Billy Idol - 'Dream Into It'

Rock Metal Machine
Jul 5
2 min read

Move aside pretenders! The king of Punk-Rock is back and kicking arse as he reclaims his throne!

Rock musician stands in a sunlit, shadowy setting. Text: "BILLY IDOL" in pink, "DREAM INTO IT" in yellow. Moody and dramatic atmosphere.

Move aside pretenders! The king of Punk-Rock is back and kicking arse as he reclaims his throne! The legend that is Billy Idol returns with his first full-length album in over a decade, and it’s sublime! It’s reminiscing Billy, it’s rebellious Billy, it’s “I don’t give a shit” Billy, it’s “Billy Fucking Idol”, and I love him for it!

Collaborating with long-term guitarist Steve Stevens again, these two are a match made in musical heaven, and although only nine songs long, it’s a journey through Idol’s memories that will make you laugh and marvel at the madness of his life. Yet above all, it will put a big juicy smile on your face as the many wonderful melodies hook you like a fish and reel you in. You’re not escaping, don’t even bother to try!

The title track, ‘Dream Into It’, is a mellow affair that, unless you have heard Idol’s previous work, may catch you by surprise, but as the song grows, so does the tempo. By the midway section, it becomes a superb rocker that encapsulates Idol’s ability to mix it up stylistically. The second track ‘77’ is the first duet of three, and Avril Lavigne steps up to add a different hue that complements Idol’s lower tone, adding some superb shade to the first glimpse of his trademark Punk-Rock sound.

Stevens’s excellent guitar work sounds its chords as ‘Too Much Fun’ blasts into life, and Idol spells out his mantra in his inimitable style. During this song, you realise that the man has more lives than a cat, and then some! How is he still alive to sing about this? God only knows, and he’s having way too much fun living to inform us! The superb Alison Mosshart joins Idol for the insanely catchy ‘John Wayne’, followed by the velvet voice of his long-term friend Joan Jett, who lights up ‘Wildside’ and helps deliver another belting song.

With four tracks left, Idol reminisces about how his actions have affected those around him in the catchy duo of ‘People I Love’ and ‘Gimme The Weight’. A superb vocal display shows his voice is still as powerful as ever in ‘I’m Your Hero’ before closing out the all-too-short album with another trademark Punk-Rock anthem and a defiant flipping the bird with ‘Still Dancing’.

The trademark snarl is back in its rightful place, and I love it.

Reviewer: Pete Arnett

Label: Dark Horse

Genre: Rock

Issue Reviewed In: 111

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