like Bruce Springsteen wearing a cape and plastic vampire teeth
September 15, 2016 10:57 AM   Subscribe

The 13th Meat Loaf studio album comes out this weekend. The good news is that all the songs are by Jim Steinman, who wrote pretty much all of Meat Loaf's songs anyone likes, so Braver Than We Are sounds like it'll be exactly the kind of bombastic operatic rock that Meat Loaf and Steinman have struck gold with in the past, with the singer saying that he wanted to make it one super-long performance, but "iTunes wanted tracks."

The bad news is that it's apparently not that good, to the point that even a Meat Loaf fan wrote an article saying, "The trick here is to talk you into Meat Loaf (who can be quite rad) while simultaneously talking you out of Meat Loaf’s new album (which is mostly terrible)."

People have been saying that Meat Loaf's voice is on a downturn for just about as long as he's been around. He collapsed on stage earlier this year but was said to be recovering well.

Meat Loaf, born Marvin Lee Aday but now legally Michael Lee Aday, turns 69 years old later this month.
posted by Etrigan (56 comments total) 9 users marked this as a favorite
 
"The trick here is to talk you into Meat Loaf (who can be quite rad) while simultaneously talking you out of Meat Loaf’s new album (which is mostly terrible)."

So he'll do anything for the love of Meat Load, but he won't do that.
posted by ocschwar at 11:05 AM on September 15, 2016 [7 favorites]


So he would do anything for rock opera...

he wanted to make it one super-long performance, but "iTunes wanted tracks."

... but he won't do that. But he won't do that.
posted by GuyZero at 11:05 AM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


goddamnit.
posted by GuyZero at 11:05 AM on September 15, 2016 [6 favorites]


It was a good joke that deserved to be made twice.
posted by jonathanhughes at 11:08 AM on September 15, 2016 [10 favorites]


Preface: I say this as someone who grew up on and loved Bat Out Of Hell and his other late 70's and early 80's stuff and even his comeback stuff.

I saw him on a talk show and he sounded out of it and not healthy. I'm glad he's back with Steinman, but I'm kind queasy about it all.
posted by jonmc at 11:08 AM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


The longest and most tortuous arguments I had during my entire undergraduate career revolved around the antecedent of Meat Loaf's "but I won't do that." Suffice it to say, everyone expressing confusion about exactly what Meat will not do for love, has not listened to the entire extended cut of that song, in its 13 glorious minutes of exposition.

(The short version: he won't lie to you, and that's a fact. He'll never forget the way he feels right now. He'll never forgive himself if you don't go all the way, tonight)
posted by Mayor West at 11:16 AM on September 15, 2016 [9 favorites]


His son-in-law is Scott Ian from Anthrax, which means they probably have a much better time at Thanksgiving than I do.
posted by bondcliff at 11:20 AM on September 15, 2016 [8 favorites]


He'll never forgive himself if you don't go all the way, tonight

Yeah, but then you wind up praying for the end of time.
posted by nubs at 11:22 AM on September 15, 2016 [8 favorites]


Mayor West, excuse me for re-opening old wounds, but at the end of the extended album version, its pretty clear what he won't do for love:

After a while you'll forget everything
It was a brief interlude and a midsummer night's fling
And you'll see that it's time to move on
I won't do that
I won't do that

I know the territory, I've been around
It'll all turn to dust and we'll all fall down
Sooner or later you'll be screwing around
I won't do that
No, I won't do that

posted by kittensofthenight at 11:24 AM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


Suffice it to say, everyone expressing confusion about exactly what Meat will not do for love, has not listened to the entire extended cut of that song

I guess I just always assumed he wouldn't eat the booty.
posted by bondcliff at 11:26 AM on September 15, 2016 [13 favorites]


Michael Lee Aday, turns 69 years old later this month.
But I'm in it 'till it's over and I just can't stop
If you wanna get it done, you gotta do it yourself,
and I like my music like I like my life
posted by blue_beetle at 11:28 AM on September 15, 2016


blue_beetle, good one, but I would go with:

A wasted youth is better by far
Than a wise and productive old age
posted by nubs at 11:31 AM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


The bad news is that it's apparently not that good

Sometimes you eat the meatloaf and sometimes, well, the Meat Loaf, he eats you.
posted by octobersurprise at 11:33 AM on September 15, 2016


My first introduction to Meat Loaf was as an actor in the long-forgotten 1979 movie Scavenger Hunt, where he plays the leader of a biker gang who intimidates and beats the crap out of the sleazy lawyer played by Richard Benjamin. As a child, I found his character to be super scary and menacing, and so I always had this idea that Meat Loaf the person was some evil, devil-worshipping heavy metal dude who probably killed puppies on stage and drank their blood.

Then a few years later I saw the video for "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" on MTV and I was like:
"Oh, so that's the fellow I've been so frightened of all this time. Huh."
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:33 AM on September 15, 2016 [5 favorites]


If you want a fresh Meat Loaf song, I strongly recommend this one. I can't believe it's not Jim Steinman!
posted by Countess Elena at 11:34 AM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


Funny you should mention Springsteen, 'cause Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg of the E Street Band perform on Bat out of Hell (along with Edgar Winter, Todd Rundgren, Ellen Foley and others).
posted by Gelatin at 11:45 AM on September 15, 2016


long-forgotten 1979 movie Scavenger Hunt

Not forgotten by everyone. I remember it not just for Meat Loaf, but for Dirk "Starbuck" Benedict and a very weird kinda uncomfortable scene (at least for a kid) inside the LA Rams locker room. Plus, Meat Loaf looked so different physically from what I had expected, based on his voice.

Then a few years later I saw the video for "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" on MTV

That video was kind of eyeopening for me at the time; seeing how the stage performance added to the song without having to go the direction of other rock videos in terms of flash and special effects.
posted by nubs at 11:49 AM on September 15, 2016 [4 favorites]


That's a rather tender subject.
posted by furtive at 11:49 AM on September 15, 2016 [5 favorites]


The longest and most tortuous arguments I had during my entire undergraduate career revolved around the antecedent of Meat Loaf's "but I won't do that."

When I was in undergrad my best friend and I did an amazing two-woman improv/sketch comedy show and part of it involved us pretending to talk on the telephone (two phones on opposite sides of the stage but, like, we could see each other and everything) while I explained my theory about what Meatloaf won't do.

If you listen to the bit at the end, it's clear that the woman has been hurt before and wants him to leave her or hurt her in some way because she is afraid of developing an attachment to Mr. Loaf (e.g. "I know the territory, I've been around; this will all turn to dust and we'll all fall down. Sooner or later you'll be screwing around." and "It was a brief interlude and a midsummer night's fling, and you'll see that it's time to move on."). He is telling her that he won't cheat on her or leave her; he will do anything for love, but he won't do the thing she's asking him to do which is NOT for love but is, in fact, to prevent herself from falling in love with him. Hurting her emotionally, even if she requests it, is the one thing Meatloaf won't do.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:56 AM on September 15, 2016 [14 favorites]


Tangentially: Is anyone else like me, in that they can't read the words 'Meat Loaf' without hearing the voice of the little brother from A Christmas Story mumbling "Meat loaf, meat loaf, double beet loaf, I hate meat loaf!" in their head? I'll admit, it's a sickness.
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:05 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


The little voice in my head always says "Meat Loaf, again?"
posted by octobersurprise at 12:16 PM on September 15, 2016 [4 favorites]


As per Atom Eyes' recollection, can we please have a Scavenger Hunt thread?
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:21 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


Perceived ambiguity of "that" is one of my favourite Wikipedia subsections ever.
posted by qntm at 12:21 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


My little voice belts out "Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul" and always mangles the We climbed in the back seat, really had a good time bit.
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:23 PM on September 15, 2016 [5 favorites]


In high school (late 70's), there was a really talented guy who would paint album covers on the back of jean jackets for a fee. They looked great and I can still picture some of them clearly in my mind. He did "Bat Out of Hell" for someone and to this day that album always makes me think of the artwork stretched over someone's back and shoulders, drifting through the school parking lot during lunch.
posted by davebush at 12:33 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


Joke all you want, but Bat Out Of Hell is a fantastic album.
posted by Beholder at 12:34 PM on September 15, 2016 [12 favorites]


Thing about Steinman is that he's not for everybody, even though the trillions that bought BOoH would disagree, but if you are on his wavelength and he is on his game with the right people the results are exhilarating.
I'm one of the few that count Streets of Fire among their favorite films and when it opens with "Nowhere Fast" I get that feeling of goosebumps and windswept invincibility that is everything that you want from the promise of Rock and Roll.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:39 PM on September 15, 2016 [8 favorites]


can we please have a Scavenger Hunt thread?

Yes, please! In case any potential FPPers need encouragement:
(from Wikipedia) The ensemble cast includes Richard Benjamin, James Coco, Scatman Crothers, Ruth Gordon, Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley, Richard Mulligan, Tony Randall, Dirk Benedict, Willie Aames, Stephanie Faracy, Stephen Furst and Richard Masur ... It includes an appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and features cameos by rock legend Meat Loaf and horror-movie icon Vincent Price.

posted by Atom Eyes at 12:41 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


I'd love to eavesdrop on on Stephin Merritt and Meat Loaf discussing love. "Crazy for you, but not that crazy."
posted by jetsetsc at 12:42 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


The main thing we have to thank Jim Steinman for is "This Corrosion" and "More".
posted by bongo_x at 12:49 PM on September 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


Jim Steinman also ended up producing the Sisters of Mercy, during their pivot away from monochromatic, claustrophobic post-punk and towards big, bombastic stadium rock, resulting in them getting the nickname “Gothloaf”.
posted by acb at 12:53 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


I tried to explain Jim Steinman to Gentleman Caller, and he said "oh, so he's like a real-life version of Winslow from The Phantom of the Paradise!" And that made me kind of love Steinman.
posted by pxe2000 at 12:55 PM on September 15, 2016 [7 favorites]


My first introduction to Meat Loaf was as an actor in the long-forgotten 1979 movie Scavenger Hunt, where he plays the leader of a biker gang who intimidates and beats the crap out of the sleazy lawyer played by Richard Benjamin. As a child, I found his character to be super scary and menacing, and so I always had this idea that Meat Loaf the person was some evil, devil-worshipping heavy metal dude who probably killed puppies on stage and drank their blood.

I had that idea because I saw the album cover for Bat Out of Hell long before ever listening to it (probably a common experience).
posted by atoxyl at 12:58 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


His son-in-law is Scott Ian from Anthrax, which means they probably have a much better time at Thanksgiving than I do.

S'long's they stick with turkey rather than, say, lamb chops.
 
posted by Herodios at 1:05 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


Jim Steinman also ended up producing the Sisters of Mercy ... resulting in them getting the nickname "Gothloaf."

Shame he never produced The Cranberries. Who doesn't love a good fruitloaf?
posted by octobersurprise at 1:10 PM on September 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


Steinman gave us all this important bit of information: there ain't no Coupe de Ville hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. And for that, we thank him.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:27 PM on September 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


The bad news is that it's apparently not that good

so there ain't no way we're ever gonna love it?
posted by entropicamericana at 1:59 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


so there ain't no way we're ever gonna love it?

Yeah, but don't feel sad. Two outta three ain't bad.

(Bat out of Hell/Bat out of Hell II being the two)
posted by nubs at 2:09 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


The reviewers are having so much fun being scathing that it's difficult to tell what's going on, so I'll probably listen to it once on Spotify just to see. I even like Steinman's most variable curate's eggs (Pandora's Box? Tanz der Vampire?), so there might be something there for me.

Age can be a bastard, though, can't it?
posted by Grangousier at 2:14 PM on September 15, 2016


A way we could frame the Scavenger Hunt thread is it's being part of a boomlet of wacky people playing a real live game movies that seems to happen every now and again. Midnight Madness came out the following year and I know there were others that I can't put my finger on at the moment. Then tie that in with more recent examples like Rat Race and back to Mad Mad Mad World and such.
Plus this Christmas will mark the film's 37th anniversary so the post basically writes itself.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:58 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


I can't think of Meat Loaf without getting reminded of Christopher Lee introducing him on SNL.
posted by ckape at 3:08 PM on September 15, 2016 [4 favorites]


Like most people in the '70s my parents had a copy of Bat Out Of Hell on vinyl, although I don't remember them ever playing it. As a young lad, the cover actually frightened me. Imagine my mild surprise when I finally screwed up the courage to listen to it and discovered it sounded more like the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack (which my parents also had and listened to all the time) than the terrifying demonic soundscape I had imagined it to be.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:33 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


His name is Robert Paulson!
posted by Ber at 3:55 PM on September 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


I'll probably love it. I saw Meat Loaf on his last tour, and everyone said it was terrible but I had an amazing time. 'Rock and Roll Dreams Come True' is one of the bombastic songs that got me through my existential crisis (along with Welcome to the Black Parade) - sometimes you just need over the top Jim Steinman emoting.

Also the Streets of Fire soundtrack is awesome.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:20 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


Also the Streets of Fire soundtrack is awesome.


Dude, this post made me put "Nowhere Fast" on loud and on repeat for like 20 minutes.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 4:40 PM on September 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


Well, when he sang at the 2011 Australian Football League Grand Final he really stank up the joint. There's some conjecture he couldn't hear, but he had in-ear monitors, so that was obviously wrong. He just can't sing anymore.
posted by awfurby at 5:30 PM on September 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


Dear MeFi, this utterly delightful thread has salvaged what had been a gloomy evening. It just might be the only thing in this whole world that's pure and good and right. I hope it won't be gone when the morning comes.
posted by TwoStride at 6:17 PM on September 15, 2016


I love Jim Steinman without apology. I read his Wikipedia page when I feel sad because it's so full of wacky, amazing things it makes me happy. He's someone who just does what he wants.

I'm sorry if I inflict my Steinman YouTube playlist on you when we're drunk. I'm not sorry for singing Steinman songs at karaoke, though, because they are the best.

Anyway, I wish Meat Loaf all of the best.
posted by darksong at 6:26 PM on September 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


As a young lad, the cover actually frightened me.

Richard Corben, at the height of his Frank-Frazetta-meets-hardcore-porn powers
. (The rider is not only in a painfully improbable riding position, but seems to be, ah, enjoying himself quite a lot.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:26 PM on September 15, 2016


Whoa, Steinman's name is right on the cover!
posted by bongo_x at 8:30 PM on September 15, 2016


As someone who has the album, and has listened to a bit of it (a bit was all I could take), I can only say that the first track "Who Needs the Young" is a rock-cabaret romp full of Sturm und Drang, that sounds like it was written by Sparks, which is never a bad thing.

The rest of it is, uh, somewhat lacking. And stay away from the Sisters of Mercy cover, I'm warning you now.
posted by SPUTNIK at 6:18 AM on September 16, 2016


Dunno what the gripe about iTune's track length limitation is.
posted by Devonian at 6:40 AM on September 16, 2016


The British comedian Sarah Millican once did a bit on stage about a female friend of hers who made herself a pair of Meatloaf-themed knickers. One the front they said "I would do anything for love..." And on the back they said "...but I won't do that".
posted by Paul Slade at 7:31 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


Sputnik thanks for corroborating the Sparks sound - of course that track dates back to the early 70's when it could easily have been influenced by the first releases by Sparks (not that Steinman would ever admit to that sort of influence!).

and Streets of Fire is a glorious movie and soundtrack. period.
posted by jkosmicki at 10:39 AM on September 16, 2016


List of things "that" may refer to:
give you up
let you down
run around and desert you
make you cry
say goodbye
tell a lie and hurt you
posted by ckape at 7:07 PM on September 18, 2016


Update: I tried listening to a song on the new album and I didn't enjoy it.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 10:26 PM on September 18, 2016


« Older "using a rubric that views a whole population...   |   Xhurches Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments