LITA FORD - Wicked Wonderland

Lita Ford – Wicked Wonderland 2009

I’ve long been a fan of Lita Ford, ever since her days in the Runaways. I’ve always been of the opinion that she was a rocker forced to be a pop diva by record companies. The pre-release hype on "Wicked Wonderland" was that it would be her hardest rockin’ CD ever. I anxiously waited to hear that one. Unfortunately, before the CD was even commercially available reviews began to pop up saying that this was the worst thing she had ever recorded. Hype doesn’t mean a whole lot, nor do professional reviewers. However, when even the fans began writing poor reviews on site like Amazon, I was very apprehensive. Well, a friend purchased a copy of "Wicked Wonderland" to hear with my own ears. The pre-release hype wasn’t actually wrong, this is the heaviest thing that Lita has ever recorded. Unfortunately I also think I agree with most of the fan reviews, though I also don’t think this thing is the travesty that many make it out to be.

"Wicked Wonderland" was co-produced by Lita and her husband Jim Gillette, of cult pop-metal band Nitro. According to Lita, the pair didn’t pay attention to any of the current music. Listening to this CD, I find that hard to believe. Musically the entire album has a slight nu-metal and industrial edge to it. There is very little here that resembles anything that Lita has done in the past. Lita experiments with various synth effects throughout "Wicked Wonderland". I’m sure the point was to create something new and different, but to me this has a lot in common with Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. There is nothing wrong with experimenting musically, but sometimes experiments fail. Some of these songs would have succeeded if not overshadowed by the computerized aspects and the very digital recording. None of the songs are really guitar driven as most of the times the guitar is used as just another effect in the song. "Sacred," which is essentially the most straightforward rock offering on the CD, beings with a bluesy slide and clean vocals. This ballad showcases the talent Lita has without excessive help from effects and modern production techniques.

Husband Jim Gillette shares vocal duties with Lita on just about every songs. Nothing wrong with that really, as I loved Gillette in Nitro. If there would have been some more straight forward hard rock and heavy metal presented here, I think Jim and Lita would have been a great tag team on vocals. Jim can shatter glass with his high falsetto vocals, which unfortunately he doesn’t really utilize here. Lita still sounds like Lita. Her voice has always been strong and sexy.

Another point about this CD is the lyrics. Lita is now in her 50’s, which is cool. I’m glad that so many rockers continue to record long after their popularity has waned. However, these lyrics are overtly sexual and are just not fitting whatsoever. In the past Lita has written lyrics that may have been sensual, but they weren’t the equivalent of adolescent porn. Lita is indeed a beautiful woman and I am sure many teens that grew up in the 80’s fantasized about Lita. However, why would a mature woman in her 50’s be singing lyrics like, "36" 24" 36" that's right. Long blonde hair and a body that's tight, Got my guitar, play it loud as hell. When the boys watch me play their private parts start to swell. (from "Piece") or "Golden dreams, sick sick sick, infatuation blood red lips, whips and chains, nice round hips, I show no mercy, but you love my tits..." (from "Crave").

Says Lita, “Everybody has their own Wicked Wonderland. It’s a place where you can do whatever you want and get as freaky as you feel. These songs are my version of that – they’re all about my life… well, the parts that happen when the kids are in bed and my husband and I get into the boudoir.”

Perhaps Lita is trying to pick up where she left off many years ago, or perhaps she is just living the image that she has upheld since the 80’s. Maybe my problem with the lyrics is more my problem than Lita’s, but regardless, I found the lyrics to be immature and sort of creepy.

Anyone looking for anything resembling Lita’s past is going to be greatly disappointed here. However, this isn’t the travesty that many are making it out to be. If disconnected from Lita’s past, it’s actually not a horrible album, but I am still waiting for that full throttle, straight forward hard rock/heavy metal album from Lita.

This album is a steaming pile of poop, hated hated hated it, the only thing worse than this album is if MetalRob ever releases his dream project of an album filled of his recordings of Adam Lambert cover tunes.

Quote :

According to Lita, the pair didn’t pay attention to any of the current music.

Quote :

Musically the entire album has a slight nu-metal and industrial edge to it.

Quote :

compete with the Korn’s of the world

That's true. They didn't pay attention to current music. They paid attention to the music scene of 1998.

I think they wanted to rival, The Bulletboys, in the lyrics department.

manny wrote:

This album is a steaming pile of poop, hated hated hated it, the only thing worse than this album is if MetalRob ever releases his dream project of an album filled of his recordings of Adam Lambert cover tunes.

You're being too kind, Scott. Haha. When Eyesore—you know, the dude that likes everything—thinks an album is a festering pile of doodoo, it is. Haha.

Actually, I think "Push" is a decent song, ignoring the lyrics and here ridiculous husband of course.

Even Eddie Trunk had to choose his words carefully when he gave his thoughts on this disc. And he's one of the biggest brown-nosers out there. He didin't say it was crap, but he defended Lita and Jim's decision to "make the album they wanted to make". You could tell though that he thought it was terrible too.

Eyesore wrote:

You're being too kind, Scott. Haha. When Eyesore—you know, the dude that likes everything—thinks an album is a festering pile of doodoo, it is. Haha.

Actually, I think "Push" is a decent song, ignoring the lyrics and here ridiculous husband of course.

LOL!!!! No one wants to hear lyrics about a 50 year old woman having S&M with her husband in the bedroom after the kids are asleep!!!!

thejokeriv wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

You're being too kind, Scott. Haha. When Eyesore—you know, the dude that likes everything—thinks an album is a festering pile of doodoo, it is. Haha.

Actually, I think "Push" is a decent song, ignoring the lyrics and here ridiculous husband of course.

LOL!!!! No one wants to hear lyrics about a 50 year old woman having S&M with her husband in the bedroom after the kids are asleep!!!!

So true!