Michael Schenker - Arachnophobiac

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Free Music Notes for Arachnophobiac

Free Music Review: Wow! What an injustice...
Hit: 5 Stars

There are a couple of super-tasty tunes on here that really grabbed my ear on the first listen.... and that's MAJOR coming from me, since I can say that about very few albums these days. Upon listening to it a couple more times, it became apparent that there were quite a few little gems on here.

I was especially impressed with Fatal Strike, Alive, Rock and Roll Believer, Illusion and Evermore. As for the overall sound of the album, I suppose it could possibly have benefited from a little more gloss in the mix.... but then again, this ain't Def Leppard people! It's MSG!!! :-D The guy who mixed and co-produced it, Steve Fontano, won 2 Grammy's for his engineering and mixing work on some of the best tracks of Santana's "Supernatural" album! Go figure...

I have each and every one of Michael's albums, and find this one to be right up there with the best of them. The messages in Logan's lyrics seem definitely to be a departure from the darker, more fantasy oriented types of ideas expressed in some of the earlier material by Barden, but it's certainly a refreshing contrast to the negativity, anger and hopelessness that seems to have inundated the modern rock scene over the past decade. It is obvious this singer comes from the standpoint of a kinder, gentler era of Heavy Metal.... when music was more a celebration of life than an expression of complete and utter disappointment with it. And the best part? He's a good singer!

Musically, Michael is spot on this time around. Be Aware Of Scorpions seemed to be a little more on the experimental side and was quite good, but this one is a little more my style: Straight to the point, hard-hitting ROCK AND ROLL. That's right - R.O.C.K., the way it was intended to be played. Straight up, in your face and raw!

I was a bit surprised by the appearance of Jeff Watson on four of the songs, as many others apparently were. But after listening to his masterful shredding side by side Schenker's, I've come away feeling that it's more of a bonus than anything. While Schenker is hands down in a class all his own, the two of these mates appearing together on the same album really hits hard - Watson is an incredible player!

The rest of the band rocks on in typical MSG fashion, with amazing time keeping and rhythm coming from Colson, and predictably masterful support by Hamm on bass. I'd love to have heard a little more from the drums though. Colson is an insane drummer (check out his sick, sick technical skills on the "The Absolute Man" album feat. Steve Wash from Kansas and James Labrie from Dream Theater.)

I see lot's of people bashing Varney here, but why?? From what I've read about Schenker, Mike Varney must really have had a lot of faith to do this album in the midst of all the rumors concerning Schenker shirking his obligations (missing concert dates, walking off stage in the middle of shows, etc) only to be let down in the same instance. Word is that Schenker disappeared in the middle of recording his parts. The fact that anyone would expect Varney to throw away however many tens of thousands of dollars he'd already invested in this album instead of hiring Watson to play 4 solos at Schenker's request is completely inane. And let's not forget... Mitch Perry was a guitar player in MSG for several years, as was Robin McAulley.... so it's not like this was a first with a #2 guitar player!

All in all, I'd say this album is certainly worth every penny I paid for it. I am at a loss in understanding how anyone could think it was as bad as the person who posted 3 reviews under different names says it is. I GIVE IT 5 STARS BABY!!

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