Review by Josh Felty
Rating: ****
You were probably as surprised as I was when Poison's frontman and Rock of Love icon Bret Michaels had a close call with death via brain stem hemorrhage in April. I recall reading an interview he did with some magazine (People maybe?) after his close brush with mortality and how fortunate he felt to be able to see his children and loved ones again.
Let's face it, Michaels has always lived in the shadow of Poison's rise and fall during the hair metal days. With his solo recording, Custom Built, he's definitely opened a new chapter on a newly leased life.
Custom Built is what you would come to expect from the singer: "Wasted Years" plays like a ballad from 1987, beautifully so. The tracks "Nothing to Lose" and "Riding Against the Wind" speak volumes of the love Bret has for his family and friends, and the juxtaposition of living and losing. I wasn't too impressed with Miley Cyrus's guest appearance on "Nothing to Lose"; not that I am a devout Miley fan in the first place. Her echoing of the lyrics were nothing particularly special. Perhaps it would have been better as a true duet? He sings a verse, then she sings a verse--I don't know. That's just me.
The country-fried rendition of "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", featuring some of 3 Doors Down's personnel, is an interesting addition that doesn't really diverge from its source all that much. Just some wavering pedal steel and fiddle in there. The industrialized "Go That Far" (remixed by Godhead's Jason Miller, no less) is a wild ditty; the wah-smothered "Driven" equally so, with some down 'n dirty subject matter. "Open Road" again takes us down a modern country sort of path, still yet a powerful ballad, mandolin and all. There's the addition of a banjo and hardcore slide guitar in "Rockin' My Country" that blurs the lines between country and rock. "I'd Die For You" rounds out the album with some classic talkbox action and power ballad greatness that will have lighter-wavers and headbangers both in tears.
I have to commend Bret Michaels for recording this record--it's just enough of a reminder of his importance as a rock artist to not really overplay the 80's rock sound. He's actually got the cajones to push forward and try some new sounds, which can't really be said of some of his contemporaries. Yes, Jon Bon Jovi, I'm referring to you. On the other hand, his brief foray into country music (which in its modern form owes more to Michaels than Haggard and Jones) is quite a conundrum. I think he'd honestly rock harder as a country artist by doing an entire record of ballads. That's not a detractor to this guy, especially after all he's been through this year--I honestly think he could kick Brad Paisley's ass as a country music songwriter.
And probably should.
I gave this four stars instead of the three I was gonna shove its way because (a) Michaels had a close call this year and deserves some degree of admiration for putting things in perspective lyrically and (b) due to the fact that Custom Built is a well-written, well-recorded collection of songs that demonstrate Michaels' strengths as a singer/songwriter. Is he the next Bobby Dylan? Probably not. But he's still got what it takes to make some great music nevertheless.
On a side note, I find it hilarious that he cut a second version of the overdub with Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus/What's Her Name without her, as though he sat back and thought, "It sounds just as good without her."
My apologies, Miss Cyrus. I know you're famous and all, but couldn't you have just sat this one out entirely?
Apparently, she did.