Can we finish it all today? I can't take much more of this!
Prediction:
The Lion
Tortured Tone
Return of the King
No Place Like Home
With You Again
Psycho Motel
Search for Bliss
Road To Hell
Silver and Gold
Mirror and the Moon
Actually disregard this, I genuinely have no clue anymore outside of the top 2 - I would bet a whole nickel that "The Lion" or "Tortured Tone" will be the winners.
Road To Hell (most people out here like this unoriginal song with The Prisoner solo rip off)
With You Again (Adrian Smith - Dave Murray friendship, people are totally into that, so high)
No Place Like Home (most people do not say bad things about this because Adrian Smith and awesome production, nor does this songs stick out when estimating popularity)
Mirror and the Moon (most people do not say bad things about this because Adrian Smith and awesome production, nor does this songs stick out when estimating popularity)
Search for Bliss (most people do not say bad things about this because Adrian Smith and awesome production, nor does this songs stick out when estimating popularity)
Return of the King (a non album track, most people in this game do not rate such songs very highly)
Silver and Gold (most people involved in this game do not give a hoot about the non-The Lion A.S.a.P. songs, so this must be low, can't believe it made the top 10 even)
Psycho Motel (I've seen some absurd underrating comments about this one lately, can't believe it made the top 10 even)
10. Psycho Motel Psycho Motel
Average Score: 8.33/10 State Of Mind 10/10
Well, @Forostar called it -- #10 on the countdown is the self-titled "Psycho Motel", the first and only single off of State Of Mind. This also marks the end of that album's run on the countdown, though I'll withhold any album rankings until a second album is eliminated.
This song has an excellent intro, a beefy and catchy main riff, great singing from Solli, and is pretty much excellent from start to finish, with the possible exception of the lyrics. It definitely deserves its spot in the top 10.
Votes were clustered heavily around 8-9/10, but leaning slightly lower overall.
An outstanding intro leads into a fat, badass bluesy riff that sets the tone for the whole song. Great verses, strong pre-choruses, and...wait a minute, the chorus is the verse! Excellent solo followed by a cool moody interlude. Neat outro, too.
10. Psycho Motel 11. The Ghost Of Cain 12. White Sheet Robes 13. Underground
14. When She's Gone 15. No Friendly Neighbour 16. Rain
17. Believe 18. Awoken Broken 19. She's A Roller
20. Countdown 21. The Last Chain
22. A Quarter To Heaven
23. Something Real 24. Savage World 25. My Lady 26. Welcome To The World
27. Innocence 28. Blood On The Ocean 29. Machine Men 30. Sins Of Your Father 31. Bright As A Fire 32. The Calling 33. I'm Alive 34. Countdown (Alternate Version) 35. Money To Burn 36. Animals
37. Keeping It Mellow 38. Down The Wire 39. Killing Floor 40. After The Storm 41. New Horizons 42. City Of Dreams 43. Western Shore 44. Black Leather Fantasy
45. Don't Ask Me 46. Hypocrisy 47. I See Lights 48. Fallen Heroes 49. Suicide 50. Welcome To The Pit 51. City Of Light 52. Life In The City 53. Into The Black 54. Rage 55. Long Time No Woman 56. Excuse Me 57. Snake Ladders 58. Misunderstood 59. Rock 'N' Roll Woman
60. Watch Me Walk Away 61. Killing Time
62. Scientist 63. No Loss To Me 64. Time Is A Hunter
65. World's On Fire
66. Fighting Man 67. Lifetime 68. Wishing Your Life Away 69. The Late Show
70. Last Goodbye 71. As Tears Come Falling From The Sky 72. You Could Be A King
73. Kid Gone Astray
74. (Can't) Wait
75. Just Like A Woman
76. Blood Brothers
77. School Days 78. Need Somebody
79. Get Up And Get Out
80. Madman
81. Little Girl
82. Mooncusser
Albums:
Silver And Gold 8/10 Welcome To The World 12/13 Awoken Broken 8/12 Collaborations 6/8 State Of Mind 10/10 (7.16 avg.) Limited Releases 20/20 (6.87 avg.)
B-sides 9/9 (6.14 avg.)
Christ sake, the entire time I was thinking it'd be #10 and then....
Very good song, worthy for a spot! Was listening to it last night and really enjoying it. Country is typically terrible, but when rock artists utilize it - like Psycho Motel here, or Stone Temple Pilots with "Interstate Love Song" - they can create something really cool with it. This song did. Worth the #10 spot most certainly.
9. Road To Hell Bruce Dickinson
Average Score: 8.33/10 Collaborations 7/8
At #9 we bid farewell to the last of Adrian's songwriting efforts from the Accident Of Birth sessions. "Road To Hell" is a popular track among Iron Maiden fans for its familiar feel and its explicit callback to "The Prisoner" (though this does irritate some).
Votes were mostly clustered around 8/10 and 10/10.
Nice uptempo melodic riff. Bruce sounds great as usual. [...] Good verse, great pre-chorus, solid chorus. The opening to the solo is a knowing nod to "The Prisoner", and the solo itself is quite strong. [But] I think people tend to overrate this song a bit.
9. Road To Hell 10. Psycho Motel 11. The Ghost Of Cain 12. White Sheet Robes 13. Underground
14. When She's Gone 15. No Friendly Neighbour 16. Rain
17. Believe 18. Awoken Broken 19. She's A Roller
20. Countdown 21. The Last Chain
22. A Quarter To Heaven
23. Something Real 24. Savage World 25. My Lady 26. Welcome To The World
27. Innocence 28. Blood On The Ocean 29. Machine Men 30. Sins Of Your Father 31. Bright As A Fire 32. The Calling 33. I'm Alive 34. Countdown (Alternate Version) 35. Money To Burn 36. Animals
37. Keeping It Mellow 38. Down The Wire 39. Killing Floor 40. After The Storm 41. New Horizons 42. City Of Dreams 43. Western Shore 44. Black Leather Fantasy
45. Don't Ask Me 46. Hypocrisy 47. I See Lights 48. Fallen Heroes 49. Suicide 50. Welcome To The Pit 51. City Of Light 52. Life In The City 53. Into The Black 54. Rage 55. Long Time No Woman 56. Excuse Me 57. Snake Ladders 58. Misunderstood 59. Rock 'N' Roll Woman
60. Watch Me Walk Away 61. Killing Time
62. Scientist 63. No Loss To Me 64. Time Is A Hunter
65. World's On Fire
66. Fighting Man 67. Lifetime 68. Wishing Your Life Away 69. The Late Show
70. Last Goodbye 71. As Tears Come Falling From The Sky 72. You Could Be A King
73. Kid Gone Astray
74. (Can't) Wait
75. Just Like A Woman
76. Blood Brothers
77. School Days 78. Need Somebody
79. Get Up And Get Out
80. Madman
81. Little Girl
82. Mooncusser
Albums:
Silver And Gold 8/10 Welcome To The World 12/13 Awoken Broken 8/12 Collaborations 7/8 State Of Mind 10/10 (7.16 avg.) Limited Releases 20/20 (6.87 avg.)
B-sides 9/9 (6.14 avg.)
I'm okay with that ranking. "Road To Hell" is very simple, a very by-the-book metal number, but it's got charm and is a very bopping track. Not my favorite Bruce number, but an enjoyable listen.
It'll be interesting seeing how far "Return of the King" gets...
8. Silver And Gold A.S.A.P.
Average Score: 8.36/10 Silver And Gold 9/10
After a long absence, Silver And Gold returns to the countdown with the exit of its title track, a smooth synth-laden anthem that served as the album's first single.
Votes were mostly clustered around 8/10 and 10/10, with a single 5/10 vote holding the average back slightly.
8. Silver And Gold 9. Road To Hell 10. Psycho Motel 11. The Ghost Of Cain 12. White Sheet Robes 13. Underground
14. When She's Gone 15. No Friendly Neighbour 16. Rain
17. Believe 18. Awoken Broken 19. She's A Roller
20. Countdown 21. The Last Chain
22. A Quarter To Heaven
23. Something Real 24. Savage World 25. My Lady 26. Welcome To The World
27. Innocence 28. Blood On The Ocean 29. Machine Men 30. Sins Of Your Father 31. Bright As A Fire 32. The Calling 33. I'm Alive 34. Countdown (Alternate Version) 35. Money To Burn 36. Animals
37. Keeping It Mellow 38. Down The Wire 39. Killing Floor 40. After The Storm 41. New Horizons 42. City Of Dreams 43. Western Shore 44. Black Leather Fantasy
45. Don't Ask Me 46. Hypocrisy 47. I See Lights 48. Fallen Heroes 49. Suicide 50. Welcome To The Pit 51. City Of Light 52. Life In The City 53. Into The Black 54. Rage 55. Long Time No Woman 56. Excuse Me 57. Snake Ladders 58. Misunderstood 59. Rock 'N' Roll Woman
60. Watch Me Walk Away 61. Killing Time
62. Scientist 63. No Loss To Me 64. Time Is A Hunter
65. World's On Fire
66. Fighting Man 67. Lifetime 68. Wishing Your Life Away 69. The Late Show
70. Last Goodbye 71. As Tears Come Falling From The Sky 72. You Could Be A King
73. Kid Gone Astray
74. (Can't) Wait
75. Just Like A Woman
76. Blood Brothers
77. School Days 78. Need Somebody
79. Get Up And Get Out
80. Madman
81. Little Girl
82. Mooncusser
Albums:
Silver And Gold 9/10 Welcome To The World 12/13 Awoken Broken 8/12 Collaborations 7/8 State Of Mind 10/10 (7.16 avg.) Limited Releases 20/20 (6.87 avg.)
B-sides 9/9 (6.14 avg.)
I've been listening to that song a bit recently, and it's honestly really great. The verses and pre-chorus are awesome in particularly, and the chorus is a fun bop. Deserving of its rank, I think.
7. Mirror And The Moon Primal Rock Rebellion
Average Score: 8.38/10 Awoken Broken 9/12
Next up on the countdown is the final track from Awoken Broken, "Mirror And The Moon". This epic ballad somehow manages to be melancholy and uplifting all at once, and its final notes are particularly stirring. I like this song more every time I listen to it.
Once again, the votes were mostly clustered around 8/10 and 10/10, with a single 5/10 vote holding the average back slightly.
This album's somewhat twisted take on a ballad. [...] Gentle, appealing chorus. [...] A cool uptempo acoustic section gradually gives way to just the strings, which tie things up beautifully.
Beautiful album closer. First I was afraid we'd get some Journeyman kind of song (light song without any tension) but I was pleasantly surprised by the chorus which is pretty different with its darker colour.
I have to put in a plug for Mirror and the Moon. Can't think of a song that does bittersweet better. Great poetic images, perfect sound and the interplay between the instruments is breathtaking.
7. Mirror And The Moon 8. Silver And Gold 9. Road To Hell 10. Psycho Motel 11. The Ghost Of Cain 12. White Sheet Robes 13. Underground
14. When She's Gone 15. No Friendly Neighbour 16. Rain
17. Believe 18. Awoken Broken 19. She's A Roller
20. Countdown 21. The Last Chain
22. A Quarter To Heaven
23. Something Real 24. Savage World 25. My Lady 26. Welcome To The World
27. Innocence 28. Blood On The Ocean 29. Machine Men 30. Sins Of Your Father 31. Bright As A Fire 32. The Calling 33. I'm Alive 34. Countdown (Alternate Version) 35. Money To Burn 36. Animals
37. Keeping It Mellow 38. Down The Wire 39. Killing Floor 40. After The Storm 41. New Horizons 42. City Of Dreams 43. Western Shore 44. Black Leather Fantasy
45. Don't Ask Me 46. Hypocrisy 47. I See Lights 48. Fallen Heroes 49. Suicide 50. Welcome To The Pit 51. City Of Light 52. Life In The City 53. Into The Black 54. Rage 55. Long Time No Woman 56. Excuse Me 57. Snake Ladders 58. Misunderstood 59. Rock 'N' Roll Woman
60. Watch Me Walk Away 61. Killing Time
62. Scientist 63. No Loss To Me 64. Time Is A Hunter
65. World's On Fire
66. Fighting Man 67. Lifetime 68. Wishing Your Life Away 69. The Late Show
70. Last Goodbye 71. As Tears Come Falling From The Sky 72. You Could Be A King
73. Kid Gone Astray
74. (Can't) Wait
75. Just Like A Woman
76. Blood Brothers
77. School Days 78. Need Somebody
79. Get Up And Get Out
80. Madman
81. Little Girl
82. Mooncusser
Albums:
Silver And Gold 9/10 Welcome To The World 12/13 Awoken Broken 9/12 Collaborations 7/8 State Of Mind 10/10 (7.16 avg.) Limited Releases 20/20 (6.87 avg.)
B-sides 9/9 (6.14 avg.)
6. The Lion A.S.A.P.
Average Score: 8.43/10 Silver And Gold 10/10
Sorry, @Diesel 11 , but your dreams are now officially dashed. After a very respectable run, "The Lion" exits the countdown at #6, which also marks the end of the line for the Silver And Gold album.
This song is widely considered to be the best one on the record, driven by a palpable urgency and a great chorus.
Roughly 2/3 of the votes for this song were either a 9/10 or 10/10, but the lower third pulled the overall average down.
I love the The Lion's pace. The light and subtle Peart-like drumming. Some breaks are very short and fast. Yes, the son of Ringo Starr impresses me a lot on this song. Then there's the passion in Adrian's singing and catchiness of the chorus. And of course the solo (love that divebomb at the end).
If “The Lion” doesn’t win I’ll be disappointed. I do prefer a few Bruce songs to it, but in the context of Adrian’s discography, it’s his song. Sung by Adrian in the band Adrian Smith And Project, and the best one from that album. Hope it wins but we’ll see!
#4: State Of Mind Psycho Motel Average Score: 7.16/10
Adrian's first official solo release after leaving Iron Maiden featured big, fat, bluesy guitar licks mixed with grungy heaviness and high-pitched vocals. Opinions were mixed on how well Solli's vocals fit the music, and I think most people would agree that the quality of the songwriting was uneven, and that the production wasn't stellar; but songs like "Psycho Motel", "Sins Of Your Father", "Western Shore", and others showed that this incarnation of the band still had a lot to offer.
That said, the voters have spoken, and State Of Mind has finished last among all of Adrian's solo albums.
Very heavy album, with a modern sound and influences from that era (90s grunge) and older (Sabbath, Hendrix). I like Solli as a singer and Adrian plays some tasty guitar riffs and solos. He also adds some nice backing vocals here and there. Gary Leideman and Mike Sturgis provide a solid rhythm backbone to the songs.
Probably a stronger album than Silver and Gold, but I'm not quite sure which I prefer. The ASAP album has better stand-outs; everything on here (except for "Excuse Me") is pretty much in the same kinda boat. But overall a good album.
I thought State of Mind was more diverse, a tiny more melodic and it had a bit more of an "own sound" than Welcome to the World. Also I thought that SOM was a bit less repetitive than WTTW
#3: Silver And Gold A.S.A.P. Average Score: 7.17/10
Adrian's first solo effort after joining Iron Maiden was a big departure from many people's expectations, featuring a hard rock / AOR sound with lots of synths, as well as a strapping young lad named Adrian Smith on vocals. The epic, catchy feel and the abundance of excellent guitar solos had Adrian's stamp all over them, and people who weren't turned off by the departure in style found a lot to like here. Even the album's detractors typically enjoyed tracks like "The Lion" and "Silver And Gold".
The fight between this album and State Of Mind was a nailbiter, with Silver And Gold starting off at a deficit, but ultimately edging ahead to claim the #3 spot by a 0.01 point margin!
Silver and Gold is probably my favorite Adrian album, actually, because while it isn't perfect, neither are his other ones, and I love the sound and feel and vibe.
I love it, it has some brilliant guitar sections like in misunderstood and punchy lyrics in the same and after the storm. Adrians talent shown off in a great easy listening environment focused on him, and metal as fu**
Well, it isn't really my cup of tea. [...] In its heavier moments, the album feels a bit like Whitesnake meets Bryan Adams, but mostly it's very bland, even boring.
Good melodic album, although at times it is too keyboard heavy for my taste. I do not think the sound of the album has aged that well - it sounds dated. That being said, I quite like Adrian's voice, which reminds me of Bryan Adams, and there are some pretty good songs with stellar guitar solos.
Very strong if rather conventional songwriting throughout on Silver and Gold. I’ve always felt Adrian was modelling it after Gary Moore’s Run For Cover album.
6. The Lion 7. Mirror And The Moon 8. Silver And Gold 9. Road To Hell 10. Psycho Motel 11. The Ghost Of Cain 12. White Sheet Robes 13. Underground
14. When She's Gone 15. No Friendly Neighbour 16. Rain
17. Believe 18. Awoken Broken 19. She's A Roller
20. Countdown 21. The Last Chain
22. A Quarter To Heaven
23. Something Real 24. Savage World 25. My Lady 26. Welcome To The World
27. Innocence 28. Blood On The Ocean 29. Machine Men 30. Sins Of Your Father 31. Bright As A Fire 32. The Calling 33. I'm Alive 34. Countdown (Alternate Version) 35. Money To Burn 36. Animals
37. Keeping It Mellow 38. Down The Wire 39. Killing Floor 40. After The Storm 41. New Horizons 42. City Of Dreams 43. Western Shore 44. Black Leather Fantasy
45. Don't Ask Me 46. Hypocrisy 47. I See Lights 48. Fallen Heroes 49. Suicide 50. Welcome To The Pit 51. City Of Light 52. Life In The City 53. Into The Black 54. Rage 55. Long Time No Woman 56. Excuse Me 57. Snake Ladders 58. Misunderstood 59. Rock 'N' Roll Woman
60. Watch Me Walk Away 61. Killing Time
62. Scientist 63. No Loss To Me 64. Time Is A Hunter
65. World's On Fire
66. Fighting Man 67. Lifetime 68. Wishing Your Life Away 69. The Late Show
70. Last Goodbye 71. As Tears Come Falling From The Sky 72. You Could Be A King
73. Kid Gone Astray
74. (Can't) Wait
75. Just Like A Woman
76. Blood Brothers
77. School Days 78. Need Somebody
79. Get Up And Get Out
80. Madman
81. Little Girl
82. Mooncusser
Albums:
Welcome To The World 12/13 Awoken Broken 9/12 Collaborations 7/8 #3: Silver And Gold 10/10 (7.17 avg.) #4: State Of Mind 10/10 (7.16 avg.) Limited Releases 20/20 (6.87 avg.)
B-sides 9/9 (6.14 avg.)
With "The Lion" out, I shall join the chorus of those who predict "Tortured Tone" will come out on top. I do have "Return of the King" as a sort of dark horse, though - I don't quite believe it will win, but somehow I wouldn't be surprised if it manages to do so.
I personally like State of Mind more than Silver and Gold, but neither of those albums is as good as Welcome to the World or, especially, Awoken Broken.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2776675-1455292252-9750.jpeg.jpg)
