeles makes me like that , really , and I was at the 7-11 every morning buying tequila and trying to finish my solo album.  I was staying at the Chateau Marmont , right around the time that John Belushi died .  As matter of a fact , the same night he died I 'd just smashed up my room and the police were there for me as well. So I hadn't really slept the night before and while he was doing my tattoo I kept falling asleep all the time and waking up and saying ' Not so Mongolian.' The bit that hurt the most was when he wrote his name in Chinese characters , he really went  Mmmmmmggggrrrrmmmmm . It  cost me 75 bucks . I cut him down from $150 , but , you know , I think maybe I 'll go back there and give him the other $75. When people heard about it back in New York and England they were appalled . I mean they always assume that you've just had some huge spider web printed on half of your body . It was nice , though , because what I was looking forward to -- just like anybody else who has a tattoo , I  s'pose -- is an element of beauty stuffed on your body , not something that detracts from you .[/quote] _________________ "I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall