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Post by paradiseflats on May 2, 2020 13:33:14 GMT
The album cover is terrible. The music, well lets be honest this album doesn't get an airing on my death deck.
Beginning of the end... a deliberate homage to ELO? I don't know. Its not bad but should have been dropped from the live set years ago.
I read above how people like the production. For me it typifies post John Status Quo. Very polished and shiny. Not how I want my Status Quo to sound.
I did wonder if I don't wanna hurt you any more was a left over from Under the influence.
Always though Electric arena head potential as a live track but not with this band.
So much of it is such clumsy hamfisted boogie rock. Trying to sound what they think Status Quo should sound like but in such a poor way. Gravy train, Figure of eight and Bad news. Just not poor in my book.
Tongue tied oh dear. Not what I ever want to hear.
Its just not what I want to hear. Is it bad no not really but just not a stand out. I would score it a 4/10.
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Post by sqcollector on May 2, 2020 16:00:13 GMT
Can't forgive Rhino for ripping off Sesame Street. I see I'm not the only one, then. I always thought it sounded like the Sesame Street opening.
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Post by MrWaistcoat on May 2, 2020 20:07:29 GMT
Electric Arena another example of flawed. I really want to love it, but I end up liking it. Wired for sound? What a crap line. And yeah, the guitar never does explode
I will check out the live version, which I don't think I've heard
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Post by Victor on May 2, 2020 21:03:10 GMT
The album cover is terrible. The music, well lets be honest this album doesn't get an airing on my death deck. Beginning of the end... a deliberate homage to ELO? I don't know. Its not bad but should have been dropped from the live set years ago.I read above how people like the production. For me it typifies post John Status Quo. Very polished and shiny. Not how I want my Status Quo to sound. I did wonder if I don't wanna hurt you any more was a left over from Under the influence. Always though Electric arena head potential as a live track but not with this band. So much of it is such clumsy hamfisted boogie rock. Trying to sound what they think Status Quo should sound like but in such a poor way. Gravy train, Figure of eight and Bad news. Just not poor in my book. Tongue tied oh dear. Not what I ever want to hear. Its just not what I want to hear. Is it bad no not really but just not a stand out. I would score it a 4/10. Yep, chorus of that song made me think of ELO the first time I heard it and agree it should have been dropped from live set quite a long time ago
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Post by fretbuzzzzz on May 2, 2020 22:36:00 GMT
Interesting thread again Victor and how we hear different things and far from the same!
This album just happens to be 'the' album where it is hard for me to be completely objective.
As soon as I hear any track from the album I'm transported back to a time and place. Around the time of the album release my wife had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, just a year after our daughter had been born. Having followed Quo for decades who would have thought that a fairly innocuous Quo album would have such a dramatic effect. Times when I can hardly bear to listen to it as it reminds me of such a horrible time but conversely it was also a time when something magical, related to Quo, happened and continues to this day and something that I really value.
Trying to be objective I can hear that the Rossi/Young tracks are mainly consistent but not exactly setting the world on fire. Rhino has taken alot of flak over the years but sense with this album that Rhino was trying to connect with Quo fans of old and young. Left to his own devices I wonder if Rossi would have been off with the fairies with his own ideas but, with Young's input and Rhino's input, the album is more of a balance. The Parfitt and Morris partnership playing their part as well of course.
Rossi rates this album and stuff like 'Electric Arena' and 'Tongue Tied' had a soulful edge but overall nothing that I think I 'must' listen to ever again.
At the time I had my ears pinned back by the opening track on '11' on my CD player but today I can hear that it was overload and too loud as such, as the trend seemed to be from those times.
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Dark
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 339
Favourite Quo Album: Quo
Favourite other bands.: Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Huey Lewis,
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Post by Dark on May 3, 2020 9:37:27 GMT
Not an album that I liked on release, such that I've had to go back and have a listen to remind me how some of the songs go, as I was a bit mystified just looking at the track list.
On release I did enjoy, My Little Heartbreaker, Beginning of the End, Saddling Up and Hold Me, the later got a lot of repeated listens on my MP3 player.
I grew to appreciate Electric Arena when hearing it on Rossi's solo tour and subsequent DVD - something that tells me they should have been a bit more adventurous with their set lists in recent years. Instead of just performing a greatest hits set steeped in nostalgia, they should have showed a bit more belief in their newer material and tried to sell it to the audience - but that is a whole other topic.
Having a listen today, I've gone right off Beginning of the End, not sure exactly why, but just not enjoying it. But I have a new appreciation for, You're The One For Me, think I might have to rip that to the MP3 player for listening while working.
When on holiday in Germany many years ago I did purchase a second copy of the album in order to get the European bonus track, I Ain't Wasting My Time. It is an okay song, definitely better than the bonus track on the UK edition. But I'm not sure it was worth purchasing another album for.
As for the two songs that I always saw touted as great rockers, I really dislike both Gravy Train and Bad News. They just really grate with me, never quite got them at all, just sound quite contrived. As if saying, "look we can still rock," as opposed to genuilly actually rocking. Not sure I'm explaining that very well.
So for me, pretty average, a few nice little tunes, and some tracks that would have made decent b-sides in years gone by. But in all honesty nothing there that really added to their legacy.
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Post by americanquo on May 3, 2020 16:16:39 GMT
For me, typical Quo Lite. Half the songs are really good, the other half sucks. Guitar work is fine, bass pedantic, drums pretty good. On a scale of 1-10, the half I like gets an 8 that could have been higher with a real bass player. The other half gets a 2. "I Don't Want to Hurt You Anymore" is one of my favorite Quo Lite tracks.
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Post by charles on May 3, 2020 16:27:54 GMT
I bought this cd by chance, I wasn't aware of it, just found it somewhere at a good price. So I had no expectations whatsoever. But I liked it from the first. BOTE is a lively tune, shame it has those twee backing vocals the boys seem to like. Still a decent rocker. Alright is a typical Rick rocker with a nice solo. PBT: is different, but in a good way; and I always loved the harmonica. I don't want: indeed, Quo by numbers, and I think a very lazy effort. Bin it. Electric A: a nice enough effort, with some good guitar, but it has a dull bridge. Gravy Train: written for the older fan? Okay, job done: I like the pace, the unrelenting groove of it. Fo8: Feck me, two seconds in and I am bored to death. How repetetive can you get? Very. This song is my nemesis. Tommy shits all over it (and the smell lingers.) You're the 1: nothing special, nothing great. Forgettable, although it has its moments. My little HB: a good example of Happy Clappy Quo. I think it is shite. 'old Me (Rrrené, as Michelle used to say in Allo Allo): not too shabby, a bit in the same vein as BTB's No Contract, but this one is better. Saddling Up: a bit happy clappy, yet an excellent solo saves this one. Why has it got such a lame chorus? Bad News: absolutely love it. I am aware of the formula to reel us in, but it was what got me into Quo, so every now and again they are allowed to use it. (I also love Solid Gold, sue me.) They are not trying to rock like Quo, they are rocking like Quo. And I defy anyone on this board to listen to this song and once that the solo comes on, you are not banging your head, not even tapping your feet? I consider this to be one of their latter day gems, and there are precious few of those as it is. The only thing it lacks is a second solo, but I don't think Francis could have managed two in one song. My copy ends with Tongue Tied. This is a beautiful song, on a par with Rock 'n Roll. Like Rick's voice here. So with 7 or 8 songs that I like, I think it's their second best effort after the golden era, Heavy Traffic being the best. I've come off Backbone, but that's for later.
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Post by fretbuzzzzz on May 3, 2020 17:21:33 GMT
Decided to have a re-fresher and just listened to 'Bad News' again after a long break as seems to be one that has its fans.
Freddie Edwards plays lead guitar on the track I believe.
The song has a Quo feel but it particularly reminds me, in its style and delivery, of top class pub rock bands. Rhino voice reminds me very much of band we used to follow on the pub and club circuit for a few years (think they supported Quo on one occasion) called 'The Hamsters'.
The Hamsters were Snail's Pace Slim on guitars and vocals, the Rev Otis Elevator – drums and backing vocals and Zsa Zsa Poltergeist on bass and vocals. They hailed from Southend/Canvey Island from memory.
'Bad News' reminds me especially of a couple of tracks on The Hamsters album 'Open All Hours' from 2004. Anyone on here who has seen THe Hamsters may know what I'm banging on about.
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Post by paradiseflats on May 3, 2020 17:48:25 GMT
I bought this cd by chance, I wasn't aware of it, just found it somewhere at a good price. So I had no expectations whatsoever. But I liked it from the first. BOTE is a lively tune, shame it has those twee backing vocals the boys seem to like. Still a decent rocker. Alright is a typical Rick rocker with a nice solo. PBT: is different, but in a good way; and I always loved the harmonica. I don't want: indeed, Quo by numbers, and I think a very lazy effort. Bin it. Electric A: a nice enough effort, with some good guitar, but it has a dull bridge. Gravy Train: written for the older fan? Okay, job done: I like the pace, the unrelenting groove of it. Fo8: Feck me, two seconds in and I am bored to death. How repetetive can you get? Very. This song is my nemesis. Tommy shits all over it (and the smell lingers.) You're the 1: nothing special, nothing great. Forgettable, although it has its moments. My little HB: a good example of Happy Clappy Quo. I think it is shite. 'old Me (Rrrené, as Michelle used to say in Allo Allo): not too shabby, a bit in the same vein as BTB's No Contract, but this one is better. Saddling Up: a bit happy clappy, yet an excellent solo saves this one. Why has it got such a lame chorus? Bad News: absolutely love it. I am aware of the formula to reel us in, but it was what got me into Quo, so every now and again they are allowed to use it. (I also love Solid Gold, sue me.) They are not trying to rock like Quo, they are rocking like Quo. And I defy anyone on this board to listen to this song and once that the solo comes on, you are not banging your head, not even tapping your feet? I consider this to be one of their latter day gems, and there are precious few of those as it is. The only thing it lacks is a second solo, but I don't think Francis could have managed two in one song. My copy ends with Tongue Tied. This is a beautiful song, on a par with Rock 'n Roll. Like Rick's voice here. So with 7 or 8 songs that I like, I think it's their second best effort after the golden era, Heavy Traffic being the best. I've come off Backbone, but that's for later. I will be honest and say Bad News would get zero head nodding or foot tapping. Just a shake of the head. To me it’s poor. And that’s before the vocals start. Rhino trying far to hard but he in my book doesn’t understand what once made the band great.
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Post by MrWaistcoat on May 3, 2020 18:26:57 GMT
I'm with Charles, that mid section is pure Quo.
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Post by paradiseflats on May 3, 2020 19:07:28 GMT
More Fools Gold Status Quo.
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Post by granny on May 4, 2020 11:00:03 GMT
My copy ends with Tongue Tied. This is a beautiful song, on a par with Rock 'n Roll. Words and music perfect partners.
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Post by dontthinkitmatters on May 17, 2020 15:04:10 GMT
Just listening to it now. First time ever whilst painting a wall. Had a laugh listening to old Eurovision songs last nigh, the second track wouldn't sound out of place. Put some Billie and Johnnie outfits on ...and null points. Little heartbreaker Only one that I have liked so far Electric Arena. Listening to a Rick one now Hold Me is it ? Dunno but no . Not sure if I'll get to the end. Will try and hang on for Bad News as that seems to get some positivity on here. Jeez what's this next one .. skip..oh Saddle Up just sang it..next Is this Bad News ? Right , Rhino sings it. Actually makes a change from another dull Rossi vocal again .like the bit when it kicks back in. Next ..oh sh..t. I have had enough.
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Post by wolfman on May 19, 2020 14:35:04 GMT
Can't forgive Rhino for ripping off Sesame Street. which puppet..
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