One of the things I love about the Decibel Geek podcast is when they play a tune
or talk about an album that for whatever reason got lost in the shuffle. This
happened last week when Chris and Aaron played "April 2031" from Warrant's
doomed 1992 album "Dog Eat Dog".I loved Warrant back in the day, was lucky enough to see them a few times. Once as an opening band on Motley Crue's Dr. Feelgood Tour, once as part of a package show (Aerosmith, Metallica, Warrant and the Black Crowed), and then as a headliner on the "Cherry Pie" tour. Each time they put on a great show.
Melodic "hair" metal at its best, Warrant were treading water in a totally different musical landscape in 1992 when they released Dog Eat Dog. Grunge was quickly devouring the entire 80's movement. Many bands were trying to change and modify their sound to try and stay relevant. Most often it would result in failure as it would alienate the existing fans and appear contrived to the younger fans.
So it was at this time that Dog Eat Dog hit the stores. I went out picked it up and remember listening to it a few times and then quite honestly it got lost in the shuffle of other bands and other albums. I do remember noticing the darker more introspective lyrics and wondered if this was Jani maturing or just trying to swim against the grunge river.
So the album went into my library where it remained for years. Fast forward to last week's Radio Sucks show when the guy's started singing the praises of this release. Now I was still a little skeptical, after all Chris and Aaron are a little younger than me and were much more accepting of that whole era of music I would just rather forget happened. I pulled down my CD binder and headed for "W" to pull out the long ignored album.
3 comments:
Wow sir. I had exactly the same feelings towards Dog Eat Dog!! My copy has been totally ignored since it's purchase.....perhaps it's time I re-visit that CD
I absolutely LOVED/LOVE Dog Eat Dog. Ultraphobic was where Warrant started playing to the Grunge stuff. Dog Eat Dog was simply a brilliant, heavier rock album. Back in those days there was still room for artist development and growth. I consider many "3rd" albums to be some of those bands' best work. Another example being "Pull" by Winger. Debuts have a lifetime to write. Follow-ups are usually rushed. And then comes the 3rd! Mature. Strong writing. Better performances.
From the very first day that i bought Dog Eat Dog, it fast became my all time favorite Warrant album. And I loved the first 2 albums also. But Dog Eat Dog is such a brilliantly written more mature album for Warrant, not the party music like the first 2 albums were. I still have it on my ipod today and listen to it pretty much everyday. It is, and I believe that Warrant is, one of the most underrated rock or hair metal if yu must call it that bands of all time. Jani Lane surely was one of the best songwriters of the hair metal genre by far.
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