Twisted Sister-Stay Hungry

Atlantic
1984

Here was a bar band who had been battling it out in New York clubs for years before getting signed to tiny Secrect records. Unfortunately they only released one album before the label folded. Yet just when they thought it might be over they got a deal with Atlantic records. Their 1983 album "You can't stop rock n' roll" gathered some interest and by 1984 they were primed to explode. With the help of Mtv and radio play, these guys would be on the verge or becoming huge by the end of 1984. It still seems odd that so many of us accepted these guys dressed in bright rags and wearing heavy make-up, but we did. Their talent level wasn't high and the writing was far from groundbreaking yet this album certainly had an impact on me. I remember scrawling TS symbols on all my book covers back in 84-85 and playing this cassette to death. I think this album benefited from the enthusiasm of the band and largely Dee Snider. The two big singles "We're not gonna take it' and "I wanna rock" were played to death, but I still enjoy them. Both were so basic yet that's the level they were appealing too. Kids like good, simple in your face rock songs now and then and these songs filled that gap. The title track is similar in approach, but not quite as accessible to the masses. "Burn in hell" was shocking to me when I was 14 and although the shock is long gone now, it's still a different song that works. Horror-Teria is a two part song that contains the somewhat creepy "Captain Howdy" and the more straight forward "Street Justice". "Don't let me down" would be my choice for most underrated track on the album as it plunges ahead and Dee's vocals are full of fire. "The Price" is an example of a good 80's ballad. It has the necessary emotion, but avoids being too sappy. "The Beast" is the one track that I have never really gotten into. "S.M.F" is one of those tracks that still gets me fired up every time it comes on. It's surprising how well this album has aged, but then again I always held it in high regard.