Virtual XI appreciation

BNW certainly has a cleaner, clearer production than all of the other reunion albums. It was the band's first time working with Shirley and though it retains a lot of energy, there is also a much greater emphasis on overdubs and mixing/mastering than anything since. Personally, I far prefer this sound, even it sounds a bit more like a "recording" and less like a "performance".
 
Wayne Bond said:
Ok Meliegree, have to agree to disagree on this because I disagree with pretty much everything you've said on this thread lol.

It's all good as it makes for a good debate.

For me all the reunion albums have a similar feel. Heck it's like they started again on BNW, sort of like when a film series gets a reboot. It's still Maiden, sounds like maiden but the reunion brought about a much more complex and progressive style of writing. Plus it feels like Maiden are indulging themselves a lot more. All of this I can trace back to X factor and I feel that even if Bruce had stayed with Maiden I think we would still have gotten the X factor exactly how it is now just with Bruce singing. If Bruce had of stayed and we had not had Blaze I don't think we would ever have gotten VXI. I think the follow up to X factor would have sounded very different.

As I said before VXI sounds like Maiden trying to write another 80's album with punchier songs and catchier choruses and loads more melody than the previous album.
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Well, I think that in some way you may be right. I just don't analyze music. If I feel good while listening - that's all I need to know and BNW feel like little call back to Martin Birch era. Music is so emotional thing that there will be always discussion. But, on side note, I love your posts - they are always very interesting to read. : )

Bruce was right on one of his Business keynotes - Maiden don't have bad album. They're all equal but some are more equal than others.
 
MrKnickerbocker said:
BNW certainly has a cleaner, clearer production than all of the other reunion albums. It was the band's first time working with Shirley and though it retains a lot of energy, there is also a much greater emphasis on overdubs and mixing/mastering than anything since. Personally, I far prefer this sound, even it sounds a bit more like a "recording" and less like a "performance".
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Absolutely spot on
 
I love Futureal, The Clansman and the intros to Lightning Strikes Twice and When Two Worlds Collide. I never ever listen to this record, still my least favorite of them all even though I don't hate it and like Blaze.

I'm still bummed they canceled their US tour two dates before I was to see them. That looked like a pretty cool show.
 
dickinson1978 said:
What is that live recording?
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drummer suck but beside that it's awesome show. Oh and show "The night that will not die" is awesome too! AND if your google-fu is amazing you can try to find acoustic show from Birminham (?) with Thomas Z. it's very interesting how his voice sound with this kind of music.

Many consider Blaze to be weakest vocalist in Maiden but I love how much heart he put into his work. I get chance to talk with him before show from Alive in Poland and what struck me is that he was way more excited to see us and play for us than we were to see him (and crowd was crazy for him). I felt that he was bigger fan of his public than we were his.

There is also funny story that for managment of this show this was kind of quick cash grab - you know ex-maiden vocalist sing whatever he want, he keep this short and we get money beacuse of Maiden fame. And he did full blown show. I heard days later that they were really pissed on him for that.
 
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Meliegree said:
AND if your google-fu is amazing you can try to find acoustic show from Birminham (?) with Thomas Z. it's very interesting how his voice sound with this kind of music.

Many consider Blaze to be weakest vocalist in Maiden but I love how much heart he put into his work. I get chance to talk with him before show from Alive in Poland and what struck me is that he was way more excited to see us and play for us than we were to see him (and crowd was crazy for him). I felt that he was bigger fan of his public than we were his.
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In the two times I've met Blaze, he seems a bit tough to talk to at times (though he'll happily answer any question you have--maybe I'm a terrible conversationalist), but onstage I'm not sure there's a guy out there who appreciates his fans more than him, whether there were hundreds (in his Silicon Messiah days) or 20-some like his US tour a few years back. He performed his ass off, and was thrilled to be playing. And yes, that Birmingham Asylum show (which he offers for sale on his "bootleg" Bandcamp collection) was excellent...even if he kind of mucks up I Like it Hot.

But I definitely agree with many on this thread who attributed the fault of the Blaze era to Steve. Blaze was his choice and since he's the boss, it was ultimately his decision (or lack of a proper ear--I know he's got a good deal of hearing loss) that Blaze's voice isn't capable of consistently performing Bruce era material, and didn't think of or refused to drop the tuning of the old songs so he could sing more comfortably in his range.

As for the drums, I'd also agree that Nicko was probably completely phoning it in on VXI because he wasn't into the new material and wasn't into the idea of carrying on with Blaze. Considering the rumor that Nicko was the one who pushed hardest for Blaze to be booted, if you believe that sort of thing, it would make sense.

But overall, I do like Virtual XI a lot. Blaze had a lot more feel and added more personality to his vocals than he had on TXF, the production wasn't as dry, and The Clansman was my favorite Maiden song for years. Yeah, Angel and the Gambler could've been shorter and Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger could've been better, but even classic Bruce-era albums had 'meh' songs on them.

He wasn't the right choice for Maiden, but I'm glad he got it because I'd have never heard of him and his (mostly!) quite good solo work.
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
He wasn't the right choice for your vision of Maiden. "Iron Maiden" is not some predefined thing with a right and wrong answer. Steve Harris is allowed to do things you don't expect or approve of.
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This is such a naive thing to say. Please stop telling people what to think. If Blaze had been the .right choice for Maiden he wouldn't have been kicked out of the band.
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
I'm not. But saying something like "Blaze was wrong for Maiden" is just as absolute as telling another person what to think, so why not criticize all sides fairly?
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But there are undeniable facts. The guy could not do the old songs live, the album sales went down. the guy did not have the personality let alone the voice to pull this off. It doesn't even take a Maiden fan to realize that he doesn't even have a METAL voice. This is like taking a third class Glen Danzig who thinks is Elvis and promoting him to something that he is not. Silicon Messiah? Great album and fitting to his voice. Maiden? Not close to any fiber of his body.
I think it is about time we actually give credit to where it is due. Blaze tried to do a good job with Maiden and he failed. End of story. How many times do we need to try to make ourselves like this guy just cause Steve thought he could work with Maiden?
 
Then we respectfully disagree, as usual.

Edit: why am I respecting this guy? I replied to someone else, he jumped in to accuse me of telling others what to think, and made the ridiculous statement that "Blaze doesn't have a metal voice" - a thought so ludicrous that in over a decade here, I've never heard it suggested before. From a person whose opinions are disagreed with by most of the forum.

We disagree, as usual.
 
But please let me know why was he the right choice for Maiden?
 
@SinisterMinisterX: Why don't we take every post as a personal opinion. I was told BNW is not as good as Virtual XI. I totally disagree but i also know people have different taste.
If I say Blaze was not the right choice for Maiden, I say it from my own perspective. Whether you give value to what i say is largely dependent on what reasons i put across to make my claim.

In this discussion GK1 makes a claim and he supports it by saying:
1. Album sales went down
2. Blaze couldnt properly cover the old songs
3. He was fired after two albums

Now if u disagree with him then disagree on the merits of the post rather than saying "a person whos opinion are disagreed by most". That to me is unnecessary.
 
nuno_c said:
Are you a fan, like me, of this generally hated album? Share your love.

What makes you love this album? Please share your thoughts! :bigsmile:
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I don't love it but Futureal is a great song and if The Angel and The Gambler is shortened by 70%, it is a good track.
The Clansman is a piece of crap.
 
Jadukor said:
In this discussion GK1 makes a claim and he supports it by saying:
1. Album sales went down
2. Blaze couldnt properly cover the old songs
3. He was fired after two albums
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Ok, album sales went down - that's a fact, but why they went down? Beacuse of Blaze? Damn - they should ban him from every recording studio if this is his power.
He couldn't properly cover old songs. So this is cover band? God dammit, I didn't know. But yeah, he can't sing songs that wasn't written for his voice, good luck that he is only singer with that problem.
He was fired…. Well, let's play game. You are Steve, on vocal in Iron Maiden is [….] and one day someone is calling you "Hi! This is Bruce and you know what? Maybe I could return? Oh, and you can get 70% discount on H so how about that?" - how long would it take for you to make decision, how long would be list of singers that you would prefer over Bruce?
 
Meliegree said:
Ok, album sales went down - that's a fact, but why they went down? Beacuse of Blaze? Damn - they should ban him from every recording studio if this is his power.
He couldn't properly cover old songs. So this is cover band? God dammit, I didn't know. But yeah, he can't sing songs that wasn't written for his voice, good luck that he is only singer with that problem.
He was fired…. Well, let's play game. You are Steve, on vocal in Iron Maiden is [….] and one day someone is calling you "Hi! This is Bruce and you know what? Maybe I could return? Oh, and you can get 70% discount on H so how about that?" - how long would it take for you to make decision, how long would be list of singers that you would prefer over Bruce?
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I am sorry but I can't find any reason to hire someone who can't sing the band's material. All in all in case the guy replacing Bruce was the right one we wouldn't have Bruce back. Does Brian Johnson or Sammy Hagar ring a bell?!
 
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