Entertainment For Lively Minds
Iron Maiden, Album By Album
Iron Maiden · It's alright. I was never a big fan of Paul Di'Anno and I've got no great love for any of these songs. 3 out of 5 stars.
Killers · Nothing to shout about. It's basically a retread of the first album but with weaker songs. 2 stars.
The Number of the Beast · Three classic songs (The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills and Hallowed Be Thy Name), the rest is filler. Pretty poor album to be honest. 2 stars.
Piece of Mind · Probably their most consistent album, and therefore probably their best. 5 stars.
Powerslave · Starts with good singles. The middle is full of filler. Ends with two epics that are good (although Mariner is a bit of an overlong plodding mess). Okay overall. 4 stars.
Somewhere in Time · Only has one good song on it (Wasted Years). Alexander is truly terrible, and might be their very worst song. Very poor album. 2 stars.
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son · It's usually considered to be their masterpiece although it's oddly overlooked and obscure for some reason? I never cared that much for it personally, but I can't say anything bad about it. My problem with it might be that I know four of its eight songs from a Best Of and so struggle to take it as an album. 4 stars.
No Prayer for the Dying · My own personal favourite but most people consider it to the worst album they released. 5 stars.
Fear of the Dark · Bloated with lots of filler. Only the title track is of any note. 2 stars.
The X Factor · Rubbish and overlong. Doesn't have a single good song on it. Their worst album. 1 star.
Virtual XI · Of some merit, but not a lot. 2 stars.
Brave New World · Not bad but rather drab. 2 stars.
Dance of Death · I quite like this one but I can't say it's anything great. It has an odd ponderous quality to it that makes it feel like hard work to get through it. 3 stars.
A Matter of Life and Death · A lot of people who don't normally like Maiden seem to like this (for example Q magazine gave it a good review and were surprised at how modern they sounded). I think it's amazingly boring. I hate it and consider it to be the second worst album they have released. 1 star.
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You don't
really like Iron Maiden very much.
So why the album reviews?
Can I do one on Chris De Burgh?
"You
don't really like Iron Maiden very much."
The negativity is the only thing you took from it? Didn't notice that I liked a lot of it? Or do you have to gush uncritically to actually like something?
"So why the album reviews?"
I wrote it for another website. I thought someone here might find it interesting.
You certainly couldn't be accused
of uncritical gushing, thats for sure.
You gave the impression even the stuff you like is crap. Which, given the band in question, is almost certainly true.
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses - I was a bit off my head and bored of most contemporary guitar music at the time. Two sandwiches and a Coke.
Second Coming - I was still a bit off my head and even liked the Zep steals. A jam doughnut and a Lilt.
Any of you Word chaps need an extra reviewer, you've got my number. Ta.
Thanks
for this, but I'm amazed that you're so hard on the Number of the Beast. Does that mean you think Invaders and The Prisoner are 'poor'? Also, Powerslave. Does Flash of the Blade not pass muster? Really I'm not up on the later albums, so I'll have to take your word for it about those. On the other hand, perhaps not!
Nice one, can you do me a handy Grateful Dead
album-by-album quick reference guide? :-)
I'm happy to oblige...
The Grateful Dead *
Anthem of the Sunn *
Aoxomoxoa *
Live Dead **
Workingman's Dead *
American Beauty *
Grateful Dead Live *
Europe '72 **
Bear's Choice: History of the Grateful Dead **
Wake of the Flood *
Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel *
Skeletons from the Closet *
Blues for Allah ***** (awarded 4 extra stars for the fantastic title)
Steal Your Face **** (3 extra stars for title)
Terrapin Station **** (3 extra stars for title)
What a Long Strange Trip It's Been *
Shakedown Street *
Go To Heaven *
Reckoning *
Dead Set *
In the Dark **
Dylan & The Dead minus *****
Built to Last *
Without a Net *
One from the Vault *
Infrared Roses *
Two from the Vault *
Dick's Picks Volume One **
Dick's Picks Volume Two *
Hundred Year Hall *
Dick's Picks Volume Three *
Dick's Picks Volume Four *
Dick's Picks Volume Five *
Dick's Picks Volume Six *
Dozin' At the Knick ***** (4 extra stars for title)
Dick's Picks Volume Seven *
Dick's Picks Volume Eight *
Fallout From The Phil Zone **
Terrapin Station (Limited Edition) ****
Dick's Picks Volume Nine *
Fillmore East **
Dick's Picks Volume Ten *
Dick's Picks Volume Eleven *
Dick's Picks Volume Twelve *
Dick's Picks Volume Thirteen **
Dick's Picks Volume Fourteen *
Dick's Picks Volume Fifteen *
Dick's Picks Volume Sixteen *
Dick's Picks Volume Seventeen *
Dick's Picks Volume Eighteen *
Dick's Picks Volume Nineteen *
Dick's Picks Volume Twenty *
Dick's Picks Volume Twentyone *
Dick's Picks Volume Twentytwo *
Nightfall of Diamonds ***** (4 extra stars for title)
Dick's Picks Volume Twentythree *
Dick's Picks Volume Twentyfour *
Dick's Picks Volume Twentyfive *
Postcards of the Hanging **** (3 extra stars for title)
Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead **
Dick's Picks Volume Twentysix *
Go to Nassau *
Dick's Picks Volume Twentyseven *
Birth of the Grateful Dead ***** (a classic)
Dick's Picks Volume Twentyeight *
Dick's Picks Volume Twentynine *
Closing of Winterland *
Dick's Picks Volume Thirty *
Dick's Picks Volume Thirtyone *
Rockin' the Rhein **** (3 extra stars for the word 'rockin'')
Dick's Picks Volume Thirtytwo *
Ladies & Gentlemen... The Grateful Dead **
Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack *
Dick's Picks Volume Thirtythree *
Dick's Picks Volume Thirtyfour *
Rare Cuts & Oddities 1966 *
Digital Download 1 *
Digital Download 2 *
Dick's Picks Volume Thirtyfive *
Truckin' Up To Buffalo ***
Digital Download 3 *
Digital Download 4 *
Digital Download 5 *
Digital Download 6 *
Digital Download 7 **
Dick's Picks Volume Thirtysix *
Fillmore West 1969 *
Digital Download 8 *
Night At the Family Dog **
Digital Download 9 *
Digital Download 10 *
Digital Download 11 *
Digital Download 12 *
Live at the Cow Palace *
Three From The Vault **
When deciding upon the grading of these albums I did not allow myself to be unduly affected by the fact that I do not have an intimate knowledge of many of them (well, any of them). I did not want my critical faculties to be blunted by over-familiarity. Still, all in all I think I've been pretty fair.
thanks all
for wasting so much of yr time filling our minds with opinions based on bodies of work so gargantuan as to be unique to yourselves..
now do the fall
and zappa
Can I do Jeff Buckley?
Grace - Brilliant album. Choice covers, innovative style later overdone by others (not his fault). A classic.
Sketches For my Sweetheart The Drunk - sadly died before completion, so can't really be reviewed fairly.
You missed a few...
Live at Sin-E: Essential. A masterpiece. One man and an electric guitar (and it doesn't sound at all like early Billy Bragg, well not much)
Mystery White Boy: Pointless live compilation, little of any redeeming value.
Live At Olympia: A fine representation of the Jeff Buckley Band live experience. Perhaps a little too heavy on the screaming girls but he was a sex symbol in France after all.
I think we need more depressive album reviews
Astral Weeks - Alright. Couple of good songs. Goes on a bit. No Brown Eyed Girl. **
Pet Sounds - Lots of people say this is a timeless masterpiece of overwhelming beauty. I agree. But it goes on a bit and I can't get through it. **
Revolver - Generally thought to be amongst the greatest albums ever made. It has been the soundtrack to my life. Too many songs and I don't like the cover ***
Now do Chris de Burgh.
Do you mean
'Do' as in give him a good kicking or 'do' in a sexual sense?
Given harf a charnce, I'd oblige with the former. But not the latter. Even if I was desperate for a little romarnce.
I'll hold
his scrawny little arms, get tore in with the former, missus
how about...
Exile on Main Street - too long. Sounds as though they threw it together. Would have benefitted from tuning the guitars before each take. Does however contain Tumblin' Dice ***
Stone Roses - rubbish. Never saw the attraction. Diluted show-gazing indie with an over-indulgent guitarist.
Definitely Maybe - vastly overrated. D-rate Slade to an outside observer. Nothing which hasn't been heard a thousand times better in the 30 year period before its release.
Well
you certainly nailed the third one. But we can't accept your evaluations unless you incorporate the new "how many sandwiches and which popular fizzy drink?" marking system..
Perhaps for Oasis a regurgitated sandwich you ate some time earlier and enjoyed more the first time... an empty coke can which was used as an ashtray before someone pissed in it?
Chris De burgh then...
Far Beyond These Castle Walls Rubbish
Spanish Train and Other Stories Rubbish though Spaceman Came Travelling has something. But Patricia the Stripper is a great title.
At the End of a Perfect Day Rubbish
Crusader Rubbish
Eastern Wind Rubbish
The Getaway Rubbish
Man on the Line Includes high On Emotion which I bought for 25p 12inch not quite rubbish
Into the Light - Includes Lady in Red - draw your own conclusions.
Flying Colours Rubbish, includes Missing You, AOR schlock
Power of Ten Rubbish
This Way Up Rubbish
Beautiful Dreams Rubbish
Quiet Revolution Rubbish
Timing Is Everything Rubbish
The Road To Freedom Rubbish
The Storyman, Rubbish
Footsteps Rubbish
Moonfleet Not out yet but probably will be rubbish
Back to Maiden.
They've got about half a dozen good songs. At a stretch. The rest is guff. I was a proper spotty teenaged boy of a fan of theirs up until Powerslave when the scales finally fell from my eyes.
Saying that, the two times I saw them at Southampton Gaumont on the Piece of Mind and Powerslave tours.. wowzah. Still probably the two most exciting gigs I've been to.
So. To my ears, a great live band but otherwise not really listenable.
I'll take your
word for it. :)
Spot on
Those were the two tours I saw too. It was when I bought the live album from the latter tour that I realised that I didn't really enjoy listening to the music much. Cracking live band though.
I see Iron Maiden
have released a new compilation that intermingles their 90s and 00s songs. I think they missed an obvious trick as they could have done a U2 and released three separate decade Best Ofs (they already released a 80s Best Of). So I decided to try creating them myself.
Iron Maiden - Best of 80s (17 songs)
Sanctuary Iron Maiden 3:16
Running Free Iron Maiden 3:17
Strange World Iron Maiden 5:32
Wrathchild Killers 2:55
Murders In The Rue Morgue Killers 4:19
The Number Of The Beast The Number Of The Beast 4:51
Run To The Hills The Number Of The Beast 3:54
Hallowed Be Thy Name The Number Of The Beast 7:13
Where Eagles Dare Piece Of Mind 6:10
Flight Of Icarus Piece Of Mind 3:51
Die With Your Boots On Piece Of Mind 5:29
The Trooper Piece Of Mind 4:11
2 Minutes To Midnight Powerslave 6:00
Powerslave Powerslave 6:48
Can I Play With Madness Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son 3:31
The Evil That Men Do Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son 4:34
Only The Good Die Young Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son 4:41
Iron Maiden - Best of 90s (13 songs)
Tailgunner No Prayer For The Dying 4:15
Holy Smoke No Prayer For The Dying 3:50
The Assassin No Prayer For The Dying 4:36
Hooks In You No Prayer For The Dying 4:08
Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter No Prayer For The Dying 4:45
Be Quick Or Be Dead Fear of the Dark 3:24
Afraid To Shoot Strangers Fear of the Dark 6:57
Wasting Love Fear of the Dark 5:51
Fear Of The Dark Fear of the Dark 7:17
Sign of the Cross The X Factor 11:18
Man on the Edge The X Factor 4:13
Futureal Virtual XI 2:56
The Clansman Virtual XI 9:00
Iron Maiden - Best of 00s (12 songs)
The Wicker Man Brave New World 4:36
Ghost Of The Navigator Brave New World 6:50
The Nomad Brave New World 9:06
Out Of The Silent Planet Brave New World 6:26
Wildest Dreams Dance Of Death 3:53
Montsegur Dance Of Death 5:50
Dance Of Death Dance Of Death 8:37
Paschendale Dance Of Death 8:28
Different World A Matter Of Life And Death 4:19
For The Greater Good Of God A Matter Of Life And Death 9:25
El Dorado The Final Frontier 6:49
Isle of Avalon The Final Frontier 9:06
Hoping to getting this new Maiden compilation for father day....
....the Mrs asked me what I was after last week so I put this as a suggestion.
I have all the Maiden albums upto when Bruce left and 3 of the ones since he returned. I like the idea of a compilation of the best tracks of this period. I was always a fan of The Fear of The Dark album when it came out in '92. The Blaze years passed me by, I never liked his voice and the reviews for his albums were poor. So Bruce singing live versions of the best tracks from that period is okay by me.
Think a 2cd best of 1990-2010 is a good idea. Your tracklist isnt too bad, LOUDspeaker. Must try one of my own.
A commendable effort
although the first cd knocks the second and third ones into the proverbial cocked hat.
still bloody great live though!
I´m glad I didn´t have to start this thread
I would have been thrown out.
Iron Maiden 4/5
Killers 3/5
The Number Of The Beast 4/5
Piece Of Mind 5/5
Powerslave 3/5
Somewhere In Time 2/5
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son 5/5
No Prayer For The Dying 2/5
Fear Of The Dark 3/5
The X Factor 3/5
Virtual XI 1/5
Brave New World 3/5
Dance Of Death 4/5
A Matter Of Life And Death 5/5
The Final Frontier 4/5
I must admit, of all my favourite bands, Maiden were not one I expected to age with this level of dignity.
if i may chip in
their best records are
No. of the Beast, Powerslave, Piece of Mind, Seventh Son, Brave New World, Matter of Life and Death. The rest are fairly average. As someone above said, Maiden are essentially a live band. And they deliver a damn good cartoon metal show. If you don't like their product, fair enough, jog on!
Can I point out
that they are a lot better than Richard Thompson??