2016-09-15

Classic rocker Meat Loaf is back with Braver Than We Are, his first studio album in 20 years, but if the songs contained on this new offering sound a little too much like vintage Meat Loaf, that’s probably because they’re not new songs in the strictest sense of the word. Much of the music contained on Braver Than We Are has been sitting around gathering dust for the past two decades or more, failing to be considered for Meat Loaf’s 1977 Bat Out of Hell debut album, or, in some cases, considered and later dropped. All of those songs were written by brother Jim Steinman those many years ago and have now been recorded for a new offering from Meat Loaf.

Braver Than We Are Offers New Music, Including A Sequel To “Paradise By The Dashboard Lights”

September 2016. #meatloaf #jimsteinman #braverthanweare #newalbum

A photo posted by Lucy King (@favourite_obsession) on
Jun 14, 2016 at 12:59pm PDT

As Entertainment Weekly points out in their review of Braver Than We Are, Meat Loaf fans will eat up the vintage sounds coming in from this new album, coming to love the music for what it gives them. One of the most attention-grabbing tracks on the album is “Going All the Way,” which is being billed as a cousin to “Paradise By the Dashboard Lights,” but may be considered to be a sequel as much as a cousin. In any case, the song brings Ellen Foley and Karla DeVito back to sing along with Meatloaf. This time, Foley and DeVito are more than back-up accents, providing the voice of the feminine where needed, because, as Meat Loaf himself suggests, he’s in need of extra support these days.

“My voice isn’t what it once was,” Meat Loaf admits.

To enhance his performance in instances where his voice fails, Meat Loaf calls on his acting skills to build up the bravado and carry the song through the more difficult tones.

Even with his faltering voice, Meat Loaf manages to offer up the wide range of styles for which he has always been revered by his classic rock fans. Braver Than We Are even offers up “Train of Love,” which may be the earliest written song, but comes off sounding like something out of the ’80s with just a hint of southern rock.

Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are Track Listing

“Who Needs the Young”

“Going All the Way Is Just the Start”

“Speaking in Tongues”

“Loving You’s a Dirty Job”

“Souvenirs”

“Only When I Feel”

“More”

“Godz”

“Skull of Your Country”

“Train of Love”

Meat Loaf On Collapsing On Stage And The Possibility Of Dying In Mid Concert

Recently got together with my good friend Paul Crook to create some new photographs on the road with the one and only Meatloaf #meatloaf #paulcrook #rocknroll #batoutofhell #rocknroll #concertphotography #concerts #prestigeguitars #braverthanweare

A photo posted by Adrian O'Brien (@adrianobrienphotographer) on
Sep 13, 2016 at 4:13pm PDT

An on-stage collapse recently stirred concern over Meat Loaf’s health, but Chicago Tribune reports that the incident was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, brought about by heat and dehydration. Unlike many musical artists, Meat Loaf doesn’t take a break between songs to step off stage for a drink of water. Instead, the Braver Than We Are artist delivers a constant stream of music, striving to create one monumental musical experience for his fans.

Delivering such an intense experience may delight concert goers, but it also puts greater stress on Meat Loaf and even he can’t deny that he’s no longer in the prime of his youth. Meat Loaf recognizes that he might meet his end on stage and he even has a plan for that.

“I have a plan if I die. The band plays, ‘When the Saints Go Marching In,’ and then they all get off their instruments and they lead the audience in a song, ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game.’ And if it was too morbid to leave me on the stage, take me off the stage and still do the same thing.”

While his concerts may be intense, fans shouldn’t get the idea that Meat Loaf is a workaholic. To the contrary, he has a very specific ritual for relaxing and contemplating each show. After every performance, Meat Loaf locks himself away in his room and refuses to speak to anyone. He avoids most people, as he recuperates from the performance. The only exception to this rule is his assistant, Frances.

“…her ritual is at 4 o’clock in the afternoon she comes in and checks on me, on a day off, like a nurse in an old folk’s home,” laughs Meat Loaf.

[Featured Image by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

Meat Loaf On ‘Braver Than We Are’ And Dying On Stage [Video] is an article from: The Inquisitr News

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