Rough Edge: The Scorpions CD Reviews

SCORPIONS

"Humanity: Hour 1" (New Door; 2007)

Reviewed by Snidermann

There are only a few things in heavy metal that are a constant and The Scorpions are one of them. "Humanity: Hour 1" is the band's 21st album and first album in three years and, like their previous studio CD, "Unbreakable," (and virtually all other Scorps releases, for that matter) it is a testament to the unshakeable ability of this band to sound great even after nearly 35 years.

Everything you look for in a Scorpions CD is here: Klaus Meine's awesome vocals (the man still sounds nothing short of great after all these years), the incredible band and their signature sound, crisp production and awesome songwriting. Scorpions fans will not be disappointed with this CD.

Release after release, The Scorpions continue to deliver quality rock'n'roll. They're one of the few bands that even make their power ballads work.

Billy Corgan, singer and guitarist of the Smashing Pumpkins, makes a special appearance on "The Cross."

Scorpions: Klaus Meine - vocals; Rudolf Schenker - rhythm guitars; Matthias Jabs - lead guitars; James Kottak - drums; Pawel Maciwoda - bass.

For more information, check out http://www.the-scorpions.com.

"Unbreakable" (Sanctuary; 2004)

Reviewed by Snidermann

I know, I know. R. Scott Bolton already reviewed the Scorpions' "Unbreakable." But it's such a bitchin' release that I thought I would give it some more ink.

Right from the very first cut of "Unbreakable," you know you're in the presence of metal genius. Thirteen cuts, almost an hour of music, all of it great.

The Scorpions are not resting on their numerous past successes here in 2004, but have instead recorded and released a true and vibrant metal masterpiece. This is the Scorpions in their truest form; music that jumps from the CD player with an intensity and force that rocks like they did thirty years ago.

Check out http://www.the-scorpions.com for a sample of each of these killer metal tunes along with some updated information.

The Scorpions are back with a high energy attack that is sure to be one of the best releases of 2004.

Scorpions: Klaus Meine - vocals, backing vocals; Rudolf Schenker - rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars, solo guitar, backing vocals; Matthias Jabs - lead guitars, rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars, slide guitars, voicebox; Pewel Maciwoda - bass; James Kottak - drums, backing vocals.

For more information, check out http://www.the-scorpions.com.

"Unbreakable" (Sanctuary; 2004)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Recently, in a review of the great new Motorhead CD, I stated, "How many bands can you count that continue to play and record music today that's as good as the music they played and recorded nearly thirty years ago? I can tell you my answer easily enough: One. And that band is Motorhead."

Although I'm not backing off on my Motorhead comment (no band has been as consistent for so long as Motorhead), I must amend my previous comment. With "Unbreakable," 32 years have passed since the Scorpions first released "Lonesome Crow," and - for my money - that band sounds as good as ever.

If you're looking for something new and fresh, then you need to look elsewhere. "Unbreakable" is classic Scorpions, with its clean, solid rock guitars, irresistible melodies and the unmistakable, seemingly ageless vocal stylings of Klaus Meine.

There are few new releases by veteran bands that give their longtime fans exactly what they're looking for, but "Unbreakable" (like Motorhead's "Inferno"), does just that. I can't say there's anything on this CD that matches "The Zoo" or "Rock You Like a Hurricane," but there isn't a weak track to be found here. Scorpions fans will be proudly pumping their fists in the air again and with good cause. Apparently, this is another classic rock band that refuses to die.

For more information, check out http://www.the-scorpions.com.

"Moment of Glory" (EMI-Classics)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Following in the footsteps of their colleagues (Deep Purple) and the later masters (Metallica), as well as all of those in between and since, the veteran Scorpions decided to try their hand at performing their classic metal hits with a full-on orchestra backing them (in this case, the Berliner Philharmoniker). The big difference here, however, is that - unlike Purple's "In Concert With the London Symphony Orchestra" and Metallica's "S&M," "Moment of Glory" is a studio production and probably garners an edge because of it.

Although you may roll your eyes (I know I did) when I first discovered this album ("It's been done!" I remember thinking) "Moment of Glory" starts out promising enough, with a rousing version of the band's "Rock You Like a Hurricane" entitled "Hurricane 2000." The combination of orchestra and rock band is perfect throughout this track and it sets the stage for what appears to be an entertaining listen.

Unfortunately, "Moment of Glory" never really gets better than "Hurricane 2000." Although the music is big and bold in an "Excalibur"/"Gladiator" sort of way, the songs lean too hard on the orchestra and not enough on the rock'n'roll. The result is an album that isn't bad, just a little dull. By the time the CD reaches its end, you've listened to something that's probably a little more classical than you expected. (Of course, it is on the EMI-Classics label). Things get a little better around Tracks #8 and #9 with the Scorp classics "Still Loving You" and "Big City Nights" (with Ray Wilson on vocals), with "Big City Nights" proving to be a close second to "Hurricane 2000" for best track on the CD. In addition, there are two instrumentals on the CD as well - "Crossfire" and "Deadly Sting Suite." As its name may imply, the latter is the stronger of the two, featuring an all-out war of sound between rock'n'roll band and symphony orchestra.

Scorpions fans will no doubt enjoy this re-tooling of their favorite songs and fans of the rock'n'roll/symphony orchestra combination won't be disappointed either. Me, I'm still looking for the perfect combination of the two - and I know it's out there somewhere...

"Moment of Glory" is chock full of guests, including Len Liechty, Zucchero, James Kottak, Ken Taylor and many more.

For more information, please visit http://www.scorps.net.

"Eye II Eye" (Koch)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

This 1999 CD from the incredibly successful Scorpions was met with cries of outrage and confusion by fans who had come to expect albums like "Crazy World" and "Love at First Sting." "Eye II Eye" was an experiment - and one that was only occasionally successful. Most of the time, however, fans listening to "Eye II Eye" probably found themselves asking, "What the hell were they thinking?"

The CD begins well enough with "Mysterious," a rock-hard tune that could have come from any previous Scorps album. The second tune, however, is where the head-scratching begins. Play this for anybody who knows anything about music, ask them who they think it, and they'll likely tell you, "Well, it sounds like George Michael..." It's that kind of pop funk tune with a $20 Casio keyboard filling in the drum parts.

The album's next track, "Obsession," sounds like one of the band's normal ballads. You know, the slow songs they stuck on each album to generate airplay and goose record sales. "Obsession" isn't bad at all.

And so goes the rest of "Eye II Eye," alternating hard rock tracks with bizarre, trendy music styles that just don't lend themselves to the Scorpions style. You probably can't help but be impressed by the musicianship of Rudolf Schenker or Matthias Jabs or the vocals of Klaus Meine, but it's not what you've come to expect when you hear this band's name.

Is "Eye II Eye" the complete waste of time and effort that many claimed it was upon its initial release? Probably not. Again, the word 'experiment' comes to mind and - as an 'experiment' - it's not a totally unsuccessful one.

But it's not "Lovedrive," either.

"Eye II Eye" was produced by Peter Wolf.

SCORPIONS are: Klaus Meine - vocals; Rudolf Schenker - rhythm guitars, lead guitars, acoustic guitars, sitar guitar, backing vocals; Matthias Jabs - lead guitars, rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars, slide guitar, voice box and mandolin; Ralph Rickermann - bass, backing vocals; James Kottak - drums, backing vocals, vocals. Also playing on "Eye II Eye" are Peter Wolf - keyboards, piano; Michelle Wolf - backing vocals; Mick Jones - acoustic guitar; Herman Rarebell - backing vocals.

For more information, please visit http://www.scorps.net or http://www.the-scorpions.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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