Skid Row distinguished themselves from the legions of pop-metal bands of the late '80s and early '90s chiefly by their attitude, which was closer to Guns N' Roses than to Bon Jovi. They're also distinctive these days, mainly because they're still around.
Although their debut is the most radio-friendly and least musically mature of their albums, it does have some excellent songs on it, including the slow but edgy "18 and Life" and the anthem (every metal album must have one) "Youth Gone Wild." Musical talent and vocalist Sebastian Bach's over-the-top delivery made this band stand out from the crowd.
The album, released in January 1989, was an instant success. It went 5x platinum-selling on the strength of the Top 10 singles "18 and Life" and "I Remember You."
Track Listing:
Big Guns
Sweet Little Sister
Can't Stand the Heartache
Piece of Me
18 and Life
Rattlesnake Shake
Youth Gone Wild
Here I Am
Makin' a Mess
I Remember You
Midnight / Tornado