Hanoi Rocks has always been pigeonholed as a hair metal band along the lines of bands like Faster Pussycat, Poison, LA Guns, Ratt, Warrant etc.. However, their allegiance has always been more so with forefathers in the skin of the New York Dolls. Drawing from the Doll's panache for wearing women's attire, high heels and carefully fixated palate of pancake foundation, eyeliner and lots of cheap hairspray. Hanoi Rocks have always worn their influences on their sleeves as it is pretty easy to decipher and no secret which golden goblet they drink from. Some consider Hanoi Rocks as a second tier of wannabe disciples of David Johansen, Johnny Thunders, Arthur Killer Kane and Jerry Nolan. Coming from a rabid Dolls fan it is apparent that they are not a carbon copy and pay homage to the things the Dolls did well and put their twist on it. It should also be no surprise that Yaffa ended up in a later edition of the New York Dolls and Steve Conte who was in the same band ended up playing in the Michael Monroe band. Didn't your mother ever tell you never to judge a book by its cover(or L.P) as you are misrepresenting what is contained within the parameters of the cardboard sleeve and pressed into the deep Finnish grooves of the vinyl
Oriental Beats original production always seemed flat and lacking in the dynamics of what could have and should have been. However, with this release, they appear to have corrected the misstep. This is the 40th anniversary or the 21st Century Edition being lauded as the remix or aptly named the The Re(al) mix. I had the opportunity to listen to both mixes and found the sound output dynamics have greatly improved or in other words, the neutered production has now adhered the hairy dangling balls firmly back up into place. This release should be a testament to how corrective surgery can succeed. Oriental Beat sits firmly between Bangkok Shocks Saigon Shakes Hanoi Rocks and Self Destruction Blues.
This release shows the progression of the band at the time as they truly sounded and now each release bookends each other like two shades of carefully placed drugstore cheap lipsticks under fluorescent light. For the naysayers and the haters of the world, I would say to take this pink Cadillac for another spin around the block and see if you conclude the improvement and rebirth of what should have been another jewel in the crown of the Almighty Finnish band (that I might add is still touring and well-loved to this day). So twist it up and bathe in the ever-beating throbbing heart. Beat beat beat
8.5 Lipstick Traces/10
