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 Norwegian glam metal rockers. |
Wig Wam - Hard To Be a Rock'N
Roller... in Kiev! (Voices of Wonder) 2005
| 1. "In
My Dreams" (3:10) 2. "667" [intro] (:50) 3. "The Best Song in the World" (3:11) 4. "Crazy Things" (3:07) 5. "Bless the Night" (3:50) 6. "The Drop" (3:58) 7. "No More Living on Lies" (3:54) 8. "Out of Time" (4:03) 9. "Mine All Mine" (3:41) 10. "Tell Me Where to Go" (4:13) 11. "Car-Lyle" (3:54) 12. "Erection" [instrumental] (2:09) 13. "I Turn to You" (4:09) 14. "A Long Way" (4:25) 15. "Hard to Be a Rock'N Roller" (4:38) 16. "Hard to Be a Rock'N Roller" [video clip] |
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"Hard To Be a Rock'N Roller... in Kiev!" is an updated version of the band's debut "667...Neighbour of The Beast". It includes the added track "In My Dreams". Personally I think this track should have been placed either at the end of the CD or after "667/The Best Song in the World". Adding it to the beginning makes the intro seem out of place. However, I must confess that "In My Dreams" is a monster track. Had this song been released in 1987 I can only imagine how big it would have been. As it is, I believe the song won an award in Europe. Also added to this reissue is the video for "Hard to Be a Rock'N Roller". The video is a hot, sweaty, busty, clip that would rivel anything that Motley Crue put out in the 80's including the fire filled cans and scantily clad women.
Wig Wam are just plain fun. They seem to fall in the same place as The Darkness with their retro-look, yet their music is far superior. It's quite obvious that these guys don't take themselves too seriously and are just having a bit of fun. They poke fun at themselves, as well as the whole 80's glam/hair metal movement, the whole thing is sort of tongue-in-cheek. With names like Glam (vocals), Teeny (guitars), Sporty (drums) and Flash (bass), the humor is all but obvious. At the same time they create some excellent melodic heavy metal with some big pop hooks and some smokin' guitar solos. "The Best Song in the World" may not be the best song in the world, but it's a good melodic rocker. "Crazy Thing" is a killer song with a massive hook. The title track is equally brimming over with hook. "Erection" is obviously poking a bit of fun at Eddie Van Halen but at the same time offers some incredible guitar work. All in all, "Hard To Be a Rock'N 'N Roller... in Kiev!" is a fun listen for those who enjoy a bit of humor in their rock 'n' roll.
Wig Wam - Wig Wamania (Voices of Wonder) 2006
"Wig Wamania" was my first introduction to Wig Wam. Their name instantly brings thoughts of 1970's glam rock, and more specifically Sweet who had a song titled "Wig-Wam Bam". However, Wig Wam the band's roots are in 1980's glam metal. Yes, they are a bit of a parody, not unlike The Darkness. Their look is ridiculous, the album name is silly, and the lyrics are equally silly. However, these guys are also fun and despite the silliness, their music isn't ridiculous. The fact that they don't take themselves too seriously only adds to the fun. Song like album opener "Rock My Ride" and the melodic "Slave to My Love" are chock full of instant hooks. "Gonna Get You Someday" could have been on the first Skid Row, or even *GASP* a Bon Jovi CD. "Dare Devil Heart" and "Kill My Rock 'n' Roll" have that same energy that I remember on albums like "Love At First Sting" and "Shout At the Devil." I detect a huge TNT influence as well, which probably wouldn't be too far fetched being that TNT and Wig Wam both hail from Norway, a country known more for black metal than for anything with hairspray and lipstick. The whole album sounds rather familiar without sounding exactly like any particular band. "Wig Wamania" just has that same fun spirit that metal had in the early 80's before it became an outlet for anger and hatred. Infectious choruses, sing along anthems, heavy guitars, clean melodic vocals, rippin' guitar solos. It's 1985 all over again. Long live the 80's!