Loud & Dangerous

When all the glam metal bands of the '80s resurfaced once more in the early 21st century, few of those acts were able to boast that all the members from their hitmaking years were present once more. Case in point: L.A. Guns. Singer Philip Lewis and drummer Steve Riley are the only gentlemen remaining from their heady Cocked & Loaded days (as recently added guitarist Stacey Blades and bassist Adam Hamilton are now on board). But the group is still alive and well, as evidenced by the release of 2006's Loud & Dangerous (yes, it appears to be a play on words of Thin Lizzy's classic 1978 live set, Live & Dangerous). Instead of trying to prove to audiences that "if you like the old tunes, then you'll love the new tunes," Lewis, Riley and company wisely stick to the L.A. Guns classics -- especially such one-time Headbanger's Ball favorites "Sex Action" and "One More Reason." And of course, the group's biggest hit, the schmaltzy power ballad "Ballad of Jayne" is included as well. While Loud & Dangerous probably isn't as potent as catching L.A. Guns in a jam-packed Hollywood club back in 1988 (when founding member Tracii Guns was still in attendance), it should please the hairspray-and-headband-wearing faithful. [This edition includes two audio/video bonus tracks, "Hollywood Burning" and "It Don't Mean Nothing," which can be downloaded from the CD if you "insert CD into your computer."]