Spring Break
'Sixx A.M.' is not worthy
Mikhail Chernyavsky
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Features
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Sixx's new book "The Heroin Diaries" released Sept. 25. In the book, Sixx gives readers an inside look into his drug addition that occurred as he rose in fame. Along with the book, Sixx has released a soundtrack.
The soundtrack is the debut for Sixx: A.M. The band is Sixx's latest side project along with DJ Ashba, member of Beautiful Creatures, and James Michael, who is a multi-platinum music producer, songwriter and mixer.
Mötley Crüe fans will be disappointed with the album in that it sounds nothing like the type of music that elevated the band to success. The music itself sounds similar to any mainstream rock you can hear on either 98 Rock or KWOD. For me, that is not the biggest problem. It is that the music sounds like a generic concept album that is being released to coincide with a book, if not mainly to promote it.
I do enjoy the Mötley Crüe songs from back in the day, and I do enjoy concept albums. You can find one for most genres, from the rock album "The Black Parade," the punk "American Idiot," to the classic album "The Wall." Granted this is a soundtrack, and variation is good, but this album was lacking the consistency it needed.
The album is generic and yet jumps around to hit all types of bands within the genre. Sixx A.M. doesn't do anything defining or noteworthy on the album. Listing to the music all I hear is the sounds of other bands. The song "Pray for Me" sounds similar to the vocal styling of Interpol. In the music, listeners can hear hints of Hinder, Seether, and Killswitch Engage, and probably a dozen other bands I don't know about.
The interesting things about the album are the excerpts that Sixx reads throughout. Not to sound callous, but as sad and unsettling as the readings were, it's just that Sixx doesn't really give listeners a reason to care. Everyone has problems, and yes a crummy childhood is not any easy task to overcome, but how is Sixx's sad song about how life sucks going to help me?
The album in itself is OK; it's just a generic manifestation for the main media masses. Listening to it I'm left asking, "Why should I care?" and "So what?" Maybe this is where Sixx's book comes in to fill the holes.
Mikhail Chernyavsky can be reached at mchernyavsky@statehornet.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Corrie
posted 9/28/07 @ 5:55 PM PST
I read with interest music reviews and I always wonder does the person reviewing actually listen to the content and understand the meaning behind the music. (Continued…)
Dawn
posted 9/28/07 @ 11:02 PM PST
Did we listen to the same CD? I thought this CD was awesome, it really draws the listener in, allowing us into what Nikki was really going through at this really low point in his life. (Continued…)
mark
posted 9/29/07 @ 7:39 AM PST
Wow! my friend. You don't really get it do you? This is not about "creating a new sound" if you have read any of Nikki's comments about the music you would know he really had no intention of writing for radio or even "crue" fans for that matter. (Continued…)
sherry taylor
posted 9/29/07 @ 9:56 AM PST
I understand that we all have and are entitled to our own opinions, and I respect yours. I think that before you are too harsh with yours, you should investigate what this music is about. (Continued…)
Lynn
posted 9/30/07 @ 8:58 AM PST
If you had done any research you would have seen that the CD is a companion the Book!!!!!! You Dumb $%#@&! Remember that you are to have all the facts before you write the article!!!!! "For me, that is not the biggest problem. (Continued…)
DawnMarie
posted 9/30/07 @ 11:51 AM PST
Are there ANY journalists that actually research their intended topic? Yes, this cd IS to coincide with the book. Or "promote" the book as you stated. (Continued…)
jeff
posted 9/30/07 @ 7:30 PM PST
As many of my fellow commentors have basically said, this cd is not out to be a crue like cd. He did not create it to try and make it better than anything else. (Continued…)
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