To me, this album is a bit like a dream coming true : a record with the sole name of Steve Harris on the sleeve. It's not what I've been dreaming of for years : a kind of progressive album, with long songs, long instrumental passages, keyboards, and (why not ?) no singer, etc. But it's not a desillusion. The most important thing for me is not deciding wether or not it's a good album : it's knowing that it is something sincere, well done. I think I can understand the idea behind this record. I'm delighted to see that my idol is full of energy, that he wants to use the long pauses in Maiden's activity.
Many people say that the singer doesn't fit the songs, and I completly disagree : the man was part of the project even before Steve himself knew he would do a solo record. And Steve has repetedly said during his long carrer that he adapts his songwriting to the singer : he has done so after recruiting Bruce, enlarging the musical possibilities of the band ; he did the same with Blaze, writing a very dark album perfectly in line with Blaze's voice ; I think he did the same with British Lion. Sure, the voice is sometimes a bit "light" : "Us against the World" is the most puzzling example, because it seems as if he was holding back his voice. But he's got a clean voice, and its "commercial hard-rock" style doesn't bother me the least : even Dream Theater's singer has this touch, and it is no big problem.
The songs are good, and the are have a growing effect on me. The week before the listening session on Harry's website, I was constantly listening to Mastodon, which was certainly not the best way to prepare my ears ; but now that all this is gone from my ears, I fully appreciate the album. I'm already hoping a new one, which will be very different I'm sure, and obviously, a new Maiden album.
? Its different the what I've been listing to lately and I think its a refreshing change, cant wait to have it spinning in my car for while! Its mostly Maiden fans listing to and bitching about it on youtube but I wonder what "outsiders"
would think of it?
<<ducks>>. The music is pretty good, the vocals are fine, though I'm not sure what basis others have for saying they "love" the vocals. But, after a couple listens, I must confess it didn't smack me on the side of the head as a definite keeper. That said, I have it as one of my "favorites" on MOG and I'll continue listening (and Steve can still get royalties a fraction of a cent at a time). If it truly grows on me, I'll spring for the disc. Ditto the new Muse, which I hated upon first listen last night (canceled that pre-order too).
