Poison

Native Tongue

Fair effort, Needs CC!

Review Score:

(6/10)
Poison has had the reputation and in 2002 maintains the reputation of being one of America's very best party metal bands. However, part of that image is thanks to the larger than life guitar player CC Deville who assisted in setting the world on fire with the boys of Poison. However, CC and the rest of Poison had a massive falling out and this is Poison's very first studio recording session released without CC playing the six string. What is Poison like without Mr. Deville?

Well, that's not quite and open and shut case. This album was released right in the middle of the depressing grunge era that still makes me scratch my head in wonderment on just what that was all about. Though this album is not anywhere near the outright obnoxiously monotonous style of grunge, it is not quite as good as Poison's recordings from 3 years later, also without CC, on Crack a Smile.

The single off this album, "Stand" gained a lot of critical acclaim in it's day with an almost gospel sounding overtone and some of the style that made Poison a household name. However, the style of Poison is lost through most of this album and a strange mix of sounds results in a mixed up fan base which is never good.

There are a few other bright spots on the album beyond Stand though. Stay Alive is a very well produced and performed song. I've often remarked on my own Heavy Metal website that Stay Alive should have been the album's single. What can you do about that almost ten years after it's initial release, though?

Without airing any dirty laundry that needs no further discussion about Ricki Rockett's wife and the, politely put, brainless and talentless toad that took CC's place for this album, the scandal does wear on your mind and due to loyalty, most Poison fans attempt to forget this album due to the actions of the toad. Through no fault of the true Poison crew, this album is not their best.

More Reviews: