Two songs of a similar formula: Rainmaker versus Stratego - Which one do you like better?

[Prowler]

My vote goes to Stratego. I really love the "ocean is black" part of it. Also, it's my 2nd favourite track from Senjutsu (after HoE of course). Rainmaker is also one of my favourite reunion songs, but maybe I overplayed it. Senjutsu overall had some catchy parts like the HoE chorus or the Stratego part I mentioned.

 

[Eddie's Uncle]

It's Bruce doubling Janicks guitar.

One of my problems with post reunion Maiden: Bruce does this a lot. He very rarely did it in his first stint with the band.

This thread got me thinking about the band's short rockers. They were fairly common up until FOTD but less so after.

Another problem with post reunion Maiden.

Beginning with X Factor, I counted 13 album tracks clocking in at 5:00 or less.

Futureal - Virtual XI: 3:00
The Rainmaker - Dance of Death: 3:48
Wildest Dreams - Dance of Death: 3:52
The Fallen Angel - Brave New World: 4:00
Days of Future Past - Senjutsu: 4:03
Man on the Edge - The X Factor: 4:10
Different World - A Matter of Life and Death: 4:17
The Alchemist - The Final Frontier: 4:29
The Wicker Man - Brave New World: 4:35
The Mercenary - Brave New World: 4:42
Lightning Strikes Twice - Virtual XI: 4:49
Tears of a Clown - The Book of Souls: 4:49
Stratego - Senjutsu: 4:59

They were short, but not all of them are rockers. Tears of a Clown, Wildest Dreams, Days of Future Past f.e. are not very ass kicking and very mellow, compared to proper rockers like BQORBD or Wicker Man.
Thats my third problem with post reunion Maiden: very little ass kicking

 

[Dick Brucinson]

One of my problems with post reunion Maiden: Bruce does this a lot. He very rarely did it in his first stint with the band.

Does this really annoy you so much? I think its's not THAT much of a problem. I mean, a guitar line under a vocal isn't THAT noticable often, so this not a BIG problem,at least not for me.

100% agreement to all your other points.

Problems I have with the reunion era: Shirley as a producer, recording live instead of doing trackwise and also the loss of melancholy (best example is the live performance of Wasted Years nowadays - the chorus sounds like a drunk soccer fan chanting).

 

[Azas]

Thats my third problem with post reunion Maiden: very little ass kicking

I agree with that. Post reunion, Maiden is not into BDSM anymore. Sadly.

 

[Eddie's Uncle]

Does this really annoy you so much? I think its's not THAT much of a problem. I mean, a guitar line under a vocal isn't THAT noticable often, so this not a BIG problem,at least not for me.

It is a cheap quick way of songwriting, not bothering much with detail. Early 80s or early 90s Maiden had better ideas than that. I don't mind it happening once or twice, but post reunion Maiden do it on several songs on every album.

100% agreement to all your other points.

Problems I have with the reunion era: Shirley as a producer, recording live instead of doing trackwise

Nicko's drum sound got better with Shirley, especially the bass drum. The guitars sound not as good as with Birch, but at least better than when Steve produced alone. The live tracking works for me, it's neither better or worse to my ears.

and also the loss of melancholy (best example is the live performance of Wasted Years nowadays - the chorus sounds like a drunk soccer fan chanting).

Definitely. Melancholy was a strong point of Maiden. It got lost a bit over the years, despite being more mellow.

 

[dmort93]

Stratego by a country mile - it's a proper modern classic for me. Good gallop and soaring chorus with a great melody

 

[Kalata]

You see a lot of pissing and moaning about Maiden's long songs on this forum, but when you take a look at the list, most of them are throw-away songs

Most of the longer songs might be better and some fans don't want to admit that, but I disagree. Like, 3 at most. Not just for the quality, every album (especially those from Maiden's Reunion era) needs short rockers.

One of my problems with post reunion Maiden: Bruce does this a lot. He very rarely did it in his first stint with the band.

I've never had a problem with that - and that's been Maiden's style since 2010. They've never been a riff-based band (full-on), the melody is important to them. But ofc they could do some things with more variety. I wouldn't call this approach lazy (or better/not better), just what they prefer (I mean Adrian brings riffs, always, while Bruce and Steve can come up with something interesting else for sure) and they are a different band than in the 90's and especially the 80's.

My real complaint is what happened to the guitar harmonies like on Rainmaker? Or the not powerful production, the live recording? But BNW.

Another problem with post reunion Maiden.

Agreed. We need more than 2 shorter songs per album.

They were short, but not all of them are rockers. Tears of a Clown, Wildest Dreams, Days of Future Past f.e. are not very ass kicking and very mellow, compared to proper rockers like BQORBD or Wicker Man. Thats my third problem with post reunion Maiden: very little ass kicking

The tempo, well yeah since 2003 or so. I miss some speed sometimes too.

 

[Kalata]

...and also the loss of melancholy (best example is the live performance of Wasted Years nowadays - the chorus sounds like a drunk soccer fan chanting).

The melancholy, hmm interesting. I can't agree, I get that from many different Maiden songs. And Stratego is a good example.

 

[srfc]

Most of the longer songs might be better and some fans don't want to admit that, but I disagree. Like, 3 at most. Not just for the quality, every album (especially those from Maiden's Reunion era) needs short rockers.

Yeah, "throw away" was a harsh term, and I like most of the songs listed bar probably Lightning Strikes Twice, the point really was that not a lot of them were "big" songs for Maiden;

 

[BludBrutha]

I always skip straight to Rainmaker when I play DOD. Way better opening song.

 

[dickinson1978]

Rainmaker is so soft. I dont like it. Stratego is maybe the Last chance to see the mighty maiden in an galloping song. One of the Best songs since reunion

 

[naranja]

This thread got me thinking about the band's short rockers. They were fairly common up until FOTD but less so after.
Beginning with X Factor, I counted 13 album tracks clocking in at 5:00 or less.

Futureal - Virtual XI: 3:00
The Rainmaker - Dance of Death: 3:48
Wildest Dreams - Dance of Death: 3:52
The Fallen Angel - Brave New World: 4:00
Days of Future Past - Senjutsu: 4:03
Man on the Edge - The X Factor: 4:10
Different World - A Matter of Life and Death: 4:17
The Alchemist - The Final Frontier: 4:29
The Wicker Man - Brave New World: 4:35
The Mercenary - Brave New World: 4:42
Lightning Strikes Twice - Virtual XI: 4:49
Tears of a Clown - The Book of Souls: 4:49
Stratego - Senjutsu: 4:59

I'd say my favorite songs from this group are Futureal and The Rainmaker.
Followed by some combination of Lightning Strikes Twice / The Wicker Man / Different World.

p.s. - If I'd extended the time limit by a mere 13 extra seconds, the list would have included eight(!) more songs: Speed of Light (5:01), Lord of the Flies (5:02), The New Frontier (5:04), The Pilgrim (5:07), Look for the Truth (5:10), Judgement of Heaven (5:10), Gates of Tomorrow (5:12), Death or Glory (5:13).

Futureal, The Wicker Man and Rainmaker absolutely demolish every short rocker on the following albums