Better Than Raw (Exp)

Helloween - Better Than Raw (Exp)

Better Than Raw (Exp)
Our Price: $44.98
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $7.96 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

CD Details

Artist: Helloween
Edition: Music CD
Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2006-05-16
Music Label: Sanctuary Records
Soundtracks:
  1. Deliberately Limited Preliminary Prelude in Z
  2. Push
  3. Falling Higher
  4. Hey Lord!
  5. Don't Spit On My Mind
  6. Revelation
  7. Time
  8. I Can
  9. A Handful Of Pain
  10. Laudate Dominum
  11. Midnight Sun
  12. Back On The Ground
  13. A Game We Shouldn't Play
  14. Perfect Gentleman
  15. Moshi Moshi-Shiki No Uta

Music reviews of Better Than Raw (Exp)

Music Review: More than just a handful of pain...
Rating: 5 Stars

Most of this album is outstanding - 9/10 to be more accurate. I don't understand why some people overlook this album - maybe the title puts them off (??).
As far as the original release is concerned, I would've given the album 10/10 if the 2 studio `bonus tracks' had replaced the 2 weakest tracks on the original release. That wasn't the case, so I would've given the original release 8/10.
This expanded edition has definitely improved on the original release of this album.
These guys certainly know how to make the best melodic metal music without sounding too cheesy (most of the time). It's easy to tell that a lot of intelligence and craft go into their creative output. They miss the mark at times but not on this album.
Andi Deris has a lot to do with why the songs sound so good to the ear. Lots of fans often mention that Kiske was a better vocalist. Technically - maybe so. I do love his work and every era of Helloween unlike some fans which are divided. However, Deris has something extra in his vocal delivery that consists of a raw, emotion-driven energy that makes him sound so convincing - kind of like he's singing with the same balls that Robert Plant sang with on the Zeppelin albums.

Here's a quick breakdown of the songs:

1. Deliberately Limited Prelude Period In Z: best intro to any Helloween album ever - dramatic orchestration that next leads into a monster song - 5/5
2. Push: explosive - the frantic vocals and ferocious pace gets the heart pumping - brilliant!! - 5/5
3. Falling Higher: the high standard continues with another excellent track - 4.5/5
4. Hey Lord: has an irresistible hook with the questioning `Hey Lord' chorus asking `what is it all about?'. Helloween have the brilliance to get away with commercial rock tracks without sounding corny - very few bands have that talent - 5/5
5. Don't Spit On My Mind: powerful track with awesome riffs & another strong chorus - equal favorite track on the album - 5/5
6. Revelation: about three quarters of the way to being real good....2 minutes shorter would've helped. I still dig it but would have preferred Game We Shouldn't Play for a place on the original - 3.5/5
7. Time: a slow, chiming, haunting track with excellent chorus & backing vocals - 5/5
8. I Can: this one rocks. Great tune. Another user-friendly song with a positive attitude that yet again refrains from being corny (just) - 4/5
9. A Handful Of Pain: I can hear Bowie in the vocals here. Another great chorus with attractive backing vocals - 5/5
10. Lavdate Dominum: excellent verses with the right build up that unfortunately leads to a lame chorus. Could have been much better - the weakest track on the `original' album only surpassed on the downside by the last `bonus' track on this expanded edition - 2.5/5
11. Midnight Sun: energetic work-out and a worthy ending to the original release - 4/5

Bonus Tracks

12. Back On The Ground: this one gets the heart pumping as well. Excellent track that leaves me asking why it wasn't included ahead of Lavdate Dominum on the original release 5/5
13. Game We Shouldn't Play: this bonus track is an absolute bonus indeed! - too good for a bonus track. 4/5
14. Perfect Gentleman: rockin' live version of one the most `loaded' and fun songs ever - a Helloween classic - 5/5
15. Moshi Moshi Shiki No Uta: drum solo with some nice guitar at the end...unnecessary! - 1/5

I don't know how many times I've been disappointed by the bonus tracks on albums over the last few years by different artists however, this is one that works the way you would hope. If you've already got the original release, like it, but aren't sure whether this is worth it for the extras, don't think about it - get it! If you haven't heard this album before, check it out and see what you think.
Anyway, I'm tired and going to bed.

Rock on!
More Better Than Raw (Exp) free music reviews:
1

Description of Better Than Raw (Exp)

Recorded at Chateau Du Pape and Crazy Cat Studios, Hamburg, Germany, and Mi Sueno, Tenerife, Spain. All tracks have been digitally remastered and features the 4 bonus tracks 'Back On The Ground', 'A Game We Shouldn't Play', 'Perfect Gentleman' & 'Moshi Moshi-Shiki No Uta'. Castle Music.

Hard Rock & Metal CDs

Music Genres
Bestsellers in Hard Rock & Metal CDs
Sunshine of Your Love ImageSunshine of Your Love
Music CD
Best price: $4.44
Acid Daze 1 ImageHawkwind - Acid Daze 1
Release date: 1994-06-08; Music CD
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops: $15.98
Hourglass ImageAmerica - Hourglass
America; Release date: 1994-05-17; Music CD
Best price: $9.84
Price in other shops: $14.98
To Ride Shoot Straight & Speak the Truth ImageEntombed - To Ride Shoot Straight & Speak the Truth
Release date: 1997-10-28; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Way Love Is ImageRick Cua - Way Love Is
Release date: 1995-04-11; Music CD
Best price: $35.00
Incantation ImageIncantation - Incantation
Release date: 1996-04-23; Music CD
Best price: $7.73
Price in other shops: $7.98
Kiss Unplugged [VHS] ImageKiss Unplugged [VHS]
Polygram Video; Release date: 1996-03-12; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $11.20
Price in other shops: $19.98
Poison - Flesh, Blood & Videotape [VHS] ImagePoison - Poison - Flesh, Blood & Videotape [VHS]
Capitol; Release date: 1991-12-03; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops: $14.98
Operation Rock N Roll [VHS] ImageVarious - Operation Rock N Roll [VHS]
Sony; Release date: 1991-07-02; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $19.69
Ultimate Ozzy Vhs ImageUltimate Ozzy Vhs
20th Century Fox; Release date: 1997-09-16; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $53.40
Similar CDs
Chameleon (Exp) (Spkg) ImageHelloween - Chameleon (Exp) (Spkg)
Release date: 2006-04-25; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $19.98
Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2 ImageHelloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2
Keeper; Release date: 2006-08-08; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $19.98
Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy ImageHelloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy
Release date: 2005-11-08; Music CD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: $18.98
Dark Ride ImageHelloween - Dark Ride
Release date: 2002-06-25; Music CD
Best price: $8.59
Price in other shops: $11.98
7 Sinners ImageHelloween - 7 Sinners
Release date: 2010-11-09; Music CD
Best price: $8.23
Price in other shops: $13.98
Rabbit Don't Come Easy ImageHelloween - Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Release date: 2003-05-19; Music CD
Best price: $5.76
Price in other shops: $11.98
Time of the Oath (Exp) ImageHelloween - Time of the Oath (Exp)
Release date: 2006-05-16; Music CD
Best price: $10.49
Price in other shops: $19.98
Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1 ImageHelloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1
Keeper; Release date: 2006-08-08; Music CD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops: $13.98
Walls of Jericho (Exp) ImageHelloween - Walls of Jericho (Exp)
Release date: 2006-04-25; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $19.98
Gambling With The Devil ImageHelloween - Gambling With The Devil
Release date: 2008-10-07; Music CD
Best price: $6.34
Price in other shops: $9.98
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles