OK. There is one thing that gets my nose out of joint about this.
Firstly, this is not a best of Sabbath compilation. It is a best of Sabbath with Ozzy, with a couple of Dio songs and a Gillan song tacked on at the end. There is no record of Glenn Hughes, Ray Gillen, Tony Martin, and the number of other musicians who played apart from Iommi, Geezer and Bill Ward. It really should be titled The Best Of Black Sabbath 1970-1978. Then it would be more accurate.
Getting past that, this is a wonderful compilation. The record of the band that made heavy metal what it is. Every song is like a page of history. You can almost pin point which bands in todays music have grown up listening to which song, and how it inspired them.
Each grinding riff, every beefy bass line, every pounding drum roll, every screaming vocal, just let's you know that it is Black Sabbath in their element. Some of the greatest songs ever written lie within the case of this album. Until you sit down and listen to them all again, in remastered glory, you don't know how influential they have been.
Though they have been sadly neglected in this, one should not forget that this band continued until 1998 – almost 20 years with different members. They were influential too, and deserve their own recognition at some stage.
Rating : As a tribute to the original Black Sabbath, this is a testament to their greatness. 5/5.
Friday, March 03, 2006
115. Yngwie J. Malmsteen / The Best Of 1990-1999. 2000. 3.5/5
You will never convince me that Yngwie's best decade was NOT the 80's. His best albums are from that time, and as I have probably documented elsewhere, after Eclipse I lost interest for a decade.
This just looks like another money spinner from the outside. I mightn't be an expert on what Ynwgie did in this decade, but I know he had better songs than these on his albums, and they don't make an appearance here. The album is fine, don't get me wrong. He is still great at what he does. But let's face it – when a 'greatest hits' package is lifted by the appearance of two songs, one being Rising Force, which he wrote and released in the 80's (yes, the live performance is from the 90's...) and the other is a live performance of a cover song (Rainbow's brilliant Gates Of Babylon), you'd have to start thinking that they were clutching at straws.
Rating : It's OK, and most of the material is good. But I can't get past those two songs I mentioned. The best two songs on the album, and realistically they shouldn't be there!! 3.5/5.
This just looks like another money spinner from the outside. I mightn't be an expert on what Ynwgie did in this decade, but I know he had better songs than these on his albums, and they don't make an appearance here. The album is fine, don't get me wrong. He is still great at what he does. But let's face it – when a 'greatest hits' package is lifted by the appearance of two songs, one being Rising Force, which he wrote and released in the 80's (yes, the live performance is from the 90's...) and the other is a live performance of a cover song (Rainbow's brilliant Gates Of Babylon), you'd have to start thinking that they were clutching at straws.
Rating : It's OK, and most of the material is good. But I can't get past those two songs I mentioned. The best two songs on the album, and realistically they shouldn't be there!! 3.5/5.
114. Helloween / The Best, The Rest, The Rare. 1991. 4/5.
The album contains material from the three albums to date, songs such as "Ride the Sky" from Walls of Jericho, "Future World" and "Halloween" from Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I and "I Want Out", "Dr Stein" and "Keeper of the Seven Keys" from Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II. The remaining songs are either bonus tracks from Japanese editions or B sides from singles. They include the bonus songs such as "Judas" with Kai Hansen singing, "Livin' Ain't No Crime", "Save Us", "Savage" and "Don't Run For Cover", as well as a re-recorded version of "Victim of Fate" with Michael Kiske singing, which to me takes all of the sting out of a great song. At the time of this album's release, most of these songs were almost impossible to find in Australia, and thus this release was well worth purchasing because of the spasity of these songs. Of course since then, with multiple re-releases of albums and singles, all of these songs can be found everywhere.
Thus this is not a greatest hits album, but a collection of memorabilia from the first great age of Helloween. Its release marked the end of this first age, and signalled troubled times in the immediate future.
Rating: Give me wings to fly!! 4/5.
113. Iron Maiden / Beast Over Hammersmith. 2002. 5/5.
This was the second double CD from the Eddie's Archive package that was then later released on its own. It is recorded on the Beast On The Road tour, with Bruce Dickinson raising hell on vocals.
This concert had pretty much every great song Maiden had recorded over their first three albums, and is just brilliant. It has all the elements required to make a great live album (refer to previous post for list). The fact that it took so many years to surface is strange, considering the number of bootlegs of the show that exist (yep, I've got one).
Personal favourites are the less-heard-in modern-days songs such as Another Life, Drifter, Transylvania and Killers, along with The Prisoner, Children Of The Damned and Phantom Of The Opera.
Rating : Just a great album of what must have been a great gig. A snapshot of a band that was heading for big, big things. 5/5.
This concert had pretty much every great song Maiden had recorded over their first three albums, and is just brilliant. It has all the elements required to make a great live album (refer to previous post for list). The fact that it took so many years to surface is strange, considering the number of bootlegs of the show that exist (yep, I've got one).
Personal favourites are the less-heard-in modern-days songs such as Another Life, Drifter, Transylvania and Killers, along with The Prisoner, Children Of The Damned and Phantom Of The Opera.
Rating : Just a great album of what must have been a great gig. A snapshot of a band that was heading for big, big things. 5/5.
112. Dokken / Beast From The East. 1988. 4/5.
Released at their absolute peak after their (in my opinion) best album, this is a shining light still after all these years.
There are a few essentials to a great live album.
1) Make it live, mistakes and all. That's what you get at the concert
2) Best songs. Gotta have the classics
3) Make sure the audience is involved and audible
4) Make sure the mix is great.
Beast From the East has all of these elements. The lads are at their peak, and the performance here is great. It emphasises that they can take great tunes from the studio, and make them bigger and better live.
Personal favourites include Dream Warriors, Kiss Of Death, Just Got Lucky and Unchain The Night.
Rating : A really good live album that shows off the bands abilities and their songs live capabilities. 4/5.
There are a few essentials to a great live album.
1) Make it live, mistakes and all. That's what you get at the concert
2) Best songs. Gotta have the classics
3) Make sure the audience is involved and audible
4) Make sure the mix is great.
Beast From the East has all of these elements. The lads are at their peak, and the performance here is great. It emphasises that they can take great tunes from the studio, and make them bigger and better live.
Personal favourites include Dream Warriors, Kiss Of Death, Just Got Lucky and Unchain The Night.
Rating : A really good live album that shows off the bands abilities and their songs live capabilities. 4/5.
111. Iron Maiden / Be Quick Or Be Dead [Single]. 1992. 3/5.
First single from the Fear Of The Dark album. The song is good. The two other songs are OK.
Rating : Well, it only gets what it gets because of who they are. 3/5.
Rating : Well, it only gets what it gets because of who they are. 3/5.
110. Michael Schenker Group / Be Aware Of Scorpions. 2001. 4/5.
When I first put this album on I was pretty impressed. Apart from a couple of hiccups, Schenker just keeps on putting out great material. Of course, it's not just the guitaring. He and his band keep on writing great songs, and his vocalists are also able to sing, which helps a lot.
Though I still believe the album name was meant to draw back those fans who had deserted him in the '90's, anyone who took the bait could not help but be glad they had. It is almost as though the same thing has happened to Schenker as has happened to Malmsteen and others – that they have dabbled in the mainstream looking for success, and now just make the music they want. If that is true – it works.
My favourite songs on the album include No Turning Back, Because I Can, How Will You Get Back and Blinded By Technology.
Rating : An indication that Schenker is getting back to what he does best, writing great songs. You can't revisit your heyday, but this is up there on a second tier. 4/5.
Though I still believe the album name was meant to draw back those fans who had deserted him in the '90's, anyone who took the bait could not help but be glad they had. It is almost as though the same thing has happened to Schenker as has happened to Malmsteen and others – that they have dabbled in the mainstream looking for success, and now just make the music they want. If that is true – it works.
My favourite songs on the album include No Turning Back, Because I Can, How Will You Get Back and Blinded By Technology.
Rating : An indication that Schenker is getting back to what he does best, writing great songs. You can't revisit your heyday, but this is up there on a second tier. 4/5.
109. Iron Maiden / BBC Archives. 2002. 4.5/5
Originally released as a part of Eddie's Archive, this was the first of three double CDs. It contains four separate live shows – two with Paul Di'anno on vocals, and two with Bruce Dickinson on vocals.
The quality is excellent, and it makes a nice historical package. The original version of Killers, with different lyrics which apparently were made up five minutes before going on stage, is quite amusing. It's a good thing they sat down afterwards and thought more about it! :)
Most of this stuff has been available as bootlegs for years – I have copies of them myself – but it is good to have the real deal. The Reading Festival show is an excellent showcasing of the band in Di'anno's day, and how he used to drive the crowd. It's also great to have a solid live recording of the material from the first album.
Rating : Great live performances from another age. This gives a clear indication of how a band grows through the years on stage. 4.5/5
The quality is excellent, and it makes a nice historical package. The original version of Killers, with different lyrics which apparently were made up five minutes before going on stage, is quite amusing. It's a good thing they sat down afterwards and thought more about it! :)
Most of this stuff has been available as bootlegs for years – I have copies of them myself – but it is good to have the real deal. The Reading Festival show is an excellent showcasing of the band in Di'anno's day, and how he used to drive the crowd. It's also great to have a solid live recording of the material from the first album.
Rating : Great live performances from another age. This gives a clear indication of how a band grows through the years on stage. 4.5/5
108. Deep Purple / The Battle Rages On. 1992. 3.5/5
The return of Ian Gillan after missing the Slaves And Masters release after disagreements with Blackmore reunited the Mark II lineup for the third – and final – time.
This was another solid release, though it was obvious the initial magic that was produced by the initial reformation eight years previously had now waned. Some have even remarked that Deep Purple were beginning to sound like a tribute band – of Deep Purple.
The heavy influence of Lord and Blackmore drive this album, which probably pushed it too far out of the reach of the modern fans.
As a Purple release, this is on the average side. Obviously there was a lack of inspiration, and that some of the members were again unable to work together. This was the final release that included Ritchie Blackmore, who moved away from this style of music. For Deep Purple, further success was yet to come.
Rating : This is not a weak album, but it contains nothing new for a band that was once one of the front runners in its field. Good without stretching itself. 3.5/5.
This was another solid release, though it was obvious the initial magic that was produced by the initial reformation eight years previously had now waned. Some have even remarked that Deep Purple were beginning to sound like a tribute band – of Deep Purple.
The heavy influence of Lord and Blackmore drive this album, which probably pushed it too far out of the reach of the modern fans.
As a Purple release, this is on the average side. Obviously there was a lack of inspiration, and that some of the members were again unable to work together. This was the final release that included Ritchie Blackmore, who moved away from this style of music. For Deep Purple, further success was yet to come.
Rating : This is not a weak album, but it contains nothing new for a band that was once one of the front runners in its field. Good without stretching itself. 3.5/5.
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