MOTLEY CRUE In the spring of 1994, Motley Crue returned to the scene with a self-titled album. Since it is a self-titled album, many nicknames become attached to the album. The average music fan probably would refer to this album as "The album without Vince Neil" or "The album with that Hooligan's Holiday song on it". However, most Motley Crue fans refer to this album as MC94. MC94 brought lots of changes to Motley Crue. Nikki and Tommy had very new haircuts, and the catchy hooks in the songs were few and far between. However, the biggest change on MC94 was the absence of vocalist Vince Neil. Neil was replaced by John Corabi, who was the former frontman of the Los Angeles band The Scream. John Corabi is probably the biggest factor in the change in sound on MC94. On MC94, there are no songs like She Goes Down, Wildside, or Home Sweet Home. Instead, you have longer, more "mature" (if you can use that word to describe a rock N roll band), heavier and darker song, some of which were resembling bands such as Metallica and Megadeth. The addition of John Corabi also gave Motley Crue a full time guitarist to accompany Mick Mars. I think this addition to the Crue was a huge benefit, and it greatly increased in the band's sound both in the studio and live. You can really see the difference in songs such as Misunderstood and Dropping Like Flies, both songs which are well over 6 minutes long, a feat which was previously unheard of when it came to Motley Crue songs.
Despite the songs being more complex, darker, longer, and more mature, MC94 didn't sell as many copies as expected, to say the least. Out of all honesty, MC94 was a commercial flop. The Crue's previous effort, Decade of Decadance, a greatest hits compilation, sold 3 million copies worldwide. The Crue's previous album of all new material, Dr. Feelgood, sold over 6 million copies in the United States alone. MC94 debuted at #7 on the Billboard charts, which is nothing to cry about, but it spent a brief 10 weeks on the charts, and the album barely sold 1 million copies worldwide. A few weeks after the release of MC94, the lead single, Hooligan's Holiday, was pulled from rotation at MTV and most radio stations, leaving the Headbanger's Ball and metal radio the only exposure for the band.
There were 3 reasons, in my opinion, why MC94 flopped. The first reason is a simple on: Vince Neil was not the lead singer. Many Motley Crue fans were "married" to the Vince Neil lineup in Motley Crue and they did not even give the album a chance. The second reason is because the album was not anything close to the traditional Motley Crue sound. The Motley Crue fans were turned off by the thick, dual guitar sound, and the raw, screaming vocals, and they missed the melodic and catchy hooks that are still present on MC94, but they were few and far between. The fans that would probably enjoy this album, would usually listen to Metallica, Megadeth, or Iron Maiden would automatically dismiss this album just for the fact it was a Motley Crue album. The third reason is that MC94 was released at a bad time for hard rock bands. Skid Row's Subhuman Race, Poison's Native Tongue, and Warrant's Dog Eat Dog were all released around this period of time, and they all flopped bad. Actually Motley Crue was the band who's album was the least commercial disappointment.
Despite the commercial disaster of MC94, I think this is a really great album, probably the best album of the 1990s, and definitely the best album Bob Rock has produced . It is full of lots of different types of great music, on songs such as Misunderstood, Uncle Jack, Smoke the Sky, Hooligan's Holiday, Driftaway, and so much more. This is probably their best album.
I would rate this album: /10
Best Songs: Misunderstood, Uncle Jack, Smoke the Sky, Hooligan's Holiday, Driftaway
Worst Songs: None

1. Power to the Music- I love this song. The guitars on this song are very heavy and Tommy and Nikki make a great rhythm section. The lyrics in this song are about censorship in America, and how the United States government tries to keep music with explicit lyrics away from the public.

2. Uncle Jack- Another great song, one of the best songs on the album. Mick's guitar solo is incredible on this song. The lyrics are based on John's uncle, who abused him as a child and is currently still serving time in jail. The last minute and a half or so reminds me somewhat of the Metallica song, Harvester of Sorrow.

3. Hooligan's Holiday- The first single from MC94, and the only song known to the public, if it is even known at all. I think this was a bad choice for the lead single. I think that Misunderstood would have been a much better choice. I think this is still a great song, but I think this put a bad taste in the mouth of the fans who were turned off by the crunching guitars, and John's growling vocals.

4. Misunderstood- This is the song which should have been the lead single. This song combines heavy guitars with strings, which resemble something off the Beatles Sgt. Pepper album. I really like this song 'cause I can relate to the lyrics, which are about being lonely, sad, depressed.

5. Loveshine- This song is pretty cool. Not the best song on the album, but still a good song. Out of all the songs on the album, this is probably the closest to the "traditional" Motley Crue. This song was performed acoustically at the end of their live set on their tour supporting the MC94 album.

6. Poison Apples- Loud guitars, catchy hooks, great foundation of bass and drums. You do not need anything else in this song. This song just plain rocks. A great song. This probably could have been a hit single, other than the fact that the word "fucking" was used excessively.

7. Hammered- This song is cool. I like the raw guitar sound and John's roar. This song is about Hollywood Celebrities who think that they are all that, and the next day the are a nobody.

8. Till Death Do Us Apart- This song rules. It takes a while to get going, but I really like the way the song builds. The guitar solo is great and I LOVE Nikki's bass on this song. The lyrics to this song are about being yourself, and not letting anyone get in your way with what you want to do, and learning from what you have done wrong in life.

9. Welcome to the Numb- Well, this is another great song. I love the fast, loud vocals and guitars, and the pounding bass and the pounding drums. This could also be a hit, but again, the lyrics are not "radio friendly".

10. Smoke the Sky- This song is just incredible. This is by far the angriest, heaviest, song the Crue has ever done. This could probably pass for a Pantera song. The lyrics to this song are about how the government has over exaggerated the consequences of marijuana.

11. Dropping Like Flies- Not that many people like this song, but I think it is really cool. Is has a cool feel and the middle of the song reminds me of some of the epic Guns N Roses songs. The guitar solo on this song is phenomenal. These lyrics are about the greed and selfishness in society.

12. Driftaway- This song is absolutely amazing. It has a great feel to it, and I love how the acoustic and distorted guitars are mixed together. I don't think they could have ended the album any better.