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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: GuineaPig on April 05, 2010, 08:56:28 PM
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Bruce Dickinson, best known for being the lead singer of the legendary Iron Maiden, has managed to have an artistically, commercially, and critically successful solo career both in and out of his better-known role. From 1990 to 2005, he released 6 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 1 compilation. 4 of the studio albums (and several new songs from the compilation) were written in partnership with Roy Z, the guitarist and producer from the Latin rock band The Tribe of Gypsies, 2 featured fellow ex-Maiden counterpart Adrian Smith, and 1 with pre-Maiden guitarist Janick Gers. The diverse writing talent resulted in a diverse array of styles over the 6 albums, moving from innuendo-charged hard rock to alternative, to his traditional stomping ground of heavy metal. However, he possesses an undeniably original and unique discography, and is highly recommended to any fan of heavy metal/hard rock.
The following 25 songs are what I consider to be the best from his discography, ranging from fan favourites to more obscure cuts. Whether or not it would serve as a good introduction depends on what one's tastes are; Dickinson's work covers enough of the heavy/progessive end of the spectrum that there's probably something for everyone here.
25. King in Crimson (from The Chemical Wedding)
The loud, heavy, opener to one beast of an album, “King in Crimson” is one hell of an introduction, to the heavier, fatter approach to the guitar-work present on The Chemical Wedding. Starting with a pair of crushing power chords, the change in production from Accident of Birth is immediately evident. Adrian Smith and Roy Z rethreaded their guitars with bass strings in order to give rhythm work suitable punch, and it works well here. Going down below D without using a 7 string is typically a one-way ticket to an awful, tinny low-end; the heavier strings allow the lower tunings to retain a strong edge amidst the distortion. The song itself is excellent; the guitar-work, and particularly the solos, is top-notch, and the use of slide guitar amidst the down-tuned riffing is (surprisingly) as fitting as it is original. A solid opener, both to the album and this list.
24. No Way Out Continued (from The Best of Bruce Dickinson)
Originally from the “lost album” sessions with Keith Olsen, this song is the “sequel” to its predecessor from Balls to Picasso. With the absence of Roy Z, “No Way Out Continued” is a very different breed from the original, with a sound much closer to Peter Gabriel than to Iron Maiden. The keyboard work is unlike any other in a Bruce Dickinson song, and overall the song represents a dramatic removal from any of the extremes Dickinson pursued during the rest of his solo career. Vocally, it’s different from what he was doing at the time as well; it’s got an inkling of the raspier style he used in his early ‘90s work, but at the same time it’s darker, and mostly avoids his trademark vibrato. This song earns its spot on this list for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s different; both from what one would expect from him knowing him to be the singer from Iron Maiden, or what one would expect from him based on his solo work. It’s also got a terrific vibe, and some fantastic guitar work. I suspect not a lot of people have heard it, so I would suggest getting the 2-CD version of The Best of Bruce Dickinson, which contains a number of rare gems on its second disc.
23. Welcome to the Pit (from Accident of Birth)
Recently in the Iron Maiden thread, Nick mentioned Psycho Motel, Adrian Smith’s other post-Maiden project. A person listening to “Welcome to the Pit” might be surprised (pleasantly or otherwise) that Adrian Smith, typically known for fast, melodic work, would write a song so plodding, so sludgy, almost grungy... Of course, the people who had listened to any of the two albums put out by Psycho Motel would instantly make the connection between the Alice in Chains and Soundgarden influenced riffs. Like with Psycho Motel, the guitar work here is down and dirty, wallowing in sludgy, dissonant riffs like a pig in some mud. Depending on your tastes, this sound could make or break your interest in the song. For me, I’m a fan; it’s refreshingly different, and the contrast between the deep, dirty riffs and the clean, soaring vocals is pretty cool. The S&M themed lyrics provided by Bruce give it an additional layer of filth, and H yields another great solo. Cool song.
22. Silver Wings (from The Best of Bruce Dickinson)
One of two tracks written by Roy Z and Bruce to be included on his ‘best of’ compilation, “Silver Wings” is more or less the result of what would happen if you described to someone “Aces High,” and then told them to write a song based on those details without actually letting them hear it. Up-tempo guitar and drums? Check. Harmonies galore? Check. Lyrics about bombing campaigns? Check. Not to knock the song, but it’s hardly the most original thing Bruce has done, especially in light of some of the other songs in this bunch. However, it is nevertheless excellent, with some solid guitar and drum work, and your typical soaring performance from Dickinson. If it didn’t excel in its recycled state, it’d be out of the list, but as it stands, it’s at #22.
21. Gods of War (from Balls to Picasso)
Balls to Picasso is a definitely a mixed bag of an album, seeing Dickinson trade in hard rock for more avant-garde stylings. His first collaboration with Roy Z and his bandmates from the Tribe of Gypsies, lyrically, musically, and atmospherically the album jumps around a bit, from heavy metal to rock to reggae to the latin funk of the Tribe. “Gods of War” is indicative of this diversity; it features a number of different sounds on it, from hard rock verses to metal choruses, and a little Latin influence creeps in towards the end. This mish-mash of genres works surprisingly well, and the song feels very cohesive in its five minute runtime. The song features a number of great performances, specifically from Roy Z, who steals the show with some excellent riffs and a mind-blowing solo. Dave Ingraham also puts in a solid showing, backing the processions with some great percussion, eschewing a more traditional beat for a more Latin feel which works great with the heavy riffs. Awesome song.
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I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot more from Chemical Wedding to further you go. Which is a good thing.
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I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot more from Chemical Wedding to further you go. Which is a good thing.
I most definitely believe this. It's his favorite album ever (if I'm not mistaken).
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Looks like I need to get my hands on the Best of.
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Looks great so far. Hopefully there will be a couple of songs from Accident Of Birth, my favourite of his solo albums.
Road to Hell
Man of Sorrows
Accident of Birth
Star Children
:tup
And I hope your #1 is the masterful Tears Of The Dragon. Flawless song.
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As much as I love Balls to Picasso, I think the live versions on Live at the Marquee are vastly superior to the Tribe of Gypsies studio cuts. I just love the edginess of the three piece that they get going, and Alex Dickson does an amazing job of filling out the sound with his tone. Also you can tell the band have had time to break the songs in, they seem a lot more comfortable, tighter and faster in most cases. Truly an underrated live album.
Not meant as a slant on your list at all or anything GP, I'm assuming you aren't counting live versions anyway so. Just my 2 cents :P
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Some interesting choices there, i will follow with interest. :)
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24. No Way Out Continued (from The Best of Bruce Dickinson)
This song is AMAZING!!!! One of the highlights from the best of.
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Other songs I hope to see;
Omega
Trumpets of Jericho
Darkside of Aquarius
Son of a Gun
Back from the Edge
Wicker Man
Winds of Change (Balls to Picasso version)
No Way Out ...to be continued
Cyclops
Kill Devil Hill
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If Dive! Dive! Dive! isn't #1 I'll be pissed.
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If Dive! Dive! Dive! isn't #1 I'll be pissed.
Agree, No muff too tough.
Also, Lickin' the Gun must be runner up of course!
Finger lickin' fun.
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I'll be using this to get into his solo stuff :)
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Also, hoping to see the following songs:
Navigate the Seas of The Sun
River of no Return
Kill Devin Hill
Back From The Edge
Space Race
Inertia
Pretty sure both Jerusalem and Book of Thel will be up in the top ;)
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As much as I love Balls to Picasso, I think the live versions on Live at the Marquee are vastly superior to the Tribe of Gypsies studio cuts. I just love the edginess of the three piece that they get going, and Alex Dickson does an amazing job of filling out the sound with his tone. Also you can tell the band have had time to break the songs in, they seem a lot more comfortable, tighter and faster in most cases. Truly an underrated live album.
Not meant as a slant on your list at all or anything GP, I'm assuming you aren't counting live versions anyway so. Just my 2 cents :P
Even though I've heard so many bad comments about Alex Dickson, I have to agree with you to a certain extent. I actually like the live in studio A cd over the Marquee one. Great grooves, nice tones and Dickinson is on fire. Plus, even though Alex has a very different style to Roy, I dig it. His solo on Tears of the Dragon live in the studio is amazing IMO, so different, yet you can feel the energy.
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I also hope to see these:
Tattooed Millionaire
Born in '58
Broken
Navigate The Seas Of The Sun
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I also hope to see these:
Tattooed Millionaire
Born in '58
Broken
Navigate The Seas Of The Sun
More great songs right there. It's great to see a solo band/project so damn solid!!
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Obviously, not everyone's favourites will get on here. The reason I decided against a top 50 was that if I had done it, everyone's favourites would be on the list. As it is, I love to bits every song that gets on here; it was quite tough narrowing down the last 10 or so spots. I'm sure I'll include a long list of honourable mentions at the end.
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Tears of the Dragon.
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20. Born in ’58 (from Tattooed Millionaire)
The only song from Dickinson’s 1990 solo debut to make this list, “Born in ’58” is a very simple song. Clocking in at only three and half minutes, it’s a concise bit of nostalgia, an ode to a simpler time of his youth. The reason it makes this list is fittingly, also simple; its melodies are extremely strong. It’s a fun song to sing along to. Janick’s riff in the bridge is also one of his best. Great stuff.
19. The Ghost of Cain (from Accident of Birth)
Another pretty simple song, “The Ghost of Cain” was a bonus track off of Accident of Birth. It sounds a lot like Maiden; an astute listener would pick up that it was a co-write between Smith and Dickinson immediately. Similar to “Born in ’58,” this song earns its place by virtue of its extremely strong melodies, in both the guitar and vocal department. The chorus is a really good sing-along, and the drum interlude by Ingraham is solid. Casillas also puts in a solid performance, although it’s not that easy to hear it as the bass isn’t as high in the mix on Accident of Birth as it is on the other albums with the Tribe. Solid song.
18. No Way Out... To Be Continued (from Balls to Picasso)
Another bonus song, this time from Balls to Picasso, and the counterpart to #24. It’s just as original and good, although in different ways. The guitar-focused songwriting of Roy Z is starkly different from the keyboard focus of the sequel; besides the name, there aren’t many similarities between the two songs. Perhaps one of the few is that Dickinson’s vocal style on both songs are almost identical; deeper, raspier. The riffs are excellent in this song, as is the drum performance (I believe, from Ingraham; not sure about the bonus tracks for Balls to Picasso). Roy Z’s solo is also one of his best. A great song, and another atypical one for Bruce. Definitely not what one would expect from him, even if you had just been listening to Balls to Picasso.
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Some of my favorites:
Return of the King
Chemical Wedding
Silver Wings
Broken
Omega
Book of Thel
Abduction
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20. Born in ’58 (from Tattooed Millionaire)
This is a great song. It always reminds me of Bruce's chapter in the Run to the Hills bio when he talks about his childhood ("my grandfather taught me how to fight..."etc). Lovely stuff!
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Abduction
Can't believe this was the first mention so far
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King in Crimson at 25? Way too low.
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Abduction
Can't believe this was the first mention so far
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20. Born in ’58 (from Tattooed Millionaire)
The only song from Dickinson’s 1990 solo debut, “Born in ’58” is a very simple song. Clocking in at only three and half minutes, it’s a concise bit of nostalgia, an ode to a simpler time of his youth. The reason it makes this list is fittingly, also simple; its melodies are extremely strong. It’s a fun song to sing along to. Janick’s riff in the bridge is also one of his best. Great stuff.
This is an absolutely stunning song and actually ranks #2 on my Bruce list.
Two other points:
1. Pig, great summaries of the songs so far. A very enjoyable read.
2. Bruce was an amazing solo artist. He far exceeded my expectations when he left Maiden. His vocal performance on Balls To Picasso was very surprising after Fear Of The Dark, which I thought he sounded terrible.
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17. Accident of Birth (from Accident of Birth)
The title track from Dickinson’s fourth solo album, it was also the one that inspired his return to heavy metal. After the failure of Skunkworks, both as an album and as a band, Dickinson was persuaded to make a metal album with Roy Z after hearing his demo for what would become “Accident of Birth.” Only a year after Skunkworks was released, Dickinson was back in the studio with the rest of the team from Balls to Picasso, as well as fellow Maiden alumni Adrian Smith. The result was a commercial and critical success. This song represents pretty well the shift from Dickinson’s previous solo work towards a much more focused, heavier approach. The riffs, song structure, and performances are all tight and concise; there isn’t the same experimentation as previous albums, for better or for worse. The riffs here are excellent, with the post-chorus harmony garnering special notice. A great song to headbang to, it’s driven well by the drop-D riffs and the cool beat provided by Ingraham. Excellent stuff.
16. Trumpets of Jericho (from The Chemical Wedding)
If Accident of Birth was a heavier record than what fans might have expected from him, The Chemical Wedding took it to another level by dialing the distortion up to 11 and dropping a crushing low end on the listener. In fact, “Trumpets of Jericho” might be the heaviest song he’s ever written. Whereas other songs, such as “Machine Men” might feature the same sort of aggression and heavy guitars, no song of his is as audaciously dissonant as is this effort. And it works extremely well. The production certainly lends a helping hand, but so does the way the song is structured. Dickinson keep his voice rather low on the extremely dissonant verses, but soars over the more energetic choruses. The constant light/dark approach to the guitar and vocal stylings helps to keep things fresh and not let the song become a Sabbath-esque interminable grind. Solid performances from each band member (except Casillas, who is lost in the mix here) prop up the song as well; it was particularly cool to hear H produce a cacophonous, evil, solo, which was way out of character from his usual melodic stylings. Great song.
15. Taking the Queen (from Accident of Birth)
An excellent ‘ballad-esque’ song from Accident of Birth, “Taking the Queen” is the first of three acoustic-tinged songs on the record. Evidence of Roy Z’s past exploits is scattered throughout this album (even though it almost completely disappears on The Chemical Wedding), and is most definitely present here. The acoustic sections are excellent, conveying a very dark tone, which works well opposite the heavy choruses. Z also gives an excellent solo, which starts the slow, fantastic build into the final chorus. A careful listener will notice a little orchestration (violin) in the final verse, which as far as I know is a first (and only) for the two Z/H albums. Also of note is the excellent performance provided by Casillas, once he’s allowed some breathing room in the song as well in the mix. The outro piano and acoustic guitar is also a nice lead-in to “Darkside of Aquarius.” Be sure to check out the “Midnight Jam” from second disc of The Best of Bruce Dickinson which is a Dickinson/Smith/Z jam based around some of the ideas on this song that is damn cool, and almost made the list in its own right. Great stuff.
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Pig, nice observations on these tracks. Accident Of Birth is probably Top 10 for me, though I'm not sure the other two make my Top 25. I will say that Taking The Queen is indeed a remarkable song.
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My insta-favorites upon first listen over two years ago were "King In Crimson" and "Abduction", both which remain in my top 10. But I can't find a bad song on any of the three albums (the three metal ones, will eventually get others) I have by him.
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My insta-favorites upon first listen over two years ago were "King In Crimson" and "Abduction", both which remain in my top 10. But I can't find a bad song on any of the three albums (the three metal ones, will eventually get others) I have by him.
Devil on a Hog?
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Devil On A Hog suffers from having a bad title. It's not a bad soing at all.
Pig, I liked your comparison for Silver Wings and Aces High. Very good. Also you commented about Adrian's playing on Welcome To The Pit. Are you familiar with his work on Michael Kiske's Instant Clarity album? There's a song on it called Hunted which is also very heavy and plodding.
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My insta-favorites upon first listen over two years ago were "King In Crimson" and "Abduction", both which remain in my top 10. But I can't find a bad song on any of the three albums (the three metal ones, will eventually get others) I have by him.
Devil on a Hog?
whaaa?? That song is fantastic! I love the multi-layered harmonies in the chorus.
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My insta-favorites upon first listen over two years ago were "King In Crimson" and "Abduction", both which remain in my top 10. But I can't find a bad song on any of the three albums (the three metal ones, will eventually get others) I have by him.
Devil on a Hog?
I just listened to it again to make sure and I don't find it as a bad song by any means.
My insta-favorites upon first listen over two years ago were "King In Crimson" and "Abduction", both which remain in my top 10. But I can't find a bad song on any of the three albums (the three metal ones, will eventually get others) I have by him.
Devil on a Hog?
whaaa?? That song is fantastic! I love the multi-layered harmonies in the chorus.
This, although I wouldn't go as far to say it's "fantastic."
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Huh, I guess I'm the odd one out on "Devil on a Hog." I can't stand much past the intro riff.
"Believil" doesn't do much for me either, as does "Starchildren" and "The Magician" off Accident of Birth.
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I agree with you on Believil and Starchildren. The Magician is OK.
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Yep, Believil is rubbish.
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14. The Tower (from The Chemical Wedding)
The second single off The Chemical Wedding, “The Tower” is an infectious bit of heavy metal. From start to finish, this song just grooves; driven by great riffs and an exceptional rhythm section. It’s just all so damn catchy; the riffs, melodies, and beats are all pretty simple, and just beg to be sung/played along to. It’s no surprise that this was the song Bruce used for crowd participation; the melodies are irresistible. It also gives Casillas and Ingraham a time to shine, as they’re clearly right at home with less heavy, more groovy tune. H provides a good solo, and after it, he and Z combine for a fantastic harmony that evokes the memories of the best moments of any Maiden tune. Bruce puts in a solid performance as well, and his voice really goes a long way to making it as catchy and singable as it is. I guess this is as good a spot as any to remark on Bruce’s performance on The Chemical Wedding; it’s damn solid, easily as good as any performance at his height with Maiden. As I mentioned in my review of the album, there’s virtually no effects or tricks on his voice for the duration of the album (except for “Machine Men” and “The Alchemist” I think), allowing the pure strength of his naked voice to shine through. After his vocal experiments throughout the ‘90s (with mixed results and reception), it’s 100% vintage Dickinson here, and he sounds great.
13. River of No Return (from Tyranny of Souls)
The first song from his latest album to appear on this list, “River of No Return” is a song that evokes a real feel of mystery. The acoustic and piano verses with the hint of distortion on the horizon, married to the cryptic lyrics (based on the Riverworld series by Phillip José Farmer) give the song a very different texture. Once again, the melodies are extremely strong, with Bruce alternating between deeper verses and soaring choruses. It just sounds so damn cool. Z puts in a good solo here as well. Not much else to say; it’s just a great song. It is however, a good representation of my biggest criticism of Tyranny of Souls; the new Tribe members David Moreno and Juan Perez on drums and bass respectively (although, it should be noted, that the bassist on this track as well as the majority of the album was Ray Burke) don’t really make much of an impression on this song or on the album. I mean, Ingraham and Casillas never really were front and center previously, but each managed to impart a bit of their style on the listener. Neither Moreno nor the two bassists manage to improve the album, which is a shame, as their performances really could’ve spiced up an album that to me is a little bland at times.
12. Cyclops (from Balls to Picasso)
Listening to Balls to Picasso for the first time, one might think that it was going to be an extremely dark metal album; the atmosphere in “Cyclops” is extremely foreboding, and once the riffs come in, are dissonant and crushing. In many ways, it’s similar to “River of No Return” in the feel that the first couple of verses evoke. However, “Cyclops” is superior for a number of reasons. This song contains some of the best riffs in Dickinson’s catalogue; and two phenomenal solos from Z. The first one at 4:00 builds up extremely well in the second half, and Z wisely restrains himself. The choruses aren’t as instantly catchy as some of his other work, but they have a cool feel with the dissonance and Roy’s reverb-drenched rhythm work. From about 5:30 onwards the song is utterly fantastic, with Bruce providing some haunting vocals over a procession of great riffs. Seriously, the number of great riffs in the last 2 and a half minutes is mind-boggling, as is the way they and Bruce intertwine. It’s a damn shame this never got a spin on any of his solo tours with two guitarists. Fantastic song.
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The Tower gives me a stiffy.
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Absolute genius guitar parts in the bridge of the Tower. I remembe hearing it on the radio back when it was first released and thinking it was so much better than what Maiden was putting out at the time.
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The Tower gives me a stiffy.
:tup :lol I actually lol'd
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11. Chemical Wedding (from The Chemical Wedding)
The title track from his fourth solo studio album, “Chemical Wedding” is just a fantastic song. Nothing revolutionary; the song structure is standard, the beat 4/4, and nothing wild happens. But the song is, similar “Accident of Birth” or “Silver Wings” just strong in its own right; it doesn’t need any bells and whistles. The lyrics, similar to “River of No Return,” work very well with the guitars in the verses to establish a creepy and mysterious sound. The lyrics are extremely cryptic, and I have no clue what they mean or what they are about, though I have heard that they are supposedly based on Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, a 17th century tome from a secret society of Rosicrucians. I suppose it’s fitting that the lyrics are as weird as they are, because I got creeped out just writing that sentence. Anyways, the chorus melody is among the best Dickinson has produced, and helps keep the repeated line of the chorus from being monotonous. The solo by Z has some great rhythm riffs behind it, which leads well into the final chorus. Great stuff.
10. Power of the Sun (from Tyranny of Souls)
This song begins and ends the same way: by annoying me. However, the three minutes and twenty seconds in between are pure metal bliss. Once again, the marriage between lyrics and music is apt; the energy in the lyrics is matched in the speed of the song. The urgency of the song is a large part of what makes it great; I think it’s one of those songs that would become progressively worse for each bpm you slowed it down. This is partly because songs like this are meant to be fast, but also because the lyrics would be much less poignant otherwise. Not much else to say about this song; Z puts in a good solo, and the chorus is great. I suppose I’ll devote the rest of this recap to discussing another thing that annoys me about Tyranny of Souls: the production. Usually Z is top notch in this regard, both in his work with Dickinson, Halford, and Judas Priest, but as well with his own bands. Especially if one listens to it after The Chemical Wedding, the album just seems so weak. Specifically in the low end, the guitars seem very feeble, with too much treble. Compared to The Chemical Wedding’s hammering low-end, the production here just seems so feeble, and harms the heavier songs such as “Abduction” and “Soul Intruders.”
9. Back from the Edge (from Skunkworks)
The only song from Skunkworks to make this list, “Back from the Edge” isn’t much different from the rest of the album. Contrary to what this list would imply, I do not dislike Skunkworks; it’s a fresh and engaging album and a great experiment. However, although the quality of the album is very consistent, few songs grab me like “Inertia” (which came very close to making the list) or “Back from the Edge.” Like I said, it’s not that the song is very different in style or substance from the others on the album, it’s just that it manages to be superior in every facet, from Dickson’s guitar work to Dickinson’s vocals. It’s a fun song to listen and sing to, it’s got a nice groove, and an infectious energy. The repetition of “Back from the edge...” towards the end is one of my favourite moments in Dickinson’s discography. I was really glad they busted this out for Dickinson’s 2002 solo tour (and reunion with Dickson), as this song deserved a lot more than just being played on one tour. Special note goes to a stand-out performance by the "Italian drummer" Alessandro Elena. Fantastic stuff.
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Some really great songs here, River of No Return, The Tower... Power of the Sun, The Chemical Wedding and Back from the edge!
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I never thought much of Power of the Sun. I'll have to revisit it.
Also, what's the bet that GP's no.1 is Jerusalem? I'm sure I've seen him say that before...
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I never thought much of Power of the Sun. I'll have to revisit it.
Also, what's the bet that GP's no.1 is Jerusalem? I'm sure I've seen him say that before...
Either that or Book of Thel. ;)
Hope we'll see Navigate the Seas of the Sun up there as well, maybe my favorite Bruce song. :)
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I never thought much of Power of the Sun. I'll have to revisit it.
Also, what's the bet that GP's no.1 is Jerusalem? I'm sure I've seen him say that before...
Either that or Book of Thel. ;)
Hope we'll see Navigate the Seas of the Sun up there as well, maybe my favorite Bruce song. :)
Yeah that song is beautiful.
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The Tower gives me a stiffy.
(https://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/1058/236985-flawlessvictory_large.jpg)
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16. Trumpets of Jericho (from The Chemical Wedding)
If Accident of Birth was a heavier record than what fans might have expected from him, The Chemical Wedding took it to another level by dialing the distortion up to 11 and dropping a crushing low end on the listener. In fact, “Trumpets of Jericho” might be the heaviest song he’s ever written. Whereas other songs, such as “Machine Men” might feature the same sort of aggression and heavy guitars, no song of his is as audaciously dissonant as is this effort. And it works extremely well. The production certainly lends a helping hand, but so does the way the song is structured. Dickinson keep his voice rather low on the extremely dissonant verses, but soars over the more energetic choruses. The constant light/dark approach to the guitar and vocal stylings helps to keep things fresh and not let the song become a Sabbath-esque interminable grind. Solid performances from each band member (except Casillas, who is lost in the mix here) prop up the song as well; it was particularly cool to hear H produce a cacophonous, evil, solo, which was way out of character from his usual melodic stylings. Great song
Such an amazing song, heavy as all hell. The chorus is phenomenal!!!!
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8. Omega (from Accident of Birth)
I’ve read in a couple of interviews that there’s somewhat of a story arc between “Starchildren,” “Omega,” and “Arc of Space.” I can’t really connect the dots on them myself, but if, hypothetically, it’s true, then one star shines brighter than all the others. Which is fitting, I suppose, because “Omega” (in this case, referring to the Greek letter, which also means ‘the end’) is about a supernova. The penultimate song on Accident of Birth, it’s first couple minutes are pretty good. It’s nothing revolutionary, and not as captivating as, for example, “Taking the Queen,” but it’s all a prelude. The song really kicks off with one of H’s best solos, that leads into a roaring solo from Z and one hell of guitar harmony to cap it off. I’m not going to wax poetic about the rest of the song, because although it’s good, there’s nothing to say about it that I haven’t already said about others, and somewhat similar to “Stranger in a Strange Land” by Maiden, its spot on this list, and its elevation from merely ‘good’ to ‘awesome,’ is really due to a fantastic solo by Mr. Adrian Smith.
7. Wicker Man (from The Best of Bruce Dickinson)
Originally written and recorded (partially) for the Accident of Birth sessions, and finished during The Chemical Wedding sessions, it wasn’t until Bruce’s Best Of... came out in 2002 for “Wicker Man” to find its way to the general public. Which is a real shame, as its a fantastic song, and would’ve been a great addition to either album. Of course, it does feel a little rough and unfinished, and is not polished to the shining gleam of the songs on either of the two albums, but it almost adds to its charm. I don’t know how much of it’s production is a hodge-podge, but it sounds a lot like it was a transition between the two albums sound-wise. Either way, it’s a great song. There are a handful of great riffs, two great solos by Z and H, and a solid bass performance by Casillas. The lyrics deserve special mention, as they are some of the best Dickinson has wrote. Stanzas like this are simple in terms of construction, but have an elegance nonetheless:
Let the pendulum go
Let it sway away
Let the chimes ring out
On this solstice day
When the earth renews
When the seed reveals
When we are reborn
In every waking dream
Fantastic. The chorus is great, but the best moments of the song are in the final minute, which builds upon itself for a fantastic finish. Dickinson also puts in a great performance here. Awesome stuff.
6. The Alchemist (from The Chemical Wedding)
One of the very few instances of vocal effects occur during the first minute of “The Alchemist.” The vocals pan back and forth between a distorted and a clean Bruce, and it creates a really cool and creepy effect. Another great lyric, this one concerning alchemy. Once again, and something that has become somewhat of a recurring theme on this list, seeing how well Bruce does it, the music and lyrics work extremely well together. Another atypical, slow, building Smith contribution, the riffs are fairly simple, but very cool, and allows Casillas a lot of breathing room to meander on the bass. The mix between the heavy distortion and the heavy reverb is an interesting choice of effects. Of course, the reprise of “Chemical Wedding” to end the album, is absolutely genius, and lends a much greater feel of a concept than there actually is. This song is just cool to listen to, as its slow pace and interesting effects really allow itself to expand itself sonically. Awesome song. Note: if you have the normal version, stick around an extra minute and half for a final quote delivered by Arthur Brown. It scared the crap out of me the first time I heard it, because I thought the album was done, so I hadn't turned it off before I went to bed.
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Wicker Man is a really underrated song, nice to see it on the list. :)
Haven't listened to Accident of Birth in ages, so can't really comment on Omega, however The Alchemist is pretty awesome as well.
Really interested in seeing the rest 5. :)
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This is a great thread for seeing which songs I passed up when listening to Bruce's solo stuff.
Hope to see "Book of Thel," "Navigate the Seas of the Sun," and "Darkside of Aquarius" in the next 5. :)
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If Tears Of The Dragon isn't on your Top 5, I am disappoint.
Your list looks great so far, many songs I haven't heard before :tup
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6. The Alchemist (from The Chemical Wedding)
One of the very few instances of vocal effects occur during the first minute of “The Alchemist.” The vocals pan back and forth between a distorted and a clean Bruce, and it creates a really cool and creepy effect. Another great lyric, this one concerning alchemy. Once again, and something that has become somewhat of a recurring theme on this list, seeing how well Bruce does it, the music and lyrics work extremely well together. Another atypical, slow, building Smith contribution, the riffs are fairly simple, but very cool, and allows Casillas a lot of breathing room to meander on the bass. The mix between the heavy distortion and the heavy reverb is an interesting choice of effects. Of course, the reprise of “Chemical Wedding” to end the album, is absolutely genius, and lends a much greater feel of a concept than there actually is. This song is just cool to listen to, as its slow pace and interesting effects really allow itself to expand itself sonically. Awesome song. Note: if you have the normal version, stick around an extra minute and half for a final quote delivered by Arthur Brown. It scared the crap out of me the first time I heard it, because I thought the album was done, so I hadn't turned it off before I went to bed.
Scared the hell out of me as well! :lol
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And all this vegetable world appeared on my left foot
As a bright sandal, formed immortal of precious stones and gold
I stooped down, and bound it on
To walk forward through eternity...
Anyways, guesses for my top 5? I'm pretty sure I've got the order down.
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6. The Alchemist (from The Chemical Wedding)
One of the very few instances of vocal effects occur during the first minute of “The Alchemist.” The vocals pan back and forth between a distorted and a clean Bruce, and it creates a really cool and creepy effect. Another great lyric, this one concerning alchemy. Once again, and something that has become somewhat of a recurring theme on this list, seeing how well Bruce does it, the music and lyrics work extremely well together. Another atypical, slow, building Smith contribution, the riffs are fairly simple, but very cool, and allows Casillas a lot of breathing room to meander on the bass. The mix between the heavy distortion and the heavy reverb is an interesting choice of effects. Of course, the reprise of “Chemical Wedding” to end the album, is absolutely genius, and lends a much greater feel of a concept than there actually is. This song is just cool to listen to, as its slow pace and interesting effects really allow itself to expand itself sonically. Awesome song. Note: if you have the normal version, stick around an extra minute and half for a final quote delivered by Arthur Brown. It scared the crap out of me the first time I heard it, because I thought the album was done, so I hadn't turned it off before I went to bed.
Scared the hell out of me as well! :lol
This! Still gives me chills under the right conditions.
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And all this vegetable oil appeared on my left foot
As a bright sandal, formed immortal of precious stones and gold
I stooped down, and bound it on
To walk forward through eternity...
Anyways, guesses for my top 5? I'm pretty sure I've got the order down.
I thought he said "Vegetable world?"
Anyway, my guess for your top 5:
1. Jerusalem
2. Tears of the Dragon
3. Book of Thel
4. Navigate the Seas of the Sun
5. Gates of Urizen
Though, given your love for Confeos, I cannot be sure :P
EDIT: ugh, double post.
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Hmm, my guess for your top5:
1. Jerusalem
2. The Book of Thel
3. Navigate the Seas of the Sun (at least so i hope) :D
4. Gates of Urizen (don't think i've seen it mentioned, and i know you dig CW)
5. Tears of the dragon
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And all this vegetable oil appeared on my left foot
As a bright sandal, formed immortal of precious stones and gold
I stooped down, and bound it on
To walk forward through eternity...
Anyways, guesses for my top 5? I'm pretty sure I've got the order down.
I thought he said "Vegetable world?"
Yeah, I guess. I checked a bunch of sites and they all say 'vegetable world.' Though I have no clue what the fuck that means. That William Blake.
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I was listening to the album Accident of Birth, and I can't Believil :neverusethis: I'm the first person to suggest "Dark Side of Aquarius". When Bruce belts out the "Here comes the riders..." bridge parts always I get excited. I wouldn't put it in my top 10, but definately my top 20.
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I was listening to the album Accident of Birth, and I can't Believil :neverusethis: I'm the first person to suggest "Dark Side of Aquarius". When Bruce belts out the "Here comes the riders..." bridge parts always I get excited. I wouldn't put it in my top 10, but definately my top 20.
Ah, of course. I forgot about that gem.
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Top 5;
1. Lickin' the Gun
2. I Will Not Accept the Truth
3. Hell on Wheels
4. Believel
5. Shoot all the Clowns
Honorable mentions;
I'm in a Band with an Italian Drummer
Elvis has left the Building
Dive Dive Dive
How close am I :hat
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I was listening to the album Accident of Birth, and I can't Believil :neverusethis: I'm the first person to suggest "Dark Side of Aquarius". When Bruce belts out the "Here comes the riders..." bridge parts always I get excited. I wouldn't put it in my top 10, but definately my top 20.
I suggested that song earlier in the thread. Amazing track.
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Well, I suppose it's fitting that my number 5 is actually...
5. Darkside of Aquarius (from Accident of Birth)
Another classic from Accident of Birth, “Darkside of Aquarius” has a lot of damn cool things going on. It’s catchy, heavy, and jam-packed with riffs, harmonies, and great performances. It’s pretty much all that’s awesome about Dickinson’s solo work crammed into one song. The intro is damn cool, and I love how the crowd sings along to it on Scream For Me Brazil. Beyond that, the verses and chorus are excellent, featuring some fantastic soaring vocals from Dickinson and a tight and heavy rhythm performance by all the instrumentalists. After two great solos and a cool riff, the song slows down, only to start up again... The build up out of the quiet bit is absolutely phenomenal. Damn, I really wish Dickinson does another solo tour because I desperately want to see this one live. The version on Scream For Me Brazil with the fantastic backing vocals by Casillas and Smith is amazing, and would definitely be an incredibly cool thing to see in the flesh. I really hope Bruce gets around to doing another solo album and tour sometime in the future; there's too much great material in his discography. In fact, if I had to pick one artist not currently producing albums/touring to do so it would be Bruce. Fantastic song.
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Well, I suppose it's fitting that my number 5 is actually...
5. Darkside of Aquarius (from Accident of Birth)
Another classic from Accident of Birth, “Darkside of Aquarius” has a lot of damn cool things going on. It’s catchy, heavy, and jam-packed with riffs, harmonies, and great performances. It’s pretty much all that’s awesome about Dickinson’s solo work crammed into one song. The intro is damn cool, and I love how the crowd sings along to it on Scream For Me Brazil. Beyond that, the verses and chorus are excellent, featuring some fantastic soaring vocals from Dickinson and a tight and heavy rhythm performance by all the instrumentalists. After two great solos and a cool riff, the song slows down, only to start up again... The build up out of the quiet bit is absolutely phenomenal. Damn, I really wish Dickinson does another solo tour because I desperately want to see this one live. The version on Scream For Me Brazil with the fantastic backing vocals by Casillas and Smith is amazing, and would definitely be an incredibly cool thing to see in the flesh. I really hope Bruce gets around to doing another solo album and tour sometime in the future; there's too much great material in his discography. In fact, if I had to pick one artist not currently producing albums/touring to do so it would be Bruce. Fantastic song.
??? Iron Maiden are doing both.
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I suggested that song earlier in the thread. Amazing track.
You're right, you did. So did McKlockenstein. I should lay of the sauce when posting.
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4. Navigate the Seas of the Sun (from Tyranny of Souls)
Another gem of a song, “Navigate the Seas of the Sun” is a traditional Dickinson ballad; a beautiful, acoustic, wistful, piece. A gorgeous song about the future of humanity, the song possesses a simple elegance that is sublime. Like his other soft songs, proceedings are kept simple and melancholy, avoiding the saccharine mood of so many metal ballads. Bruce puts in a fairly reserved performance, saving his full range for one powerful verse. Lyrically, it’s probably my favourite song of any Dickinson has had a hand in writing. As I said previously, the best way to describe it is elegant simplicity. It’s not overwrought, it does not try to be too deep; it is content to fit beautifully with Z’s accompanying acoustic guitar. Lyrics like this:
Purple gold and blue,
Living colours every hue,
Flowers in the garden of the gods
No one can ever know
If you never saw them grow
This darkness, is really full of light
Beautiful, just beautiful. The lyrics don’t try to hard to get their point across, but to someone who realizes what it’s about, it’s wondrous. I can’t really describe it any better than that. Fantastic, fantastic song.
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Nice to see Navigate the Seas of the Sun, i would prolly have ranked it as nr 1 though. ;)
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Seas of the Sun is good, but when it comes to Dickenson ballads, I prefer "Man of Sorrow".
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Seas of the Sun is good, but when it comes to Dickenson ballads, I prefer "Man of Sorrow".
That song is great as well.
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Seas of the Sun is good, but when it comes to Dickenson ballads, I prefer "Man of Sorrow".
Completely agree. MOS kick Suns ass so much it's not funny. NTSOTS is a top song, but never understood the high praise, definitely wouldn't be in my top 25. I might give this album some spins, see what I think a couple of years later.
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Man of Sorrows is a great song. It was actually #26; the last song to get bumped.
However, similar to "Omega," its awesomeness is directly correlated to the amount Adrian Smith solos on that song. Another one of his best.
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So true about H's solo in MOS. And, a big YUSS for me correctly guessing your No. 4 spot.
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However, similar to "Omega," its awesomeness is directly correlated to the amount Adrian Smith solos on that song. Another one of his best.
That statement is 100% TRUE!!!
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3. Tears of the Dragon (from Balls to Picasso)
Far and away Bruce Dickinson’s most successful song from his solo career, “Tears of the Dragon” was also one of only three tracks written solely by Dickinson during this time (along with “No Lies” and “Man of Sorrows”). The only Dickinson single to chart in the States (it also went to #1 in Brazil), it was from a commercial standpoint superior to any other song he released. But it was well deserved; “Tears of the Dragon” is an amazing song, and I suspect a fair number of people will be disappointed that I did not put it at #1. I don’t really need to describe it, as every Bruce fan will have heard it many times. Lyrically, melodically, musically, it all clicks; it’s just a great song in every way. Roy Z puts in one of his best solos over a Maiden-esque gallop, and I love the reggae bit afterward that unfortunately got cut out of the song in all Smith-era renditions of the song. Fantastic song, and as shown on the various live albums Bruce has done, an absolute crowd favourite. As a little treat to offset explaining something everyone’s heard, here’s something you may not have heard: a version of the song with H playing the solo. Filmed on the European leg of The Chemical Wedding tour (which Roy Z was absent from) in Vosselaar, Belgium, it’s a great version. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tznq05ZBcTc
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Great to see this awesome song, it's my favourite of his solo work :tup
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Great to see this awesome song, it's my favourite of his solo work :tup
My #1 Bruce song too.
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Great ballad idd, though i've always thought that NtSotS is superior to it.
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Such a cheesey name for a song though. Seriously.
EDIT: hey where's Laughing in the Hiding Bush?!
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I was cranking Chemical Wedding today and Book of Thel came on. That intro is so gnarly. Definitely in my top ten favorite builds.
I'm betting that's number one on the list. I wouldn't put it that high, but it hasn 't been listed and it's top 25 material for sure.
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Such a cheesey name for a song though. Seriously.
EDIT: hey where's Laughing in the Hiding Bush?!
It's not that great a song, imo. It's a good song, but even in its far superior live form it wouldn't make this list.
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Such a cheesey name for a song though. Seriously.
EDIT: hey where's Laughing in the Hiding Bush?!
It's not that great a song, imo. It's a good song, but even in its far superior live form it wouldn't make this list.
Fair enough. The marquee version would prolly be top ten for me.
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I have a bootleg and Bruce introduces Laughing In The Hiding Bush with "here's a song written by a three year old". lol
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I have a bootleg and Bruce introduces Laughing In The Hiding Bush with "here's a song written by a three year old". lol
It's because his son inspired the lyric.
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2. Book of Thel (from The Chemical Wedding)
So, now we’ve made it to #2. I figure by now most people had deduced what the top 2, let alone the top 3, were. That’s an extremely strong indication of how great this song is. Based loosely on the William Blake poem of the same name, “Book of Thel” is 8 minutes of roaring metal that piles great melodies and riffs on in heaps. The intro is great, and is one of the few moments on this album where one might be able to divine that Roy Z loves playing Latin rock as much or more than he does metal. It of course, leads into what is in my book (pardon the pun) the best riff on the album. It doesn’t start all at once; it gives us three false starts before it jumps away. Interesting note; what Bruce is whispering before the first verse starts is just a lists of names from a phone book, so I wouldn’t spend your precious time trying to decipher it. Bruce gives a fantastic performance here; as I said previously, the minimalist production really lets his strong, natural voice and trademark vibrato dominate the verses and chorus. As well, this song features what are in my opinion the best performances of the rhythm section of Casillas (one of two writing credits he received; the other was for “Fire” on Balls to Picasso) and Ingraham. The bass groove is solid the entire way through, and features some cool stuff in the pre-chorus. Ingraham also helps drive the song, and puts in some snazzy fills during the transition to the final verse. I always end up miming his four hi-hat hits back into the main riff. As is fitting with the great performances, “Book of Thel” contains one of the best instrumental sections of any Dickinson song, with a cool riff providing the backing for two great solos by H and Z, with an awesome sing-along harmony part bridging the two. The end features some more Blake poetry courtesy of Arthur Brown, providing a cool ending and a tie-in with the lyrics. Amazing song, and another I’d love to see live.
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Not surprising, and i agree.
When i first heard the "best of", and this song.. (think that performance is live), i was floored.
What an amazing intro+build-up, and then the drum-solo in the middle.
Completely cool, and the chorus is pretty much epic win as well.
One of his best. :)
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1. Jerusalem (from The Chemical Wedding)
Well, here we are at the finale. Not a huge surprise, as I’ve mentioned this song before as both my favourite Bruce Dickinson song as well as a strong candidate for my favourite song ever. Based on the William Blake poem (and later hymn) “And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time,” the first few verses are almost identical to Blake’s poem, with the choruses, bridges, and finale being penned by Dickinson. I don’t quite know how to distill this song into a recap; it’s a masterpiece. The melodies, the lyrics, the music, all work together to create an impeccable feel to the song. Dickinson gives what I think is his definitive vocal performance; nuanced, varied, beautiful. The song builds and builds throughout, giving a feeling of continually growing grandeur. After two great solos and a fantastic harmony, comes the finale: probably my favourite part of any song, ever. Simply fantastic, and I shouldn’t have to explain why. The song recedes to mandolins; and Arthur Brown delivers some more Blake poetry. Awesome, awesome, awesome. I feel like I did a really bad job of conveying why this song is so fantastic, but one should really experience the song instead of reading someone struggling to explain its awesomeness. It’s a damn shame there are no video bootlegs of this song floating around, as it was only a played a couple times in South America on The Chemical Wedding tour. Luckily, there’s an amazing live version on Bruce’s Best of... compilation.
Now, two treats for the end. First, “Jerusalem” the hymn! Not the same vocal melodies, but cool nonetheless, and you can see first-hand the similarities between the lyrics and the poem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFrVrBQh_50
Secondly, a fantastic unplugged rendition of “Jerusalem” by what appears to be a Brazilian school band. Awesome version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opKiq5Z8bGE
Anyways, thanks for reading. Don’t be afraid to post your opinions on favourite songs, lyrics, moments, solos, performances, etc.
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Thank you for doing this GP. I have CW, AoB and ToS, and enjoy them a lot, though I don't listen to them much for some unknown reason. This thread has inspired me to revisit them :tup
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I've really enjoyed reading this list, GP (though I knew Jerusalem would be your no1 from the outset!). I think I'll have to hunt down the Best of compilation, it sounds like there are some real gems on there.
That video of the hymn reminds me of college, we sung that in assembly. Awesome! But its like "did those feet in ancient times walk upon England's mountains green?" "No. No they didn't" :lol
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Nice thread, and Jerusalem is idd a great song.
I especially love the guitar-solo in it. :tup
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Bumping this thread just to say this: by far the biggest omission for this list was "Innerspace." I should've had it in my top 15, maybe top 10.
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Bumping this thread just to say this: by far the biggest omission for this list was "Innerspace." I should've had it in my top 15, maybe top 10.
That whole album is very strong and underrated, I think I'd have quite a few songs in my top 25 from it. Overall, I'd say Skunkworks is my third fav Dickinson album.
I wouldn't mind having a go at a Dickinson top 25, what do you all think?
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^ I will follow sans pants.
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Alright, give me some time and I'll start in a couple of days. :tup
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Following as well.
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Got into Bruce's solo career during April, a lot of good stuff in there. Can't wait for your list, wolfking. :tup
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Looking forward to it wolfie :tup
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Great top 2 on that last one!
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Alright, good stuff. I plan to start mine tomorrow! :tup
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Looking forward to it. There's enough variety in Bruce's discography that there'll be divergence.
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Thanks for the nice welcome in the thread title GP. Just going through some of my list now, man this is hard, so much great music and it's bringing back so many great memories. I might even make it a top 30,. The good thing is, my list will obviously have the staples that your list did, but a lot of different songs, and some nice surprises too. Look out for it this time tomorrow!! :tup
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Looking forward to it, Wolf!
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Bruce Dickinson's solo work has always been a true favourite of mine. Everything this man has done really is something special. I remember seeing Chemical Wedding in a cd store back about 10 years ago when I was heavily into Maiden. At that time I was unaware of Bruce's solo offerings. I immediately picked it up and since my first listen to that album, it's just been special, and would easily go in a top 20 albums of all time, maybe even 10, I couldn't believe the music that was offered on this cd, amazing.
It's extremely difficult to rate Bruce's songs like this. Of his diverse discography, I am a fan of all of it. Every album has a lot to offer, as well as Bruce's b-sides and rare cuts. His partnership with Roy Z really was a force to be reckoned with and with H on board for those two albums, they were just unstoppable. Like GuineaPig, I have taken songs from all albums plus obscure cuts. You really could make a top 25 list just with the whole AOB and CW albums they are that good, but I feel there are so many other Bruce songs that should be appriciated and really deserve a place in this list. There are so many songs I have left off. Anyway, I have cheated and decided to do a top 30.
30. No Way Out...Continued (from The Best of Bruce Dickinson)
We kick it off with No Way Out...Continued, as GuineaPig stated earlier, from the lost sessions with Keith Olsen. I simply love the haunting keyboard riff throughout and it really just was a wonderful atmosphere. Great production too and Bruce's slightly rawer darker vocals fit the song really well. Interesting structure with the song slightly building through the verses. The climax of the amazing guitar solo is excellent and the modulation into the solo section is wonderful. Classy solo too, very smooth. I'm actually not sure who did the guitar solo on this one, as I'm pretty sure this was recorded before Bruce teamed up with Roy. I could be wrong, GuineaPig might know. A really good song, it really is album material.
29. Sacred Cowboys (from Balls to Picasso)
This one has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Simple tune, but a cracking tempo and nice riffing. Bruce's half rap works well over the rapid pace, with some interesting lyrics. The chorus is just too feel good, very melodic, somewhat generic, but just very fun. Roy's guitar work on this one kills. love the solo section and his choice of notes, a nice play over the quicker pace of the tune. Not much more too say, great tune.
28. Ghost of Cain (Bonus Track from Accident of Birth)
One thing I always loved about Bruce's work, is that his bonus tracks most of the time are just as strong as his album tracks, and Ghost of Cain is a prime example of that. I loved the remasters that were released a few years ago, they had so much extra material, some of the best releases I've ever seen. I think the main hook of this song is the wonderful melodies at the beginning, and the melodic chorus. The song seems to breathe really well and is just a joy to listen to, and it's very simple but it's just a fantastic song.
27. Chemical Wedding (from Chemical Wedding)
I know most people would say this is way too low in a best of Dickinson list, and they could be right. But as I stated before, his work is so damn strong, even a song ranked this low is amazing. Love the grinding riff here with the back end of the riff descending chromatically from D, C# to C, adding to the heaviness and atmosphere of the tune. The chorus is good, but IMO Dickinson has done better. The prechorus before the second chorus I must say is the best part of the song IMO. Roy's take on the guitar solo really adds to things too. His diminished runs add to the darkness and brooding atmosphere of the song, good stuff.
26. Return of the King (Bonus track from Chemical Wedding)
It baffles me that this tune never made it onto an album, but in retrospect, it does sound sonically different from the rest of the Chemical Wedding album. This actually sounds like it could have been written in the Accident of Birth sessions. This simply has a wonderful chorus, very melodic. Again like Cain, it's simple but just works really, really well. This one also has a great solo section, with both guitarists complementing each others style, although love H's solo, smooth as silk. More proof that Bruce's bonus tracks are A-side material.
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I think the thing that really elevates both "Cain" and "Return" is Bruce's performance. He's in great form on both of those tracks, with some really strong vocal melodies.
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Yeah, I think that's it, the vocal melodies are just very, very strong.
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Sacred cowboys and Chemical wedding would also manage to get in my top 30. I'm not familiar with other songs, are B-Sides that strong? :eek
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Sacred cowboys and Chemical wedding would also manage to get in my top 30. I'm not familiar with other songs, are B-Sides that strong? :eek
Yes, they really are that strong.
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Totes agree with everything you said about Chemical Wedding (the song).
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No Way Out..., Sacred Cowboys, and Chemical Wedding all make my Top 30 as well.
In fact, I'd have Sacred Cowboys knocking on the door of my Top 10!
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25. Abduction (from Tyranny of Souls)
We kick off the top 25 with a track from Bruce's latest solo album to date. Love the intensity and the crushing tempo throughout, a real ass kicker of an opener. The riffs are somewhat generic and simple but they do the job nicely. The highlight of this song is the very melodic chorus, great to sing to and Roy's leads in the background support Bruce 100%. Love the quick double kick passage after the first chorus. This song would have been a couple of spots higher if it wasn't for the guitar solo. This is one of Roy's weakest solos. Rushed, sloppy and really doesn't fit the song at all. You get used to it, but after hearing Roy's work on Chemical Wedding, this is just lazy. Great harmonies though and the chorus saves the day and just scrapes it in to the top 25.
24. Road to Hell (From Accident of Birth)
Here's Bruce doing his best Maiden impression. Great song, and I love the opening riffs using minor 3rd harmonies, very melodic, very effective and very Maiden. Not much to say on this one, it's a safe song but drives along nicely with a great pre chorus build, catchy chorus and an excellent solo from H, love the technique H uses in the solo buildup too. One useless piece of trivia is that the version on the best of omits the flange effect after the first chorus, interesting.
23. Tryanny of Souls (from Tyranny of Souls)
Now, the title track from Bruce's last solo outing. It's a real shame that Adrian wasn't involved in this album, and I still don't really know why. Everyone was hoping for a AOB/CW lineup reuion, but it wasn't meant to be. Great song this one, the evil intro instantly reminds me of Black Sabbath, and Bruce's vocals really brings the title track to mind. Epic chorus here, love Roy's simple riffing, fits very well, and I love Bruce's vocal melodies too. Nice buildup to the middle bit which is extremely heavy. Roy's solo comes crashing in, and I think working with Judas Priest around the same time really rubbed off, because this solo sounds exactly like KK Downing to me. Crushing dive bombs, wah, pentatonic licks aplenty. The epic change at 4:34 and how Roy finishes the solo is godly. Maybe he was just warming up with Abduction. :tup
22. Kill Devil Hill (from Tyranny of Souls)
Yet another song from Bruce's last solo outing. A song confirming Bruce's love for aeroplanes, and a story about the Wright Brothers first flight. It's interesting how dark the music is in compared to the subject matter, I've always found that interesting, but I'm sure Bruce had the origin of the place in mind too when writing. The lyrics are well put together too, of course. Love the groove through the verse, but the hero is that chorus which lifts the mood and really soars you above and beyond. I think one of the most talked about aspects of this album was the outro of this song. I'm sure everyone was waiting for the killer solo when the song drifted off and faded out. I guess it's a great contrast to the initial heaviness of the song. Maybe this section is portraying the successful flight and sense of new discovery and freedom that was discovered in that flight. Some called Bruce and Roy lazy and out of ideas for the song, but over time I've learned to appriciate the song as a whole and congratualted the guys for doing something really different structure wise and breaking the mold. All in all a very intersting song.
21. Cyclops (from Balls to Picasso)
I think everyone had a sigh of relief hearing this song after Tattooed Millionaire. Bruce came back to a more heavy type of music that he is best known for. The first song we ever heard with the Bruce and Roy duo, and isn't it a beauty. That main riff just crushes. Dark and heavy with a brooding atmosphere throughout and a very dark yet wonderful chorus. Love Roy's minor, phrygian and phrygian dominant solo work on this too. His notes are placed so well and he never over indulges himself here. The last two and a half minutes are bliss, great riffs and more great guitar work. A nice Maiden throw back with that guitar melody too. So good they even slightly revisited it on Broken from the Best of.
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Cyclops off of Live at the Marquee is all kinds of awesome. Love Alex Dickson. Probably said that before, but it bears repeating.
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Cyclops, Road to hell, Abduction... :metal
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Road To Hell :metal
One of my very favourites.
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Tyranny of Souls is actually my favorite Bruce-album, followed by Skunkworks and then Chemical Wedding.
So I guess I'm kinda odd there. ;)
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Love the quick double kick passage after the first chorus.
What a great moment. :metal
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Cyclops off of Live at the Marquee is all kinds of awesome. Love Alex Dickson. Probably said that before, but it bears repeating.
Yeah, I'm a fan too. I really enjoy his style too. Very sloppy and grungey, but I liked what he did with the older songs.
Road To Hell :metal
One of my very favourites.
:metal
Tyranny of Souls is actually my favorite Bruce-album, followed by Skunkworks and then Chemical Wedding.
So I guess I'm kinda odd there. ;)
Not really Tyranny is very good, just not up to stratch with AOB and CW IMO. Skunkworks is my third fav Bruce album.
Love the quick double kick passage after the first chorus.
What a great moment. :metal
Yeah, so good, worth a mention.
More list tomorrow.
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20. Born in '58 (from Tattooed Millionaire)
We enter the top 20 with one of Bruce's more laid back, somewhat commercial songs, from his very first solo album. I like the simplicity of this one, the melodies I feel really are allowed to shine through. Simple, to the point lyrics, but a good story nevertheless. I like the tempo too, it casually grooves along at a really nice pace. Good chorus, good melody and an overall good contrast between more softer verses to slightly harder choruses. Janick's simple melody lead in the middle is very refreshing where nothing more is needed, he really adds to the song here. In fact, that melody was so good he decided to sample it again many years later on Maiden's Montsegur!
19. Power of the Sun (from Tyranny of Souls)
Such a simple song here from Bruce, yet so damn effective. Love the tempo and an almost power metal feel. Bruce's horrid vocals at the very beginning and very end are a turn off but the song itself is good enough for top 20. Great melodic solo from Roy and a special note to the wonderful riffing underneath the solo, good stuff. Also, great harmonies that makes one instantly think of Maiden. Not much more to say here, class song.
18. Wicker Man (from The Best of Bruce Dickinson)
Here's another rare one that was such a surprise when I popped in the second disc of Bruce's best of album. Album quality song here, love the interesting main riff one this one, very dark, heavy but a bit different to other stuff he has done. Certainly has the Chemical Wedding vibe to it, but honestly it wouldn't have fit on the album all that well IMO. Special note to the keyboards on this one which really adds to the dense atmosphere of the song. Solos are top notch, really really good, the solo section beckons back to AOB when I listen, it has a Darkside of Aquarius/Omega vibe to it, very good. Nice climax towards the end too, great song, Bruce sounds excellent on this too.
17. 1000 Points of Light (from Balls to Picasso)
Here's a different one. One of my favs from Balls and overall, one of Bruce's most underrated tunes. This one I feel took time to grow, initially it comes across a bit bland, but after a while it really opens itself up. I like the main riff, it's dark, but still rocks and really grooves along. I like how Roy got a simple groovy riff to fit this tune, especially when the main riff alternates between it's root and flattened 5th, great contast between sounds and note selections. Interesting verse on this one which opens itself up to an amazing chorus, I love it, very melodic which almost breaks free from the groove of the verses. Interesting middle and love how it all comes together with the chorus again. Underrated tune.
16. Accident of Birth (from Accident of Birth)
This one was like a bridge laying itself between the Accident of Birth and Chemical Wedding albums. Simply heavy and crushing from the get go, and never lets up. You get an almost industrial feel on the songs intro. Bruce lays down an intense performance here with some spine tingling lyrics. ("Jesus had his day off when they pulled you through" ouch!!) Very simple chorus, which tramples all over you, extremmely effective, and memorable. A special note to the wonderful pre chorus to which builds and adds to the intensity nicely. Roy appears with a ripping solo here, nice run at the end. Simply, heavy, crushing, brutal song. A nice taste of things that were to come.
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All fantastic ones, except for Wicker man. Which I haven't heard...
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Nice selection!
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I actually list Born in '58 in my Top 5.
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Good stuff wolf. *compares Born in '58 and Montsegur*
EDIT: Wow, I've never heard that line because I hadn't heard album version of that song :facepalm:
:lol that's awesome.
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All fantastic ones, except for Wicker man. Which I haven't heard...
Do yourself a favour and check it out.
Nice selection!
:tup
I actually list Born in '58 in my Top 5.
Interesting, excellent song.
Good stuff wolf. *compares Born in '58 and Montsegur*
:lol Just the first half of the melody is similar.
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15. Solar Confinement (from Skunkworks)
Here's one from Skunkworks, a truely wonderful, overlooked album. Bruce was going for something different here and he really wanted to try and immerse himself in an actual band again and try and steer away from the solo stigma, of course, it didn't work. But what we got from this album was a varied, modern, grungey, melodic, quick and catchy group of songs, and this is definitely a highlight. The intro sets a nice mood then the crashing tempo kicks in and we are in for a treat. Some very thought provoking, interesting lyrics here from Bruce also. A catchy as hell chorus and before you know it the songs over leaving you wanting more. Great song, great atmosphere.
14. The Breeding House (Bonus track form Balls to Picasso)
This is a cracker of a tune. When I discovered this I got very excited, I love this song. A more straightforward Maiden style tune that is quick, cutting and catchy with some great melodies. A song about Unit 731, a chemical warfare research unit that the Japanese army performed shocking human and fatal experiments of people. Interesting topic, especially regarding the upbeat and catchy nature of the song. Love the chorus, Bruce really shines on this one. Roy does some splendid work in the guitar department too, providing 2 excellent solos. Great feel, great tempo, just simply a cracking tune that really was worthy to be placed on an album.
13. Man of Sorrows (from Accident of Birth)
Now we get to one of Bruce's best ballads. This tune has such a thick, dense atmosphere that is dripping with emotion and passion. I love the simple piano work, which contrasts well with the synths. Bruce sounds great as usual, it has a lovely chorus where Bruce takes charge. The real highlight of the song is H's gut wrenching solo. In H's long career, I believe the work he did with Bruce was possibly his best, and this song proves it. A perfect solo, it cannot be faulted. Tasteful guitar playing and Adrian just exploding into veried techniques and just amazing note selections. Love the octave slides and then builds beautifully to a high bend that brings it all home. Perfect.
12. Inside the Machine (from Skunkworks)
Here's another different one, something you wouldn't expect so high in the list. I never really have been able to understand my love for this song as I feel it seems to get lost in the middle of the album to a lot of people. I guess the chorus is the reason why I like it, I think it's wonderful. Love Alex's arppegiated chords in the background and Bruce sings the most wonderful melody. I can't say much more here, an amazing tune that is criminally underrated.
11. Silver Wings (from The Best of Bruce Dickinson)
Man, this was a hell of a surprise when I picked up the best of. You can tell this is a song that has been put together quite quickly for a release like this as it is slightly simple and generic, but it's magic. Cracking Maiden like tune, almost a sequel to Aces High. Love the verse and the chorus just soars away. A perfect hard rocking upbeat tune. Roy slays here, his arppegios right at the end of his main solo are just godlike. Cracking tune, I actually would have liked to hear more simpler songs like this from Bruce and Roy.
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Ooh, I love those two Skunkworks tracks. Truly a great album. :metal
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Man Of Sorrows and Silver Wings :metal
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Ooh, I love those two Skunkworks tracks. Truly a great album. :metal
Yeah, there's a hell of a lot of strong songs on that album, good stuff.
Man Of Sorrows and Silver Wings :metal
:metal
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I'm a bit surprised to see "Silver Wings" so high. I know I put it on my list, but it's just that despite its energy it's pretty metal-by-numbers, and I can't get myself really passionate about it.
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I'm a bit surprised to see "Silver Wings" so high. I know I put it on my list, but it's just that despite its energy it's pretty metal-by-numbers, and I can't get myself really passionate about it.
Understand that point of view. I guess I'm just a sucker for that type of simple, almost generic metal. I love my prog like everyone else here, but sometimes just songs that are so simplistic, standard structure etc. just really get me going. I guess the Maiden vibe does it for me too, this is the style they should have done more of when Bruce returned. They have done so many long epic tracks over the last four albums and songs like Alchemist, Rainmaker, Different World, Fallen Angel etc. really scratch me where I itch. Can't explain it better than that. Aces High was also my first Maiden song and my introduction to a more classic heavy metal style, and this song sort of reminded me of that which also might make me biased.
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10. Back From the Edge (from Skunkworks)
Another short, upbeat rocker from the wonderful Skunkworks album. Always been in love with this track since I laid my ears on Skunkworks. I really like the intervals that are used in the chords in the main riff, different, but very effective, it gives you a sense of urgency, as does the drum beat. A special mention to Alex's slide guitar playing on this track, especially in that brilliant melodic solo, good stuff. Excellent pre chorus, chorus and middle 8 on this onetoo , wonderful atmosphere. And lastly, I love Bruce's sort of delayed call and response in the last chorus, clever, teriffic song.
9. Gates of Urizen (from Chemical Wedding)
Wow, such a dark, brooding song here, an intense, thick atmosphere. A very simple natural minor arppegiated chord sequence works so damn here and I love how it all builds up. I enjoy the chromatic descend in the intervals of the chords and vocals in the chorus where Bruce sings "At the gates." Such a eerie vibe to it, and makes the song really. I would say the highlight of the track for me is H again with his solo. It's smooth, melodic, swift and just fucking flat out amazing. This man is a genius on his instrument, and this is the proof. Love Roy's work on the outro too. I love how the song finishes on a simple C-D-E chord structure which ends it in a more uplifting was as Bruce sings "At the gates." Such an amazing, sudden release. Great track.
8. Son of A Gun (from Tattooed Millionaire)
The opening number of Bruce's debut solo album was quite misleading. This straight ahead rocker was a perfect opener but leads the listener astray as to what the rest of the album has in store. This is easily the best song on the album and just one of my favs. An opening chord sequence which brings Wasting Love to mind rings the song in nicely and Janick provides some beautiful fills here. Janick really is impressive on this whole album. It's easy to see his style, while impressive in Maiden is better suited to a more rock and roll, dirty style, good guitar here. The urgency of the verses is excellent while the chorus explodes with passion and power. Cliche lyrics, but because it's Bruce, it's poetry. Again, Janick's main solo fits the song like a glove, this man does have passion in his playing. Great song, love it.
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:tup for Gates of Urizen.
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7. King In Crimson (from Chemical Wedding)
The opening of this track lets you know from the start that Chemical Wedding means serious business. I was shocked and amazing with just how heavy this track is, for me it was almost too good to be true. Killer riff here which just fucking grooves along so damn nicely. Great verse from Bruce, and an instantly catchy chorus which has you singing along evertime. Excellent break in the middle and Roy and H trade off some super fine solos. Not much else to say, just a crushing track.
6. Darkside of Aquarius (from Accident of Birth)
One of Bruce's staple tracks here that's killer in concert. A dream like into which floats along before a crushing drop D riff comes in and kicks your ass. I love David's drum beat in the verse, simple but very tasty. Again, a wonderful chorus where Bruce just soars and makes you feel good. I like the story and the overall atmosphere of the tune, it's basically just put together very, very well. Some nice tasty phyrgian, dominant and harmonic minor solo coming from the boys which gives you a dark, brooding feel. A break with an intro reprise then a whole new song comes to life in the outro. Great riff again and excellent melodies. The guitar harmonies around the four and a half minute mark are the highlight for me, classic Maiden, and just beautiful. Amazing song.
5. Tears of the Dragon (from Balls to Picasso)
What can you say about this song that everyone doesn't already know? Simply a perfect song, and one of Bruce's most popular and that's no surprise. Bruce sings with such passion and emotion here you just feel every word he's saying. The song is so well paced, has a great vibe and just breathes so well. bruce's performance on the chours is simply one of his best, amazing, just amazing. I guess the main highlight is Roy's jaw dropping solo. This is a perfect guitar solo, right here. It has melody, emotion, shred bits, bluesy bits, metal bits, it has every thing, easily one of the most emotional greatest guitar solos of all time, pure fucking gold.
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Good ones once again. :smiley:
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I love Tears Of The Dragon :heart
I once tried to sing it on Singstar (after a few beers). Fun times ;D
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:lol Such a great song to sing along to.
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Tears of the Dragon is an amazing song!!! :metal
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Tears of the Dragon is an amazing song!!! :metal
Definitely, and welcome to you.
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I think I can guess the top 4 songs.
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Darkside and Dragon are also in my Top 5. Great tunes. And nice to see you have Son Of A Gun ranked highly. :tup
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I think I can guess the top 4 songs.
Care to share? Should be pretty easy.
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Should be something along the lines of this (I'm reasonably sure I'm correct, so don't read unless you want to spoil yourself):
4. Jerusalem
3. Omega
2. Book of Thel
1. Trumpets of Jericho
I put it in small text because I'm nearly 100% sure of the choices, and like ~40% sure of the order
Also, I noticed you edited out your previous declaration that "Trumpets..." was your favourite Dickinson song.
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FuyCk yteaj vbruice!! HallowEd be thY naMe. Blest song !!!!
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FuyCk yteaj vbruice!! HallowEd be thY naMe. Blest song !!!!
Dude, wut??! :lol
I will finish this tonight. Stay tuned :tup
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4. Omega (from Accident of Birth)
A somewhat gem hidden deep inside the Accident of Birth album and quite fankly the best cut from this disc. The sweet intro is lovely and calming and Bruce sounds fantastic here. The pre-chours kicks in and it just soars. It's quite difficult to describe this song in words, it's just a perfect song that breathes and makes me feel wonderful. I love the chorus with the extra heavy Chemical Wedding style guitars, a taste of the sounds to come. H delivers just a penomenal guitar solo, of course. The melody and emotion, and basically just how he relates and adds to the song through his guitar solo is just perfect. Roy comes in and shreds it up, and the highlight of the song is the amazing guitar harmonies at 4:12, they are just perfect. The song kicks back down a gear and we are treated again to the wonderful chorus. Such a fucking great song, perfect music.
3. Jerusalem (from Checmical Wedding)
Who can blame Guinea Pig for this song topping his list, it's perfect. Every word he said was true, this is a gem. As soon as the song starts, you get this folkish/celtic feel which suits around the poem absolutely perfectly. The climax is also, one of the best I've ever heard in any song. The tension that builds and Dickinson does such a phenomenal job. Great chorus, it's just a perfect musical representation of the lyrics. The guitar solo section is amazing, the riffing at 3:36 is wonderful and you feel an epic instrumental part coming on. Roy is first with a wonderful solo cleverly switching between Dorian and Aeolian modes, his note selection and phrasing is excellent. The harmony after that is magic, absolute magic. Adrian enters with a more classic style solo contrasting well to Roy's, love his bluesier moments in there, fits really well. Bruce comes back and steals the show, the section at 5:20 is one of the greatest pieces of music ever. The ending with the mandolins and spoken word is just epic. What a song.
2. Book of Thel (from Chemical Wedding)
This one and Jerusalem constantly battle it out for second place, but I think BOT just edges ahead. It's more metal which appeals to me, and simply just fucking crushing. Love the long build up and a heavy as hell drop D riff just comes in a slams you to the ground. Bruce sings with fire and venom and spits the lyrics at you with epic conviction. I LOVE the pre-chours, it's an amazing contrast to the verse, it builds and is just fucking evil. The chorus, my god, the chorus. I really don't think you could ask for a better and more melodic chorus than this. Love Eddie's bass fills sprinkled in the choruses and pre chourses too, a very nice touch. David is one fire here too, such a strong drummer, with an amazing sense of groove. A key change and another crushing riff comes in and doesn't let us take a breath. Adrain does a classic, harmonic, almost phyrgian domiant solo and fits the bill nicely. The chanting bit from Bruce in between the solos is bliss. Love his harmonies, quite unusual but, right here he proves what an amazing classically trained vocalist this man is. Roy shreds our heads off amd then a nice riff builds tension again and we get back into that groovy heavy verse. Again, love the outro and spoken word, ends things nicely. Perfect, perfect metal.
1. Trumpets of Jericho (from Chemical Wedding)
Guinea Pig, you are fucking good, really fucking good. I guess you paid close attention to my comments on your list, which is great, so I congratulate you on picking the last 4 perfectly, slightly different order, but hell, four out of four, legend. :hefdaddy
I guess a lot of people would find this being an odd choice for number one, but I remember the first time I listened to this album. I was sitting in my room listening through this album for the first time just in awe. My mouth was on the floor and Jerusalem had just finished. Then Bruce's heaviest song that he has ever performed on kicked in. The grinding, brutal riff just made me go fucking crazy, and to this day, it is one of my favourite riffs of all time. Rumor has it that they put bass strings on H's guitar to get the sound so heavy. Bruce brings his evil side out once again and delivers a wonderful performance. Pre chorus is epic and just heavy as hell, I love it, and the chorus is one of my favourite choruses of all time. I was simply in awe when I heard it for the first time, it still amazes me today. It has that classic Maiden feel but just sonically it just sounds unbelievable to me, the guitars, good lord, the guitars. I also love how David grooves the chorus along, a perfect tempo, it almost gallops but grinds away, to this day I can't get enough and this song would be in my top 10 of all time I'd say. Love Roy's quick melodic solo, very tasty. The chromatic riff that comes next is even more heavy and evil. I think by this stage on my first listen all those years ago, I was about to spontaneously combust just from the sheer bliss and excitement of this song. Love H's evil solo, nice touch, and just adds to the song more. David grooves everyone back in and we are treated to another verse and chours. Love the outro, brings things to a lighter note which gives the perfect impression of a piece of music concluding. This is just a perfect song, I get chills everytime I hear it, I can't say enough great things about it.
There you have it people, thank you for reading. :metal
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Wow, someone sure likes Chemical Wedding. :biggrin:
Surprised to see Trumpets of Jericho at number one, it's not one of my favorites... The other three deserve to be ranked high, though. :tup
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......bump!
I like these albums in diffrent ways but here's my album ranking:
The Chemical Wedding
Accident of birth
Balls to Picasso
Skunkworks
Tyranny of Souls
Tattooed Millionaire (It's a fun album)
I just wanna give a little personal love to Skunkworks which always gets in the shadow behind his other albums. Yea it's diffrent but there's something about that album that hooks me...can't really put my mind on what it is. Love Innerspace and Back from the Edge! :metal
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Yeah, Skunkworks is really great.
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I liked Skunkworks from the start, but now I'd say I'd rank it right behind the big two. The mixture of different styles and influences as well as a completely free spirit in terms of making a new band with a fresh sound is probably what makes it so original. I've never heard an album like it. :smiley:
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Skunkworks is my favorite, followed by Tyranny of Souls and then Chemical Wedding probably.
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I liked Skunkworks from the start, but now I'd say I'd rank it right behind the big two. The mixture of different styles and influences as well as a completely free spirit in terms of making a new band with a fresh sound is probably what makes it so original. I've never heard an album like it. :smiley:
All of this;
CW
AOB
SW
BTP
TOS
TM
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Skunkworks
Accident of Birth
The Chemical Wedding
Balls to Picasso
Tyranny of Souls
Tattooed Millionaire
I love every single song on Skunkworks. That album is so full of energy, and the songs are pretty catchy.
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The timing for Skunworks was perfrect. It's a shame it wasn't a hit, perfect 90's record.
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I'm sure y'all seen it already but Tribuzy & Bruce on the Live Reunion DVD just kills Tears of the Dragon, even better than the original! You can find it on YT.
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That's simply one of Bruce's best live performances ever recorded.
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I'm sure y'all seen it already but Tribuzy & Bruce on the Live Reunion DVD just kills Tears of the Dragon, even better than the original! You can find it on YT.
Never saw this before, wow its really awesome.
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That's simply one of Bruce's best live performances ever recorded.
Yea i have to agree and to add his best song performance in studio i think Into The Black Hole from Ayreon's Flight Of The Migrator is simply astounding.
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That's simply one of Bruce's best live performances ever recorded.
Yea i have to agree and to add his best song performance in studio i think Into The Black Hole from Ayreon's Flight Of The Migrator is simply astounding.
Agree. That is definitely one of his best studio performances.
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Holy bumping Batman!
I've started to check out Bruce's other solo albums, aside from Tattooed Millionaire, Chemical Wedding and Accident Of Birth that I already know (plus his compilation album). There write-ups are a great way to get to know the songs and albums that I haven't heard yet. So far I dig Tyranny Of Souls the most, but Skunkworks sounds great too. I haven't gotten to Picasso yet.
Anybody know if he's got any plans for a new solo album? I am going to order his Anthology DVD too.
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Skunkworks is amazing, very underrated for the time. TOS was good but I think expectations from it were too high. I listen back to it though often and it's really a pretty good album. Picasso is a bit plain, but it's interesting and has a few classic songs.
No plans as far as I know regarding new material from Bruce. I doubt we'll see anything while Maiden is still around and touring. The Anthology DVD is pretty good.
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Holy bumping Batman!
:zydar:
I've started to check out Bruce's other solo albums, aside from Tattooed Millionaire, Chemical Wedding and Accident Of Birth that I already know (plus his compilation album). There write-ups are a great way to get to know the songs and albums that I haven't heard yet. So far I dig Tyranny Of Souls the most, but Skunkworks sounds great too. I haven't gotten to Picasso yet.
Anybody know if he's got any plans for a new solo album? I am going to order his Anthology DVD too.
Great, I love Bruce's solo work aside from TM. Bruce Dickinson Skunkworks is my favourite.
Balls to Picasso is good, maybe a couple of weaker songs, but there are songs like Cyclops, Hell No, 1000 Points of Light and Tears of the Dragon which are great.
There is rumours about a new solo album, but nothing's confirmed yet. But I'll wait for it.
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Where do these rumors spur from? it's news to me.
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Where do these rumors spur from? it's news to me.
Steve said something about it at the time British Lion was released. Like when he did solo album, Bruce might do one aswell.
OK, it's pretty obscure, but even the slightest hint is okay for me :caffeine:.
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Hmm...I think that's pretty far fetched but I hope I'm proved wrong.
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I'll be happy to announce this then - from an interview with Henning Basse:
https://www.metalmeltdown.com/1/post/2013/03/interviews-henningbasse2013.html
Meeting Bruce Dickinson in LA: Uli told me of course before, 'There might be a chance that Bruce Dickinson is coming up, and we have to jam with him, and you will be on stage with him singing his background vocals.' We wanted to do 'Mistreated' and 'Black Night,' and even maybe if he's in the mood for 'Run to the Hills'. So we were jamming that Run to the Hills song the night before. It didn't work out, because he was working with Roy Z the whole day doing this solo record*, and there wasn't any chance for him to sing live. I woke up, and I heard this really strong British accent in the back of the bus, so I came in and he was sitting there. He was really a gentleman, really down to earth, and we were chatting a bit and having a couple pictures.
So yeah, there you go. Just found about this today, what a coincidence.
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YYEAAHH! :metal
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Damn he's a busy man but i don't mind. Bring it on Bruce! :metal
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Thank Christ for that! Took him long enough. :lol
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Major bumpage.
I had never heard Bruce's solo albums. I've listening to all of them all this past week. Some amazing pieces. I'm surprised on the heavyness on some of them which I absolutely love.
Question: Are the B-sides worth getting?
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Some are quite obscene and very forgettable, some others are absolute gems.
My suggestions:
No Way Out (...to be continued)
The Breeding House
Firechild
Darkness Be My Friend
Acoustic Song
Return of the King
Real World
Re-Entry
Armchair Hero
Eternal
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Major bumpage.
I had never heard Bruce's solo albums. I've listening to all of them all this past week. Some amazing pieces. I'm surprised on the heavyness on some of them which I absolutely love.
Question: Are the B-sides worth getting?
There are some gems in there, especially from the later albums. Get the 2CD version of Best Of Bruce Dickinson because the 2nd disc contains most of the essentials.
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Major bumpage.
I had never heard Bruce's solo albums. I've listening to all of them all this past week. Some amazing pieces. I'm surprised on the heavyness on some of them which I absolutely love.
Question: Are the B-sides worth getting?
GHOST. OF. CAIN. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfxxZkG49hM
It's included on the 2-CD version of Accident of Birth.
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Question: Are the B-sides worth getting?
YES!
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Major bumpage.
I had never heard Bruce's solo albums. I've listening to all of them all this past week. Some amazing pieces. I'm surprised on the heavyness on some of them which I absolutely love.
Question: Are the B-sides worth getting?
There are a handful of amazing ones...
Broken
Silver Wings
Return of the King
Wicker Man
but most of them are not that interesting to me. If you enjoy all his solo stuff then it's worth checking out.
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Ghost of Cain
Return of the King
Wicker Man
The Breeding House
No Way Out...To Be Continued
No Way Out...Continued
Real World
Armchair Hero
Darkness Be My Friend
All amazing.
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Bruce did a cover of Alice Cooper's Black Widow on the tribute album, Humanary Stew.
It's an awesome cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHr9zmlCNs4
Backing band was Tommy Aldridge
Tony Franklin
Bob Kulick
Derek Sherinian
and.......Adrian Smith
The same album has Dio doing an fantastic version of Welcome To My Nightmare.
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Would you guys recommend getting the remasters/expanded issues? How's the sound quality on the remasters? Or just get the original releases and buy the B-sides release.
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Would you guys recommend getting the remasters/expanded issues? How's the sound quality on the remasters? Or just get the original releases and buy the B-sides release.
I have the expanded version of Accident of Birth. I never had the original, so I can't compare the sound quality, but I've always been happy with it. The second disc has some of the B-sides to that record. I only listen to Ghost of Cain and couldn't care for the demo tracks, though they can be fun when I feel like hearing something a little different.
2005 Expanded Edition Disc 2[edit]
An extended edition of the album was released with the following tracks on CD 2. Tracks 1–4 appear on the CD single of "Man of Sorrows". Tracks 5–9 also feature on the Japanese CD release of "Man of Sorrows".
1."The Ghost of Cain" (Dickinson, Smith) – 4:12
2."Accident of Birth (Demo)" – 4:15
3."Starchildren (Demo)" – 5:01
4."Taking the Queen (Demo)" – 4:30
5."Man of Sorrows (Radio Edit)" – 3:55
6."Man of Sorrows (Orchestral Version) – 5:17
7."Hombre Triste" (Spanish version of "Man of Sorrows") – 3:53
8."Darkside of Aquarius (Demo)" – 6:20
9."Arc of Space (Demo)" – 4:02
Not sure if anyone linked to this, but Bruce was also featured on the Nativity in Black/Sabbath tribute album, singing Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (with Godspeed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnfQdMVJDns
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Would you guys recommend getting the remasters/expanded issues? How's the sound quality on the remasters? Or just get the original releases and buy the B-sides release.
I had all the albums and got the remasters also just for the extra content. I didn't notice any sound improvement to be honest, but it's worth it for the extra content. Get the remasters IMO. I got the 2CD best of but if you have all you are missing is Silver Wings and Broken and a couple more rarities on the second cd.
Also get the 3 CD Alive set which has the double live Skunkworks era album and Scream for Me Brazil. Scream For Me Brazil is the essential one though.
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Would you guys recommend getting the remasters/expanded issues? How's the sound quality on the remasters? Or just get the original releases and buy the B-sides release.
I had all the albums and got the remasters also just for the extra content. I didn't notice any sound improvement to be honest, but it's worth it for the extra content. Get the remasters IMO. I got the 2CD best of but if you have all you are missing is Silver Wings and Broken and a couple more rarities on the second cd.
Also get the 3 CD Alive set which has the double live Skunkworks era album and Scream for Me Brazil. Scream For Me Brazil is the essential one though.
Pretty much this. I upgraded my originals to the remasters and didn't notice a ton of difference, but now I have the b-sides (which I like).
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Thanks guys.
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I just uploaded my transcription of Book of Thel to Ultimate Guitar yesterday. This song is a lot of fun to play, I plan on transcribing more from this album.
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/b/bruce_dickinson/book_of_thel_ver3_guitar_pro_2083007id_14072017date.htm