SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MOTÖRHEAD – ANOTHER PERFECT DAY (40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

MOTÖRHEAD
ANOTHER PERFECT DAY (40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
SANCTUARY RECORDS/BMG

It is very hard to believe that it has been nearly eight years since the world lost Lemmy Kilmister. He was larger than life and one of the most colourful performers in rock ‘n’ roll history. And here we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Motörhead’s classic Another Perfect Day, one of their most successful albums in North America. Another Perfect Day was Motörhead’s sixth studio album, following Lemmy’s departure from Hawkwind. The album is also the only studio album to feature former Thin Lizzy member Brian ‘Robo’ Robertson on guitar. When one thinks of Motörhead, the recruitment of a former Thin Lizzy member made total sense, and for this album it certainly did work.

Fans of Motörhead will already own this classic album. From the opening chatter of “Back At The Funny Farm” to the bass and guitar duo of the opening, the album is relentless. There are no power ballads on this album. This is hard rock, or heavy metal, or whatever term you choose. These three guys, including Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor on drums, rock until your ears bleed. This is no joke, these guys take the genre seriously and produced a top-notch album full of guitar-driven, pounding rock. The combination of Lemmy on bass and Taylor on drums is unbearable.

What makes this new re-release interesting is the addition of a never before released concert and some very cool demos. When listening to the them, one can hear how the songs have been worked out and are very close to the finished song, especially “Shine”. This band clearly had an idea as to how it was to sound, and they achieved it. It is interesting to hear the song progress. Often the finished song is much harder than the demo, especially with one like “One Track Mind”.

The addition of the concert is quite welcomed as well. Having seen Motörhead in concert, their live performance was always at 11, and they gave 110 percent. This may not translate well onto a tape, but the Live At Hull City Hall, June 3, 1983, does give an indication of what this band was like in concert. There is no “Ace Of Spades” but “Iron Horse/Born To Lose” certainly sounds great. The live album is well-recorded and sounds fantastic. Fans will enjoy the addition of non-album B-sides which include some live recordings (such as “(Don’t Need) Religion” and “Hoochie Coochie Man”) and the studio recording “Turn You Round Again”, which was criminally left off the album.

Motörhead is a band that deserves a great deal of respect and this package goes some distance as to explain why. Fans can argue, but for my money, Another Perfect Day is one of their strongest releases. It is a shame they only did one album with this line-up, but one is better than none. Fans will love this and the set may win over some new fans to Motörhead. Turn it up, I mean way up, and enjoy!

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