In an era of legendary debuts, did Skid Row unleash the most perfect of them all? In 1989, five guys from New Jersey dropped a self-titled album that was pure, unfiltered rock and roll perfection. There are no skips, no filler—just 11 iconic tracks that defined the sound of the late 80s.
Join host Duff for a deep dive into an album with zero weaknesses. From the opening scream of "Big Guns" to the final note of "Midnight / Tornado," this record had the radio hits, the heavy anthems, and one of the greatest power ballads ever written.
In this Duff Dive, we explore:
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00:00 - Intro: What Makes a "Perfect Album"? 02:52 - Why Skid Row's Debut is Flawless 04:05 - The "Hair Band" Debate 06:36 - The "Crane Kick" of Debut Albums 08:13 - Behind the Scenes: "Oh Say Can You Scream" VHS 09:29 - The Irreplaceable Sebastian Bach 13:37 - Sebastian Bach Live: A Personal History 16:36 - The Story of a Legendary Debut 21:20 - Track 1: Big Guns 21:58 - Track 2: Sweet Little Sister 24:11 - Track 3: Can't Stand the Heartache 25:10 - Track 4: Piece of Me 26:03 - Track 5: 18 and Life 31:41 - Track 6: Rattlesnake Shake 32:27 - Track 7: Youth Gone Wild 33:38 - Track 8: Here I Am 34:23 - Track 9: Makin' a Mess 34:50 - Track 10: I Remember You 35:23 - Track 11: Midnight / Tornado 36:07 - Final Thoughts: A Flawless Masterpiece