Poison
Poison'd
By Lucky
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
Band Photos by William Hames
SugarBuzz Magazine
Its full throttle into summer and no one’s music collection is complete without the brand spanking new hot off the shelf Poison CD entitled, cleverly enough, Poison’d. Thanks to the boys in the band and my friends at Sideways Media, my copy arrived the day of its release which coincided with my birthday. What a great present indeed. Thanks so fucking much!
Poison never sounded better and currently relevant. And what makes Poison’d even more special is that you already know every song. Not because it’s a greatest hit package, but because each song is a cover version of a timeless classic originally recorded by the original artist! A great marketing strategy if you ask me. So let’s pop this puppy in and go for a spin.
Putting a thruster on a bubblegum classic, Poison launches into “Little Willey”. Come on, you know, that good time rocker from a band that was called Sweetshop and then shortened it to Sweet. Seems that Little Willey still won’t go home after all these years. And for one I am glad because Poison breathes new life into this classic feel good hit. Oh, and the ending kicks butt. Shimmy shuffle down fuckers!
Get ready space invaders, cause next we are headed down to “Suffragette City.” Poison does the thin white duke proud in this raucous rendition. C.C Deville’s finger lickin’ licks fill you up and Bobby Dall is rolling thunder. Wham bam thank you ma’am!
Things mellow up a tad while we are treated to a beautiful rendering of Alice Cooper’s “I Never Cry.” Driving home the point that Bret Michaels is and always was a versatile vocalist, his delivery is spot on. And talk about versatile, C.C. strums acoustic, electrifies leads and stupefies with the slide. So damn good it brings tears to your eyes!
You just need to know how good Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers “I Need to Know” comes off with the Poison treatment. Churning and burning, Poison picks up the pace and doesn’t let up till the last thud. Bret’s articulation of the lyrics answers long time questions of what the mumbling Petty sang so long ago.
Granted, each of you will have a favorite on the album, and mine is certainly when the boys cowboy up with The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See.” This song brings back special memories of the bus ride home from Kairos, while I picked this number on my old guitar and had the whole damn bus singing along. I bet at least one song on Poison’d will connect in a special way with each of you as well. Fucking fabulous!
Much nastier and not nearly as sanitized. I’m talking about the reworking and revitalizing of The Romantic’s “What I Like About You.” Given an extra shot of pumped up bad boy, this version hits harder and heavier than the original. Just what you would expect form a band that rocks. Rikki Rockett (hello neighbor) out beats the beat for extra penetration.
Digging deep into the Rolling Stones catalog is another southern fried helping. This time it’s “Dead Flowers” off of Sticky Fingers. Windows down sing along ensues in the Nitro thanks to this number. Screw the fuckers next to you in traffic. Richards tested, Parsons approved.
A rock morph of new wave takes place as we are treated to The Cars’ hit “Just What I Needed”. Way more bang for your buck, Poison beefs it up and holds back on the tenderizer. Yeah, I don’t mind you coming here, not in the least.
Ok, now some classics should not be fucked with, and that is the way I felt about the ultra anthem, “Rock and Roll All Night” by Kiss. That is until now. Poison sizzles on this classic and well just plain annihilates. Time to party every day!
Whoa! Momma’s got a “Squeeze Box” and you won’t sleep at night after Poison makes this Who track their own. Gotta say it is way more rocking than Pete and the boy’s version. (Sorry guys!) In and Out Urge indeed.
And speaking of making a tune their own, wait till you hear what the band does to “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” by the late great Jim Croce. Big and bold with some clever insights and interjections both lyrically and instrumental. Change is good!
Poison’d would not be complete without Poison’s version of Loggins and Messina’s “Your Momma Don’t Dance”. Poison had great success with this song way back when and it sounds as new and fresh today as always. Once a hit, always a hit.
Wave your flag and stand for the rock and roll musicians’ national anthem, as the bad boys of rock conclude with “We’re An American Band” by Grand Funk Railroad. Heaping heavy and true to the original, this song just explodes out of you speakers. The 1970’s are here again. Hey Rikki, more cowbell please!
So there you have it. Now go out and get it! Guaranteed to be the hit of your summer soundtrack. And remember, Poison is now on tour with Ratt and Vains of Jenna. Go to the links for tour dates.