Customer Rating:  
Summary: More like The ASSential Iron Maiden
Comment: OK, let's get one thing straight right off the bat: NOTHING Iron Maiden have recorded since '7th Son of the 7th Son' deserves to be called 'essential' in any way, shape or form so the title of this comp (which is pretty pointless to begin with given how many of these things already exist....) is highly misleading.
The worst offenders here are the 4 Blaze era cuts (Futureal, The Clansman, Sign of the Cross, Man on the Edge) which are beyond dreadful in every way possible. Nails on a chalkboard! I guess, we'll never know what kind of glue Steve Harris was sniffing when he picked this atonal wannabe over the scores of great vocalists that also applied for the then vacant job. And 'Arry's songwriting was just as bad as his singer during those dark years.
Aside from the Blaze stinkers there's plenty of weak Bruce-era stuff on tap as well. 'Dance of Death' must be referring to the band preparing for their own funeral, one of the weakest Maiden albums ever. 'Brave New World' was actually a decent if spotty comeback album; the Adrian Smith-penned 'The Wickerman' is a good rocker that harkens back to the days when Maiden got to the point in 3 or 4 minutes instead of putting people in a coma with pseudo progressive drivel. On the other band, 'Be Quick Or Be Dead', 'Fear of the Dark', and 'Holy Smoke' are all subpar and lifeless (where is 'Tailgunner'?), and Nicko's stiff drumming totally kills 'Bring Your Daughter.... To the Slaughter' (shades of Samson!) which Bruce recorded a far superior version of on his own (and landed a hit with - which is why Harris wanted to it on this album. But that's another story.....). Closer 'The Clairvoyant' isn't exactly a barnburner either.
Bottom line: Disc 1 is certified GARBAGE almost without exception.
So we've had gone through the bad and the ugly - what is the good? - All the very early stuff, of course. Steve Harris has stated that he doesn't like the first Maiden sonically but the sense of urgency the lads played with back then has never been matched. I'm burned out on 'Running Free' but it's still a great song, and 'Phantom of the Opera' is a masterpiece. Sadly, the band's best album, 'Killers' gets short shrift here (I'd have added at least 2 more tracks, especially the epic 'Prodigal Son') and the Bruce tracks take up most of the space on Disc 2. And they're all top shelf Maiden with the exception of 'Heaven Can Wait' (gimme 'Where Eagles Dare' or 'Can I Play with Matches' instead). God, Maiden really were amazing band once upon a time but they crashed hard and ran out of good ideas about 20 years ago as Disc 1 is ample proof of.
Bottom line #2: This should be a single not a double CD as Disc 1 is clearly anything but essential. I wouldn't even recommend this comp to a Maiden newbie - just get the first 4 albums instead and be AMAZED at the true brilliance that WAS Iron Maiden (and then get the next 3 studio album and 'Life After Death' - that's all you'll ever need).
I'm giving this release 2 stars - 5 stars for Disc 2 and minus 3 stars for Disc 1 and the fact that this is simply another poor catch-in attempt by the band's label to bilk die-hard fans and collectors.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Iron Maiden
Comment: This product turned out to be exactly like the description and it got to me in a decent amount of time.
Thanks
Customer Rating:
Summary: "The Essential Iron Maiden"? "Finally a Maiden Compilation that doesn't suck"??? I think NOT!!!!
Comment: For starters, I am Canadian, and I am a HUGE Maiden fan. Maiden ARE my life. Maiden are almost all I listen to (don't worry, I listen to other stuff too), and their music have pretty much made me the person I am. With only 3 weak albums (No Prayer, The X Factor, Virtual XI), and the other albums being great, Maiden have changed my life and made me a better person...musically. My dad has offered to take me to Somewhere Back In Time 2008 when it comes here.
Now this is obviously just a cash in from Essential. If it's the "Essential" Maiden, then why is 98% of this just singles? The only REAL essential tracks on here are The Clansman (I've grown to like the song), Sign Of The Cross and Phantom Of The Opera. I believe that any compilation without "Genghis Khan" and "Murders In The Rue Morgue", as well as "Invaders" is NOT a Maiden Compilation that "doesn't suck".
Here would be my tracklisting (spanning from Iron Maiden to Dance of Death, like this does):
(spanning over 2 or 3 discs)
1. Phantom of the Opera
2. Prowler
3. Iron Maiden
4. The Ides Of March and Wrathchild
5. Murders In The Rue Morgue
6. Genghis Khan
7. Purgatory
8. Run to the Hills
9. Invaders
10. The Number Of The Beast
11. Children Of The Damned
12. Where Eagles Dare
13. Revelations
14. Flight Of Icarus
15. The Trooper
16. Aces High
17. 23:58
18. Powerslave
19. RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER (that is essential)
20. Caught Somewhere In Time
21. Wasted Years
22. Sea Of Madness
23. The Lonliness Of The Long Distance Runner
24. Moonchild
25. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
26. Be Quick Or Be Dead
27. Afraid To Shoot Strangers
28. Childhood's End
29. Sign Of The Cross
30. The Clansman
31. Brave New World
32. Ghost Of The Navigator
33. Wildest Dreams
34. No More Lies
35. New Frontier
Overall, that's my compilation. I think that'd be a better compilation. Ok whatever, I think I'll go to Edward The (Not so) Great CD, you know, where they include the most overhyped tracks like this does. Except this is much worse.
UP THE IRONS, and AVOID THIS CRAPPY CASH IN FROM ESSENTIAL!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good, but lacking...
Comment: Personally, I think that if they're going to include stuff from their newer albums, they should do it live for a lot of them, because with the exception of songs like "Wildest Dreams", "Rainmaker", and "The Wickerman", the majority of those songs sound best live.
They're missing a lot of their oldest stuff as well, which, personally, I'm a bit disappointed by, but that's why I didn't buy this album (I already have all these songs anyway).
I know a lot people are mad that "Hallowed Be Thy Name" isn't on there either, nor is "Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter", both of which are songs I never much cared for myself, but are very popular with other fans, so I have to question why they're not on there.
But yeah, there are a bunch of songs that should be on here, but aren't (and a couple that on here that I have never really cared for at all, personally).
I would recomend just buying their first 5 albums, maybe the 6th and 7th, and then just download several of the better songs from the later albums, and buy Rock In Rio and Death On The Road, those are both good live albums. Of course, you'll still probably be missing a bunch of the better later songs, but albums like No Prayer For The Dying or Virtual XI have only 2 or 3 good songs on them, so yeah.
I own the entire collection almost, but even I gave X Factor and Virtual XI a miss. Though be sure to get "Lord Of The Flies", "Man On The Edge", "Futureal" and then maybe "Sign Of The Cross" (which I've never actually listened to) and "The Clansman" (which I would just get the live version from Rock In Rio instead). Oh, and if you do decide to give their latest album a miss, be sure to get "The Wickerman", "Brave New World" (sounds better live from Death On The Road, if you ask me), "Wildest Dreams", "Rainmaker" (my favorite song from their newer albums), and "No More Lies" (maybe, a bit of a grower).
Well, that's my summery. Please note the first two albums by them are really good, but you probably won't like them at first listen, give them a chance though, you'll come to love them soon enough. The first album might just be the one with the most variety in it simply because it's almost a compilation of the best of the songs they used to play in bars rather than an album. Plus, it's got songs like "Strange World", and if that isn't unique for Maiden, I don't know what is. If you don't like the vocals in the first two albums, stick with "Transylvania" and "Genghis Kahn", it'll warm you up to the guitar sound.
Customer Rating:
Summary: It is essential
Comment: Great CD. It is what it says: an essential collection. Sure, many good songs were not included, but a CD has limited room... if you are really into Maiden, get their albums!
Good quality. The songs sound good remastered.
|
