Extreme II: Pornograffitti

Template:Redirect Template:More citations needed Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Extreme1989III Sides to Every Story1992studioExtreme II: PornograffittiExtreme-pornograffitti.jpgExtremeTemplate:Start date*Scream Studios, (Studio City, California)

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Extreme II: Pornograffitti (also known as simply Pornograffitti) is the second studio album by the heavy metal band Extreme, released on August 7, 1990, through A&M Records.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album title is a portmanteau of pornography and graffiti.

Extreme II sold very well, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, and was certified double platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA. It is the band's best selling album. Two singles from Pornograffitti, "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted", reached No. 1 and 4 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. Two other tracks, "Decadence Dance" and "Get the Funk Out", became popular on MTV's Headbangers Ball.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Overview

Pornograffitti is a concept album,<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="rs"/><ref name="loudwire"/> its story is about lost innocence and uneasiness.<ref name="rs"/> Though the album "[focuses] on the same funk-metal vibe as [their debut]", it became massively popular due to the acoustic single "More Than Words".<ref name="loudwire">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

According to authors HP Newquist and Pete Prown, the album has "a bewildering array of song styles—heavy metal, ballads, funk, etc.".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The title track, as well as "More than Words" and "It('s a Monster)", have been played live since at least early April 1989, and date back to shortly after the band's self-titled debut was released.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reception

The album received largely positive reception. AllMusic reviewer Steve Huey gave the album four stars, and commented that "[the] band shows a strong desire to experiment and push the boundaries of the pop-metal format".<ref name="allmusic"/> Rolling Stone placed the album at thirteenth on their list of the "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time".<ref name="rs">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Ultimate Classic Rock ranked it at eighth in their "Top 30 Glam Metal Albums".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Heavy metal author Martin Popoff, in his book The Big Book of Hair Metal, called the album, "a thinking man's hair metal album, with thoughtful lyrics and tasteful guitar work".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Lead guitarist Nuno Bettencourt garnered admiration from rock guitar enthusiasts, as he was voted "Best New Talent" in a 1991 readers' poll by Guitar World magazine,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and that magazine later named him "Most Valuable Player" of 1991.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Legacy

In 2010, after the band's reunion in the previous years, rumors started about possible commemorative shows given the 20th anniversary of the record. In 2012, the band played the entire album for four tour dates in Japan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In January 2014, the band confirmed they would be performing Pornograffitti in its entirety on their 2014 European tour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2015, the band embarked on an extensive US tour commemorating the album's 25th anniversary.

The Japanese rock band Porno grafitti got its name from the album.

Personnel

Extreme

• Gary Cherone – lead and backing vocals
• Nuno Bettencourt – guitars, piano, percussion, backing vocals, arrangements, producer on tracks 9 and 13
• Pat Badger – bass, backing vocals
• Paul Geary – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Barbara Glynn – backing vocals on "Decadence Dance"
• Pat Travers – backing vocals on "Get the Funk Out"
• Jeanine Moultrine – backing vocals on "Suzi (Wants Her All Day What?)"
• Dweezil Zappa – intro/outro lead guitar on "He-Man Woman Hater" (after "Flight of the Wounded Bumble Bee")<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
• Li'l Jack Horn Section in "Li'l Jack Horny", "Get the Funk Out" directed by Andy Armer
  • Bob Findley, trumpet
  • Chuck Findley, trumpet
  • Bill Watrous, trombone
  • Dick "Slyde" Hyde, bass trombone
  • Pete Christlieb, tenor sax
  • Joel Peskin, tenor sax

Production

• Michael Wagener – producer, mixing
• Bob St. John – engineer
• George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York
• Randy Badazz – orchestration
• Ioannis/Third Image – art direction and design

Charts

Weekly charts

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Chart (1990–91)	Peak position
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)<ref name=FINI>Template:Cite book</ref>	11
Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="JPN">Template:Cite book</ref>	32
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	10

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
European Albums (European Top 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	69
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	23