"Decadence Dance"
Here's something fun: while poking around trying to find and decide upon a song from Extreme to post for today, I discovered that, in 2015, they released a Deluxe Edition of their 1990 album Pornograffiti—in addition to different versions of several album tracks, it also contains two songs that I had never heard before. More songs from one of my favorite bands? Yes, please! Thanks Rocktober!
I love Extreme. Like everyone else, my awareness of them largely began with "More Than Words," but when I bought the CD and popped it in my player, I was greeted with this. Nuno Bettencourt could shred, man (I assume he still can—among other things, he now tours with Rihanna). I offer them as sort of a counterpoint to Queensryche, as they managed to be more lyrically playful and topically deeper than other bands but without it bringing down their tone. This album just sounds like a goddamned party, and I love it so much. It came out just after I turned thirteen, and although I've never been a good singer, one of my favorite things was to sing along with "When I First Kissed You" (a pastiche of Sinatra-type piano/crooner songs from the past) with my ever-deepening voice.
They were also a great example of a band who wasn't afraid to evolve. Their next album, III Sides to Every Story...I don't even know how to explain it. It's rock, it's introspective, it's orchestral. It's totally different from anything else from the era, and it's great. They've been all over the place since then, with Nuno having an interesting career and Gary Cherone briefly taking over as the singer for Van Halen (which I never really checked out, but now, having reminded myself that it happened, I will be sure to do so). Wikipedia says a new album may be forthcoming. I have no idea how true that may be, so I'm not getting my hopes up, but if it crosses my path I will listen with great interest.
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