The album is a mixed bag at best, but it does show a more mature band than the "Unskinny Bop" rockers of yesteryear. If anything, the band continues to show that CC DeVille is still a pretty good guitar player, Bret Michaels has a good voice, and the others were in the right place at the right time.
One thing that is evident over the course of this excursion into the past, is that while the guys may have gotten older, they still have that upbeat rock bounce. On the otherside, their softer side doesn't quite work as well as it used to, when the pace slows the focus seems to drift, and they just don't sound as good, for example cue up The Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers" and Alice Cooper's "I Never Cry." However, give them tracks like Sweet's "Little Willy," Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' "I Need to Know," and The Romantics' "What I Like About You" and the swagger is right there with them. Then there is he in between step of songs that are fun, but don't quite make it like "Suffragette City" with Michaels doing his best to sound like Bowie, or his Ric Ocasek impression on The Cars' "Just What I Needed."
Among the older tracks, Kiss' "Rock 'N Roll All Nght" sticks out like a sore thumb. Sure, the party vibe is there, but they just cannot make it work. Just listen as the guitars drag the lackluster drums along behind them. "Squeezebox," which originally appeared on 2002's Hollyweird is actually pretty decent. Closing out the album is Grand Funk Railroad's "We are an American Band," which seems oddly fitting, as Poison is distinctly American sounding.
On a side note, Walmart is offering an exclusive version of this which includes a cover of Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback." Yes, you read that right.
Bottomline. This is a fun collection, hit or miss to be sure, but still fun. I always liked Poison's music, and while this will never rival their originals from their early career, it should be a part of any Poison fan's collection. Non-fans will need to think a bit harder about it. It will pay tribute to the changing attitudes of the band, as they have aged and reveal some different rocker sensibilities through their choice, and performance, of covers.
Mildly Recommended.
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