Today's entry will be a short one for two reasons.1. I'm kinda busy today
2. This is an album that most people already have strong opinions on anyway, being Metallica's second most reviled album (after 2003's St. Anger) and all.
I can't think of much to say about it that hasn't been said before. They ditched Danish producer Flemming Rasmussen after working with him for three albums and got hot shot Billboard 100 stalwart Bob Rock instead. A grade A audio file and a stickler for perfection, Rock demanded more of the band than perhaps anyone ever had. Endless takes of everything, it all had to be perfect. With heated daily arguements as a result.
Selling out? Hardly. More like buying in.
As a result this is Metallica's perhaps more powerful sounding album, where every power chord kicks you in the man-tits and every hit of Lars Ulrich's snare sounds like a gunshot. Sometimes it goes too far, like on The Struggle Within where the backing gang vocals sound more like Bon Jovi than the Bay Area. Other than that it's a great song though, a speedy corker of a finisher which follows the tradition set by the predecessors Master Of Puppers (1986) and ...And Justice For All (1988), both of which ended with fast tracks.
Yes, perhaps the songwriting was much simpler here (many songs have only two or three riffs) but the songwriting was top notch and while this is hardly Metallica's best album (that would of course be 1984's Ride The Lighting), it's a fantastic album and an undeniable metal classic. Except I think Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters are terrible and boring and should never be played live ever again. But that's just me.
(mp3) Metallica - Sad but true
(mp3) Metallica - My friend of misery (recommended!)
(mp3) Metallica - The struggle within
Buy S/t @ Amazon.com, why don'cha.
5 comments:
I remember buying it the same month it came out. Aug 1991. On LP (!) I think I need to stay away from the songs for at least 5 yrs or so, I'm so sick of all of them. I'd like to hear Sad but True and Roam again with somewhat fresh ears. Overplayed but great rock songs.
um, no. This is the sort of album that generates the anger fueling music theft. Metallica stole our hard earned casheesh with this pile.
This album might contain one of the best Metal songs of the 90's ("Enter Sandman"), but as an album? Come on! Falls somewhere in the "decent" Metal album range, but nothing to write home about. Bob Rock did nothing good for this band (they didn't exactly help themselves either).
^ Hello there, Mr/Miss/Mrs I-Don't-Like-To-Give-Away-My-Name.
Our opinions are obviously polar opposites. I hate Enter Sandman and love the rest (except Nothing Else Matters), you appear to have the opposite view.
Clearly I'm right and you're wrong.
Thanks for reading! :D
Buster:
Appropå vinyl: Jag sålde Enter Sandman-sjuan (b-sida Stone Cold Crazy) på Tradera i vintras.
Nån blådåre betalade 480 spänn för den. Bara att tacka och ta emot. :D
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