Recorded 1990 Artist Extreme Label A&M Records | Length 64:30 Release date 7 August 1990 | |
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Released August 7, 1990 (1990-08-07) Studio Scream Studios, Studio City, Los Angeles, California Producer Michael Wagener, except "When I First Kissed You" & "Hole Hearted", produced by Nuno Bettencourt Pornograffitti
(1990) III Sides to Every Story
(1992) Genres Heavy metal, Hard rock, Funk metal, Glam metal Similar Extreme albums, Heavy metal albums | ||
Extreme II: Pornograffitti (A Funked Up Fairy Tale) is the second album released by the Boston rock band Extreme. The title is a portmanteau of pornography and graffiti.
Contents
- Extreme ii pornograffitti full album
- Musical style
- Thematic content
- Production and marketing
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
The album sold very well, peaking at #10 on the Billboard 200, and was certified double platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA. It is the band's best selling album. Two singles from Pornograffiti, "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted", reached the top-5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two other tracks, "Decadence Dance" and "Get the Funk Out", reached the lower half of Billboard's rock chart.
In 2010, after the band's reunion in the previous years, rumours started about possible commemorative shows given the 20th anniversary of the record. In 2012, a small string of such shows in Japan was announced. In January 2014, the band confirmed they would be performing Pornograffiti in its entirety on their 2014 Europe and UK tour.
Extreme ii pornograffitti full album
Musical style
Musically, Pornograffitti is dominated by hard rock guitar riffs, often with funky, syncopated timing, and fast soloing. "More Than Words", a gentle acoustic ballad, and "Hole Hearted", an acoustic folk song, were perhaps the least representative tracks on the album, both in terms of their musical style and thematic tone.
The album garnered admiration for lead guitarist Nuno Bettencourt from rock guitar enthusiasts. Bettencourt was voted "Best New Talent" in a 1991 readers' poll by Guitar World magazine, and that magazine later named him "Most Valuable Player" of 1991. The album also gained continual exposure in other guitar playing publications such as Guitar School.
Thematic content
The album is a concept album in which many of the songs explore themes of sex, money and excess is viewed, exploited, and trivialized in American culture, though the album's two biggest hit songs ("More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted") deal more generally with the topics of love and relationships. Broader themes hint at the decadence of modern American society in general.
Production and marketing
Pornograffitti was recorded and mixed at Scream Studios, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, with producer Michael Wagener.
Track listing
All tracks written by Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt.
Personnel
Songs
1Decadence Dance
2Li'l Jack Horny4:52
3When I'm President4:22