The 1981 Listening Post - Accept - Breaker

 Accept - Breaker

#103

March 16 1981

Accept

Breaker

Genre: Insert Spinal Tap Joke

3 out of 5

Highlights:

Breaker

Run if You Can

It takes Accept 4 albums to not sound like hot, derivative garbage. Given what I know they are capable of in the future I’m willing to stick with em. Well, that’s the job, isn’t it? They have an acclaimed record in 1982, I know that. 

But this is 1981. And, once again, Accept proves they can shred and Udo Dirkschneider can shriek. “Run If You Can” gives Maiden a run for their money. You can actually hear them figuring it out. 

The title track is a keeper, though. Wow. And points for the stupid but hilariously so lyrics on “Son of a Bitch”.

https://open.spotify.com/album/70lhKu95Wy760ZAZeUaZje?si=UYI9s6FPS92lS4Da7z2aMA

The 1980 Listening Post - Accept - I'm a Rebel

Accept - I'm a Rebel

#243

June 2 1980

Accept 

I’m a Rebel

Genre: Glam vs. Metal

1.5 out of 5

Accept is a weird band. 

They start out terribly and get marginally better until they blow the doors off in 1986 and then revert back to their aggressive mediocrity.

We are in 1980 so they haven’t figured it out yet. 

I heard a glam rock aesthetic at war with a desire to be a lurchingly metal experience but unable or unwilling to shed one in favor of the other. 

Also, the mix is terrible. At times all I can hear are the vocals and the lead guitar which comes across as hollow.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6PPtllnuoxHiWBlBnAWteg?si=WuXmTg9PSMGSIapiqR6V5g

The 1986 Listening Post - Accept - Russian Roulette

Accept - Russian Roulette

#142/1307

April 21 1986

Accept

Russian Roulette

Genre: Speed Metal

2.5 out of 5

I really loved Metal Heart. it got me right in the metal parts. This followup doesn’t work for me. Its snarky and obnoxious and feels like a step backwards. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/russian-roulette/185871639

The 1983 Listening Post - Accept - Balls to the Wall

Accept - Balls to the Wall

#209
December 5 1983
Accept
Balls to the Wall
3.75 out of 5

Highlights:
Balls to the Wall
Losing More Than You Ever Had
Love Child

Boy does this band want to be AC/DC or what? Not only the Bon Scott sounding singer but the title track sounds like they went to the Bon Scott school of songwriting and reinterpreted everything they heard.
This isn’t bad. It’s just redundant.
This reminds me of Scorpions. Or Krokus. Or Dokken. Could be any of them to me. I know it was a hit for them. I find it only mildly interesting.