| Boston | review #2 | 1976 |
| Don't Look Back | 1978 |
| Third Stage | 1986 |
| Walk On | 1994 |
| Greatest Hits (compilation) | 1997 |
| Corporate America | 2002 |
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[Note: This comment applies to their latest release Corporate America:]
I have to say that i really enjoy boston's brand of classic rock but with this release this is where ends.it has hints of the old boston and may have some potential but in tom scholz' attempts to sound modern he creates a lame ,dull effort.Missing are the trademark classic "crunch",the chorus of electric and acoustic guitars,brad's soaring vocals and harmonies,the extended keyboard and guitar solos and any memorable riffs.all of their prior releases had at least one instrumental but this one does not.brad's vocals can't save this album because they're buried in the mix and he only sings on a few songs anyway.there are moments where some songs sound like they could have gone the way of classic boston but these songs simply don't generate any excitement or energy.some reviewers have given higher ratings and some have said this was their best album.boston is a rock and roll band and it was time to go out with a record that kicked major ass.if you can't rock harder than creed or nickelback then you can't hang with the new crowd.some of the shinier moments are: "I Had a good time","turn it off","you gave up on love".the first 40 seconds of "you gave up on love" sounds like it has potential and should have been saved for a killer instrumental that was needed."higher Power" from their greatest hits album would have fit nicely on here."without You",if given the same treatment as "amanda", it could have given them the hit ballad they needed. rating 4 out of 10
(Robert Grazer's review)
This, not Dark Side Of The Moon, is the most played album on the classic rock radio stations. At least where I live. Whenever you turn the damn thing on you hear, “It’s more than a feeling, more than a feeling,” or “All I want is to have my peace of mind” or “It’s been such a long time,” or one of the others here. Just like Dark Side, though, this one is able to sound just as great every time you listen. And do you know what else? It deserves all the airplay. Sure it’s all a big great formula scheme, but the melodies, even if they’re all relatively similar, are spectacular. We kick off with “More Than a Feeling,” you know that one, right? And “Peace of Mind?” And “Rock ‘n’ Roll Band?” This is no compilation; all of these are on the same original album. No wonder it is still number 10 (last I checked) on the best-selling albums.
Then there are the two somewhat lesser known tracks (which is to say they are played on the radio a whole lot less than the others, only about three times a day), “Let Me Take You Home Tonight” and “Hitch a Ride.” They are slower than the others, but they are still very catchy with excellent melodies, so you have nothing to worry about. Then again a lot of people knock on “Let Me Take You Home Tonight” for being corny and stupid or various other things. They may have a point, but I still think that song is quite good. “Foreplay/Long Time” is my personal favorite, though, mostly because of the brilliant section in the beginning. I’m betting it’s the best song the band ever did. So, all in all, if the little formula doesn’t bother you, which is no problem with me, and you’re in the mood for lighter listening than something like Dark Side, this album is a classic. Maybe a full 10 might be just a tad too high for this one, but I just can’t seem to give it anything less without feeling bad. The band would never ever ever come close to this level of excellence again. If you are interested in Boston start (and end) here.
Update (11.23.01) Ok, so it’s a fantastic and consistent release with one great song after another, but I'll drop the rating a point because it isn't quite on that level.
This was one of the biggest selling albums of 1976 and it's easy to see why. They perfected a winning commercial formula in the studio that they developed into each song, making almost every one a hit. Their sound which is heavy metal and rock n' roll mixed together with an emphasis on melody and harmony, almost started stadium rock. These four guys (Barry, Tom, Sib, Bradley, and Fran - funny names, eh?) cranked out almost an album full of hits on here such as "More Than A Feeling" (the most known one probably), "Peace Of Mind" (very similar sounding to the previous one), "Foreplay/Long Time" (mixture of prog and heavy metal), "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" (power ballad), "Rock & Roll Band" (straightforward rock n' roll), and "Hitch a Ride" (a nice midtempo song). Damn, thats almost the whole album.
"Smokin'" and "Something About You" are the other two. They are in the same vein as the others and could of been hits too; well they are probably played on the radio also. Sometimes the album runs dry as they use the same musical approach to each song, but their is enough hooks to keep you interested. Just keep in mind you probably already know most of the album anyway, so if you hear the first song and you like it then you'll like the rest of it. Unfortunately, Boston would use the same formula on their subsequent albums as they do on here. In a short time that would become tiring.
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[email protected] (John Schlegel)
I agree with Grazer's review. This is one of the most consistent and instantly likable albums I have ever come across. When I first heard the album in its actual running order, it was very often in my weight-lifting class my senior year of high school. But I had already been weaned on most of the songs on classic rock radio from childhood, and I sincerely thought I was hearing a Boston greatest hits album! (I guess "Don't Look Back" and "Amanda" were easy songs for me to forget about at the time.) It only falls short of a perfect 10 rating because, song for song, it's actually pretty by-the-numbers, and it does sound a little dated today. No, it sounds VERY dated! But I don't care much about those factors when I listen to the CD. The catchy (and abundant) melodies and complex vocal harmonies here are just sublime. My favorites are the brisk story-song "Rock & Roll Band" and the mid-paced pop masterpiece "Hitch a Ride"--but every tune on the album is great. And if I understand correctly, "Something About You" is the only song on the album that wasn't a radio hit.
(reviewed by Robert Grazer)
Well, there is not a hell of a lot to say about this one. This is a step down from the original to say the least, mostly because, no matter how many times I listen, I can never remember any of the songs. Except for the side openers, and those are played on the radio as much as the tracks from the first album (if not even more, if that’s possible). The title track has a very memorable riff to go with it, and man how I love that climax. “Feelin’ Satisfied” opens side two, and it might be the band’s second best song (after “Foreplay/Long Time”). Probably the reason those two are so great is that they are the tracks on this album that sound the most like the ones on the previous release. The rest are nothing to get excited about, if I can remember correctly. Certainly not atrocious by any means, but this was a sign that the band would never ever top their first release. If you are looking to get into the band look to the debut, not here.
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dont look back is one of my all time fave boston's trax. it is the best. sorry you don't feel the same way about it. oh well. to each his/her own as the saying goes.
(reviewed by Robert Grazer)
After quite a few years the Boston resurfaces with this, and even though it’s even less like the original bestseller, it is tons better than Don’t Look Back. Side one is near perfect. It starts out with a ballad called “Amanda.” Beautiful song. It’s reprised later on the side with “My Destination” and comes out at least as good. The rest of the first side is made up of a little three-song trip through space (I think) starting with “We’re Ready.” Perhaps it would suffice to simply say that the song rules. Even better is the astonishing instrumental “The Launch” that comes up next. It demonstrates the launch of the ship in a more dramatic way than you ever thought possible. The best is the final bit “Cool The Engines.” Great guitar lines are scattered all throughout that song, almost the way they were on something like “Feelin’ Satisfied.”
It’s side two that I have some problems with. “Can’tcha Say” and “I Think I Like It” are pretty generic. “Hollyann” is decent, but leaves something missing. I wish the album had a stronger bang for a closer, like another one in the style of “The Launch” or “Cool the Engines.” Perhaps another reprise of “Amanda” may have actually benefited the album as a final closer. I don’t know. “Hollyann” should have been placed elsewhere on the album. I think so anyway. Luckily “To Be a Man” is another great one and that helps the Third Stage become an excellent album. The band may have been somewhat dying down by this time, but there is enough proof here that the Sholz could still pen some fine melodies.
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I read a review printed by Vik Iyengar who's oppinion toward the album THIRD STAGE persuasively quoted, " This album had shitty lyircs, not enoguh balls, and it didnt compare to there debut. Oh and i forgot to mention I'm an asshole for writing a negative review on the album in windows media player."
I'm 14 so, I probably dont know what I'm talking about, but I DO know that if you think that a great album needs 'poppy' lyrics and catchy, jumpy phrases, then your a pussy. Boston's Third Stage is maybe their best album becasue of its dramatic instrumentals, and Brads kick ass vocals. And maybe if you close your eyes and actually listen to the album, you'll feel somethign you don't get with Boston's debut. ( not to say that isn't a fantastic album) But to think you need catchy phrases, and "cool" lyrics is ridiculous. That mentality is what created dreadful pop music. ( 'll be writing about my hate for pop some other time)
This album came out in '86 i believe, around the time when bands like poison were ruling the world with their "Nothing but a good time" and prissy ballads like "Every rose has its thorn." Boston fans should be happy that Boston came out with an album that raped any of 80's metal, or ballads. Not to mention, it was a concept album!!! That is one of the best parts about it.
Fans were probably suggesting that Boston was tryign to follow, or compliment average 80's bands. But I'm pretty sure Tom thoguht of it first, and he wanted to do soemthing different, but ran out of time before other bands could take his dreams and butcher them prissy shredding.
I understand that people were expecting the origenal "rock and roll band" Boston, but thats no reason to put this great album down. So they changed some things, GET USED TO IT AND QUIT YOUR BITCH'N.
Thats my simple oppinion of Bostons Third Stage, and my argument against the negative quotes/reveiws I've read.
And Walk-on Kicks ass too.
my negativeness toward 80's rock, was not directed toward bands like ( GNR and Van Halen Rush, and all those other great bands. Just negativenss toward hair metal...but i do like GnR, there an exception.
But Boston owns Gnr!
(reviewed by Robert Grazer)
Boston hits the nineties! You’d think that after, what was it, six, seven years, Scholz could make another classic, or at least another one as good as Third Stage, but man this album sucks. The “Walk On” songs and “Get Organ-Ized” are really great, sounding like a combination of “Smokin’” and “The Launch.” It’s the best stuff this here album has to offer. “What’s Your Name” and “Magdalene” are passable as mediocre and, if you don’t expect whole lot from them you may actually enjoy them from time to time.
And the rest of the songs are crap. The first three songs are the most awful stretch of Boston music ever. Actually, I don’t think I can quite say that because the first minute and the very, very short solo in “I Need Your Love” are in fact pretty cool. It feels like it’s back in the classic days for a few seconds. But from there the chorus is pure crap, and the verses suck too. Well the next two songs have absolutely nothing good to offer me. In fact “Surrender to Me” and “Livin’ For You” could be the very worst songs the band has ever done. Any songwriting talent they once had is now pretty much gone, leaving us with a couple good tunes, quite a few bad ones, and an AWESOME album cover.
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