Chronicling a dark dalliance with drugs, Amphetamine, the debut solo album by
UFO/
Waysted bassist
Pete Way, was bound to surprise fans of his previous work when it originally surfaced in 2001. Recorded with the help of guitarist
Walt James and drummer
Scott Phillips, the disc marked
Way's introduction as a vocalist, revealing his personal demons amid a dark, raw, noisy backdrop that comes closer to the
punk/metal efforts of
Motörhead and the heroin-plagued '90s
grunge movement as evidenced by tracks like "That's Tuff" and "American Kid (What a Shame)." As a vocalist,
Way is only passable, and the mere eight studio cuts offered make Amphetamine seem a little light on material -- a notion that isn't helped much by the fact that this 2004 reissue houses three bonus tracks, all of which are home demos of three albums' original cuts. ~ John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide
