Pornograffitti

This article is about the album by Extreme. For the Japanese rock band, see Porno Graffitti.
Extreme II. Pornograffitti
Studio album by Extreme
Released August 7, 1990
Recorded 1990 at Scream Studios, Studio City, Los Angeles, California
Genre Heavy metal, glam metal, hard rock, funk metal, folk rock
Length 64:30
Label A&M
Producer Michael Wagener, except "When I First Kissed You" & "Hole Hearted", produced by Nuno Bettencourt
Extreme chronology

Extreme
(1989)		 Pornograffitti
(1990)		 III Sides to Every Story
(1992)
Singles from Pornograffitti
  1. "Decadence Dance"
    Released: 1990
  2. "Get The Funk Out"
    Released: 1991
  3. "More Than Words"
    Released: March 23, 1991
  4. "Hole Hearted"
    Released: 1991
  5. "Song For Love"
    Released: 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
The Daily Vault B−[2]

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.

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.[3] 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.[4]

Musical style

Musically, Pornograffitti is dominated by hard rock guitar riffs, often with funky, syncopated timing, and fast soloing. Bettencourt was named "Most Valuable Player" of 1991 by Guitar World magazine,[5] and the album gained Bettencourt widespread admiration from rock guitar enthusiasts and continual exposure in other guitar playing publications such as Guitar School.

"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.

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 songs written and composed by Gary Cherone & Nuno Bettencourt. 

No. Title Length
1. "Decadence Dance"   6:53
2. "Li'l Jack Horny"   4:56
3. "When I'm President"   4:26
4. "Get the Funk Out" (duet with Pat Travers) 4:28
5. "More Than Words"   5:40
6. "Money (in God We Trust)"   4:15
7. "It ('s a Monster)"   4:28
8. "Pornograffitti"   6:20
9. "When I First Kissed You"   4:03
10. "Suzi (Wants Her All Day What?)"   3:43
11. "He-Man Woman Hater" (includes intro "Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee") 6:23
12. "Song for Love"   6:00
13. "Hole Hearted (Does not appear on vinyl LP)"   3:43
Total length:
 64:30

2015 Deluxe Edition

Disc Two:

  1. More Than Words [Remix]
  2. Nice Place To Visit
  3. More Than Words [Edit]
  4. Decadence Dance [Edit]
  5. Money (in God We Trust) [Edit]
  6. More Than Words [Non Percussion Version]
  7. Get the Funk Out [What the Funk? Mix]
  8. More Than Words [A Cappella with Congas]
  9. Get the Funk Out [12" Remix]
  10. Sex N' Love

Personnel

Chart information

Year Album / Single Peak Chart Positions
Billboard 200 The Billboard Hot 100 US Mainstream Rock Adult Contemporary
1990 "Decadence Dance" - - #45 -
1991 Extreme II. Pornograffitti #10 [6] - - -
"More Than Words" - #1 [7] #12 [7] #2 [7]
"Hole Hearted" - #4 [7] #2 [7] -
"Get the Funk Out" - - #34 [7] -

"Song For Love" - #12 UK Charts (1992)

External links

  1. Extreme - Pornograffitti (1990) Album Review at Rockpedia.co

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ The Daily Vault review
  3. ↑ RIAA database
  4. ↑ "Extreme 'Pornograffiti Live 2014' Tour Dates".
  5. ↑ "Guitar World" magazine 13 (1). January 1992. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ "Extreme Album Chart History". Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Extreme Singles Chart History". Retrieved 2008-09-03.