Michael Schenker Group -Michael Schenker Group
#382
by Rob Haneisen
August 1980
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker Group
Genre: Hard rock (mostly)
Allen’s Rating:3.5 out of 5
Rob’s Rating: 2 out of 5
Highlights:
Armed and Ready
Victim of Illusion
Lost Horizons
(What the Hell were they thinking? songs)
Bijou Pleasurette
Feels Like a Good thing
Tales of Mystery
How many blah songs can be salvaged and outright elevated to memorable thanks to a good guitar riff or solo? That seems to be the formula here with the Michael Schenker Group’s self-titled debut album.
Schenker is best known for his guitar work in UFO and most-notably the Scorpions. The songs here don’t reach anywhere near the metal goodness of the latter band and sound occasionally like extras from UFO. As a whole, the album is incredibly uneven, careening around in some different styles - some working, others leaving you wondering, “What the hell were they thinking?” I suppose it’s to be expected that when the bandleader is the lead guitarist you are going to get at least one instrumental track. But two? On an album that only has nine songs? That’s too much. And they are not even that good. Here’s a rundown of first impressions from each of the nine songs (it might give you an idea as to why I almost called the genre ‘split-personality hard rock’).
1. “Armed and Ready” – If Ted Nugent wanted to audition for Judas Priest, this is what it would sound like. It’s not bad. Good guitar riff and pace. The singer sounds like he’s emulating Brad Delp from Boston (and he comes close). The lyrics “Are you high tonight? Are you feelin’ right?” go great with the sound and you expect the rest of the album to be the good-time party rock of the late 70s. There’s even some rocky-piano notes to elevate the mood.
2. “Cry for the Nations” – WTF? Where’d the good times go? Opens with some sensitive keyboards and guitar and almost a disco backbeat. Of course, this was about the time that Kiss was getting lambasted for doing the same thing so I guess it was contagious. Great guitar break and solo keeps you interested but confused.
3. “Victim of Illusion” – Fantastic guitar riff and opening, and great solo mid-song. OK, maybe we are getting back on track here.
4. “Bijou Pleasurette” – More sensitive keyboard and guitar combo to open this instrumental almost sounds like early Ozzy solo stuff (trying to sound spooky or just weird?) and then this dives into classical Spanish guitar?! It’s nice work but sounds totally weird here.
5. “Feels like a good time” – Now this sounds like UFO, or like a B-side from the “Dazed and Confused” soundtrack. Does the singer think he’s James Brown here with all the screaming and groaning? It’s supposed to sound sexy but it’s kinda gross. In a word, the song sounds gropey. Not a song that would age well.
6. “Into the Arena” – Is this a Bay City Rollers cover song? Oh wait, this is another instrumental but it really doesn’t have much guitar work until three minutes in. It’s a whole lot of drumwork and keyboarding. The last minute of guitar sounds like it’s trying to wrap up an epic but the groundwork was never there. The result? A collapse.
7. “Looking out from Nowhere” – Hey, why did the singer decide to be Rob Halford here? It works better and there’s some cool backing vocals and harmony on the chorus and of course some great guitar. OK, maybe things are back on track here.
8. “Tales of Mystery” – Oh god, not a big sensitive ballad. Not now. They are really trying to do something here and if you try too hard maybe it’s just not your groove. Somebody should have told them that another song about partying would have been much better. I feel sad.
9. “Lost Horizons” – Well, at least they know how to end an album. A 7-minute epic that succeeds in every moment. Good dramatic-sounding opening and a long, extended guitar solo and echoing chorus for minutes. Too long? Maybe, but I think it’s the kind of inspirational ending they needed.
I kept thinking that this was an album that probably sounded better on an eight-track, played in a loud car rumbling around on a Saturday night. At least some of the songs would sound good there. If you listened to MSG thinking you were getting something close to Scorpions you would be mighty disappointed. UFO fans would probably feel better. I think anyone listening to this album comes away thinking that this is a band that did not know what it wanted to be other than a project of a very talented rock guitarist. Guitarists don’t always make for the best songwriters but man, when they can riff, it’s a good listen. Problem is, that’s only half of a song.
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