Listen up all of the inner Crüeheads at Gigwise: if you’ve ever rocked out to “Kickstart My Heart” with the rooftop down or unleashed a guttural yell to “Shout at the Devil” in the shower, you’ll already appreciate the power of Motley Crue.
To some, Motley Crue isn’t just a band; it’s an entire way of life. Whether it’s the riffs and the eyeliner or the flames and the leather trousers, this is a band that’s created and lived through carnage. Better still, Crüeheads are relieved they’ve documented their journey on wax – or cassette, CD, Spotify or wherever you happen to listen to your tunes these days. But with a discography that now spans over 30 years, which of them stands out from the pack?
Despite not releasing a studio album since 2008, the brand still enjoys a cult following worldwide. With the band preparing for a new residency in Las Vegas this year, it’s no surprise to see the metal maestros remain at the heart of pop culture, at least in North America. Aside from their music, their brand remains commercially active, with its officially licensed slot game still listed at Wildz Casino, having been released into the iGaming market in December 2022.
Now, onto the juicy section – ranking and rating the top five Motley Crue albums of all time. Some selections will be obvious, and others may be controversial, but that’s rock and roll, right?
5. New Tattoo (2000)
In our opinion, New Tattoo is hugely underrated. Admittedly there’s no Tommy Lee on the skins, with Randy Castillo filling in like a champ, but you’ll find ample hooks throughout this album. There’s the sleazy but addictive Hell on High Heels, as well as the chest-pounding Treat Me Like the Dog I Am. There’s nothing that breaks from the band’s mould here, but it’s still a consistently solid record – and the vocals of Vince Neil are back on point too.
4. Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
Many old-school Crüeheads argue that this studio album is too polished and contemporary, but it’s no surprise given that this is their newest album of the lot. In our opinion, this album was well worth the wait, with a raw yet cohesive record that’s almost autobiographical by its nature. Saints of Los Angeles is well worthy of a slot in the band’s modern-day setlist too.
3. Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
The title track of this record is deserving of its spot in the top three alone. It’s a gritty, bluesy album and certainly heaps sleazier than their two previous efforts. The sledgehammer groove of Wild Side is the perfect starting point, and the band’s undeniable attitude continues to shine through the rest of the LP, even though some deeper cuts fail to hit the mark as well as Wild Side.
2. Too Fast for Love (1981)
Debut albums are often a band’s best body of work since they’ve had years to work on them. Raucous and raw are two of the best words to describe Motley Crue’s debut album. Anthems like Starry Eyes, Live Wire, and Piece of Your Action have gone on to become top-shelf songs for the band’s back catalogue. It’s by no means as polished as some of its later albums, unsurprisingly, but that’s the charm, right? It sounds like four Hollywood misfits determined to conquer the Sunset Strip – and they sure did!
1. Shout at the Devil (1983)
The cream of the crop was always going to be Shout at the Devil, wasn’t it? It’s not just the best Motley Crue album of all time; it’s become the hallmark of an iconic metal album. Everything hit the spot here. From the songs and the image to the production – and even the pentagram-laced controversy.
The ominous and intriguing opening song “In the Beginning” leaves you craving more before the all-killer-no-filler rollercoaster lets fly. There’s no doubt that Mick Mars was in the form of his life here, while Vince had never sounded more dangerous. With just two years on from their impressive debut album, Nikki Sixx had already cultivated a conveyor belt of metal bangers.
Although the band has stood the test of time for more than three decades, you couldn’t argue that they’d already peaked after this apex album.
