Judas Priest's Reviews
Turbo (Average Rating: 5.88 out of 10)
"Judas Priest, TURBO!" (Rated this album with 8 out of 10)
Reviewed by
Mattowarrior
from Madison, WI United States
A much maligned album, Judas Priest's 1986 opus "Turbo" probably doesn't sound half as bad as it did when it came out. Sure it took a cue from 80's Billy Idol or ZZ Top with the electronic pop influenced elements (not really hair metal as popularly alleged) , but it is so damn catchy its not funny! This is obviously Priest's cheesiest album (other than the two recent "Ripper" Owens fiascos) but it is a bundle of fun. The guitar work is in a word, awesome and some of the keyboards enhance the songs in an atmospheric way like "Out in the Cold", etc. Rob Halford also shines on this album, especially on "Reckless" and the title track. Its the perfect "car" album, and other than two songs I don't like too much ("Wild Nights.." and Private Property") I listen to this much more than I maybe should considering the consensus against it. The secret weapon it has going for it is MELODY and lots of it. "Hot for Love" has the most 80's sounding sound effects this side of Miami Vice, but the middle guitar solo from KK Downing makes the song shine.
Overall, its a worthy purchase, besides the naysayers. I would say that one shouldn't start their Priest collection with this though, they might not be prepared for the sometimes very dated sounding production and fx.
As for this release allegedly sounding more commercial than previous ones, remember the first album had songs like the title track "Rocka Rolla" and every album past "Hell Bent for Leather" had songs like "Fever", "Take These Chains", "Don't go", "Living After Midnight", "Another thing Coming" and so on. So that makes this argument kind of bunk in my eyes. That's what really seperated Priest from Maiden in many ways was that they did occasionally try to write a catchy single on purpose. And EVERY album has those sexual innuendo lyrics!
Buy this album on Amazon at $10.99
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