Customer Reviews

Can't Stop The Rock: The Stryper Collection 1984-1991

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a good collection, although I think some of the best songs have been left out. It is however a great album to buy if you want to start listening to Stryper (they rule!). However, keep in mind that some of the best material is "missing".

For older fans, the album is definitley worth buying, just for the two new songs. "Belive" is one of the greatest Stryper songs of all time!

"Can't Stop the Rock" was the first "Best of" CD released by Stryper through Hollywood Records in 1991. In addition to 2 previously unreleased songs, CSTR featured 10 Stryper classics (at least one from each of the band's 5 studio albums). Unlike the more recent collection "Seven," in which the songs were chosen by the band members themselves, the songs on CSTR were selected by the record company. Several classics are worthy of inclusion here--"To Hell with the Devil," "Soldiers Under Command," "Free," & "You Know What to Do," among others. But there are several missing gems which should be here, including "Loud n' Clear," "Surrender," "The Way," "More Than a Man" & "Reach Out," plus a few others. The 2 previously unreleased songs were "Can't Stop the Rock," a reaffirmation of the band's Christian faith, which some Christians and non-Christians had begun to question after "Against the Law," and "Believe," which Michael Sweet had written in early 1991 during the Gulf War as his personal "thank you" note to the troops who served in Operation Desert Storm. "Believe" is the better of those 2 songs. "Can't Stop the Rock" is a fairly decent collection of some Stryper classics. However, several songs were missing that should have been there. "Seven" was definitely a huge improvement. Now we just need a multi-disc set which will include all the songs that should be there.

This is the first "Best Of" collection by the band Stryper. Even when it first came out I thought the song selection was rushed and they left off some that really needs be on any Stryper collection. Examples would be "Calling On You", "Keep The Fire Burning", "The Way", "I Believe In You" and "Makes Me Want To Sing". Their biggest hit "Honestly" is on here as well as two bonus tracks, one of which is included on the new "Seven:Best Of" cd that is out now. That track, titled "Believe" is a great song and was released as a single. The video did not feature the band but lots of war footage. Fits in todays world perfectly.

Some of the songs like "Two Bodies(one mind,one soul)" while not a bad song, should have been replaced by a single like "Calling On You" or "Two Time Woman". Even "Rock The People" was a single that would have been a better choice.

Although I would go with the new cd "Seven:The Best Of Stryper" this is not a bad cd. It is just missing to many songs that I feel need to be on a Stryper "best of". If the song "Believe" was not included on the new "Seven" cd then this cd would be worth buying just for that song alone. This is still the first official "Best Of" cd and if you are a die hard Stryper fan then you will want to include this in your collection.

Yes, there are some glaring ommisions from this collection, as is often the case with "best of" albums, but listening to these songs brought back fond memories of the mid-late eighties, which is always fun for me. The new tracks are good too, although the sound is more "early 90's" than most of their best work.

I've always admired these guys for their boldness in bringing The Message to a crowd that might otherwise have ignored it.

I hate reviewing 'Greatest Hits' type discs. They never seem to be good enough and I am always complaining that some songs are missing. This is no exception. Only twelve songs are on this. To give you an idea on how this should've been done: I am not even a HUGE Stryper fan. I just made a CD of (what I consider) their best songs. It has 19 tunes on it. I could only image what a big Stryper fan would put on a hits CD. I only recommend this if you dont have their other discs and are looking to check them out. Otherwise, buy their last three studio albums and you will be fine.

i'm not used to listen music before my paster in church show me the album "Can't Stop the Rock". after i heard the songs i find i love it so much, but it's so sad that "Stryper" were not exist any more. And i find that i can't get the feeling from other music. i love all songs in this album, especially one of a pastor in Hong Kong, he write the cantonese word in the song "Honestly", now some of the churches in Hong Kong will sing this song to worship God, but most of him don't know "Stryper". :)

The brilliant review from our friend from Fort Wayne notwithstanding(YEAH MAN, RATT RULES!!! Whatever, dude), this collection is definitely a great listen. However, it could have been much better. Only 10 songs were taken from their five albums, which seems a paltry sum. Where's "Loving You" or "Loud 'N Clear" or "Com'on Rock"? One of these cuts off their first album should have made it. Part of the problem is that their biggest hits("Honestly" and "Always There For You") are not among their best songs. I do enjoy "Honestly" a great deal, but I think "Always There For You" is plain dull. A fourth song off "To Hell With the Devil" would have been in line, since it was so hugely successful("Calling on You" or "More Than A Man" come to mind). And gee whiz, where is "Surrender", or "Reach Out", or "Waiting For a Love That's Real" or any of the other songs off "Soldiers Under Command" that were better than "Together As One"(That would include all of them). Like always, these collections never are in line with fans' expectations, but oh well. If you haven't heard Stryper before, buy "To Hell With the Devil" because it is their best CD.

If you are interested in a Christianized version of Metallica, Van Halen, and the Culture Club, count your lucky stars, because you just found the best Christian metal has to offer. Do not hesitate to order this album. You might think those bands would not combine into a very pleasing sound, well THEY DO! Every song is jam-packed with good solid Christian lyrics. Do not worry Stryper fans, they are still around. Last year they had the #2 forgien song in all of Japan. Bands like Metallica were on that list to, but good guitar, good lyrics, and a cool image beat out Metallica. If metal isn't necessarily your thing either, Stryper has a palethera of monster ballads, that will cause you to tear up. BUY THIS ALBUM! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

I have listened to all their songs and i find that it's a must for those going the "other way". The riffs, the licks and vocals are very powerful, very entertaining and yet godly. Who says that "God can't rock", this is God's rock at its best.(Brightstar from Philippines)

This is a good chronicle of the best Christian band and one of the best bands of the 80's. These songs show that Styper could write some great songs and were some of the best and most tasteful musicians of the 80's glam metal scene. The one gripe I have is that for a band that didn't want to be known as a "ballad" band, there are some excess ballads on here. I can understand Honestly and Lady is quite good (awesome guitar work by Oz!), but they should have ditched Together As One and put another song from TYABA on here (either Loud and Clear or my personal favorite From Wrong to Right). Stryper could tear it up with the best of them, and they needed to show it with more of their heavier stuff on here. I think they should have made a longer cd too (like Poison and some of these other 80's bands greatest hit cds) and put Two Time Woman, Surrender (with one of the best guitar solos of the 80's!), Writings on the Wall, The Way, and maybe Calling on You on there.