BILLY IDOL
Devil's Playground
Presumably William needs a new Harley, hence this from out of nowhere and presumably straight back again album. Before the Artic Monkeys were even a twinkle in their parents eyes, the Idol one in his solo heyday was never really relevant although the early days of MTV and his promos meant he had a certain shelf life and a certain kitsch interest value. Now he's surely nothing more than a novelty but in a world where The Darkness can have 15 minutes, who is to deny him another slice..
Devils playground makes few concessions to the new millennium. The artwork alone ticks all the boxes: sneer? check. clenched fist? check. Spiky hair? check. No point reinventing the wheel I guess but who does this appeal to in 2006?
The album does deliver some highlights, in some part down to a feeling of familiarity; "Sonic Overdrive" the opener borrows heavily from his Generation X past, further back catalogue reinvention is evident in "World Comin' Down". From then on it's out-of-sync pretensions and irrelevancies; an uncomfortable mix of late seventies pop-punk and attempted late 90's cyber-punk. If you need any more clues as to what this album is all about, one line in the cd booklet tells you all you need to know. Never mind the producer, forget the A&R man, sure thank your friends and family but do you really need to list Billy Idol as "stylist". Did someone say superficial?
2006 holds little for Billy Idol unless he realiseS he undoubtedly has a place in the retro market, I for one would go see him live were I assured of a set featuring White Wedding, Hot In The City, Dancing With Myself etc.. Somehow I don’t think his ego will allow that…
Devils playground makes few concessions to the new millennium. The artwork alone ticks all the boxes: sneer? check. clenched fist? check. Spiky hair? check. No point reinventing the wheel I guess but who does this appeal to in 2006?
The album does deliver some highlights, in some part down to a feeling of familiarity; "Sonic Overdrive" the opener borrows heavily from his Generation X past, further back catalogue reinvention is evident in "World Comin' Down". From then on it's out-of-sync pretensions and irrelevancies; an uncomfortable mix of late seventies pop-punk and attempted late 90's cyber-punk. If you need any more clues as to what this album is all about, one line in the cd booklet tells you all you need to know. Never mind the producer, forget the A&R man, sure thank your friends and family but do you really need to list Billy Idol as "stylist". Did someone say superficial?
2006 holds little for Billy Idol unless he realiseS he undoubtedly has a place in the retro market, I for one would go see him live were I assured of a set featuring White Wedding, Hot In The City, Dancing With Myself etc.. Somehow I don’t think his ego will allow that…
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