Iron Maiden's Reviews

Edward The Great: Greatest Hits

Too selective even for an introduction.

First, Iron Maiden has released 12 studio albums. 2 experimental and premature albums before they found their right niche, 5 championed classics of the metal genre, 4 speculative mediocricies after their initial creative pool ran out an 1 well meaning attempt to recapture some of the old wonder. A compilation like this off course have to be representative of the bands career. In Maiden's case that means a good portion of the disc is filled with second rate material from their later years at the expence of first rate songs from their earlier.

Second, some of Maiden's albums were integrative works where the entirety was more than the sum of the songs. This is especially true for "Seventh son of a seventh son", which actually was a concept album. However it is also true for "Somewhere in time". To take songs out of these albums is to take something away from the songs because they were defined by the context they were in.

Third and most importantly, this album is called "greatest hits", not "best of". In other words, the songs here are those that are the most catchy if you can use that word about metal. However, in a genre which is mainstream offencive nearly by definition it's rightout self-contradictory to assume that a bands least radio-offensive songs are their best.

Among the songs not included on this disc I could compile a set that I would appreciate more than that on this record. I understand why a band wants to present a compressed version of its work to a new generation, but this record only serve to let new listeners underestimate the bands achievements and importance. Taken on its own terms it is still a good record, the 3 stars reflect only the fact that a compilation is supposed to be more than just a good listen.

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