Michael Schenker Story Live
This package contains some good performances recorded in Japan in 1996. My favorites are: In Search Of Peace Of Mind, Another Piece Of Meat, and All The Way From Memphis. But, to be perfectly blunt, the performance quality of the 80's MSG & 70's UFO songs does not measure up to the bitchin & electrifying quality found on at least 5 other currently available albums & box sets that feature concerts from the 70's & 80's. This is not to say that Schenker sounds like crap; he plays quite well, he sounds well-rehearsed, but the youthful exuberance is gone.
The hunger, the eye-of-the-tiger, it's gone, man. His fingers don't move as quickly as they used to. The intensity level during his solos is significantly less than it was in the 70's & 80's. And I figure it has everything to do with age. Afterall, hotshot, blistering, metal-licious guitar soloing is a young man's sport. The way Schenker played in his heyday is like listening to some incredible audio-acrobatics. I don't think most Hard Rock fans realize how amazing Schenker was. It wasn't just the fact that he could play fast & precisely, it was the fact that these beautiful, unique, gut-grabbing note-constructions sped from his mind to his fingertips, dig? His mind was lightning-fast and bursting with melody & Hard Rock sensibility. But not on this album.
Right, and now to the vocals: Most of them are sung by David Van Landing. He's a decent sounding vocalist with a strong voice and he does an admirable job of singing. But he ain't no Gary Barden or Phil Mogg and you're reminded of this with every word he sings. As for the other vocalist, he isn't even worth mentioning by name. He sounds like someone who would sing backing vocals in a band like Whitesnake. The dude ain't got no metal or edge to him whatsoever. He's just a poser.
I'll grant you that my tastes are perhaps too critical, but do yourself a favor and check out the following albums first before you buy this one: Strangers In The Night, One Night At Budokan, Rock Will Never Die, Back To Attack, and Reactivate Live. Your time is running out so you may as well hear the best stuff first.
The hunger, the eye-of-the-tiger, it's gone, man. His fingers don't move as quickly as they used to. The intensity level during his solos is significantly less than it was in the 70's & 80's. And I figure it has everything to do with age. Afterall, hotshot, blistering, metal-licious guitar soloing is a young man's sport. The way Schenker played in his heyday is like listening to some incredible audio-acrobatics. I don't think most Hard Rock fans realize how amazing Schenker was. It wasn't just the fact that he could play fast & precisely, it was the fact that these beautiful, unique, gut-grabbing note-constructions sped from his mind to his fingertips, dig? His mind was lightning-fast and bursting with melody & Hard Rock sensibility. But not on this album.
Right, and now to the vocals: Most of them are sung by David Van Landing. He's a decent sounding vocalist with a strong voice and he does an admirable job of singing. But he ain't no Gary Barden or Phil Mogg and you're reminded of this with every word he sings. As for the other vocalist, he isn't even worth mentioning by name. He sounds like someone who would sing backing vocals in a band like Whitesnake. The dude ain't got no metal or edge to him whatsoever. He's just a poser.
I'll grant you that my tastes are perhaps too critical, but do yourself a favor and check out the following albums first before you buy this one: Strangers In The Night, One Night At Budokan, Rock Will Never Die, Back To Attack, and Reactivate Live. Your time is running out so you may as well hear the best stuff first.
posted by Alexander T. Newport at 3:30 PM
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