The Crimson Idol

great album, surprised me after listening to it. bought it at a used cd store and was surprised, after losing track of wasp through out the years, this cd brought me back to listening to wasp again. great tracks.

While I still admire W.A.S.P. tremendously as musicians, "The Crimson Idol" is far too self serving, self indulgent, and self inflated for its own good. The storyline behind Jonathan is somewhat simplistic, redundant, and predictable. Blackie tells the story of his rise to fame and fortune as a world renowned musician. From an insignificant boy, to an aspiring teenager with a heavy metal dream, to an uncompromising adult who will do anything to achieve his dream of global fame and fortune, to a rockstar who sells his soul to record company executives, and finally the aftermath and pitfalls of fame...Namely, as we all learned in William Shakespeare's "The Merchant Of Venice", Shylock always gets his pound of flesh without exception. Only 3 tracks are worth preserving on this 1993 released album. These 3 tracks include "Chainsaw Charlie", "Hold On To My Heart", and "The Idol." The remaining tracks are essentially self indulgent filler material. Nothing more. Nothing less. If my memory serves me correctly, at this juncture in his life, Blackie Lawless was immersed in a copyright courtroom battle against Capitol Records for ownership and artistic control over the original master recording that W.A.S.P. created, not to mention exactly how Blackie was permitted to engage in the creative process at large. For that reason alone, I will give Blackie a pass on this album. Typically, when corporate defense attorneys begin to grill plaintiffs about their contributions to an industry, it is only natural that Blackie would begin to reflect on their musical career and what pivotal events lead them to where they are now. I will acknowledge, as a number of itunes reviewers already correctly have, that the replacement of Chris Holmes on guitar is a vast improvement and the production of this album is superb. I certainly understand the need for musicians to explore new directions and new musical genres and I do applaud Blackie for taking such a bold new path here. After all, all musicians want to grow, change, and evolve artistically so, as to avoid being pigeon-holed or locked into a one size, type cast musical box. Sadly however, much to my chagrin, Blackie's material gets too heavily bogged down in its melancholy theme of the price one pays in order to obtain fame. Maybe, in a nutshell, "The Crimson Idol" is far too didactic in its approach to serve its overall purpose. After all, customers who purchase this album can immediately figure out that message through the 3 tracks I previously listed: "Chainsaw Charlie," "Hold On To My Heart," and "The Idol." There is no need to repeat this point over and over again. As much as it pains me to say this, avoid purchasing this album. Simply, legally download the 3 tracks I listed above and save your hard earned money for the following albums: "Inside The Electric Circus," "The Last Command," "The Headless Children," Live...In The Raw", and "Double Live Assassins."

When this came out, I practically worshipped the ground Blackie Lawless walked on. I dug the full out rocking Chainsaw Charlie and the Invisible Boy but the sensitiveness of The Idol and Hold On To My Heart. This version is worth getting with all the extra tracks (like the story). The live unplugged versions of The Idol and Hold On To My Heart were amazing.

I could not agree more with the previous reviewer who stated, "Blackie really took his time with this, and it shows." I bought this at a used CD store because I have always liked their first two releases. So I played it and was blown away. In addition to being well written and played, whoever mixed this album did a phenominal job - the sound is fantastic! When you hear it through some good headphones or loud speakers, you will know exactly what I mean.

I saw this show for the Crimson Idol at the Mirage in Minneapolis and it was Fantastic. Problably one of the best shows I had ever seen up to that point. Blackie stood up there and said buy the Album its coming out in a month or so. We walked out and could not wait. 18 Months later it was finaly released hence the letdown. Still a great album but they had the momentun and let it slide.

I will not say that this is my favorite W.A.S.P. album. Because I am torn between it and Inside The Electric Circus. But it is a representation of Blackie' s true artistry. Anyone that does not like this album is not a TRUE W.A.S.P. fan. I have also been pretty impressed by the more recent albums. Keep it up Blackie, you are true metal master.

this is one of the greatest ablums ever to be recorded, its a story and if you like story albums like the wall and dark side of the moon. then you will love this once you listen to the whole album all the way through you will understand and you will love it garunteed BUY IT NOW

This was the first W.A.S.P. album that I ever purchased. It was the album that had gotten me addicted to the band. Thinking that this was a crappy or low-key album is a huge mistake. It is not only the follow-up to the Headless Children, it is also the band's first album without Holmes. The guitar and sound of W.A.S.P. was designed by Lawless, as the majority of the songs were conceived by him. This is my favorite W.A.S.P. album and I believe that everybody should hear the album at some point in time.

This is by far the best wasp album uf you have never heard of wasp[ listen to this 1 as your 1st it will hook you

For those of you who think W.A.S.P. is all about perverted songs, with slightly (or not at all) veiled innuendo, take a listen to "The Crimson Idol." Blackie Lawless took his time to make this album, and it shows. He put together a much more proficient band, something that is apparent from the moment this album begins. The story line is good, if not great, but it's the music, lyrics and - most of all - heart that really come through. It's an album I've listened to dozens of times and enjoy more and more each time. The only downside? It's SO good, that most other W.A.S.P. albums pale by comparison.