Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:42 pm
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.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:40 pm
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.
MetalGuy71 Man/Monkey Hybrid
Posts : 474 Join date : 2009-11-20 Age : 52 Location : Fortress of Solitude Tool Shed
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:26 pm
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.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:56 pm
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.
Fat Freddy Stormtrooper Of Pabst
Posts : 1300 Join date : 2009-11-18 Age : 53 Location : West Milford, NJ
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:07 pm
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!"
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:14 pm
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:26 pm
That song is on disc 2.
Fat Freddy Stormtrooper Of Pabst
Posts : 1300 Join date : 2009-11-18 Age : 53 Location : West Milford, NJ
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:35 pm
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.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:52 pm
I "found" a copy of the original release, I'll spin it later and see if I still like it.
chewie
Posts : 1903 Join date : 2011-03-09
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:59 pm
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.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 11:04 pm
You're right FF.
And yes chewie, another one like that would be kewl.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 11:09 pm
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.
Akeldama Cagey Cretin
Posts : 6579 Join date : 2009-12-12 Age : 103 Location : Colorado
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 11:12 pm
Yeah, that's why the 2-Disc is essential.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Fri Jul 22, 2011 11:13 pm
I'll have to track that down at some point, too many items on the want list already.
Shawn
Posts : 273 Join date : 2010-05-07 Age : 52 Location : NC - USA
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:43 pm
A strong, melodic, progressive album....excellent release.
S.D. The Subhuman
Posts : 6538 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Los Angeles, CA
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:56 pm
Shawn wrote:
A strong, melodic, progressive album....excellent release.
I jammed it twice last night, a really great record.
DeathCult Transmaniacon MC
Posts : 2164 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Arkham
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Sun Jul 24, 2011 3:43 pm
I've never listened to this before today, just jammed the first disc, but not really sure what to make of it yet.
gershom
Posts : 1298 Join date : 2010-12-08
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Sun Jul 24, 2011 3:53 pm
Jammed this earlier today, good stuff, prefer disc 2 to disc 1 personally.
DeathCult Transmaniacon MC
Posts : 2164 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Arkham
Subject: Re: Skunkworks Sun Jul 24, 2011 4:57 pm
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.