Poison Album: “Crack a Smile ...And More!”

The Big 3 of the 80's (Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Poison) were plenty poised and primed to continue their commercial and artistic success into the 90's. Bon Jovi had no problem, Def Leppard stumbled commercially but maintained a good deal of fans, and Poison, with their hit single of '92 'Stand' was set to make their future mark as a serious, talented blues-based rock band.

This never was, however. 'Crack a Smile', upon original recording in '94, was never released. (Until now). One listen to this album and you may know why. It's not a sellout attempt to be angry and grungy, like so many other 80's bands tried, it's not a tone-down to adult-contempo level a la Bon Jovi, rather, Poison, for the most part, stays the same. There's still headlong party anthems, still stellar, over the top guitar playing, and plenty of harmonies. In other words, it's Poison, but they've grown up, and this record is sheer fun the entire way through.

It's not as pretentious as 'Flesh and Blood' or as silly as their first two albums. It just plain rocks. Poison's transition to incorporating blues into their sound (starting with Native Tounge) works to the fullest here, showcased to the fullest on the excellent opening track 'Best thing you ever Had'. From there, this album rocks, but it's also quite humorous, repeadetly slamming the music industry of 1994, making fun of Kurt Cobain, the cynical record companies and turncoat fans, as well as poking fun at Bret Michael's own misbegotten porn flick with Pam Anderson (Pre Tommy Lee). Throughout, there's the occasional ballad but they're not overblown or histronic, they're well thought and well-executed. The lyrics are the best Poison's ever written, hands down. Blues Saraceno (CC DeVille's temporary replacement) shows his considerable talent, and the rhythm section finally gets to show their chops without all the overproduction.

The actual 'Crack a Smile' album ends with 'Doin as I see on my TV' and then goes into the 'And More' section... including B-Sides and unfinished demos from the album, as well as a rare outtake from 'Open Up and Say.. Aah!' which will delight hardcore fans who already own bootlegs of 'Crack a Smile'. Also thrown in are four excellent performances of old hits on MTV's Unplugged.

This 20-track strong album never lets up for a second, and even if you HATE Poison, this will appeal to you, gaurunteed. It's rock the way it should be, without the overproduction of the 80's and the gloominess of the 90's. If the musical audience wasn't so damn cynical, this album could be a surefire classic.

I've been a Poison fan forever, and I can honestley say that this is easily their best Cd I've listened to. It's packed with excellent tunes.

I saw them live this year in support of the "Power To The People" release, and they didn't play one single song from "Crack A Smile....".....needless to say I was angry about that.

On "Crack.....", CC was not with the band. That is what makes this CD so good in my opinion. The guitar playing on this is awesome....he completely blows away anything CC has done off the stage. I've never heard Poison sound better.....ever!! Probably wont ever again.

Easily their best CD.....hands down!!!

I can't believe the record company didn't release this album when it was recorded! This is pure Poison...great, fun rock n' roll...and the lyrics are great. This is easily the best album I've bought in a long while. Stand-out tracks are Baby Gets Around a Bit, No Ring No Gets, Be the One, and Shut Up, Make Love. I can't wait to see these guys in concert this summer! Losers always want to talk about their glam look from 1986...but after their first album, the glam look was toned down quite a bit. They are just a gread hard rock band that puts out great albums. More power to 'em!

After waiting for so long for Capital Records to get off their butts and release this CD, the wait was well worth it. Crack A Smile is without a doubt the best Poison Album ever. Songs like Baby Gets Around A Bit , Best You Ever Had, and No Ring-No Gets just rock like Poison never has before. Blue's guitaring playing reminds me of Nuno Bettencourt of Exterme, but the sound he has brought to this album is twenty times better than CC ever did. I saw the Power to the People Tour, Great Show, but the whole time i was wondering how good these songs from Crack would sound live with Blues playing...With CC they didn't even touch any of these songs live. Whether you have ever liked Poison or not, If you are still a fan of the big hair bands, then this album is a must have to any collection...Long Live Great Music Like this..And just maybe someday soon Classic Rock Music Programmers will get off the Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd, and Maybe throw some great 80's rock bands in the rotation....

Good enough to please Poison fans and 80's metal devotees, yet creative enough to not be considered a stagnant rerun of past offerings, Poison remains true to form with catchy hooks, anthemic melodies, and plenty of high decibal guitar solos. You won't find any of the gloomy, self-pitying, miserable-with-life lyrics that so many of modern rock's bands churn out either. This album's mood is light and fun-loving. Tracks such as "Doin' As I Seen On My TV", "No Ring.No Gets", ""Tragically Unhip", "Best Thing You Ever Had", and "Baby Gets Around A Bit" exude pure Poison attitude. Additionally, keep an ear open for the rhythm & blues styling of Poison's remake of Dr. Hook's "Cover Of The Rolling Stone", as well as the nasty funk guitar grooves of "Mr. Smiley." Guitarist Blues Saraceno is a suitable replacement for the then absent C.C. DeVille, and he fits in well with Poison's "bump and grind" style of metal. This album also contains 4 previously unreleased tracks of Poison "unplugged." On these tracks, as well as the 'Open Up And Say...Ahh!' outtake "Face The Hangman", original guitarist C.C. DeVille is featured. In comparison to past releases, this album is probably closest in sound to 1990's 'Flesh & Blood', though I believe that Poison was probably more inspired to just let go and play during the song writing process here. As a result, the final product is a fresher, more adventurous, more lively recording. Also, for ballad lovers, the emotional "Lay Your Body Down" will certainly satisfy. It may be Poison's best ballad yet. All in all, 'Crack A Smile...And More' is a long awaited, healthy dose of "Poison."