Steel Panther – Balls Out
STEEL PANTHER
BALLS OUT
Released on October 28, 2011 (Universal Republic Records)
Chart Position #40
Track List:
01. In The Future
02. Supersonic Sex Machine
03. Just Like Tiger Woods
04. 17 Girls In A Row
05. If You Really Really Love Me
06. It Won’t Suck Itself
07. Tomorrow Night
08. Why Can’t You Trust Me
09. That’s What Girls Are For
10. Gold Digging Whore
11. I Like Drugs
12. Critter
13. Let Me Cum In
14. Weenie Ride
Japanese Bonus Tracks:
15. Do You Wanna Do Me
16. Handicapped Slut
Band Members:
Michael Starr – lead vocals
Satchel – lead guitar
Lexxi Foxxx – bass
Stix Zadinia – drums
Additional Musicians:
Dane Cook – vocals (1)
Chad Kroeger – vocals (6)
Nuno Bettencourt – guitar (6)
Production:
Produced by Jay Ruston.
Review:
Steel Panther remained rock’s best kept secret for decades — prowling the Sunset Strip with weekly residencies while keeping the sleazy flame of rock ‘n’ rock alive. But then 2009’s debut album Feel The Steel was released and the quartet’s fame cherry popped, unleashing the ‘panther’ into the wild. Two years on, the shock rockers are back with a brand new sophomore album, Balls Out, and what better way to drop than right around Halloween?
Packed with originality and even more sexual innuendoes than before, the album gets off to a good start, putting comedy rock values to the test on the Dane Cook spoken word opener “In The Future” which reassures it is ‘the year 6969’. With finger tapping solos that give the likes of Eddie Van Halen a run for their money, its guitarist Russ ‘Satchel’ Parrish that leads the way on “Supersonic Sex Machine”. Demonstrating impeccable timing and skill, he proves Steel Panther are a band who often performs better than most of the acts they parody, which takes a genuine amount of ‘Metal Skool’ talent. “Just Like Tiger Woods”, “17 Girls In A Row” and “Let Me Cum In” are just three of the 14 bitchin’ tracks on this album that contain satirical swipes, all weaving a tapestry of pure sleaze.
Proving there isn’t a song on Balls Out that doesn’t have a sharp and catchy vocal line, “Critter” makes for a clever but careful play on Feel The Steel‘s “Shocker”, and its lyrical sexism will have even the girls singing along for days. But it’s the cheesy rock ballad “If You Really Really Love Me” where the magic really kicks in — paying perfect tribute to 2009’s “Community Property”, the track’s acoustic guitar riffs and spongy bass lines perfectly compliment frontman Michael Starr‘s melodic harmonies. Grabbing rock ‘n’ roll by the balls and refusing to let go, “Why Can’t You Trust Me Baby” takes on Aerosmith faultlessly with its wide vocal range and sugary guitar solos — this is competent stuff to say the least.
Proving that the novelty of 2009’s debut hasn’t worn off just yet, Steel Panther remains one step ahead on Balls Out, holding onto the same comedic hooks and lyrical sex banter we can’t help but love. Although there is less shock-factor attached to this album, perhaps the first dose was enough to immunize us against any further surprises. That aside though, there is no doubting that fans will still ‘Feel the Steel’ a second time round… just a little differently.
www.steelpantherrocks.com – www.facebook.com/steelpantherkicksass – www.universalmusic.com
Reviewed by Gemma-Louise Johnson for Sleaze Roxx, November 2011
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