Extreme Album: “Extreme”

This, ladies and gentlemen, is where it all started officially. This is the first studio album by the Legendary Extreme.

This is a goodd album, featuring such classic 80's rock songs as "Mutha" and "Play With Me," as well as many other quality songs.

However, I personally prefer the second half of Extreme's career, "3 Sides to Every Story" and "Waiting for the Punchline." They feature a fuller, more developed sound, "Extreme" still features a great raw, yet tight and original sound.

I recommend this to any fan of 80's rock and metal. And if you like this, there are three other studio albums and a greatest hits package just waiting for you.

Enjoy.

At first listen, this début album seemed mediocre in its delivery! A couple of tracks, when FIRST reviewed, appeared to be simply composed as filler material. Quite a bit of its composition echoes forth earlier artists instrumental techniques and arrangement styles. As a listener, I had to make an effort to resist branding Extreme with a stereotypical label right out of the gate. Unfortunately, this group's worse critic was the passing of time, and the popular trends of that time. The release of this album took place during the dying age of 80's rock. Hair band's had reigned throughout much of the decade, and a changing of the guard was clearly taking place amongst the differing musical genres. Okay, enough of the history lesson...

This album exhibits great lyrical and instrumental composition! Gary Cherone's vocal execution is "A" 4/40 on many tracks. Rough enough to ride the jagged edge of heavy metal, but yet, well refined during tracks like "Rock A Bye Bye." And harmony! My god! The WHOLE band is able to contribute their vocal artistry on many of the songs contained within. I now have an adequate defense against the claims that that harmony is dead in today's modern music. Sure, my ear picks up reminiscent tones of earlier bands like Queen, but come on! I believe that even Freddy would be somewhat pleased with the little "Rock A Bye" ditty. No wonder Van Halen wanted Cherone as their front man when Sammy made his exit.

Nuno Bettencourt is phenomenal on this whole album. Perhaps I am hearing evidence of influential artists like Vetto Bratta, Brian May, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, and tidbits of others, but the clarity of keyed notes and technical mastery brings forth a refreshing cacophony of sound fidelity.

Bottom line! This release deserves allot more respect than was first awarded over a decade ago. Other than "Three Sides To Every Story", this album displays the very best that Extreme had to offer...and more! It is difficult to fathom that THIS was their début release.

Often over-shadowed by their other albums Pornograffitti and III Sides, Extreme's self-titled debut is a good hard rock/hair metal release.

Extreme combines the funky swagger of Aerosmith, the art-rock approach of Queen and the guitar pyrotechnics of Van Halen on their debut. There is variety and solid songwriting on this cd. From the Van Halen-esque "Teacher's Pet" and "Mutha, Don't Wanna Go To School Today" to the Queen-like "Watching, Waiting" and "Rock A Bye Bye" to the funky, Aerosmith-influenced tunes like "Little Girls" and "Kid Ego", Extreme delivers on all fronts.

And then you get the finale, "Play With Me", which is just pure fun and 100% Extreme.

I'll admit, some of the songs aren't great but what they lack in greatness, they more than make up for in energy.

Good album. If you like Van Halen, Queen and Aerosmith, this may be a cd you can get into.

i am very impressed by the fast delivery and high quality of the product i ordered.I say, keep up the great work!!

I think this was a pretty good album.

I even got laid while playing "Rock a bye bye" a day before joining the military.