Billy Idol - Devil's Playground

Yum. That's the word that sprang to my lips as I gazed upon the black-and-white cover photo of Devil's Playground. Leather-clad from head to toe, a heavy silver chain hanging from his waist, and his face in his trademark scowl, Idol looks older but not necessarily wiser. His intricately-defined torso, highly visible beneath his open jacket, draws the eye downward past his navel to uh - let's just say that any self-respecting hetero woman's fingers itch to tug on those laces, okay?

Unfortunately, I really wanted to like this CD, which potentially wedged me between the proverbial rock and hard place. If it failed to meet my expectations, I would be left with two courses of action, both equally painful. 1. I could lie or 2. I could be sheepishly candid.

Thankfully, Devil's Playground spared me that tragically uncomfortable feat.

"Scream", the album's first single, and "Evil Eye" have a certain Jim Morrison aura, especially in the blatant sexual overtones and "Break On Through" howls near the end of the former, and the "Riders On The Storm" first verse of the latter. "Lady Do or Die" conjures Johnny Cash while the closing tune "Yelling at the Christmas Tree" is immediately reminiscent of The Kinks' "Father Christmas".

Track five, a languorous tune that conjures the feeling of acceleration in a 1970's American steel sedan with the maneuverability of a tank and an engine to match, the road flanked by fields of dirt, dust rising around the vehicle and choking the life out any remaining insects, "Plastic Jesus" personifies Idol completely. With lyrics such as "I can let all my curses roll. 'Cause Jesus' Plastico doesn't hear, 'cause he has a plastic ear. The man who invented plastic saved my soul," it is at once honest and ironic; punk for the more discerning ear. Obviously not the typical fare of "Romeo's Bleeding" (one of my faves) with the lyric "If I touch you there, would you be liberated?" it's a glimpse into the man's deeper values, proving that one of rock's original bad boys has a brain too.

It's been a decade since Idol's last original album and the question on so many lips is "Was it worth the wait?" Contemporary and still genuine Idol, my answer is a resounding YES.

www.billyidol.com