Shameless - Dial S For Sex

So this is an odd ball project that sorta works and sorta doesn't because of the "too many cooks" prophecy. The album starts out with a thin muddy abrasive mess called "Innocence Is No Excuse". I bet there is a decent post hair metal glam rock song hidden in there somewhere but its hard to get to because of the terrible production in the tin can they used as a studio. An absurd cover of "Hot & Cold" arrives next and is bloody awful devoid of anything likable. Stevie Rachelle's vocal on "Summertime Goodbye" is decent but buried in the mix but I still enjoy hearing something new from Stevie.

"Live 4 Today" apes the riff of "Stone In Love" by Journey but that's where the comparison ends for sure. Another weak ass under produced and unfinished song that sounds like a demo. Another shit cover this time of a Willie Nelson classic that has a completely stupid drum track. Even though this could have been decent with Steve Summers snarky tone blazing out the deep lyrics they again fall short, very short. Hey the next seems to have it all together sounds like a good tune ahead enter "Love The Way (You Make Me Sick)" and overall its the first good tune the album has provided. Suddenly I'm seeing the clouds part and the rain dry up but I know this album is more of a rainy with sunny periods kinda record. Sounds like a Pretty Boy Floyd song and that is a good thing if we are talking about the debut which I am.

So after a bunch of garbage the band finally have found a groove and dropped back to back fun glam rock songs. Steve Summers has a great voice and I wish only for a big budget well written batch of songs from him and Keri Kelly. After a completely dreadful slow intro "U&I" turns into another decent piece of music from the ex PBF boys. The album believe or not has improved enough for me to continue listening even with a waste of time power ballad. Rachelle is in the Religious Fix era voice for his lead vocal of "Toy Human" it's nothing to write home about but its listenable. There is a bunch of filler and cop of the Ramones "Happy Birthday" to end the album on a positive note. Overall save your dollars and put on the Pretty Boy Floyd debut followed by the Tuff debut What Comes Around Goes Around which will make you smile and feel good about saving the cash on this and getting to hear those two great glam metal records.