Bulletboys – Rocked & Ripped (2011)
I have been a Bulletboys fan since their debut album. Anything that the band slaps their name on, I will probably buy. Call me a sucker if you will! Needless to say, the newly released Bulletboys new cover album, Rocked & Ripped by Cleopatra Records found its way into my possession. When I first read the description of the album, it mentioned cover songs and original tunes. I didn’t find any original tunes on Rocked & Ripped, other than the re-recorded version of “Smooth Up In Ya”.
The song selection on Rocked & Ripped is actually pretty good for a covers album. Bulletboys cover songs by Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Journey, Accept, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Styx, Led Zeppelin, The Scorpions, Elton John & More. Some of these songs have been around on previous Cleopatra/Deadline releases, and some of the songs were newly recorded by the Bulletboys lineup of Marq Torien, Lonnie Vencent, Greg Gatti, Don Bish, and Christ Turbis.
The problem with Rocked & Ripped is Marq Torien & company rarely improve upon the original tunes, nor do they put their own unique spin on them. It kind of sounds like a cover band, covering some of your favorite 80’s hard rock tunes. Marq can sing his ass off, and still sounds great in 2011, but his powerful voice is truly put to the test with this collection. He sounds great on some tunes, and just ok on others. Some of my favorites on Rocked & Ripped include the covers of Styx’s “Renegade”, The Scorpions “Falling In Love”, Pink’s “Fuckin’ Perfect” , Led Zeppelin’s “The Rover” and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab”.
I haven’t ever heard Pink’s “Fuckin’ Perfect” before, and quite honestly, I like the Bulletboys version better. If there was one song from Rocked & Ripped I would give repeated listens to, it would be this one. I never really cared for the Led Zep tune “The Rover” before, but I like the Bulletboys version found here. I have never listened to Amy Winehouse in my life, so I have never heard her song “Rehab” prior to this. (I went out to Youtube to check out her version). Once again, I like the Bulletboys version better. The re-recorded version of the Bulletboys biggest song “Smooth Up In Ya” does not live up to the original in my opinion.
If you are a diehard Bulletboys fan, you will probably want to pick this up. If not, you may want to save your cash for some of the bigger releases coming to stores in September 2011 (Anthrax, Chickenfoot, Alice Cooper, Sebastian Bach & House of Lords). Rocked & Ripped is an entertaining covers album, but I would rather listen to some new Bulletboys music, than these re-recorded hits.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Dr. Feelgood
2. Livin’ On A Prayer
3. Take Me Home Tonight
4. Faithfully
5. Balls To the Wall
6. Free Fallin’
7. Renegade
8. Falling In Love
9. Fuckin’ Perfect
10. The Rover
11. I’ll See You In My Dreams
12. Colder Weather
13. Rehab
14. Broken Wings
15. Tiny Dancer
16. Smooth Up In Ya (Re-Recorded)
Bulletboys are:
Marq Torien – Vocals, Guitars, Congos, Percussion
Lonnie Vencent – Bass
Greg Gatti – Guitar
Don Bish “Dish” – Drums
Christ Turbis – Keyboards
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Hard Rock Hideout 
I just listened 2 this shit on Spotify and laughed my ass off. Marq’s voice sounds like shit, no wonder this band didn’t have a long career. It’s a fkn karaoke CD w/ a bad singer! Great comedy.
Awesome record, great track selection, keep the dream alive… Mr Duke Box
I wish Marq would do the respectable thing and call it “The Marq Torien Band”, because it hasn’t been the Bulletboys since Za-Za.
I LOVED the Bulletboys – I mean, they were a force to be reckoned with. Obviously the first two albums are classics, but even songs like 1-800-GOODBYE. Are you kidding me? That was brilliant.
I wouldn’t buy another Bulletboys disc again, since half of the creative force has been gone for decades. These guys keep repackaging covers from other projects, or greatest hits, whatever. I know they gotta eat, but they’re souring their names.
Give me a new King Kobra disc any day over this weak attempt at making a few more bucks.
You know, its funny Frank, the songs I liked best in this compilation were the newer songs they covered that I have never heard before. Marq still has it….just listen to the songs he sings on the new George Lynch record. Too bad he can’t get the rest of the guys to pull it together.
Hey – I’m a big Marq fan. He reminds me of Sam Cooke. I think he’s amazing, but from what I’ve read (many times), he’s a bit self-destructive, like many musicians. Which is fine, when it’s controlled.
I saw him in the early 90’s at a small club (with the band minus Mick Sweda) and he was nothing short of phenomenal. Those wild screams and notes he hits? Yep – he pulls it off live. He’s a unique talent. BUT, you can only crank out generic discs so long and your fan base kinda gives up on you. I have, anyway.
Just being selfish (and unrealistic) – I want the good ‘ol Bulletboys I used to use as a soundtrack to my younger days. I know he has the pipes still, but he’s watering down his name by singing on every compilation and greatest hits out there. Think Jizzy Pearl.
I guess I’m just saying, if I had to choose, I’ll take Mick Sweda. He’s as identifiable as Marq, but is still playing the ‘good stuff’.