This is probably one of the best CDs I own and it wasn’t easy to find. As you may have noticed, I’m a fan of some of the corniest, silliest hair metal going, but I’m also a picky intellectual fond of clever word play and strong musicianship. Hurricane satisfies both of these wants and desires. And Slave To the Thrill is their best and last album.

And you have probably never heard of them.

Ok, remember Quiet Riot? Stay with me now. Carlos Cavazo, the guitar player, has a little brother named Tony who plays bass in Hurricane. Beyond that you’ll just have to trust that I know who this band is and that I’m not make them up in some ridiculous scheme to bilk Epinions out of several pennies.

Reign of Love
Starts with some moody surf and heads directly into some powerful, screeching heavy metal guitar. This song is a big bad macho thang. It’s raunchy and suggestive and reminds me of a good romance hero (and not the naked guy on the cover of Mine To Take.) "Wastin’ time putsa lines on my face / I could leave you breathless, baby / and leave without a trace / anytime, anyplace." Oh, I feel warm.

Next to You
Still with the quality romance hero. Requisite guitar and a strong drum beat. If you like Zepplin and you don’t like this, you aren’t listening.

Young Man
Same subject matter as Styx’s "Fooling Yourself," but maybe better done (or maybe I like the way Kelly Hansen sings better than the way Tommy Shaw sings.) The lyrics are a cut above other hair bands. "He talk like thunder / tall as a tree / laughs in the face of angels / drunk all the time / face like a rag / he takes all he can."

Dance Little Sister
The most erotic song to come out of that style (including anything by G’n’R, let’s not confuse erotica and porn.) It has a strong, sashaying beat that’s darn near irresistible. Think of the sexiest female walk you have ever seen and try to imagine it set to music. There you go.

Don’t Wanna Dream
I murdered a tape over this song. I kept playing and rewinding it until I could hear the backward masking from the track on the other side. It’s so sorrowful and powerful that I find it hard to resist. It’s a post break up song about that moment of waking when you realize s/he isn’t there and it was just a dream. "Without you / (now I lay me down to sleep) / to pull me though / (pray the lord my soul to keep) / I don’t wanna dream tonight / without you / (if I die before I wake) / what will I do / (pray to god my soul won’t break) / I don’t wanna dream tonight."

Temptation
Kelly Hansen either is a fan of Steve Perry or is a fan of the same old guys because he likes to do the same kind of vocalizations. Soaring guitar, the drum and the bass are so closely matched that I can’t pick the bass out.

10,000 Years
"City moon across the water / ease that velvet tongue across your lips." There’s just nothing I can add to that, you know?

?
More sound effects. A rhythmic workhouse noises fade to a woman’s suggestive breathing. No name, unlisted, interesting addition.

In the Fire
The music here is better than average metal stuff with a very good instrumental interlude, but the lyrics are where the magic hides. "I see you’re headed for a break down / you got to get to the cure / heavy metal mental shakedown / You’re spinnin’ down that’s for sure."

Let It Slide
A lovely little optimistic blues number, good for picking up a bad mood. Starts slow, but picks up to a kind of mellow "sh*t happens" tone. "Everything’s so mixed up baby / nothing’s really ever gonna change / sometimes you gotta step back / and tell yourself / you know the world’s insane."

Lock Me Up
Very intense, fast paced and tight. The guitar is more decorative than anything else. It’s there, but you don’t need it. Drums drive this song.

Smiles Like a Child
Some one throw cold water on me. I need a shower. Steamy takes on new meaning.

Slave To the Thrill came out in 1990, just when everything was changing. This entire style lost favor just when Hurricane hit their stride. Too bad too, because this was the best that genre had to offer. (Well this and Tyketto.) If you find it, snap it up, banned cover or not. It’s likely to be the most erotic album you own.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Romancing