banner ad
banner ad
banner ad

Deuce – Nine Lives

| 15 September 2012 | Reply

Label: Five Seven Music

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Rating: 6/10

Reviewed by: ToddStar

Listening to a solo disc from a former member of a group you enjoy can be tricky. Do you want to love it or hate it? If they succeed, does it eliminate the odds of a reunion? In the case of Deuce and Hollywood Undead, there is most likely never going to be a reunion, so this one is easier to listen to from a fans view point. Throwing this one into the player, I listen intently with an open mind. I love the genre and sound that Hollywood Undead is part of, so this should be good.

“Let’s Get Crackin” kicks off just like I expected, except for the lyrics. I love what Deuce did with his former band, but this is a little extreme. Love the groove, but I don’t know if it is something I am going to listen to with any regularity due to the lyrics. “Help Me” is what I was expecting from Deuce – solid beats, metal guitar, and edgy lyrics. “America” is next, and there is no speculation as to why this was chosen to be a single for radio. This track jumps out and declares, “They wanna see blood, they wanna see hate.” Deuce seems to address all the messed up issues in the press, especially those related to violence. If you get a chance to check out the video, it has a powerful message. “I Came To Party” has a great groove. The music is top notch, but I have never (and probably never will) enjoy songs that refer to women in a derogatory way. “The One” is a song that demonstrates what is wrong with celebrity these days – ego. I wish I knew if Deuce was poking fun at those around him or if he truly has delusions of grandeur.

“Freaky Now” seems to be “Let’s Get Crackin” Part II. Again, the lyrics will keep this out of my regular rotation. “Nobody Likes Me” has a vibe that draws you in and welcomes you to Deuce’s twisted persona. Like other tracks on this disc, I wonder if these songs are reflective of Deuce’s views or just sensationalized to attract a certain audience. “Walk Alone” adds to the legacy Deuce is creating – the sad point of view that everything and everyone around you needs to be taken down a notch or talked down to. “Till I Drop” takes the disc further down the road of the unnecessary.

“Gravestone” is a moody track that again, has the right music to play out. Even the lyrics aren’t too bad here. We all have the feeling we wouldn’t put flowers on someone’s gravestone. “Now You See My Life” keeps the music light, even as the backdrop for some dark lyrics. This is another really good track that I may throw on my iPod and play a few times. “Deuce Dot Com” is a cool throwback groove that really puts the whole disc into a new light. This beat and sound helps push a few of the lyrics to the side and make this one really enjoyable. “Don’t Approach Me” slows the pace down and makes you wonder why this disc needed twelve tracks. I would have loved to see this one end on the high note that is the previous track.

Deuce, but you seem to have a knack of putting together great music and musicians. The downside is that when you are left to your own devices, you hang all your dirty laundry out there in your lyrics. It may draw in a 13-year-old, but this tactic is lost on this 43-year-old. It isn’t the music – love what Hollywood Undead has done, with or without Deuce. Lighten the tone and mood and maybe I’ll come back for a second round.

http://www.deucela.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DeuceLA

Tags: , ,

Category: CD Reviews

About the Author ()

ToddStar - that's me... just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe - I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.

Leave a Reply

Please verify you\'re a real person: * Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.


banner ad
banner ad