Defector [Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered]

Steve Hackett | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Astralwerks
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B000AM1THQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,969 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Best known as the main guitarist for Genesis from 1971 to 1977, Steve Hackett has long been regarded as one of the leading progressive rock guitarists of his generation. This remastered pressing of his 1980 album features 15 tracks including the 5 bonus tracks 'Hercules Unchained', 'Sentimental Institutions' (live), 'The Steppes; (live), 'Slogans' (live) & 'Clocks' (live). EMI. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential Steve Hackett, June 28, 2006

By 

The Old Rocker (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Defector (Audio CD)

The four albums Steve Hackett released in the 70's (of which this is the last) represent the core of his enormous body of work. While he has released many more albums since then, these four remain essential listening for Hackett fans and fans of classic progressive rock. In fact, there are times I think this might be my favorite Hackett CD.

On Defector, Hackett's guitar truly takes the lead for the first time. His previous albums all had killer solos but for this album he moves the guitar from out of the band mix and into the spotlight. Listen to his impassioned lead on The Steppes, or his brilliant finger tapping technique on Slogans or even the expressive sound he gets from the nylon string guitar on Two Vamps As Guests. The band as usual is in excellent form, but this is Steve's baby.

As usual, on a Steve Hackett album, the instrumentals are just as important as the vocals, but this may be his most balanced album in terms of strong lyrics and great singing. Sadly, this would be the last album with Pete Hicks on lead vocals and all subsequent albums would suffer as a consequence, at least in my opinion.

My favorites are The Steppes, Jacuzzi and Slogans, but for me there is not a bad song on the album. Even his attempt at disco/dance music (The Show) is a fun tune in only the way Hackett could do something like this. And like his early albums there is a novelty tune, in this case Sentimental Institution with Pete Hicks singing somewhere between Al Jolson and Louie Armstrong.

Highly recommended album from one of the most original rock composers of his generation and light years better than anything Genesis was doing at the time. My only complaint is that the original 10 tracks did not even fill up 40 minutes and while the new bonus tracks are good to have, I wish there was more studio bonus tracks and less live tracks. But that's really just nitpicking since this album has been one of my favorites from the day I bought the original vinyl back in 1979.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great album, but not essential remaster, May 30, 2006

By 

W. Schmidt (Beaverton, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Defector (Audio CD)

So far I've only heard this and SPECTRAL MORNINGS remasters. This one isn't quite as compelling, at least as far as the bonus material. With the exception of HERCULES UNCHAINED, a b-side that hasn't been available on CD the rest of the bonus tracks are live versions. They're nice, but Hackett has made a huge amount of live performances available, both on CD and DVD. Because of this the live material, while good, isn't as interesting as alternate mixes and versions featured on SPECTRAL. The remastered sound is nice, but if you already own the previous release you might want to save this one for later. If you don't, then no worries . . . . this is one of Hackett's best albums and is highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Steve Hackett - Another Strong One, June 1, 2010

By 

Steven Sly (Kalamazoo, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Defector (Audio CD)

Many Hackett fans consider "Defector" to be the last album from his classic solo period. The album is another solid effort from Hackett featuring a nice mix of vocal and instrumental songs. The emphasis here is still on progressive rock in the classic 70's style, but you also hear the beginning of some more adventurous experimentation which would permeate Hackett's later releases. "Defector" would be the last Hackett album to feature someone other than himself on lead vocals. The guitar is the main instrumental focus on much of this album, as it should be, and Hackett pulls of some really nice work throughout the disc. The album opener "The Steppes" has become a live classic with other tracks like "Slogans", "Time To Get Out"; "Leaving" and "The Toast" are all strong ones. Hackett even takes a stab at a rocking commercial single with "The Show" which is almost funk / disco in nature, and actually works much better than you might think it would. The album closes with a novelty 1920's style ditty called "Sentimental Institution" which reminds me of some of the stuff Freddy Mercury used to do with Queen. Overall I don't think this is Hackett's best album, but it is another solid release from a guitarist who has been sadly overlooked by the mainstream over the years.