If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em

Ted Nugent's final album of the '80s is undoubtedly his strongest of the decade. Although that isn't saying much. Reuniting with producer Tom Werman, it's evident that Nugent had a particular sound in mind when he set out to record If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em. If the album's sound marks a return to the classic compact Nugent guitar sound, the songs once again leave a lot to be desired. Recorded and mixed at Conway Studios in L.A., Lick 'Em suffers from a lack of consistent material, pontificated 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, as 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) can save Nugent from himself.