It seems Howard Jones is more popular among Cougar fans than Jimmer Fredette. I need to wash the taste out of my mouth, so today something different. Yes, notwithstanding my preference for new wave and modern rock I did own albums from all three of these bands. And GNR was one of the best shows I ever went to. Man I liked some trashy music. This one time I'll let it go.

Remember: This is 80s only. So that excludes GNR's Use Your Illusion double album and Metallica's incomparable eponymous/black album. Mötley Crüe's Dr. Feelgood just barely makes the cut.


Round 1:
I love the chugging, pounding hooves of Metallica's "The Four Horsemen" and Mötley Crüe's "Kickstart My Heart" is a good time, but Guns N' Roses bursts out to a first round victory as sudden as their explosion onto the scene with "Welcome to the Jungle" and 1987's Appetite for Destruction.

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Round 2:
GNR's "Mr. Brownstone" is underrated, and Mötley Crüe's "Shout at the Devil" is an anthem for all those kids desperate to shock in an attempt to feel powerful, but Metallica's "One" takes this round, with some amazing musicality and a sense of drama that foreshadows the Black Album.

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Round 3:
GNR's "Paradise City" is classic, and Metallica's "Harvester of Sorrow" hits all the right notes of death and destruction, but Mötley Crüe's "Looks That Kill" is too much fun and takes this final round.

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Extra Innings
• GNR: Yes, yes, "Sweet Child O' Mine" is a beautiful song. But what about "My Michelle" and "Rocket Queen"?
• Metallica: Keep on thrashing with "Whiplash", "Jump in the Fire", and "Creeping Death".
• Mötley Crüe: "Home Sweet Home" feels indulgent, without being as good as their truly campy songs. But "Without You" and "Dr. Feelgood" helped define middle school for me.