Vince Neil - Carved in Stone

A good metal album by ex-Motley Crue member Vince Neil - I usually don't like metal, but this is good!

Before I begin - a personal thanks to reviewer Daniel Maltzman - if it weren't for him I wouldn't've even heard of this album! Your reviews are dead-on! Keep up the good work! =)

Now back to my review. I usually don't like metal, but Vince Neil's "Carved In Stone" is actually not that bad. It's more hard rock than it is heavy metal, so I suppose that's why it seems more accessible. Vince Neil is a really good singer - he's very likable and has a good voice for this style of music. "The Crawl" is a good tune to start off the album with - the siren effect, though sampled a lot in many albums, still comes off as pretty cool. Musically it's pretty much like any other metal album you've ever heard except much more accessible and fun (every song is good). I'd say the worst song on the album has to be the last song - "The Rift". The guitars are hard enough to sound tough, but friendly enough not to scare people away (like, say, a lot of death metal probably would). The production is also really well done, although the album could definitely use a remastering. Lyrically I'm not entirely sure what's going on here, but since I have to WORK to hear the words I suppose that's not the point of the album anyway (it's to have an energetically good time!). Metal fans should like this album, and I think non-metal fans might actually be intrigued by it too. Recommended!

Highlights include:
everything except "The Rift" January 6, 2006

Definitely worth owning for all fans of both Vince Neil and Motley Crue

"Carved In Stone"(1995). Vince Neil's second post Motley Crue album.

By the time it was the mid 1990's,even though Vince Neil had been one of the biggest metal stars of the 1980's,things were not going well for him. While Neil's first solo record that he released shortly after leaving Motley Crue(1993's "Exposed")had done well,it had gotten some critiscm for being a hair metal record that was released in 1993,and not only that,the guitarist in Neil's band(Steve Stevens)had left Neil's band to work with Billy Idol. However,after Vince Neil had hired guitarist Brent Woods to take over for Steve Stevens in his band,Neil released a new solo record in 1995,entitled "Carved In Stone". How did Neil's second solo record meausure up? Read on for my review of this:

The songs on this album,while they may not be up to par with hard,dark Motley Crue songs such as "Wild Side" and "Primal Scream",easily help Vince Neil's "Exposed" solo record give Vince Neil the honor of being the Motley Crue band member with the best post Motley Crue material(in other words,Tommy Lee's "Never a Dull Moment" and "Tommyland:The Ride" solo albums,the band entitled Brides of Destruction that Nikki Sixx played in who released their first album with Nikki in 2004,as well as Union,the band John Corabi's,Vince Neil's replacement vocalist in Motley Crue,is in with ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick). "Breakin' In The Gun","One Way","Writing On The Wall",and "Find a Dream" are all catchy,dark songs with great lyrics(Writing and Find even have a little bit of good messages to them--believe it or not!!!),"One Less Mouth To Feed" sounds like a cross between some of Motley Crue's "dark" songwriting("Knock 'Em Dead,Kid")combined with a song you might find off of The Crue's "Dr. Feelgood" album in a bit of a different but unique and creative way,and among several other great tracks here,there is this CD's closing track,"The Rift". It is a great way to end an album,and the sad,mellow,creative lyrics to the song that help it flow along really well prove just that. Vince Neil's vocals on the songs that are on this CD sound both focused and in top form,the songs here show that Vince Neil can be talented both performing and writing songs even if Nikki Sixx,Tommy Lee,and Mick Mars are not accompanying him in his performing and songwriting,and not only is the production on this record solid,the band accompanying Vince Neil on this CD(Robbie Crane,Brent Woods,and Vikki Foxx;just in case you are wondering,Vikki IS a man;see his picture in the liner notes for "Exposed" for proof of what I just said)all sound great on this CD. The background vocals here on this album also happen to be really good,and they do a good job at starting off "Breakin' In The Gun" before the song gets into it's detailed,angry,not caring lyrics and also before Vince Neil starts singing the song with the voice of the tone of the song. How come this CD didn't do good when it first came out???? What a shame......

Overall,a brilliant album that is a must have for all fans of both Vince Neil and Motley Crue. Vince Neil himself is my favorite member of Motley Crue,and I must say,I was NOT dissapointed with this record--I have it playing in the background as I type this review,and it has made me come to have more respect for Vince Neil as a musician. Like I already said above,it really was(and still is)a shame that this CD did not do well when it was first released,because if it would have done well,people would have seen the heights Vince Neil really was willing to go to as a musician when he wasn't the lead singer of Motley Crue. December 30, 2005

An overlooked treasure

Vince Neil ruled the 80s. He is recognized, probably second only to David Lee Roth, as the voice of 80s hard rock and metal. As the lead singer of Motley Crue, Neil scored six chart-topping, platinum albums, from 1981 to 1991. During the Crue's heyday, their songs dominated MTV and radio. With massive World-wide tours, the Crue conquered the globe. But at the dawn of the 90s, trouble began.

1992 saw the fall of 80s style hard rock, the rise of grunge/alt. rock, and the dismissal of Vince from the Crue.

Not dismayed from his firing (although the Crue maintains that he quit), Neil spent most of the 90s as a solo artist.

80s rockers in the 90s responded to the grunge/alt revolution differently. Some bands (Motley Crue, Warrant) sought to update their sound to fit in with the current trends. While others bands (Dokken, Slaughter) chose to stick to the pop-metal formula of yore. Neil chose the latter path.

Without missing a beat, Neil started a new band with former Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens, Dave Marshall (guitar), Vikki Fox (Drums), and Robbie Crane (bass). Their debut album, "Exposed" was released in 1993. "Exposed" lived in a vacuum, completely unaware of the changes that had taken place in rock and was a complete throw-back to 80s pop-metal. While the album, no doubt, delighted fans nostalgic for old-school metal, it failed to make a major impact. Within a year Stevens had returned to Billy Idol and Marshall was gone as well.

For his new band, Vince found Brent Woods to play lead, and retained the "Exposed" rhythm section of Foxx and Crane.

"Exposed" had acted as though the grunge/alt rock movement had never even occurred. For his second solo outing, Neil decided to chance his luck with a different approach. With the Dust Brothers (The Beastie Boys) producing, "Carved in Stone," embraced a new 90s sound. Although it is most definitely a rock album, "Carved in Stone" has elements of hip-hop, and the sound and tone are distinctly dark. "Carved in Stone" is the darkest album Neil had made since the Crue's classic "Shout at the Devil" (1983).

Although "Exposed" had tremendous instrumental firepower, the song-writing was lacking and thus the album was not up-to-par with classic Crue. Fortunately, this is not a problem for the follow-up. Compared to "Exposed," "Carved in Stone" is better written, with catchier hooks and grooves. The lyrics had also improved and had considerably more substance. While "Exposed" was a fun retro album (with amazing guitar work), it was ultimately, a fluff piece. "Carved in Stone" is darker, edgier, leaner, and meaner.

While "Carved in Stone" certainly has a dark 90s sound/vibe, the songs are also highly melodic with good song along choruses. It's not as though Neil completely abandoned his roots and tried to sound trendy, i.e., Tommy Lee's "Methods of Mayhem" (1999). What he did is update his sound for a new, contemporary audience. Unfortunately, few cared.

The album opens up strong with the mid-tempo, grinding "Breakin' in the Gun," told from the perspective of its sadistic narrator. "The Crawl" could have been a hit, as it has the perfect blend of an 80s sing-along chorus, and a 90s dark, brooding theme. "One Way" is one of the more hip-hop sounding songs on the disc, although it is rocking enough to please most old-school Crue-heads. The haunting "Black Promises" has a strong melody and could also have been a contender to be used as a single. "Skylar's Song," written for Vince Neil's dying daughter, is one of the most beautifully written heartfelt songs you will ever hear. The melodic "Make U Feel" and the angry, urgent "Writing on the Wall" are effective and keep up the momentum. The lethargic "Find a Dream," and the hopeless "One Less Mouth to Feed" are good, if not the most memorable songs. The album comes back in full force with the hopeless but beautiful mini-epic, "The Rift."

"Carved in Stone" was actually ahead of its time. It might have actually been a big hit, had it been released only a few years later, at the height of Nu-Metal. It would have been easy to imagine hearing these songs along side the likes of Kid Rock, KORN, and Limp Bizkit. Only Neil's album was far more melodic, with actual guitar solos that didn't sound like the inside of a meat-grinder.

"Carved in Stone" is most comparable to Motley Crue's "Generation Swine,"(1997) which was released two years later (after Neil had rejoined the group). Both "Carved in Stone" and "Generation Swine" see an 80s artist update their sound for a 90s audience. But "Generation Swine" sounds contrived and forced, whereas "Carved in Stone" sounds genuinely dark and edgy.

It's a shame that more people didn't check out "Carved in Stone" when it was first released, because it's a really cool album. While it isn't quite as good as "Too Fast for Love" (1982) or "Shout at the Devil," (1983), it's as good as just about anything else Vince did with the Crue. If you're a Crue fan and missed "Carved in Stone" the first time around, try giving it a spin.

October 18, 2005

just like the crue albums, he grows

every crue album is different, so both vince neil solo albums oughta be different too eh? and this one is awesome, its dark and grungy, and good to listen to while fishbowling your car. February 21, 2005

There's only one way!

I'm not sure what made me buy this cd. I had heard Vince Neils "Sister of Pain" single from his first solo album was simply not impressed. I bought this cd on a whim and it's just awesome. I was quite honestly surprised by both the skillful songwriting and the excellent musicianship. The disk has a much darker feel to it than anything Motley Crue has ever done. This cd alone has icreased my respect for both Vince Neil and somehow Motley Crue. I wish I could buy this cd over and over again. January 15, 2005

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