Some minor record shops already sold CHSIB by the end of this week here in Germany.
Therefore I could buy mine on Friday - proud to say: officialy and paid!
The included special addition bonus CD contains two videos/one audio from the Storytellers DVD and the Did I Say That video, it runs on my PC only. Anyhow, forget about the bonus CD,
here are my initial thoughts on what I have been starving for.
Please skip if you do not want to spoil your own tension:
CHAPTER ONE
1. COULDN`T HAVE SAID IT BETTER - Killer!!!!!
(James Michael (music and lyrics), Nikki Sixx (music))
Yes, it maybe called a Jimitation. Yes, there are some similarities with Anything For Love.
But this song is way too outstanding on its own not to be blown away!
Very powerfull with Patti joining in for most of the vocals.
And the words are so right: "This is the moment we`ve been waiting for"...
2. DID I SAY THAT - Killer!
(James Michael)
Already known from the single release.
3. WHY ISN`T THAT ENOUGH - Killer!
(Jo Davidson)
Right when you think: "o.k., nice ballad", the bombastic climax is going to hit you.
4. LOVE YOU OUT LOUD - Killer!
(James Michael, Nikki Sixx)
Rock track that I did not like initially, but that has already strongly grown on me.
Some modern elements.
5. MAN OF STEEL - Killer!!!!!
(James Michael, Nikki Sixx)
Fantastic! Ballad with a rocking chorus. What a chorus! And when Pearl joins in
at the end of the song you know you are in heaven on earth!
The duett part is so damn good it should be much longer.
INTERMEZZO (Peter Mokran) Penny Whistle
CHAPTER TWO
1. Testify - Killer!
(Kevin Griffin)
Unlike Meats style. Fast accoustic guitars. The gospel part is fantastic! Cannot wait to hear this song live.
2. TEAR ME DOWN - Killer!
(Stephen Trask)
Sticks close to the original from Hedwig (besides the spoken part). Great straight rocker!
3. YOU`RE RIGHT, I WAS WRONG - Good!
(Diane Warren)
Typical Diane Warren ballad. No more, no less.
4. BECAUSE OF YOU - Filler
(Rick Jude (music and lyrics), Steve Balsamo (lyrics))
Sounds like an average boyband song to me, nothing that suits Meat or is worth to be on his album.
5. DO IT! - Uups
(Billy Rankin)
Meat trying to sound like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Even harder than the original.
Only song were I look for the skip button. But probably clever to have the variation spots
Do It and Testify on the album.
6. FOREVER YOUNG - Killer!
(Bob Dylan)
Perfect passionate album-closing ballad! Bob Dylans original lifted into another dimension!
A hit waiting to be released as a single.
(6a MERCURY BLUES - Killer!
(Douglas, Geddins)
Great feelgood rock`n`roll song. Fortunately it has not really been left out. Have to find a way to mark it on the CD.)
Bottom line: Awesome! So far I rank it as the best album in the history of music without any Steinman involvement!
Meat and Kasim themselves nailed it long ago, when they said that it is as well typical Meat Loaf as it is modern and different.
It has the melodies, the passion, the voice, the choirs, the emotions, the bombast, the piano... and it rocks!
Nearly all these songs promise to sound fantastic in concert!
Have to praise everybody involved, especially Meat himself, James Michael and Nikki Sixx!
Some additional infos:
Most tracks are recorded with this studio team:
Kenny Aranoff (drums)
Kasim Sulton (bass)
Michael Thompson (guitars)
Tom Brislin (piano)
Eric Troyer, Kasim and others (background vocals)
But there are lots of additional musicians including John, Patti, Pearl and Mark. Each of them on two of the tracks.
Finally the mlukfc gets credited
Let us all support that wonderfull album as much as we can (radio stations, friends, shops...)!
Michael