{"id":48112,"date":"2015-02-06T15:05:11","date_gmt":"2015-02-06T20:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=48112"},"modified":"2015-02-06T15:05:11","modified_gmt":"2015-02-06T20:05:11","slug":"extreme-extreme-ii-pornograffitti-25th-anniversary-reissue-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2015\/extreme-extreme-ii-pornograffitti-25th-anniversary-reissue-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Extreme | Extreme II: Pornograffitti (25th Anniversary Reissue)<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Matt Karpe<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"ExtremeExtreme, one of the later arrivals on the hair metal scene, are the latest to receive the anniversary re-release treatment, for their second album Pornograffitti<\/em>.<\/p>\n

By the time the album hit the shelves in 1990, a little thing called grunge was starting to take off, but this cult classic gained rave reviews upon its release and now, 25 years on, a double disc reissue wets the appetite once again.<\/p>\n

From the piano intro that makes way for muscular guitar riffs, \u201cDecadence Dance\u201d is a rasping opener. The typical (for this era) use of backing vocals work well on a strong opening chorus and the bluesy chord progressions from the guitar of Nuno Bettencourt excel.<\/p>\n

In fact, Bettencourt\u2019s contribution on Pornograffitti<\/em> is so vital, he won the \u2018Most Valuable Player\u2019 award in 1991 from Guitar World. His endless number of riffs are at times genius, and this is virtually a guitar masterclass.<\/p>\n

The groovy jazz influenced \u201cLil\u2019 Jack Horny\u201d follows, before the lyrically political \u201cWhen I\u2019m President\u201d features excellent solos and gives a raucous rock feel. The brilliant \u201cGet The Funk Out,\u201d full of attitude with an anti-censorship theme is a hard rock classic, again made special by Bettencourt\u2019s quality axe playing. <\/p>\n

The biggest hits from the record are in the form of slow meandering ballads. \u201cMore Than Words\u201d finds Gary Cherone in softer and harmonious vocal form, singing over a simple acoustic guitar tune. \u201cHole Hearted\u201d is similar in style, with a relaxed feel to proceedings.<\/p>\n

The superb \u201cHe-Man Woman Hater\u201d steals the show with a mesmerizing guitar solo to begin with, before the infectious verses and raunchy choruses make this a \u2018go to\u2019 track.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoney (In God We Trust)\u201d and \u201cIt(\u2018s A Monster)\u201d are more decent rockers.<\/p>\n

Pornograffitti\u2019s<\/em> bonus disc features B-sides, edits and remixes and in truth, it\u2019s a little hit and miss. The two B-sides – the sleazy Skid Row-like \u201cNo Place To Visit\u201d and the generic 80s\u2019 hair metal of \u201cSex N\u2019 Love\u201d are decent additions, but the rest is fairly tedious unless you are an \u2018extreme\u2019 Extreme fan.<\/p>\n

Out of the ten tracks there are staggeringly FOUR different versions of \u201cMore Than Words,\u201d including an acapella form. If you aren\u2019t too keen on the original (like a certain someone whose words you are reading), then the skip button may get used quite a lot here. There is a good 7\u201d mix of \u201cGet The Funk Out,\u201d although the 12\u201d remix, which adds a further three minutes to the original four plus seems a little excessive. <\/p>\n

So is the reissue worth buying?<\/p>\n

The original album is worth it alone, for the guitar artistry and the stomping glam metal on show. The second disc has a few decent moments but it may end up being left in the CD case as it is only worth the occasional listen.<\/p>\n

Some consider Pornograffitti<\/em> to be one of the last great hair metal records, before the likes of Nirvana and Pearl Jam took rock music in a different direction. This statement could be valid because after Pornograffitti<\/em>, Extreme were never quite the same again, and neither was hair metal.<\/p>\n

Genre: Glam, Hair Metal, Hard Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nGary Cherone- Vocals
\nNuno Bettencourt- Guitars
\nPat Badger- Bass
\nPaul Geary- Drums<\/p>\n

Track Listing:<\/p>\n

CD 1-
\n1.\tDecadence Dance
\n2.\tLil\u2019 Jack Horny
\n3.\tWhen I\u2019m President
\n4.\tGet The Funk Out
\n5.\tMore Than Words
\n6.\tMoney (In God We Trust)
\n7.\tIt(\u2018s A Monster)
\n8.\tPornograffitti
\n9.\tWhen I First Kissed You
\n10.\tSuzi (Wants Her All Day What?)
\n11.\tHe-Man Woman Hater
\n12.\tSong For Love
\n13.\tHole Hearted<\/p>\n

CD2-
\n1.\tMore Than Words (Remix)
\n2.\tNo Place To Visit (Single B-Side)
\n3.\tMore Than Words (Edit)
\n4.\tDecadence Dance (Edit)
\n5.\tMoney (In God We Trust) (Edit)
\n6.\tMore Than Words (Acapella) (B-Side)
\n7.\tGet The Funk Out (7\u201d What The Funk? Mix
\n8.\tMore Than Words (A Capella With Congas) (B-Side)
\n9.\tGet The Funk Out (12\u201d Remix) (Extended Version)
\n10.\tSex N\u2019 Love (Single B-Side)<\/p>\n

Record Label: A&M<\/p>\n

Website: www.extreme-band.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven Rating: 7\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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