I don't know if we're supposed to stick to recently released albums, but kosher or not, I'm dropping a retro review.

Let me start off with this, I always have two cd's in my car, one (time through the album) and done is my policy. Keeps the music fresh, and makes me listen to some older stuff. In fact, I try to keep the rotation as one old (which I consider to be pre-1990) and one new.

At the start of this past weekend, I pulled The Cult's Electric out of hibernation. Everyone seems to have a favorite 'era' for The Cult. Some like the Sonic Temple era, some like the earlier Love disc. Me, I like 'em all, except for the majority of Ceremony, which bogs down in points. I even enjoy the odd self-titled album from the early '90s and the recent Beyond Good & Evil. However, I think I may have rediscovered what is undoubtedly one of the most undervalued and unappreciated albums of the 1980's.

Put aside the obvious AC/DC posturing and Jim Morrison channeling, Electric is pure rock and roll. Drums, bass, rhythm and lead guitar, vocals and the occasional tamborine - stripped down to the most raw of rock elements. From the opening riff of Wild Flower, you had to of known the the Love-era Cult was long gone. No delay or chorus pedals, the guitars are distorted bliss. Every song unfolds with anthems based on riff after riff supplied by the incomprable Billy Duffy. There are very few guitar players who have evolved their style from album to album as much as Mr. Duffy and kept it fresh and interesting.

The same goes for Ian Astbury, only instead of riffing on the guitar, Ian did with his often-imitated wail. On Electric, Ian seethes with energy and accusation, like on Peace Dog when he sings, "B52 baby way up in the sky/come drop your lovin' on me child," or in King Contrary Man with, "Zany antics of a beat generation/in their wild search for kicks/fighting drinking scorning convention." Yes, this album has all the Astbury-ism we love, droppin' 'shakes' and 'childs' left and right.

Two notes on this album - #1 I always skip the Born To Be Wild cover. I pretend like it doesn't exist, makes life better that way. #2 The number of big name people credited on this album is amazing - Rick Rubin is the Producer, Andy Wallace is the Engineer and Mixer, and George Drakoulias is the Assistant Producer. All of these guys are heavy weights in their own right now, amazing to think what the creative energy was like making this album.

That's it. If you feel like listening to some straight-up, unpretenious rock, dust off or pick up The Cult's Electric, you won't be sorry.

i'm with you, electric's the shit.