Post by alisonhell on Jan 26, 2007 14:32:39 GMT -5
Bruce Dickinson- Vocals (Iron Maiden)
Guitars- Janick Gers (now with Iron Maiden)
Bass- Andy Carr (3 Rivers)
Drums- Fabio Del Rio (Jagged Edge)
I deliberatley never looked into any of Bruce's solo material. I don't know why, seeing as I'd heard that most of it embarrassed Maiden's own 90's output, especially after his own dearture from the band. But when I saw this for £1.99 in a charity shop what would be the point in ignoring it?
All you can do is laugh really, this is how Maiden would have sounded in 1990 if Steve Harris didn't take everything so seriously. Well, Maiden did sound very much like this on the mighty No Prayer For The Dying album, probably down to the recruitment of Janick Gers who puts on a good show on this release. A pity they'd let it slip on Fear of the Dark, only with the recent Matter of Life and Death have they fully recovered, with the three guitar line-up fully broken in.
But this is harmless fun, and a surprise at that. A very back to basics rock n' roll approach, every track getting straight to the point, just no frills riffs, solos and hooks. Might not sound all that appealing but after enduring the dizzily progressive heights Maiden have reached over the years you have to appreciate this. One to file up their with your W.A.S.P., Dokken and Poison CD's in the good old 'dirty secrets' shelf.
SonOf A Gun- - Definitley sets the tone for the album, a slow N.W.O.B.H.M feel and some nice lead work from Gers. I may be wrong, but I think can hear Saxon, maybe Uriah Heep in here somewhere. B
Tattooed Millionaire-- Sounds like a leftover from Judas Priest's Turbo album. Some of Bruce's catchiest vocal hooks are present in the pre-chorus, this still sounds better than most of Fear of the Dark. A
Born in 58-- A nice reflective tune, very straightforward stuff. B+
Hell On Wheels-- This could almost be Aerosmith territory here, a relentlessly catchy riff/chorus combo being the strong point, much like the rest of the album. A
Gypsy Road-- We've got a country vibe going on now, pushing into Whitesnake esque lyrics. Nice, but dosn't stick C+
Dive! Dive! Dive!-- You'd never find lyrics as smutty as this on a Maiden record. The bass is fluid and the riff at 1:55 is unmatched throughout the rest of the album. No muff too tough, we dive at five. Still laughing my ass off. A
All The Young Dudes- - Decent Bowie cover, and Dickinson trying to immitate his voice makes it all the more enjoyable (or do I mean laughable?) B
Lickin' The Gun- - Would-be headbanger, probably my fave track aswell with a classic hard rock chorus. Bruce is full of his usual tongue-in-cheek attitude. Lick it! A
Zulu Lulu- - I may be wrong, but this could have been stolen off Bon Jovi. Not bad, but really not too good either. C
No Lies- Obvious intent to save the best til' last. Again, nice chunky, flowing bass sound from Carr (your guess is as good as mine with regards to who 3 Rivers are/were) strong vocal hooks throughout. Some nice lead work aswell, you could call this ending on a high note. A
Average Song Rating- B+
Overall Album Rating- B
Guitars- Janick Gers (now with Iron Maiden)
Bass- Andy Carr (3 Rivers)
Drums- Fabio Del Rio (Jagged Edge)
I deliberatley never looked into any of Bruce's solo material. I don't know why, seeing as I'd heard that most of it embarrassed Maiden's own 90's output, especially after his own dearture from the band. But when I saw this for £1.99 in a charity shop what would be the point in ignoring it?
All you can do is laugh really, this is how Maiden would have sounded in 1990 if Steve Harris didn't take everything so seriously. Well, Maiden did sound very much like this on the mighty No Prayer For The Dying album, probably down to the recruitment of Janick Gers who puts on a good show on this release. A pity they'd let it slip on Fear of the Dark, only with the recent Matter of Life and Death have they fully recovered, with the three guitar line-up fully broken in.
But this is harmless fun, and a surprise at that. A very back to basics rock n' roll approach, every track getting straight to the point, just no frills riffs, solos and hooks. Might not sound all that appealing but after enduring the dizzily progressive heights Maiden have reached over the years you have to appreciate this. One to file up their with your W.A.S.P., Dokken and Poison CD's in the good old 'dirty secrets' shelf.
SonOf A Gun- - Definitley sets the tone for the album, a slow N.W.O.B.H.M feel and some nice lead work from Gers. I may be wrong, but I think can hear Saxon, maybe Uriah Heep in here somewhere. B
Tattooed Millionaire-- Sounds like a leftover from Judas Priest's Turbo album. Some of Bruce's catchiest vocal hooks are present in the pre-chorus, this still sounds better than most of Fear of the Dark. A
Born in 58-- A nice reflective tune, very straightforward stuff. B+
Hell On Wheels-- This could almost be Aerosmith territory here, a relentlessly catchy riff/chorus combo being the strong point, much like the rest of the album. A
Gypsy Road-- We've got a country vibe going on now, pushing into Whitesnake esque lyrics. Nice, but dosn't stick C+
Dive! Dive! Dive!-- You'd never find lyrics as smutty as this on a Maiden record. The bass is fluid and the riff at 1:55 is unmatched throughout the rest of the album. No muff too tough, we dive at five. Still laughing my ass off. A
All The Young Dudes- - Decent Bowie cover, and Dickinson trying to immitate his voice makes it all the more enjoyable (or do I mean laughable?) B
Lickin' The Gun- - Would-be headbanger, probably my fave track aswell with a classic hard rock chorus. Bruce is full of his usual tongue-in-cheek attitude. Lick it! A
Zulu Lulu- - I may be wrong, but this could have been stolen off Bon Jovi. Not bad, but really not too good either. C
No Lies- Obvious intent to save the best til' last. Again, nice chunky, flowing bass sound from Carr (your guess is as good as mine with regards to who 3 Rivers are/were) strong vocal hooks throughout. Some nice lead work aswell, you could call this ending on a high note. A
Average Song Rating- B+
Overall Album Rating- B