Since I enjoyed Billy Idol’s previous record, I had to pick up Rebel Yell. It was full of stuff that was getting time on the radio and the music video shows.
Like Culture Club, this record gave me the impression that the record company was giving Billy Idol more attention. The difference being that where Culture Club seemed to lose somethng, Billy Idol was able to take it to the bank. The songs sound a little more polished and produced but they are still high energy pieces with pounding bass lines and percussion.
So it may not compare to the Styx, Kansas, and Boston that I was used to but it seemed to give me what i was looking for at the moment. As I scan the track listing, it seems like every track on this album made to the radio.
Listening to this again revives the feeling of living in my little basement room. I’m surprised about how much I miss the 80’s. I’m sure that music critics everywhere recall the early mid 80’s with disdain. If music could be measured objectively, perhaps the songs of the time would have low scores but fortunately, nobody knows why we like what we like.
Interesting that I tell you that I really enjoy all this music we’ve been talking about yet, I don’t go out of my way to listen to it on a daily basis. Why is that? I suppose that it is primarily because I listen to music most often in my office where I need to remain somewhat focused. I’ve accumulated a bunch of music that seems to help me do that but we’ll get to it later. I think this stuff is great for housework, yardwork or something physical. I’m afradi that it would be too much of a distraction to listen at work.
One thing I’m going to try to do from now on though is attempt to dedicate some time each week to play albums. No skipping, no shuffle, just complete albums. It is a lost activity that I’m going to try to revive.
Rebel Yell
Daytime Drama
Eyes Without A Face
Blue Highway
Flesh for Fantasy
Catch My Fall
The Dead Next Door
It was rellay difficult to leave any of them out but I did skip a couple.