| re: NJC: HCTB - I think I kind of like it. | |
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Posted by: |
Vin 01:22 am UTC 04/17/10 |
| In reply to: | re: NJC: HCTB - I think I kind of like it. - Brian 12:32 am UTC 04/17/10 |
| "Peace on Earth" is a turn-off at first, its too Gospel-tent revival-y, but I find its a grower. I'm finding with HCTB, even on songs that aren't exactly to my usual taste, I've been able to find elements worth appreciating in almost every song, whether its Meat's often rejuvenated vocals (he sounds very good on the slow bits in the middle of "Peace on Earth," for example) or simply the musicianship and production value, which seem a notch or so above where they've been since Bat II. I also think "Living on the Outisde" is a decent rocker, Meat probably loves it, although I suspect the reason "Prize Fight Lover" is not officially on the record is because it is too thematically similar to LotO, and they felt one of them had to go. If I'm right, its a shame PFL lost that fight. > I like it, and it's really good in the car (Los Angeloser > in particular). > > the only song I really don't like is Peace on Earth. > Actually I think one could start the album on Angeloser > (Living on the Outside is just kind of forgettable) and > have an overall better experience with the album, IMO. > > > > > After one semi-proper listen on the iPod today, (and > > having had time to hear "Elvis in Vegas" loud, in the car, > > on decent speakers) I think I am going to reasonably enjoy > > this record. It ain't Steinman, but its better than > > trying to be Steinman and falling flat on your face. > > > > My early opinion is that this, more than any of the > > others, is Meat Loaf's record. He's always said he's an > > actor, not a singer (or sometimes he says that, anyway). > > And on the Steinman records he was of course simply > > playing the lead in Jim's movie, interpreting somebody > > else's vision. We know Meat's natural first choice of > > music isn't Jim's Wagner Rock; Meat is a Guitar Guy at > > heart, not a Piano Man. I think much of the songs on > > HCTB, while not the product of Meat's own vision, fit > > nicely into it, and are at home there, and Meat in turn is > > at home with them. > > > > With almost all, if not exactly all, of Meat's prior > > albums, the songs have generally made the albums; Meat has > > lived and died by the material. With HCTB, and again only > > on first impression, I felt like Meat was actually > > elevating the material. His enthusiasm on this record > > really is palpable, and in large part he sounds like he's > > found a way to shave 10 years and a fistful of nervous > > breakdowns off of his singing voice. Several of the songs > > I know I probably SHOULDN'T like (If I Can't Have You > > comes to mind) but Meat makes me enjoy them in spite of > > myself. > > > > The songs here are definitely genre-benders and a bit all > > over the place, but I didn't really mind it. I think > > there's an earnest attempt at creative bombast going on > > here, perhaps the one bone thrown to the Steinman crowd, > > which I appreciate even if the results are mixed. (For > > example, I think I need to find a way to edit the first > > and last two minutes off of Love is Not Real;I really dig > > the middle, but the 70s groove-guitar bookends aren't so > > hot.) But there were definitely moments of unexpected > > musicality throughout that I'm looking forward to hearing > > on good speakers. > > > > Also, HCTB has a definite sense of humor, something Jim > > noted that Bat III lacked. (Plus, Spoken Word! Though not > > quite what we were all looking for, eh?) This record > > doesn't take itself too seriously, which is a good thing. > > I found myself smiling at various points throughout, even > > at Los Angeloser, and I was laughing *with* Meat, not *at* > > him. Sort of like, "Okay, Old Boy, I get it. You're > > doing it your way just like you said you would. > > Well-played." > > > > If I'm a critic, here's my blurb for HCTB: > > > > If nothing else, Meat Loaf is clearly having a great time, > > and HCTB is sprinkled with high-spots where the mirth is > > contagious. | |
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