ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 320 EXTREME - EXTREME II: PORNOGRAFFITTI (1990)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it) unless otherwise noted.

I really enjoyed the music of the 80's, so let's look at an album that was released in 1990.  After all, 1990 is practically the late 80's.  Anyway, your Album of the Week is Extreme II: Pornograffiti.  You may or may not remember the album, but if you were old enough to listen to the radio and to watch MTV back then, I'd be willing to bet that you remember at least one of the songs from the album.  

Let's see:

• Pornograffitti is the best selling album released by Extreme, going 2 X Platinum and topping out at number 10.
• The band scored a number one hit with the previously alluded to More Than Words and also had a Top 5 hit with the follow-up Hole Hearted (number 4).
• The album is loosely themed around sex, money and excess and their exploitation.  
• Pornograffiti really put Nuno Bettencourt on the map.  
• It's absolutely hard rock with a bit of funk as well.
• A deluxe version with a second disc of alternate mixes and edits was released in 2015.
• Both Pat Travers and Dweezil Zappa make brief appearances.
• The song Hole Hearted does not appear on the Vinyl album.

So what do you say?  Are you a fan?  I wasn't back then.  I didn't buy the album until a few years back.  I do like Extreme, but I honestly don't listen to them very often.  But Cherone is a good vocalist and I have enjoyed his work of late in Hurtsmile.  And of course, Nuno is a fine guitarist.  What say you?

1. Decadence Dance

2. Lil' Jack Horny

3. When I'm President

4. Get The Funk Out

5. More Than Words

6. Money (In God We Trust)

7. It ('s A Monster)

8. Pornograffitti

9. When I First Kissed You

10. Suzi (Wants Her All Day What?)

11. He-Man Woman Hater

12. Song For Love

13. Hole Hearted

[Scott]

I first caught onto this band with the two radio hits from this album, but it was  III Sides To Every Story that I really liked...

[Niels (Mod)]

You and me both.

[Niels (Mod)]

At the time, this album was released, I was sooooo tired of "Heavy Metal", so I didn't buy it at first.

Then "More Than Words" was played over and over on the radio and on MTV, and even though it was good, I never thought I would buy the album.

But a friend of mine did, and I did hear it now and then.

Then Mercury died, and Extreme played an awesome tribute-"concert" on the "concert for freddie" or whatever the heck it was called. It made me interested in their coming album, which I think was released in the fall of 1991? 

I looooooooved that album for years to come, well at least until I bought my first Grunge-album in 1992?! Damn, I'm getting old, I can't remember the years anymore. Nevermind. (Not the album ;-))

Therefore, I also bought this album in 1992, I think, and repeating listenings only made it better. I do think, I skipped "More Than words" a couple of times, though.

I saw Extreme live in 1992, November as far as I recall. special thing about that concert was, that I got the ticket for free, and that when I saw Extreme live, it probably was the beginning of the end, because they made all the "Spinal Tap"-moves on stage, and I was sick of it by then.

I love the song "He-Man Woman Hater". Awesome riff, and a SEXY voice from the girl.

I don't really listen to this or the following album anymore, but at the time, they were great albums, and I've always felt, that Extreme was 2 years too late, otherwise they had become much bigger. 

The album that followed "3 sides.." was a total dissapointment, and I never bought another Extreme-album.

Sometimes, funk suit rock just fine. But only sometimes.

For a couple of years, Nuno was only third to Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads to me.

[Jon]

The first time I heard of Extreme was when "Kid Ego" from their debut was getting a lot of airplay so I got the album and really like it. I think Rolling Stone gave it a middling review, but they know nothing.

I believe the first song that was released as a single from this album was "Get The Funk Out" or it was the one that was pushed on radio, but it didn't go over very well with the aforementioned unwashed masses, but I thought it was righteously cool so I got the album when it came out.  I believe I was one of the few that owned this album until THAT SONG was released and the album went bonkers crazy. Then THAT SONG was played and played and played but I never got tired of it or this album. 

I played this album quite a bit back then because it sounded so good. Great production. Still have the cassette, the CD was stolen from me. Have both the regular edition and the deeeluxe in my collection.

This album is also quite funny. At least to me. 

When "III SIdes...." came out, I was hanging around with a band (name withheld) and we couldn't get enough of that "third side", played it after every show for awhile.

Now comes a problem......if I followed my plan, someone would bitch about collusion. 

So.....thanks for posting this album this week? 

No mention of the horns? C'MON!!!!

[Scott]

Collusion?  Theres never been any of that on here...  at least not to my knowledge.

[Jon]

Yeah, well.....

I might have to do something that will please someone (you know, out of my tens of followers) and I'm not someone that tries to please someone. I still have a few hours to think about it, so at least I have that going for me.

[Scott]

you have tens of followers?  How'd you do it?  Whats your secret!

[Jon]

$$$$

[Scott]

This album has made an appearance on a very old SHT playlist, maybe you recall the one titled Funkification (I'm sure Jon recalls this one), I knew y'all else would.  

Still, this was a band I didn't buy into mostly because of More Than Words, its not my favorite.  It took their next album to peek my curiosity enough to go back buy into them, and I did.  Hole Hearted is a really very nicely done tune, its very catchy.  But its Nuno's guitar work and the bass lines that really drive this album.  Its all very good, except for More Than Words, it still feels overplayed...  But then thats it, 3 albums and done!  And then Van Halen III and truly done!!

THose first three are way good though!  Nice post sir!

[Jon]

Hello, McFly?

What about the fourth album? And then the fifth?

[RJhog (Admin)]

I was gonna say something, but I didn't have to because I knew you would.  Cause I know stuff.

[Scott]

I know theres more, what I meant was ... for me Extreme are the first 3 albums and then *poof* they were done for me...