In no real order here they are.
Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime
I played this over and over in 1988. A few years later I began to realized how lame the story was and how average several of the songs were.
Venom-At war with Satan
I was on a huge Venom kick at one point and really thought that their first three albums were fantastic. Eventually it dawned on me that Welcome to hell and Black Metal are quite good, but this the third effort is where the cracks in the armor began to show.
Black -n- Blue-Nasty Nasty
I played this one to death in the fall of 1986. Later I began to see that it has some very good songs on it that still hold up well, but it also has more filler than it should.
KISS-Animalize
I caught up in KISS becoming popular again and the great year of 1984. Looking back this is just alright album that falls around the middle of the pack for the 80's albums by KISS.
S.O.D.-Speak English or die
Most people overrated this one, even Scott Ian does. I played this to death back when it came out. The truth is it's a joke album and some of the jokes work and some don't. COC's "Animosity" and DRI's "Dealing with it" came out the same year and both are far better examples of early crossover.
Quiet Riot-Metal Health
Okay, it's a good album, but not nearly as great as I thought it was in 1983. Back then I probably held it up there with Pyromania and Shout at the devil, but it's definitely not on that level.
Ozzy-The Ultimate Sin
I definitely got caught up in this album. I think that I initially interpreted polished production for heaviness and that wore off after a few years. Decent album, but nothing special.
Dio-Sacred Heart
I bought this one right when it came out and even wore out a cassette. Later it dawned on me that it was a definite step down from the previous two releases.
Nuclear Assault-Game Over
This one I heard when I was full swing into speed metal so I ate it up. Then I later noticed how sloppy some of the songs were and it certainly could have been heavier.
Manowar-Fighting the world
The first Manowar album I ever heard had me singing along with their cheesy lyrics. Probably half a decade later I came back to it and saw it for the mixed bag that it is.
I also hope to have the list for 80's albums that I underrated out today as well.
ReplyDeleteI never cared for Mindcrime. It was utterly boring compared to their previous offerings.
ReplyDeleteMetal Health, however, I can still listen to anytime sans the 2 radio hits.
At War With Satan was a huge disappointment for me. Some people really love it, but I don't think I've ever listened to the entire thing more than a few times.
ReplyDeleteI still have the LP, the packaging is awesome.
I had a friend in highschool who raved about Operation Mindcrime, so I bought it and found it quite dull and unmemorable. It was my first exposure to Queensryche and I have not bought anything else by them.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny to look back and think of how fond we all were of SOD...and you're right, they were just a joke.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how so many people, me to some extent included, fell for Mindcrime. Maybe we wanted to believe that it was thoughtful and creative, but the reality is that the concept is trite and the music is lifeless.
I disagree about Mindcrime
ReplyDeleteBut Black N Blue! wow!
Interesting thoughts, chap
Sean-I like Queensryche's EP and The warning, but Rage for order is far worse than Mindcrime.
ReplyDeleteWoody-At war with Satan is better than Possessed and Calm before the storm, but a definite step down from those first two.
DPTH-Queensryche's early stuff is decent, but the albums after Mindcrime got worse as they went along.
Bob- I don't think SOD would have gotten nearly as much attention if Spreading the disease hadn't hit around the same time. They benefitted greatly from the Anthrax connection as far as getting noticed.
One good thing about Mindcrime is at least they were not stupid enough to make a sequel to it. Oh, wait!
Steves-Thanks for stopping by.
Who actually thought that the SOD album was to be taken seriously? Even then it was just comedy thrash. Love the album to this day but prefer MOD's debut over the SOD album.
ReplyDeleteSean-I always knew it was joke album, but I once thought the music was better than it was. Now much of it is just as goofy as the lyrics. The first M.O.D. album is alright. It's better than all of the ones that followed anyways.
ReplyDelete