Customer Reviews

III

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Giant returns after a near 10-year hiatus with their basic sound mostly intact. Just like the first 2 albums, this is a collection of late 80s stadium-rock anthems ("Sky's The Limit" sounds very similar to "Thunder & Lightning," the first song from the group's second album) searing instrumentals ("Combustion" apes Van Halen's "Eruption") and big-hair ballads reminiscent of Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams or Def Leppard in their prime ("Over You" being one of the better ones).

So - for fans of this genre, this contains all the right ingredients, and should make for another classic album. Or does it???

While the album starts powerfully with "Combustion," it starts to lose momentum as this track merges into "You Will Be Mine." Although the song itself is very strong, it is badly let down by the production, with the drums sounding too small & tinny and the guitars being too distant in the mix.

Also, the absence of Alan Pasqua appears to be felt here. The first two albums were characterised by a greater depth of songwriting and his extra keyboards are badly missed here; so overall the album ends up sounding thinner, less "meaty" and less slick as a result.

What "III" really lacks is a couple of stand-out tracks in the vein of "Lost in Paradise" or "Now Until Forever." The album's penultimate song "Can't Let Go" is a very poor copy of these and should have been left off.

Yet for all this, it still puts most recent rock albums to shame. "It's Not the End" is a great modern take on an 80s power-ballad theme. "Oh Yeah," one of the stronger songs, contains the usual Giant ingredients in a contemporary package, sounding fresher than some songs on the album. Also, the album closes with a rousing cover of "Bad Case of Loving You" - I enjoyed that one, although the vocals are a bit weak and mumbled.

Tip - buy the Japanese import if you can (which includes four bonus cuts, including Giant's superb take on Jeff Beck's "Because We Ended as Lovers.")

Overall, this is not as good as the first two albums, but remember this: a weakened Giant remains head & shoulders above the competition.

Having followed Giant since their first album, "Last of the Runaways", I was pleased to see that they are working again. Dan Huff has spent most of his time since Giant's second album doing studio and production work for some of Nashville's most talented artists. The one or two interviews that I've read quoted him as doubtful that Giant would reconvene. Obviously time changes things.

"III" is an appropriate title, not just because this is the band's third album, but because keyboardist Alan Pasqua does not join the band for this album, reducing the group to a power trio. Surprisingly, his absence definately diminishes the group's punch. A glance back at the band's first two albums shows Alan's name figuring heavily in the writing credits, particularly on firey rockers and the band's more powerful ballads. Some of the bands best hooks are on songs that he co-wrote.

Still, this is a solid album. I've been a fan of Dan's guitar playing ever since I heard his work with The Front (way back in the early 80's). It's always a pleasure to hear him play. His vocals are strong here, and seem to get better with each new album. The only exception is on the cover "Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" which he mumbles his way through. I'd give this album five stars, but I'm knocking off one because it is a bit ponderous at times. The tunes just aren't quite as memorable as their hook-filled songs of the past. Hopefully this is just a warm-up and that we'll be hearing more from the boys in the near future.

Giant are/were a "supergroup" of the early-mid 90's, comprising the Huff brothers (also renown as producers), and a couple of mates on keys and bass.
They went on ice after 2 releases, and this is a collection of stuff that didn't make those 2 releases - although hopefully they'll get on and write some new stuff soon.

The style is very 90's stadium rock, big choruses, vocals vaguely Brian Adams (but higher), and phenomenal guitar playing (the first track is an Eruption-like number). Most of the songs are pretty good too, although there are one or two that could be better, which is presumably why they were initially left on the shelf!

Production is (of course) superb.

Certainly good enough for the established fan, perhaps not the best introduction to the band (get Time to Burn first) for the novice, and I'm happy with it.

Welcome back to the boys of Giant! I just found out this cd existed, and I'm so sorry I haven't had it for a year and a half. I can't stop playing it after owning it for two weeks now. This is a great continuation of the superb Giant sound that started for me in the summer of 1989 when I heard the first chords of "I'm A Believer" on FM radio. I so wish they had stayed together and put out more music. Fortunately, I did get to see them live in May 1992 at a club in Florida. Great gig.

This band has it all; the virtuoso guitar player/vocalist, the solid backbeat of an outstanding drummer and premier bass player, and a most excellent keyboardist. If you've never heard this band before and you like powerful melodic rock with punch, strong lead vocals, piercing lead guitar, and song structure and harmonies out the ying yang, then do your ears a huge favor and get the entire Giant collection of "Last Of The Runaways", "Time To Burn", and "Giant III." Their music and harmonies will give you goosebumps. You absolutely will not be disappointed.
(It's cool to have a band you love with your own name too!)

Wow:) this is superb. normally im a heavy metal cd buyer but i also love melodic rock when its done right. This cd has some very good hard rock stuff like You Could be Mine and also some superb ballads like Cant let Go. Music like this is criminally ignored by people nowadays. I suggest you check giant out before the Cd isnt available anymore.

GIANT - III

FRONTIERS/NOW AND THEN RECORDS

"III" (subtitled The Melodic Rock Strikes Back) is the follow up to 1992's classic "Time To Burn", and this album is as huge sounding as your "Time To Burn" and "Last Of The Runaways" albums.

GIANT are back bigger and meatier than ever, "III" is sure to be welcomed with open arms by the masses of hard rock fans, check out the stirring Eddie Van Halen inspired guitar intro on opening instrumental 'Combustion', Dann Huff as always plays with such excellence and this piece is a simple instrumental which leads into the albums first song 'You Will Be Mine' which has tons of atmosphere and is quite glorious melodic hard rock.

Songs are songs and at the end of the day this album has them in abundance, check out the catchy Def Leppardish 'Over You' whilst the smooth AOR approach of "Don't Leave Me In Love' is one of those dreamy Giant songs where the vocal harmonies just glide past you, stunning song indeed in the 'Save Me Tonight' vein..

Then it's back to the top of the rock with the rather Sammy Hagar meets Nightranger layered rockness of 'Love Can't Help You Now', this song is mega catchy and forces you to singalong.

If melodic rock is dead then Giant are sure to bring it back to the fold with this fantastic album check out the guitar pumping 'The Sky Is The Limit' which is one of my favourite songs because it just bounces along at a frantic pace a'la 'I'm A Believer' and is just simply classic Giant.

'It's Not The End Of The World' is a fantastic harmony layered ballad, Dan's voice is perfect, god has it really been almost ten years since "Time To Burn"? It's as if the band have never been away, I really hope they get to come over and play live to support this record, the market is completely open for them here in the UK.

More Def Leppard influences can be heard on the tongue 'n' cheek 'Oh Yeah' which is another catchy up-tempo rocker and then comes the fantastic big big ballad 'Can't Let Go', this is pure gold and the guitar work is played gently reminding me of Steve Lukather and Michael Landau, thus this song is very much in the Richard Marx vein and is beautifully constructed with some nice little Neal Schon guitar twists here there, classic Giant my friends.

Finally the band bail out in all their glory on the fantastic 'Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor Doctor)' which is a killer song in the vein of Bad Company, Foreigner and erm Giant, I'm sure I've heard this track somewhere before it's so catchy that Frontiers/Now And Then should issue this as the next single as I'm sure radio would pick up on this.

So there you have it, this is a highly enjoyable album that at the moment I can't stop playing. This album is full of great songs which work on every single song throughout this magic disc, make sure you buy it and let's hope that we don't have to wait another ten years before the next Giant album. Welcome back guys we've missed you.

I never thought the day would come when I'd be listening to a new Giant album. That idea was just a wild fantasy I had. It was much to my surprise to learn that a new album had been released, and I only found out by accident. If you did not already hear, III is the latest album. If you were not aware this material is NOT NEW. It was songs recorded largely around the Time to Burn album that just didn't make it on there. When I first learned this I was very worried, that the album would be second rate material. Much to my delight, the material is outstanding. It just proves how incredible a group that Giant is, that they can make an entire new album of good music with all their backup songs.

I'd be lying if I said this album is as good as the first two. It's not, and in some hard to define way, you *can* tell these songs were not the creme of the crop for them. BUT, the album still kicks a** and is a terrific addition to your Giant collection. I've played it about 75 times in a row now, and still get psyched when I hit play and start it all over again.. There are some great rockers on this one!!

If you haven't already, don't delay, buy this album!! You won't be dissapointed!! And if enough of us buy it, maybe our dreams will be met once more, and we'll get a 4th album!!

Giant returns where "Time To Burn" left off, with the same ingredients & sound: Def Leppard-esque power-rock anthems, the blazing guitars ("Combustion" apes "Eruption" & and shows Dan Huff to be a match for Eddie Van Halen on guitar!), the lovelorn angst (Can't Let Go, It's Not the End) and the heavily layered keyboards of "Love Can't Help You Now."

However, it lacks the "over-the-edge" feel and "real-ness" of "Last of The Runaways" or "Time to Burn." Part of the problem lies in the production - THAT great intro merges into "You Will Be Mine;" a potentially superb track spoiled by the drums sounding too small & tinny. Guitars higher in the mix would also have driven the track along nicely.

Also, the absence of Alan Pasqua appears to be felt here - the first two albums were characterised by a greater "depth" of songwriting, and were generally much "meatier." What "III" really needed is the epic angst of say another "Lost in Paradise" or "Now Until Forever." "Can't Let Go" is a poor copy of these and should have been left off.

Yet for all this, it still puts most contemporary rock albums to shame. "Sky's The Limit" sounds like "Thunder & Lightning" off the second album, but is just as good if not better. "It's Not the End" is a great modern take on an 80s power-ballad. "Oh Yeah," one of the better tracks on the album, contains the usual Giant ingredients in a different package, sounding fresher than rehashes/out-takes like "Over You" and "Love can't Help You Now."

Oh, and what an excellent take on "Bad Case of Loving You" - I really enjoyed that one!

OK, this is not as good as previous releases, but remember this; a weakened Giant remains head & shoulders above the competition.

Giant is one of the greatest find in a last few years. They produced the albums with great reputation during the late 80s and early 90s while I was almost away from American music with the exception of Bad English, Brian Adams and Richard Marx. (Sorry Giant was still not in my dictionary in 1992).
It took no time before I love this CD. It is really an excellent combination of wildness and catchy aspect of hard rock reminding me of early Loverboy, Survivor and Foreigner. My #1 favorite is Love Can't Help You Now, which should become their comeback US hit. Sky Is The Limit that follows is great fun pop. Wow and their Robart Palmer cover "Bad Case of Loving You" is a nice case of covering Robert. If you love 80's rock, you will definitely love it.

...if you loved Giant's previous releases, as well as S. Hagar, Def Leppard and AOR in general.
Great songs, incredible guitar solos...are the 80's back?? Let's hope so! FM all the way