I've just bought 2 disc deluxe expanded editions of
Iron Fist and
Rock 'n' Roll. Quick impressions. Opened
R'n'R already and the sleeve is cool, packed with interesting stuff... but still, no lyrics included. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t pay that much attention to absence of lyrics. Just a minor gripe that doesn’t diminish
R'n’R edition.
First off the sound is brilliant: it’s crispy and deep being balanced at the same time. When this monster’s playing, you can feel the vibes in the organs inside your body. So I cannot agree with the review I have lately read: “It is supposed to be a remaster?? but it sounds really compressed like a 192kbps mp3, try and get the original cd, because it is a great album…” (source:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/APF7WEPOWBF4E/ref=cm_cr_auth/202-8224308-1056635?ie=UTF8). Well, I agree with "...it is a great album..." part.
Maybe it’s a blasphemy but I have never considered neither Phil Campbell nor Michael "Würzel" Burston guitar wizards, as Brian Robertson for example or even underrated "Fast" Eddie Clarke. I have changed my mind after listening to the R’n’R album. They are not Brian Robertson, but they play so well here, actually they are stunning: solo after solo, and all over again. Wish they played like this on other MH albums.
The
R'n'R album is a KILLER! I love all of it! Now I especially listen to (giving my-now-ratings, too):
Eat The Rich - 5/5
Blackheart - 4.5/5 (Cool! Backing vocals here include Pete Gill and Brian May)
Stone Deaf In The USA - 4.5/5
Traitor - 5/5
Dogs - 4.5/5
All For You - 5/5
Boogeyman - 5/5
plus:
Just 'Cos You've Got The Power - 5/5
Just 'Cos You Got The Power (misspelled in this edition as
Just 'Cos You’ve Got The Power) is a rebel-attitude, kick-in-the-teeth song! It’s such a great composition – both from the instrumental and lyrical point of view. The rhythm section thumps a huge bluesy pattern while there’s a non-stop soloing wrapped over it. It doesn't happen often in Motörhead I guess. The lyrics are strong as hell. Lemmy's voice is raw here being husky at the time:
You bastards think it’s funny,
Lyin’ and thieving all your life,
Think all there is is money,
Got your future wrapped up tight,
Just ‘cos you got the power,
That don’t mean you got the right...
Killer songs like
Eat The Rich,
Cradle To The Grave,
Just 'Cos You Got The Power, on one single?! No leftovers! It had to be a monster back then! Still is.
Cradle To The Grave - 5/5
As for
Rock 'N' Roll and
The Wolf I am still thinking (by the way I think I can hear clicks and pops in the howlin' wolf in
The Wolf intro, but might be wrong). I like them very much but have to give’em more listens to fully appreciate them I guess. What I don’t like is Michael Palin's outro on
Stone Deaf In The USA. I am not a native speaker and maybe that's why I don't get its nuances. I like Monty Python’s sense of humor, I really do. But I think this
Blessing is out of place here. Just doesn’t fit into the formula of the album. Should be a separate track that can be skipped or programmed. I am happy it’s put at the end of the song.
There are rich sleeve insides in this
R’n’R edition. It's informative for the beginner. You’ve got quality reproductions of pictures, posters, set list, backstage pass, ticket, etc.
It’s beautifully printed, I believe the artwork has been restored faithfully. Joe Petagno did such a good job for this album. The front cover is excellent, but as he says it should be upside down, because this time the Snaggletooth goes like an exploding bomb up to the sky! The band didn’t accept the idea so it is put in a normal manner. The last page reproduces the cover of
Eat the Rich! single, which is cool too. By the way there is a reasonable review of
R'n'R:
www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=7349 - Check it out
.
R'n'R is brilliant! Can’t get enough of it. The music is great, lyrics are ballsy, sound is top notch. It's so much better compared to later albums, at least to those I own. There are some minor gripes, but hey, they don’t really matter. It’s spinning constantly in my CD player. Think those 2 disc editions are ultimate for me!