Getting towards the end with number four. Give a hand to David Amulet for guessing correctly that it is ......
Iron Maiden-Somewhere in time
Following the release of Powerslave in 1984 these guys went from "almost there" to top of the metal mountain so this was a highly anticipated release. Overall I think they delivered and it sold well despite the fact that the face of metal had changed a lot between early 1984 and fall of 1986. Perhaps more melodic than any of their prior albums, but it's still similar in it's complexity and overall tone. Took more time to grow on me than their previous albums, but it did click. I think it allowed the band to keep from getting in a rut at the time and still sounds pretty sharp today.
***So we are down to just three. On Friday will be the album that I have ranked at number three. The hint is that these guys were a three member band for years, but this release was their first lp with a four member line-up.
I have to agree about the album being a grower. I think it's a "forgotten" album being wedged between Powerslave and Seventh Son.
ReplyDeleteMy guess for #3:
Motorhead - Orgasmatron
I remember a lot of people dismissing this album, or at least underappreciating it, because it's more melodic and not as in-your-face as previous Maiden. But it really does hold up well, and it remains one of my four or five favorites from the group.
ReplyDelete-- david
For my money, Somewhere in time may be the best album of the so called Golden era (1983-1988) of Iron Maiden.
ReplyDeleteSteve-Powerslave is high up there for me. Now Seventh son I wasn't thrilled by at first, but it has grown on me a lot.
ReplyDeleteDavid-It does hold up well.
T-bone-I like it, but I prefer POM, Powerslave and Seventh son to it.
I fell in love with in instantly and still play it a hell of a lot. I adore it, cherish it, relish it. I remember being scared when they said they were introducing the synth guitar on this... I was like "Oh, no, not another Turbo!" Far from it. Powerslave is still my favorite Maiden album.
ReplyDeleteSings* Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
ReplyDeleteBut the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
I've often thought that Iron Maiden never really gets the credit they deserve. My husband loves Maiden and he's the one who really turned me on to them. Now I look for their songs on the jukebox if we go out somewhere. If they have it and I play it, it usually gets a great response from the other patrons.
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose you're talking about Rush for number 3. That's the best guess I've got.
ReplyDelete"Wasted Years" was about the only tune on this album that I could get into. Not my favorite from them, but still a decent album...(PS...it feels weird to say album now that they really don't exist...)
ReplyDeleteCOOL Blog! Rock n roll! I'll be back for more!
Ray-The synths were light and used in the right places.
ReplyDeletePixie-Someone is putting lyrics on my blog and they sure aren't metal.
Nonny-I like Maiden just as much as I did back then.
Captain Corky-It's not Rush.
rockdog-Welcome.
I always felt that Somewhere in Time was a bit of a misfire for Maiden. They always had longer songs, but for the first time, they felt long. Now, a misfire for Maiden is a masterpiece for just about anyone else, so I don't think you've overrated it. When Seventh Son came out, I felt like it was another step in the wrong direction. However, over time, I've changed my mind on that album. But I still feel like Somewhere is the lost album in their golden years (Number through Seventh).
ReplyDeleteI agree with rhodeislandrock about Orgasmatron and I'm embarassed that I didn't come to that conclusion on my own.
bob vinyl- I think this is a good album, but it lacks the edge of the previous albums to some extent and the depth of Seventh son. Being Maiden it is above most albums as you said. However other than the debut it's the only Maiden album in the 8o's that I don't have ranked as one or two in the year it came out.
ReplyDeleteMany times when they talk about this album, they also talk about the TURBO album by JUDAS PRIEST because it have that tipical 86 sound with Synthesizer´s.
ReplyDeleteREALY GREAT ALBUM.