“As elder statesmen of hair metal, Mötley Crüe’s first full album with its original lineup in more than a decade could have been a sedate affair engineered to appeal to the 30- and 40-somethings who worshipped the band when it ruled the Sunset Strip. Instead, all guns are blazing on this ballad-free ninth album. The band’s signature blues/punk/ glam blend remains intact, but the act sounds hungrier than it has since 1989’s “Dr. Feelgood.” Lyrically, the set serves as a soundtrack to autobiography “The Dirt,” with songs like “What’s It Gonna Take” and “Down at the Whiskey” chronicling Mötley’s rise to the top and “Welcome to the Machine” voicing frustration once there. While not every song is a winner, the title track and sleaze anthem “This Ain’t a Love Song” are standouts. —Bram Teitelman”
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