Search - Misfits :: Famous Monsters

THE MISFITS RULE

Cyber-Punk | 08/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
OK, lets get this stuff out of the Way:



- Danzig-Era Misfits were Awesome...but if Danzig is going to be a pre-madonna about letting Jerry Only continue with the band that he helped form....then Danzig should just shut up and cash his royalty checks



-Michale Graves is at LEAST as talented as Danzig....(if not more.) Proof positive, listen to Michale's solo material and compare that to Danzigs. If you can maintain your sanity after listening to the Danzig albums after the 3rd one, then you're a better man that I



I hate making this comparison, but the same way Dio replaced Ozzy in Sabbath - Graves did with the Misfits. Its a different era of the Misfits now (more camp, less true horror)...lets put it this way; the Misfits of the 90's are of the same gene pool as Rob Zombie (Dragula, American Witch...) Danzig was more like King Diamond (Abigal, Spiders Lullaby.) You can't compare them as they're different.



So, what's to say about "Famous Monsters?" It's great punk, has some filler - but also has some true classics ("Scream," "Forbidden Zone," "Die Monster Die.")If you dig The Ramones, the original Misfits or horror/camp - then give this album and the preceding one ("American Psycho") a chance.



Project 1950 isn't too bad either...but Jerry doesn't have the vocal chops to do another album. (Jerry, if you're reading this find a new singer...I hear Deep Purples' Ian Gillan has some spare time...hah ha ha)



If you dig this album, be sure to check out The Lords of the New Church here Killer Lords



And, if you're interested in hard rock/electro with a touch of camp (check out their cover of Oingo Boingos "Dead Man's Party" and their track "Virus") - check out The S1nd1cate here Reloaded









"

Cheesy cover,awesome album!!

Dream Warrior | san francisco | 01/22/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow. I just discovered this one. I used to have American Psycho on CD along time ago and never knew they made another one with this same line up. Man, I missed out! This blows AP away, although there are stand out tracks on that record, everyone of the songs on FM Kicks ASS! They all blend into each other very nicely, all the tracks are melodic with plenty of feeling in the lyrics and guitars. Danzig era Misfits might have the memorable songs (I always smile when listening to American Nightmare or I Turned Into A Martian:) but this is the most complete Misfits album in my opinion. Also, if you just don't like Danzig and his style of making himself the center theme in all of his music, then you will appreciate the fact that Graves does not bring that to this later version of the Misfits. BUY IT!"

Danzig who?

Westapo | Colorado | 02/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When the Misfits came back in '97 with 'American Psycho' I was skeptical like most fans. That album followed the 'classic' Misfits formula & basically were written in the same style as their 'Danzig-era' songs. The difference of course, was the new vocalist, Michale Graves. Well, Graves isn't Danzig, but boy can he sing (better than Danzig in my opinion). 'American Psycho' is a great album, so when 'Famous Monsters' came out I was all over it. This album is even better than 'American' for a few reasons:



1. The vocals- Graves is absolutely incredible on this album! I thought his vox were great on 'American', but he turns in an even better performance on this album. One of the best vocal performances on an album, period!

2. The songwriting- When they returned with 'American', they basically didn't take any risks other than a new vocalist & pretty much wrote new songs that sound like their old ones. Not the case here. 'Famous' still sounds very much Misfits, but it seems they added their own flavor to it (as Danzig wrote all the old songs). More complex riffs & vocal arrangements, some songs with a bit of thrash metal style in the mix & again I stress here: the VOCALS.

3. The production- I read a review here that someone complained that the production was too clean. That's what makes it so great! The Misfits recorded this album in 1999, not 1978. 'Nuff said!



Now I know some people are completely prejudiced against Graves & will always stick in Danzig's corner. But seriously, Graves is a one of a kind. He doesn't try to emulate Danzig's style, he does his own thing. He just happened to be the best vocalist to take over for the Misfits. I saw 'em live a month after this album came out & Graves was amazing live as well. Too bad he left the band. I saw the Misfits twice since Graves left, with Jerry Only taking over for vox, and let me just say this... I won't see the Misfits live anymore. Its just not the same without Graves. Now Graves has released some solo stuff, which is good, but doesn't come close to this album. Ten years later I still listen to this album a lot. Its great to sing along to, is very catchy & just a lot of fun!

Listen to this stuff with an open mind. Just cuz its not Danzig doesn't mean its not good. I personally like the new stuff over the old stuff & I'm a big fan of the old stuff. If I were stranded on a deserted island & had the ability to listen to CDs & had a choice of a few CDs to have on the island, this would definitely be one of them!!"