The Problem with the X-Factor?

[Eduardo Cabeza]

It's one of Harris' favourite Maiden albums, and I agree with him. It's so immersive, and sophisticated in its metal minimalism. The production is so special, direct and raw but clean in a sense, very airy. Blaze nails it, every word. He was perfect for this record, a precise channeller of Harris' mood during those times.

 

[el diablo]

To the original poster, with all due respect, I'll say that the reason why X Factor is my 3rd least favorite IM album (after No Prayer and Fear of the Dark) is because it's just too freaking depressing.
Seriously, it bums me out. And the further you go, the darker it gets.
And my favorite song on the album, Judgement of Heaven, which I love musically, is about suicide.
Although I'm 100% on board with you about Somewhere in Time which for my tastes is their glorious masterpiece.
p.s. I'm not anti-Blaze. Virtual is Top 10 IM for me.

 

[harrisdevot]

I listened to the album two days ago, from start to finish without skipping a song. What a trip. I've loved this record from day one, and I still do.

 

[MindRuler]

I listened to the album two days ago, from start to finish without skipping a song. What a trip. I've loved this record from day one, and I still do.

It's a nice dark journey for sure!

 

[Gk1]

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius!

 

[Black Abyss Babe]

Seriously, it bums me out. And the further you go, the darker it gets.

It is a dark album and there's no getting away from that, but on the other hand it's not deliberately depressing or wallowing in hopelessness - more like trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

my favorite song on the album, Judgement of Heaven, which I love musically, is about suicide.

It's not really about suicide - it just mentions that he's thought about that a lot (though we are not told how seriously) but ultimately decided that it would be the "easy way" which he chose not to take.

I think the song is basically about: what do you do when you've spent your whole life trying to do the right thing but then everything just goes to hell in a basket anyway? Answer: you get a case of the "what-ifs" and start wondering if some of his good choices were actually bad ones ...

I'm not anti-Blaze. Virtual is Top 10 IM for me.

I'm delighted to hear this

 

[malfeitor]

I think that they've never managed to top TXF later in their career. BNW is great and I consider AMOLAD to be a serious contender here (btw, I think that AMOLAD kiiiinda does sound like TXF pt. 2, in a way), but I believe that TXF was a lightning in a bottle. They already had many bluebrints from the 80s they could have replicated, they had a formula that worked well, but they decided to do something else - and I do respect such an attitude. I'm not saying it's a perfect record, but it certainly is unique.

Perhaps the production isn't the best, maybe the album should have been shorter (was including The Unbeliever necessary? I doubt that...), but it is what it is. Yes, the songs are repetitive - but that's a criticism that could be raised about any album released after FotD. Personally, I definitely like the vibe of TXF. It's not for everyone and it might be described as depressing, but it took some balls to release an album like TXF, especially if your biggest hits were songs such as Run to the Hills, 2 Minutes to Midnight and Wasted Years.

I've never had any problems with Blaze's vocals. While Bruce's version of Sign of the Cross is one of the highlights of Rock in Rio, the rest of the songs wouldn't suit his voice. I don't think that the 1999 performance of Man on the Edge had the pessimistic atmosphere of the original. And while the Death on the Road version of Lord of the Flies was interesting, I can only repeat what I said about MotE.

It's not their best album, but it's one of their boldest, most original releases. And considering the band's love for long, moody intros and outros that can be heard on the records released post-TXF, I dare to say it was a turning point in their discography. For better or worse.

I didn't really like it at first, it takes some time to appreciate it, but it's a rewarding material, pretty much the definition of a grower. I'm glad to see that after some time more and more people start liking it. It actually happens to many albums in the world of heavy metal, but TXF is the clearest example of the phenomenon.

 

[Helmuth Von Moltke]

I think that they've never managed to top TXF later in their career. BNW is great and I consider AMOLAD to be a serious contender here (btw, I think that AMOLAD kiiiinda does sound like TXF pt. 2, in a way), but I believe that TXF was a lightning in a bottle. They already had many bluebrints from the 80s they could have replicated, they had a formula that worked well, but they decided to do something else - and I do respect such an attitude. I'm not saying it's a perfect record, but it certainly is unique.

Perhaps the production isn't the best, maybe the album should have been shorter (was including The Unbeliever necessary? I doubt that...), but it is what it is. Yes, the songs are repetitive - but that's a criticism that could be raised about any album released after FotD. Personally, I definitely like the vibe of TXF. It's not for everyone and it might be described as depressing, but it took some balls to release an album like TXF, especially if your biggest hits were songs such as Run to the Hills, 2 Minutes to Midnight and Wasted Years.

I've never had any problems with Blaze's vocals. While Bruce's version of Sign of the Cross is one of the highlights of Rock in Rio, the rest of the songs wouldn't suit his voice. I don't think that the 1999 performance of Man on the Edge had the pessimistic atmosphere of the original. And while the Death on the Road version of Lord of the Flies was interesting, I can only repeat what I said about MotE.

It's not their best album, but it's one of their boldest, most original releases. And considering the band's love for long, moody intros and outros that can be heard on the records released post-TXF, I dare to say it was a turning point in their discography. For better or worse.

I didn't really like it at first, it takes some time to appreciate it, but it's a rewarding material, pretty much the definition of a grower. I'm glad to see that after some time more and more people start liking it. It actually happens to many albums in the world of heavy metal, but TXF is the clearest example of the phenomenon.

agreed - except Unbeliever is one of my highlights.
amazed at how much better the CD remaster sounds to my original 1995 CD, so that helps as well.
but overall, TXF is musically speaking one of Maiden's most important albums.