Prophets of Addiction Album Review

By Boris Lee

The Los Angeles music scene is arguably the richest in modern American music history. Venues like the Viper Room and Whisky a Go Go, are famous for being the breakthrough starting points for bands like The Doors, Mötley Crüe, and Guns N Roses, among others. The life of a musician in the Los Angeles music scene is one of dedication and addiction. Dedication and addiction to their music achieving a success worth the struggle they go through to entertain strangers by sharing their heart via song. Dedication and addiction to the parties lined with women, alcohol and drugs. These rewards are a devilish pay off for the musician’s hard work. If anyone is honest with themselves about what transpires in the music scene, it’s a world of equal parts elation and depression. It’s equal parts beauty and beast. The stories created living amongst such a beautiful beast are endless.

Nothing But The Truth, the unplugged style offering from Prophets of Addiction, is a feel-good story teller born from living the life of a Hollywood musician. Lesli Sanders and Glenn Gilbert do a good job presenting music with meaning that hits home with others who lived the Hollywood musician’s life. Sanders has walked among the Gods of the Sunset Strip, and his storied history makes for great story telling music.

American Dream- The opening track to the album is heartfelt trip down memory lane, offering Sander’s feelings on what was, and now is, with his music. The melody to the song is catchy and pleasant, with great simple and clean tonality. Sanders lyrics tell it all. The memories of what once was are strong. The song sends a message that things are just as great now as they were then. It’s all about the heart of the music still beating.

Atmosphere, the first of two songs I consider the best offerings on the album, has a timeless feeling to the melody and lyrics. The song also presents Sanders’s best vocals on the record. The song is a good reflection on what personalities are like in the Hollywood music scene. Depending on the perspective of the lyrics’ meaning, the song does a good job painting a picture of a troubled soul going through deep self-reflection. Whatever the case, the song is well written, deserving of commercial radio play and success. Today, or thirty years ago.

Last of the Words is not last for having a catchy vibe, good guitar work, nice piano fills, and timeless story teller feel. That’s why I consider it the second offering for best tune on the album. This song should be the anthem for the starving artist, still chasing their dreams.

Talkin’, has a G-N-R Lies tone, presenting some diversity from Sanders and Gilbert, as they do well in mixing acoustic rhythms with clean electric guitar sounds. The story behind the song reminds me of just about every failed discussion I have had with my ex.

I am not a fan of “Unplugged” albums. It’s not my cup of tea. Never has been. Though I like acoustic music, I am not a big enough fan for having a desire to listen to an acoustic style album over and over. That said, Prophets of Addiction made me a fan of this album. Some songs are better than others. However, the overall presentation and feeling to the music hits a home run. Nothing but the Truth is exactly that. It’s a Prophets of Addiction album that tells the story of what it’s like to be a one with the dedication and addiction that creates a Rock N Roll shooting star.

You can check out the Prophets of Addiction website or their label HighVolMusic for more on the band.

Click HERE for more bands from HighVol Music.