musical complexity
Baeleron
to think that musical complexity is the most important
think in metal music.
I disagree. I think power, emotion, and lyrical
intelligence are far more important.
When people rip Harris for supposedly getting lazy or
reducing the complexity of his songs, they are forgetting
that many of the "classic" stuff is incredibly simple.
Transylvania, Wrathchild, Running free -- very
musically simple songs. Are they any less because
of their simplicity? Obviously, no. They remain
Maiden classics. Was Steve getting lazy when he
wrote them? I doubt it.
We can carry it a step farther and look at metal in general.
Take the early Black Sabbath for instance. Man, I'm the
worst guitar player in the world, and I played "Paranoid"
on the first day I owned a guitar. (For all of you
baggy-pants teenagers, Paranoid is one of the all-time
classic metal songs). The Dio-era of Sabbath wasn't
incredibly complex either, yet it might be the best music
Sabbath ever made. Even most of Metallica's good old
stuff is fast but incredibly simple. Do you think the
Metallica guys were real lazy in the early days, and have
only now begun to wise up and work hard? Don't make
me laugh (or cry perhaps).
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that complexity
is fine, but what is really important is power, mood,
emotion, and hopefully some lyrical intelligence.
Baeleron
http://www.blueneptune.com/~bvs/ironmaiden/
Trooper665
technical skill which is something maiden hasn't shown in a while
Max White
You know who had this? The original Blizzard of Ozz band. The one with
Randy Rhoads. That band was maybe the greatest metal band ever. Until
Randy's tragic death, of course.
--
"Mental wounds not healing. Driving me insane. I'm going off the rails
on a crazy train."
-Ozzy Osbourne; "Crazy train"
SgnfcntPkl
>I was reading an earlier thread where people seemed
>to think that musical complexity is the most important
>think in metal music.
>
>I disagree. I think power, emotion, and lyrical
>intelligence are far more important.
I'd have to say I agree......for the most part.
I also think that many people aren't ripping on the new Maiden because it's
"simple" per se, but it's "simplistic". There's a slight difference.
Almost all of the songs on VXI reminded me of shadows of earlier songs. No, I
don't mean similar riffing so much as just somewhat.....ugh.....lame (as much
as I hate that word). That simple riff could've gotten much better treatment.
Take Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger. It actually has a decent
classic-esque riff in it (after the abysmal verse structure)....but it gets
layered with disgustingly monotone chanting of [Extreme Opinion Alert!] just
plain stupid lyrics.
I mean, 'Arry was never a lyrical genius or anything, but look at "When Two
Worlds Collide". Yuck.
An example of a *very* simple riff that was used as part of a brilliant song:
Drifter. Any freshman guitarist could play that song, but it's just so well
composed! The lyrics aren't godlike or anything, but they work!
Off the soapbox,
E.
***********************
The Left Tentacle of Chaos,
--a.k.a-- "The Significant Pickle"
***********************
B.L.
>
> Baeleron wrote:
>
> >I was reading an earlier thread where people seemed
> >to think that musical complexity is the most important
> >think in metal music.
> >
> >I disagree. I think power, emotion, and lyrical
> >intelligence are far more important.
>
> I'd have to say I agree......for the most part.
>
> I also think that many people aren't ripping on the new Maiden because it's
> "simple" per se, but it's "simplistic". There's a slight difference.
>
> Almost all of the songs on VXI reminded me of shadows of earlier songs. No, I
> don't mean similar riffing so much as just somewhat.....ugh.....lame (as much
> as I hate that word). That simple riff could've gotten much better treatment.
I agree. I think the worst thing Steve has done was to write "Afraid to
Shoot Strangers", because not only do I think it's a crummy song, but
it's been the blueprint for countless songs since then. The long drawn
out openings building to mediocre, repetitive, heavy choruses. The only
good thing about these songs is listening to Dave Murray wail on a solo.
--Ben
Baeleron
> >
> > Almost all of the songs on VXI reminded me of shadows of earlier songs. No, I
> > don't mean similar riffing so much as just somewhat.....ugh.....lame (as much
> > as I hate that word). That simple riff could've gotten much better treatment.
>
> I agree. I think the worst thing Steve has done was to write "Afraid to
> Shoot Strangers", because not only do I think it's a crummy song, but
> it's been the blueprint for countless songs since then. The long drawn
> out openings building to mediocre, repetitive, heavy choruses. The only
> good thing about these songs is listening to Dave Murray wail on a solo.
>
> --Ben
Well, in my opinion "afraid to shoot strangers" is among the best songs
of FOTD. It's a brilliant song, and I'm having a difficult time believing
that you can possibly think it is crummy. The soft opening sets
the mood before it breaks into classic Maiden riffage and guitar
solos. It's awesome, and I'm GLAD that they've used it as a
blueprint!
Baeleron
http://www.blueneptune.com/~bvs/ironmaiden/
Forostar
Afraid to shoot strangers is one of the best songs on FOTD....
clair...@webtv.net
slow/fast/chorus/solo/chorus/fast/slow
blueprint was actually drawn in 1983 with a song called "To Tame A
Land." Really listen to the song and compare it with "Strangers." Of
course they are not identical, but the arrangement is very similiar.
Also, "Land" beats the tar out of "Strangers" and I don't know why it
hasn't been featured at all in their set over the years.
But I agree, I am kinda sick of the slow openings with the same bass
twanging in the background. It's almost as if the same opening bass
lines were recycled to fit "Still Life" "Lightning" "Afraid" "Clansman"
and countless others I'm sure.
But anyway, we are really the band's worst critics. I still have a great
admiration for Steve. I actually listened to "Hallowed" and "Land" (for
the 1000th time) recently and it just hit me -- what a true innovative
songwriter the guy is. I am fairly knowledgable in the world of rock,
and I can say right now that "Hallowed" is the best metal song ever
recorded. Beating "Fade To Black" and "One" which are just basically
Hallowed-inspired anyway.
Jim
[Beast ]
> Well, in my opinion "afraid to shoot strangers" is among the best songs
> of FOTD. It's a brilliant song, and I'm having a difficult time
believing
> that you can possibly think it is crummy. The soft opening sets
> the mood before it breaks into classic Maiden riffage and guitar
> solos. It's awesome, and I'm GLAD that they've used it as a
> blueprint!
>
> Baeleron
> http://www.blueneptune.com/~bvs/ironmaiden/
>
And then they sort of used it again and again on the next 2
albums..........again and again again and again again and again again and
again again and again
--
........with no sinister regrets......
[Bruce Dickinson, Road to Hell]
[Beast], Slovenia
Max White
>
> > Well, in my opinion "afraid to shoot strangers" is among the best songs
> > of FOTD. It's a brilliant song, and I'm having a difficult time
> believing
> > that you can possibly think it is crummy. The soft opening sets
> > the mood before it breaks into classic Maiden riffage and guitar
> > solos. It's awesome, and I'm GLAD that they've used it as a
> > blueprint!
> >
> > Baeleron
> > http://www.blueneptune.com/~bvs/ironmaiden/
> >
>
> And then they sort of used it again and again on the next 2
> albums..........again and again again and again again and again again and
> again again and again
I agree with the end part. I thik the original song was good, but by
this point it's older than Clinton's lies.
--
"If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?"