Dog Eat Dog – Warrant

Producer: Michael Wagener

Released: August 25, 1992

Rating: *****

Warrant were among a third wave of hair bands who joined the party a little late in the game. Many of these bands would release one album and disappear into obscurity, never to be heard from again. Warrant may not have been trend setters, but they were one of the genre’s most prolific bands. In four short years they released three five-star albums (at least according to yours truly). To be clear, these were extremely listenable albums from start to finish. Perhaps that seems like no big deal, simply releasing extremely “listenable” albums, but in 2010 how easy is it to find an album you can listen to all the way through? Thought so.

By 1992, the music world was heavily embracing a new genre of music called Grunge. You could not find a band less akin to Grunge than Warrant. Warrant represented everything Grunge stood against. That didn’t stop Jani Lane and the boys from releasing a kick ass album in the hopes that their fans would follow them. They had lofty aspirations. It also appeared as if they had listened to their critics and were trying to distance themselves from the party rock image that their first two albums and generated. Even loftier aspirations. Lucky for Warrant fans, Dog Eat Dog is a killer album, albeit a tad more serious than DRFSR or Cherry Pie.

Warrant didn’t alter the formula too much (that would happen with the next two albums). The album opens with one of the band’s best tunes, Machine Gun. With a riff worthy of the song’s title, Machine Gun could be considered a sister song to Cherry Pie, only much better. Things get a little sleazier with the voyeuristic The Hole In My Wall. This is a great tune with a smoking mid/solo section. The song drips with sleaze, due in part to the talk box guitar. Very cool tune.

The album takes on a more somber mood with April 2031 and Andy Warhol Was Right, but the classic Warrant sound and background vocals can be found on Bonfire. Overall, Dog Eat Dog is a much darker album than the band’s first two efforts. Songs like The Bitter Pill, All My Bridges Are Burning and Quicksand reveal a different side to the ultimate party band and its chief song writer. Life isn’t always great and sometimes it sucks. That being said, one of the albums highlights is the ever upbeat, classic love tune Hollywood (So Far, So Good). Another highlight is the angry-as-hell, ode-to-your-ex Inside Out. Probably the bands “heaviest” song, this tune kicks ass. Nearly 20 years later the song that I love the most is one that I hated up until a few months ago. If Inside Out is the albums heaviest track, the lightest track (a crime in the hard rock genre) is undoubtedly Sad Theresa. This is truly a beautiful track that showcases the superb songwriting talents of Jani Lane. It’s a shame the direction his career has taken over the years because songs like this are proof that he had an incredible ear for easily accessible rock music.

Dog Eat Dog is one of the genre’s forgotten classics. It was quickly dismissed upon its initial release and few people remember this album when discussing Warrant. Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this album. You’ll be glad you did.

Cherry Pie – Warrant

Producer: Beau Hill

Released: September 11, 1990

Rating:  *****

I once read that, “Warrant seemed to be invented for people who found Poison too difficult to understand.” A little harsh? Perhaps. Inaccurate? Not exactly. If Warrant were beating around the bush with their debut release, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (they weren’t), then they got straight to the point with this, their follow-up album. As lead singer and chief song writer, Jani Lane tells the story, the album was finished when a record exec (Don Ienner) told him that he didn’t hear a single. Jani went home that night and penned Cherry Pie. The album was originally going to be called Uncle Tom’s Cabin, but was quickly changed. Jani Lane recently commented that, “I could shoot myself in the head for writing that song.”

As a fan, I see the album and band for what they are. If they wanted to be taken seriously, there were plenty of songs besides Cherry Pie that placed them in the hair metal or party rock category. Cherry Pie (the song) is completely obnoxious, yet unforgettable. It’s a classic. While it may seem impossible and it’s quite possible I may be the only one who believes this, but in my opinion Warrant did mature a bit between DRFSR and Cherry Pie. Think of it as the difference between 8th grade and freshman year.

Title track aside, this is one very well written album. That doesn’t mean it’s thought-provoking (unless you’re currently going through puberty) and that is quite alright. Songs like Uncle Tom’s Cabin, I Saw Red, Sure Feels Good To Me, Love in Stereo and Mr. Rainmaker are all gems that showcase Jani Lane’s superb song writing skills. Lane is one of the genre’s most proficient song smiths and albums like this make it seem effortless. My favorite track on the album is one that grew on me over the years, Bed Of Roses. There’s no doubt that Warrant was a hair band, but Bed Of Roses is a kick ass tune, regardless of genre.

The album cover is a classic and all of the album packaging played into the over sexed imaginations of their teenage fans in 1990. For all those slow learners out there, the video for Cherry Pie made the point crystal clear. There were two versions of the album released, one of which included a short string of f bombs titled Ode To Tipper Gore. Undoubtedly a sign of the times.

I saw Warrant  on the supporting Blood, Sweat and Beers tour. Trixter and Firehouse opened the show. To say the show was amazing might sound insane, but it was truly the last show of its kind that I attended. This was a party like no other. I can’t recall a show since then that was as much fun as this one. By the time Warrant released the follow-up to Cherry Pie the music world was a much grungier place. Little did they know when they were recording this album that it would be their final moment in the limelight. Warrant’s time at the top may have been brief, but their irresistable tunes were bound to, “Put a smile on your face, ten miles wide.”

Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich – Warrant

Producer: Beau Hill

Released: January 31, 1989

Rating: *****

In the mid to late 80’s the hair metal bible was Metal Edge. This was well before the internet so the best source for news on your favorite bands was the magazine rack. Metal Edge had a great section called Metal Wire that kept readers informed on up and coming bands. In 1987, for what seemed like forever, Metal Wire had been keeping tabs on a hot new band called Warrant. They were the kings of the Sunset Strip. Heir apparent to the throne that Poison vacated when they were signed.

Although I’d only seen a few B&W photos of Warrant, I was an immediate fan. Solidifying my interest was the fact that the band named themselves after Ratt guitarist, Warren De Martini. Eventually Metal Wire reported the news that Warrant had been signed by Columbia and as I recall, Metal Edge made quite a big deal about the announcement. If memory serves, the headline read something like, “Warrant Finally Get Signed”. Apparently Geri Miller and the crew at Metal Edge knew this band was going to be huge. So did I.

On new release Tuesday I made my way to Crow’s Nest after school to pick up what I was certain would be a great album. I was not disappointed. In fact, although I might not have known it that day, DRFSR is one of my all time favorite albums from the hair metal genre. Letting me know this was going to be a great album was the opening song 32 Pennies. I love this song to this day. Even better, Down Boys, the albums 2nd song, proved that Jani Lane was perhaps the genres best song writer. More than any other hair metal musician I can think of, Jani has an ear for melodies like no other. Down Boys is such a wonderful tune. It’s one of those songs that puts a smile on my face every time I hear it.

Big Talk is up next followed by a song I initially did not like, but now think is terribly underrated, Sometimes She Cries. Warrant offer up a bit of sleaze via So Damn Pretty (Should Be Against The Law) followed by the only song on the album I dislike, the title track.

The album starts to kick ass again with In The Sticks……….. I love this song. This song continues to showcase Jani’s superb song writing skills. Next up is Heaven. I’m a bit cynical when it comes to ballads (because they were required by the record labels), but Heaven is without a doubt not only one of the best ballads there is, but also a kick ass tune. The album closes out with two killer tracks Ridin’ High and Cold Sweat.

There’s not too much I can claim in this world. What I can claim is being one of the first fans of this band. Big deal, Metal Edge more or less instructed all their readers that they would be the next big band. That being said, DRFSR is one of the most listenable albums of any genre. It’s that good. What makes it so good is Jani Lane’s phenomenal song writing ability. Yes, he’s THAT good. Columbia knew exactly how to market this band. They enlisted Beau Hill to produce the album, which guaranteed the results would be slick and radio ready.

Warrant wasn’t as glammy as Poison, yet they weren’t as “tough” or angry as Skid Row. They were definitely sleazy (almost every photograph of this band featured one member sticking their tongue through two of their fingers as a nod to oral sex), but this was a band made for radio and this album is a must have for any fan of hair metal.