Customer Reviews

Still Hungry

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've been a Twisted Sister fan since their first album (Under the Blade). I even followed 'em through Love is for Suckers, which most Twisted Sister fans tended to hate, so I would like to think I'd like pretty much everything Twisted Sister put out. I, along with most of the SMF's have waited for a really long time for Twisted Sister to get back together and record a new album.

Well, 2004 finally brought us a "new" Twisted Sister album. Well, not really. What they did was re-record their most popular album, Stay Hungry (now titled "Still Hungry"). In interviews, they claimed they were never happy with the sound of the original, bla, bla, bla. I disagree with that. The original was fine. The original is still good. This new version has (as I read in another review) "meatier" bass, bla, bla, bla.. It does sound heavier, but to be honest, I'm not terribly sure if I like it better.

I'm still a fan of the original, so the fact that after all these years Twisted Sister just chose to re-record their most popular record as their big reunion strikes me as a cash grab. There's nothing fundamentally WRONG with this album. It's not like the re-recordings sound horrible. They just sound different. The songs aren't radically different, they're still good songs. It's just feels "odd" to me as a long time Twisted Sister fan.

The music itself is fine, but I prefer the 1983 version. That's why I gave this three stars. It's lessened in my eyes due to the unoriginality factor of re-recording an album. It's worth a purchase, but it feels "wrong" buying it, because I've already bought this album before.

Oh yeah - there are some new songs, but they all are rather weak compared to the existing songs on this album (either the original or the re-recorded versions), I can't really bring myself to listen to 'em very much.

As a long time Twisted Sister fan I had very high hopes when I heard that a re-issue of the classic "Stay Hungry" album would be hitting the stands. However, it soon became official word that instead of this edition the CD would be re-recording of every single track from the classic we all know and love. Vocalist Dee Snider explained that this was done to capture the "original vision" of the band and this release. I had some reservations with this for it made me think of when George Lucas added all the footage to Star Wars some 20 years later and told us that this is the way he had meant for us to see it when it was originally released. The criticism that Dee Snider seemed to have was that the album did not receive the proper production level. Honestly I thought it sounded fine. It was heavy, and it was enjoyable to see a heavy record receive some acclaim on radio stations of the time. Whether you loved them or hates them, you could ignore the catchy riffs and vocal lines of those songs. This release is entitled "Still Hungry" and it begins as you expect with the thundering opener. However, once the CD begins you can immediately notice a difference. The clearest fact is the feeling that it is not produced enough and come off more as rough mixes rather than finished and edited songs. I felt I was listening to rough demos of some of my favorite songs rather than a new and more exciting view of them. I have to admit that I expected a lot more from this portion of the CD, as with todays technology and the fact that the players are ever more seasoned it gave me that expectation. I enjoyed it enough, but not feeling that these should have been tampered with.

The main tracks that I felt suffered the most in the redo, was ones that most Sister fans have so embedded in their minds that it is hard to swallow a new version. In particular "We're Not Gonna Take It" (with an extended guitar solo) and "Burn In Hell" (just lacking the anger and motivation that I felt made the original so special in the first place). When "Stay Hungry" was released, the band was still a hungry entity fighting its way in the music industry, you can't simply go in and re-record these songs and expect them to be the same. It just cannot happen. Maybe Rush could pull it off, or Dream Theater, but not so much Twisted Sister.

The real highlight for me was the inclusion of some of the really old classic Twisted Sister numbers that were never placed on an official release before now. Many of the fans have had bootlegs of these tunes or live tapes that were taken from radio shows that were done very early in the bands career. Rough versions of these tracks are featured on the "Club Daze" V1 and V2, but this rendition holds them cleaner and with better production (well, they were just done so that makes sense). The placement of these songs on the redo just shine through the whole piece, especially "Come Back" and "You Know I Cry" (my favorites for almost XX years). These are killer tunes that fans of the group in the later years should certainly be exposed to. I know they have been featured in the touring set once again, and it's nice to have a professionally recorded version of them to enjoy.

There is not much in the way of photographs on the piece, just the front and back cover. The front pic shows the band in makeup and without which is pretty cool. The booklet also includes lyrics to every song on the piece. This is similar to the original however it also includes the new bonus tracks. As my opinion was skewed on this release, I can only offer the following suggestion. If you purchase it (and you should based on the unreleased tracks) don't discard your original "Stay Hungry" and instead use this as a measure against it. You decide if this way sounds better or not, and if you think not, as least you have some excellent bonus tracks that you would not hear anywhere else.

I thought the original version of "Stay Hungry" was fine. When I heard that they were going to re-record it to make it so called "Heavier" I had mixed emotions. When I finally got my hands on this I was extremly disappointed. Its funny because I have the orginal version, unremastered. This version sounds worse, both sound wise and song wise then the original version recorded twenty three years ago. there has been a huge leap in recording technology since 1984, and I was expecting this to be beefed up more, sound cleaner, just be meanier. What we really get here is what sounds more like a pratice session recorded in someones Basement. The instruments sound muddy and Dee's vocal sounds horrid. I understand they wanted it more raw, but was it really neccessary to dumb down the entire album. I dont think that Twisted was looking to get richer from this, as it is released on an independent label, and from what I hear Dee and crew are pretty cool guys. I see what they were trying to do, but it just fails. Sometimes it just well off to leave what is good, ALONE.

Tracks ten through 16 are very cool to have on this cd as bonus tracks. However, they are not strong enough to indicate that a new cd of all new material would be the right move for TS at this point in time. The re-recorded versions of the older stuff came out very heavy and they are right in line with Under the Blade and You Can't Stop Rock n' Roll which is just as they were intended to sound from their inception. I personally like the sound on these newly recorded tracks better than the tragic electric twanger sound that Tom Werman forced on the band while recording the original back in 1983. The songs themselves are pretty much the same as before except they do sound much more like the true TS. Now, if TS could only get an actual remastering of the rest of their catalog (unlike the Spitfire releases) then, the SMF's collection will be complete.

I just got the CD in today.
Holly Crap!
I wish this had of been the album they had of come out with when I was 13 years old.
For the first time I can understand the lyrics on all of the songs. I don't know why, but for me the lyrics were always muddied. It was not until I got "Live at Hammersmith" that I could fully understand all the words to "Burn in hell."
On the new and most definitely improved Stay... er, Still Hungry, The lyrics are given new life.
Captain Howdy, is now what I would call a Goth song, I like it! (I guess after seeing the movie "Strange Land" it helps to give you a fresh prospective on the song.)
The new (sort of new) stuff they add is like seeing a new color for the first time. If it had of been on the Stay Hungry album the first time around I thing there might have been four hits instead of just two.
The guitars breath, where as before they sounded -good- but not great. Listing to the new album, it would make you think the guys on the old "Stay Hungry" were playing with gloves on.
Greatness is some times what you do to undo a past letdown. With this album they have something great! -man- I just wish I could have heard this when I was 13.

Let's face it: most folks who are going to buy a re-recorded version of "Stay Hungry" are already SMFs, so this goes out to the doubters who haven't yet heard "Still Hungry":

This CD absolutely rocks! I can ALMOST guarantee that as soon as you hear it, you'll forget there ever WAS a first version. Most of the other positive reviews hit it right on: "Stay Hungry" was meant for 1984 radio, which helped launch TS into the stratosphere of rock. BUT, it lacked a lot of the heaviness easily apparent on "Under the Blade" and "YCSR&R." This new version MORE than makes up for it; it's almost like a completely new album, and yet you already know all the words. The guys are in fine form, and I'll say Dee's voice has MATURED, but I disagree that he's lost anything.

Okay, to those of you who THINK you know TS just because you listened to your older brother's (or, dad's) records, and you see the goofy costumes and the makeup and think "get outta here": remember, Sister is a tough band from the 1970s glam scene, and most of their original fans are either tough-ass bikers or over-the-top British punkers. Their songs aren't as "heavy" as metal of the 90s & 00s, but the songs don't just sit there, either. The writing is good, the playing is tight, and the message is the opposite of the slit-your-writsts doom-&-gloom of the 90s. Songs like "I Am, I'm Me," "Shoot 'Em Down," and (from this album) "Stay Hungry" and "We're Not Gonna Take It" promote positivity and a sense of being true to yourself...which means don't take CRAP from anyone, whether it's a bully, a teacher, or some girl who won't give you the time of day. Go ahead: treat yourself to this classic disc.

Twisted Sister is back with a re-release of their classic Stay Hungry album. Great updated sound and the inclusion of numerous songs from their legendary club days in the NY/NJ/CT area make a great package for old school metal fans. SMF's from back in the day will remember Come Back, You Know I Cry and the others which blast here just like in the club days when the band used to draw thousands to the clubs in the tri-state region on a regular basis.

As other reviewers have mentioned if Twisted Sister is playing live in your area and you enjoy old school metal then GO TO THE SHOW! If you have never seen this band live and only know them from their MTV video persona then you will be blown away. TS is one of the best live acts in the business and this release represents a welcome return to a great band.

The re-recordings sound great the studio tracks are the best and the new sound is major kick ass! get this one now!

This band is the one that led me on the road to love rock, then hard rock, and the on to metal. So excited to see this release and so devastated to hear the actual cd. I think what happened here was Twisted, being in their fifties, forgot how to play their instruments. Dee Snider says "This how we really wanted to record the album". What all crappy with too much bottom. Oh yeah, lets also slow the tempo down to about half of what it was. Do not buy this. It's not even worth the listen. Just buy the original and pretend this drink coaster never happened.

I am very disappointed by this disc. First off, when a band re-records their old stuff, it outta send up a red flag. I was foolish enough to get this CD. The band redid the songs 'cause they hated the old "thin" sound of the originals. I think the originals sound fast, crisp and excited/on fire. The new versions are bogged down, slow, low and unemotional. I think anyone who gives this a great review (and some have) is trying not to feel bad about the $$$ they wasted (along with me.)

The new songs are crap.
The one and only worthy track on here is "Heroes are Hard to Find," which you can get on the "Strangeland" soundtrack.

My advice is to pick up the re-mastered issue of the original version of this cd. It's much better and more heartfelt.

This was a good idea but it's just Blaaah. Sorry TS.