BEAUTIFUL
CREATURES
Beautiful Creatures (Warner
Brothers) 2001
1. "1 AM" (3:25)
2. "Wasted" (3:29)
3. "Step Back" (3:20)
4. "Ride" (3:11)
5. "Wish" (4:24)
6. "Kick Out" (3:35)
7. "Blacklist" (3:41)
8. "Kickin for Days" (4:48)
9. "Time and Time Again" (4:13)
10. "Goin Off" (3:44)
11. "New Orleans" (4:01)
12. "I Got It All" (2:44)
Beautiful Creatures is a new band led by former Bang Tango frontman Joe Leste, I didn't think new bands existed with this sound in the "new millenium." 2001 and Beautiful Creatures is rocking hard with a sound similar Guns 'N Roses, Faster Pussycat and even some Skid Row, although with a slightly more modern touch. Despite using the word 'modern', Beautiful Creatures don't forsake melody, memorable hooks and guitar solos as most of the modern hard bands do. What strikes me as more modern is the almost punk like delivery and the raw productions. Also, Bassist Kenny Kweens tacktfully employs five-string lower register bass riffs, that is pretty uncommon in the Aerosmith inspired metal that was popular in the late 1980's. Basically, Beautiful Creatures are a modern heavy metal band! So I suppose that this will make them unpopular with a crowd that seems to think that lack of skill is cooler than being able to master your instrument. Regardless, Beautiful Creatures bring the fun back into hard rock. Here's hoping that more bands like this will begin popping up on major labels, delivering melody, skillful songwriting and good time rock 'n' roll.
Beautiful Creatures - Duece (Spitfire) 2005
1. "Anyone" (2:40)
2. "Freedom" (2:56)
3. "Unforgiven" (3:53)
4. "Save Me" (3:28)
5. "Superfly" (2:47)
6. "Empty" (3:37)
7. "Never" (2:29)
8. "Straight To Hell" (2:48)
9. "The Unknown" (:42)
10. "Ton Of Lead" (5:30)
11. "Brand New Day" (3:10)
12. "Thanks" (3:32)
13. "Untitled" (:17)
13. "I Won't Be The One" (3:32)
I am not a fan of much modern rock and metal, but there is something about this band that just works for me. I've heard Beautiful Creatures compared to Audioslave and Velvet Revolver, and perhaps those musical comparisons are accurate, but Beautiful Creatures is hairier and has a whole lot more balls than those bands! This is not radio-oriented rock. It's not down in the dumps, sad and lonely, depressed modern rock. "Duece" rocks hard and mean. Actually, I would describe BC as good solid heavy sleaze metal with a punk attitude! I also think that Beautiful Creatures has an attitude that many modern bands don't possess. They somehow remember that rock 'n roll doesn't have to be constant complaints. BC have brought the fun into modern rock. If there were more modern rock bands like this, I'd probably be a fan. Another reason I like this band so much is the vocals. Joe Leste has that same whiskey soaked, gritty, street vocals that remind me of a combination of Axl Rose and Lemmy. If I had to pick a favorite between "Duece" and the debut, I'd probably go with the debut, but "Duece" isn't far off.