Devil's Playground

Those rankled by the seeming cynicism of Billy Idol willfully re-embracing the vintage, hit-making sonic cliches of "Dancing With Myself" and Rebel Yell should look on the bright side: It could have been Flock of Seagulls instead. Stepping back into the spotlight with veteran guitarist Steve Stevens and producer Keith Forsey (key architects of Idol's career-making hits) again in the fold, the now 50-something Rock of the '80s icon offers up a slate of fist-pumping, not-so-new wave here that manages to echo the original's sound and fury--and more than a few of its faux rock rebellion cliches. With a voice that no longer particularly strains to sound like nine yards of beef gristle, Idol gnaws and gnashes his way through rawk-hard anthems like "Scream" with improbable conviction, abetted as on "Rat Race" and "Super Overdrive" by the familiar, careening metallic fretwork of Stevens. A left-field cover of the goofy trucker's lament "Plastic Jesus" argues the lads are still all-too-human, yet "Lady Do or Die" proves there's still a little seductive purr lurking 'round the Idol tonsils, with Stevens gratifyingly making more like Brian Setzer than hair-band Hercules in the bargain. --Jerry McCulley