Ted Nugent's final album of the '80s is one of his strongest of the decade, although that isn't saying much. A reunion with producer
Tom Werman, it's evident that
Nugent had a particular sound in mind when he stepped into the studio. If the album's style marks a return to the classic compact
Nugent guitar sound, the songs leave much to be desired. Recorded and mixed at Conway Studios in L.A.,
Lick 'Em suffers from a lack of consistent material, amplified by the fact that
Nugent sings each and every song on the record -- making it sound completely one-dimensional. In an effort to garner FM airplay,
the Nuge collaborates with
Jon Bon Jovi and
Richie Sambora on "That's the Story of Love." Sadly, the track sounds like a bad
Kiss outtake. The "Little Wing"-inspired "Spread Your Wings" never takes flight either, and the ridiculously titled "The Harder They Come (The Harder I Get)" is anything but hard or cutting-edge. Once again, hiring the best studio dogs that money can buy, like stellar drummer
Pat Torpey or knack engineer
John Purdell, hardly helps save
Nugent from himself. ~ John Franck