Best song contest - Round 1, Part 8

[Dick Brucinson]

Definitely my absolute favourite Maiden album. Man, that record is nothing but a superb thing of beauty. Love each and every one track more than the next one, so it's a very tough one here. I'd go with Mother Russia. The weird thing is that I used to dislike the album when it came out in 1990. Far beyond comprehension nowadays for me. But you know, aged 15 & you have some strange points of views. So I can forgive me on that one.

 

[MindlessPieces]

One thing that bothers me about SSOASS (and SIT) from the 80s is the sound of the synths, which I think takes a lot away from the beautiful guitar sound.

I agree with the sound/tone of SIT being really off putting. It makes that album very dated and probably wasn't even good when it was released.
I think the tone of SSofaSS is fine, but most of the songs just aren't that great., Evil and Madness are very, very simple songs. SSofaSS song is poor with regard to being compared to other epics, and very few songs on that album stand out, except for Infinite Dreams.

I find X factor had terrible sound for the drums, It is really off putting, sounds like someone is slapping an upturned plastic bucket with a rubber jandle. I think it was about the time that a Compression algorythm had been developed and people were aware although this would make the CD louder (and a perception of improved sales) that it would also make the drums less impacting, so people were trying other ways to up the punchyness of the drums. Lots of albums around that time have horrible sounding drums. But X factor is particularly bad.

 

[Kalata]

This is the first album for which there are votes for all songs. It's curious if there will be more albums with such stats.

 

[Kalata]

The album is lacking in terms of quality of solos,

Really? I think 6/7 (out of 10) songs have memorable solos. The album is full of great solos, riffs and melodies.

I agree with the sound/tone of SIT being really off putting. It makes that album very dated and probably wasn't even good when it was released.
I think the tone of SSofaSS is fine, but most of the songs just aren't that great., Evil and Madness are very, very simple songs. SSofaSS song is poor with regard to being compared to other epics, and very few songs on that album stand out, except for Infinite Dreams.

The synths make the sound of SIT special. Most of the songs in SSOASS are not great? Wow.

I find X factor had terrible sound for the drums, It is really off putting, sounds like someone is slapping an upturned plastic bucket with a rubber jandle. I think it was about the time that a Compression algorythm had been developed and people were aware although this would make the CD louder (and a perception of improved sales) that it would also make the drums less impacting, so people were trying other ways to up the punchyness of the drums. Lots of albums around that time have horrible sounding drums. But X factor is particularly bad.

I really like the drum sound (and the whole production) in TXF. The only drum sound I don't like is in NPFTD. And I like the drum sound and the whole production in a lot of albums from the 90's.

 

[MindRuler]

That makes two of us! I can forgive the lyrics when the song is this catchy.

Knock on wood, you know I like that sound
She never could keep her feet on the ground

My favourite part! I love the solo section too!

 

[MindlessPieces]

Really? I think 6/7 (out of 10) songs have memorable solos. The album is full of great solos, riffs and melodies.

I like the melodies of NPFTD, but the solos are generally poor.
Jankick just goes off on his fast solos, they have no soul, no character. Just fast and bubbly. It was a poor period for solos in IM.

The synths make the sound of SIT special. Most of the songs in SSOASS are not great? Wow.

I can't say I care for synths, neither for them nor against them. But overall the tone of SIT is poor and sadly dated.
The tone on Bruce's voice is poor too, it makes him seem distant.

I really like the drum sound (and the whole production) in TXF. The only drum sound I don't like is in NPFTD. And I like the drum sound and the whole production in a lot of albums from the 90's.

Good on you. Nice for you. But personally I like drums to sound like drums, not rubber jandles banging a plastic bin.

 

[Kalata]

Jankick just goes off on his fast solos, they have no soul, no character. Just fast and bubbly.

I'd say that the fast solos fit the album really well since most of the songs are uptempo.

But overall the tone of SIT is poor and sadly dated. The tone on Bruce's voice is poor too, it makes him seem distant.

I don't understand why ''dated'' is used as a bad word. An album is a product of its time and the sound of SIT is so awesome and futuristic and I don't think another album with such a sound exists. It's like the production of the albums from the 70's - dry and rough, but that's what makes it special.

Bruce's voice in SIT poor? There is no rasp in his voice (like for the next few albums). I agree that his voice during the 1990 tour was great and it fits on the album. I don't think there is much difference in his voice during Powerslave-Somewhere In Time period.

Good on you. Nice for you. But personally I like drums to sound like drums, not rubber jandles banging a plastic bin.

I understand. I really like when albums of one band have different drum sound.

 

[MindlessPieces]

I don't understand why ''dated'' is used as a bad word. An album is a product of its time and the sound of SIT is so awesome and futuristic and I don't think another album with such a sound exists.

There is probably very good reason why noone else nor this band ever again wanted to make an album that sounded like that.
It never sounded futuristic, don't mistake the album cover artwork for the tone of the production of the music itself.

It's like the production of the albums from the 70's - dry and rough, but that's what makes it special.

Bruce's voice in SIT poor? There is no rasp in his voice (like for the next few albums). I agree that his voice during the 1990 tour was great and it fits on the album. I don't think there is much difference in his voice during Powerslave-Somewhere In Time period.

I think it was pretty obvious that I wasn't criticising Bruce but the production or effects on his voice was the problem.