Customer Reviews

Built to Destroy

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

 

 

If you love listening to Michael Schenker, DO NOT overlook this CD!
The U.K. version and re-mastering definitely make it a worthwile purchase and it IS CLASSIC MICHAEL SCHENKER! I personally rate the non-live MSG CD's like this:

1) MSG (2nd Album)
2) The Michael Schenker Group (1st Album)
3) Assault Attack (3rd Album)
4) Built to Destroy (4th Album)
All the rest are not quite to the same level.

If you're a Michael Schenker fan, definately get all 4 of these in the re-masters.
Also, the UFO re-masters are awesome too - with great bonus tracks as well.

The only thing I'm not that crazy about on this CD is having the same album repeated twice on the same disc. It's very interesting to hear the difference between the US and UK versions, but once you decide "Yeah, I like the U.K. version better" you find yourself wishing the bonus tracks had more variety.
Although I really like having both versions of "That Little Devil", since one has Gary Barden singing and the other Derek St. Holmes.

All these years after buying the original UK release, back in 1983, the UK release is back. It was nice, but not good enough, that the 1996 release had several of the original mixed tracks. All CD releases of this album have been the US release, until now. The sound is different. Much heavier. The US has always thought it knew best when it came to artists and the sound they wanted to hear. Among other artists, such as Whitesnake, this has never been true. Europe always rocked better than the US in the 80's. The US only ever wanted 'radio-friendly' nonsense. While the 80's US audiences would've preferred to hear their metal on the radio, metal was rarely played until the late '80s. So what was wrong with the European mixes of albums? NOTHING. Glad this one's back. If you're an MSG fan and have only heard the US mix, you must pick this up. The US/polished image of Schenker was never necessary. Strange how in the liner notes for this release, Schenker is quoted as having preferred the US mix. Well, I don't. And you'll agree once you've heard this.

For some years, Michael Schenker's Built to Destroy album has been available in two versions. This edition consists of both, remastered on a single CD. The first nine tracks are the British version, which features a harsher, starker sound. Tracks 10-18 are the American version, which features more prominent keyboards, and gives the songs a fuller, more melodic feel. On the British edition, the anthemic Rock Will Never Die was titled Walk the Stage, and includes a longer solo at the end. According to the liner notes, Schenker himself preferred the American version. Irrespective of which version one prefers, this edition allows the listener to choose. Admittedly, this was not Schenker's strongest album. The band was in some turmoil at the time, due to repeated personnel changes. Nevertheless, the best songs provide some solid 1980's style metal, while the weaker material is certainly listenable.

Built to Destroy was always Michael's best and most consistent album (not counting his great instrumental acoustic Thank You cds). And Gary Barden was definately his best lead vocalist, returning to the band for this album after the sub-par Assault Attack album that had G. Bonnet on vocals. Now i am only reviewing the U.S. mix as i have not heard the original European mix, though i am ordering it.

Built To Destroy is a much-maligned release by Michael Schenker. I've always believed the negative reviews were based on the throng of fans that continued to look at Schenker as the UFO wonderboy and axe-hero. Much like the rest of us Schenker grew up and started to experiment with new sounds. The use of keyboards on the album are certainly the most overt use of them on any Schenker release, however, it adds to songs rather than becoming distractions.
Keep in mind the release date of the album in the post-Pyromania rock world. I would put Rock My Nights Away, Systems Failing and Love That Little Devil as excellent examples of how rock evolved in the early-to-mid 1980s.

I always thought this album was a huge disappointment, following the excellence of the MSG album and Assault Attack. The keyboards were way too prominent, and the songs just didn't rock enough. I never realized, though, that the U.S. release I had was a "poppier" remix of the songs, with the guitar purposely buried. This remaster has that U.S. mix, but the first nine songs are the entire U.K. version of the album. MUCH better! In fact, the difference in the mix is so substantial that it has gone from a mediocre album to a great album.