Customer Reviews

Hang Cool Teddy Bear (Special Edition)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First of all, if you're already a Meat Loaf fan you will enjoy this record and there is no point in reading further. I am targeting this review toward those who are rock fans in general and why they should give this album a chance.

The album starts out with a bang. "Peace on Earth" is a hard rocking tune about a soldier fighting someone else's war. "But don't think that I would not take one hundred thousand lives to see my mother's eyes" is a very powerful line in the song and sums it up quite nicely: just a man trying to survive so he can get back home. The second track is titled "Living on the Outside". Folks, this song is just plain fun as it lightens the mood and is an excellent contrast to the opening track. "Living on the Outside" will get you slapping the dashboard and bobbing your head with the beat -- "you and me, living like the only sinners left". Meat Loaf sounds like he's having fun, and it is contagious.

The 3rd track, "Los Angeloser", presents a shift in sound, but it too provides a fun and catchy sound. Hearing this song prior to the album's release, I simply thought it was okay, but hearing it within the context of the entire album made it much more enjoyable. It fits quite nicely with the first two tracks, and, to sum up the first three tracks of the album in as few words as possible, let me just say this: 3 out of 3 ain't bad.

To avoid a song by song breakdown, let me say the reason I rate this 4 out of 5 stars instead of 5 out of 5 is the middle of the album seems to bog down. A couple of the songs sound basically the same. Of all the songs on this album, there are only a couple that I don't care for (although they may grow on me over time): "Love is not Real", "Did You Ever Love Somebody" and "Let's Be in Love" -- I could have really done without those three songs. "Like a Rose" (with Jack Black")" and "Song of Madness" were decent, but by the time those songs played I had begun to lose interest. I am going to give this album another listen, excluding the 3 songs mentioned above, and I expect "Like a Rose" and "Song of Madness" will be much more enjoyable.

The album ends with "If It Rains" and "Elvis In Vegas" -- two excellent songs, and they stand in excellent contrast to the first two songs on the album.

In closing, let me say this: as a Meat Loaf fan, I am very proud of this album. Meat Loaf delivers one hell of an effort that has something for all his fans, and I expect will capture some new fans in the process. This is not an album that attempts to rehash old material or to copy old successes -- the Loaf delivered folks.

"I saw 7 horses running, I had a front row seat at the end of time."

Thank you Meat Loaf, and best of luck with this record.

This is an interesting album..

There are the "large" songs in typical Meat Loaf fashion..and there are some good departures from the "norm" of a Meat Loaf album; every artist should try new approaches to the next album, which Meat Loaf has done very well; the album is packed with an "A-List" of contributors, in both writing and performance of the songs.

Many of the "professional" reviews I read on the internet today have been critical of Hang Cool Teddy Bear; I'm not sure Meat Loaf has ever really put out albums targeted at the mainstream audiences, so I take their reviews with a grain of salt; I've listened to this album all day, and I say "well done".

Returning are the Neverland Express and Patti Russo. Also found contributing to the album are: Jon Bon Jovi, Brian May, Steve Via, Jack Black, Hugh Laurie(from TV's House), Pearl Aday (Meat Loaf's daughter)and Kara DioGuardi (American Idol Judge).

My only wish, was that it had contained a recording of Meat Loaf's cover of Gimme Shelter..though I am enjoying the cover of Roadhouse Blues found on the Special Edition!

Pick up a copy and enjoy.

Hang Cool Teddy Bear is not just an album, it is a rock and roll experience. This is the first album in a long time that I can truly get lost in. This thing takes on a 66 minute journey in which you can block out the world and forget about your problems and just enjoy some amazing rock music. Now let me get this out of the way, this is not Bat Out of Hell. Bat was and is an amazing album that will live on longer than any of us every will and nothing will ever diminish its significance on the music world. So, Hang Cool Teddy Bear is not Bat Out of Hell, and I feel no need to compare the two. However, Hang Cool Teddy Bear is without a doubt Meat Loaf's BEST work to date. As you listen to these songs you realize that Meat has truly bore his heart and soul into this album. This is not just a record, it is a Meat Loaf record where Meat was truly allowed to let his creative side take control. This is not a rock opera like Meat is famous for making this is true unadulterated rock and roll. All of the tracks are amazing from the opening "bang" in Peace on Earth to Elvis in Vegas, this album is of the best I have ever heard. So if you are a Meat Loaf fan you will love this album. If your not a Meat fan you should still pick this album up because it is one of the best rock and roll records in years and it is Meat Loaf like you have never heard before.

Mark S.

Not typical of Meat Loaf, historically, at all. I own every album he's cut, love most of them, like the rest, but this one's just not cutting it.

The other albums were very different from each other... this one not so much. It's good, but it has strong resemblance to # 2 & 3. There are a few songs I love, but the entire album doesn't meet the high expectations built up by his wonderful past work.

I've been an avid Meat Loaf fan for nearly 20 years and I've never thought a Bat Out Of Hell album can be surpassed, but Hang Cool Teddy Bear has done it and Meat Loaf has nailed it. I'll refrain from comparing BOOH with HCTB as the first is Jim Steinman's songs and 33 years have passed since then. So, I feel it's impossible to compare the two. By the way I've nothing wrong with any Bats. What makes HCTB unique is the excellent music with their many twists, unexpected sounds, great lyrics and the story behind the album. This is an important reason why I can't stop listening it. The songs sound as if each of them was a single album, however, after a complex song there is always one which is more digestable than the previous ... The sound quality is excellent too, so if you like rock music HCTB is essential to buy.

Thank you Meat Loaf! Rock 'n' Roll dreams STILL come through!

These are highly forgettable songs and not so great production. How many forgettable Loaf albums has he put out now? Well sadly most of them including this one and NONE have sold very well at all! Yes The Bat Out Of Hell is a legendary album and the followup Bat 2 is 3/4 as good which is saying a lot! Meat tried pretty hard on his bat 2 followup and the 3rd installment Bat Out Of Hell 3 but lets face it without Jim Steinman, he just doesnt have the material to sell his voice or style. Hang Cool Teddy Bear doesnt have a catchy song on the entire disc or anything that jumps out at you. It's all bland and dry! The songwriting is terrible to be honest and mediocre production hurts even more. Meatloaf is basically one style, the bombastic theatrical overblown Steinman style with the long songs, lush arrangements, that trademark piano and background singers. Meat will never be good without Jim and a third collaboration!

As one of the most supportive of a Meat Loaf fan there is (ask my family) this new project is ok but not great. For one thing I am not against foul language in music but can any Meat Loaf fan think of any song previous to this where he used foul language. And how difficult is it to write the lyrics to that California song. "I can barely keep my.." well you know. I am growing to like the song "Like a Rose" but how many songs have the same foul lyrics to it. It is a "Beastie Boy" wanna-be song and I never thought I would say that about a Meat Loaf song.

I love all of his music in the past. I love "Couldn't Have Said It Better", "Welcome To The Neighborhood", both underrated, "Bad Attitude", "Dead Ringer", and "Bat III", which is not great but a great listen-"Alive" is one of my FAV songs. This new effort is struggling to be what he wants but even the ballads explode into musical overload. I love "Elvis In Vegas" as that is a perfect ending song and "Los AngelLoser" is different and enjoyable. But the rest just skips into too many different directions and it makes for a confusing listen- if that makes sense.

I am still a fan and this is an ok effort but for Meat Loaf to say it is his best music since "Bat 1" is a little overstating. He was on QVC promoting this-and as Homer would say-DOH! He is desperate to please younger instead of continuing what he does best. Did he forget he had a number 1 from Bat II? Doesn't he always say that his newest is his best? I know Steinman takes forever and Meat Loaf isn't getting any younger. So I do not blame Meat Loaf for separating. If he was still with Steinman then "Bat III" would probably just be coming out for release. Meat Loaf fans will, for the most part, like this but it is far from his best since "Bat 1".

I am a life long Meat Loaf Fan, but this is by far the weakest effort since "Midnight At the Lost And Found & Blind Before I Stop. The songs are written by several song writers/artists. You will know this as soon as you listen it is all over the place. It has a few good songs and a little good songwriting. It is based on a book that know one I have asked has ever heard of. His last few albums have slipped, but this is at the bottom of of the heap for anything he has recorded. I would have only rated TWO STARS, but I couldn't do it as Meat Loaf is one of my favorite artists.

If a band that critics love had if done this CD it would have been the 2nd coming. Get it and judge for yourself.

Remember the critics hated "Bat out of Hell" now one of the top 5 best selling records of all time. "Hang Cool Teddy Bear" is Epic from start to finish. Yes the songs are different than written by Jim Steinman but that does not make them bad just different . in fact the songs are great. YOU WANT THIS CD IF YOU ARE A ROCK FAN !!!