DANGEROUS TOYS – Dangerous Toys (1989) [Digitally Remastered] *Exclusive*

As requested, DANGEROUS TOYS‘ debut album ”Dangerous Toys” in remastered form released as a 2-CD package including the band’s two first LPs.
While into the glam metal wagon from the second half of the ’80s, these hard-rocking Texans successfully created a style of its own on this 1989 eponymous debut including the hits “Teas’n Pleas’n” and “Scared” being on heavy rotation on MTV.
Still with a commercial appeal, at the time ”Dangerous Toys” was an ass-kicking, no frills rock n’ roll band with a look & sound more early GN’R than your typical Sunset Strip band of the day.
What makes Dangerous Toys’ debut stand out from similar releases first and foremost is its musicality and diversity. Every song brings something different to the table, some rock hard a little more, others are more melodic.

That’s because Dangerous Toys were not about style or chart success but attitude. They were real. Singer Jason McMaster sounds a little bit like Axl Rose without being a carbon copy of him. He has a powerful voice and that tone of sleazy defiance that Steven Tyler showed during Aerosmith’s heyday.
In fact, the band’s moniker and the cover, which shows an evil jack-in-the-box in the attic, are surely inspired by Aerosmith’s most famous album and DANGEROUS TOYS match the qualities of the Boston legends: their songs are as driving as they are danceable and their hooks have a tendency to get stuck in your head forever.

“Teas’n, Pleas’n” starts the album off in fine fashion with a simple riff bringing the groove, before the drums hit and Jason McMaster’s banshee howl sends a chill up your spine. The ascending verse guitar chords are also really cool and lyrically, “Teas’n, Pleas’n” gives us the first sample of the tongue-in-cheek humor that will be prevalent on the rest of the album.

“Scared” is dedicated to Alice Cooper and McMaster’s vocals are more subdued this time around showing us that he has the ability to transition between styles to suit the song, or even apply multiple styles into the one song, which will occur later on the album. Of note, Mike Watson’s bass playing on the song, as well as on the whole album is great. If you listen really closely, you will hear little nuances that compliment the guitars. It’s not often that bass players get more credit than guitarists, but on “Scared”, Watson is playing and doing so much more than the guitars that it is worth a special mention.

“Bones In The Gutter” is another great rocker. The lyrics are so clever that you cannot determine whether to take them seriously with a bit of menace or whether they are supposed to be comedy gold. Either way, it’s fun. “Take Me Drunk” starts with an ascending and descending riff before a wailing guitar lead break takes us to the verse. Sleazy lyrics about the ability of alcohol to change a girls mind provide more humorous anecdotes possibly based on real life band experiences.

Next is “Feels Like A Hammer” which would be classified as the album’s ballad. Cool guitar chords and mid-tempo drums play second fiddle to McMaster’s vocals which this time around, are presented in a style somewhere between his normal singing voice and his high pitched shrieking.
“Sport’n A Woody” takes us back to energetic, straight up rocking with fun lyrics. A pounding drum intro and another great riff with lead break, takes us on an enjoyable romp with a lyrical topic matter that has definitely influenced the likes of Steel Panther.

“Queen Of The Nile” should have been released as a single and I am bewildered why it never got that opportunity. The lyrics are commercially accessible and the main riff is just phenomenal with its mixture of chords and arpeggio. The guitar solos are great, the lyrical topic matter is a welcome change of pace and the song ending has McMaster channeling a bit of Axl Rose.
“Outlaw” bursts out of the gates and contains more lyrical genius. The guitar riffs are grat; one guitar plays a chugging power chord structure while the second guitar squeals its own riff underlining the vocals. Everything just fits so perfectly. Backing vocals are also used well on the song, brought forward in the mix when necessary but mainly providing more depth to McMaster’s vocals in the background on the choruses.

“Here Comes Trouble” starts off with a nice guitar arpeggio giving us the impression that we might be in for another ballad, but the song quickly morphs into another straight up rocker. A short return to a variation arpeggio prior to the guitar solo provides a welcome deviation from the typical song structure.
The album is rounded off by “Ten Boots (Stompin’)” and “That Dog.” The former so catchy and fun. How can you go wrong when writing an ode to your favorite pair of shoes? The guys from Dangerous Toys are from Texas so most likely they were born with cowboy boots on, completely justifying their usage unlike the glam rock fraternity.
“That Dog” closes out the album with another rollicking rock song full of cool riffs and great lead breaks.

”Dangerous Toys” is a very underrated album from the ’80s US glam metal scene. It’s catchy and commercial, but at the same time gritty, with attitude.
Vocalist Jason McMaster’s voice is an acquired taste, landing somewhere between a style similar to Axl Rose, Tom Keifer and Dizzy Dean Davidson. But when he is not screeching, his straight up singing voice is actually pretty good, with the layering of the vocals on the album providing a real fullness and warmth to the sound.
Guitar wise, Scott Dalhover, who actually plays all the guitars on the album, absolutely kills it. From groovy riffs to frenetic solos and melodic nuances, he was definitely laying claim to becoming one of the next big names in glam metal guitar playing with a bluesy foundation.

Unfortunately for Dangerous Toys they appeared at the tail end of the ’80s when musical tastes were beginning to change, and while they never achieved major stardom, they delivered some well done rockin’ stuff among the best from the era.
Highly Recommended

01 – Teas’n, Pleas’n
02 – Scared
03 – Bones in the Gutter
04 – Take Me Drunk
05 – Feels Like a Hammer
06 – Sport’n a Woody
07 – Queen of the Nile
08 – Outlaw
09 – Here Comes Trouble
10 – Ten Boots (Stompin’)
11 – That Dog

Jason McMaster – vocals
Scott Dalhover – guitar, backing vocals
Danny Aaron – guitar, backing vocals
Mike Watson – bass, backing vocals
Mark Geary – drums

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www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Toys-Hellacious-Acres/dp/B002RBNNFE