Scorpions Blackout (Hybrid Multichannel SACD) Review by Gary Hill
This classic Scorpions album is getting reissued in this very special edition. This album really kind of reflects a middle ground between the later Scorpions stuff and the older sound of the band. I like all of it and really love a couple of the songs. This edition sounds great and is a limited numbered edition. It’s highly recommended to all Scorpions fans and anyone else who has ever enjoyed this disc.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2015 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Blackout
They waste no time, firing out into one of the most furious hard rockers of the set. It’s a real screamer and a great way to start this in style.
Can't Live Without You A little more of a mainstream rocker, the metal really comes to play once it switches to the scorching guitar solo.
No One Like You This is more like a power ballad than it is anything else. It’s not a bad tune, but not one of my favorites. Still, it was a huge hit.
You Give Me All I Need Although not as blatant as the previous cut, this is essentially a power ballad, too. I love the balance between the mellower segment and the more rocking one. There are some great melodic metal moments here.
Now The furious metal is back on this fierce cut. It’s fast paced and screaming. It reminds me quite a bit of older Scorpions.
Dynamite The chorus on this is catchy. It’s another scorching hot metal tune. It really feels to me like it could have come from one of the earlier Scorps discs.
Arizona This one is sort of a forgettable number. It’s not all that special and actually a little generic.
China White
More of a pounding, grinding song, this isn’t something extremely new for the Scorpions. It is, however strong. It’s kind of similar to “The Zoo.” I think I like this one better, though. In fact, this is quite probably my favorite song of the disc.
When the Smoke Is Going Down The Scorpions have always had a thing for doing these rather proggy, epic kind of pieces that build on mellower, evocative sections. I generally like pretty much every one of them. They just do them so well. This is no exception. In fact, it’s my other possible choice for best song of the album. It’s just so effective.
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