Customer Reviews

Pink Bubbles Go Ape

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you're looking for a return to the old Helloween thrash sound, you won't find it here. But you will find some very sound metal that is not afraid to experiment with traditionally non-metal influences. Depart Kai Hansen and enter Roland Grapow. With Roland's bluesy influences, they've expanded their sound quite a lot, especially on the bluesy accoustic title track, and bluesy rocker "I'm Doing Fine, Crazy Man" (which is lyrically reminiscent of old Anthrax). "Your Turn" is an incredible blend of blues, country and metal sounds, and Michi's angelic voice resulting in a power ballad like no other. Of course, this CD isn't without a good dose of blistering metal. The anthemic "Kids of the Century" will rolick through your brain long after the song ends, "Someone's Crying" harkens back to the Walls of Jericho sound, and the heavy keyboard orchestrations really play well with the driving metal guitars on "Mankind". In a genre of music that is so overdone with dark, evil, and satanic imagery, Helloween stands apart, fighting the "good fight" with spiritually uplifting messages (which has earned them accusations of being a Christian band) and a healthy dose of good humor -- "Heavy Metal Hamsters" takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the metal genre, and "Number One" (which is musically a turning point for the band, with its electronic pop sound, a sound that would be recreated later on Chameleon) is one of the most spiritual pieces of music ever penned, not unlike "Believe" (from Chameleon) and "Don't Run For Cover" (from The Best, The Rest, The Rare). This, ultimately, would be the next to last album for both Michi (who departed after Chameleon to pursue a solo career) and Ingo (R.I.P.). Buy it. You won't be disappointed.

Coming out from a law-suit (after their label change) and a huge line-up change, which leaves legendary guitarist-songwriter Kai Hansen out of the band, Helloween come back with "Pink Bubbles Go Ape". An album bashed by music critics due to the fact that the band changed their music, to a small effect, when compared to their highly praised Keeper Of The Seven Keys records. All in all a memorable album, with several highlights and a strong release if compared to several future outputs of the band.

"Pink Bubbles..." admitably has a really strange, even silly title but this is not the case with the song writing. The music departs from the continuous double-bass power metal stile and is enriched with blues and rock influences, together with some more mainstream ideas as well. Some songs are softer than the usual tracks found on the Keeper records, reminding more of melodic metal than power metal, but that's not a drawback for sure.

Without diving into each and every song, I'm going to name only the outstanding ones! "The Chance" is a mid-paced heavy metal anthem. The song contains some of the album's best vocals, an infectious chorus, a jaw dropping guitar solo, impressive bass lines and is the most known track from this release. "Mankind" is a great progressive epic, with wonderful musical and vocal variations. "Someone's Crying" is the only song that could be categorized as pure power metal (fast double-base drumming), a truly memorable track with fast guitar solos, a wonderful chorus and impressive drumming, that hankers back to the band's previous outputs. "Kids of the Century" is another fast song with clever lyrics, another great chorus and outstanding guitar solos. Finally, "Your Turn" is a beautiful rock/blues ballad with amazing vocals.

The new guitarist, Roland Grapow, proves to be a worthy replacement. His guitar playing is outstanding and he also contributes some great tracks to the album. Vocalist Michael Kiske has improved his vocal technique even more, delivering his best vocal performance up to that point. The other 3 band members, especially bass player Markus, continue to show how talented musicians they are.

The main drawback of this album was its thin production, but now this release offers a "remaster" of the original sound, thus a truly improved sound quality. The other drawback are tracks Pink Bubbles Go Ape, I'm Doing Fine Crazy Man and Heavy Metal Hamsters but the 4 Bonus Tracks make up for that one also (especially the memorable You Run With The Pack and the cover of Blue Suede Shoes).

You should definitely give this album a chance, if you enjoyed Helloween's previous releases, as you can hear how the band progresses and doesn't continue repeating itself for the sake of record sales.

After the highly successful Keeper I and II releases, Helloween were put on ice with a lawsuit from their distributor Noise for nearly 3 years before recording Pink Bubbles Go Ape. Gone was founding member Kai Hansen, who showed his displeasure with the band through the song I Want Out on the Keeper II album. His replacement, Roland Grapow, proved worthy to hold the vacated guitar spot in Helloween, and Grapow contributed much to Pink Bubbles Go Ape. However, a battle of sorts ensued between Michael Kiske and Michael Weikath as to the material on Pink Bubbles. Kiske did not want to do another concept album like Keepers, but Weiki felt the new material was not strong enough to follow up the Keepers II success. Kiske won out, and the material Weiki had written for Pink Bubbles would later surface on Master of the Rings and Time of the Oath. A departure of sorts from their early thrashings, Pink Bubbles Go Ape does reflect the band's improved songwriting. Kids of the Century, Someone's Crying,Mankind, and The Chance are standouts here. Granted, some of the tracks like Number One, I'm Doin' Fine Mr. Crazy Man, and Heavy Metal Hamsters should have been released as b-sides. If the b-side You Run With The Pack and the unreleased City Cries would have been included on Pink Bubbles Go Ape, I believe the album would not have received the criticism it did. Of worthy note, the production on this CD is not very good. EMI paid Chris Tsangerides (Judas Priest, Overkill, Prong) $400,000 to produce Pink Bubbles Go Ape--the most expensive production cost of any Helloween album up to that point. The drums and vocals are at the forefront (Kiske sounds phenomenal on this album), while the guitars sound muddy and flat at best. While some of the tracks on Pink Bubbles are worthy of criticism, the album as a whole is pretty good and deserves to be in any Helloween fan's collection.

Yes, this album followed two enormous ones (keepers 1& 2). However, the musical quality of "Someones Crying" and "Mankind" are some of the best songs that Helloween ever produced as far as lyrics, vocals, guitars, and drums are concerned. And of course "Your Turn" is a nice change for Helloween. The B-Sides "You Run With The Pack" and "S**t and Lobsters" are melodic and talented as well. Some songs on this album such as "Number One" may really turn some people off because it lacks the "metal" feel, however, it is not bad either. I would have given this album 4 stars because of the song "Heavy Metal Hamsters." That song is just too cheesy for my taste. However, the other songs demand 5 stars :-). If you only like metal then this album may dissappoint you. But if you admire creativity this album is worth getting. Make no mistake though: "Someone's Crying" is one of the fastest songs that Helloween has written.

I think if you take out their two stupid song's Heavy metal hamster's,and Pink bubbles go ape,it could of been the next Keeper's album,if they would of had a better cover that is.But let's face it Helloween did some stupid song's even on those albums.I mean I think Future world,Dr.stein and Rise,and fall are really stupid song's,and way,way to happy.But let's face it.It's pretty rare to find a album that you like every song on.And when it comes to Michael Kiskes vocals who in my oppinion are second to none.You can alway's skip those song's...So if you don't care about the cover art,and can look past a couple of stupid song's then by this album.From the hugely influentual lord's of all Power Metal Helloween.Beside's I'd rather have Michael Kiske's worst album's than have Andie Deris's or Kai Hansen's best.Although I wouldn't mind Michael Kiske redoing the Wall's of Jericho album.He sound's really good on the song Gaurdians,and ext....

I'm not going to analyze every song here, because it's pointless, but I had to write a review in order to bump up this album's rating. Is it just like old Helloween? No. But it is still BRILLIANT. It's more complex, they're songwriting improved, vocals are earth-shattering as always. If you're a Helloween fan who wants an album that could blow the doors off the house this is it.

I've been a big Helloween fan for years, followed them from the ground up, and am yet to listen to one of their records that sucks. I'm in agreement with the others above...yeah, it wasn't Keepers 1 or 2, but it wasn't garbage either. It was well thought out, experimental, different. A lot of old-school metalheads are afraid of that kind of change (who can blame them...look at the previously "alternative" music takeover) but that doesn't mean that change is always a bad thing. It took two times through "Bubbles" to really get a feel for it. By the third time, it became a part of the bigger Helloween picture. For those critics out there who think it sucked, listen again. Bands are like people, if they refuse to mature and grow, they fail. Whether or not "Bubbles" was a growing pain or a step toward a better Helloween is not the issue. The issue is the development of the band.

This by far isn't my favorite Helloween album but it has it's moments. This 2006 Remastered/ Expanded Edition of Pink Bubbles Go Ape is still worth it even if you have the original especially if you don't have all the singles with the bonus tracks (which are only 4 tracks, there should have been more on this). Anyways this version definately sounds better than the original.

Helloween is one of my favorite metal groups. I have all their studio albums. This album is not as bad as people say it is, but it is not as great either. I would not start with this album if your new to the band. But I would add it to your collection.

Underated,pure and simple,this album's great,although a few of these song's are lame,mainly the Pink bubbles one,Heavy metal hamsters,and Number One.Now as far as I'm concerned two and a half song's out of eleven isn't bad,considering the fact that I think all of the new Helloween stuff suck's.And Queens Ryche to me alway's sucks...