Lita Ford's New CD Review, Living Like A Runaway: Depeche Mode, INXS, Lita Ford

DAILY MUSIC TRIVIA QUESTION:   Who won Rock Star: INXS, the reality TV music competition to become the new leader singer of INXS?   Yesterday:  Joe Perry of Aerosmith

"ASYLUM"      LITA FORD

In 2009, Lita released her comeback CD, Wicked Wonderland. It landed on many Top 10 WORST CD lists for the year.  The biggest problem was that Lita lost everything that we loved about her in the 80's.   Her music added synthesizers, darker heavier guitars, special studio tricks, and songs that didn't have any kind of a hook.   She's back with a new CD, Living Like A Runaway.  I'd love to say that the CD is a winner but I will say that some of the songs are a return to the 80's Stiletto CD sound.   The brave lyrics share Lita's feelings about her ex-husband ("Branded") and a slow churning acoustic ballad to her estranged kids called "Mother".  Too many songs like Nikki Sixx's "A Song  To Slit Your Wrists By" feel uninspired.   My two favorite tracks are "Asylum", which will play well in arenas, and her cover of the Elton John / Tina Turner defiant rocker, "The Bitch Is Back".   She's been opening her recent concerts with this song on the Def Leppard, Poison Tour.

"SHINE"    DEPECHE MODE

From their 2001 CD, Exciter, comes this electronic, yet sensual, slow burning Depeche Mode classic.   Their sound here was described a cross of digital with "minimalistic" tones.  You may remember Exciter as the CD with the agave flower on the cover and "Dream On" being the big single.   The album didn't sell well and didn't come close to going platinum.  Yet songs like "Shine" are perfect for a late night driving mixtape. 

"LISTEN LIKE THIEVES"    INXS

As the saying goes, God, if you can give us back Michael Hutchence, we'll give you Justin Bieber and throw in Lady Gaga.  (no offense) :)   The title track from their 1985 CD that really pushed INXS into the mainstream.  The Australian band lit up MTV with their first two singles on the CD, "What You Need" and "This Time".   This video captures Michael's Jagger-like moves and shows off his natural charisma. 

           
"SHOT OF POISON"   LITA FORD

Bonus song, "Shot Of Poison" from 1991's Dangerous Curves, is Lita at her apex.   Watching a video like "Shot Of Poison" shows the dilemma for Lita.  She was a hard rocker, but also arguably, the sexiest woman in hard rock, which might have hurt her credibility.   In the rock world, she was seen as a rock n roll vixen when her talent rivaled so many of her male hair metal peers.  Perfect example:  "Shot Of Poison", a great rock single, but you lose focus of the song watching this smoking hot video. Lita's dancing on the bed, seductively crawling on the floor like a cat, stroking the guitar, listen to the song or just watch it?