FASTER PUSSYCAT

It's almost certain that many people, including me, believed that LA glam/sleaze band Faster Pussycat were finished after achieving a degree of success in the late 80s with their 1987 self titled debut and 1989s more popular ‘Wake Me When It's Over’. Following the release of their industrial rock influenced ‘The Power And The Glory Hole’ in 2006, Faster Pussycat are very much alive and kicking well into the 21st century and, as the title suggests, ‘Front Row For The Donkey Show’ is a live, warts 'n' all, celebration of the band. Although not perfect there is much to enjoy here and it's interesting to note that their sound, which is punky and hard edged, makes it difficult to distinguish between the older and newer material. The opener, which is the title track to the aforementioned 2006 release is really riffy with cool dumb ass sing-a-long vocals and follow-up golden oldie ‘Cathouse’ provide a great start to the album. Unfortunately the album struggles to maintain this cracking start but, even so, tracks like ‘Slip Of The Tongue’, ‘Number 1 With A Bullet’, ‘Sex, Drugs And Rock & Roll’ and ‘Where There's A Whip, There's A Way’ do repeat this winning formula. ‘House Of Pain’, which is the obligatory stadium-esque ballad and the uninteresting ‘Porn Star’ contribute to the weakest part of the album. Thankfully the excellent oldies ‘Bathroom Wall’, the Beastie Boys-esque ‘Babylon’ as well as the Betty Blowtorch cover ‘Shut Up And Fuck’ really show what the band are capable of. The Stones classic ‘It's Only Rock 'n' Roll’, which closes the album, whilst good doesn't quite impress as much as the original or indeed Twisted Sister's blistering version of the track, which was released back in the early 80s. On the whole ‘Front Row...’ holds no pretensions and Faster Pussycat would never win any awards for being original or thought provoking but if you are looking for one hell of a rock and roll party for which everyone is invited then there's a great chance you'll find it at ‘…The Donkey Show’.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Full Effect Records

Album

FRONT ROW FOR THE DONKEY SHOW

Review by Dave Crewe

RUNNING TIME:

54:21

RELEASE DATE:

Sept 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) The Power and the Glory Hole
2) Cathouse
3) Slip of the Tongue
4) Number 1 With a Bullet
5) Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll
6) Where There's a Whip There's a Way
7) House of Pain
8) Porn Star
9) Bathroom Wall
10) Shut Up and Fuck
11) Babylon
12) It's Only Rock and Roll

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"...if you are looking for one hell of a rock and roll party for which everyone is invited then there's a great chance you'll find it at ‘…The Donkey Show’."