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Sun and Steel

Iron Butterfly - Sun and Steel Audio CD

A fair review of the Iron Butterfly "Sun and Steel" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Iron Butterfly reviews here, or go back to the Iron Butterfly tabs.

Band: Iron Butterfly
Title: Sun and Steel
Rating:

Release Date: 1995-03-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Sun and Steel 2: Lightnin' 3: Beyond the Milky Way 4: Free 5: Scion 6: Get It Out 7: I'm Right, I'm Wrong 8: Watch the World Going By 9: Scorching Beauty

Once again, I love an album many people seem to hate
I love Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Love Beach, I love Black Sabbath's Technical Ecstasy, and I love the Moody Blues Octave album. It never ends. Maybe there's something wrong with me. Maybe I actually live on another planet with people who aren't normal and I don't know about it. Whatever the case, I seem to love music, mostly rock music, that's generally considered to be bad or average by most people who listen to it and give their negative opinions. This might explain why I have trouble talking to people. There's something strange about me. You can almost see it in my eyes. I'm like a horror movie come to life.

But let me say this- I honestly love everything Iron Butterly has ever done. This album included. Yes, I know this means many of you out there will be thinkin' "well he's a fan, so he's just going to suck up to everything the band released". Let's not think that way. I don't suck up. I just suck. I knew before I heard Sun and Steel that I'd like the music because of all the negative reviews, and yes, it turns out I do love it. Once again, just like with the albums I mention above, the music on Sun and Steel is not as bad as people would have you believe.

The title song may be a little weak but not bad enough to write it off. "Lightnin" has a wonderful disco beat, or SOME kind of beat. It's kind of like ZZ Top's "tube snake boogie". That's a good song too. ZZ Top were really good at one time. My parents like them a lot. "beyond the milky way" is a very beautiful song. I never thought of it as a ballad, but I guess that's really what it is. There's something very pretty about it. The next few songs just plain ROCK, dude. They rock in a very fun, melodic way. This stuff ain't bad at all, darn it.

And, oh man, "I'm right, I'm wrong" has SUCH a close sound to the music the band Camel was releasing at the time. Ever heard of Camel? Pick something up from them. Don't be fooled by the band name. Just because a camel isn't a beautiful animal doesn't mean the band Camel makes terrible music. Camel plays incredibly beautiful melodic music. But this isn't about that band. This is about late period Iron Butterly, and how underrated this album is, and how much people should realize it, and. . . damn. If only people knew. Time to go back to my spaceship to tell my weird alien relatives I'm returning home. But I shall sprinkle Sun and Steel CD's all over some empty area of Utah for some hunter or jack frost to find out about this wonderful album, and take it home to their family. Play it loud and buy it now. .

not your typical IB music but a great 70's sounding rocker!
(a third was in the works when label MCA dropped them and they remain in the vaults) The first was Scorching Beauty. There were two IB albums in the mid 70's. Not very good, this one "Sun & Steel" was MUCH better. The band lineup for the album is longtime IB members Erik Braunn (GTR/VOX) & Ron Bushy (DRUMS) Also in the band was (on his 2nd IB album) Phil Kramer (BASS/VOX) & new member Bill DeMartines (KEYBOARDS/VOX).

The album has its great rockers and 2 nice ballads. Some of the lyrics aren't that good but some are magical.

Sun & Steel- a hard rocker with a kickin gtr solo but the lyrics are kind of dumb. (Sung by Erik Braunn)

Lightnin'- Good vocally & lyrically, This song uses the guitar/voice box feature. More famous in songs like Rocky Mountain Way & Living On A Prayer BUT IB was the first band to use the feature. (Back in 1970 on Butterfly Bleu) (sung by Phil Kramer)

Beyond the Milky Way- GREAT TUNE! One of 2 ballads on the album. This was played at my wedding (bridal party dance) Kind of weak vocals in places but the lyrics are golden! This was released as a single and did not chart. (written by demartines & bushy and sung by Bill DeMartines)

Free- Another erik braunn tune and this one is one of the weaker songs. Lyrically & vocally. Honestly he is dearly departed and a helluva guitarist but he shouldn't have ever sung.

Scion- Great rocker, great keyboard chops and guitar solo can't be beat. Weak vocally again as it is sung by Erik.

Get It Out- Another Erik song which is warbly like usual but seems to fit better in this song than in others. Was the flip to "Milky Way" on the single.

I'm Right I'm Wrong- The only other Phil Kramer tune on the album. Great song, wonderfully sung, orchestral arrangements were a nice touch, the only complaint is the opening violins are a bit grinding to the ears. Someone told me it was released as an edit on a 45 with the song that follows it. not sure which was the A side and which was the B side or if it is even true.

Watch The World Goin By- The best Erik Braunn tune, his warble makes the song sound sad and it fits perfectly. I lost a good friend to kidney disease last year (2004) and this song always reminds me of him. Footage of him would actually make for a good video for the song (and make me sadder) RIP Mikey!

Scorching Beauty- I don't think this was left over it is probably a coincidental occurance. It sounds alot more like the Sun & Steel songs in type. The only thing that ruins it is Erik's voice, but it saves it when he "sings" along with the guitar.

A good album, worth the money (well not 30 some dollars) but if you can find it for less GET IT! don't expect In A Gadda Da Vida and expect good mid 70's rock and you will LOVE it!

Please read and rate all my reviews.
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Better than scorching beauty
Again the weak point is Brann's vocals. This album isn't really that bad, except for the sappy across the milky way. Don't pay $39. 98 for it though.

worst 70's rock album ever
I didn't even know about it until a couple days ago and have just finished listening to it. I can't believe anyone likes this album. Now let me clarify, I am a big fan of the original lineup and have owned Scorching Beauty for many years. I thought that album while being Iron Butterfly in name only, was a great albeit different album. It had lots of catchy songs and rocked out, and even had good ballads. This is not the follow-up I expected. It's way too commercial sounding and the slick production is a big hinderence. I did like the song Scorching Beauty but obviously that was left over from the sessions for the previous album of the same name. A big waste of time, don't bother. I bet the people who liked this album also liked the Jefferson Airplane reunion album from 89, cause that was also made for ex-hippies who no longer trip.

its worth the high price tag
Its worth the high price just for the opportunity to repeatedly blow your brains out at high volume to the title track "scorching beauty" this song is as energized as "da vida" and is INTENSE! KILLER jam . the rest of the CD has its ups and downs but the song scorhing beauty will blow you away.

You can see a complete list of all Iron Butterfly discography, or go back to the Iron Butterfly tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.