To celebrate the return of the sleaziest Rock n Roll band in history Motley Crue has released yet another greatest hits compilation, this time with the addition of two new songs and one cover. Despite the fact that this makes the fourth hits collection in fourteen years and making half of their discography collections and live albums, Red White and Crue can truly be called the definitive Motley Crue set. First, it is two discs packed to the eighty minute brim of material and second, the inclusion of a handful of rare cuts (Black Widow) and remixes make this offering a bit more enticing than the rest. Going in chronological order disc one begins with a bang and perhaps the Crue’s best song, Livewire and covers all their eighties hits. Too Young to Fall in Love, S.O.S., Wildside, Shout at the Devil, and Dr. Feelgood, this first disc is a great way to introduce younger fans into the sex and drug fueled days of the band. Disc Two however is a mixed bag. It pops off once again with a strong introduction, three cuts from Decade of Decadence (the “new” songs for that particular collection), Anarchy in the U.K., Primal Scream, and the 1991 version of Home Sweet Home. After this is what many fans consider the dark days of the band. A few songs from the self titled album make an appearance, the atrocious rap filled Planet Boom and three cuts from the highly experimental Generation Swine. While I can appreciate the self titled record for its increased heaviness and John Corabi’s raspy voice this simply does not sit well after over an hour and a half of Motley Crue’s finest material. The three tracks from Generation Swine that were chosen are so far from each other in terms of continuity and differ so stylistically, that they distract the listener more than they appeal to my aesthetic senses. Afraid being a rather dark sounding pseudo ballad, is backed by the rappish Beauty that is chock full of synthesized and quirky effects and these two simply do not gel at all. The song Generation Swine closes out this albums triad and compared to its formers is a stripped down, simple, and abrasive punk swagger of a tune. There is hope however and what saves disc two are the inclusion of both “new” songs from the ‘98 collection Greatest Hits, Bitter Pill and Enslaved, which I can say are the best songs that the band has written since 1989. These two tracks seamlessly blend the classic Crue sound with modern production and guitar tone without sacrificing integrity which is more than I can say about their late nineties comeback album Generation Swine. Closing out the familiar territory are the two radio singles from the confusing and all too easy New Tattoo, Hell on High Heels and the title track. So there you have it, this year’s greatest hits album and you know what, this isn’t that half bad, in fact I would say that this is definitely worth your money even if you are a die hard Crue fan like me and already have almost everything on here. Everything that is but the three newbies.

Listening to the first new addition to the Motley Crue library, If I Die Tomorrow I was grinning from ear to ear. Much like Bitter Pill and Enslaved at the time of their release, If I Die Tomorrow manages to sound current but still blatantly Crueish. A brooder of a song with crunchy guitars and a terrific performance by Vince (he blows away his performance on New Tattoo right when he opens his mouth) this will be a crowd pleaser for sure on their upcoming US tour. Sick Love Song is definitely more of a straight up rocker of a song but it surprisingly sounds like it could have fit in on Generation Swine. I don’t know how well this will sit with most fans but I can say that the more I listen to it the more I can stand it as opposed to Swine where the more I listened to it the more I wanted to throw it out the window. I am a little disappointed by the fact that instead of a third brand new song the boys decided to do a cover, this time it’s Street Fightin’ Man by the Rolling Stones of all people. Not having heard the original the best compliment that I can give this version is that it sounds like a Motley Crue song and not a cover.

The decision to buy Red White and Crue will depend on one of two factors. One being that you have always heard of but never heard this legendary band, and two being that you simply cannot live without the three new cuts that are on here. If you belong in the first group then by all means Red White and Crue is mandatory (then follow up with Too Fast For Love and Shout at the Devil) and if you belong to the second group then well, you’re going to have to decide for yourself. I already bought this thing and right now as I type this I’m enjoying a beer and blasting Too Young to Fall in Love as loud as my stereo will go (neighbors be damned!) and enjoying the memories that I have come to associate with these rock n roll classics.