Dead Boys

Though marred by some energy-diffusing production, the songs on the Dead Boys' second album hold up. Stiv Bators aptly proved himself to be a great vocalist in grand tradition of all those are defiantly messed up. The group tears through tracks like "3rd Generation Nation" with visceral power and then slows it down for the apocryphal, Peter Laughner-penned, "Ain't It Fun."

Because they're lovable little scumbags deep down, and sincere to boot, Hilly's punk purists have dropped the heavy misogyny and recorded five cuts that laid end to end would make a listenable side. But not even the rousing "3rd Generation Nation" has the power of sexist spew like "I Need Lunch" and "Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth." Makes you wonder what 3rd generation nihilists believe deep down. (Grade - B-)