Unbreakable [ENHANCED]

Scorpions

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 2004)
• Original Release Date: June 22, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B000294T2O
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,838 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Limited digipak edition of the German metal veterans' 2004 studio album is pressed onto an enhanced CD with six minute video message & includes a 16-page booklet. BMG. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get STUNG!, July 20, 2004

By	S. Price (Laurel MD, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album will not disappoint life long Scorps fans (such as myself) and it will (hopefully) draw in a lot of new, younger fans. However, I think it is important to listen to the CD more than once to truly appreciate the effort the guys put into creating this great collection of music.

First and foremost, let it be said that the MUSIC is flawless THROUGHOUT the CD. The compositions are pulsing, pounding, rhythmic (yet melodic) masterpieces. Absolutely CLASSIC Scorps guitar work with solid drumming from James Kottak and great bass-playing from Pawel Maciwoda and assorted "guest bassists". There isn't one negative thing I can say about the musical composition or actual playing. This music WILL make you move!

That being said .. after my first "listen" to the lyrics, I gave three songs an "A+" right away: "Maybe I Maybe You"; "Someday Is Now" and "Remember the Good Times". James Kottak does some of the writing on this CD and his lyrics add a lot to the mix. His off-beat style is perfect to keep the Scorps "up to date". Fans of the 1980's group "The Hooters" will recognize the name Eric Bazilian who contributes to "Remember the Good Times" which is one of the best Scorps tunes I've ever heard. (still love ya Eric!)

Initially, I thought the other songs ranged from "quite good" to "pretty good" .. until I listened to the CD a second time. Klaus' own backing harmonies are fantasic and songs that sounded a little "rhymie dimie" the first time around really grew on me almost immediately. "She Said" is a gorgeous ballad, "Love Em or Leave Em" has a great beat and great harmonies and "New Generation" is a foot stomper.

Overall, my whole impression of the CD DRAMATICALLY improved after my second "listen". I have now had the CD in my player for four days straight and I just keep it on "repeat". The Scorps really did deliver what they promised to their fans and I only hope they get enough radio airplay to encourage the "arena comeback" that they so richly deserve.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A surprising rocker from the Scorpions, April 2, 2007

By	R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

THE BAND: Klaus Meine (vocals), Rudolf Schenker (guitars), Matthias Jabs (guitars, voicebox), Pawel Maciwoda (bass), James Kottak (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (2004) 13 tracks clocking in at approximately 56 minutes. Included with the disc is a 14-page heavy duty paper booklet containing song titles/credits/times, song lyrics, several black & white band photos, and thank you's. The disc is enhanced for your PC - featuring 3 short snippets you can click on for a photo gallery, video message from band members, and Scorpions biography. Recorded at Peppermint Park Studios, Hannover, Germany. Label - Sanctuary Records.

COMMENTS: If you've been following the Scorpions since the late 70's as I have, you probably passed at first on "Unbreakable" thinking it was another average (or worse) release. You'd be correct in your thinking that the Scorpions of old were long gone - with good reason... the 1990's were not kind to the band - going from bad to worse with "Face The Heat" (1993), "Pure Instinct" (1996), and the danceable "Eye II Eye" (1999). However, "Unbreakable", with its shiny metallic cover, was a pleasant surprise. A solid return to form for the Scorpions of old. I liken this Scorpions revival to that of Kiss' comeback after the dismal "Unmasked" and "Music From The Elder" and then unleashing the very heavy "Creatures Of The Night" (1982). "Unbreakable" features an ageless Klause Meine on vocals. He still sounds fresh after 30+ years (there's no hint of vocal chord damage/surgery from the early 80's). Schenker and Jabs can still rip it up on guitar. Per the the video message from the enhanced portion of the disc, this was recorded 'live' in the studio with everyone playing together. Some heavy songs here... with a fantastic opening 1-2 punch ("New Generation" and "Love 'Em Or Leave 'Em") that I haven't heard since "Blackout" (the songs "Blackout" and "Can't Live Without You"). Heavy - with melody. "New Genreration" is my absolute favorite song of theirs over the past decade. It tells an uplifting yet dark story of wartime with the leaders looking to the youth for answers... all in George Orwell-esque fashion (it really sets the tone for the entire album). Other rocking highlights include "Blood Too Hot", "Someday Is Now", "Borderline" and "Can You Feel It". The Scorpions tone it down on 3 softer songs with "Through My Eyes", "She Said", and a piano ballad "Maybe I Maybe You" (with the band joining in for a great ending)... all being well-crafted light FM songs destined for heavy use in elevators and dentist's offices. Easily, this is the Scorpions best studio album since "Savage Amusement" (1988) and "Crazy World" (1990). Many of the songs here would fit in nicely with their 80's material. This album blew me away because I was totally NOT expecting it to rock my socks off. A modern classic by some old-school rockers (4.5 stars).

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, July 13, 2004

By A Customer

The Scorps are back with a real good, rockin' album. No, they will never make another Black Out or Love At First Sting, but this album is as good as we could expect, especially from a band that is trying to appeal to such a global market. I think that if they were trying to please only the USA fans, some of the songs would have been different. Like the Stones, The Who, etc, the band's best days are behind them; BUT, this new album is closer to what we love about the Scorpions than anything we've heard from them in 14 years.

The album's opening track, "New Generation", leaves no room for doubt that the Scorps can still rock. Immediately, we hear the symbiotic guitar work of Rudolf Schenker's heavy riffing with Matthias Jabs' six-string-sting lead, in what will be a new Scorpions classic. This sets the tone for the rest of the album. Here's my take on the rest of the songs:

"Love `Em of Leave `Em - straight ahead rocker, cool riffs, I bet it'll come off live real good.

"Deep And Dark" - one of the best songs on the album, heavy guitars, killer riffs, great chorus

"Borderline" - mid tempo rocker, good verse sections, really generic chorus, overall not bad

"Blood Too Hot" - Fast rocker, sounds like it was written to play live, still a little generic

"Maybe I, Maybe You" - starts off slow and sappy (with some random guy playing piano) but builds into an amazing triple meter ( a la Hendrix's "Manic Depression") rocking tune! They should have started this song differently but it ends up being another one of the best tracks.

"Someday Is Now" - Good fast rocker, another one that'll be good live

"My City, My Town" - Scorps give props to their hometown, mid tempo rocker

"Through My Eyes" - here's the song we've been waiting 14 years to hear, classic Scorpions chord progression and melody, vintage Klaus Meine harmonies, a little like "No One Like You", the best song on the album IMO

"Can You Feel It" - rock anthem style tune, very generic chorus but totally killer verse sections

"This Time" - mid tempo rocker written by Matthias Jabs, the 2nd best tune on the album IMO, very cool!

"She Said" - one more ballad, good melody and all but enough already!

"Remember the Good Times" - 60's style song structure (but heavy sound), sounds like they wrote in 5 minutes but it's still a fun song

Overall, the album is very good, with all the musicians really executing well. The sound is classic yet modern. The production is very good and the mixing is clear. My only real complaint is that Matthias' solos are mixed too low (listen to Blackout to hear proper lead guitar mixing). Scorpions fans will not be disappointed. The album is a refreshing departure from the Scorpions' musical direction of the past several years, and very refreshing "alternative" to the dull thud of most of the current "rock" bands.