Poison Album: “Power to the People”

It's finally out. I've been waiting for this album for the longest time. I got really upset earlier in the year when CC left the band again but now he's back and PTTP rulez. The first song PTTP takes on a harder edge than most of their other songs. This definately one of their best. Can't Bring Me Down and Strange are pretty much a return to their glory days in the late 80's. The Last Song is a beautifully written ballad while I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine is CC's debut singing lead on a Poison song. He sounds fantastic. You should also check out CC's new band S7 cuz that album rules. The live portion of the album rox. From the opener Look What the Cat Dragged In to the closer Talk Dirty to Me. The album is pure energy. They really shine on I Want Action, Love On the Rocks, Nothin but a Good Time, Unskinny Bop, and Talk Dirty to Me. There is an evident bond between band members on this album. Rikki's drum solo is amazing as well. He has to be one of the most underrated drummers of all time. The whole album rules and I can't wait for the PTTP tour which I already have tickets for. It's gonna rule like this album does definately pick it up you won't be dissappointed.

This was an album that I've been wanting since I heard about it a year ago and I finally got it as a Christmas gift. It was worth the wait.

This has five original songs, only one of which really deviates from the Poison tradition and that song is Powere to the People.Yes the title track of this album is a different direction for the band but good regardless.The other four will be recognizable instantly to the Poison Fan's ear.

The real stand out of the record is I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine sung by the one and only C.C. DeVille.The infamous guitarist flexes his singing skills on the song and actually sounds very good.

The majority of the album however is live.There is nothing wrong with that though some believe it should've been left to the band's Swallow This Live album but I own that CD aswell and prefer Power to the People because it seems a more energetic recording probably due to the fact that the band had just reunited.

Overall this is a solid peice of work.

Poison takes some tracks from their most recent tour, adds some new studio cuts for enticement, and you have Power to the People.. which, it should be said, has been done before, and slightly better, with Swallow This Live 10 years ago. But Power to the People will definitley please any Poison fan out there.

Starting things off is something very un-Poison, the title track, which is the first (and probably only) time Poison's ever sounded like they want to keep with the times. It doesn't work. The remainder of the new cuts are all first-rate Poison, however, the best of the tracks being Can't Bring me Down. C.C. Deville decides to take some spotlight and sing lead on 'I hate every bone in your Body but mine', and it's not quite as awful as the title suggests, it's actually quite good, but it does serve it's point in telling us why C.C. never sang lead before.

The live tracks are what you'd expect from a live album.. sped-up songs, plenty of hot-dogging from C.C. who honestly sounds like he's having the time of his life, and Bret Michaels working the crowd like a faith healer, seemingly reinvigorated by being back on the road. The drawback is that the sound quality is rather poor for an offical live release, it sounds more like a common bootleg at times (especially on Fallen Angel, which is sad because the band gives a stellar performance). I hardly condone studio-re-touching on a live album, but a little post-production to sand out the rough edges never hurt anyone.

Power to the People will quickly be snatched up by any Poison fan, and the new tracks justify the price of admission. But like most live albums, it's not a starter, nor will it change anyone's mind about the band, which truthfully, is sadly underrated. Take a listen to Crack a Smile for proof of that.

Great new songs, the only reason i didnt give it 5 stars is because this cd should have been a complete new studio album.

The live hits have been done on 'Swallow this' and once is enough in my opinion. Looking back now they should have made 'Swallow this' a live hits only album and saved the new tracks from that album for this one. They also could have added some b-sides and you would have a great album.

FOR EXAMPLE

'Power to the people'

1. Rock N Roll All Night - cover

2. Livin' For The Minute - B-Side

3. So Tell Me Why - new track from 'swallow'

4. Soul On Fire - new track from 'swallow

5. Only Time Will Tell - new track from 'swallow'

6. No More Lookin' Back - new track from 'swallow'

7. Power To The People

8. Can't Bring Me Down

9. The Last Song

10. Strange

11. I Hate Every Bone

12. Face The Hangman - B-side

13. When The Whip Comes Down - B-side

14. Hey Good lookin - cc

15. Talk Dirty To Me - Dance version

16. Fallen Angel - Version 2 (slow version)

17. Good Love - Unplugged

18. Let It Play - Unplugged

These guys have released 3 compolation albums in their last 4 albums. Its time for a new studio FULL ALBUM. Hey dont get me wrong they need money right, to pay for C.C Deville's rehab and Bret Michaels acting lessons, and Rikki Rocket's haircuts. But gee whiz release a new album that doesn't have a version of every rose has its thorn or something to believe in. Those are great songs we all know. The 5 new songs are all pretty good exspecially strange and the last song but i wish there was 10 more songs. Please Poison No more b sides, long lost "crack a smiles", and mtv unplugged stuff. The C.C Deville song is a good song but the druggie cant sing. They should bring back blues or richie. Anyway if your a poison fan buy it because of the 5 new songs,but it wont attract any new fans.