Search - Black N Blue :: Nasty Nasty

Black N' Blue's Best Release

James Choma | 03/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Following on the heels of 1985's "Without Love," the band hit gold with "Nasty Nasty." The album spawned a semi-hit, "I'll Be There For You," that got a little airplay, but it is far from the best song on the album. For me, that honor goes to "Does She or Doesn't She." That is one song I can play over and over without getting tired of. But honestly, there really isn't a bad song on the album. I think I might even go as far as saying this is one of the best hard/melodic rock albums of the late 80's. It really is that good.Gene Simmons got involved with the band around this time. He had a hand in the production of this album and its lackluster followup "In Heat." The band gives a nod to Kiss in the title track, "Nasty Nasty." During the bridge of the song, they pop in the guitar bridge from The Elder's "Only You." Really cool! Also, Kiss drummer Peter Criss shares vocals on "Best in the West."What you get here from Jaime St. James, Jeff Watson, Tommy Thayer, Patrick Young, and Pete Holmes is an exceptional album of melodic hard rock, probably one of the very best releases of 1986. I've worn out two tapes and have finally managed to get a copy on CD. This is indeed the band's very best album."

Their best

Mark McKinney | Maryland | 12/13/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this album back in early fall of 1986. It was the first album I had heard from them even though it was their third. I really think this was their best album and I was somewhat surprised that this album didn't take them to the next level. Their first album was a solid hard rock effort, but the second album Without love was much more commercial. This one seems to have a good mix of songs. Standouts include the title track, Kiss of Death, Rules and Best in the west. This re-release includes lyrics (which were not in the original lp) and notes about the album which explained somehting I had wondered about for years. The back of the album lists keyboard credits for a song called Promise the moon yet the song is not on the album. The booklet explains that this song was recorded but that Geffen made them remove in order to put I'll be there for you in it's place. The record label apparently thought it needed a radio friendly single on it."

Take a break from the remade & overproduced stuff of today.

Graboidz | Westminster, Maryland | 01/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You know what was great about 80's metal...it was so damn fun! Sure everyone knows Ratt, Poison, Motley Crue etc....but there were so many great bands that just couldn't break into that top tier, but still produced some great rock n' roll. You may have never heard of bands like Autograph, Keel, or Black n' Blue..and if you are tired of today's music scene with lip-synch pop stars who can't write a note of music or play one guitar chord..then this is the perfect time to discover some of these "lost" bands. And Black n' Blue is the perfect place to start. I enjoy all four of the band's initial albums, the self-titled debut is just a good fun hard rockin' album, and while "Without Love" adds a more commercial sound to the band, it's still great to crank up tunes like "Strange Things". The final album is also pretty good, "In Heat" was the make or break album for these guys....which ended up breaking them. But "Nasty Nasty" is my favorite album by Black n' Blue. Just a solid album from top to bottom. The catchy guitar riff that opens the disk with the title tune will have you playing air guitar immediately. The drum and bass combo opening "I Want it All" is great, and I would have loved to see these songs performed live. There really isn't a bad song on the cd, and if you are into 80's hair-metal this disk is a must have! Get away from the bland, remade, over-produced stuff put out by the latest American Idol winner and discover some of the great music you may have missed the first time around."