Skunkworks

A totally underrated album by Bruce Dickinson. This is worth getting especially if you can get the 2-Disc version. I can't believe the critics panned this album.

Critics were expecting Dickinson to come out with an album that sounded just like Iron Maiden. When he didn't, they lambasted him for it.

Thats why I don't pay any attention to "metal critics", they are generally just as dumb as many of the fans.

That album is a rather recent addition to my solo Bruce collection, so while I may not have lived with it for very long, I never had any problems with it. Liked it from the first spin. Damn fine album if you ask me.

Yeah man, I really saw how diverse Bruce was upon jamming it...I hate when people expect a solo album to sound just like an album from said person's band.

It's a strange one for sure. When it came out in '96 it got such universally bad reviews that I avoided it like the plague.

Years later I happened to find it on cassette at a dollar store (!!), and curiosity got the better of me. I liked it well enough, I guess, but I still have yet to upgrade it to CD.

My favorite song from the Skunkworks band is "I'm In A Band With An Italian Drummer," which was on the B-side to one of the album's singles. it's like Zappa meets Monty Python.



"He's really Italian, he's hung like a stallion; his cock's too long to fit in this song!"

That song is on disc 2.

Akeldama wrote:

That song is on disc 2.

Yep, it is. I suppose I should've mentioned that.

It's also on the bonus 2nd disc that came with Bruce's "Best-Of" that came out in 2000 or '01, I forget which. That's where I first heard it.

I "found" a copy of the original release, I'll spin it later and see if I still like it.

I like the Rush sound the guitars have on this album. I never understood the panning of it either. I wish that he would do another Skunkworks album.

You're right FF.

And yes chewie, another one like that would be kewl.

Bruce sounds right at home singing more melodic material and this album is a classy showcase for a different side to his personality.

I've always felt that he probably would have continued down this path if this album had been more enthusiastically received. But alas, the sales weren't there, so he had to heavy things back up for his subsequent records.

Yeah, that's why the 2-Disc is essential.

I'll have to track that down at some point, too many items on the want list already.

A strong, melodic, progressive album....excellent release.

Shawn wrote:

A strong, melodic, progressive album....excellent release.

I jammed it twice last night, a really great record.

I've never listened to this before today, just jammed the first disc, but not really sure what to make of it yet.

Jammed this earlier today, good stuff, prefer disc 2 to disc 1 personally.

After a second listen, some of the songs on this album are great, and I love Bruce's voice on here. But, the production would definitely keep me from listening to this, it's a little too overly melodic/lite, it's got that real streamlined sound to it.