Steve Stevens – Atomic Playboys

Ok, let's start our review! First of all i'd like to state that any words i express in this review is just my personal view on the artist and his music, so don't take it persoanl!
Steve Stevens has been always considered as Billy Idol's guitar man. Well i disagree with this fact coz Atomic playboys proves that this man can do amazing things on his own! Maybe i think so coz the first time i saw and heard Steve was way back in early 1990's with Action video (which i thought was original song hahahah, yes, yes later i found out it was Sweet's track). Anyway this album has nothing to do with Billy Idol music style (While Billy's stuff is more pop-oriented Atomic playboys is typical 2nd half of the 80's glammy hard rock) It's defitnitey heavier and more catchy in my opinion.
Great thing is that song structures are not boring - i mean though Steve can play ultra fast solos - he doesn't stick'em to every part of the song like Nuno Bettencourt or Satriani or Vai do on their albums. Steve just does it all in a typical rocknroll way. Everyone knows that he shreds well so he doesn't need to prove it on every song - that what makes this album interesting. 2nd thing is diversity of the songs - som etracks are typical 80's glam hard rock, some of them are really mellow and relaxing! Honestly when i bought this vynil in the 90's i only liked Action and the ending of the song Crackdown (we'll get to it later!) though couple of years ago i decided to give this album a chance and time after time started digging deeper into songs realising that this album is definitely worth checking out if you don't wanna follow Vai, Satriani trend.
Ok let's continue with songs chart!!!

atomic playboys - great opening track, amazing guitar riff. Great vocals by Perry McCarty!
power of suggestion - really mellow sounding track, reminds of some new york club in the 40's! started digging this track a lot!
Action - yeah like 1 review said this is the best version of Sweet's track an probably Steve's most popular hahaha!
Desperate heart - typical 80's power ballad but has some feel and other similarities (guitar solo for example) with Alice Cooper's Raise your fist and yell in of darkness. Solo is kinda similar to some parts from Prince of Darkness track.
Soul on ice - fast hard rocking track
Crackdown - my personal favourite, probably the only track that has slight similarities with Billy Idol's stuff in the verse of the song. Though the track is harder! pay attention to the ending of the somg - the most beautiful part on this album - really soulful solo in the outro!
Pet the hot Kitty - catchy track. Think of sun shining in LA streets! I know most of the people hate it but i think this track is one of the good ones on the album
Evening eye - this track is similar to Power of suggestion - really soft and catchy!
Woman of 1000 years - pure rocknroll track wihere Steve takes over vocals - his voice is not as powerful as Perry McCerty's but still he sounds great on verses and like an old bluesman on choruses!
Run Across Desert Sands - instrumental track. Has that spanish vibe.
Slipping into Fiction - fast hard rock track that's good to close the album

Overall i think this album is worth checking out if you're fan of melodic hard rock from the 80's and got bored of the whole Vai, Satriani, Gilbert mass hysteria!