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Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
 A Meat Loaf Tour de force April 17, 2010
Peter Skingle (Folkestone, UK)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
When most Rock stars would be content to turn out another 'more of the same' album just to keep the $$ rolling in. Meat Loaf has decided at the age of 62 to treat us to an epic that overshadows a great deal of his former work. There is an energy here and freshness that we've not heard from the big guy for years. There is not one bad track on the album and whilst it still has the overblown production values that we have come to expect, producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Paramore) has injected a new vitality that feels fresh and suited to 2010 rather than trying to hark back to 1977. Cavallo a Meat Loaf fan since his childhood has obviously hit it off famously with his star.
The usual sense of humour is also present especially in the Jack Black Duet, Like a Rose and in the single from the album, the very catchy Los Angeloser.
Based around the story of a dying soldier, who instead of seeing his former life flash before his eyes, has flash forwards to the scenarios that may happen if he were to live.
Meat loaf's voice is towering and strong here and it really sounds like he was having a ball making this album. He says it's one of the best things he's ever done. I for one am inclined to agree with him.
A new rock adventure with Meat that'll knock your socks off!! March 10, 2010
C. Burton (Sheffield, UK)
69 out of 79 found this review helpful
Addition:
The first time I heard this album at the London Playback in February I was swept away by the huge sound .. and posted here just how amazing I felt the album was. Now I have my copy and have had the chance to hear it again and again, it has gone so far beyond my expectations I am amazed.
First listen it's hugely impressive .. but second and third as you start to understand the layers, the pieces of the story .. to say it's a work of art seems too simple a phrase; it's imo a masterpiece. Meat's vocal range is huge, and so strong .. pure and full of emotion, sometimes anger, sometimes yearning, sometimes joy, sometimes so unbearably sad and hurt, and it's this which together with the incredible music bring every track to life and deliver the meaning of every piece of the jigsaw.
Every time I play it I am taken on a journey of love, hurt, disillusionment, anger, defiance, sorrow, redempton and realisation. A huge and compelling love story and life story, the links back to and towards each track emphasised by fragments of music, and phrasing, but to me most of all by the emotions of the character as he sees it playing out in the future.
To fully appreciate what this album holds and offers you need imo to be prepared to put what he has done before to one side, not to forget them, but so as not to cloud your ability to open your mind and really listen. Many of the lyrics seem at first glance simple, but there is a wealth of meaning in them if you allow Meat to connect you with them. This is everything Meat can bring as an actor who sings, not simply performing a series of complex and cleverly worded lyrics, full of metaphor and simile that hits you in the eyes .. but all the depth and meaning you expect in a Meat Loaf album is there if you listen and let the emotions connect.
This is not an album with a series of tracks .. it's an epic show, a musical, with each song building the story. To lose one track, one note would be to weaken and lose the story and meaning.
To me it is simply the best thing Meat has done. Not to be compared to any other album, because this is bigger than what we'd expect from a cloncept album. This is simply in a new class of its own. His finest hour (and a bit) .. so far!
February original review:
This album is still awaiting release I know, but I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the Album Playback for London's music media, so I feel able to wholeheartedly recommend it. (And having attended many of Meat's last tour shows, I can certainly endorse the selection of live performances on the bonus CD that comes with the De Luxe version, so would highly recommend that.)
At the Playback from the start we were taken on an amazing ride with Meat's imagination, any musical boundaries pushed away, as he takes you over the edge of what you could possibly have expected .. and just when you think you know where he's going, he spins you round and takes you off in a totally unexpected direction. Meat promises to rock your socks off in a way you have not heard him before.
HCTB is an astounding album .. and at the same time challlenging. You can be swept away with just the sheer force of the wild rock ride Meat takes you on, and if that's as far as you ever get it will still be outstanding. But I sense that in starting to understand the storyline as well, and more importantly, the feelings of the character in the story, there will be an incredible richness to be found in the many layers of this album which Meat says is his best work yet. He and Rob Cavallo have brought so much talent, skill and expertise together and allowed it to explode into a huge powerful sound, yet at the same time there is such a clean real feel to it. For a studio album it has this incredible sense of a live performance .. I wasn't left wondering how this track or that would sound live .. I felt like I'd experienced it.
Leave behind the words so often used to describe Meat as a performer. Operatic it's not .. no, it's the pure and unfettered rock Meat has in his vision. It's not bombast either .. nothing of pretension here, this is raw, but never rough, honesty. Bomb-blast perhaps .. because it pounds into your soul and threatens to shatter it :)
Treasure all your Meat albums .. but come prepared for a new adventure and a new thrill-ride! This is not only unfettered rock . it's unfettered Meat ... and the ride is amazing .. the adventure huge ..
All I can say is .. I'm a believer! And now .. I have no socks :)
Meat Loaf - Hang Cool Teddy Bear - Deluxe Edition April 21, 2010
Julian Mcauslan (Bristol, United Kingdom)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have been a Meat Loaf fan for 20 years.
Hang Cool Teddy Bear is i believe a very different Mat Loaf Sound.
You will need to listen to the whole album( as its based on a short story) and all the songs are based on this short story.
On your first listen you might wonder WHAT WAS THAT !!!
Please listen again, the album is fantastic-Meats best since Bat Out Of Hell.
There are no fillers at all.
My fav tracks so far are
Living On The Outside
California Isnt Big Enough
Los Angeloser
If I Cant Have You
Lets Be In Love
If It Rains
Elvis In Vegas
The second live cd is outstanding to.
Hang Cool Teddy Bear also features
Kira DioGuardi - From American Idol
Hugh Laurie
Brian May
Jack Black
Steve Vai
Patti Russo
I will sum this album up in a few words - Amazing- Well Worth The Money Spent-Try it, you will be surprised
A triumph! April 21, 2010
Paul Younger (Scotland)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I approached this album with some scepticism... surely it couldn't possibly live up to the advance hype, not least from the man himself. But I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong, and I've never been so glad to be proved wrong. I've been a fan of Meat Loaf ever since 'Bat Out of Hell' first came out and have grown used to his albums ever since showing occasional flashes of what made him great while disappointing overall. It's become almost a cliché for reviewers to suggest that he just can't do it without Jim Steinman... well, here at last is the proof that he can, and in style! Right from the start it grabs you by the throat and never lets go. There's not a dud track in sight (or sound!) and the whole album is a tour de force. It is unquestionably Meat Loaf's best album since the original 'Bat...' and may even eclipse it... yes, it is that good. Put your doubts aside and prepare to have your socks blown off!
100% Brilliant June 12, 2010
A. M. Boyt (England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I love meat loaf so I just had to have it and it is brilliant.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
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