I was expecting Hanoi Rocks 'Street Poetry' album to be good and was actually taken aback by exactly how good it is. Released on the 3rd September, and with the band touring the UK in November, this CD is Hanoi Rocks third full release since original duo of Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy put together a new line up in 2001.

Now augmented by ex-Electric Boys Connie Bloom (guitar) and Andy 'A.C' Christell (bass), along side long-time drummer Lacu, the band have made an album that can truly be described as the natural successor to their 1984 album 'Two Steps From The Move'.

Starting with opening track 'Hypermobile' we get 13 tracks of energetic rock, which ends with the manic instrumental 'Fumblefoot and Busy Bee' and includes highlights 'Street Poetry', 'Tootin' Star' and singles 'This One's For Rock n Roll' and 'Fashion' (which includes the line 'I'm into fashion ‘cos of you'- ironic when you consider the bands that ripped off Hanoi's image and went on to great success- e.g Guns N Roses, Poison etc).

With the bands current momentum it would be great to see this line up continue to record and tour for a good while to come.

*****

Review by Nikk Gunns