Okay, first things first. Chances are that if you
are reading this then you already know whether or
not you like Ted Nugent. If you don’t like his
attitude or what he’s done in the past then
“piss off” (as Monty Python would say)
because you aren’t going to get anything different
at this stage in his career. As a matter of fact,
“Love Grenade,” may be a little more over
the top then fans might expect.
“Love Grenade” is an in your face, giant
rock and roll steamroller, as are most Ted Nugent
albums. The album is chock full of utterly stupid
lyrics (for examples look no farther than the back
to back “Funk U” and “girl Scout
Cookies”- the latter of which is a musical monster-piece
that simply declares over and over that…well…that
Ted Nugent loves Girls Scout Cookies) and more guitar
riffs than you can shake a stick at. “Journey
to the Center of the Mind” sounds a good bit
like “Weird” Al Yankovic’s eighties
cult hit “Nature Trail to Hell,” but for
the most part this is simply righteous rock and roll.
Highlights include “Aborigine” (if you
had any doubts about Nugent’s guitar skills
go straight to this track), “Bridge Over Troubled
Daughters,” and “Still Raising hell.”
Overall this loud, brash, and mostly offensive on
the outside but on the inside there is some great
playing, particularly compared to what’s popular
these days. I really wish Nugent would get a singer
because he simply isn’t very good at it and
I think it could make the sound a whole lot better
overall. Despite that small beef, “Love Grenade”
is all about the guitars so if that’s your thing
then know that this is some of the best he has come
up with to date. If you were hoping that The Nuge’
was gonna look deep down in his heart and change his
ways then man do you look stupid right now!
Key Tracks: “Bridge Over Troubled Daughters,”
“Girl Scout Cookies,” “Aborigine”
Reviewed by Mark Fisher |
