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? 

                       

  

    

Newt Gingrich in a Rock Video?: Lita Ford, Rage Against The Machine, Loverboy, Five Finger Death Punch

"BACK TO THE CAVE"  LITA FORD

80's hair band, leather pants, big Texas hair, killer guitar solos, with a twist:  a true female guitar hero.  Carmelita Ford, the sex kitten of the late 80's metal scene started off in 70's playing guitar with Joan Jett in the Runaways.   After going solo, Lita didn't see much success until Sharon Osbourne became her manager in 1988 and Lita's solo career skyrocketed including a #1 duet with Sharon's husband.   She was living in Sarasota, FL for awhile but has since moved to a Caribbean Island.

 

"TESTIFY"  RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Punk, thrash, hip hop, political activists, RATM attacked all of the hypocrisy of Washington and injustices in the world with a fury.   Zack De La Rocha's freestyle raps rivaled Public Enemy's Chuck D.   Guitarist Tom Morello's use of feedback, creative tapping, and "tricks" put him on any list of Greatest Guitarists of All-Time.  "Testify" challenges all of  the "promises" given by  Al Gore, George W. Bush, and even sneaks in Presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich. 

"THIS COULD BE THE NIGHT"   LOVERBOY

A lot of hard rockers on today's blog, let's take it down a notch with a power ballad by Canada's Loverboy.   Mike Reno's vocals soar on this beautiful love song.   Who couldn't love the great opening line:  "Ask any girl, in this lonely world, ask any girl, she'll say Make It Last Forever"  

 

"THE BLEEDING"  FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

With a band name inspired by a martial arts movie title, Five Finger Death Punch began as a very aggressive metal band.   Their cover of Bad Company's self named hit gave FFDP a radio favorite.   This DISTURBING video from their debut CD features more of a death metal sound.   There were 4 versions of the song, one unplugged, one without the screaming, but this highly intense video needs the scream-o version.