Even amidst the already seedy underbelly of the late-'80s L.A. glam metal scene,
L.A. Guns were the undisputed bottom-feeders. A ragged collection of outcasts from various other bands (guitarist
Tracii Guns was the original "guns" in
Guns n' Roses, drummer Steven Riley had recently vacated the stool with shock-kings
W.A.S.P., and British vocalist
Phil Lewis had done time with London glamsters
Girl), they elevated the unrepentant sleaziness and undeniable tackiness of their environment to a new VD-encrusted low. The union of such an unsavory cast of characters could only result in a wildly over-the-top rock & roll album, and while it may not have been as successful as their latest efforts, this eponymous debut rocked with a bile and fury not seen since
Mötley Crüe's
Shout at the Devil. Sh*t-kicking anthems like "No Mercy," "Sex Action," "One More Reason," and the marvelous "Bitch Is Back" slap the listener silly while still making room for slightly more commercial but equally hot offerings such as "Electric Gypsy" and "Down in the City." And despite clashing terribly with its surroundings, "One Way Ticket" is a surprisingly effective power ballad. Fun, fun, fun. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia