Pretty Boy Floyd: ‘Public Enemies’
PRETTY BOY FLOYD
PUBLIC ENEMIES
Released on December 1, 2017 (Frontiers Music Srl)
Review:
There’s many legacy bands who return to write and release a new album, often creating excitement in long-time fans. Many bands will change and morph over the years and some keep churning out the same formula. The question often remains: do you want to please critics, or your fans? Bands who have deviated from their original sound often come back with a new album stating things like “This one is gonna go back to our roots” but often fail miserably and for the vast majority, leave fans disappointed. There’s been a few exceptions in recent years such as Ratt‘s Infestation in 2010, and arguably Mötley Crüe‘s comeback and return to form with 2008’s Saints Of Los Angeles. Where does that leave Pretty Boy Floyd?
Back in June of 2016, lead singer Steve Summers announced: “Pretty Boy Floyd is proud to announce that our true follow up to the Billboard top 200 record and Glam Sleaze underground sensation around the world Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz wll be put out on Frontiers Records. We are truly excited for this brand new release and if you enjoyed Leather Boyz and some of our other releases, eps, demo records, tributes, etc, this will blow you away.” Pretty strong statement for a band who has experienced a meandering lineup, tour dates and song releases. The band’s underground following continued however, showing an interest that never really quite dissolved. Maybe, because that first album was that damn good…?
Let’s take a quick look at Pretty Boy Floyd‘s history before I get into the review. The band released Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz in 1989, after ‘glam’ had already peaked and bands such as Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe and Ratt had abandoned the transvestite look a few years earlier for a more biker rough and tumble appearance. Along came Pretty Boy Floyd who made a bombastic glam fashion statement with shiny black leather, makeup and teased out hair. The songs were boppy, fun and full of energy that defined the parties of high school rock kids of the day. The group’s label MCA at the time was immediately criticized for a musical and tactical mis-step with the band. Although reaching a modest #130 on Billboard, sales of the band’s debut album failed to reach expectations. Yet fans were abuzz of this new band that seemed to disappear from the scene as quickly as it appeared. It took merely two more years for Pretty Boy Floyd to break up, only to reunite in 1995 with infighting, a string of half releases and shows.
Fast forward to 2016, when rumblings of a reunion between frontmen Steve “Sex” Summers and Kristy “Krash” Majors arose again. It would take these two nearly three decades to release the proper follow up to 1989’s Leather Boys With Electric Toys, but it was happening.
So, does Public Enemies deliver the musical goods and chops that Pretty Boy Floyd fans have been hoping for? You can bet your last dollar that it does! The songwriting on this album is very much in the same style as Leather Boyz but with a 2018 update in production. The gang vocals, crunchy guitar riffs and sing-along arena anthems are back with a vengeance. I think most fans will wonder what took so long and why the band didn’t keep it together since there’s been quite a resurgence of interest in ’80s rock spawning reunion tours and festival shows. Will it matter that 50-something year-old men are singing about beautiful teenage girls bringing them to their knees, parties and sex? Haters and critics might think so, but the fans of Pretty Boy Floyd certainly won’t.
Public Enemies commences with the track “S.A.T.A.” containing some ominous rumbling and heavy tribal drums as the cooing of the classic “Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz” melody emerges. As “S.A.T.A.” fades, we hear track two “Feel The Heat” begin with the steady pounding of machine gun fire as the guitars and drums come crashing together. The album has taken flight here, and it’s already indicative of what you can expect from the rest of it. The unmistakable tenor shrill of Steve Summers‘ vocals leave a lasting impression and you know this can be nothing other than a Pretty Boy Floyd release.
The next few tracks “High School Queen”, “Girls All Over the World” and “American Dream” are so darned catchy, they should nearly be illegal. These will transport you back in time to your teenage years, make you forget what you’re doing and put a smile on your face. Public Enemies also contains a few covers including Mötley Crüe‘s old demo “Run For Your Life” which they do a perfect job on as it blends in nicely with the original tracks. The other cover is “So Young So Bad” by Starz, which in my opinion also fits in the mix with its infectious chorus.
Every track seems to have Kristy Majors‘ stamp of contagious guitar riffs and strong melodies. The band has really, really nailed it on this album, which should have been released in 1991. This corroborates Summers‘ statement of Public Enemies being the true follow up to Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz. Better late than never I’d say, and sorely needed in 2018 with the global state of rock being on life support. Well done.
Track List:
01. S.A.T.A.
02. Feel The Heat
03. High School Queen
04. Girls All Over The World
05. American Dream
06. We Can’t Bring Back Yesterday
07. We Got The Power
08. Do Ya Wanna Rock
09. Run For Your Life
10. Shock The World
11. Paint It On
12. 7 Minutes In Heaven
13. Star Chaser
14. So Young So Bad
Band Members:
Steve Summers – lead vocals
Kristy Majors – guitar, backing vocals
JK Famous – bass, backing vocals
Ben Graves – drums
Additional Musicians:
Chad Stewart – additional drums, background vocals
Production:
Produced and engineered by Keri Kelli and Kristy Majors
Band Websites:
Official Website
Facebook
Reviewed by Mark Hovarth for Sleaze Roxx, February 2018
Pretty Boy Floyd‘s “Feel The Heat” video:
Pretty Boy Floyd – “Feel The Heat” (Official Music Video)
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Pretty Boy Floyd‘s “We Got The Power” song:
Pretty Boy Floyd – “We Got The Power” (Official Audio)
Subscribe To Be Alerted When We Add New Videos – http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers / From the album “Public Enemies”. Get your copy NOW: http://radi.al/Publi…
Pretty Boy Floyd‘s “Girls All Over The World” song:
Pretty Boy Floyd – “Girls All Over the World” (Official Audio)
Subscribe To Be Alerted When We Add New Videos – http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers / From the album “Public Enemies”. Buy/Stream HERE: http://radi.al/PublicE…