Retro Record Review: ‘Saigon Kick’ by Saigon Kick
The early 1990s, especially pre-Nirvana’s Nevermind, was a wild time for music. I remember that there were these different bands and different sounds all vying to become the next thing. In other words, there was a lot of shit being thrown against the wall to see what would stick. One of the things that didn’t stick was what I like to think of as “smart hair metal.” These were bands that used the trappings of hair and glam metal but were also clearly doing something different than the likes of Poison, RATT, Mötley Crüe, and so on. Honestly, one could make a strong argument that Jane’s Addiction was at the very least, tangentially related to the “smart hair metal” bands. Don’t believe me? Go back and watch the music video for “Mountain Song” or “Stop” and then let me know what you think. One act that was absolutely a smart hair metal band was Saigon Kick.
Hailing from Coral Springs, FL, Saigon Kick formed in 1988. They are best known for the song “Love Is On The Way” from their 1992 album The Lizard, a song that was very nearly a Top 10 hit single, reaching # 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The band’s self-titled debut was released in February 1991. I discovered Saigon Kick around that same time, late in my sophomore year of high school, thanks to my friend Phillip. At the time, I didn’t love the entire album, there were a handful of songs that I thought were outstanding. Listening to Saigon Kick now, nearly 35 years later, I still don’t love it but damn those few songs…
The album’s sole single, “What You Say” is one of those songs. The riffs and harmonies lift it up, letting it soar. “What Do You Do” is a silly song that reminds me a lot of the band Scatterbrain (if you’ve never heard this hilarious thrash metal band, check out “Don’t Call Me Dude”). Where this album really shines is on side two, specifically the first three tracks “Down by the Ocean,” “Acid Rain,” and “My Life.” Now there are some lyrics that have not aged well but it’s nothing that is so egregious that it kills the songs. My favorite song on the album is “My Life” with its gigantic chorus.
Ultimately, Saigon Kick is an album that is held up by four and a half legitimately great songs and a whole lot of “what if.” Maybe in some other reality, Nirvana didn’t change the landscape of rock music and bands like Saigon Kick became the next big thing. Anything is possible.
References
Saigon Kick. (1991). Saigon Kick [Album]. Third Stone Records, Atlantic Records.
Saigon Kick. (2024, August 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saigon_Kick&oldid=1242927062
Saigon Kick (n.d.). Discogs. Retrieved September 14, 2025, from https://www.discogs.com/artist/323021-Saigon-Kick
Saigon Kick (album). (2025, July 19). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saigon_Kick_(album)&oldid=1301304124