Been meaning to post about TNotB:
I think this is one where my estimation did not change at all upon listening to it again. I still think it's a really good album that's deserving of its status as a landmark in the genre, and I still think that Maiden subsequently surpassed it many, many times.
The thing that stands out most to me on this album is how incredible Bruce sounds. Coming off the previous two albums with Di'Anno, who isn't a bad singer, but is definitely not to my preference, it feels like a huge step forward in the vocal department. Invaders, a song I've always liked, just comes right out of the gate in that regard.
The weird part of the experience for this album is that there are three songs that I've just heard so many times outside of the album context as a result of them being on the majority of Maiden live releases. It makes it challenging to think about them in the album context. But this time around I did focus on Hallowed from the songwriting perspective, since the live performance aspect was not relevant, and, yeah, this song just does not get old.
I liked Gangland a little better than I remembered. But it remains the odd song out here. Total Eclipse is still way better.
The other downside is that the 22 Acacia Avenue lyrics bother me more now than they did when I was younger. I think I just have less tolerance for crassly sexual lyrics than I did when I was younger. It's still a very good song musically, though. Glad they dropped that subject matter for the next six years, and then dropped it again after FotD.
I'm listening to The Number of the Beast right now, so I might post on that in a bit, or perhaps tomorrow. Next, I'm actually going to listen to Beast Over Hammersmith for the first time ever. When I first got into the band, it was basically not available at all, but I saw that they now have it for download on iTunes, so I'm going to try that one. Will probably continue including the live stuff on my discography run.
I really want to hear your thoughts on this. I saw Maiden for the first time on this tour (opening for Priest). I'm not really exaggerating when I say that everything since has been measured against that. When the first thing you see in your concert life is Bruce Dickinson singing "Murders In The Rue Morgue", and then BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM Wrathschild/Run To The Hills/Children Of The Damned/The Number Of The Beast, it's hard to top.
This was my setlist:
Murders In The Rue Morgue
Wreathschild
Run To The Hills
Children Of The Damned
The Number Of The Beast
22 Acacia Avenue
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Iron Maiden (with the 12-foot Eddie)
Drifter
Oh, that's interesting, that makes me more excited to listen to this one. I'm starting it now, and I'll try to post about it tonight. There are