Throwback Thursday: The Spaghetti Incident?, by Guns N' Roses

After the gigantic world tour that Guns N' Roses did to support the Use Your Illusion albums from 1991-1993 they still wanted to put out a follow-up album but at the same time have it be something that was more along the lines of being just for fun rather than a big artistic statement that involved a lot of time, money, and energy. The result: a punk rock covers album titled The Spaghetti Incident? which was released in 1993.

The Spaghetti Incident? takes a lot of classic punk songs from Iggy and the Stooges, Steve Jones, The Misfits, The Damned, The New York Dolls, and other bands and artists that had an influence on the band but then gives them the GN'R treatment in order to pay faithful homage while at the same time doing something entirely new and unique with them. There is definitely a gigantic surge of fresh energy and life pulsing through each and every last song on the album.

Since I Don't Have You was the main single of The Spaghetti Incident? and is a cover of The Skyliners, a 50's vocal pop group. Personally I never would have imagined Guns N' Roses doing a doowop song. That said, though the GN'R version definitely has a heavier and darker vibe to it, it still somehow manages to maintain the same level of charm as the original. Quite frankly I find that astonishing. It's still a good tune to sway and dance to for sure.

Raw Power, a cover of Iggy and the Stooges has to be one of my absolute favorites from this album though because they took a tune that was already a punk classic and somehow managed to put it into further overdrive. They upped the tempo, added more punch into the guitars, and yet still kept that classic piano riff as the center focus of the song aside from the rude, down, dirty, and nasty vocals. Definitely a pedal to the metal, get your blood pumping kind of song.

The Spaghetti Incident? definitely isn't for everyone, but if you like punk rock and are curious about hearing different takes on classic tunes or want to hear what kinds of bands influenced Guns N' Roses then this might be up your alley. Regardless, I still think it is a pretty solid record through and through. I wouldn't by any means recommend this to someone looking to get into GN'R to start off with, but it has its place on the shelf with the rest of the discography.

The Spaghetti Incident?, by Guns N' Roses receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Since I Don't Have You
2. New Rose
3. Down on the Farm
4. Human Being
5. Raw Power
6. Ain't It Fun
7. Buick Makane (Big Dumb Sex)
8. Hair of the Dog
9. Attitude
10. Black Leather
11. You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory
12. I Don't Care About You
13. Look at Your Game, Girl (hidden bonus track)

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Spaghetti-Incident-Explicit-Guns-Roses/dp/B00MIB11VQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504248494&sr=8-1&keywords=the+spaghetti+incident