Customer Reviews

Can't Slow Down (2 CD/1 DVD)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

First of all, this album was just released last week exclusively at Walmart and sells for $12.00 there, so unless you don't have access to a Walmart, don't get gouged on the price here at Amazon. Now, as for the album, to start with, it's a CD of new material, plus a CD of remastered Foreigner hits, and finally, a DVD of Foreigner live in concert, with backstage interviews included. Three discs for $12.00 is pretty freakin' hard to beat. Say what you will about Walmart, but when these bands (like Foreigner, Kiss, Journey, the Eagles, etc.) sign these exclusive deals with Walmart, the customers REALLY benefit from it in terms of "bang for your buck".

So anyway, CD 1 is the disc of all new material. For me, it's kind of hit & miss. There are 13 tracks on the disc, and I was surprised that 5 of them are ballads. I'm not really a ballad fan, but I did like "I"ll Be Home Tonight". As to the more uptempo stuff, the musicianship is top notch all the way, and unlike a lot of CDs coming out these days, this one doesn't have the volume cranked up to 11. I think that is SOOOOOO annoying, and takes away from the music terribly (of course, I think some bands NEED to have emphasis taken off the music, and that might be why they crank it up). But the sound is clean, level, and very well done. I've only listened to the CD one time through, but I think the first 2 tracks, "Can't Slow Down" and "In Pieces" stand out the most to me so far. There's nothing revolutionary in this new material, it's just the classic Foreigner sound, and it still sounds great, I just don't think the songs themselves really stand out.

Disc 2 is 10 of Foreigner's biggest hits, including "Feels Like the First Time", "Hot Blooded", "Double Vision", "Dirty White Boy", "Head Games" & "Urgent". I was thinking these would be rerecorded versions of the originals, with Kelly Hansen on lead vocal, but they're actually Lou Gramm's original vocals. At first, this may not seem like much of an offering, but this remastering and remixing REALLY sounds great. I think it sounds better than any other remastering I've ever heard on any other album. It actually kind of caught me off guard to hear how sharp and well-defined everything sounded. It sounds so good, it really almost reinvents the song. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't heard it myself. I was blown away with how good this sounded, compliments of Marti Frederiksen.

Disc 3 is a 10 song DVD of Foreigner live in concert around Europe. Once again, the production is top-notch, and I know it's a cliche, but seriously, the band sounds better than I've ever heard them. Hansen, Tom Gimbel, Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein, Brian Tichy, and the always underappreciated legend Mick Jones not only sound great live, but in their backstage interviews, they're all very laid back, with no "rock & roll posing" going on. They all come off as regular guys, very candid, mature, and aware of who they are and what Foreigner is meant to be. And they're all fine with it. There's something to be said for people who are comfortable in their own skin, and these guys appear that way. The highlight of the concert DVD is the song "Say You Will". This is not a song most people think of when they think of Foreigner, but it has always been one of my favorites, and I never really thought it could be improved upon. I was wrong. For me, that performance alone makes this set worth buying. These guys don't just rock, they can strip down and harmonize, and this version of "Say You Will" proves it.

So I gave the album 4 stars, but it should probably be 4-and-a-half. The DVD and the remastered/remixed hits CD makes up for the "iffy" CD of new material. A few more listens might swing me into a 5 star rating, but if not, this set is STILL worth owning, without a second thought. Great package, great price (at Walmart), great band.

This Is what I've been waiting for...Hey Program directors lets give this some..airplay today.This is real Pop rock nicely worked out tunes...Killer recordings...I love All The Tunes on This Cd.There isn't one bad song.

ok only one original member left,but don't let that stop you from picking up this cd . kelly henson great vocalist.this is a great pop-rock cd. They stayed true to the foreigner sound, with a little update....

It looks like music isn't bad business after all. In response to iTunes lead in the music market, other major retailers are reacting with different strategies, with Amazon selling digital downloads of new releases with 50% or more off the list price and with the brick-and-mortar stores (Walmart, Best Buy and Target) seeking for exclusivity contracts with artists and/or record labels. For obvious resons (bargain power and a huge network of stores available with significant traffic across the nation), Walmart has been able to catch the best deals out there by selling exclusively the new efforts by artists long acclaimed by both critics and the general public.

For those unaware, "Can't Slow Down" - this new release by Foreigner - is a Walmart exclusive, both physically (a 2 CD + 1 DVD set) and digitally (with music from the 2 CDs only). Versions bought elsewhere might be imported editions or a simply resell of the product acquired in Walmart.

As for the music, the new compositions sound just the way Foreigner ever sounded. Well crafted soft rock blended with mellow and mild lyrics, mostly about love and relationships. "Too Late", "Lonely" and "Angel Tonight" are three tracks that stand out from the other ones, which are also fine. Old time fans will not be disappointed.

The greatest surprise, however, comes from the remixed tracks from past successes. While listening to the revisit opener, "Feels Like The First Time", I thought it was all about a remake at first, but as you pay attention to the details, fans can notice that some instruments sound exactly the same as per the originals. The remixing gave a whole new feel to these songs, but without wasting the talent spent when first recording it. The major motivations for anybody to pick a copy of this album surely are the new tracks and the DVD, but the "renewed greatest hits" section is a pleasant addition and, for some people like me, might be considered the best of the set.

After listening to Can't Slow Down for several days now, I have become a convert. Honestly I was not that impressed the first time I heard it, but it definitely has grown on me. Yes, I still believe Foreigner will never be the same without Lou Gramm's vocals (see my review of Insider Information). What it was before it is no longer. I said I could not imagine liking anything but the original line-up of the group. However, this new incarnation is surprisingly high quality. I am actually glad to have to eat my words because I truly enjoy this album. More than just enjoying it, I find myself coming back to it again and again. The album has an integrity and a consistently smooth sound, which again is different from the Lou Gramm days. Yes, it does have hints of the old Foreigner sound, and Kelley Hansen is a good fit on vocals, but it really is a new band.

Once I stopped comparing this to the Foreigner of the 80s, I could appreciate it for what it is. What if I just picked this up and listened to it simply as a new album by a new band? While this admittedly this is impossible, I believe I would find myself drawn into to the hooks and harmonies. Mick Jones' composing is up to modern standards and sounds fresh even while it echoes the past. Especially fine are "I'll Be Home Tonight," "As Long as I Live," and "Angel Tonight," but there are really no filler tracks here. Production is top notch, and the tunes are catchy. Unlike another reviewer, I like the mix of ballads just fine. I believe you will find, as I did, that this new Foreigner has truly struck a good chord.

Mick Jones has assembled a great version of Foreigner for this release and Kelly Hanson is a great fit, vocally, for Foreigner. This is what I expected from a new Foreigner CD and more. Lou Gramm is an amazing singer but I really always like his more rocking songs. The songs on this CD are all very good and mostly up-tempo. Kelly Hanson has a great voice and I love him as a replacement for Lou Gramm.

After a few years of touring, Mick Jones has finally got the reformed "Foreigner" in the studio to record new music. For "Can't Slow Down" they went the Walmart exclusive route. Besides giving us a cd a new material, you also get a live dvd from the 2009 european tour, looks like it was part of a festival show cause it's daylight most of their set. You also get a greatest hits disc, with 10 classic Foreigner songs remixed. So, you get a lot of bang for your buck. The new album is good, sounds good while it's playing. It's not as memorable as Foreigner first four albums, but it's better than the ones that followed. There's also a rerecording of "Fool for You Anyway", a song that originally appeared on the first album. Overrall, between the two cds and dvds any Foreigner should be happy with this purchase, cause for the price even if you don't like the new album you'll enjoy the dvd or the old hits.

It's only been a mere thirteen years since their last release 'Mr. Moonlight' which seems too much time has elasped between releases, barring any live or greatest hits compilations. But, be that as it may, if you're a Foreigner fan you just have to wait. While Mick Jones may be the only original member left from the original six, he does a good job here with this release. Kelly Hanson does a great job in the vocal department and Mick provides, at times, that Foreigner sound, reminiscent of days gone by and most evident of the remake of 'Fool For You Anyway', the last track of the album. While the opener is sure to hook you, the other tracks on this album provide some good listening. While I would love to compare to past efforts (their first album which is their best and none since have even come close) it might not be fair here since Lou Gramm isn't present. So, for the album itself you get what you get. If you're expecting Gramm to pop out somewhere, just forget it and find his own band, 'The Lou Gramm Band' and his release this year which focuses more on the Christian side of things. Overall, a good listen and certainly not worth the one star ratings here because those reviewers think its sacrilege to continue without Gramm. Get over it. Yes, I like Gramm better too, but bands and members move on. Just look around today at all the bands that have. The 2nd cd of 10 remixes of their hits which is a nice touch for further enjoyment and a little updating on those tracks if you don't have the 'No End in Sight' best of cd. I can't rate the DVD since I purchased the download which doesn't come with the DVD. Enjoy the new Foreigner and time will tell if they will last.

This is a great comeback from this legendary band even if there is just one original member left, but we all know Mick was/is the brain of Foreigner right? And even if I love Lou Gramm and followed him even out of Foreigner (solo career/Shadow King) I welcome the addition of the great Kelly Hansen on vocals. He does a great job filling the big shoes Lou left. I follow Kelly Hansen since his days in Hurricane, and through other bands/projects he was involved (Perfect World, Unruly Child, etc.) and I have to say that we are in front of one of the finest voices in melodic hard rock. Also the addition of Jeff Pilson, ex-bassist of the legendary Heavy Metal band Dokken (one of my favorite bands ever) is a smart move since this guy, apart from being a solid bass player, is a great singer himself, and I'm taking lead singer-good. Ask Don Dokken ;)
So with a deluxe lineup like this there was no chance in hell that this would end in disaster, and of course it didn't. I expect more quality stuff like this from these guys in the years to come, and I'm sure they will deliver. Long live to Foreigner!

I'm not sure why bands feel the need to ruin their legacy by replacing all key members (especially the LEAD SINGER), and then continuing on with one or two original members as if nothing happened. Mick Jones has made a mockery of the REAL "Foreigner", and should be ashamed of himself for continuing on with this sham and for being less than honest with the fans. This band played in Syracuse, NY this year without even Mick Jones on stage. In other words, five completely new musicians on stage playing Foreigner covers yet still calling themselves "Foreigner". Don't be fooled by this, and don't waste your money!