Customer Reviews

Acoustica

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was a tad behind in my Scorpions collection and had not bought the regular edition of Acoustica yet. Imagine my surprise when the Official Scorpions web site sent me an image, track listing and link to this Platinum Edition. Of course the link was to Amazon.com and the price was reasonable.
Well, I must say I am impressed. It's a cool 2 CD set in a slip box. It was made in Thailand. Yes, the imprint on the back is Warner Music Thailand and the video footage was shot by a Thai television film crew.
The 43:20 second video played great on my Windows Media Player9. It's a DAT file and you it's not like Quick Time or RP vids.
That being said the video has astounding quality and sound. OH! I also was able to play disc 2 in my RCA DVD Player. Most Excellent!

The interview with (only 2 members of) The Scorpions is in English with Thai Sub-titles. At times the interviewer speaks to the audience in Thai so what he is saying is lost on us.
That being said the performance footage is fantastic. The interview is good. This was filmed in Portugal in Feb 2001 when Acoustica was being done. There is a lot of behind the scense footage. It's a real treat for the fans.
The Scorpions used extra musicians for the 'Acoustica' shows. A (nationally known) Cellist from Portugal, a keyboardist, some extra guitars and three back-up singers!. The songs are given carefulo new arrangements. Even a hard number like 'The Zoo' works well in this setting.
(The Scorpions played 3 Acoustica shows in early Feb, 2001. Most nights featured over 20-25 songs. With this set you get 18.)

A cool cover song is Kansas' "Dust In The Wind". I really enjoyed it being in this set list, but I am not a fan of Kansas. A 2nd surprise cover song is "Drive". Yes, this is the song from The Cars. 'Acoustica' was done not long after the death of Cars guitarist/vocalist Ben Orr. Who knew the Scorps were fans? A nice tribute and one of the videos on disc 2. Of course All the Scorpion's Best Known Ballads are here and a few news songs.
IF you are a Scorpions fan YOU must buy this set. It's excellent.
IF you are a casual Scorpions fan I think you will enjoy this set MORE than a "Best Of" album. It's easy on the ears and the video footage is superb.
The 3 bonus audio tracks on disc 2 are also Top Notch!
Rock on Scorpions!
[One disappointment I have is that it is mentioned in the interview and behind the scenes footage that "Catch Your Train" was performed! I would rather have heard an acoustic version of that than say Hurricane 2001. This song hasn't been played live in years (if at all).]

Note: Amazon's track listing above is INCORRECT.
HERE is the actual track listing:
Disc 1: 1. The Zoo 2. Always Somewhere 3. Life is too Short 4. Holiday 5. You & I 6. When Love Kills Love 7. Dust In the Wind (cover song) 8. Send Me An Angel 9. Under The Same Sun 10. I Wanted to Cry (But the tears wouldn't come) 11. Wind Of Change 12. Love of My Life 13. Drive (cover song) 14. Still Loving You 15. Hurricane 2001
DISC 2: Video 1. When Love Kills Love 2. Holiday 3. Drive 4. Send Me An Angel Audio Only: Tease Me, Please Me; Is There Anybody Out There?; Rhythm of Love.

This CD was quite a surprise --- actually, I shouldn't say that I was surprised because I find everything that the Scorpions do as wonderfully creative and entertaining. This CD, however, really shows the Scorpions at their best in many respects. They are indeed a rock band -- in my opinion, the BEST rock band -- but on this outing they prove that they don't need amps and power chords to get their message across. What you get instead is pure Scorpions glory. Songs such as "Holiday" and "Still Loving You" have been rearranged as total acoustic numbers and they are absolutely gorgeous. I don't know that I will ever be able to listen to "Holiday" any other way from now on. The band covers "Dust in the Wind" and they blow Kansas away -- which is really saying something. The song literally brought tears to my eyes.

The music fabulously showcases the songwriting talents of Rudolf and Klaus and the fantastic musical abilities of the entire band. The acoustic guitars are backed up by subtle drumming, a cellist, bass guitar and keyboards. It is almost a cross between their "plugged" music and the Berlin Orchestra Concert. Without the power normally generated through their amps, the Scorpions show us what they are all about -- good music. These guys aren't just rockers -- they are first class musicians (obviously classically trained) and the melodies are entrancing. I guarantee that true Scorpions fans will be almost moved to tears with the sheer beauty of the instruments "singing together" in perfect harmony.

I get upset reading reviews that say "the Scorpions went downhill" or they "sold old" and changed their style. Those reviewers are not Scorpions fans -- they are fans of particular songs. True Scorpions fans understand that these guys have music flowing through their veins and they have not pigeon-holed themselves into one specific genre. They write from their hearts and play from their souls -- and that will understandably generate different types of music. To love the BAND (rather than just a particular song style) is to understand what they are saying to you through their music -- and to respond back to them in turn. I can't think of a single Scorpions song that I do not like on some level because I understand what they are trying to say with their music. They are saying "Here I am .. this is me" and when they bare their souls like that, who could NOT be moved by it?

Sin duda alguna estamos hablando de uno de los grupos de rock que ya pasó a la historia por su música, y en este disco es la conjunción perfecta de vocales, cuerdas y percuciones, es un disco perfecto, lo recomiendo ampliamente, de los discos más finos que puedas tener en tu colección. Con todo respeto a la gente que no le da 5 estrellas es por que tiene problemas serios con su apreciación musical, la elaboración de todos los temas es para disfrutar, tiene tres covers el disco " love of my life" de Queen (fantastico), "Drive" de The Cars (extraordinario), pero el tema que no existe palabra para elogiarlo es " Dust in the Wind " Simplemente The Best. NO lo dudes si eres amante de la buena música y SI no tienes este disco en tu colección en pocas palabras " NADA VALES"

This album and video package was a pleasant surprise! The Scorpions are one the best Rock bands to ever play and record music. If you have been lucky enough to have seen them perform in a "live" setting then you are very fortunate! Here, the Scorpions render an amazing performance, while showing off a different acoustical variation of many of their very best songs. The performances are amazing, as is the sound quality. I feel that this is one of the best recordings of a musical performance ever made. Today, the Scorpions are still performing on a much more limited basis. The band members are indeed getting "up there" in years, and this is evident on the video of the "Acoustica" performances. But these guys are living legends, who always perform at a very high calibur. If you really like or love the Scorpions, then you will certainly enjoy this album. I say "Buy It!!!".

It has a great bonus CD. I wish it had shown the same special features as the Acoustica DVD, but it's still okay. I wanted to see the music video edits of the songs, but I still enjoyed the interview. I wish Klause was there too, and all the other people that was performing with the Scorpions on Acoustica. I liked the short part of the rehearsals throughout the VCD which contained a little rehearsal for The Zoo, When Love Kills Love, Dust in the Wind, and Life is too short. It's still a great album. I recommend this album if you are a true scorpions fan. You would still be able to hear some songs from other bands that the Scorpions covere such as Dust in the Wind from Kansas, Love of my Life from Queens, and Drive from the Cars.

This "Platinum Edition"(released in April 2003) of the Scorps' 2001 Acoustica release has all of what the original Acoustica contains, plus 3 bonus audio tracks and some eye candy (extra video) for several dollars cheaper... Too bad for those who bought the original for more money and got less (no video, and three less songs), but if you haven't already bought Acoustica and want to, you really get a lot of bang for your buck with this one.

Scorps were awesome as usual, but the backing female vocalists and the other musicians were totally unecessary. Klaus' voice is amazing and in no way needs any backing. A few songs were quite good ("Drive"- the Cars cover, "Dust in the Wind"- Kansas cover--would've been much better w/o backing musicians). "Rock You Like A Hurricane" should not be done acoustically- ever. This is not for the faint of heart!

Unlike other acoustic albums by great bands that enhance their reputations, Acoustica does nothing of the sort. With the exceptions of songs like "Always Somewhere" and "Rhythm of Love" the album leaves the listener wondering when good songs will begin.

I have yet to get to listen to the disc because 2 attempted shipments have arrived with factory sealed broken jewel cases, which upon opening, reveal that the discs are already scratched. I am awaiting the 2nd replacement attempt by Amazon and it has been an antagonizingly long wait. I have always enjoyed utilizing Amazon but through this ordeal have come to learn that humanless customer service can be quite frightening.