Bret Michaels - Rock My World

They were one of the biggest bands in the world in the late '80s and early '90s in the heyday of hair metal, and Poison had a ton of hit singles. Even after their commercial success declined, they were and are a very popular live band able to sell out decent sized venues. But their audience has gone from mass appeal to a smaller niche.

Poison frontman Bret Michaels changed all that with his reality show Rock Of Love. It reacquainted him with old fans and drew legions of new fans from the younger generations. It was a wise move to release Rock My World when Michaels' profile is still high. It's a collection of songs from his previous solo albums along with a few new tracks including "Go That Far," the theme from Rock Of Love.

Poison's music is over the top, slick and fun. Michaels' solo material is more mature and subdued, but he can crank it up as well. It's mostly mainstream rock with some pop and country touches and a little bit of metal. He still has the ability to write songs with great hooks and memorable melodies. Rock My World has a good combination of rockers and ballads, and showcases some of the best songs from Michaels' underrated solo albums.

(released June 3, 2008 on VH 1 Classic Records)