Just wanted to share with you guys my thoughts on BNW.
I think i have this particular pattern whenever a new Maiden album comes out. The first few times i hear it, i think its the best thing since sliced bread, because its all shiny & new. Then once i get used to songs and can start singing along, absorbing the new sounds etc, i start to compare it to their classic albums from the 80's. That's usually when two things happen.
1) For nostalgic reasons, i don't think any album Maiden ever make will have the same magic to it as those albums that i grew up with while i was a teenager. I think that is simply because it's such a vital time in a persons life and all those memories come back et etc.
2) Musically, very often most bands best work is in their first decade. And really i think Maiden lost a step from NPFTD onwards. Now alot of that methinks is due to Adrian leaving and being replaced by Janick, but the production values seemed to take a downward spiral too.
However, over 2 years after BNW was released, I think it stands up very well against the best Maiden albums. It doesn't have the start-to-finish fire that Maiden albums had 80-84 and it'll never knock off SSOASS as my fave Maiden album, but i do think all of the songs on BNW are very, very good.
There was a period of time, maybe 4-6 months after it was released and we found out there would be no tour down here, i founf it very hard to listen to any Maiden albums, particularly BNW. But once i got over my tantrum, and started listening to it again i have found that its a damn fine album.
And i offer the following observations:
Production/Sound: Very, very good. I love the energy that is captured in the playing, Kevin Shirley excelled himself in that regard. I think there could have been perhaps a tad more guitar presence, considering there are 3 guitarist now. I guess id like to hear more of Adrian's ryhthm guitar work next album.
The Songs:
The Wickerman is that classic Maiden styled single with Adrian Smith on the writing credits- you know, The Flight Of Icarus, Can I Play With Madness etc. A great song, but given its simple nature not a song i want to hear flogged to death.
The Ghost of the Navigator - I love the intro to this song, but not so long ago that was where my affection ended for the song. BUT it has finally become a song that i like - and it would be a great song live.
Brave New World - i think this is a really good song, with the only negative being a somewhat overly repetetive chorus.
Blood Brothers - this seems to be a song so different from anything they've done before, but like TGOTN i really like it now. It has been a slow grower.
The Mercenary - a really rockin' song, and similar to the title track, my only complaint is that the chorus is too repetetive.
Dream Of Mirrors - Great song. A very progressive song, but with a fantastic chorus. Initially the intro to the song seemed awkward, but now i get it. The intro to that song, is really abrupt, just like when you wake suddenly from a dream.
The Fallen Angel - Another typical Adrian Smith co-written song, a great rocker.
The Nomad - I love this song, i don't have a problem with the lyrics as some people do. I love the guitar work from start to finish, the whole song in fact.
Out Of The Silent Planet, this is a fairly straight forward rocking song too and i love the chorus, but it does have a few progressive elements in it.
The Thin Line Between Love And Hate - For me this is the jewell of the album. I love Davey's driving riff for the first half of the song, and the second half, mostly instrumental with Bruce's awesome singing of the title is just so powerful. There seems to be alot of emotion in this song, and i really connect with it.
All in all i give the album 8.5 out 10. I deduct .5 for production, and 1 point for too many repetetive choruses.
Man of the Match: - Dave Murray. He co-wrote the 2 best songs on the album, The Nomad and The Thin Line... and the title track is great too.
So BNW is a great album IMO, and given that these guys are pushing 50 it's pretty incredible. I mean, they're not as heavy as they were, but there song writing has really matured in a good way and they still rock hard.
Up the Irons!
I think i have this particular pattern whenever a new Maiden album comes out. The first few times i hear it, i think its the best thing since sliced bread, because its all shiny & new. Then once i get used to songs and can start singing along, absorbing the new sounds etc, i start to compare it to their classic albums from the 80's. That's usually when two things happen.
1) For nostalgic reasons, i don't think any album Maiden ever make will have the same magic to it as those albums that i grew up with while i was a teenager. I think that is simply because it's such a vital time in a persons life and all those memories come back et etc.
2) Musically, very often most bands best work is in their first decade. And really i think Maiden lost a step from NPFTD onwards. Now alot of that methinks is due to Adrian leaving and being replaced by Janick, but the production values seemed to take a downward spiral too.
However, over 2 years after BNW was released, I think it stands up very well against the best Maiden albums. It doesn't have the start-to-finish fire that Maiden albums had 80-84 and it'll never knock off SSOASS as my fave Maiden album, but i do think all of the songs on BNW are very, very good.
There was a period of time, maybe 4-6 months after it was released and we found out there would be no tour down here, i founf it very hard to listen to any Maiden albums, particularly BNW. But once i got over my tantrum, and started listening to it again i have found that its a damn fine album.
And i offer the following observations:
Production/Sound: Very, very good. I love the energy that is captured in the playing, Kevin Shirley excelled himself in that regard. I think there could have been perhaps a tad more guitar presence, considering there are 3 guitarist now. I guess id like to hear more of Adrian's ryhthm guitar work next album.
The Songs:
The Wickerman is that classic Maiden styled single with Adrian Smith on the writing credits- you know, The Flight Of Icarus, Can I Play With Madness etc. A great song, but given its simple nature not a song i want to hear flogged to death.
The Ghost of the Navigator - I love the intro to this song, but not so long ago that was where my affection ended for the song. BUT it has finally become a song that i like - and it would be a great song live.
Brave New World - i think this is a really good song, with the only negative being a somewhat overly repetetive chorus.
Blood Brothers - this seems to be a song so different from anything they've done before, but like TGOTN i really like it now. It has been a slow grower.
The Mercenary - a really rockin' song, and similar to the title track, my only complaint is that the chorus is too repetetive.
Dream Of Mirrors - Great song. A very progressive song, but with a fantastic chorus. Initially the intro to the song seemed awkward, but now i get it. The intro to that song, is really abrupt, just like when you wake suddenly from a dream.
The Fallen Angel - Another typical Adrian Smith co-written song, a great rocker.
The Nomad - I love this song, i don't have a problem with the lyrics as some people do. I love the guitar work from start to finish, the whole song in fact.
Out Of The Silent Planet, this is a fairly straight forward rocking song too and i love the chorus, but it does have a few progressive elements in it.
The Thin Line Between Love And Hate - For me this is the jewell of the album. I love Davey's driving riff for the first half of the song, and the second half, mostly instrumental with Bruce's awesome singing of the title is just so powerful. There seems to be alot of emotion in this song, and i really connect with it.
All in all i give the album 8.5 out 10. I deduct .5 for production, and 1 point for too many repetetive choruses.
Man of the Match: - Dave Murray. He co-wrote the 2 best songs on the album, The Nomad and The Thin Line... and the title track is great too.
So BNW is a great album IMO, and given that these guys are pushing 50 it's pretty incredible. I mean, they're not as heavy as they were, but there song writing has really matured in a good way and they still rock hard.
Up the Irons!
