๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ย ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐โฆ
28 years ago today, our souls were painted โBlack Foreverโ, but they were โStill Not Black Enoughโ!
On this day (June 19) in 1995, W.A.S.P. released their sixth full-length studio album โStill Not Black Enoughโ in the UK via Raw Power/Castle Records (first released on June 10, 1995 via Victor Records in Japan only). It was not released in the U.S. until August 1996 via Castle Records.
Background:
โStill Not Black Enoughโ was originally slated for release as a Blackie Lawless solo album, but due to the heavy content, Lawless changed his mind and decided to release it as a W.A.S.P. album. This had also been the case for the previous album, โThe Crimson Idolโ.
โStill Not Black Enoughโ is a collection of dark, introspective tunes that extended the โCrimson Idolโ mythology, and is considered somewhat of a successor to โThe Crimson Idolโ, bearing a strong resemblance with its lyrical themes. However, instead of telling the story of the fictional character, or rather than "hiding behind" the alter ego Jonathan Steele, Lawless spoke directly to the audience about his own feelings (as stated in the liner notes). The lyrics still explored similar topics to โThe Crimson Idolโ; being an outcast and a misfit, the pressures of fame and society, and the search for love. And, as it was mostly a collection of personal songs from Blackie Lawless, the lyrics also dealt with issues involving the death of his mother and personal crises just after the world tour for โThe Crimson Idolโ.
โStill Not Black Enoughโ also included cover songs as "bonus tracks". The initial European edition included a different track listing from the American version and a subsequent American re-issue featured yet a different track listing. No version to date includes all the various tracks on one disc.
One single was released for the album in the UK. It features the songs โBlack Foreverโโ and โGoodbye Americaโ.
A promotional music video was made for the song, โBlack Foreverโ.
Critical Reception:
โStill Not Black Enoughโ received what I would consider, unfair criticism from critics and some fans. Blackies desire to step out of his comfort zone even further than he had with songs like โForever Freeโโ from โThe Headless Childrenโ (1989) or โHold On to My Heartโ from โThe Crimson Idolโ (1992), proved that Lawless had much more to offer than just the raunchy bombast of his early years. I think the songs on the album were not only ambitious, but they were a success. The progression of the music, the different attitudes, the expression of emotion in each song made me feel something deep down. Whether it was anger or sadness, I felt like I could relate to the words and feel the rawness of those feelings in the music. And for me, that is a home run, right down centerfield. And, although I highly disagree with many of the negative reviews, I will share just one from the interweb merely for historical sake. โ E.N. Wells
In his review for AllMusic, Brian O'Neill writes; โStill Not Black Enoughโ is the second and last record employing well-traveled hired gun Bob Kulick while guitarist Chris Holmes was out of the fold. Between him and percussionist Frankie Banali, it's not surprising that this and the preceding โCrimson Idolโ seem more like Blackie Lawless solo discs, and his vision for the band took W.A.S.P. away from their shock rock foundation to a more thoughtful and nearly conceptual plateau. Unfortunately, the results are mixed. Tender balladry, such as the piano-led "Keep Holding On" and "I Can't," the latter with Lawless assuming a weak falsetto, confused and alienated fans. In spite of inspired musicianship and a few fist-pumping moments ("Goodbye America" and "Black Forever"), โStill Not Black Enoughโ implodes upon its own ambition, though the band's subsequent calculated return to blood-and-guts imagery helps one appreciate the effort if nothing else.โ
Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:
Click this link to listen to the โStill Not Black Enoughโ via Spotify: Still Not Black Enough https://open.spotify.com/album/7fmNtSwxqfY5Vlr3DhWmYn
Click this link to watch the official music video for โBlack Foreverโ: https://youtu.be/TZC-4VCGFZY
Click this link to follow W.A.S.P. Nation (Official) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/W.A.S.P.Nation
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. โ E.N. Wells
(Pictured are the US release of โStill Not Black Enoughโ and the UK single, โBlack Forever / Goodbye Americaโ)
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