Now Playing: Sting In The Tail (2010)
Topic: Scorpions
After a career that has spanned about 40 years, the Scorpions are saying farewell with one last album, Sting In The Tail. The Scorpions are certainly a band that sounds like that of the yesteryear, and of a bygone era, but yet somehow at the same time, they can sound pretty modern and the furthest thing from out dated. That was especially the case in 2007's Humanity Hour I (previously reviewed here on Ethos), which was a modern classic, amplified with a modern sound. Sting In The Tail still sounds quite relevant, but is a step backwards from its predecessor album. What this album does accomplish is a harkening back to their 80s heyday, while striking that modern balance.
The opening track, "Raised On Rock", also the album's single, is absolutely one of the Scorpions best songs I've ever heard. It has a boisterious energy that hopefully will amp up its chances of making a splash on the radio or iTunes. It's a terrific, rousing, rock stomp with that awesome signature double-guitar attack. It's got a catchy melody, and a cool bravado.
Aside from the great opening song, the rest of the album trades back and forth between a ballad and a hard rocker. The hard rockers on this album are all loud and intense, but not the most cohesive of songs. They sometimes feel like they, the band I mean, are simply trying their darndest to go out with a bang. However, the ballads on this album are excellent. "The Good Die Young", "Lorelei", "SLY", and the half-ballad, half-anthem, ironically titled closing track "The Best Is Yet To Come" are all some of the best work here. So, aside from "Raised On Rock", are there any other good rockers here? Well, yes, "No Limit" is definitely a highlight. The strength of this album largely lies within the work of the ballads though.
I noticed a rather interesting thematic element throughout the entirety of Sting In The Tail. There is definitely a lot of allusions to their roots, and to their past influences. Often hear some both obvious and vague references to the late 1960s, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and to the legacy of the rock n' roll genre as a whole - "Spirit of Rock" is a good example of the rock legacy being exemplified. I never really noticed before, in any other Scorpions record, this sense of nostalgia and their past influences. It was certainly a nice thing to hear, as they are not only providing you with a fun, energetic final album, but a personal sense of how they got to be where they are.
Sting In The Tail is certainly a valiant effort. It's not a perfect album, but it definitely provides a fitting farewell to its fans. It salutes them with a one-two punch of what they do best - engage you in their ballads, and energize you with their heavy rockers. After all these years, the band itself still sounds so professional and tight. Klaus Meine, the lead singer, is 62 years old and his voice sounds as crisp, clear, and as powerful as ever - it is remarkable. So with that all being said, I recommend Sting In The Tail. The Scorpions have had a long, illustrious, and successful career, and I hope they all enjoy their final tour together, as they bow out here with grace. Goodbye Scorpions, we the fans, thank you for all the wonderful years.
TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:
"Raised On Rock"
"Lorelei"
"The Best Is Yet To Come"
"The Good Die Young"
"SLY"
"No Limit"
-Kurt L.
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