Album of the weekend

Skid Row-Skid Row 

When people talk about hair bands they talk about Poison. Bon Jovi. Motley Crue. Firehouse. Van Halen. Skid Row almost never comes up. 

But they should. Skid Row is a great band, with much deeper songs than you might think. "18 and Life" is a "Cocaine Blues" by Johnny Cash. It tells the story of Ricky,  a hard working guy who got into a fight, pulled out his gun and this time tragically killed a child. You feel such heartache both for the child he shot-and for Ricky. It's a rare song that tells the story of a violent, tragic act but it's beautiful at the same time. It's up there in my all time favorite songs. 

One of the better rock ballad songs is also on this album, "I Remember You". While I have no personal connection to it (Ballads, in my view, are very individualistic. You like the ballads you have ties to and dislike the ones you don't) it's one of the more enjoyable ballads out there. Ballads from "Beth" (a truly horrible song) to whatever is trendy today usually suck. 

Sebastian Bach had a bit of a reputation for being difficult, and that might have hurt is career. Skid Row is another hair band that never seems to get enough credit.