One of the first heavy metal bands, and certainly among the most influential ones, Scorpions started in 1973, although all their major hits did not come until early 80s. They have come through too many line-up changes to list here, but Klaus Meine (vocals, songs) and Rudolf Schenker (guitars, songs) stayed at all time. When, in 1981, Meine temporarily lost his voice, the band put themselves on hold, but came back with a world-wide success of "Blackout" (1982). Subsequent "Love At First Sting" (1984) placed them on top of glam metal scene. The band's success was solidified by "Savage Amusement" (1988) and "Crazy World" (1990). With the demise of pop metal, Scorpions' glory went down, and they began releasing numerous compilations, live albums, live albums with orchestra, and live acoustic albums, which soon equaled the number of original releases. "Eye II Eye" (1999) saw them incorporating elements of techno into their music, but that experiment didn't sink well. Finally, in 2004, the album "Unbreakable" signified their return to the familiar territory of female-friendly metal.
BEST OF ROCKERS N' BALLADS (1989)
RATING ****
BEST SONGS: "Rock You Like A Hurricane," "Rhythm Of Love," "No One Like You"
Technically, I shouldn't be reviewing "RYLAH," "Big City Nights," "Blackout," "Rhythm Of Love," "No One Like You" or "The Zoo." Everybody who has ever listened to any hard rock radio station should be able to sing these songs from start till finish. "Rock You Like A Hurricane" is a supreme rocker with disgusting lyrics (once I sung this song in a karaoke bar, and that was the first time I've actually read the lyrics, so I did not feel very comfortable, singing "So give her inches and feed her well," and left the bar immediately afterwards) that has become an anthem for sports arenas, second only to "We Will Rock You" by Queen, and, right next to "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. "Big City Nights" is a very pretty, yet rocking, tune: one thing Scorps were unequaled in, was creating very pretty and melodic songs that rocked hard as well, perhaps the best among glam metal bands. Same is true for "Blackout," "Rhythm Of Love," "The Zoo," and my favorite Scorps song, "No One Like You" (lead guitar there is just something else). Meine's voice is adored by girls worldwide, especially, when it comes with the song "Still Loving You." I am yet to see a female creature that would not like this song. Other songs on the compilations are less talented, your typical glam metal stuff: fast ("Can't Explain," "Love Drive," "You Give Me All I Need") or slow ("Holiday"). A great way to start (and possibly end) your Scorpions collection.
BIG CITY NIGHTS (1998)
RATING: ****1/2
BEST SONGS: "Big City Nights," "Send Me An Angel," "Wind Of Change."
Since I had Best Of Rockers N' Ballads on a cassette, and one day I saw a different "best of" on CD for just $6, I decided to buy it. Actually, I turned out to like it a lot more than the previous one. Same awesome tunes "Big City Nights" (from 1984) "No One Like You" (there's a mistake on the sleeve: it's not live; from 1982), and "Rhythm Of Love" (from 1988), live versions of "RYLAH" and "Still Loving You" (I like it much, much better live), both from Love At First Sting and World Wide Live, and live version of "Wind Of Change" (from 1995 Live Bites). "Animal Magnetism" is perhaps the most boring song Scorpions have ever done, but "Send Me An Angel" makes up for it. This ballad can take "I'll Be There For You" by Bon Jovi, "Without You" by Motley Crue, "I Remember You" by Skid Row, "Don't Know Whatcha Got" by Cinderella, plus all the according stuff from Poison and Whitesnake, and shove them all down the garbage can. It's a one hell of a ballad, and Meine sounds like there's an angel sitting in his throat. A good compilation, and a great way to start (and possibly end) your Scorpions collection. Wait a minute, haven't I said this before? J
MOMENT OF GLORY: SCORPIONS / BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER (2000)
RATING: ****
BEST SONGS: “Hurricane 2000,” “Send Me An Angel,” “Wind Of Change”
The cover art for this cd (done by the Bill Smith Studio) is simply perfect: a dinosaur wearing jewels represents the very essence of Moment Of Glory. Of all bands (heavy metal and otherwise) that recorded with a classical orchestra, this is one of a very few that works. This is not the case of classical musicians playing the three chords that the megalomaniac rock and pop musicians paid them to play. Orchestral sounds do not simply enrich the original hit melody. New melodies and arrangements are added, taking the music to another level. “Hurricane 2000” is now multi-layered, multi-melody attacking piece that feels like a classical composition, struck by a lightning. Power of metal is multiplied by the power of classical music and the product is simply staggering. My only problem is that the original lyrics are kept and the “bitch is hungry” line, played over violins, sounds more awful than ever; couldn’t they change a couple of words? This is “Hurricane 2000,” after all! Most of the track list is melodic pieces, which give the orchestra a chance to shine and wrap around the original beautiful harmonies. Perfect examples are “Send Me An Angel” and “Wind Of Change”: the instrumental parts in them are truly phenomenal. Both are just such awesome songs that it is hard not to squeal when their awesomeness is amplified by the bright colors of the orchestra. I only wish Klaus Meine sang the entire “Angel” by himself, without the “guest singing” of “Zucchero,” whose voice is simply too rough for this beautiful ballad. The same goes for “Big City Nights”: Ray Wilson all but ruins it (this also happens to be the only track, where I do not like the arrangements). The whole instrumental mid-section of the album is excellent, highlighted by the metal/orchestra version of a Russian song, “Moscow Nights,” and instrumental rendition of “He’s A Woman, She’s A Man.” All in all, this is definitely a good cd to have for one of those “feelin’ classy” moments.
TRIBUTE TO SCORPIONS (2000)
RATING: ***1/2
BEST SONGS: Sonata Arctica “Still Lovin’ You,” Children of Bodom “Don’t Stop At The Top,” Seven Witches “Alien Nation”
Not one of the better tributes out there, but it’s not for the lack of trying. Many featured artists honestly take a shot at covering the Scorps, but they lack either the talent, the intensity, or the sense of melody of the German legends. For example, Breaker’s version of “Pictured Life” is very true to the original, but it is nothing more than an OK cover. Firewind did a much better job of it because they did it with intensity and talents of Frederick and Gus G. Agent Steel’s “Dark Lady” is also nothing but a solid cover; they could do better (their cover of Priest’s “Beyond The Realms Of Death” was superb). The acts that demonstrate intensity are so sparse, that they became highlights: Sonata Arctica, Children Of Bodom, Helloween (this cover of “He’s A Woman, She’s A Man” we’ve already heard on their Metal Jukebox release), Seven Witches, Steel Prophet with “Top Of The Bill,” Tankard with “Coming Home,” and to some extent Paradox with “Dynamite.” Sonata’s cover of “Still Lovin’ You” is, in fact, far and away the brightest spot on this tribute: not only they play with fire and tightness but they apply their songwriting talents here. After the by-the-numbers first verse, this ballad in their hands turns into a raging speed metal blast. Alexi Laiho lends “Don’t Stop At The Top” his trademark growls, and does them very well. Paradox’s cover would have been one of the highlights, if not for the weak vocals. Rough Silk is mildly enjoyable (especially for their piano skills), but I could never get into them: neither their covers nor originals. To me, they lack even a trace of power. Sinergy do an adequate job on “Rock You Like A Hurricane” (killer solo by Laiho), but Kim Goss could have given it more passion. Good thing is that this song is nearly impossible to mess up… unless you do what S. O. D. did. The album’s worst moment is their “cover”: a thirty-second riff that abruptly ends with a scream “You’re bald!” Is this supposed to be funny? It fuckin’ ain’t! Is this supposed to be an insult? Then why is it on a tribute album? I lost a lot of respect for Scott Ian when I’ve heard it (and I’ve not had much for Billy Milano in the first place). Steel Prophet is a premier cover band, and their “Top Of The Bill” rocks. Stratovarius is not a premier cover band, but their “Blackout” is pretty good also. All in all, not a disaster, but not an earth-shatter collection either.
HUMANITY HOUR 1 (2007)
RATING: ****
BEST SONGS: “Hour 1,” “We Were Born To Fly,” “Humanity”
Not the second coming that some people were quick to declare this album, but certainly a good, solid work, the kind that not many people expected to ever hear from these dinosaurs, who in the past few years were busy exploiting their previous “moments of glory.” The songwriting reeks a bit too much of Desmond Child’s strip-mall commercialism, but overall it’s rather decent. The production is top-notch, both heavy and slick, probably the best I’ve ever heard from the Scorps. Opening “Hour 1” is an excellent mid-pace chugger, “The Game Of Life” recalls the band’s glorious melodic anthems like “Rhythm Of Love.” “We We Born To Fly” is another excellent cut with superb singing by Herr Meine in the chorus. His sugary voice has deteriorated very insignificantly over the years, and he still sounds great. HH1 suffers from abundance of ballads and the lack of speed, but nobody really expected “He’s A Woman…” or “Dynamite” in the first place. “You’re Loving Me To Death” has an excellent modern groove, but asinine lyrics place it firmly in the hair-metal era. “321” is a solid arena rocker, which is bound to have a spot in their live setlist and please the fans. “We Will Rise Again” I also dig. Concluding “Humanity” is definitely their best ballad since “Wind Of Change,” and just like that one, it’s perfectly timed to appear in these days of turmoil. Plus, nobody can say “Auf federzein” with quite the same authority as Meine. Schenker and Jabs are still as competent as they get in the field of melodic rock. Although nothing on this album will push “Hurricane” or “Big City Nights” from their fans’ fav lists, this is still a keeper.
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