Sixx A.M., "The Heroin Diaries"

An overly melodramatic concept album from Motley Crue's bassist

By Kirk Miller, Metromix

August 21, 2007

Critic's Rating:
2

Sixx A.M., "The Heroin Diaries"
The Heroin Diaries
Release date:
August 21, 2007
Artist/Band name:
Sixx: A.M.
Record label:
Eleven Seven
Official Web Site:
http://www.sixxammusic.com/
Overall User Rating:
0 (0 ratings)
Write a review
Backstory: Ah, the heavy metal concept album. Fortunately, in the case of Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx, his foray into the theatrical comes with a healthy dose of street cred. "Diaries" is a soundtrack to the man's autobiography (out in Sept.) chronicling the ups and (frequent) downs of living the high life.

Why you should care: If pedestrian tales of bad girls, demons and home, sweet home turned you off to the Crue (not to mention Vince Neil's nasally whine, an admittedly acquired taste), then Sixx's heartfelt ruminations on his drug problems may be more your "speed" (heh). And Sixx A.M.'s singer, James Michael, has a surprisingly strong voice, alternating between sleazy (the Velvet Revolver-ish "Pray For Me"), brooding ("Van Nuys") and power ballad mastery (pretty much everything else).

Verdict: For all its strengths, "Heroin Diaries" too often sounds like a collection of Nickelback outtakes—undeniably commercial, but overtly melodramatic and lyrically barren. If "you can't live until you die/you can't breathe until you choke" is the only lesson Sixx learned from his drug-addled days, then a new stint in rehab may be in order.

X-Factor: In 1987, Sixx actually OD'd to the point of being declared clinically dead. He was revived by paramedics with an adrenaline shot. It was the second time that year he had overdosed.