A Happy Album
01/06/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With Ace of Spades, Motorhead gained limited notoriety in America and achieved what few American or British Metal acts have strived for - humor, excitement, and pure joy in the pursuit of debased desires. "Now, hold on *******," some of you are saying, but wait. Motorhead has always taken pride in their attitude, their integrity, and their music. I assure I affront none. It cannot be denied, however, that the lyrical content of "Ace" is practically subhuman - "Jailbait" speaks of statutory rape; "Shoot You in the Back" recalls the glory of Wild West lawlessness; "The Hammer" is an abstract depiction of brutal oppression; and the title track revels in heroic acceptance of the "death card." Despite this, however, I love this album and especially the words. Lemmy is on to something - people who work, sweat, and bleed for a living like to cut loose and just snap their heads up and down to disgusting songs once in awhile. And there's nothing wrong with that - in fact, we all have those thoughts, it is what makes us human - it's healthy and that's what this album's all about, man. Healthy, aggressive, raw energy and power dashed with a subtle sense of humility and humor and no apologies for being human."