The Worst of the Beast

G

greeneless

Prowler
Say you made an album compilation of Iron Maiden's least supported, or most poorly written tracks. This is what mine would be.

1. The Deulists (Powerslave)
2. Gangland (The Number of the Beast)
3. Alexander the Great (Somewhere in Time)
4. Lightning Strikes Twice (Virtual XI)
5. The Assassin (No Prayer for the Dying)
6. Quest for Fire (Piece of Mind)
7. Weekend Warrior (Fear of the Dark)
8. Wasting Love (Fear of the Dark)
9. The Aparition (Fear of the Dark)
10. The Nomad (Brave New World)
11. Gates of Tomorrow (Dance of Death)

There would be more Blaze songs, but I honestly don't know them all.

I think the sad thing is if the above was an album I'd still buy it.
 
Some of those choices I'd agree with (Gangland, Assassin, Wasting Love, Gates Of Tomorrow at a minimum) while others I couldn't disagree with more (Alex, Nomad, Duellists).

I'd have to get Strange World, Hooks In You, The Mercenary on my worst-of album (in addition to many greeneless named).

Or I could just listen to NPFTD, which is very close to a worst-of album - the only non-terrible song being Run Silent Run Deep. (And even that one is just mediocre.)
 
greeneless said:
There would be more Blaze songs, but I honestly don't know them all.

I think the sad thing is if the above was an album I'd still buy it.
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Firstly, that first sentence seems to suggest that "more Blaze songs" are expected on a "worst of Maiden" list, which is just plain wrong. Especially one compiled of so called "poorly written tracks", there have been poorly written tracks all over the place, not necessarily just Blaze ones, some of their best written songs are Blaze ones.

Secondly, why is it a sad thing that you would still buy an album made up of such songs? It means this band has a far superior catalogue to 90% of bands out there. That can only be a good thing.

I have to disagree with SMX about Wasting Love, no way is that the worst song from Fear of the Dark, but then again, I seem to be the only one who seems to like Weekend Warrior.
However, I do agree that overall No Prayer is their weakest album. Though thats not to say I don't like the songs on the album, just it doesn't really stand up well against all of their other albums.
 
Well, I think that Angel and the Gambler would be on that album as well.  Of course, I encourage greeneless to get out and get the Blaze albums.  I also happen to rather enjoy Lightning Strikes Twice.

I'd say notable turds missing from that album include Purgatory and Age of Innocence.
 
Hmm...

1. Charlotte the Harlot
2. Quest for Fire
3. The Assassin
4. Hooks in You
5. Fear is the Key
6. Chains of Misery
7. The Apparition
8. The Angel and the Gambler (maybe twice in a row to make it extra horrible)
 
Back on topic:

SMX is spot on:  remove Alexander the Great, the Nomad and the Duellists from the original list, as they are really good -- each rates at least 4.5 stars on the Commentary ratings.  In their stead, you can't do much worse than Hooks in You, Holy Smoke or The Apparition.  [EDIT:  Never mind the last one, it's already on your list.  You could put it on twice -- that's how dreadful The Apparition is.  Let's add Fates Warning instead, or New Frontier.]  Among the Blaze-era songs, I second LC's nomination of The Angel and the Gambler (which is not only annoying, it is mercilessly long), and I would also add Fortunes of War to the list -- others on this forum like it, but I think the chorus is painfully bad.  It reminds me of the band at Billy Madison's first(?) grade graduation party. 

ANOTHER EDIT: LC's derision of Purgatory is shocking and unfair.  It's a catchy song, and arguably Maiden's only true foray into speed/thrash metal. 
 
Holy Smoke at least has a funny video and a solid message to make up for it being utter crap.  Fortunes of War, though...agreed, the chorus is bad, but how is it any worse than "Brave new world, a brave new world" x 4?
 
I'd keep Alexander, take off Wasting love, Weekend warrior stays even though I like it and OBVIOUSLY the duellists does not belong on this list.

I don't know what I'd replace it with. I really like Age of Innocence :p
 
I'll go with the tracks i almost always skip (chrono order);

1. Iron Maiden
2. Gangland
3. Quest For Fire
4. Hooks In You
5. Weekend Warrior
6. From Here To Eternity
7. The Angel And The Gambler

I'd rate those as very low for Maiden standards. However, with same singer and with unified production this 7 songs would make twice better-than-average metal album.
 
LooseCannon said:
Fortunes of War, though...agreed, the chorus is bad, but how is it any worse than "Brave new world, a brave new world" x 4?
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Not a huge fan of the chorus in Brave New World, either, though it is at least rousing in concert.  The chorus in Fortunes of War is truly abysmal.  A shiny nickel to anyone who can find on YouTube the hair-metal band performance in Billy Madison -- you'll see what I mean.  It's too bad, as the rest of the song has promise. 
 
Invader said:
Well, if I ever hear a song called national acrobats I'll be sure to insult it back. ;)
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:blink:

You're kidding, right?

If you ever hear such a song?

:blink:

Someone give this poor deluded soul a copy of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath already.
 
Come on, you can't expect everyone to know every song by everybody.

Although I admit that was kind of a backfire of Invader's.

Anyway, my list...

Invaders
Fear Is The Key
The Duellists
Age Of Innocence
The Apparition
Back In The Village
Gangland

Well, it would still be better than anything In Flames ever put out... and no, there is no reason for me to add anything off No Prayer or Virtual XI.
 
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