Few bands in the history of rock have undergone a more radical transformation than
TSOL. In the early 1980s,
TSOL (whose name stands for
Today's Sounds of Liberty or
True Sounds of Liberty) was a hardcore punk unit known for its angry protest songs and left-leaning politics. But when
Strange Love came out in 1990,
TSOL were long-haired headbangers with a commercial hard rock/metal style along the lines of
AC/DC,
Dokken and
Accept. Instead of voicing their disdain for
Ronald Reagan or decrying the exploitation of the working class,
TSOL had turned its attention to all-night parties and women in skin-tight dresses and high heels. Compare an early
TSOL recording like 1981's "Superficial Love" to anything on this CD, and it's hard to believe it's even the same band. There were those who cried "Sellout!," but the fact remains that songs like "White Lightning," "Hell on Earth" and "One Shot Away" are spirited, fun and entertaining. Though it may not be in a class with
AC/DC's Highway To Hell,
Strange Love isn't anything to be embarrassed by either. ~ Alex Henderson