SMASH OR TRASH (MICHAEL SCHENKER - MISS CLAUSTROPHOBIA)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Here's the brand new song from Michael Schenker.  What do you think?

[Niels (Mod)]

I'm afraid this is TRASH for me. This does nothing for me. Very bad lyrics!! I'm too old for this s...!!

[Jon]

Oh...TRASH. The geetar is good, but the song as a whole sucks.

[TageRyche]

I don't hate it as much as Niels and Jon do, but I am afraid I have to give this one a TRASH as well.

 

I've listened to it once and I don't feel the need to ever listen to it again.

[Scott]

no no no ...  Michael, what happened?  This is Trash

[Gordon Williams]

Ok, the first thing I gotta say is Michael has been my favorite lead guitarist for over 30 years now. I like his style of lead playing better than Nuno, Eddie, whoever. And like Jon thought, I think this is good guitar work here. However, I did not like this new vocalist at all.

Niels mentioned the lyrics, and honestly, I did not pay much attention to the actual lyrics, but as soon as the singing started, I'm going "WTF is Michael doing"??? I simply dont understand why he keeps changing vocalists, over and over again. The last new studio album was with Gary Barden, who was with Michael during his first solo years in the early 80's, after leaving UFO.

Back then, when younger, Barden sounded pretty good. But I honestly thought that Barden's vocals were average at best on "In The Midst Of Beauty", from a few years ago. And now this new guy comes along, and quite frankly, sounds like a complete amatuer to me.

Again, I ask...WTF??? With Michaels credentials, he shoud have no problem...no problem WHAT-SO-EVER finding a dynamite vocalist! But yet, he keeps getting these guys that are average. The last decent vocal work on Michaels stuff was on "Arachnopobiac", with Chris Logan on vocals. And he did good work on that release, but not excellent, in my opinion.

Now, being a huge Michael fan, I will buy this new release, just for the guitar work. I'll have to "grin and bear" the vocals. Or perhaps some other tunes on this new release will have better vocal work...but doubtful. If you are a Michael fan, then you know all too well about his apparent in-ability to get along with other musicians...particularly vocalists. I just find it hard to believe that it's always the vocalists being difficult. I think Michael needs to take a long look in the mirror, and ask himself "why does my lineup keep changing", and "why do I not have a world class vocalist in my lineup"? He is a world class guitarist...why the ever changing roster of singers...none of which truly shine? His last really good singer, in my opinion, was Robin McAuley.

Finally, I have to shout out a huge thanks to RJHog for posting this. It is great to come on this site, and find out about tons and tons of new releases before I would learn of them on my own. And I appreciate all the posting from the rest of you rockers, as well!

Ahh...Michael, Michael, Michael...what are you doing?..."from the backstreets, theres a rumbling..."

[TageRyche]

Gordon,

I'm a big fan of the McAuley-Schenker albums. Robin McAuley was just fantastic on those discs.

[Gordon Williams]

I agree. I was fortunate enough to see that lineup in concert once, at a smaller venue in Atlanta. Got there early and staked out space on Michaels side of the stage. Great, great show...and part of the reason it was so good was the opening act...Accept! And this was the tour for them supporting their new album with David Reece (I think that was his name) on vocals. I thought that album was very good. Just a killer show that night. Got to meet Wolf Hoffman and Peter Baltes after the show!

Just curious...(totally changing the subject here  )...what do you think on the new Queensryche?

 

[Jon]

Gordon, great post!

 

However...if I wanted a singer for Mikey it would be, hands down, Graham Bonnet.

 

After "Assault Attack" every album was a letdown for me, except for his intrumental albums.

[Gordon Williams]

Yes, I thought Bonnet was good, but I'm sure you have heard the stories of him getting fired...I think it was right after the tour started, and he shows up at a show really drunk, if I'm remembering correctly.

Which is a little strange if you think about it, because Michael has had his own problems with drinking. Schenker, in my opinion, needs to find somebody really, really good, and just stick with whoever it would be for a long time! (umm...Phil Mogg, maybe?  )

[Jon]

Or....Graham Bonnet??

 

Yeah, I know the story and it's a shame. They meshed together perfectly. Ah well, probably a reunion sometime, he gets back with everyone else it seems. Could be wrong, thought they DID reunite at some point for something, maybe I'm thinking about Bonnet with Alcatrazz.

[Gordon Williams]

I'll vote for Bonnet, too, then, if Mr. Schenker will just listen to his dedicated fans!

But there was a reunion of sorts...on that release called "Tales Of Rock N Roll', Michael had all of his past singers come back and do a song on that album. He also had his "new" singer on that project, who sang some of the songs. That guy disappeared even quicker than others!

Have you heard "Tales Of Rock n Roll"? Very good guitar work, as usual, but it is a "weird" project to me. At least half the songs on it are like...half a song! Like 2 minutes long or less, and they all run together, which is kinda cool...having no "empty space" between songs, I mean...but it was still a strange record to me.

[Jon]

Haven't heard it, maybe I'll try and find it cheap. Wasn't there a Part II?