'COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER'
(POLYDOR)
If you're a Meatloaf fan and you're reading this review before November 2003, I hope to hell you've made an effort to get a ticket for one of his 'farewell tour' gigs. If you haven't, fool you - for this guy who was born back in 1947 as Marvin Lee Aday is still one of the greatest singers on the planet who's holed up in that thing we all know and love� rock 'n' roll akimbo!
All these years down the road, this latest and possibly very last album is one of the best he has ever released, opened with the epic hit single 'Couldn't Have Said It Better' that he truly couldn't have sung better, its unparalleled energy catapulting it infectiously through its 7 minutes running length.
He's always been the master of big power ballads and sweeter, piano-led tunes� and, as always, both types of songs are in abundance here. The best tracks are the most rocking and vibrant in 'Love You Out Loud,' 'Man of Steel,' the fecking fantastic 'Testify' and 'Because of You.' The Gospel-fused 'Testify,' in particular, stand-outs as one of his all-time greatest anthems, introducing the 'second half' of the album with a sampled patter of mysterious footsteps (that similarly graced his 'Welcome To The Neighbourhood' LP in 1995) and six backing vocalists harmoniously belting their hearts out no less.
While Meatloaf found formidable fame whilst singing the classic songs that Jim Steinman wrote, all these songs here (bar the bonus live rendition of 'Bat Out of Hell') have been written by various songwriters, though a certain Nikki Sixx has had his hand in most, and Diane Warren penned 'You're Right, I Was Wrong.' And every single track is an epic in its own right, with 5 of them being over 6 minutes in length.
Of course, Meatloaf has never taken his music or the industry that both he and his music inhabit over-seriously, as he sends himself up in the seemingly semi-autobiographical 'Tear Me Down' and further personifies his persistent attitude, singing 'I rose up on the doctor's slab like Lazarus from the pit, and everyone wants to take a stab - decorate me with blood, graffiti and spit.' 'Do It!,' meanwhile, sounds more like an upbeat slab of fun that Def Leppard would dole out.
There are so many musicians and writers involved on this album it occurs to you that sharing out the royalties accordingly must be a nightmare. But the musicians sure are value for money with some brilliantly played piano melodies from Tom Brislin and drumming from legendary session-er Kenny Aronoff (who played drums on Jon Bon Jovi's 'Blaze of Glory' solo effort, incidentally).
Hell if I haven't already yet whet your appetite, the 'Loaf also includes a wicked cover of Bob Dylan's 'Forever Young.' Oh Yeh.
10/10 Steve Rudd
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