Extreme-Extreme II Pornograffitti (1990)

In the late 1980s, Extreme emerged in Boston, a band that would become fundamental to hard rock in the years to come. These were years in which the genre was experiencing a creative crisis, to the detriment of alternative rock, thrash metal, grunge, and the experimental sounds of many bands exploring all kinds of fusion and blending them with rock. Formed around the core of virtuoso guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and the brilliant vocalist Gary Cherone, who, along with bassist Paul Mangone and drummer Paul Geary, had to compete on a stage packed with top-tier bands such as Warrant, Poison, Cinderella, Guns N' Roses, Skid Row, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, and Twisted Sister, among many others. Amidst this whirlwind of mainstream bands and their successful albums, Extreme released their debut album in 1989, showcasing enviable instrumental technique, plenty of feeling, a carefree rock sound, and clear funk influences. A year later, they released "Pornograffitti", confirming their metal-funk leanings and their ferocious hard rock with a multitude of influences. Tracks like the furious "Get the Funk Out" and "Li'l Jack Horny" featured a horn section, significantly enriching their sound, while others like the catchy "Decadence Dance" and the southern-tinged "Hole Hearted" demonstrated the diversity of their style. However, it was the tender ballad "More Than Words" that propelled the album to number ten on the Billboard charts, earning it multiple platinum records and achieving sales exceeding three million copies worldwide.