Saints Of Los Angeles
by Motley Crue
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 44
  3. Negative: 2 out of 44

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  1. PaulA.
    Jul 6, 2008
    8
    Great Album (apart from chick = trouble). "The Animal in me" is without a doubt the greatest song these guys have written/recorded.
  2. MatthewM.
    Jun 25, 2008
    10
    Welcome Back Motley Crue!!
  3. MatthewA.
    Jul 4, 2008
    9
    The best music they've made since Dr Feelgood!
  4. ScottW.
    Jun 30, 2008
    10
    Best album of the year so far. Best Crue since Dr. Feelgood.
  5. JoelC.
    Jul 9, 2008
    10
    Best, Pure Dirty Rock N Roll album recorded since.......I don't even fuckin know!!! Every song is an anthem, I personally don't think you HAVE to be a fan to realte to this album. You could be anyone, Mick's riffs made the album, Tommy's energy, Sixx's beast of a Bass and Vince's Jagermeister Vocals combined make a hell of an album everytime. This time Best, Pure Dirty Rock N Roll album recorded since.......I don't even fuckin know!!! Every song is an anthem, I personally don't think you HAVE to be a fan to realte to this album. You could be anyone, Mick's riffs made the album, Tommy's energy, Sixx's beast of a Bass and Vince's Jagermeister Vocals combined make a hell of an album everytime. This time though, Rock N Roll needed it. Modern sound with a classic Motley Crue feel. 10/10 from me. Thanks Guys.… Expand
  6. ken
    Jul 1, 2008
    9
    Fantastic full length album with original line up. Every song is worth a listen. A+
  7. JasonS.
    Jul 2, 2008
    10
    Great album, enough said.
  8. Daniel
    Jul 23, 2008
    9
    After a couple of listens it has become my favorite album of the year so far. A fantastic return to form.
  9. Scott
    Jul 7, 2008
    8
    The more i listen the more it has really grown on me.A good showing.next time NO OUTSIDE WRITERS!! It does have its classic moments and energy.Solos could be louder and longer.Overall a strong 8.The funny thing is this does kick the asses of most of the "current " bands i listen too.Thank god for the crue STILL carrying the rock torch.Stand out tracks SOLA,"Welcome to the machine",Going The more i listen the more it has really grown on me.A good showing.next time NO OUTSIDE WRITERS!! It does have its classic moments and energy.Solos could be louder and longer.Overall a strong 8.The funny thing is this does kick the asses of most of the "current " bands i listen too.Thank god for the crue STILL carrying the rock torch.Stand out tracks SOLA,"Welcome to the machine",Going out swinging". But "Down at the whiskey" is a classic.… Expand
  10. JeffH.
    Oct 6, 2009
    8
    Good Effort.
  11. JackF.
    Sep 14, 2009
    9
    No doubt Crue's best album since Dr. Feelgood. Mars kicks ass, Vinnie whines, Sixx sleazes and T-bone pounds the drums like the good 'ol days....
  12. PaulC
    Jun 24, 2008
    10
    Album of the year. This album goes far beyond anything I thought the Crue could ever create. This album truly is art.
  13. Kizab
    Jun 25, 2008
    8
    I have been a crue head since the early eighties. With that said the album brings back some of that sound...which is great.
  14. KrisS.
    Jun 27, 2008
    5
    Horrendus metal. Crue should stick with the best of albums from now on.
  15. WayneM.
    Jun 28, 2008
    10
    I grew up listening to the crue. This is the best they have done in almost 20 years. It's great to hear them play so well.
  16. LisaT.
    Jun 28, 2008
    10
    This album is absolutely great. I have listened to it over and over and there isn't one song I don't like. I'll take it anyday over the crap that's on the radio now. Who else can make you want to quit your job and kick someone's a-- at the same time? Go Crue!
  17. Filazafer
    Jun 30, 2008
    6
    It's the best thing they have done since Dr. Feelgood. Unfortunately that isn't saying a whole lot. It doesn't sound like their old stuff, it sounds like Nicki Sixx's new band Sixx A.M. It decent, but it's not the Motley Crue we all loved back in the 80's.
  18. MikeE
    Jul 22, 2008
    9
    Been waiting for this album since Feelgood was released in '89. There isn't a bad song on it. I've listened to it at least twice a day since I bought it.
  19. GreggK.
    Aug 23, 2008
    9
    A fantastic piece of work by the Kings of Sleaze. SOLA has so many different elements to it that it's difficult not to appreciate each song for its own individualized style. "Face Down In The Dirt" explodes with raw punk/metal power. "What's It Gonna Take", although mid-tempo, is a journey through the early days when Motley first formed, and the band performs it with passion. A fantastic piece of work by the Kings of Sleaze. SOLA has so many different elements to it that it's difficult not to appreciate each song for its own individualized style. "Face Down In The Dirt" explodes with raw punk/metal power. "What's It Gonna Take", although mid-tempo, is a journey through the early days when Motley first formed, and the band performs it with passion. "Down At The Whiskey"- beautiful guitar and drum work by Mars and Lee. Catchy, groove-laden, and melodic. "SOLO" is the arena anthem Crue fans have been waiting for. The riff blazes and has a very nice dark bass intro by Nikki - a pure sing a long delight. "MF Of The Year" - one of my absolute favs ever. Drips of attitude and sleaze and musically it's so tight and heavy. "Animal In Me" - another all time favorite. Lyrically brilliant and musically its very unique and has a style not heard by the Crue before. The sound is so heavy. "Welcome To The Machine" - fast & furious with a "Shout" like appeal. "Just Another Psycho" - not one of my favs but certain elements are appealing like Mars' guitar work and a catchy chorus. "Chicks=Trouble" - classic Crue sleaze with a killer riff by Mars and frenetic drumming by Lee. Lyrically it's nothin deep but considering the Crue's track record of debaunchery, it's fitting and fun to sing along to. "This Aint A Love Song" - another fav. Sleazy, dirty, grimy, hook-heavy, and should be a single at some point. "White Trash Circus" - punked out with a killer riff following the main chorus but overall not one of my personal favs. Has a Too Fast For Love influence to it. "Goin Out Swingin" - with the exception of the main chorus this track kills it with an all out assault of guitas, drums, bass, and vocal. Takes me back to the days of Shout. Overall I absolutely love this CD and it's the Crue I've been waiting to hear for over a decade. Mixed with so many different musical elements - rock, metal, punk, & glam it's hard to dislike it in any way. Plus, since it's a semi-concept album, the songs match perfectly with the story telling. My second favorite Crue album with Shout being my first.… Expand
  20. BillyC.
    Apr 18, 2009
    5
    Wow I was very surprised to found out that most of the Crue's hardcore fan base praised this album. For starters the 1st thing that sticks out when listening to this album is the horriable lyric content. Nikki what the hell happened? I have read that Motley brought in a bunch of bubblegum writers to help write the album but I find that hard to believe with Sixx being such a control Wow I was very surprised to found out that most of the Crue's hardcore fan base praised this album. For starters the 1st thing that sticks out when listening to this album is the horriable lyric content. Nikki what the hell happened? I have read that Motley brought in a bunch of bubblegum writers to help write the album but I find that hard to believe with Sixx being such a control freak but who ever wrote this garbage deservesthe Rick Astley life time achievment award. The Crue has found that filthy powerful sound that you can picture a naked girl sliding up and down a pole too but then ruin almost every track with cheesy lyrics like " I dont want to go to school" ( No shit Nikki your in your 50's why would you want to go to school?) on face down in the dirt and choreses like " were the white trash circus dont give a damm we'll steal your girl when ever we can ( have you lost your confidence in slaying chicks Nikki??) on white trash circus which give the album that Motley Crue meets a cracked out slutty Mother Goose feel.… Expand
  21. GregJ.
    Jun 25, 2008
    9
    Not their best, but pretty damn good album. A good album to follow up The Dirt!
  22. PipRock
    Jun 26, 2008
    3
    Motley crue is my favorite band. this is not motley crue. i can't hear the gutars, and nothing of it speaks motley crue. it sounds like someone else wrote the guitar parts, cause it sure as hell doesn't sound like mick. i know the crue when i hear it. disappointed fan here.
  23. ChadH.
    Jun 28, 2008
    9
    This is a great album and in fact I think its the best they have done. No fillers and just great music to feed off of. This is the album that should of followed Dr. Feelgood. I hope they have more of this for us in the future. For now I will keep listening to the "Saints." If you don't like it you don't get it.
  24. BrianS.
    Jun 29, 2008
    8
    Good Crue CD. People expect too much from the Crue. Good fun rocking tunes. Not as "HARD" as some may want but all around good CD.
  25. BradP
    Jul 18, 2008
    9
    I would have never believed the Crue would come out with a release like this. It is just amazing. I have been a Crue fan since Too Fast For Love. I agree that the guitar lacks the sound of the early Crue, but I actually like it better. You know it's Crue when Vince gets going. It is fantastic, and my favorite Crue yet.
  26. BrianL.
    Aug 15, 2008
    10
    This Album speaks for a entire forgoten generation!
  27. rok2slayr
    Sep 19, 2010
    6
    There are highs and lows throughout the album but it's nice to see the guys all together again making an album that isn't pure mush. Fun to pop in and sing along to.
  28. chad5599
    Jun 30, 2012
    9
    Although not what they use to be, who the hell is! A very good effort. I am happy to have it and added to my collection of Hard Rock and Metal music.
  29. Danm95VFF
    Mar 26, 2016
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. .Motley Crue had experienced some turmoil following the release of their biggest album, Dr. Feelgood, in 1989. Their lead singer, Vince Neil, either quit or was fired from the group in 1992, and the band subsequently brought in replacement John Corabi, and released a self-titled album in 1994. However, the album wasn't such a hit with fans, and nor was the singer, who was out of the band by 1996. Vince Neil was back in the picture, but the next album, Generation Swine, was a relative commercial flop also. Some of the material had been written by Corabi before he left, and there was tension in the group which would eventually prompt drummer Tommy Lee to quit. They hired Randy Castillo, released another flop of an album, New Tattoo, and after that, Castillo passed away and the band lay dormant for some time, until 2004, when Lee rejoined, which brings us to this point. Their "comeback" album, Saints of Los Angeles, was released in 2008.

    Is it a comeback that proves that the band can still write fresh material and tackle new things, or is it the sound of a band trying to recapture those glory days by writing songs that are re-hashes of the attitude and ideas of the band back in the day? I'm afraid it's more the latter than the former. Pretty much every song is about the typical sex, drugs and rock and roll clichéd crap. Downing the whiskey, having sex with women, being an animal. There's nothing really new or worthwhile to be found here.

    The music itself sounds like Motley Crue trying to write music exactly like their 80s output, but this vision suffers in part due to the modern production and the songwriting process itself, which just makes it bland and pale in comparison to their classic material, especially seeing as the production makes the band sound less unique. Every song is written by bassist Nikki Sixx and his chums James Michael, DJ Ashba (both of whom are Sixx's Sixx:AM bandmates) and Marti Frederiksen. Sixx is only interested in giving us what he THINKS we want to hear, not what we actually want to hear. For a start: Nikki, what band are you writing for? This isn't Sixx:AM. This is MOTLEY CRUE! Maybe if you let your bandmates have more songwriting input like you used to, this could have been better. It seems like James Michael and Marti Frederiksen (along with Desmond Child) do a lot of songwriting for 70s/80s bands who feel that they need outside writers to "enhance" their material. Well, guess what? It doesn't enhance it. It just makes your stuff sound more clichéd and bland, and your band sounds less unique. This is why I think, for example, Scorpions' Humanity: Hour I, could have been better than it was. But anyway, let's get back on topic.

    The band members seem good at playing their instruments (assuming it was the actual band members and not, say, Sixx:AM and/or Josh Freese) so it's a shame it's put to little use here. When I first heard the album around 2 years ago, I did get into the title track and "The Animal in Me", but do I listen to these songs anymore? No, no I don't.

    If you're a Motley Crue fan who has yet to hear this album, by all means check it out if you must, but don't be surprised if you don't get as much excitement out of it as the band's first five albums. Saints of Los Angeles is the sound of aged rockers who probably don't get along that well and are mainly in it for the cash, collaborating with overrated outside writers to write songs with immature lyrics about drugs and sex (it doesn't sound cool coming from a group of 45-55 year olds) whilst sounding like most mediocre metal bands of the modern day. And actually, I much prefer both the self titled album and Generation Swine to this. I'm glad that the "boys" are retiring at the end of the year. Nikki, it's all well and good saying you wanted the band to retire at a high point, but this proves you are already way past your "high point", sadly.

    Originally posted on Encyclopedia Metallum    … Expand
  30. Warion99
    Nov 3, 2020
    10
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Awards & Rankings

61
#61 Most Discussed Album of 2008
97
#97 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. AllMusic
    60
    Motley Crue has been trumpeting their hedonism for so long and so loudly that it's become more of a caricature than a way of life, and while Saints of Los Angeles is the best thing they've laid to tape since their codpiece heydays, it's more of a walk down memory lane/sunset strip than a legitimate call to arms.
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  2. Billboard
    70
    While not every song is a winner, the title track and sleaze anthem 'This Ain't a Love Song' are standouts.
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  3. Los Angeles Times
    37
    There is some of the old energy here, thanks in part to the presence of drummer Tommy Lee, who drives 'Down at the Whisky' and 'Chicks=Trouble' like somebody with a head full of stimulants. Yet the album lacks the tune-craft that once made vintage Crüe such hits as 'Dr. Feelgood' and 'Kickstart My Heart' so appealing.
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