Extreme Album: “Extreme II: Pornograffitti”

In every era of music, there's those bands that just have talent coming out their orifices, yet somehow slip through the cracks of the mainstream audience. Extreme is this era's underrated wonder. Sadly they are categorized by their two mainstream hits (from this album) 'More than Words' and 'Hole Hearted'. While they're both great songs, lord, there's so much more to this band.

From the power-chord kickoff of Decadent Dance, the listener knows that their proverbial a**es are about to be kicked for an hour. Aside from the occasional ballad, this album rocks out without a shred of filler. Cherone finally settles into a comfortable Freddie Mercury-ish vocal style that suits him and the music perfectly. Nuno's guitar playing is kicked into high octane from their debut album, it's more well-timed, restrained, yet way out of the league of 95% of the musical population. The rhythm section is at their best on this recording, as well.

This album's only shortcoming is that it loses it's momentum towards the end. Suzi (Wants her all day What?) seems to be a filler song, and 'When I First Kissed You', while certainly loungey, loose, and different, won't appeal to everyone. It picks up again with Nuno's blistering 'Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee' guitar interlude, and the final three songs are more masterpeices.

Pornograffiti is the album to start with when looking into this sadly overlooked group. Their best was yet to come, though.

I was really late, discovering these guys. Sure I had heard "more than words" and "hole hearted" but I always just kinda blew them off. In 1994, the heyday of grunge and doom-rock, A musician friend of mine turned me on to Extreme. It seems that most guitar players listen to these guys because of Nuno Bettencourt's guitar playing. It's pretty amazing. To me these guys came across like a breath of fresh air. This album is full of suprises. The guitar playing is some of the best I have EVER heard and Gary Cherone's vocals are solid. My only problem is actually keeping a copy. They always get "borrowed" by my friends. After seven years, this album has never gotten old. One thing that seperates Extreme from the rest of the bands to come from their era (Poison, Whitesnake, Kix, SLaughter) aside from talent, is their song-writing skills. They sang about more than just driving fast cars and getting laid. Their debut album was good, but this is way better.

It's still nice, in a world full of Godsmacks and Slipknots, to be able to throw something like this in the player from time to time. Great album.

I've listened and heard this band since I was 8 years old(in 1992). This was my first favourite band. Of course there have been many many bands and artists after that. Now I am more with jazz and blues music because I play blues/jazz myself too..

But I have to say, that from 1992 (when I first heard this album) to this day, this might be the cd I've played most in my cd-player.

Pornograffitti, yes. Maybe this is the best funkmetal album ever. Maybe, or maybe not?! Well, I think it IS.

This is very uneven album, like a rollercoaster, and that's one reason I like it so much. It's got rough funkmetal like with some big band, good frank sinatra-type jazz song. And maybe I'm still liking it very much in this day cos' there are much horns in this album, and I play horns myself, to be honest not "horns", just saxophone and bass clarinet. Very good professionals in the band - I'm not going to put Nuno front in review like a Jesus, because I think the band works just great together. Without three others Nuno would be nothing and without Nuno the band wouldn't be as catchy and interesting.

Especially I've played title-song. It's very hard funkmetal song. It's got pretty clever solo played by Nuno, which sounds like you were walking in red district lights area, near whores, beasts and lust. And Gary Cherone's singing is very powerful in this song. Also Paul and Pat are funking this metal forward. Very smooth song, you can dance and jump around with this flow song, althought it's metal!!

Other highlights in my opinion are Li'l jack horny, When I'm president get the funk out, It's (a monster), when I first kissed you, Suzi, He-man woman hater and of course song for love where Pat does great bass-solo.

Little bouring songs are: More than words, Hole hearted.. And those were the only hit songs in this album!! Kiss my *** people, hah!!

I think this is the best band ever and the CD is one the best, because it is so full of heart, which is most important thing. Heart to do excellent music..

Unfortunately I didn't have change to catch the band when it was in Finland. I was so young back then.

But not best artist, when we are counting jazz-, blues- and funkartists to this list.

Nobody can play the electric guitar like this guy. Impossible rhythm parts, hyper fast soloing and awesome harmonics, all played at the same time he sing the second voice. The songs are basically heavy riffs with glam chorus, but much more power full than clasic glam bands.

I highly recommend this CD specially for the guitar fans. If you like Van Halen, you'll love Nuno Bettencourt.

Anyone who wants to experience how music is supposed to sound needs to pick up this CD. It is outstanding. Extreme somehow slipped though the cracks of the music world, with the exception of the obligatory power-ballad (thanks to my other fave band, Journey, for those) "More Than Words". The songs are multi-layered, the musicianship is outstanding, and the songwriting is genius. The music is high energy, with each of the tracks reaching out and grabbing you and taking you for a spin. I listen to this CD all the time. "He Man Woman Hater" has got to be one of the best rock songs ever written. Yet, despite the wildness of the music, the words really make you stop and contemplate...and I think that's what kept me intrigued by Extreme. They may have been lumped with all the other "Hair Bands" (God I HATE that term) of the late 80's early 90's, but they were truly a thinking man's (or woman's ;P) band. I loved the first Extreme album ,and you have got to get "III Sides to Every Story" as well. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!!!!!