Meat Loaf... now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Quite frankly I don’t think I have listened to a full CD all the way through since his 1977 multi-platinum release Bat Out Of Hell on LP. Now that is classic rock and it is the Meat Loaf that I really enjoyed. Unfortunately I couldn’t stomach a lot of his radio hits in the past decade so I never listened much to his most recent releases. That changed on the day I received his new CD “Hang Cool Teddy Bear” and all I can say about this CD is it is classic Meat Loaf through and through… for the most part.
“Hang Cool Teddy Bear” is Meat Loaf’s 11th studio album and the one fans have been waiting 30 years for. This 13 song CD is chock full of over 65 minutes of classic Meat. It is a concept CD that was inspired by a short story written by screenwriter and director Kilian Kerwin. It is a story about soldier who is lying dying on the battlefield having visions of what his life could have been. Of course there is more behind the concept but I think there is beauty in letting the listener search that out for themselves. Add to the mix special musical talents Steve Vai, Jack Black, Brian May and others. This is a big CD and you can almost sense Meat Loaf recorded this CD without pressure from the record execs to produce a top 40 pop CD. Personally I think this CD represents who Meat Loaf is at his core. Some of the highlights include the opening song, “Peace On Earth” and I love the chorus, “I don’t want peace on earth. I just want to go home.” Another high point is “Like a Rose” which has Meat Loaf teaming up with movie star and Tenacious D vocalist Jack Black. The highest point is the amazing song “Love Is Not Real” which feature BOTH Steve Vai and Brian May.
Overall this is a solid CD from Meat Loaf. The recording is top quality, the artwork is fantastic and I think Meatloaf is sounding better than he has ever sounded. I am sure there will be mixed reactions from Meat Loaf fans across the globe since Jim Steinman didn’t have anything to do with this CD but I personally think it is his best in the thirty plus years.
