Billy Idol: Devil's Playground : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Did somebody say, "New Billy Idol album"? Thanks, God! The quintessential 1980s New Wave glam-rock leather boy is back, for his first album in twelve long years. On Devil's Playground, Idol reunites with guitar foil Steve Stevens and producer Keith Forsey to return to the glory days of "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding." The results are much better than his 1993 sci-fi shark jump, Cyberpunk, and so it automatically counts as the best thing he's done since "Cradle of Love," unless you count his superb cameo in The Wedding Singer. Idol has spent time pondering maturity ("Super Overdrive"), the unstable global situation ("World Comin' Down") and the meaning of life ("Rat Race"). But fortunately he's still Billy Idol, which means his primary concern is debauched sex with underage headbangers ("Scream"). Mo', mo', mo'!