Iron Maiden - Virtual XI
Our Price: $17.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $7.97 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: Iron MaidenEdition: Music CD
Format: Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2002-03-26
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Futureal
- Angel and the Gambler
- Lightning Strikes Twice
- Clansman
- When Two Worlds Collide - Steve Harris, Iron Maiden,
- Educated Fool
- Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger
- Como Estais Amigos
Free Music Notes for Virtual XI
Free Music Review: Great album ruined by haphazard production.
Hit: 4 Stars
I bought this album, like most of the other Iron Maiden albums (er..cds), the day it came out. I was excited and took it home, and ironically was not dissapointed. Ok, maybe a little bit dissapointed, but not to the extent that many of the other critics and fans had been.
One thing you can say about this album is that it is a turnaround from their previous effort, X-Factor. I liked that album as well, but Virtual 11 has much more varied songwriting and dynamics than the previous one. I still think my enjoyment of X-Factor edges out this one a little bit though, as a side note.
There is more experimentation this time around, with the Who/Ufo influenced song "Angel and the Gambler" (yes its too long) with emulated horn section keyboard sounds and the eerie ballad, Como Estas Amigos. There is some progressiveness and rhythmic experimentation on songs such as "The Educated Fool" and some neat atmospheres (celtic-esque) on "The Clansman". "Futureal" recalls Somewhere in Time's faster tracks, "Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger" looks forward to Maiden's more progressive experiments on subsequent albums.
Another additional factor, and this is the musician in me talking: the songs have more varying key signatures this time. You'll have a song in E, but then one A minor, then one in B or D. I thought the X-Factor got repetitious at times in part because many of the songs were in the same key.
The overwhelming factor that brings it down one star is the lackluster production and mixing. It sounds good, but a little bit amateurish and flat considering their Martin Birch era albums. Also, Blaze does a lesser performance in my opinion than on the X-Factor. I think unconciously they were imagining Bruce singing it, and pressured Blaze to follow through with a similar range.
One note on Blaze: His vocals are different, but they're powerful and rich and in my opinion don't have the nasally whiny element that Bruce can have at times. I also like Di'anno era as well, so my lack of being a loyalist to Bruce may jade my opinion of Blaze era Maiden.
Overall, if Harris didn't exec produce it, and they tightened up some of the more lackluster arrangements, as well as taking out some of the repetitive choruses, and also got a more dynamic and powerful mix, it would be heralded as equal to classic era Maiden. I would also highly recommend Blaze's solo work, because it seems like the course that would have been awesome for Maiden to go if he would have stayed on board.
Alternative Rock Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Iron Maiden Studio Albums In Order From Greatest To Least
Iron Maiden - Fear of the DarkRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $11.78
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the DyingRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.25
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Virtual XIRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and DeathRelease date: 2006-09-05; Music CD
Best price: $6.66
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Somewhere in TimeIRON MAIDEN; Release date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - KillersRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.38
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Iron MaidenRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $8.48
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh SonRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $6.70
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - The X FactorRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Brave New WorldRelease date: 2000-05-30; Music CD
Best price: $6.24
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh SonRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $6.70
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Brave New WorldRelease date: 2000-05-30; Music CD
Best price: $6.24
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - PowerslaveRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $10.51
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - KillersRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.38
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Dance of DeathRelease date: 2003-09-09; Music CD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Iron MaidenRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $8.48
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Somewhere in TimeIRON MAIDEN; Release date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - Fear of the DarkRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $11.78
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the DyingRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.25
Price in other shops:
Iron Maiden - The X FactorRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops: