Behind Closed Doors - Thunder

Advantages: Great looking cover
Disadvantages: Disguises the inadequacy on the contents

Let’s start by getting a few things straight. I love Thunder, I really do. I didn’t quite cry when they announced they were calling it a day in 1999, but it was close. And I jumped about like a madman when they reformed for 2002's Monsters of Rock tour, and announced a comeback album, due out later this year. I’ve bought all of their albums, even Luke's solo album, and the one he and Danny did together; I’ve bought concert ...
...the living room with a hairbrush to their songs - as a 20-something male! Now you’ll understand why I do not make the following statement lightly. This is NOT a great album. It’s not as bad as some I’ve had the misfortune to listen to, but it’s nowhere near as good as the rest of Thunder’s releases. So, what went wrong? If only I knew. Maybe it’s the mid-career dip that a lot of bands seem to suffer. Maybe it was ... Read review

Advantages: A great album and great value to boot
Disadvantages: Why have "the rest" when "the rare" and "the raw" are so good?

...it also has is a catchy bassy riff running through it, turning what could be a standard mid-tempo pop-rock track into something with a bluesy funky edge you want to groove along to. This is another track that would have been a welcome addition to any of Thunder's albums, and would have improved on most of the "Behind Closed Doors" album, which it was originally written for. It was about then that the band were getting the hang of tuneful backing vocals, a talent they use to good effect here. The tempo increases for "Bigger Than Both of Us", not just from the previous song, but from pretty much anything else Thunder have done before. Apart from this, there's not a great deal to be said - the words seem to stumble into each other and rather than being the raw suggested by the album title, the whole track feels unfinished, with little... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A great album
Disadvantages: If not quite as good as their debut

...Thunder’s second album, 1992’s “Laughing on Judgement Day” showcases everything that made Thunder great. There are some wonderful up-tempo rock/pop songs, a ballad that seems to make your heart beg for mercy, and some of the band’s trademark humour. The title itself is an indication of the band’s whole attitude to life – if you’re not laughing, then you’re not living. The album cover itself is pretty stunning. Weird, but wonderful, if you like. I’m not entirely sure what it’s meant to represent, but this was their first album cover by Storm Thorgerson who, with a company called Hipgnosis, designed about 16 album covers for Pink Floyd, and also worked on album covers for Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Genesis. He also designed the cover for Thunder’s third album, “Behind Closed Doors”, which was the best thing about it. Hiring Storm... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Everything that makes Thunder great is in here somewhere
Disadvantages: Vocals poorly mixed on a couple of songs

...and played. Danny was reluctant, as that wasn’t a part of his plan, but the band agreed. In the autumn, plans for an EP featuring four brand new songs were announced. New songs? From Thunder? Even better, this was to be followed by an album in the spring of 2003. A brand new Thunder album, after four years away. I could hardly contain myself. The “Back for the Crack” EP had proved that Thunder were back, and as good as ever. So, when the album initially came out, I was straight in there to buy it. That said, I’m such a big fan of the band, I’d have probably been straight out to buy it even if the EP had been useless. The cover is quite eye catching, which is a bit of a concern at first glance, as the cover to “Behind Closed Doors” was as well, and that turned out to be the worst of their albums. I was hoping the same isn’t true... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful