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Triumph - The Sport of Kings Audio CD

A fair review of the Triumph "The Sport of Kings" 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 Triumph reviews here, or go back to the Triumph tabs.

Triumph Band: Triumph
Title: The Sport of Kings
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-04-12
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Tears in the Rain 2: Somebody's Out There 3: What Rules My Heart 4: If Only 5: Hooked on You 6: Take a Stand 7: Just One Night 8: Embrujo [Instrumental] 9: Play with the Fire 10: Don't Love Anybody Else But Me 11: In the Middle of the Night

This is one of the best TRIUMPH albums ever made.
I have listened to all of the releases by TRIUMPH, and "The Sport Of Kings" is strong both lyrically, as well as in the overall strength of the music. Yes, this is one of the very best TRIUMPH albums. This album has some of the best drum tracks and guitar licks that TRIUMPH has ever recorded. As for the reviewers who want to try and defile the quality and character of this album, I think they should have another toke, and put on their Good Charlotte & Nickleback songs. Then they can fill their ears with something more liken to their own intellect, because the music of TRIUMPH is just too intelligent for their limited comprehension. For all other Rock music lovers & fans of TRIUMPH, this is an album that is definately worth your time. I think it is worth your money, to add it to your music collection. 5 stars & much respect to TRIUMPH.


Bittersweet Triumph - The Beginning of the End
Rik Emmett definitely was a source of redemption throughout the band's journey with his virtuoso guitar work. While Triumph is often underrated because they were so borderline generic, they really knew how to put together some great rock riffs and to moderate their cheesiness on several of their great albums, such as Just A Game, and Allied Forces. On this album they forget about all of that and try to join the arena rock sound of Journey/Foreigner/Boston by really laying on the keyboard and writing lyrics for the masses. Most of the album is so sweet, it is sickening. However, there are a few gems:

- Somebody's Out There - While heavy on the keyboards, the singing is fantastic and the lyrics are warm hearted without being over the top.

- If Only - Nice mix of soaring guitars, keyboards, and more genuine lyrics.

- Play with the Fire - The only good rocker on here. . . classic Emmett guitar work.

- Runner ups: Tears in the Rain and Embrujo (instrumental)

If you don't enjoy keyboards and 80's Arena sound at all, don't buy this. If it is more your thing, you may enjoy this album more than I did. If you can tolerate some of it, and are a Triumph fan, you may check it out for fun.


Good Album
Yes it was the 80's and there was alot of cheeze around, but Rik Emmetts songs still shine thru. Some great songs on here. Rik was Triumph, and the talent, the voice, the great guitar player. The other guys were stiffs. They shouldve let Rik take the band where he wanted to take them. Take A Stand is one of the best Triumph songs, there are some other gems on here. Long live Rik Emmett, great guy too.


still a letdown 20 years later
I was a big fan back in the day and got to see the "Thunder Seven" and "The Sport of Kings" tours as a teenager. It is good to see the Triumph catalog finally getting its just due and being remastered and released. I remember eagerly awaiting the release of this album after the masterpiece "Thunder Seven" and being disappointed back then. Well after listening again, it still sounds as bland to me now as it did then. To me, this album was a major step in the wrong direction for this band. . . the songs are boring, the arrangements stale, and the lyrics are as cliche and trite as they come. Just a bland album. I think a large part of it was Rik Emmitt's influence also as the material definitely started leaning towards the type of music you would see with his solo material later on. It is no secret that some serious cracks were forming between Gil Moore/Mike Levine and Rik around this time, and the band would only put out one more album before their demise in 1988.

If you are looking for some Triumph, go buy "Thunder Seven" or "Allied Forces". . . that was when they were at their best. This album is watered down, homogonized pop compared to the rock that they put out earlier.


Underrated and now it also sounds better than ever!
Boy did the Triumph records need a remastering? The old CD releases suffered from poor sound quality but this is truly a lift!
So what about the music then.
This is the ultimate Triumph disc for me! This one together with "Thunder Seven" and "Surveillance" really does the trick!
The talented Rik Emmett sings his ass off on "Somebody's out there" and the material is so strong throughout the whole record it's stunning!

Buy!.


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

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