Scorpions Albums (21)
'Unbreakable'
Release Date 5/11/2004
Tracks 13
Label BMG International
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The Scorpions' latest studio outing comes on the heels of their triple-disc career retrospective, Box of Scorpions. For fans who view that box set's third disc -- mostly material from the mid- to late '90s -- as a meandering collection of wince-inducing ballads and orchestral experiments gone awry, their latest offering should come as a huge relief. Their celebrated talents for big licks, bigger choruses, and simple lyrics about world unification and "rocking you" are remarkably well executed on Unbreakable, their 20th studio album. The production strikes a winning balance between mid-'80s excess and tight nu-metal guitar, resulting in one of the heavier records they've done in quite some time. Singer Klaus Meine's voice has aged gracefully, retaining the raucous snarl that fueled hits like "No One Like You," while attaining a rich, fully rounded cadence on the beautiful new ballad "Maybe I Maybe You." Unbreakable was recorded live in the studio, and it shows on the brutal standouts "Love 'Em or Leave 'Em" and "Borderline" -- the latter being one of the more inventive and memorable of their career. The record acts as a bridge between hard rock generations, and is perhaps the first step in handing over their legacy to the myriad of young bands that have basked in the veteran group's light for so long, but if they continue to make records as lively and skilled as this, that transfer could be a long time coming. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Germany's Scorpions waited 'til 2001 to get on the unplugged bandwagon, but then they always were rather unfashionable. Recorded earlier the same year at live shows in Portugal, Acoustica is essentially a greatest-hits package, complete with the mandatory two new songs. It follows on the heels of Moment of Glory, their 2000 collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic. Acoustica's recasting of the band's lite-rock legacy in the language of adult contemporary may be just what the doctor ordered. The track selection encompasses most of the big ballad hits from the post-Lovedrive era, plus a few covers (Kansas' "Dust in the Wind," "Drive" by the Cars, and Queen's "Love of My Life"). The power chords may be missing, but Acoustica is far from stripped down: guitarists Schenker and Jabs can't resist decorating most songs with pretty little acoustic guitar figures; this works in some cases, and it doesn't in others. The same goes for the Latino rhythm stylings, string sections, and lush backing vocals. The final result is a sort midtempo tastefulness. ~ Leslie Mathew, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
On the heels of Metallica's similarly conceived S&M comes the Scorpions' Moment of Glory, a presentation of past favorites (plus three new songs) with full orchestral backing courtesy of the Berlin Philharmonic. The rock instrumentation blends in best on the ballads, but some of the up-tempo rockers can also be pretty exciting, if a little bombastic. That said, the Scorpions' music isn't always complex enough to suggest interesting ways of augmenting the original arrangements -- but since this is more a specialty item for diehards in the first place, that won't likely matter in the end. Some fans may be disappointed that Klaus Meine gives way to guest vocalists on a couple of tunes, but overall, this is a variation on the Scorpions' signature sound that loyalists will probably enjoy quite a bit. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Not even renowned metal producer Bruce Fairbairn could save this disappointing follow-up to the outstanding release Crazy World. Instead of concentrating on melodic tunes, Face The Heat seems to focus on noisy metal and glass-shattering screaming rather than the usual classic and emotional sounds that the Scorpions have put on their previous albums. Especially when compared to their previous recordings, Face The Heat is quite unsatisfactory. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After the release of Savage Amusement in 1988, the Scorpions expressed disdain toward the album, feeling that it was too polished when compared to their other work. Their longtime producer, Dieter Dierks, was replaced with well-known rock producer Keith Olsen, who would produce Crazy World and assist in making it one of the Scorpions' greatest recordings. Their music had certainly changed since Savage Amusement, sounding a little bit heavier and less glamorous. But even with the metal sound, the songs remain melodic and catchy. The power ballads on the album, "Wind of Change" and "Send Me an Angel," are arguably two of the band's greatest slow numbers, boasting soothing harmony and lyrics. Crazy World remains the Scorpions' finest '90s album and is sure to please its listeners. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The Scorpions' two previous releases, Blackout and Love at First Sting, were mostly successful due to the band's ability to adjust with the times; with Blackout, they used the classic power rock introduced by bands like Van Halen, and for Sting they used similar melodies, but with a harder, tighter sound akin to the work of such bands as Dokken and REO Speedwagon. With Savage Amusement, the group's first studio recording in almost four years, the Scorpions experimented with more polished pop melodies that Def Leppard and the like had made popular. The end result is polished and often predictable music that, while good, on the whole fails to be as infectious as the music on their previous albums. Die-hard fans will certainly find their share of worthwhile songs, such as "Don't Stop at the Top" and "Believe in Love," but they still may find Savage Amusement to be incomparable to its predecessors. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Since the Scorpions' career was at its peak, World Wide Live could not have been recorded at a better time. This 19-track album contains all of their early-'80s hits, and while they aren't as energetic on-stage as they are in the studio, the band still perform with a great amount of flamboyance. The record is the Scorpions' only worthwhile live album and is a must for their fans. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide
