karljant
Ancient Mariner
Three years later it aged a bit badly. Some songs started getting tiring. and it's funny how my view on each one shifted.
Senjutsu (same/ better): It's kind of a slow burner but it's quite enjoyable, with a slow, strong, tribal pace that captures the ambiance of its lyrics on point. It's far from my favorite track from the album, but I must admit I like it a tad bit more than when I first listened to it.
Stratego (same): Always loved this one, yet three years after, the guitar melodies and short epic composition (something rare in the last decades) only grew on me... Amazing stuff. So why don't I like this one more than before? Well, because of one factor that utterly unnerves me in this record: the one-string melodies copying the vocal line (or vice versa). Please stop doing this stuff... IMO it tarnishes what could be a 10 out of 10.
The Writing On The Wall (same/ better): Composition wise, Senjutsu's first single is flawless IMO. I already loved it and I think I even love it a tad bit more. Plus, that solo by Adrian...
Lost In A Lost World (same): This is album's black sheep for the majority but not for me. I love the intro, the verses are superb, the pre chorus could go with something else other than the one-string melodies copying the vocal line. My only critique still goes to the excessive repetitions of the melodies after the first chorus but, overall, I still think it's a great song.
Days Of Future Past (same): Cool short rocker (verses remind me of The Pilgrim). Far from my favorite, yet still enjoyable.
The Time Machine (worst): I admit the first time I listened to the major scale notes on the verses it kinda rubbed me the wrong way, but I grew to like it and I already liked the chorus. Now the blatant recycling of The Talisman's intro and The Edge Of Darkness melody... No, just no. It's once again lazy composing in my book and it's a pity since the sections I first mentioned have huge potential. Still a decent song, though.
Darkest Hour (worst): This tune kind of aged badly for me and funny enough it has no vocals/ guitar mimicking or melody recycling (although the verses remind me of a poor man's Gates of Urizen). Plus, I simply dislike the operatic nature of the chorus. I don't know why, it sounds misplaced. Somehow, it simply turned sour for my ears with the passing of time. And what's the matter with the seagulls? Not bad, but a skip it in my book.
Death Of The Celts (worst): There's nothing wrong about this song in general (other than its motive and ambiance being a bit derivative from The Clansman ). But it somehow lost its punch the more I listened to it. The middle section once again could be repeated way less times. Plus, the keys sound awful - not only in this song... in the entire album. Still can nod my head to it though.
The Parchment (same/ worst): Never was a big fan of this one. I don't know what the first minute of the song is even doing there, but ok... to each his own. The verses grew on me, and the ensuing instrumental section is also enjoyable but damn... those keyboards sound cheap. Plus, the latter could be a bit shorter. My favorite part would be Bruce's vocals from the 8m10 onwards (a section once again stained by the guitar/vocal syndrome). Furthermore, I think I'd like this song more if it had between 3 or 4 minutes less. Though I must admit the instrumental sections from 9m50 onwards grew on me a lot (typical epic Maiden stuff... everyone loves it even if they don't admit it).
Hell On Earth (worst): When it comes to melodies, this song is top notch Maiden and no other track here is on par with it. Plus, there's not a trace of recycling. Yet, I think composition wise, HOE could be simply perfect (as it is it's only excellent in my book). And its melodies are so amazing that they kind of blinded me regarding some of these traits I disliked here during the first spins. Namely:
Overall, and although I don't like it as much as when I first listened to it and despite the dislike for the aforementioned traits that Maiden insist on including (especially on their last two records), I still consider Senjutsu to be a good and respectable release.
Senjutsu (same/ better): It's kind of a slow burner but it's quite enjoyable, with a slow, strong, tribal pace that captures the ambiance of its lyrics on point. It's far from my favorite track from the album, but I must admit I like it a tad bit more than when I first listened to it.
Stratego (same): Always loved this one, yet three years after, the guitar melodies and short epic composition (something rare in the last decades) only grew on me... Amazing stuff. So why don't I like this one more than before? Well, because of one factor that utterly unnerves me in this record: the one-string melodies copying the vocal line (or vice versa). Please stop doing this stuff... IMO it tarnishes what could be a 10 out of 10.
The Writing On The Wall (same/ better): Composition wise, Senjutsu's first single is flawless IMO. I already loved it and I think I even love it a tad bit more. Plus, that solo by Adrian...
Lost In A Lost World (same): This is album's black sheep for the majority but not for me. I love the intro, the verses are superb, the pre chorus could go with something else other than the one-string melodies copying the vocal line. My only critique still goes to the excessive repetitions of the melodies after the first chorus but, overall, I still think it's a great song.
Days Of Future Past (same): Cool short rocker (verses remind me of The Pilgrim). Far from my favorite, yet still enjoyable.
The Time Machine (worst): I admit the first time I listened to the major scale notes on the verses it kinda rubbed me the wrong way, but I grew to like it and I already liked the chorus. Now the blatant recycling of The Talisman's intro and The Edge Of Darkness melody... No, just no. It's once again lazy composing in my book and it's a pity since the sections I first mentioned have huge potential. Still a decent song, though.
Darkest Hour (worst): This tune kind of aged badly for me and funny enough it has no vocals/ guitar mimicking or melody recycling (although the verses remind me of a poor man's Gates of Urizen). Plus, I simply dislike the operatic nature of the chorus. I don't know why, it sounds misplaced. Somehow, it simply turned sour for my ears with the passing of time. And what's the matter with the seagulls? Not bad, but a skip it in my book.
Death Of The Celts (worst): There's nothing wrong about this song in general (other than its motive and ambiance being a bit derivative from The Clansman ). But it somehow lost its punch the more I listened to it. The middle section once again could be repeated way less times. Plus, the keys sound awful - not only in this song... in the entire album. Still can nod my head to it though.
The Parchment (same/ worst): Never was a big fan of this one. I don't know what the first minute of the song is even doing there, but ok... to each his own. The verses grew on me, and the ensuing instrumental section is also enjoyable but damn... those keyboards sound cheap. Plus, the latter could be a bit shorter. My favorite part would be Bruce's vocals from the 8m10 onwards (a section once again stained by the guitar/vocal syndrome). Furthermore, I think I'd like this song more if it had between 3 or 4 minutes less. Though I must admit the instrumental sections from 9m50 onwards grew on me a lot (typical epic Maiden stuff... everyone loves it even if they don't admit it).
Hell On Earth (worst): When it comes to melodies, this song is top notch Maiden and no other track here is on par with it. Plus, there's not a trace of recycling. Yet, I think composition wise, HOE could be simply perfect (as it is it's only excellent in my book). And its melodies are so amazing that they kind of blinded me regarding some of these traits I disliked here during the first spins. Namely:
- Once again, some one-string melodies copying the vocal line here and there.
- And once more the keyboards sound like garbage.
- Both intro and outro sections are exceedingly repeated IMO.
- Making a run of the entirety of the melodies of the song's first half sounds a bit off to me in hindsight
- ... and ABOVE all things: these guys pull out a monster of a chorus and only play it once? What? And they repeat several times other parts that could be shortened. Worst: this is the second album in a row they do this (The Red And The Black).
Overall, and although I don't like it as much as when I first listened to it and despite the dislike for the aforementioned traits that Maiden insist on including (especially on their last two records), I still consider Senjutsu to be a good and respectable release.
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