Review
Custom Built. Hmm. Ok, let's see what Mr Michaels has for us in his new offering. I must say, it starts and I'm enjoying the very cliched in the only way that Bret knows how song 'Riding Against The Wind' I mean, that was a catchy ditty. Ahhh 10 seconds into the second song we get a 'sexual thing' mention. There's the Bret we all know and love. Whoa. This 'Lie To Me' song is not for the ears of children oh wait he just sang 'Rock my world' ha ha ok let's see if that pops up again later. See it worries me that this song is right before his um, duet with, um, Miley Cyrus. Ok here it is... 'Nothing To Lose' I just don't know if I can like this, ooh ooh there's a Bret only demo version later on, that may save what I actually think is a bloody good song. We'll see if his 'solo' version is better. I just find it wrong that he just talked about both getting undressed, dude, she's 12, isn't that illegal in like 48 states?! So besides the whole Miley thing, this is a great song. Nice work you bandana wearing mofo!!
Three songs in and this is already a much better album than his last effort in my books. It continues to be just a fun rock album, sure it's never going to live up to the early Poison records, but it's now, it's got my foot tapping and I'm seconds away from holding my 'cell phone' up and swaying it around, but I'm actually typing this on it so that would make it difficult. Oh my god. Beatboxing? Or was it Bretboxing? Oh no ma'am I don't like this one, so 'What I Got' is the name of the song, what I got is a skip button, yet I'm about to skip to the track I've been dubious about. The country version of 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' oh please don't be as terrible as you might be...
Ok. I grew up with this song, I love this song, and straight off the bat it's country sounding. Bret has some special guests on this version being Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down, Chris Cagle and Mark Wills. Does it really need the 'We are the World' treatment? No. Could it have been ok if just Bret sang it. Yes. I get what he was trying to do here and Kudos for trying, but I'm going to go and grab 'Open Up And Say Ahhh' and put the real version on. I don't know if I need to hear this one again anytime soon.
Holy crap. Now it's gone all industrial with a Godhead remix of the 'Rock Of Love' theme song which is actually called 'Go That Far'... Ok I'm just going to listen to 'Every Rose' again. Wow, I don't need to hear this one ever again. Plus he keeps saying 'Rock of Love'. Next. Guitars. Yay. Cowbell. Yay x 2. Thankyou 'Driven' you're much better than the last track. Now we're back to a little bit country with the story telling 'Open Road' with such heartfelt lyrics of 'Let me Rock, let me roll' you just have to take it for what it is. Just fun. I mean this song is ok. Will Poison fans like it. Nah probably not.
The country theme continues with the obviously titled 'Rock'n My Country' which sounds like a Big & Rich song. Hmm... Ok I'm gonna check out the Mileyless 'Nothing To Lose' now. Please be awesome... Ahhh yes. See now Bret this song could be a hit. It's the best thing I've heard you do for years. In fact even though I've heard this song already, this version almost erases the previous tracks I didn't really love. Nice work on this one.
The last track is a song called 'I'D Die For You' not a Bon Jovi cover although it does start with a talkbox. And unfortunately not the way I would've ended the record. Rounding it out with the previous track would've been much much better.
Overall it was ok. I mean, I like it but I don't love it. It was a bit all over the place and to me didn't know what it wanted to be. Rock? Country? Industrial? Sleazy? Disney?! But for what it is, a Bret Michaels solo album, does it deserve a listen? 'Yeah it does...'
