Search - Beautiful Creatures :: Deuce

For once, the US version trumps the import.

William Matson | Maine | 11/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful Creatures 'Deuce' was released in the US on August 23, 2005 through Eagle/Spitfire. Before that, it had an early 2005 release in Japan through JVC. The norm with import albums is that they contain bonus tracks not found on the US version and often have lyrics in the booklet, where the US pressing might not.



For an extensive review of the actual album, there are plenty available for the US version. What follows is a side-by-side comparison between this Japanese copy and the later US release.



It starts with the running order. The tracklisting on this import is significantly different than the US version of 'Deuce.' The songs were later shuffled around when it was released in the United States. The only real constant is that the first single, "Anyone", still opens the album. See below for the track listing of this copy.



Frankly, Spitfire did a much better job with the tracklisting. The sequence of the songs on the US copy makes for a more enjoyable listening experience than the import, even though it is still the same songs. Having them come in the right order makes all the difference in the world.



The other difference comes in the song selection. A pair of ballads listed here, "I still miss you" and "Starr Cross", did not make it onto the US copy. However, when 'Deuce' was released in the states, the band went back into the studio and replaced those two songs with two faster hard rock songs, "Brand New Day" and "Thanks", which do not appear on the import version (reviewed here). While opinions may vary, mine is that the ballads are not really missed. The two rock songs that replace them are both driving numbers and makes the album sound a lot better, overall.



One other difference is in the song, "Straight to Hell." The US copy has a shorter version of the track than you will find here.

This version includes a longer intro, which the band does live, that slowly builds up. The intro is cool to listen to, but it gets to be excessively long with repeated listens. Sometimes less is more and the song sounds better on the US version of 'Deuce' than it does here.



The final difference is in the band lineup and the album booklet. The lyrics are printed in Japanese and English. The band credited on this import includes Glen Sobel (drums) and Alex Grossi (guitar), who are pictured on this copy but were later replaced by Mark Simpson (guitar) and Tim Russell (drums). Sobel and Grossi played on every song from 'Deuce' (Japan). Simpson and Russell joined prior to the US release and were in the band for the recording of the songs, "Brand New Day" and "Thanks" (US version). Simpson and Russell are pictured in the US copy, though Grossi and Sobel are credited for their contributions.



Is this a necessary purchase? For the right price, it is. A new or casual fan is better off with the US release. In fact, if you do not have a copy of this album period, go with the later US version. It isn't often that the US copy is better than the Japanese import. However, if you want to hear the extra tunes (#8 and #10 below), they are good. No matter what you do, you will be missing out on two songs either way, unless you get both copies. It is simply a question of if you want more rockers or more ballads. The band can write a good ballad. This would certainly be necessary for a Beautiful Creatures completist or an import junkie. In my opinion, the two rock songs that replaced the ballads for the US version are superior. The album itself is strong, with or without the ballads. Either version comes recommended to a hard/heavy rock fan. If you liked the first Beautiful Creatures effort, 2001's self-titled release, then you will enjoy this one a lot.



1. Anyone

2. Freedom

3. Never

4. Superfly

5. Empty

6. The Unknown

7. Ton Of Lead

8. I Still Miss You

9. Unforgiven

10. Starr Cross

11. Save Me

12. I Won't Be The One

13. Straight To Hell

"

EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST!!!!! ROCKS!!!

C. HAMMER | MINNESOTA | 04/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THIS CD IS FULL OF CHUNKY RIFFS AND ANTHEM LIKE ROCKERS, if you liked or loved the first b.c. cd you`re gonna love this one!1 it`s a bit heavier and the production is awsome that`ll make your speakers melt, if this cd don`t put these boys on the top, at least it should get the recognition they so much deserve!! with songs like "superfly",anyone","never"& " freedom should get you pulse poundin` &ready to have a few cold ones!!



















""

Well Worth The Wait

J. Brooks | Kansas City, MO | 05/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's tough for me to say whether I like Deuce better than the self/titled album - there's elements of both albums that I dig the hell out of, which makes it damn difficult for me to attempt to choose one over the other if I were required to. Regardless, Deuce lives up to everything I'd been expecting and waiting so long for.



There's definitely a certain raw, edgy feeling to this album - not quite as "crisp" and "perfected" as the first album, and in a lot of ways I absolutely love the way this album sounds. This will end up being another one of those albums where my favorite song ends up changing on a near-daily basis, but as I write this, I seem to be hooked on 'Save Me' more than anything else. It has a strong & solid riff throughout, and is kept together by a Kenny Kweens bass groove that hits in all the right ways (and took out one of my car speakers). There's a lot of the lyrical content of "I Still Miss You" that has gotten deep into me and hits home. Absolutely beautiful.



Much like the self-titled album had its minor soft moments in the form of 'Wish and 'Time And Time Again', Deuce has as well. "The Unknown" is a soothing interlude (instrumental) between tracks, much like "Cry No More" from the self-titled L.A. Guns album - a very peaceful and relaxing piece. On the same note, "Starr Cross" is another track that begs for the lighters to be broken out and raised up high. "I Won't Be The One" is a nice little soft spot which segways into the eventual hard-hitting "Straight To Hell", with nothing no percussion of any sort - just a clean guitar and vocals.



All in all, Deuce is a strong album - not only for a follow-up, but stands alone on its own very well."