MOTLEY CRUE 'Carnival of Sins Live’ RATING: 8/10

By GREG MAKI

What an odd pair of discs this is. After one of the most successful tours of 2005 and a DVD documenting one of the shows released last fall, Mötley Crüe snuck out these two CDs last month as Wal-Mart exclusives. It is essentially the audio from the Carnival of Sins Live DVD, minus the solos by drummer Tommy Lee and bassist Nikki Sixx, and because it’s Wal-Mart (where you can buy a gun but not hear someone say “fuck” in a song), without much of frontman Vince Neil’s expletive-laden between-song banter.

The bigger omission, obviously, is on the visual side. The lack of scantily-clad, acrobatic dancers and fire-breathing midgets, however, allows the listener to focus completely on the songs. Luckily, this is a band that sounds better now, 25 years after its inception, than it ever has. From Lee’s rock-solid foundation to Sixx’s rumbling basslines to Mick Mars’ grooving riffs and solos to Neil’s surprisingly strong vocals, the Crüe is a rock n’ roll machine. To many, they may be the quintessential 80s hard rock band, but their songs have stood the test of time, sounding as vibrant as ever.

Of the two discs, Volume 1 is the clear standout, as it includes mostly songs from the Crüe’s essential first two albums, Too Fast For Love and Shout at the Devil. Highlights are the seldom-played (before the reunion) “On With the Show” and “Louder Than Hell,” a hidden gem from the much-maligned Theatre of Pain album. The set features all the hits we’ve heard a thousand times before, including “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Wild Side,” “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away),” “Home Sweet Home,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Same Ol’ Situation” and “Kickstart My Heart.” Two of the new tracks recorded for last year’s Red, White & Crüe compilation are featured, the hit single “If I Die Tomorrow” and “Sick Love Song,” the best pure Mötley tune since “Primal Scream” back in 1991.

Of course, we all know a Crüe concert is about a lot more than the music. Since you have the option, I suggest picking up the DVD over these discs (you can get them for roughly the same price). If you’re a Mötley completist (like me), you’ll want the CDs. You won’t be disappointed.