Charlie Sexton - Pictures for Pleasure

It was 1985, and sixteen-year-old wunderkind Charlie Sexton was making a run for the brass ring. It boggles my mind the level of maturity in his singing and playing that's on display here at such an early age. I was in my early twenties when this came out and was leaning toward what would affectionately become known as "hair metal," but I also liked a lot of new wave, Bryan Adams, and even Corey Hart (the last one more of a guilty pleasure). Meanwhile, here's young Charlie, already a seasoned player, making it all look easy.

I remember hearing "Impressed" (written by Steve Krikorian, better known as Tonio K.) on the radio and thinking it was okay, but it didn't inspire me to run out and lay down my cash. I mean, I was buying a lot of stuff, but it's all relative. What you think is a lot, and what I think is a lot, aren't necessarily in the same ballpark.

We also didn't have MTV; we had MuchMusic, and while they were similar, they weren't the same. Although, to be fair, they both actually played videos all day long back then. Still, I don't remember seeing the video for "Beat's So Lonely," and watching it now, it really should have taken off. This is a good song. The album was produced by Keith Forsey, who, incidentally, also produced Billy Idol's Rebel Yell. Young Charlie was like Billy Idol and Steve Stevens rolled into one person - with great hair and high cheekbones. How could he miss?

The album itself is pretty decent and leans heavily toward the new wave side of things. Despite the ever-present guitar and the other musicians, the drums are programmed. People were seriously asking at the time if real instruments were going to become a thing of the past.

Charlie had the looks and the talent, but the songs, while decent, were a lot like what was already out there. Now, this isn't to be a dick - there are some really good songs on the album. As I write this, the closing track, "Space," is just getting to the guitar solo, and it kills. Given the competition at the time, though, it just wasn't enough to put him over the top.

Timing, as they say, is everything. Of course, it's hardly fair for me to sit here decades later and pass judgment or pretend to have great insight into what was or might have been. I'm just a guy sitting in my basement, cranking plastic for pleasure.

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