Accept and Udo Album Musings Last updated: 20JUN00 _________________________________________________________________ Udo - _Holy_ - Nuclear Blast, 2000 Yet another Udo album, this one a _world_ more mainstream-sounding than his last two or three or four albums. The songs are immediately accessible-- and probably instantly appealing to Accept fans-- even if they're largely unremarkable. Sigh. Udo solo, bless his heart, just doesn't have much success either penning memorable melodies or being heard on a decent vocal/choral mix. There is one glaring exception, though: a piano-accompanied, jazz-tinged closing track that's unbelievably good. How 'bout an entire _album_ in that style?? Udo - _Best Of_ - Gun, 1999 German import, with over 70 minutes of music from the wee one's five (or is it six?) solo albums. Eh, I would've included more earlier tracks than later, but at least you get his kick-ass covers of "Lovemachine" and "I'm a Rebel" as well as the double-bass bruiser "Timebomb" and without having to own the weaker albums that they're drawn from. Udo - _No Limits_ - ?, 1998 Ugh. Is there any hope for Udo's solo career? Only one track strikes a chord, a almost-funky cover the '70's disco hit "Lovemachine." (It grows on you.) We also get a noisy cover of Accept's "I'm a Rebel." And an unremarkable ballad ("Azrael"). And, on the Japanese import, a bonus track ("The Key"). Wolf Hoffman - _Classical_ - ?, 1998 This Japan-only release (for now) has the Accept guitarist performing a handful of classical standards ("In the Hall of the Mountain King," "Bolero," etc.) in a style somewhere between rock and metal. (With horns here and some acoustic renderings there.) Overall-- though only on first listen-- it's a bit overly-familiar, as some songs recall Hoffman's work on both live and studio Accept albums. (In particular, the band covered "Pomp and Circumstance" on "Death Row." Why is it repeated here?) Though there's some fire in places, it's more of a curio than a must-have. I'll know more, after more listens... Accept - _The Final Chapter_ - CMC, 1998 The band disbands, but not before releasing a double-disc compilation of tracks culled (it would seem) from their Death Row tour. Much more warts-and-all than Stayed A Life, with rough-but-energetic performances, a good deal of audience interplay, and a booming, what-you-hear-is-what-you-get sound recording. It rocks and is probably the most accurate concert portrait of an arena metal that I've heard in some time. Better-titled _All Areas Worldwide Live_ in Europe. Udo - _Solid _- Gun, 1997 On first listen, Udo's new album sounds a world better than Timebomb. More melody, but not as much as Animal House or Mean Machine. Production sounds pretty good. Songs are mid to fast tempo. Not as many "Soccer choruses." One ballad. I'll know more after more listens. Accept - _Predator _- BMG, 1996 Easily the band's best album since Balls to the Wall. Bassist Peter Baltes sings on four songs, including a duet with Udo on "Crossroads." No ballad this time, but a dance song ("Primitive") if you can believe it! Great production. Solid songwriting. Favorites: "Hard Attack," "Lay it Down," "Crucified," and "Don't Give a Damn." Accept - _Death Row_ - Pavement Music, 1995 Better production than the last album. Songs vary in quality. "Sodom & Gomorra" quotes "Sabre Dance." "Generation Clash II" is a Udo-fronted remake of the Eat the Heat classic. "Writing On The Wall" is an excellent ballad. "Drifting Away" and "Pomp and Circumstance" are instrumentals. Accept - _Objection Overruled _- BMG, 1994 The band reunites as a foursome! Production could be a bit better. "Amamos La Vida" is the ballad. "Just By My Own" is an instrumental that is excellent. All songs written by Accept and Deaffy, again. Udo - _Timebomb _- RCA, 1991 Damn difficult album to listen to. Two tracks are worth a listen, though: "Timebomb" and the melodically interesting "Metal Maniac Master Mind." Udo - _Faceless World _- RCA, 1990 More melody and orchestration than the last album. More mediocre tracks, too. My favorites: "Heart of Gold, "Blitz of Lightning," the title track, and Udo's best ballad ever, the 5:13 "Unspoken Words." Accept - _Stayed a Life _- Sony, 1990 Superb live album compiled from a double-disc international release. Recorded on the Metal Heart tour. The extended live version of "Balls to the Wall" is not to be missed. Renditions of the early tracks "Breaker" and "Son of a Bitch" are very good. The guitar solo contains excerpts of "Hall of the Mountain," as well as some riffing that would appear, a year later, on Russian Roulette. Accept - _Eat the Heat _- Epic, 1989 American David Reece replaces Udo and he's okay. The classic cut, here, is "Generation Clash." Absolutely fabulous production, though the album was a commercial flop. Udo - _Mean Machine_ - RCA, 1988 My favorite of the singer's solo albums. Strong melodies, solid production, and another great ballad ("Sweet Little Child"). The final track is hilarious-- the :49 thrash-fest "Still in Love with You." Udo - _Animal House _- RCA, 1987 With all songs written by Accept and Deaffy, this sounds more like an Accept album than anything else. Good, polished production. The songs could be a bit more exciting, I suppose. Favorites: the title track, "They Want War," and "Lay Down the Law." Accept - _Russian Roulette _- Epic, 1986 Seventh studio album. "Heaven and Hell," with the organ music, is amazing. Solid from start to finish. Last Epic Records release before lead singer Udo Dirkschneider departs. Accept - _Metal Heart _- Epic, 1985 Sixth studio album. Title track quotes "March Slave" and "Moonlight Sonata." Accept - _Balls to the Wall _- Epic, 1984 Fifth studio album. Cover art by Robert Mapplethorpe. The title track is great, as is the entire album. Favorite tracks: "Winners and Losers" and "Guardian of the Night." Accept -_ Restless and Wild_ - Epic, 1993 Fourth studio album from the German metal band often-described as "a cross between AC/DC and Judas Priest." "Fast as a Shark" is an instant classic. Great production. The songwriting is so-so, in spots. Accept -_Breaker_ - 1981 Harder, meaner, and, well, noisier than the last album. (In fact, at times, the mix is almost unlistenable.) Great cover, though, and a few classics-in-the-making ("Breaker," "Son of a Bitch"). They're getting there. Accept -_I'm a Rebel_ - 1980 Wonderfully "clean" production, though the songwriting is quite erratic. Bassist Peter Baltes sings on a few tracks. And are those disco rhythms on a song or two? Accept -_Accept_ - 1979 Debut album. Never heard it. Copyright 2000 by Michael J. Legeros _________________________________________________________________