Customer Reviews

Renegade

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS EVER MADE. PHIL LYNOTT OF THIN LIZZY IS A MUSICAL GENIUS, GOD REST HIS SOUL.

I just watched a documentary on Thin Lizzy. Everyone interviewed panned this album claiming it was one of the worst albums they did. I was so pissed that I felt compelled to come here and do a review. I have listened to this album THOUSANDS of times. Often through headphones. I am a huge Thin Lizzy fan and this is one of the best albums ever made. Don't let anyone tell you different. You NEED this album. Trust me. I have been listening to Thin Lizzy since their first album came out.

I came across this CD by chance in a records' shop in Madrid, my hometown. They were playing it, and although I am not a fan of hard rock, I loved it.

An incredible CD ! Listen to it and enyoy it!

Renegade. (1982)

*** 1/2.

This album came after the band's most commercially successful era (1976-78). Now with Warner Brothers records instead of Mercury Lizzy was flying into the early 1980s.

I'll admit I had not listened to this album in quite awhile. On a whim, I sat down and took this album in from stem to stern.

The result?

Its still good, but it is flawed. I especially enjoy "Hollywood" and to a lesser extent "Renegade." The rest of the LP suffers from inconsistentcy.

For example "The pressure will blow," great song in the beginning. It builds with a good meaty hook. Then you get to the guitar solo. It doesn't fit with the song in my view. The guitar solo should've gone in the lower range instead of going high. Would have fit the song.

You also have the different vibe of "Fats" then into "Mexican Blood"

Again, they aren't bad its just differing vibes. They never quite come together or tell you where Lizzy is going to take you. Seems Lizzy wasn't sure either.

Finally, my last observation is there is very little passion here. "Hollywood" has Phil belting some out. The rest though its sparse. The guitars almost have mechanical feel to them. There are no solos that lift you in the air.

This is one of the lesser Lizzy albums. If interested in later Lizzy (1979-83) I would suggest "Thunder & Lightning" as the best example of that era - Then "Life:Live."

Renegade is a very musically diverse album from the borderline metal Angel Of Death with it's eerie keyboard intro solo, to the jazzy track Fats. Some Thin Lizzy classics to come from this album in my opinion include Angel Of Death, Renegade, The Pressure Will Blow, and Hollywood. Those tracks alone should have been enough to gather at least a 3 star review from the "professional critics". If you read the review on AllMusisGuide, you will see a "critic" stating how the title track fails to "tug on the heart strings". That struck me as rather odd, as Renegade was as heavy as Lizzy could get before Thunder and Lightning. If any track on this album is meant to tug on the heart strings, it's It's Getting Dangerous. Here's some lyrics from the song.

"I remember him when we were friends, when we were young, way back then
But now we're all grown up and we're strangers
You see, bit by bit, part by part, we slipped and slipped
Till we'd grown apart and now we're strangers."

This was the second Thin Lizzy album I've ever listened to in full, and loved it. Fats and Mexican Blood are the only real detours if you're looking for straight up hard rock. Fats as I said above, is a jazzy track, with a great flow that is Would have been great on one of Phils solo albums as well as Mexican Blood, a more Spanish sounding ballad then Mexican, but I really don't care as I enjoy the song. Brian Downey, one of rocks most underrated drummers is as solid as ever, and truly shines on Angel of Death and the title track. Give Renegade a few listens and and judge for yourself. Don't listen to critics. Who cares if it's not the classic "Thin Lizzy sound", it's still a great album. 5/5 from me.

If you get this on CD, DO NOT GET THE WOUNDED BIRD REISSUE. Some of the worst crap I've heard in my life.

This is a great CD..very underrated and sadly not in print in USA..I had to get this as an "import" from Germany...this band lineup is solid...the keyboard playing is great for the new sound they were exploring at the time...they really were onto something good with this sound..its different than previous releases and could only wonder how much they could have evolved ever further...John Sykes was a wise choice addition to the band...

Its consoling to know that Thin Lizzy with this lineup is touring in USA 2001 with John Sykes as vocals and he really DOES sing like Phil its scary (referring to the EXCELLENT One Night Only release-highly recommended)...thanks Thin Lizzy...you really are back in town...

this is an unparalelled example of musical diversity! The memory of lizzy lives on in this album.

Superb album, from the beginning to the end. Not a mistake.

1 - Angel of Death - Nice lyrics (little inspiration on Stones' simpathy for the devil), powerful song, 6 minutes of ecstasy - 9,0.

2 - Renegade - To me, the weekest of the album, but still a classic. "He's just a boy, that's all", it cannot be better than this. The main problem os this song is that it goes round and round in circles and doesn't go anywhere. 8,0

3 - The pressure will blow. Really makes your pressure blow. Typical Lizzy song, that's why is so perfect. Change your pint for vodka during this one. 10,0

4 - Leave this Town - Nothing espetacular, but works fine here between 2 nervous shakedown pieces. It's the kind of song that you don't love, but once in a year you caught yourself singing it. 8,0

5 - Hollywood. Sweet hollywood... Nice lyrics, you are on your own, pal. Hook you since the very first second. 10,0

6 - No one told Him - Listen, closely, it's and underrated song. Like all the final 4 of this album. Love song, lizzy style, only phil was capable os doing that one. "But how can he forget? he hasn't got a friend." 9,0

7 - Jazzy, cool, groovy, inteligent, funky, bluesy, fusion. I don't what the f**k is it, but who cares, you still "love to swing" during this one. 9,0+, with class.

8 - Mexican Blood - Tequila in the jar. Imagine the best storyteller alive. Forget it. He died. And he was an irish boy, with some brazilian blood. My favorite of the album. 10 +

9 - It's getting Dangerous - That's the best definition ever of "climax". The song come bringing you to a totaly different level on every second, until it explodes like a damn dynamite. The only drug you need to consume is Thin Lizzy. 10.

We all want more Phil.

A++++ On this disk, the lyrics and mix or rock/R&B and Blues make it a must have for anyone who likes Thin Lizzy. Dualing guitars from S. White and S.Gorham add to the enjoyment and showcase the talent of the two. Of course Phil wrote great stuff on this disk, even during a hard time in his life. Check the other reviews and Buy this unknown Lizzy Classic if you like any music of Thin Lizzy, even if you have to pay import disk fees. It will not dissapoint your ear.

Another classy under rated effort.
After all these years you go back and realize how good it was and how good we really had it.
Some lost & overlooked gems on this release.
Scott Gorham and Snowy White have some awesome moments together.
Bottom line. The first 5 songs are GREAT. Some real powerful material here. I have listened to those time and time again and love them for all the right reasons.
The first 5 songs in my opinion propel this album to that 5 star rating.
"Angel of Death" is a pummeling assault on the senses.
"Renegade" has that Dire Straits influence all over it. Shows us what Dire Straits would sound like with some heavy twin leads/harmony.
"The Pressure will blow" is icing on the cake, and "Leave this town" has that powerhouse ZZ Top vibe going for it.
So far we've got some true gems. They deserve excessive repeated listening. Another gem is "Hollywood"- the twin harmony solo...gets me every time! Love it.
The rest of the album from "No one told him", "Fat's" to "It's getting dangerous" can be referred to as decent material but nothing that truly shines like the first half of this release.
They do not rock in the typical Lizzy sense of the word.
I'm thinking they would be better on a Phil Lynott solo release than a Lizzy album.
Those that slammed this release or have given it low ratings must have gotten lost somewhere along the way.
Highly recommend this album. You will not be disappointed.