Top tracks — play these first
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Waking the Dead — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of resurrection and defiance, delivering anthemic choruses that resonate with the band's glam roots.
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OK, Let's Roll — This track showcases a driving rhythm and sharp lyrics that reflect a sense of urgency and rebellion, characteristic of the band's style.
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City of Angels — A standout for its melodic sensibility, this song captures the essence of Los Angeles nightlife while blending poignant lyrics with infectious guitar riffs.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases energetic hard rock with catchy hooks but lacks standout depth across its tracks.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks maintain a high-energy tempo with driving guitar riffs and anthemic choruses, establishing a strong opening.
- The fifth track, 'The Ballad', introduces a slower tempo and softer instrumentation, creating a contrast with the preceding songs.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that enhance the melodic hooks, particularly in the chorus sections.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo energy
- rebellious spirit and attitude
- engaging sing-along moments
- cathartic release with intensity
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- avoid cohesive listening experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2002, Waking the Dead marked L.A. Guns' sixth studio album and came during a period of lineup changes, featuring lead guitarist Tracii Guns reuniting with vocalist Phil Lewis after their earlier split. This album followed the band's resurgence in the late '90s, reflecting both a return to form and an attempt to capture contemporary rock audiences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Faster Pussycat· Poison· Skid Row
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Don't Look at Me That Way
The verse builds tension by directly confronting an unnamed antagonist, using vivid imagery to depict frustration and defiance.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Don't Look at Me That Way 4:00
- 2 OK, Let's Roll 3:54
- 3 Waking the Dead 3:23
- 4 Revolution 3:26
- 5 The Ballad 5:21
- 6 Frequency 4:38
- 7 Psycopathic Eyes 3:04
- 8 Hellraisers Ball 3:23
- 9 City of Angels 3:39
- 10 Don't You Cry 4:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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