Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Up Your Alley

Though Up Your Alley isn't her best album, it did garner Joan Jett considerable attention, mostly due to the hit single "I Hate Myself for Loving You". Though most of the material on this album isn't as good, there are a few high points, including the cover of Chuck Berry's "Tulane", the original songs "Desire" and "Ridin' With James Dean", and "Little Liar", which was co-written with hit-making songwriter Desmond Child. While not as energetic as her earlier material, Up Your Alley contains plenty of Jett's crunching guitars, gravel-throated voice, and defiant sneer. -- Genevieve Williams Amazon.com

I LOVE ROCK 'N' ROLL years later

Every track on this CD is WORTHY of singing, playing, and praise! I bow to this CD! It's definately 'Up Your Alley'! June 23, 2008

one of Jett's best

I'd say this is tied with "I Love Rock & Roll" for Joan Jett's best album. It has a few more better songs than "Album" which is another of her's I really like. Up Your Alley is a solid CD full of good rock and roll and few-to-zero filler. Joan's vocal attitude shines on songs like my favorite, "I Still Dream About You" and the hit single "I Hate Myself For Loving You." This one is a lot better than Good Music, Pure and Simple, the covers release, Bad Reputation, and the others.

Standout tracks: I Hate Myself For Loving You, I Still Dream About You, Riding With James Dean, Little Liar September 10, 2007

Joan Jett drives a comeback up your alley

Joan Jett's career had hit something of a speed bump. Her album "Good Music" had not matched her prior successes and the film that was to be her Hollywood break ("Light of Day" with Michael J. Fox) wasn't the smash it was supposed to be. What was left to do? Return to her roots. Teaming up with mega-producer/songwriter Desmond Child, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts made a solid rocking record with "Up Your Alley" that reminded us exactly why we all loved Rock and Roll.

The lead track and top ten single "I Hate Myself For Loving You" was perfect for Jett. Co-written with Child, the big beat drum opening is quickly followed by Gary Glitter guitar wallop, a yelp from Jett and charges straight into a mega-catchy handclap chorus. It couldn't have missed short of being shot from a water pistol. That single brought focus back to Joan Jett's forte of plain and simple rock with few frills tarted up with expert cover choices. (In this case, Chuck Berry's "Tulane" and Iggy Pop/The Stooges' "Now I Wanna Be Your Dog.")

Like most of Jett's albums, there is still filler ("Back It Up" and "Desire" - which sounds desperate to be a hit - are "Up Your Alley's" culprits). The difference is that the ace material smothers the slack, and Child was on a red-hot streak at the time. He got Jett and company at a moment when both parties were hungry to prove that they were worthy of attention, and the resultant "Up Your Alley" remains a high water mark for both of them. Jett is still best served, however, by her landmark "I Love Rock N' Roll" and "Fit to Be Tied: Great Hits by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts." June 3, 2007

Sounds better than I remember

One of Joan Jett's better albums. It's great to trade in my old cassette for a CD that I can actually play in the car. January 10, 2007

The Woman Can Rock Better Than Most Men!

Anything else said about this album would be redundant. I just can't imagine, for the life of me, why no one has mentioned (are you listening, Amazon?) the fact that Rolling Stone Mick Taylor plays those instantly-recognizable riffs on "I Hate Myself For Loving You." November 8, 2006

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