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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great musical enclave in Bruce's excellent career, June 26, 2005
Skunkworks seems to bring out mixed sympathies in people; a bit like Iron Maiden's X Factor in that respect. People who are aware of and like Bruce Dickinson's solo work (and lets face it, it's terrific; arguably superior to a fair amount of Iron Maiden stuff) usually cite The Chemical Wedding and Accident of Birth as archetypical Bruce, and that would be correct. Skunkworks is not like Accident or Birth or Chemical Wedding; it contains a lot of quality tracks, but in a different style.
If I could classify Accident of Birth and Chemical Wedding (I have not yet heardy Tyranny of Souls, but I hear it's like the Chemical Wedding in style), I would call them Metal albums. Skunkworks is more of a 'rock' album, though not in the same way as tattooed millionaire. IT isn't as heavy as the albums that followed it, but there is nothing wrong with that
Skunkworks is a great album with lots of wonderful tracks; I wish Bruce's live setlists gave it more attention. There is almost a 'concept' to this album, Bruce seems to sing predominantly about science and space; yet there is no 'corny' aspect to it, and it certainly is not like being at school. Songs like 'Space Race' and 'Solar Confinement' have a wonderful, warm guitar sound, almost otherworldly, and incredible verses choruses.
Back from the Edge has a very interesting time signature, great chorus and easy to like. This is much the case with the album itself; I didn't find it hard to love the songs here. Dreamstate is a slower, arpeggio'd track, but equally good and a nice tempo change from the faster songs like Space Race and Back from the Edge
Octavia and Inertia are also great songs, with thoughtful lyrics and wonderful choruses. I particularly like the guitar work on Inertia.
There are no bad songs on this cd; Headswitch and I will Not Accept the Truth are probably the weakest tracks, but still good to listen to and not lacking enough to prevent the whole album from being a great listen. Meltdown and Inside the Machine also have great choruses (love the drums in the former), and Innerspace has a nice uplifting feel to it; very optimistic. Strange death in Paradise is a good way to end the album, a more pessimistic and yet sonically uplifting song; with an ending that shows off Bruce's great range and tone.
Overall, I can't understand why this album isn't given Five Stars by everybody. IT may be a matter of personal preference, some believe that Skunkworks deserves less than Five because Chemical Wedding and Accident of Birth were so good, but that doesn't follow necessarily. They are certainly worthy of Five Stars, but so is Skunkworks. Compared to all the many albums out there in the world, Skunkworks is a wonderful CD with enough great songs to justify a mark of Five. IF you like Bruce, you should love this album (my favourites being Space Race, Solar confinement and Back from the Edge)
BUY IT NOW
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Notch! Top Notch!, May 24, 2005
Unless you are quite the yougster, this album should have been heard long before Mr. Dickinson's rebirth with the Roy Z/"H" solo material and therefore should be judged not against them but with the artist's first two solo albums.Gone are the novelty songs,childish lyrics and rote instrumentation but more remarkably, Bruce does not try to make an Iron Maiden album but ventures into uncharted territory without abandoning the hard rock genre. Consequently, I still listen to this album as much as any other of Bruce's non-Maiden works because it is mature,heavy,catchy as hell and an utter original.The choruses are soaring and unforgettable and the album's production has a clarity that truly enhances the listening experience. The tracks are disparate yet possess an undeniable cohesiveness ranking this as a major work.If you don't see what I mean try listening again with an open mind.Then you will see what I mean.You can thank me when you see the light.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Silly, Stupid "Fans"--Awesome, Inspired Brucie!!!, February 7, 2005
All the complaints about this record are so unbelievably invalid.
Of course, it DOES NOT sound like "Accident of Birth," it DOES NOT sound like "The Chemical Wedding."
I think it's better...
Jack Endino's production wipes the floor with Roy Z's lame, pedestrian GuitarCenter-dork production.
This record doesn't sound like Rush, or Iron Maiden...what does it sound like? I'll tell you. And I CAN'T BELIEVE all these reviews are too blimey stupid to make this connection...it sounds a lot like King's X. Yes, King's X. There IS a little hint of Soundgarden in there, but also a nod to Pink Floyd (in more than just Storm Thorgersen's cover art), early NWOBHM and Ian Gillian's solo work from the early 1980s. (does anybody who's reviewed this know who HE is and WHAT those records sound like?)
Highlights for me would be, "Back From the Edge," "Solar Confinement," "Headswitch," and the most-King's X-like track, the closer, "Strange Death In Paradise."
A nice mix of (the good) '90s heavy rock, '70s hard rock, NWOBHM, and something not quite as tangible.
Bruce's most "honest" album.
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