MR

Here's the link to my newly published review of the album: http://melodicrockconcerts.com/?p=1642

One point that I brought up is the lack of songwriting input from Jeff Pilson, or from the other three members of the group for that matter. Do you think that deadlines prevented a full collaboration?

Nice review Matt. I am just really sad that the album turned out as soft as it did. I love ballads and my favorite track on there is "In Pieces," but this CD is truly a case of too much of what should be a good thing.

This CD is a big disappointment from what they advertised themselves as with Kelly. Very mediocre. Sounds more like REO than Foreigner. Probably a C-.

Saint John wrote:This CD is a big disappointment from what they advertised themselves as with Kelly. Very mediocre. Sounds more like REO than Foreigner. Probably a C-.

I wish I didn't agree, I was really expecting something ballsier, paced more like Loverboy's last effort. Rocker-Ballad-Rocker-Rocker-Ballad-Rocker-Semi-Ballad-Rocker-Rocker-Semi-Ballad etc...

"Arrival", just as another point of reference, was also waaay more mellow than fans were led to believe.
As with that long anticipated release (promoted at one point by Neal as "Escape 2000"), just re-calibrate your expectations and try to give ICSLD a fair shake on its own AC/pop terms.
I'm not saying force-feed yourself shit, but I think the album is solid through and through.
Not a bad track on it.
No question tho, the band played it safe. Too safe.

I also have to question if this material is really where Kelly is at creatively.
Given his hard rock background, I'd expect a little more attitude.

If you haven't read Andrew's review yet, I recommend it.
Weatherman summed it up well too.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:"Arrival", just as another point of reference, was also waaay more mellow than fans were led to believe.
As with that long anticipated release (promoted at one point by Neal as "Escape 2000"), just re-calibrate your expectations and try to give ICSLD a fair shake on its own AC/pop terms.
I'm not saying force-feed yourself shit, but I think the album is solid through and through.
Not a bad track on it.
No question tho, the band played it safe. Too safe.

I also have to question if this material is really where Kelly is at creatively.
Given his hard rock background, I'd expect a little more attitude.

If you haven't read Andrew's review yet, I recommend it.
Weatherman summed it up well too.

Yeah, I think Kelly would want something different, but who knows.

I think the difference between Arrival and this album is that the rockers on Arrival really rock. I don't feel much affinity with any of the rockers on here, even Can't Slow Down.

Playing it "too safe" is a very apt description.

Saint John wrote:This CD is a big disappointment from what they advertised themselves as with Kelly. Very mediocre. Sounds more like REO than Foreigner. Probably a C-.

Wow! I'm kinda surprised you'd say this about this album. Personally I would put it in the top 3 of Foreigner releases all time with "4" and "Agent Provacateur".

Love this CD!

I thought they were great live and am really surprised with this studio release.

But to each their own.

St. John...still looking forward to your return to Charlotte. Let me know ahead of time and stay here!

Scott

DerriD wrote:

Saint John wrote:This CD is a big disappointment from what they advertised themselves as with Kelly. Very mediocre. Sounds more like REO than Foreigner. Probably a C-.

Wow! I'm kinda surprised you'd say this about this album. Personally I would put it in the top 3 of Foreigner releases all time with "4" and "Agent Provacateur".

Love this CD!

I thought they were great live and am really surprised with this studio release.

But to each their own.

St. John...still looking forward to your return to Charlotte. Let me know ahead of time and stay here!

Scott

Top 3 of all time? To each his own as you say. Kelly is a great vocalist though and I'd love to see this lineup live. This album definitely is already well out of rotation for me, save In Pieces.

I really liked the cd, and the remasters are good too. My only prob. was the DVD. It sounded good too good. It is not that I had a problem with that but all the footage was not from the same show. So you know it is a track your listening too and not the show.

Abitaman wrote:I really liked the cd, and the remasters are good too. My only prob. was the DVD. It sounded good too good. It is not that I had a problem with that but all the footage was not from the same show. So you know it is a track your listening too and not the show.

Agreed.
Some good extras, (like Mick Jones whistfully reflecting on the past), but the cross-cutting of different concerts is distracting.
Van Halen's Live Without a Net pulled the same thing.
Including a copy of the PBS Soundstage show or one of their others dvds would've been preferable.
Still, overall, I really like the package.
The re-masters sound great, and the new stuff and the dvd is solid.
Compared to Revelation, there's more bang for the buck.
I gave my Revelation dvd away and NEVER listen to the re-records.

Re: the dvd, what happened to the advertised "board room meetings" of Walmart exects and Foreigner brass meeting to hammer out the deal?

Red13JoePa wrote:Re: the dvd, what happened to the advertised "board room meetings" of Walmart exects and Foreigner brass meeting to hammer out the deal?

If it is on there I didn't see it. I got tired of watching the vid, and turn up the stereo and did stuff around the house. I did not not go into the extra features, even thou some appeared between songs.