Lots to chew on over the past couple of pages..
Regarding what's been mentioned...too much to quote..
I love the intro to The Clairvoyant. It's really the only part of the song I like. I never understood the band's need to play this live for so long.
Infinite Dreams is one of Iron Maiden's best songs. Period.
After the epic SSOASS, Side 2 peters out. I love The Prophecy, but the those three short songs kind of end the album on a bit of a whimper.
They could've done so much more with Only The Good Die Young. It has always felt incomplete to me.
@Bosk..and Kev..
No Prayer-Generally considered as Iron Maiden's weakest album, though some will argue Virtual XI.
It's a stripped down approach, but the quality of songs is just not there. So disappointing after what was then considered a long lay off. The title track and Run Silent Run Deep are keepers. RSRD is one of the best choruses in their catalog.
Fear Of The Dark-Yeah this is more like it. Janick is more integrated and it's a much stronger effort. Their first album in the CD era, so there are 3-4 songs that are really B-side material that were added to fill a disc. Still, it's an album that is easily 8 songs deep and I think it's highly underrated.
The X Factor-The band was sitting on their Back In Black with this one. My issue is that it feels like a demo for a masterpiece. The production is awful, and the songs feel a bit unrefined. Still the songs are full of incredibly strong passages and ideas. I like Blaze. I think he sounds great on this, and adds to the dreadfulness (I mean that complimentary , as that seems what Steve was going for) of the album.
Virtual XI-Blaze feels more comfortable on this, but it feels a bit short compared to TXF. Some great tunes here..The Educated Fool, Futureal, Don't Look To the Eyes Of A Stranger (yeah I know the repeating Don't look too's) but that instrumental part towards the ending is fantastic.
Bosk, not sure if you've heard these..
Futureal-live with BruceMan ON The Edge-live with BruceThe Educated Fool needs the Bruce treatment. Seriously.