Music Banter - View Single Post - The Playlist of Life --- Trollheart's resurrected Journal

Trollheart · 06-26-2011, 10:04 AM

Thunder and lightning --- Thin Lizzy --- 1983 (Vertigo)

The last Lizzy studio album ever, due to the untimely and tragic death of frontman and bass player Phil Lynott, “Thunder and lightning” stands as one of their finest recordings. It's so good that, if you didn't know better, you would think Lynott knew he was going to die, and was determined to make the best album possible before he went. Chock-full of power chords, swirling keyboards, thumping drums and songs with the sort of hooks that fish get entangled on, it's a tremendous swan song for the band, and a fitting monument to the powerhouse of rock music that was Thin Lizzy.

Kicking off as they mean to go on, the title track finds the band in exuberant form, rockin' hard under the twin guitar attack of Scott Gorham and John Sykes. It's a song that absolutely flies along, a true metal classic, grabs you by the throat and shakes you around like a dog with a rabbit, and does not let go. At the end of it you feel absolutely drained, but in a good way. Turn this up to 10 and watch your speakers hop off the shelf! The lyrical theme is nothing special, no great message, just a get-down-and-rock anthem, and it works beautifully as an opener, and as a statement of intent.

Things keep rockin' for “This is the one”, then slow down for one of the finest tracks on the album. There are, to be fair, few ballads in Thin Lizzy's repertoire. Unlike other rock bands like Bon Jovi, Queen, Rainbow or even Whitesnake, you would be hard-pressed to point to a classic Lizzy ballad. Even their most famous “slow song”, the superb “Still in love with you”, speeds up halfway through. So it's with no small sense of achievement that they've crafted the wonderful “The sun goes down”, which in a really ironic and tragic way could be seen as a musical epitaph for Phil Lynott, who would breathe his last three years later. Driven on an inspired keyboard base, Darren Wharton at his very best, with minimal percussion and a great guitar solo halfway through, it's a fantastic song, but don't ask me what it's about!

”There is a demon among us/ Whose soul belongs in Hell/ Sent here to redeem us/ She knows it all too well/ She comes and goes/ She comes and goes/ He knows it all too well/ But when all is said and done/ The sun goes down.” Despite the cryptic lyric though, it's a great song and definitely one of the standout tracks on the album.

Things kick back into high gear then for “The holy war”, with an interesting lyric concerning the fanaticism of those who fight wars for religion. ”And if God is in the heavens/ Why did God let children die?/ If you don't ask these questions/ There is no reason why.” It's a vicious and powerful attack on organised religion, and Lynott is in fine voice throughout, with the guitars of Gorham and Sykes again taking centre stage. Then we're into one of the very best tracks on the album.

Released as a moderately successful single, “Cold sweat” smashes its way onto the stage, beginning with a muted guitar intro before the double axe-attack kicks in, and Phil steps things up a gear as he flies off at ninety-words-a-minute vocal, relating the tale of a gambler who believes he can make the big score. ”I've got a whole month's wages/ I haven't seen that much in ages/ I might spend it in stages/ Move out to Las Vegas.” In the same vein as the title track, it's a stormer that granbs hold and doesn't release you till the final guitar chords churn out the end of the song, and again you feel like you've been chewed up and spat out. In a good way. Brian Downey's thundering drums add great backbone to this track, and it's an instant Lizzy classic by the time you've heard it once.

Think you'll be able to catch your breath after that? Fat chance! “Someday she is going to hit back” is another fast rocker which never lets up, the story of an abused woman who has had enough. It opens with a powerful instrumental, almost cinematic intro, then gets going and never stops. ”Woman don't like it!” growls Lynott menacingly ”Hurting her this way/ Someday she is going to hit back!” There's a great guitar duel throughout the song, but even at that there's an air of commerciality about the song, though it was never released as a single.

So, after that then “Baby please don't go” has to be a ballad, right? BUZZZZ! WRONG! A little slower yes, but still another rocker, in the mould of “Dancing in the moonlight”, but considerably faster. The guys basically keep their foot pressed to the pedal right to the end, with “Bad habits” echoing elements of “Do anything you want to” and “Jailbreak”, with the brilliant line ”Boys will be boys/ And girls will be trouble!”, then the album comes to a speeding and crashing close with “Heart attack”, again almost prophetic in its lyric: ”Mama I'm dyin' of a heart attack/ Heart attack/ I love that girl but she don't love me back” and later ”Papa I'm drinking for an overload,/ Overload, overload!/ The gun in my pocket is all ready to explode/ Papa I'm dying of an overdose,/ Overdose, overdose/ I tried to warn you don't come too close.” Terribly sad, in the light of future events, but there's no denying it's a powerful killer punch to bring to a triumphant end the last studio album ever recorded by a band who secured their place in rock history, and who will always be remembered fondly.

TRACKLISTING

1. Thunder and lightning
2. This is the one
3. The sun goes down
4. The holy war
5. Cold sweat
6. Someday she is going to hit back
7. Baby please don't go
8. Bad habits
9. Heart attack

Suggested further listening: "Jailbreak" and "Renegade" plus "Life", double-live album from this tour, last ever recorded Lizzy output.

06-26-2011, 10:04 AM	#43 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Thunder and lightning --- Thin Lizzy --- 1983 (Vertigo) The last Lizzy studio album ever, due to the untimely and tragic death of frontman and bass player Phil Lynott, “Thunder and lightning” stands as one of their finest recordings. It's so good that, if you didn't know better, you would think Lynott knew he was going to die, and was determined to make the best album possible before he went. Chock-full of power chords, swirling keyboards, thumping drums and songs with the sort of hooks that fish get entangled on, it's a tremendous swan song for the band, and a fitting monument to the powerhouse of rock music that was Thin Lizzy. Kicking off as they mean to go on, the title track finds the band in exuberant form, rockin' hard under the twin guitar attack of Scott Gorham and John Sykes. It's a song that absolutely flies along, a true metal classic, grabs you by the throat and shakes you around like a dog with a rabbit, and does not let go. At the end of it you feel absolutely drained, but in a good way. Turn this up to 10 and watch your speakers hop off the shelf! The lyrical theme is nothing special, no great message, just a get-down-and-rock anthem, and it works beautifully as an opener, and as a statement of intent. Things keep rockin' for “This is the one”, then slow down for one of the finest tracks on the album. There are, to be fair, few ballads in Thin Lizzy's repertoire. Unlike other rock bands like Bon Jovi, Queen, Rainbow or even Whitesnake, you would be hard-pressed to point to a classic Lizzy ballad. Even their most famous “slow song”, the superb “Still in love with you”, speeds up halfway through. So it's with no small sense of achievement that they've crafted the wonderful “The sun goes down”, which in a really ironic and tragic way could be seen as a musical epitaph for Phil Lynott, who would breathe his last three years later. Driven on an inspired keyboard base, Darren Wharton at his very best, with minimal percussion and a great guitar solo halfway through, it's a fantastic song, but don't ask me what it's about! ”There is a demon among us/ Whose soul belongs in Hell/ Sent here to redeem us/ She knows it all too well/ She comes and goes/ She comes and goes/ He knows it all too well/ But when all is said and done/ The sun goes down.” Despite the cryptic lyric though, it's a great song and definitely one of the standout tracks on the album. Things kick back into high gear then for “The holy war”, with an interesting lyric concerning the fanaticism of those who fight wars for religion. ”And if God is in the heavens/ Why did God let children die?/ If you don't ask these questions/ There is no reason why.” It's a vicious and powerful attack on organised religion, and Lynott is in fine voice throughout, with the guitars of Gorham and Sykes again taking centre stage. Then we're into one of the very best tracks on the album. Released as a moderately successful single, “Cold sweat” smashes its way onto the stage, beginning with a muted guitar intro before the double axe-attack kicks in, and Phil steps things up a gear as he flies off at ninety-words-a-minute vocal, relating the tale of a gambler who believes he can make the big score. ”I've got a whole month's wages/ I haven't seen that much in ages/ I might spend it in stages/ Move out to Las Vegas.” In the same vein as the title track, it's a stormer that granbs hold and doesn't release you till the final guitar chords churn out the end of the song, and again you feel like you've been chewed up and spat out. In a good way. Brian Downey's thundering drums add great backbone to this track, and it's an instant Lizzy classic by the time you've heard it once. Think you'll be able to catch your breath after that? Fat chance! “Someday she is going to hit back” is another fast rocker which never lets up, the story of an abused woman who has had enough. It opens with a powerful instrumental, almost cinematic intro, then gets going and never stops. ”Woman don't like it!” growls Lynott menacingly ”Hurting her this way/ Someday she is going to hit back!” There's a great guitar duel throughout the song, but even at that there's an air of commerciality about the song, though it was never released as a single. So, after that then “Baby please don't go” has to be a ballad, right? BUZZZZ! WRONG! A little slower yes, but still another rocker, in the mould of “Dancing in the moonlight”, but considerably faster. The guys basically keep their foot pressed to the pedal right to the end, with “Bad habits” echoing elements of “Do anything you want to” and “Jailbreak”, with the brilliant line ”Boys will be boys/ And girls will be trouble!”, then the album comes to a speeding and crashing close with “Heart attack”, again almost prophetic in its lyric: ”Mama I'm dyin' of a heart attack/ Heart attack/ I love that girl but she don't love me back” and later ”Papa I'm drinking for an overload,/ Overload, overload!/ The gun in my pocket is all ready to explode/ Papa I'm dying of an overdose,/ Overdose, overdose/ I tried to warn you don't come too close.” Terribly sad, in the light of future events, but there's no denying it's a powerful killer punch to bring to a triumphant end the last studio album ever recorded by a band who secured their place in rock history, and who will always be remembered fondly. TRACKLISTING 1. Thunder and lightning 2. This is the one 3. The sun goes down 4. The holy war 5. Cold sweat 6. Someday she is going to hit back 7. Baby please don't go 8. Bad habits 9. Heart attack Suggested further listening: "Jailbreak" and "Renegade" plus "Life", double-live album from this tour, last ever recorded Lizzy output. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 11-04-2011 at 10:20 AM.