Band:	Hanoi Rocks
Album:	Self Destruction Blues
Style:	Glam rock
Release date:	1982
A review by:	KwonVerge

01. Love's An Injection
02. I Want You
03. Cafe Avenue
04. Nothing New
05. Kill City Kills
06. Self Destruction Blues
07. Beer And A Cigarette
08. Whispers In The Dark
09. Taxi Driver
10. Desperados
11. Problem Child
12. Dead By X-mas

After 1981's succesful and deeply inspired and promising debut album, "Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks", Hanoi Rocks returned really strong during 1982 with two releases, their second full-length release, "Oriental Beat", and a compilation, "Self Destruction Blues", which is the release for which I'm going to talk about at this review.

"Self Destruction Blues" is a compilation, as I said above, that offered to the fans of Hanoi Rocks b-sides from singles, rare demo recordings and tracks from EPs, all together in a well-thought compilation. What is the most interesting part of the story is that, despite being a compilation, "Self Destruction Blues" flows like a full-length album. The one song seems to pace with the one following and along with the fact that the songs consisting of this release are really brilliant and they don't lack the inspiration and the feeling of songs that could be put on full-length releases have made this compilation one of the most beloved releases of part of the fan-base of Hanoi Rocks and I don't see why they could be wrong since the album definitely rocks!

Everything you loved in the sound of Hanoi Rocks in their two previous releases is present as well and sounds more mature all the way, apparently the band matures from album to album in any aspect, something only positive! The album has the special gentle and glamorous yet so dirty and somehow danceable groove that makes you adore the Hanoi Rocks albums! The guitar work for one more time is really fabulous, whether the guitars just keep the song flowing with rhythmic riffing or rock all the way, or even unleash some beautiful solos, they definitely sound well-conceived as ideas and above all well-executed. The rhythm section keeps the tempo in the most unerring and ideal way and the drummer on "Self Destruction Blues" is Gyp Casino, as on their two previous releases, yet the one on the cover is Razzle, the drummer from their next release and on, so don't let this mislead you. Michael Monroe's vocals are more mature and they sound for one more time dirty and gentle at the same time, he has this special gift I can't explain, but it really doesn't matter, he's just awesome! The sweetest part of the album has to be the use of non-basic rock instruments, such as the saxophone, the harmonica, the piano and the keyboards! Whenever they make their appearance they make the glamorous aesthetic of the album more vivid and intense and they definitely make the compositions more affected.

Some of my favorite compositions of "Self Destruction Blues" have to be without any second thought the piano-driven and somehow emotional "Dead By X-Mas", the groovy "Kill City Kills", the imposing and sleazy anthem "Love's An Injection", the rolling "Café Avenue", the gentle and groovy "Nothing New" and "Whispers In The Dark" etc.

"Self Destruction Blues" is another must for all the Hanoi Rocks fans and another glam diamond shining in glitter and sweetness. Leave the lipstick and the hairspray in front of the mirror and go to the nearest music store to get it!