The Scorpions jammed onto the music scene long before their rock anthem ”Rock You Like A Hurricane” found it’s way onto the radio in 1984.
Originally formed by guitarist Rudolf Schenker in 1965, the Scorpions recorded eight albums of original material and one ‘greatest hits’ before the Germans blasted onto the scene with their 1984 release of Love at First Sting. It eventually went double platinum and found a home on the shelves of metal and MTV lovers nationwide. The band consisted of five guys: Klaus Meine (vocals), Rudolf Schenker (guitar), Matthias Jabs (guitar), Fancis Buchholz (bass) and Herman Rarebell (drums).
My first introduction came after the emotional fall of the Berlin Wall and the Scorpions poignant release of 1990’s Crazy World and it’s appropriate lead single ”Winds of Change”. I promptly purchased the audio tape and listened to it sandwiched between the likes of Extreme, Skid Row, Bon Jovi, and Slaughter. The album spawned the radio ready ballad ”Winds of Change” and hits like ”Tease Me Please Me” and ”Send Me an Angel”. This also proved to be the most successful album for the Scorpions. It was also their last successful one as a result of the alterna-grunge movement in the United States. On the wings of the success of ”Winds of Change,” the band was invited to perform at the Kremlin to meet Mikhail Gorbachev.
Since the success of Crazy World, the Scorpions have made every attempt to regain their popularity. But, alas, it wasn’t to be. They’ve released five more albums to lukewarm receptions and audiences. None has even come close to capturing hearts like their 1990 release managed to do. There have been some members that have left the band. Others have stayed. Yet, the formula doesn’t connect with audiences as a whole. So, we are left with over thirty years of a musical legacy…and a few really great hits.
Sitting at just eleven songs long, Crazy World should leave very little fluff. And, since the Scorpions are products of seventies hard rock, the album promises to deliver. As I’ve mentioned there are three very notable tracks. The most popular of which is ”Winds of Change”.
”Tease Me Please Me” is a great track. One that I specifically remember on my favorite hard rock station of the 1980’s and early 1990’s…’The Blitz.’ Beginning with hard, heavy, strong guitars the song breaks into a great up-and-down riff and super vocals. Maybe I like it because it brings back memories…maybe it’s a good song. Anyway, there’s a great chorus. Tease me, please me…no one has to know… I enjoy the track.
The fourth track, ”Wind of Change” begins on a soft delicate note with a melodic whistling paired with a soft electric guitar. Meine’s vocals then begin. He’s very soft and very low key. Rather than screaming like the rocker he his, Meine actually sings. The song has a great message. It speaks to the past, present, and future. Listen to it. I know you remember the song if you had any interest in rock during this era:
Walking down the street
Distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
I folow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
”Send Me an Angel” is also a ballad. Although, so far as instrumentation goes, I find in more interesting and more rounded than the most popular track from the album. If memory serves me, this one was also a single. It’s got a soft acoustic-sounding guitar and what sounds to be like actual orchestral string instruments. Meine’s voice is delicate…the song sounds somewhat downbeat. It’s sad. The song is very easy on the ears, and very easy to listen to. Again, I hope you remember this one, but if you don’t it will seem very familiar upon listening to it.
There’s no other way to describe the second song, except to say that it’s an all-out rock fest. ”Don’t Believe Her” starts with exceptionally loud and strong guitars. That also happens to be an element that is typical of ”The Scorpions” throughout the years. It’s definitely listenable and has been heard on occasion on the radio. Don’t miss out on this one. It’s entertaining fun and for that matter great rock full of just a tad of substance. Again, the chorus is very easy to listen to and for that matter to sing.
”To Be With You In Heaven” has an odd off-and-on guitar from the beginning. The rhythm is broken up by the drums. It’s an okay song, just not as good as some of the others. Don’t skip it if your goal is to listen to the entire album. The chorus picks up and becomes more interesting. It just doesn’t strike me as particularly fun. The same can be said for ”Restless Nights”. Sure, there is a loud, screaming guitar, but something about the song rubs me the wrong way. I don’t like the fact that the band can’t seem to find a speed in which to play. The song varies from fast rock track to ballad. Ick.
”Lust or Love” is a rock song with lyrics that belong as part of a ballad. It’s an interesting track…one that may or may not deserve your attention. Hey, there are good parts. For example, the chorus is interesting. I like the strong drums. The guitars don’t interest me. Although it’s important to note that Meine’s vocals are as strong as usual. The guy certainly can sing.
There are certain punk elements in ”Kicks After Six”. The tempo is very, very fast. I’m almost annoyed by the speed. I’m not sure what the point of this track is. If it weren’t for this being different from the rest, I’d simply suggest to hit skip.
”Hit Between the Eyes” also found itself played on the radio. It’s another fast song with a very fun, interesting chorus. The song is loud, a quality I definitely appreciate in rock music. Meine’s vocals are great and very different than most American singer. There is a special something to the intonation of his voice. Something that makes it exceptionally easy to listen to him sing. Hey, and with a title like that, it could easily be a part of a spoof horror film.
A kick drum and heavy guitars mark the beginning of ”Money and Fame”. Again, the strange mid-tempo variable rhythm bothers me. It can’t seem to decide whether it’s a hard rocker or a ballad. Double ick. Hit skip if you’d like. You won’t be missing out. The album’s namesake, ”Crazy World” is only moderately of interest. The band sounds very different here. There’s some humming along and a very catchy chorus. It’s not the band’s best, but doesn’t deserve to be jumped over either.
So there you go. Eleven tracks. Some are great, ”Tease Me Please Me” and ”Send Me An Angel” come to mind. Some were very popular, as with ”Wind of Change”. Some are simply “okay,” as with ”Hit Between the Eyes”. Other unmentionable songs don’t deserve any attention whatsoever.
I give this album a strong 3.5/5 stars. Since I find some of the songs so absolutely useless, this translates as 3/5 stars on Epinions. Some of the tracks are universally great, and deserve everybody’s attention. If a friend has the CD, only rip the good ones and leave the others for dead.
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