Genre: Rock Year: 2005 Country: USA Official Site: Billy Idol Details: Tracks & Audio Label: Sanctuary Records

Believe it or not but it's been 12 years since Billy Idol's last album of new material, the underrated electro-fueled Cyberpunk, which left some of his die-hard rockin' fans confused. In the meantime, he released two compilations, a Greatest Hits and an unplugged-style VH-1 Storytellers, and toured, haunting the Houses of Blues of Southern California—mostly the cool one on LA's Sunset Strip and the Mouse of Blues isolated in the heart of that fake Tragic Kingdom in Anaheim.

If you closely listen to "Super Overdrive", the no-prisoner punk anthem that opens Devil's Playground, you will notice that Idol's voice seems to be in danger a couple of times during the song. The good news is that if Idol seems to struggle following the high-speed guitar, it's because his long-time alter-ego, guitar marvel Steve Stevens, is back after a hiatus to deliver his sharp riffs—he has actually been touring with Idol for the last few years. While less powerful than "Super Overdrive" and reminiscent of some pop-punk hit, "Comin' Down" is another fast-paced cut.

Half-ballad, half-hard rock, "Rat Race" is a strong entry, in the vein of the album Charmed Life, while "Sherri", "Plastic Jesus" and "Romeo's Waiting" are typical radio-friendly Idol tunes. Strangely, one of Devil's Playground's highlights, the punk bravura single "Scream", which will make you scream while speeding on the 5 freeway toward downtown LA, precedes the weakest—and most ridiculous song here—"Yellin' at the Xmas tree"—think Blink 182 singing for a kindergarten audience with bells and idiotic lyrics.

After another set of engaging rock tracks, the classic "Body Snatcher" and Cyberpunk hybrid "Evil Eye", comes the real surprise of this album—even though a couple of guitar slides here and there discreetly anticipated it: Billy Idol turns country and folk on "Lady Do or Die", "Cherie" and the ambitious "Summer Running", which morphs into electro-hard for a brief moment.

While returning to Idol's formatted formula after the commercial failure of his previous concept adventure in electronica, Devil's Playground is a worthy comeback and his most musically varied album to date.

  Ed Dantes

     Billy Idol in Concert at The House of Blues, Anaheim


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