Roby86

They've done better, by far. An album that (and I'm sorry to say this because we're talking about giants like Rush) doesn't quite manage to leave a lasting impact. Approachable, but it doesn't invite repeated listening. The infinite class of Rush is still there... however, this time, the 'substance' is a bit lacking.

An excellent soundtrack/collection from the second golden period of the Thin White Duke, that is, the Berlin trilogy. There are some outstanding 'rescues' like "Station To Station" and an excellent version of "TVC 15." However, "Heroes" sung partly in German, in my opinion, could have been spared. - A strong 4 stars for the album.

@GrantNicholas: honestly, I don't remember the track you mentioned. "Invincible," I admit I downloaded it... but a long time ago, to assess whether it was worth buying or not. Unfortunately, it left me quite unsatisfied (considering that it took a whopping 10 years to make) and I put it aside. At the moment, I don't even know if I deleted it or if it's on some backup of my old PC - It could be an opportunity to listen to it again and reevaluate it more clearly...

For "Off The Wall," although it is a valid album, honestly, I'm not crazy about it (as it's still too close to Motown music of the afro-disco-music genre). Then throughout the '80s, he made quality music... unfortunately, after the excellent "Dangerous," dating back to 1991, his creativity drastically collapsed: a few last gasps with pleasant tracks like "Scream," "Ghosts," "Stranger In Moscow," but nothing more. - Perhaps being aware of being artistically finished eroded him even more than all the accusations and media beatings he received... leading up to the death a few days ago. He wanted to come back but, probably, he was aware that he wouldn't be able to sustain 50 concerts, so it would have been another (yet another?) disappointment for the fans: direct suicide as a remedy? The end of the will to live? Or the only way to regain lost popularity? The truth will never be known by anyone.

I preface this by saying that this is the first Mellencamp album I've listened to, intrigued by the review (and therefore I can't make comparisons with his other records). Sticking with this "Uh-Huh"... I must say I was pleasantly surprised: a simple and direct sound, very impactful. "Crumblin' Down" is a nice jolt... the other 'upbeat' tracks are also quite good, such as "Warmer Place To Sleep" and "Lovin' Mother Fo Ya". A great recommendation, then...

I need to listen to it again because it's been a long time since I played it on the stereo, so my memories are a bit blurry...

@There: in the past I also had a couple of CDs from this series... one was by Grand Funk, the other I honestly don’t remember. Anyway, the fact is that they are definitely cheap products where audio quality is just a mirage. Moreover, they are often very inaccurate both in the song titles and in the recording dates... it can't be ruled out that Beck may have played these tracks before their release, just as it can't be ruled out (indeed, it's very likely) that what is written on the back cover is completely wrong!

Nice, I liked it. Maybe not super original... but solid and strong just the right amount. Four stars, for me, fit!

Giona, as always, an excellent and thorough review. - Regarding the album, I must admit that I've never been able to digest Hackett's acoustic/orchestral projects (unlike the 'traditional' albums, if they can be defined as such, like "Voyage Of The Acolyte," "Spectral Mornings," etc. etc... to which I take my hat off!). Nothing... this album, "Bay Of Kings" and similar ones simply go beyond my tastes...