I just felt like making a thread about this band. Frankly I'm a bit shocked that a self-avowed Prog snob (myself) has taken a liking to the Scorpions, as they seem to represent everything that would turn me off from a band.
At first glance, I was repulsed by the Euro-trashy album covers replete with hot women in compromising positions, not to mention the ESL-style of lyric writing. The songs are chockful of juvenile sexual innuendo and cornball rocknroll cliches, as borne out by titles such as Bad Boys Running Wild, Big City Nights, Hold Me Tight, etc ad nauseum. And the Scorps are one of the masters of the syrupy power ballad, something that I normally cringe at.
By all measures, this band should be "unlistenable" in my book, but there's something in the execution of the music that's totally drawn me in. I love Klaus Meine's vocals and that twin-guitar attack is absolutely killer... one of the best. The music really is very 'scorpion-like' in its attack and vigor.
I just listened to Tokyo Tapes for the 1st time ever and it is a stunning live album. The Scorpions epitomize low-brow hard rock, yet somehow they ROCK ME LIKE A HURRICANE.