### Motörhead: Rock and roll

#### 02/11/11 || InquisitorGeneralis

Even though I would gladly lick old cocaine off of Lemmy’s mole, I have to admit there are a few Motörhead albums that just don’t 100% do it for me. “Rock and Roll” is one member of that very short list. It’s not bad, and I am not filled with regret over purchasing it. With lyrics like this from “Eat the rich”, how could be entirely dismissive…

Eat Greek, or eat Chinese, Eat salad, or scarf up grease, You’re on the shelf, you eat yourself, Come on, and bite my bone…

…and don’t forgot about Lemmy’s “bacon torpedo”. I am seriously considering getting that tattooed on the side of my dick. The problem is, there is not much really memorable after “Eat the rich” except for “Stone deaf in the USA”. That song rules and is an awesome shout out to the drug and Botox soaked City of Angels that Lemmy calls home. “The wolf” is definitely heavy, especially in the Philthy Animal drumming department, but seems just like “Overkill Pt. 2”. Yeah, I know Motörhead is not known for reinventing the wheel on each album, but songs like “Traitor”, “Dogs”, and “Boogeyman” just don’t reach and grab me. And they all sound the same. “All for you” is pretty damn weak. Sorry Motörheadachers, but I had to say it.

This album should be a classic considering it was the first to feature the four-piece line up of Lemmy, Wurzel (RIP), Phil Taylor, and Phil Campbell. Clearly, this line-up would find their groove on “1916” a few years later. All in all, “Rock and Roll” is not a bad record. But with so much Motörhead material out there, and solid new material coming every couple of years, it just gets lost in the shuffle to me. There are solid points; the previously mentioned “Eat the rich” and “Stone dead in the USA” are great tunes, the production is ace, and the album cover is one of the band’s best. But, there are just too many so so songs on “Rock and Roll” to make it a real winner in my book. If you get the bonus reissue, you do get one of my absolute favorite Motörhead tracks ever, “Just cos you got the power”. However, I can’t factor that blues-influenced gem into the score here. Clearly, Rock and Roll” is the product of a classic band in a state of transition. Even Pepperoni and bacon strips can taste a little funny.

Motörhead rules, they deserve all of the love and respect given to them. Lemmy and Co. just didn’t hit this one out of my park. There are some good songs on here, but 70% of “Rock and Roll” is mediocre for Motörhead standards… which is still better than most of the cockpuke out there that passes for music.

- Information
- Released: 1987
- Label: GWR
- Website: www.imotorhead.com
- Band
- Lemmy: bass, vocals
- Phil Campbell: guitar
- Würzel: guitar
- Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Rock ‘n’ Roll
- 02. Eat the Rich
- 03. Blackheart
- 04. Stone Deaf in the U.S.A.
- 05. The Wolf
- 06. Traitor
- 07. Dogs
- 08. All for You
- 09. Boogeyman