Lovedrive - Scorpions

This is the sixth album by German Hard Rock band Scorpions. This is also the album where Michael came back, well at least he's credited as a guest so something like that. It is also the first to feature Matthias Jabbs and Herman Rarebell both who stuck around for a number of years (Jabbs is still in and Rarebell left was last on the 1995 Live Bites record). I decided to review this in honor the the 2015 50th Anniversary remasters that recently came out. This album is basically the beginning of their sound that would bring them the most success. Though, you could argue it appeared on earlier albums, this is when it was defined and this is basically how they'd sound for their 80's period. Also I'm using that 2015 remaster to do the review instead of my previous CD copies.

1. Loving You On A Sunday Morning: You know, this is a weird song. It's kind of fits, and makes Anybody Out There? fit also. I love this song, and how weird it is. I almost feel like this is left over, or was written with the same frame of mind, from Taken by Force. In fact, while its production and "sound" fits perfect here, the writing and musicality wouldn't be to uncomfortable on that other album. There is a psychedelia present that also sort of reminds me a tab of Lonesome Crow. Seriously, and I love the sharp guitars. Nice and loud and powerful. This is a pretty straight forward song, it's just this chorus.... damn I honestly feel if I added a few sounds, back ground sounds, this could be a trippy section. Also great solo from Jabbs and oh how by the end of the song is this chorus stuck in my head.
2. Another Piece of Meat: Ah, a phrase I use in my head when thinking about..... Well kind of to laugh. This is pretty fast paced and is just a straight rocker. There is this like wind thing that revs up before the track and it's pretty nice touch. This track makes me want to get out my Strat and just rip and shred along with the Sheckner brothers (both of who play on this tune). Plus Another solid chorus, so.... something this band is pretty great at making. Listen to Mikey shred, damn it's so tasty. 
3. Always Somewhere: A ballad, and damn is it powerful. This is one of those "best ever ballads" the group churned out even into their less rocking period. Seriously, these are some fucking amazing power ballads. I can barley do a review of this tune, it's so ingrained in my consciousness as one of those, tear jerkers/introspective tracks. Klaus and Rudolph really pull off one of the best songs by the band here. It's pretty gorgeous, to be completely straight. And that chorus, power ballad royalty. I know I said that, but I need to stress that.
4. Coast to Coast: Great song, that I love. And instrument that is pretty straight forward, but here we get another lead guitar song from Michael. There is just something about this melody that is so perfect, I mean this could have be just as powerful with lyrics, but they chose not to use any. Plus nice bass playing Francis, and I love that little "ah" that sounds like he just drank a Cold Sprite. I can only assume that sound was from Klaus.
5. Can't Get Enough: At this point I can't argue with you about that one. :) This is another rocker and damn does it have energy. This is up there with Another Piece of Meat and I love the almost shrieked refrain of the title of the track. Klaus you remind me why I'm proud to be German. This band fucking rocks. The freak out at the end sort of reminds me of the album Virgin Killer and maybe like Hell Cat, I could be remembering wrong but that's what came to mind.
6. Is There Anybody Out There?: This is a tad odd. This is the only time I think they ever did a reggae number. This is pretty reggae, and it's odd that they did it now (then). 1979 the only reggae that was existent was ska of Oingo Boingo and like The Police, in rock outside of actually reggae. And reggae was huge in Britain around 1973ish. I could be wrong, but I think it's an odd choice for them to do this, here. But that being said, it's one of their best songs they ever did. It's very simple, and at parts reminds me a tad of Taken by Force, but this is a powerful song. Like I feel like it could almost be a cover of a traditional song along the lines of a Malagueña Salerosa. Thematically that is, like a very sad tale of someone who can't love the person they want. Except here it's they are all alone and want love. Someone searching for love. But this is a really neat song that literally I never skip, even if it comes on by accident. I love this song to death.
7. Lovedrive: The title track is actually proabably the weakest tune on the album. Don't get me wrong, the chorus is up to snuff, but everything else seems like it's already been done. Also this kind of, in the choruses reminds me too much of Judas Priests' cover of the Joan Baez tune Diamonds And Rust. Although, solid solo in the tune. This is also the last track to feature lead from Mike.
8. Holiday: Closing we get one of the greatest closers of all time. While they tried to close on a ballad after this, and before, I kind of feel like this is the best one. Not best ballad, but best end. This also just like forces me to contemplate my decisions and my life up to this point. It's kind of weird. The first half is acoustic and very pretty, pleasent and almost like Born to Touch Your Feelings. Then it goes into a more rocking power chord section, with amazing backing harmonies. I can hear that gorgeous bass tone in the new 2015 version I never heard before. Damn that little Spanish fill, it is tasty. Matthas does a great job here soloing. I mean it really fits the mood and to the ending.... great. It works. Also if you want a sort of extended version, in the 2015 edition there's a 2 minute longer demo.

Overall I have to give this a 8/10. This, like every other Scorpion record is worth checking out. This is in their heyday. They have yet to make a bad record. But from 1972 to 1984 the lowest I'd have to give a record is like a 7 the highest is a 10. Every record also had a number of amazing songs on each album. While this isn't my favorite record, it's still an amazing record. These guys always get the short end of the stick to shitty bands from the 80s. I'll let you know a secret, these guys kick the shit out of most of their 80's contemporaries. Hands down, no argument, listen to this record and the ones before and maybe you'll be enlightened yourself. I'm serious, they didn't put out a bad record ever and their mediocre ones started in 1988 with Savage Amusement. 

The Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd

This is one year shy of 40 years old. This is one of my favorite albums and one of the most important albums I've ever heard in my life. I love this album because of how it has "progressively" helped, after listening to it and putting it away for a while and now coming back to it, realize how amazing it still is. This concept of this album or the overall theme has so heavily influenced my desire to make concept albums (along with some examples which include Tommy, The Wall, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and even as current as Lou Reed & Metallica album titled Lulu). Now I can go on forever on how this is a an awesome album, but I need to review this be-och before I ruin my schedule of an album a day for March, and maybe April.

1. Speak To Me: I love that this songs starts to continuity of the heartbeat that is pretty much heard through out the whole entire album. And how can you not agree that the ending is pretty funny. Ah ah ah ah. This song and Breathe In The Air are completed with you listen to them together as ''one song''.
2. Breathe In The Air: The flow of Speak To Me/Breathe In The Air is awesome. This song is very mellow and is a good example of a classic. The way this song is reminds me of taking deep breaths. I could imagine hearing the sound of someone talking deep breaths. 
3. On The Run: This song is a good example of how the album drives and flows. The first time I heard this it was out of order. After hearing it in context it was so much better. With the intercom sounding voice and the guy running and the atmosphere, you feel like your running. The drum beat and the constant synthesizers make it sound sick. It also gives it this star wars outer space sci-fi feeling to the guy running.
4. Time: I love the fact that they got all those clocks to sound in the beginning of the track. This song almost has an African feel to it with the bongos but also a kind of James Bond thing with the bass, until the vocals come in. The vocals take this song to a new level with the accompaniment of the guitar, bass, drums, and keys. The solo is so cool sounding, it sounds like it was double tracked but very closely, or they used reverb or something. This song wouldn't be as great as it is if it weren't for the keys in the song. That is the driving force of the song, along with the drums. The keys add the sound of funky reggae feel to the song. The song slows down, which I don't really like that part, but the best part is the driven energy from the drums and keys. The more I listen to the album, the better each song gets. I love the entire thing. And God Damn David's voice.
5. Great Gig In The Sky: The woman who does vocals on this track kills it. I love doing a really bad falsetto, cuz I can't sing, along with her. I love this track so much. The music and the feelings that you get from this are amazing. I can't explain how fun of a song this is to listen to unless you've already watched it. The piano in the beginning makes my ears perk up to know that it is this song. The piano in this song is beautiful. When the girl comes in with her screams, right after the instrumentation for most of the song come in. Amazing. This song slows down and goes back to the beginning  but with her gospel vocals singing over it. 
6. Money: Supposedly the money track in the beginning of the song was the same "sample" used in The Beatles legendary Yellow Submarine. I'm not sure if that is true, but if so that's awesome. Now to the song. I love the bass riff in this song. The bass is what grabs your attention, and Roger's vocals on this are also great. The saxophone solo on this song is complemented with all the other instruments in the song. I think the sax solo is a good build up or prep for the guitar solo. The guitar solo sounds like it was double tracked. This song is just so great there is little I can say. And you can probably review this song yourself. Your Know? Oh one last things, I think that the voices at the fade are pretty funny if you actually listen to them. This song, I love how the tempo changed and it just UGH! An amazing song that was a hit. I can't say that all hits are amazing, but this song is.
7. Us And Them: This song picks up right after Money. This songs synths in the beginning are something that I was reminded of when I was listening to 7 Skies H3 by The Flaming Lips. You know, the 24 hour song, well I only made it through 12... but I am determined to finish the songs from 0:00:00-23:56:53. I think that is is a pretty chill track. It has a very laid back feel to it. The background instruments can almost be looped. Now when the choir sounding chorus comes in... it can almost make you cry. It is very pretty sounding and they did a good job at making it emotional. The guitar and the instrumentation in this sound like I could listen to this looped for a good long while. The piano solo in the song adds to this chill/lounge/gospel/jazz sounding vibe I get from the song. I don't LOVE it but I think its defiantly a {9/10)
8. Any Colour You Like: The synths in the beginning of the are cool. The thing is that I really can't say much of this except that it's a filler? I think that it is just there as a kind of filler or a solo to the last song to lead up to Brain Damage. The flow at the end who the song picks up perfectly is just great. 
9. Brain Damage: Even though I've heard this song 1 million times on the radio there is some reason I still like it. Whether it be because of how weird the lyrics are, or the music, it drags me in. The flow from this song to Eclipse and having these two tracks as the last two is nothing short of genius. The vibe that I get from this song is just one that is completed when you hear Eclipse. The lyrics to this give it this eerie feel to it, add the little guitar in the background, and you have a scary song. I don't think it's scary but I think is good. The chorus is kind of a preview to what is to come in Eclipse. Speak To Me/Breathe In The Air and Brain Damage/Eclipse are pretty much two different song and makes this song. Like the whole perfect feel to the song is there when you hear Brain Damage/Eclipse together. The same is true of Speak To Me/Breathe In The Air
10. Eclipse: This song is probably part of the reason that this is one of my favorite albums ever. I love how this album just ends on the highest note and the most powerful track on the album. This song proves that the album just continually builds progressively gets more power until now. This is my favorite Pink Floyd song just because of the energy you get from this. I mean the flow of the keys and the instruments. And the vocals are so simple and yet they are delivered into making them very strong and emotionally appealing. And to wrap up the album we heard that heartbeat one last time. Just the production on this song pumps me up. It probably does that to anyone. The way this album ends makes you want to buy the next album by Pink Floyd. {11/10)

Over all I give this album a 10/10. I don't think that any album could ever be like this one, or even come close to sounding like this one. Pink Floyd did have a certain style but certain  sounds were preserved on this album. This was also one of the greatest albums of all time, and I agree with Rolling Stone Magazine... for once. This album is awesome, if you haven't heard it go and listen to it on YouTube, I don't really care how you do just find someway to listen to the album. This is defiantly on albums to hear before you die. This bitch's reverb helps give it that outer space vibe. This is truly a masterpiece.