The Album Review Club - Week #195 (page 1310) - A New World Record - ELO

If only somebody would take the time to keep the list on page #1 up to date :)

Actually, glad you asked because a quick check reveals that it’s @stoneblue who hasn’t been seen in these parts for a while. Hopefully he’ll be up for his nomination tomorrow. If not @Coatigan stand by or maybe @FogBlueInSanFran could be ready to jump back in.
 
RobMCFC said:
If only somebody would take the time to keep the list on page #1 up to date :)

Actually, glad you asked because a quick check reveals that it’s @stoneblue who hasn’t been seen in these parts for a while. Hopefully he’ll be up for his nomination tomorrow. If not @Coatigan stand by or maybe @FogBlueInSanFran could be ready to jump back in.
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I'm ready to jump one ahead if needed, no problem.
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
Definitely not endorsing the list!

You would think @OB1 would be thrilled that his beloved KISS on his beloved Destroyer would be credited by anyone with inventing the power ballad (which sadly begat many, many, many, many more absolutely appalling power ballads).

And I love "Beth."
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Obviously plenty of people class “Beth” as a power ballad but it really depends on your definition, and there is not a definitive one.

There are loads of Best Power Ballad lists out there, and lists aggregating other lists; plus compilation albums.

“Dream On” does feature.

tvtropes.org

Power Ballad - TV Tropes

Basically, a slow and soft song using some of the bombastic elements of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. A typical Power Ballad will open with a solo keyboard or acoustic guitar, with more instruments and more elaborate melodies brought in as the song …
tvtropes.org tvtropes.org

The link above actually cites “Behind Blue Eyes” as the original power ballad and “no” I had never seen it before my original comment.
 
RobMCFC said:
If only somebody would take the time to keep the list on page #1 up to date :)

Actually, glad you asked because a quick check reveals that it’s @stoneblue who hasn’t been seen in these parts for a while. Hopefully he’ll be up for his nomination tomorrow. If not @Coatigan stand by or maybe @FogBlueInSanFran could be ready to jump back in.
Click to expand...
I am not ready but I will prep this coming week and have one ready for you as a standby going forward.
 
OB1 said:
Obviously plenty of people class “Beth” as a power ballad but it really depends on your definition, and there is not a definitive one.

There are loads of Best Power Ballad lists out there, and lists aggregating other lists; plus compilation albums.

“Dream On” does feature.

tvtropes.org

Power Ballad - TV Tropes

Basically, a slow and soft song using some of the bombastic elements of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. A typical Power Ballad will open with a solo keyboard or acoustic guitar, with more instruments and more elaborate melodies brought in as the song …
tvtropes.org tvtropes.org

The link above actually cites “Behind Blue Eyes” as the original power ballad and “no” I had never seen it before my original comment.
Click to expand...
It’s true that I have my own definition and hair metal/heavy rock slowing down the tempo and crooning about a woman figures heavily into how I think about it. I wouldn’t ever class BBE as one just because of the sped-up part.

Anyhow I THINK you and I can agree that Beth is a classic, and I think part of my view on its importance was how incredibly popular it was here when released (just as I was really getting into popular music as a kid) and how different it was from what folks were used to from the band (as the history of its creation underscores).
 
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FogBlueInSanFran said:
It’s true that I have my own definition and hair metal/heavy rock slowing down the tempo and crooning about a woman figures heavily into how I think about it. I wouldn’t ever class BBE as one just because of the sped-up part.

Anyhow I THINK you and I can agree that Beth is a classic, and I think part of my view on its importance was how incredibly popular it was here when released (just as I was really getting into popular music as a kid) and how different it was from what folks were used to from the band (as the history of its creation underscores).
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No denying Beth’s importance.
 
ROCKS



It was an interesting coincidence we’ve had 2 rock nominations consecutively,the previous weeks album I was very familiar with, this one however I’ve never heard before and I know very little about Aerosmith apart from the odd track I’d heard on the radio.
My initial impression was that I didn’t particularly like ST vocals , I’m not a big fan of screechy vocals hence I don’t particularly like Robert Plant’s vocals either.However I did like the music on this album although there wasn’t much variation.The tracks where ST did less screeching were definitely my favourites along with the opener , to me he sounded a bit like early Alice Cooper.
I had a quick listen to ‘Toys’ as it had been referenced by other posters and I would probably have marked that album higher.



6.5/10
 
Aerosmith - Rocks

Alright, I have a confession to make. And I hate to say it.... Even though I have a couple Aerosmith GH collection(s), I've never been that big a fan. I had a good mate from high school that loved this band, and we shared many common musical interests, but this overlap with them just never really happened with me.

If I were to be completely honest too, if you were to offer up Aerosmith GH vs. Bob Seger GH, I'd be choosing Bob. Maybe it was Aerosmith's decline (in my view) in the mid-late 80's ("Dude Looks Like A Lady" never did it for me), and I never really liked their later efforts, despite the Wayne and Garth early 90's admiration. I am a big fan of "Rag Doll", so it's not like I don't like them, they just weren't, my uh, overall "cup of tea" or "go to" band.

All that said, I was semi-familiar with a few tracks from this album that originally came out before I was into the Zep's, VH's, and this other Canadian band which I did enjoy from first listen.

It was a treat to listen to this album multiple times, and I too agree the production was top notch.

Some of my thoughts on each of the tracks below:

'Back in the Saddle" - classic Aerosmith, love the opening buildup and the overall flow of this song. Worthy of the BM Playlist too! ;-) I've liked this prior and enjoy it for a classic opener to an album. It doesn't get much better than this.

"Last Child" - well familiar with this rocker, any song that attempts to rhyme with "Tallahassee" is alright with me. Loved the bass on this song too.

"Rats In The Cellar" - I like how the last song just flows into this one with the sirens wailing, but the lyrics didn't grab me as much

"Combination" - liked the wailing guitars. Steven Tyler's vocals were OK, not screaming, but nothing special as compared to the guitars here

"Sick As A Dog" - was familiar with this song prior too, and just never really like Steven Tyler's vocals on this one (too much "Pleeeeeease"?), but enjoyed Joe Perry's guitar here. Still, not a track I've enjoyed in hearing prior.

"Nobody's Fault" - had not heard this one before, and really enjoyed this song, might be my 2nd favorite to the opener. Just a very impressive gem I didn't anticipate. The vocals really did match the guitars on this as it gets going. Very well done.

"Get The Lead Out" - seems a bit repetitive on the same boogie woogie guitar licks I've sworn heard prior, and the lyrics seemed predictable on the matching second rhyme

"Lick And A Promise" - livin' life on the road for a band, a rollicking tune, better than the last one

"Home Tonight" - a good ending tempo changing closing ballad to the album.

I think this album helped my overall admiration for this band from their mid-70's heyday, and certainly better than I remember songs from their mid 80's and beyond albums. At the risk of repeating my theme for Pearl Jam's Ten based on the year it was released, this is a 7.6 out of 10 for me, which has 4 standout tracks I especially liked in bold above.
 
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Phrases like, "this isn't my usual thing" and variations of it should be banned from this thread. Mind you, if it was I would have to be more creative about how I start a review by distancing myself from something that somebody obviously loves. As it is though, we're free to word it how we like so let's get it out of the way, this isn't my...

I've had the luxury to give it more listens than the last few picks combined. All that's been missing is it forming the background to a gym sessions where I suspect it might have gone down, erm, adequately.

I'm not enamoured with the vocals, not just the strained screaming on the opener but it's something I find with a lot of these type of bands, a music that you think of as being macho, for want of a better word with vocals that sound, well not.

And what is this type of music anyway? To my untutored ear it's metal. But reading the comments from those who rate it seems there is more to it than that with bits of I can't remember but it's not to be read as heavy metal per se. Well OK.

None of it offended me and I even found myself defending it, a bit, when it came on in the car and my wife dismissed it instantly. But as others have said, nothing stood out. If you like it that's not really a problem, it's uniform in a good way. If it's not your cup of tea, well it all sounds the same.

Despite having given it more than the mandatry three listens I couldn't find myself enjoying it. What's left then is to try and appreciate it and I've no doubt that there is good musicianship here. And while it's not Pulitzer prize winning I thought some of the lyrics were OK in the sense that they obviously don't take themselves too seriously.

I'd never just dismiss something just because it's not to my taste (but I'm not going to check back to see if I have perchance done just that), scores of below 6 are for weak, perfunctory or cynical efforts. Scores of above 6 are for anything that catches my imagination and sticks in some way. So you know that 6 is therefore neither here nor there. 6 it is.
 
How does he do it? Despite a well-aimed torpedo from denislawsbackheel, @OB1 has still managed to get his nomination in the top 30. Not only that, but his choices continue to be popular with the group at the same time as bringing in some guests - a massive 18 votes for Aerosmith's Rocks at an average of 6.87.

Well done to the regulars who all managed to review and score this week's nomination.

Now then. @stoneblue is supposed to be up next but hasn't posted for nearly a month. What's more, he hasn't been seen outside the reading thread since 14th January. Normally I'd do a nominator the courtesy of allowing them until 6 or 7 PM to show up but in this case, I think that we should promote @Coatigan with immediate effect.

If there are no objections and stoneblue doesn't appear by 2.30, the floor's all yours @Coatigan
 
RobMCFC said:
How does he do it? Despite a well-aimed torpedo from denislawsbackheel, @OB1 has still managed to get his nomination in the top 30. Not only that, but his choices continue to be popular with the group at the same time as bringing in some guests - a massive 18 votes for Aerosmith's Rocks at an average of 6.87.

Well done to the regulars who all managed to review and score this week's nomination.

Now then. @stoneblue is supposed to be up next but hasn't posted for nearly a month. What's more, he hasn't been seen outside the reading thread since 14th January. Normally I'd do a nominator the courtesy of allowing them until 6 or 7 PM to show up but in this case, I think that we should promote @Coatigan with immediate effect.

If there are no objections and stoneblue doesn't appear by 2.30, the floor's all yours @Coatigan
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It’s Indie week! ;)
 
GornikDaze said:
It’s Indie week! ;)
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Well I did have a hard rock album of zeppelinesque leanings lined up, but hiven the last two I'm going to mix it up and break the chain. 3 in a row would be much, so will save that for another time. Just as well I'm not lazy to come up with clues!

Which this week might test your collective googling/thinking ability.

It will be the back of 3, if stoneblue doesn't show.
 
RobMCFC said:
We probably need a change of pace after back-to-back rock weeks. Maybe some Belgian jazz?
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Sounds good to me..it is the home of the Sax after all and we could maybe segue into some old school Coltrane without all the reverb and delay added too ;-). Django Reinhardt was Belgian as well I think or am I thinking of Poirot? Anyway it's high time we had some.
 
threespires said:
Sounds good to me..it is the home of the Sax after all and we could maybe segue into some old school Coltrane without all the reverb and delay added too ;-). Django Reinhardt was Belgian as well I think or am I thinking of Poirot? Anyway it's high time we had some.
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I don't know of any Belgian jazz, it just sounded good in my head!
 
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