MID MOTOR HEAD... - Since Lemmy has been hauling this outfit known as Motorhead along now for over thirty years, I will have to call this 1991 album one of the bands, mid-year albums. This album is not in the same realm of brilliance as the original line-up, still it is not like the later era Head albums, the Time to play the game type stuff that I think have more of a dark and sinister tone to them than any other albums before them. This album falls right in between, and it shows a few sides to Lemmys act that are not on any other of the bands discs. For that reason, this album holds up as one of the bands best and most unique albums. Theres a good amount of hard rockers in the true Head spirit, but also some few very well polished tunes that still sound really good. I ve always thought of Lemmy as the type of guy that can mold his act to whomever he plays with, only still always remaining true to the token theme he looks for in music (nasty, loud etc.) Here he does wonders with his new band, and some early nineties recording values, and comes up with 1916. An essential album in any Motorhead collection as far as i m concerned. Less on the sinister though. And of course you should get Ace Of Spades, Overkill, Bomber and the self titled first. Some may say 88 s Orgasmatron after those, but this is my next favorite. Although, they re all pretty good.
Its really not that bad - Motorhead seemed to take some flack with changing up their sound with 1991 s 1916 and even though it seems to show that the four year abscence of studio time seemed to hurt the band, there are still five killer cuts here that make the album worth a purchase. IM so bad, No Voices in the Sky, Make my Day, and Shut you Down are classic Motorhead, and the Ramones track isnt that bad either. The rest seems like some bad filler, and a bit mellow for the band, but like I said it could have been due to lack of studio time, or the fact this I believe was the first album they recorded with a major label. Sometimes record companies can influence bands the wrong way in which to appeal more to the masses, and this seemed to be the case with 1916 but once again, its not all that bad and it is worth adding to your collection. The Dismal release of the next album March or Die was probely due to the fact that Sony Records had a say in the material they recorded, but this one at least has a few good songs that make it a solid release. ENJOY
Motorhead s best album. - This is the record that got me into Motorhead, and I still consider it their best more than fifteen years later. One thing you ll notice immediately about 1916 - it s loud. VERY loud. Your mother will tell you to turn it down, no matter if she s three rooms or three states away. If your ears can stand to listen to it all the way through, you ll notice it s one of the band s most diverse offerings. Punk, rockabilly, and blues are covered to varying degrees here, all done masterfully, and with humorous lyrics on some. It has a rare Motorhead ballad, Love Me Forever , and finishes up with the gritty war tune that lends the record its title. Overkill is by far their best older album but I really think Motorhead have yet to better 1916 for quality- and volume.
Probably the best Wurzel-era Motorhead album - Motorhead doesn t make bad albums. They make high quality, high energy, pure power, rock & roll. Of course even in a discography of masterpieces some are going to be better than others. Mark this one as better than most. 1916 is the best of Motorhead s Wurzel era, which featured the twin guitar line up with Phil Campbell. The songs here are all pretty catchy, and yes this really did deserve a Grammy even if Motorhead doesn t seem like it would be Academy Award winning music. If you have most of the classic Fast Eddie Motorhead CDs and are looking to expand your collection, put 1916 high on your list. Standout tracks: One to Sing the Blues, I m So Bad, Voices in the Sky, Going to Brazil, RAMONES, 1916.
Motorhead rejuvenated - As a long term fan I have to say that I enjoy all the Motorhead lineups. After Orgasmatron and Rock and Roll, two good, but not *outstanding* albums Motorhead seemed to find a new inspiration somewhere. The album sounds much, I don t know, fresher than the two previous Campbell/ Wurzel albums. The production is better I think, but apart from that the songs themselves sound like the band have been doing some fine tuning. The first three tracks are all classic Motorhead, with some of the best solos they ve ever recorded. Eddie Clarke may have been a hard act to follow, but Phil Campbell and Wurzel I think sometimes even succeed him in memorable solos. Going To Brazil and Ramones are those somewhat tongue in cheek songs that Motorhead sometimes do, and Love Me Forever contains what I think is the most spine tingling solo I ve heard in rock.Not everything hits the mark though. Make My day and Shut You Down are pretty bland songs, and Angel City I consider downright embarrasing.The most notable song on the album however is of course the closer 1916, a genuine ballad. Surprisingly moving, it does show a side of Lemmy that the casual listener would never have expected.One of the most notable albums on the Motorhead catalog.