Michael Schenker – Temple Of Rock (Inakustik)
Not only is Michael Schenker one of the greatest hard rock guitarists ever, he’s one of the most frustrating.
Two or my all time favorite guitar players have played in the Scorpions-younger brother Michael and his replacement Uli Jon Roth-but it’s Schenker’s work in UFO where he destroys so consistently.
From there, his popularity led him to a solo career which started promisingly enough before becoming labored with volatile drinking issues and egotistical clashes with a revolving door personnel that seemed to change with each record.
The latest effort isn’t even identified as a group, just Michael Schenker as a solo artist. Actually, make that Michael Schenker the solo artist coming out of the top of a motherfucking pyramid!
Temple Of Rock is nowhere near as relic crushing as the cover suggests, and nowhere near as promising as the all-star ensemble listed in the liner notes would have you believe.
It’ll make you do a double take, especially when you discover it’s none other than William Shatner doing the little spoken word into to Temple Of Rock, only until you start listening to the nonsense they have him reading.
Rudy Schenker, Leslie West, Carmine Appice, Chris Slade and an endless parade of hard rock guests show up, but it’s the guest vocalist Doogie White who ends up stealing the spotlight when it comes to real contribution.
He only appears on one song, “Before The Devil Knows Your Dead,” and that’s a shame.
Inexplicably, Schenker gives the majority of the vocals on the record to Michael Voss who possesses a flaccid vocal tonality and renders the album as nothing more than an irritant. His limited ability magnifies the album’s other huge flaw: the woefully clichéd lyrics.
What’s bewildering is how Schenker works mindblowing solos in between all of the shit sandwiches and formulaic prose. It’s during these moments when Schenker still shows signs of previous greatness and it hints that he may be nothing more than a six-string savant with flashes of technical brilliant, but with nothing in terms of the social skills needed to share the stage with a complimentary partner.
Temple Of Rock acts like it’s still 1987 and it’s attitude mines the possibility that it can compete with Giuffria or some other second-tier hair metal band trying to break out of MTV’s light rotation.
While the record seems content with that very low expectation, Schenker compellingly finds this schlock as a good enough reason to play against. It’s a very frustrating experience, which means that Temple Of Rock is just business as usual for this could-have been shredder contender.
Nice honest review. I agree, a great guitarist but not the best songwriter and needs a good partner with melodies to produce his best work. That would be Phil Mogg or his brother then.
Without good strong songs it is indeed largely average.
that was one of the worst reviews i have ever read why dont you see if you can get a job at rolling stone whith the rest of the scmucks then at lest ill no what to avoid xp
We value your opinion and appreciate your feedback. Thanks for reading, Paul!
Couldn’t agree more with your review. The songwriting is not strong, especially lyrically. But the real problem is that any of the good songs could have been better with a solid vocalist…Voss basically brings down each song down at least a notch, if not two or three. Having said this, there are still some good songs, (although some are just crap, even if Doogie White sang on the whole album.) I don’t get Schenker’s choice of vocalists lately…aside from Barden, who is a bonafide great vocalist for Schenker, two of the last three have been subpar at best.
Anyway, that’s my issue with the CD. I would love to see it re-recorded with an actual vocalist with range to give this an appropriate rating…
What gets forgotten is his struggles in life. He relatively seems HAPPY and the crew he surrounds himself can fulfill that happiness. Yes, IF he wanted to be more “ mainstream” he COULD. Give him credit for being at PEACE( my guess) and NOT trying to please anyone but himself. He is a guitar GOD, regardless if his songs ever gain notoriety. I too think Barden was his ideal vocalist. Enjoy WHAT he brings you, BEFORE he is no longer able!!