Sixx AM is Nikki Sixx’s new project featuring
guitarist DJ Ashba (Beautiful Creatures) and vocalist/guitarist
James Michael. As noted in the title, this album is
the soundtrack to the immensely popular “The
Heroin Diaries” memoir that he recently released,
offering a years worth of journals and commentary
at the height of his addiction to heroin. Leading
up, of course, to the infamous “kickstart my
heart” overdose that served as the inspiration
to the band’s most well known single.
I really didn’t expect much from this. What
I did expect was for it to be similar to Nikki’s
last outing aside from Motley Crue, Brides of Destruction.
These songs have virtually nothing in common with
either of those bands. What you have here is a mix
of radio friendly (in a good way) hard rock songs
and spoken word interludes. The first single, “Life
is Beautiful,” is an uplifting anthem of hope
forged during dark times and is easily the highlight
of the soundtrack. “Tomorrow” and “Accidents
Can Happen” lean more towards the ballad side
of the coin but James Michaels voice is flawless on
them and he has one of those voices that really sucks
you in. Tremendously expressive. Tremendously believable.
“Girl With Golden Eyes” brings some piano
to the mix, renewing your interest late in the album
by offering something different from the mid-tempo
anthems that dominate the soundtrack. “Life
After Death” puts the soundtrack to bed with
a very Meatloaf swagger. It’s quirky, dynamic,
and mostly unpredictable (and don’t get me started
on the freaky children’s choir) – an entirely
unexpected surprise on an already surprising album.
Overall I really dig this album. I’ve been
listening to it a lot and I think that we are better
off having this than a new Motley Crue record to be
honest. I hope that this isn’t the last we hear
of Sixx A.M. Fans of great anthemic rock music should
check this out with or without the book.
Key Tracks: “Life is Beautiful,” “Girl
With the Golden Eyes,” and “Accidents
Can Happen”
Reviewed by Mark Fisher |
