Extreme--Extreme (1989)
Rating--8.0
Teacher's Pet--RealAudio
Bursting onto the hard rock scene with enough flash and distortion to make people sit up and notice, Extreme shows
its first signs of true creativeness on this debut. Van Halen-esque in nature, but funkier---definitely
a style all its own. Nuno Bettencourt shows enough here to turn most heads, spewing chops and grooves in the vein of
a George Lynch or Vito Bratta (White Lion). However, he (like the band as a whole) ends up forging a distinct niche.
Not quite as creative as the
followup, but still sharp and biting. Strong songs with rolling beats---sit back and enjoy, and get primed for disc #2.
A number of highlights, including the cutting riffs of "Mutha" and "Flesh N' Blood". First track "Little Girls" shows what will be
the norm for the group: layered vocals in the choruses and verses, and sassy, note-instead-of-chord based guitar backbones.
Check out the slow but chunky groove to "Kid Ego," as well as the splendid riff/chug/stutter of "Teacher's Pet". When the drums
roll in... it's time to groove! The chorus, man---the chorus!! "Play With Me" closes things out in fast and fun fashion, and though there
are a few fillers along the way, this is a nice little ride.
TRACK LIST: Little Girls/Wind Me Up/Kid Ego/Watching, Waiting/Mutha (Don't Wanna Go To School Today)/Teacher's Pet/
Big Boys Don't Cry/Smoke Signals/Flesh N' Blood/Rock a Bye Bye/Play With Me
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