The original version of
L.A.M.F. (which stands for "Like a Mother F*cker") was marred by shoddy production. This 1984 remix of the album (under the supervision of
Johnny Thunders) places
L.A.M.F. favorably alongside other New York punk bands from the late '70s. Borrowing inspiration from his old band,
the New York Dolls, along with
Chuck Berry,
Keith Richards,
the Ramones, and heroin,
Thunders & the Heartbreakers' junkie antics translate well to disc. Songs like "One Track Mind," "Chinese Rocks," and "Pirate Love" are great examples of these influences. Although
the Heartbreakers were not as lyrically intuitive as ex-member
Richard Hell or
Television, the music here is the key.
Jerry Nolan's steady beats, and
Thunders' searing guitar show that
the Heartbreakers were no lightweights. This album, along with his great solo album,
So Alone, stand as his definitive statements. ~ Brian Flota