Disco de Poison: “Poison'd!”

Poison has always been my "guilty pleasure" band. Not everyone wants to admit they like their music, but I feel that though some of it is cheesy, it's still nothing but good time rock and roll.

Seems that Poison is following the trend of other bands (Def Leppard, Tesla, et al) by putting out an all-covers album, and at least they do the songs they've chosen some decent justice.

However, while most of the tracks they've chosen for "Poison'd" are new, several were released prior, even going as far back as their 1988 release, "Open Up And Say...Ahh!".

"Rock And Roll All Nite" was originally featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture "Less Than Zero", and featured as the b-side to The Bangles' "Hazy Shade Of Winter" CD single. But, since that album is probably out of print, it makes for a nice additon here.

"Your Mama Don't Dance" was featured on 1988's "Open Up And Say...Ahh!"

"Squeeze Box" was featured on 2002's "Hollyweird".

"We're An American Band" was released on just last year on the retrospective CD "The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock".

While I feel there's hardly anything this band can't do, it would've been nice to have seen them tackle a tune by Disturbed, Staind, Van Halen, or anyone else but Justin Timberlake as a bonus track for the Wal-Mart release. Seeing them cover that kinda cheapens this collection a little, but not much.

A better inclusion than "Sexy Back" would've been their cover of Dr. Hook's "Cover Of The Rolling Stone", from their 2000 release "Crack A Smile" (which also includes their "MTV Unplugged" performance), and has the band (supposedly) drunkenly trying to get through the recording as best as they can.

In any case, listening to this CD will be "Nothin' But A Good Time".

This album is incredible from start to finish. Starts off with Little Willy which might be my favorite track and ends with We're An American Band which is an insane cover. Rock and Roll All Night and What I Like About You also rock. The powerfull ballad type song is I Never Cry. Of course it has one of their biggest hits from back in the day, Your Mama Don't Dance!

So buy it and support POISON FOREVER!

Poison'd proves that Poison are one of the greatest rock bands, as this cover album shows they can do it as good as, even better then most.

10 new tracks, although not every copy includes the track 'Sexy Back' and even though 'You dont mess around with Jim' was released before, alot of people probably haven't heard it.

My only complaint is that they didn't include 'Cover of the rolling stone' from Crack a Smile with the other 5 previously released covers which are at the end of the album as bonus tracks.(WHY LEAVE ONE OUT ?)

They could've even added a couple of tracks from Rikki Rockett's solo cover album 'Glitter for your soul' - 'Tear it down' with Bret Michaels on lead vocals and 'Life's a gas' with Rikki Rockett on vocals.

Even better would,ve been more new songs.

Poison however will gain alot of new fans with this album and should now do a brand new rocking original studio album.

I know how rabid other Poison fans are for a new album and how quickly they are to defend everything Bret, Bobby, C.C. and Rikki do but I don't feel this deserves 5 stars. That said, the production is very good and there is a consistency to the track selection. If you dig what Poison does you will dig this.

Little Willy: Very well done. If you don't know the track, it's very upbeat and kicks off the album in excellent fashion.

Suffragette City: Honestly, does this song need to be covered by EVERYONE? It's on Warrant's covers cd, L.A. Guns 2/5's covers EP and I never liked it all that much to begin with... though this is probably my personal fav. version.

I Never Cry: Works very well! Bret sounds great here. Again, for anyone who doesn't know the song, it's a fabulous Alice Cooper ballad.

I Need To Know: It's played and sung well. I just don't personally care for the song. Uptempo but overly repetitive lyrics for my taste. Then again, Petty doesn't tend to impress me.

Can't You See: I really like this cover. Bret seems right at home. Reminds me of his solo album balladry.

What I Like About You: My favorite track on the disc! Wonderful guitar/harmonica blend for the solo and there is a great crunchy groove throughout. I like it better than the original. Highlight!

Dead Flowers: Most surprising and refreshing for me... I'm not a Rolling Stones fan but the song is great and this version is great (though I still think Gilby Clarke/Axl have it beat on Gilby's first solo disc).

Just What I Needed: Another one everyone seems to do... Bang Tango, Eric Martin of Mr. Big... I honestly don't care for this song enough to give it repeat listens. Bret sounds a little strained or rough in parts.

Rock and Roll All Nite: KISS... I like it but it seems out of place. Bret's vocals have changed too much to throw this in the mix and make it even more obvious. BUT I think it's an awesome track!

Squeeze Box: Decent song, lackluster cover. It's okay...

You Don't Mess Around With Jim: Jim Croce is amazing and this version is fresh and unique. Definitely worth a listen but it again highlights Bret's vocal changes.

Your Mama Don't Dance: Unnecessary on here. If they were putting EVERY previously released cover, fine, but they didn't so I don't think it should be here either.

We're An American Band: It okay. I never loved the original.

I'm not sure why everyone feels the need to record and sell cover cd's. Poison, Tesla, Styx, Toto, Warrant, and the list goes on... I really am tired of the concept. Play the stuff live and spend a little time writing and recording some new material. The true fans will buy everything new so it'd be nice to have bands work a little harder than just churning out some rehashed old stuff other artists wrote. Viva le Scorpions. Their NEW album is 5 stars. Also, it really irritates me that Poison enticed everyone into picking up the re-releases of LWTCDI and the newest Greatest Hits cd by adding a few tracks that now appear on this disc.

Of note, "Sexy Back" by Justin Timberlake is on the version of Poison'd sold solely at Walmart. For all you die-hards it's a pretty cool cover and definitely new territory. More in the vein of Power To The People (title track).

FINALLY!

Even though this is a collection of covers, it's more like Look What the Cat Dragged In than anything else...it only took them 20 years to get back to their incredible roots! BUY.

Also check out Fozzy All That Remains Reloaded, heavier, but a ton of fun, with that raw edgy fun sound.