Who’s got the best sneer in rock and roll? Who’s smart enough
to have had guitarist Steve Stevens by his side throughout his solo career —
both as musical collaborator and performance foil? Who has had seven Top 10
hits? Whose alabaster good looks were a welcomed antidote to the high-hair pretty
boys of Great White and Duran Duran? Who was wildly huge in the pop world but
still kept his punk cred? And who has released a career-spanning CD, as well
as a CD/DVD Deluixe Edition, called The Very Best Of Billy Idol: Idolize
Yourself? You guessed it…Billy Idol! That’s who!
For this collection, Idol has recorded two brand new songs with his current
band members, drummer Brian Tichy, keyboardist Derek Sherinian, bassist Stephen
McGrath and the ubiquitous ubiquous Mr. Stevens. He’s also provided fans
with a Deluxe Edition that includes a DVD filled with 13 music videos, including
two alternate, never-seen-before edits of “Cradle Of Love” and “Hot
In The City.” Naturally, the CD has all the hits you’d expect and
more.
“Dancing With Myself” starts everything off, followed by “Hot
In The City” and “White Wedding.” Big fan or not, there’s
no mistaking a Billy Idol tune, and with the punch of these first three, you’re
instantly brought back to those early days when MTV actually played music videos!
Of course, we also get “Rebel Yell,” “Eyes Without A Face”
(Stevens’ playing during the bridge should be required listening for any
would-be rock guitar player) and Idol’s version of the Tommy James &
The Shondells classic, “Mony Mony.”
What I really dig about the CD, beyond the fact that it’s a joy to hear
these perfectly mastered pop tunes again after all these years, is how it truly
does span Billy Idol’s career. In addition to the early stuff, we get
“Don’t Need A Gun” and “Sweet Sixteen” from 1987’s
Whiplash Smile; “Shock To The System” from 1993’s
Cyberpunk; the title track from the movie Speed; and
“World Comin’ Down” from 2005’s Devil’s
Playground. Then there are the two new songs, “John Wayne”
and “New Future Weapon.”
Of “John Wayne,” I’m not sure Idol is breaking any new ground
here. There’s the familiar droning bass, blistering guitar chords and
acoustic break. Idol’s voice is about as good as ever. He creates a solid
mood with the lyric with ‘spookiness’ of the band keeping pace.
For “New Future Weapon,” Idol found inspiration in an article he
read about a stealth fighter plane and its pilot. This one definitely moves
like a stealth fighter. The lyrics are a bit silly, but it’s obvious Idol
is using the typical rock and roll imagery of a weapon and…well you can
figure out what it represents.
The DVD matches the CD in every way possible. These are mostly MTV staples
from back in the day — “Rebel Yell,” White Wedding,”
“Flesh For Fantasy” and “Dancing With Myself.” There’s
even a few I’ve never seen like “Sweet Sixteen,” a version
of the Doors’ “L.A. Woman,” and uncensored versions of “Hot
In The City” and “Cradle Of Love”(which really only seem to
be extended versions). Which ever edition you choose, The Very Best
Of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself offers as much Billy Idol as you could
possibly want. A truly well-stocked collection for any Idol fan (sorry, I couldn’t
avoid at least one good pun), or just about anyone who was glued to MTV back
in the 80s and lived to tell about it.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
