This is a very sad collection
of songs put together, but what was a
second rate band in their heyday is a
total disaster today. Haven’t they heard
that the unplugged rage was over ten years
ago? Acoustica just reeks of desperation.
So, what do you actually get for your
buck here? Well, firstly there’s Klaus
Meine on vocals who’s voice has seen better
days. To hide this fact every rotten song
is smothered in lush backing female vocals
which might sound O.K on a Barry Mannilow
album. But remember, the Scorpions were
supposed to be a rock band not a lounge
act. On lead guitar you have Matthias
Jabs who, at best, was brought into the
Scorpions’ line up to duplicate the solos
from previous guitarists in the band,
and could easily be blown off the stage
by our own Lam Morrisson.
Then also on guitar is the less talented
brother of previous lead guitarist Michael
Schenker, Rudolf, who looks and plays
more like a bank manager than a bank robber
these days, and a non-descript journey
man bassist, Ralph Riechermann. The previous
drummer, the marvelously monickered Herman
Rareball, had to be replaced as he became
to old and fat to actually hit the skins,
so young James Katak got the job. Hopefully
for him, will soon move on to greener
pastures.
There are also a motley collection of
other musicians that have been pulled
in to try and keep some life in the shell,
but actually just help to crush it all
further down.
The songs themselves are all done, as
the title suggests, acoustically, and
what you get is just a rerun of some of
the kitschier moments of the band’s back
catalogue with obvious emphasis on the
ballads, which the band seem to be concentrating
on these days. The playing is so lackluster
that the music no more than dribbles out
of the speakers.
New song and new single “When Love Kills
Love” is one of the worst offenders. You
would definitely take the stairs to avoid
this in elevators. The title alone, “I
wanted to cry (but the tears wouldn’t
come)”, should tell you enough to warn
you to stay well clear.
The Scorpions have certainly lost their
sting. If this is the best they can produce,
they should be laid to rest. Not one of
Rock ‘n’ Roll’s finer moments, in fact,
not Rock ‘n’ Roll at all.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
