What would the X-Factor and VXI have sounded like if...

[Wrathchild]

- They were recorded in a proper studio (as opposed to 'Arry's garden shed) and produced by someone like Sean Lynch?

- Steve, Janick, Dave and Blaze made equal contributions to every track, working together to make them the best they could be?

I think we'd have had two classic albums in the same vein as NOTB or Piece of Mind. Blaze's arrival could have been just the boot up the behind Maiden needed, but as usual they wasted the opportunity. Thoughts?

W

 

[spawn]

X-Factor is a great album, it just needed better production I think.

Nothing could save VXI though IMHO (except for The Clansman which is a classic!)

 

[TRrEiTxIxRiE DTrash]

Virtual XI would still have been a crap album just with better production imo

 

[phlogiston]

X factor is a pretty good album anyway, I think. Production could have been better, and a few of the songs could have been a bit more polished, but overall it's a good, if different, Maiden album.

VXI - keep the songs Futureal, Lightning, Clansman and Two Worlds Collide, and rework the others and it might have been passable.

 

[Spiff]

Yep, the only thing wrong with The X Factor is the production. Great songs, great performances... just a poor sound. Virtual XI is similar - just dump songs like Angel & The Gambler and Don't Look To The Eyes of a Stranger (or rework them drastically) and it's a great album, apart from the production.

More important question is, who is Sean Lynch?

 

[Wrathchild]

He was behind the mixing desk for Priest's Jugulator and 98 Live Meltdown. Did a fine job on both too .

W

 

[Spiff]

Is that the same "Jugulator" that I haven't been able to bring myself to listen to since I bought it because it's so awful?

 

[Icarus]

Jugulator rules Much better than Demolition.

 

[TRrEiTxIxRiE DTrash]

'98 Live Meltdown = one of the best live albums I've heard

 

[Sydo]

The X Factor would have been ridiculously good had it sounded something like Blaze’s or Bruce’s current solo stuff.

 

[Tough As Steel]

I would have liked to have seen a band lineup of Blaze, Dave & H, Steve & Nicko. With any real rock/metal producer (ie not Steve & Nigel 'yes sir' Green) in a real studio.

 

[TinMan666]

Originally posted by Sydo
The X Factor would have been ridiculously good had it sounded something like Blaze’s or Bruce’s current solo stuff.

I agree! Imagine that album with a production like what Sneapy did on Tenth Dimension, or what Roy Z did for Chemical Wedding.

Woulda been awesome.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I disagree with that. I don't have any major criticisms for TXF, as its one of, if not my favourite Maiden album. I don't mind the production that much, but I think one thing that it could have really benefited from would be a darker, moodier, doomier sound. If it was produced heavier, it wouldn't have had such a deep sound, but if it was darker sounding, it would have been amazing. I mean, the intro to 'Sign Of The Cross' is perfect, and an awesome opener to the album, but throughout the album, their are times where it just sounds too light for the subjetc matter. Maiden took a bit of a risk with TXF, but I think if they stepped out of their comfort zone a little more they could have pulled it off better.

VXI on the other hand....I agree with what has already been said. Re-working 'The Angel And The Gambler' and 'Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger' (not scrapping them, just re-working them, as they have potential) would have made BIG improvements, and perhaps the addition of another song or two to make up for the decrease in repitition in the other songs would have done this album wonders. Again, I don't think the production is that bad, and as I always say, I think VXI is full of great material and ideas, it just doesn't gel as an album...