The Five Best Songs from Motley Crue’s Shout at the Devil
Motley Crue’s second album, Shout at the Devil, was released in 1983. It is their most commercially successful album, with a certified double platinum certification by the RIAA. The title track and “Looks That Kill” were released as singles from the album, along with a cover of The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter”, and “Too Young To Fall In Love”. In this article, we’ll go through the best five songs from that classic record.
5. “Danger”
As a closer, “Danger” is a very good way to end an album. It’s dramatic, it is entertaining, and overall the song is a very good way to end the album. The opening guitar riff is very good and it continues to be good during the verses. The best part of this song is the guitar solo that follows. This portion of the song has a lot of power behind it and that makes it one of the better parts of this disc. “Danger” not only brings up some energy from earlier in the album, but it also brings up some energy from throughout the entire record. The vocal performance from Vince Neil is perfect on this track, and he gets one of the best lines in the song as well. He sings the line “never looked back?” and that’s exactly what this song is about. It is about a person giving up and surrendering to their fate. This album, as a whole, was made to be a very dramatic record, and “Danger” is just one more example of that.
4. “Bastard”
The biggest reason this song is ranked so highly is the incredible solo from guitarist Mick Mars. The guitar work on this song has to be one of the best moments on the entire disc. It sounds like a lot of other songs that Motley Crue did, especially their first record. It’s not just because Mars does an incredible job with his riffing, but it’s also because Vince Neil has an excellent vocal performance as well. The lyrical content is another reason why this song is so good. The lyrics to “Bastard” are very dark and they definitely make the message clear as day. The opening line of the song is “out go the lights, in goes my knife” and Neil goes from there with his vocal performance. He goes from being sinister in the verses, to maniacal in the chorus. “Bastard” is definitely one of the best moments on Shout at the Devil .
3. “Looks That Kill”
The first single from this album really got Motley Crue their first big commercial success. The song has an infectious sound and it made for a really good single for the band. The opening guitar riff is great and sets the tone for what is about to come next. The vocals are also great, especially in the chorus. Overall, this song has a killer sound and it’s one of the best songs on Shout at the Devil. Looks That Kill catapulted this band to stardom, and really helped set them apart from other rock bands at the time. It made them stand out because it is a different sound than other groups in the genre at the time had. The guitar work on this song is absolutely killer as well, especially from Mick Mars.
2. “Too Fast For Love”
It was hard to choose between this song and “Looks That Kill” for the number two spot, but I ultimately went with “Too Fast For Love”. This track is a little rawer than some of the other tracks on Shout at the Devil and that’s what gives it such an edgy sound. The band did a great job performing this song and the vocals are very good, especially the chorus. “Too Fast For Love” is a great track that really gets you pumped up. With this song being more rawer than some of the other songs on Shout at the Devil, it also has more bite behind it. Once again, Mick Mars did a great job with his guitar work and he even got to show off his soloing skills for this particular piece. What really sets this song apart though is drummer Tommy Lee’s performance. It’s hard to go wrong with a drummer who plays like Lee does.
1. “Shout At The Devil”
This is it. This is the number one song on our list. This is by far my favorite Motley Crue track as well, and believe me when I say this it’s not some tough decision. The opening guitar riff to this song is absolutely killer and sets the tone for what lays ahead on the album. The vocals are also very good, and once again are stellar in the chorus specifically. While the song wasn’t a single, it’s stood the test of time as one of the catchiest songs from this era. You can tell right away that this song is from the 80s. It’s different than the other songs on this album, and it really adds to its appeal. The band did a great job with everything on this track. The vocals are a little rawer and edgier on this tune, but they fit perfectly in with the song’s gritty sound. The guitar solo is also incredible here and it really gives it an extra punch.
Final Thoughts
Shout at the Devil is not only my favorite Motley Crue record, but it’s also one of my all time favorite albums. It has a little something for everyone. There’s great guitar work, awesome drumming, stellar vocals and catchy hooks as well. This record is just packed with good tunes that will keep you entertained until the end. Shout at the Devil really stands the test of time as it does not sound like a typical 80s metal record which is why I feel that it has aged so well.
