Most of the L.A. bands of the '80s looked like they were straight out of the early-'70s glam rock movement. However, it was a whole different ballgame when it came to how their music sounded. Instead of studying the masters (
David Bowie,
New York Dolls,
T. Rex, etc.), many were stuck trying to replicate hits by
Van Halen and
Aerosmith. Although Lizzie Grey was part of the '80s Sunset Strip scene (as part of the much-talked about London), he's not afraid to admit his appreciation of glam's first wave, as evidenced by
2000 Retro, the 1994 release by his post-London outfit,
Spiders & Snakes. Throughout, images of
Sweet and
Slade immediately come to mind, especially with such tunes as "Nuke the Sun," and the gloriously stupid "2000 Rock & Roll." Granted, this isn't a completely retro affair, as the guitar solo in "Little Dynamite" sounds straight out of a
Poison tune. First wave glam rock certainly had its moments, and Grey celebrates the era throughout
2000 Retro. ~ Greg Prato