After reportedly having a difficult time recording Bat Out of Hell III and another legal battle with Jim Steinman, many people, including the man himself, felt that we had seen the last of Meat Loaf in the studio. The infamous show at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena in 2007 where he reportedly stopped performing halfway through “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights”, announced that this was his last show and abruptly walked off stage did nothing to dispel those doubts. After all that Hang Cool Teddy Bear came as a pleasant surprise; it’s nice to see the man at work and on the road again (the “Hang Cool” tour begins in July). Though flawed, and unable to consistently find the level of raucous joy that infuses Meat Loaf’s best work it’s still more cohesive than Bat Out of Hell III and for most of its 61 minutes it’s just plain fun. Don’t be surprised if you can't stop humming “Los Angeloser” afterward.
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Article comments
1 - Don Draper
Good review...I actually thought the harder tracks worked. The Jack Black duet may deviate from the Meat/Steinman playbook, but so does Los Angeloser. I enjoy that Meat is stretching out, experimenting, and having some fun. Love Is Not Real, on the other hand, is a Steinman track wannabe. But it's a goodie. Hang Cool Teddy is like a more modern sounding Bat 3. Great cd. Meat does it again. 9/10
2 - Largely the Truth
A few people have told me that they enjoyed the harder tracks so I guess it's a matter of opinion. In fairness to Bat III's harder tracks, not all of them were bad; "In the Land of the Pigs" was one of the album's best.
It certainly does sound like the Loaf is having fun on this one. That enthusiasm comes across in all the songs, even the clunkers - a quality missing from Bat III.
Thanks for the comments!
3 - TB
"Several tracks from Bat Out of Hell III made it plain that hard rock wasn’t an area of strength for Meat Loaf"
Are you kidding? The Monster's Loose, Like A Rose and Song of Madness are some of his best newer songs. Like a Rose is one of the songs I've heard the most praise for on the album.
I must say "let's be in love" is the weakest track on the album though. It's fun to hear Patty Sing again, but on such a bland track it seems like a waste of talent...
Still a good review. :)
4 - Largely the Truth
"Several tracks from Bat Out of Hell III made it plain that hard rock wasn’t an area of strength for Meat Loaf"
In truth I regret that line, it was a throw-away and the review would have been better without it. "The Monster is Loose" was a good song, although "In the Land of the Pigs..." was the better of the two.
I have to admit that, after repeated listening, "Love is Not Real" has grown on me but, try as I might, I can't connect with "Like a Rose".
Thanks for reading!
5 - Crazy
I felt the entire album had great skill
To me there is not a bum track on the album, Like a Rose, If I Can't have You, Los Angeloser,Lets be in Love are my favourtite all of them are good, I was 100% satsified with this album 10/10
6 - Lister Of Smeg
It's good to see a reviewer who has actually listened to the album. Some of the reviews I have read from "esteemed" tabloids, etc, have made my skin crawl with their audacity.
The entire album is a rock and roll rollercoaster of emotions, wall-to-wall bombast and back-breaking shifts in direction. His voice is exceptional and I continue to be amazed by the high notes he manages to hit; "cos if it rains it raaaaaaaiiiiinnnnnsss" for example. Meat Loaf has clearly had fun making this and it shows.
I love the heavier tracks, especially "Like A Rose," mainly because it reminds me of an ex-girlfriend I had, who was incredibly hot but also nuts. In here I have also heard some of the most inspiring lyrics on a Meat Loaf album, in particular "If I can't have you, then I'm sorry for the things I cost you in the end..." Staggering.
It's almost as if he has finally stepped out of Steinman's shadow on this one, and for the better. It's a shame it has taken until 2010 to shed the stigma. I just wish the constant Bat Out Of Hell references would stop. We all know he sang the Bat trilogy, so let's move on.