Reviews (page 13 of 15)
Now this is some power pop rock. Not for me, but Paradise by the Dashboard Light was good.
Hell yes. A classic rock album. While Meatloaf lost it in his later years, this album is the pinnacle of his career!
A classic, but unfortunately the album is not as strong as the title track.
'Ja, ik ben vandaag 25 jaar getrouwd, en daarom wou ik een plaatje aanvragen, speciaal voor mijn vrouw Monique...' Als er één nummer is dat stelselmatig verkeerd begrepen wordt (vooral door Nederlanders, en vooral door babyboomers) is het wel 'Paradise by the dashboard light'. Man begint aan bij voorbaat mislukt huwelijk omdat hij te graag in de auto aan haar wil frunniken. Ik had ook nooit veel aandacht aan de tekst geschonken, tot ik de Nederlandse vertaling hoorde (van Jan Rot natuurlijk, 'Volle maan aan de vrijerslaan'). Toen besefte ik pas dat het een soort cabaretnummer is, een parodie op de rock 'n roll van de jaren 50 en 60, in een wilde potpourri van pastiches op al die oude nummers. Wie verzint zoiets? Ene Jim Steinman kennelijk. Ik hou er niet zo van om me in de achtergronden van een album te verdiepen, de plaat moet voor zichzelf spreken. In ieder geval is het een wonder dat zo'n onwaarschijnlijk en uniek nummer zo'n hit is geworden. De andere nummers op de plaat doen er qua pathos nog een stapje bovenop, en het is dan ook lastig om alles als achtergrond- of werkmuziek te draaien, want het blijft maar aandacht vragen. Bovendien kom ik er bij de andere nummers niet aan toe om naar de tekst te luisteren, dus geen idee of daar ook nog iets geniaals in verborgen zit. Kortom, het album waar het woord 'pathos' voor lijkt uitgevonden. Later zou niemand dit meer durven, behalve Meat Loaf zelf natuurlijk, die ('I would do anything for love') in dezelfde groef zou blijven hangen. Extra ster vanwege Paradise, een krankzinnige compositie die nog wel wat eeuwigheidswaarde zal blijken te hebben.
Dit komt natuurlijk van een musical en dat hoor je! Eén en al spektakel. Er wordt gespeeld met de luisteraar. Schijnbare muzikale tegenstellingen wisselen elkaar af, zonder elkaar te bijten. Eén van de weinige artiesten die echt iets unieks hebben neergezet.
Theatraal, bombastisch, iconisch. Superlatieven schieten tekort om dit epos te beschrijven. Naar het schijnt. Ik vind het vooral vermakelijk, maar ik snap ergens wel die Jim Steinman heeft moeten leuren met zijn meesterwerk om zijn voet tussen de deur te krijgen. Maar nu we het eenmaal allemaal kennen, is het een feest der herkenning. Het leukste vind ik altijd dat Paradise by the Dashboard Light op bruiloften gedraaid wordt, dan weet je zeker dat ze nooit naar de tekst hebben geluisterd. :-)
I'm familiar with the follow-up to this album, in fact, Bat Out of Hell II was one of the few albums I bought as a kid. But I've never gone back and listened to this album. Just a solid rock album. There's not a bad song on this album. Just good solid music. I wish every album this list has given me were this good instead of the incessant drivel it's been sending my way.
Fun but dated.
Very cool! It's the type of rock I like!
On the verge of being overblown, but the great hooks keep it focused & grounded. And isn’t it being overblown what’s fun, anyway?
Jag ville inte att det skulle ta slut! härlig skiva som känns totalt unik... överraskande 5 stjärna upplevelse
A joy to listen to this album again. One of my favourite songs ever Paradise by the dashboard light. Listened to it many times and will continue to do so. Full marks will only do
3.5/5. Such mixed feelings about this artist, dude would still be alive today if it wasn’t for his dumbass views on COVID.
My husband loves this. I like this. Maybe it's a guy thing :-)
Best bombast you can imagine. Thank you, (late) Jim Steinman & Ellen Foley & (late) Meat Love for this masterpiece. 7 songs to never forget.
un classique ! super cheezy mais vraiment classique t tr`s bon aussi. 5
Enjoyable but surprisingly it's a bit over the top for me
Brilliant for what it is
ridiculous. but it knows that obvs. too theatre kid for me.
An exhilarating, energising album. It's campy fun, but there's also a raw, primal power.
It's nice to hear a good singer once in a while in this list. The two slow songs I didn't care much for, especially "For Crying Out Loud." It just went on too long. But the rest was great. Five out of seven ain't bad. Favorite track: Paradise By the Dashboard Light.
Campy overdramatic 70s rock and great fun.
What can you say about Bat out of Hell? It's loud, cheesy and it is fantastic. There isn't a bad track on this album and I know that having listened to this over the weekend I'll be singing it for weeks. Put it on and put it on loud - rock out and love it for it's corniness!
HL: everything but the “wolf with the red roses” spoken word interlude. Actually even that’s good for a chuckle Top 3: “You Took The Words”…, “Paradise”, title track There’s still a special place in my heart for this kind of bombastic, theatrical rock & roll. I would be surprised that this isn’t ranked higher on the website, but I have met at least one person who haaates this album Some serious mixed messages in side 2, going from “ain’t no way I’m ever gonna love you” to “Praying for the end of time so I can end my time with you”, to “You know I love you” July 12, 2023
doot doot ain’t no doot i love this album
Solid album, got me feeling energized my parents really like this one
It's like if Elton John rode one of those three-wheeled motorcycles
Never a dull moment in this gloriously daft but thoroughly enjoyable album. Every time I hear it, I love it all over again.
Not awful, but not excellent either. A decent overall length album given the title track meanders more than the Missisipi. Didn't actually mind the opener all considered but then it just gets too honky tonk and baroque. What the hell was that about roses in the mouth of a wolf??
I remember hearing this all the time as I suckled on my mother's teet. I think that may have factored into this rating, but either way you can't say that not every song is a corker in some way. Even the ballads have got it going on, and Meatloaf can belt them out. Maybe it's because it was developed from a musical; maybe it's because it's often compared to Bruce Springsteen's albums. Either way, it deserves a respectable score. 4.5
A campy B-grade horror flick purified and condensed into audio form, including the over-the-top melodrama, cinematic voiceovers, and of course sex with blatantly underage women 🤢
Efectivamente, es una suerte que haya escuchado este disco antes de morir.
Dramatic and larger than life. Meat Loaf screams, cries, rejoices all throughout the album, 7 8-minute songs about hell and love. God, the 70s were epic!
Unashamedly cheesy and over the top and I wouldn't have it any other way.
It's a good album, understandably well loved, even if it's not something I'd put on I can certainly appreciate it
Rip.
In a Venn diagram of metal and showtunes, I am the exact center. Meat Loaf is still inside the part where they intersect, but a little more to the showtunes side. Result: I really fucking dig Meat Loaf, I just wish he could amp up the heaviness just a smidge more.
So cheesy and so fun. The title track really is where it’s at for me, but the ballads are good.
Love the big guy and this was the pinnacle of his time with us. Needs to be played loud. Everything about this is theatrical, overblown and beautiful thanks mainly to Mr Steinman with a small part played by Marvin Lee Aday. Song after song is a mini-opera in itself and it finishes off with one of the greatest songs ever: For cryin out loud is 8.45 of pure pleasure. I mean, "Can't you see my faded Levis burstin apart"........it's sheer poetry. I pity the fool who doesn't get this.
(5-) Отличный рок-н-ролл альбом, который не зря занял почётную нишу в своём жанре. Я бы его рассматривал не с точки зрения набора песен, а с точки зрения творческой работы. Хочу ли я вернуться к этому альбому? Да, будто к просмотру кино.
Meat Loaf is undeniably an amazing performer with one of the most powerful singing voices in rock. His rock operas are theatrical and entertaining, his music tells stories with their composition. This album seemed to drag a little bit, but it could’ve just been because I listened to it in a traffic jam.
Cheesy, over the top, melodramatic....and I loved it. His name is Robert Paulson!
Theatrical and in your face. No one does it quite like Meat Loaf.
Dreading this. Why does Bat out of Hell end with the refrain from the Lion Sleeps Tonight? Heaven Can Wait steals from Thunder Road. I don't even really care that much for Springsteen. Yes it's like listening to a musical. I like a good musical but I have to be in the mood. Stuff like this while I'm watching Little Shop of Horrors= fine. I don't understand why people would listen to this when they want to listen to actual proper music. Maybe they don't and that's the point. Look I can see how people could get carried away with this and it's definitely a mood, but I just found it really tiresome long before it ended. More tiresome than the late period U2 album I got yesterday, so... Last track called For Crying Out Loud, and it's nearly 9 minutes of liquid shite, so that's at least appropriate. Was going to get a two before that.
Una experiencia impresionante que explota los mejores aspectos del rock para contar una fantástica historia. Una Opera Rock liderada por la impresionante y carismática voz de Meat Loaf. Uno de los álbumes más imprescindibles de la historia.
legendaarista statusta tälle...jokainen biisi on bängeriä bängerin päälle.. terävää laulua ja orkesterikomposiittiä niimsoutanan mukavilla sonicseilla (sonicsit kunnossa...).ei voi muuta kun kumartaa, noh paitsi ehkä kätellä kuin normaali ihminen mitää kumartua saatana kädestä kiinni ja puristus hyvää työtä tarvi toisille saatana MITÄÄN astuu päälle vaan!! sellaista... dirty bulk type album... stay massive. bat out of hell
Hadn't listened to this in years. Still awesome!
This is the rare album that’s so over indulgent and so cheesy and so campy that it wraps around to being absolutely brilliant. Other glam acts reach this to some effect, but nobody has cranked it up to the level of extremity that Meat Loaf did with this album, not even the eccentricities of Sparks and Queen. I loved every second of it. Just fully operatic, fully maximalist, all killer. Highly recommend to see this type of music pushed to its absolute extreme. Not for everyday listening, but a feat nonetheless. Title track is the obvious standout, but every track is a journey in and of itself.
cute
Somewhat better than I expected but I don't think I'll be coming back to it.
I remembered this album being corny, but it was so much better than I remember
I ALREADY RATED THIS YOU IDIOTS
A classic from a guy who turned out to be a shithead. 4 stars.
cool, not my cup of tea composition-wise, maximalism in rock just sounds really weird to me
Such a great album. I didn't know how many great musicians participated in this. It's Todd Rundgren, his band, and most of the E-street band? That's who's playing on this? How did I not know that? It's great. Plus, Meatloaf was like the Jack Black of the 70s-80s - just a fun, over the top personality.
Absolute classic! Not a bad song on the album.
what a goofy, wacky album. i think another reviewer described this as "bruce springsteen for theatre kids" which feels pretty accurate. definitely thought this was going to be worse considering all the derision and groans meat loaf got in popular culture while i was growing up. favorites: you took the words right out of my mouth (hot summer night), paradise by the dashboard light
Rubbish
goofy, cheese, and extremely catchy dad rock for theater kids. would listen again! 4.5/5
Not one misstep on this entire album, when Meatloaf and Jim Steinman wrote this, they were at the top of their game.
It's bombastic, epic, campy, over the top, but really damn fun at the end of the day! I've heard the title track before and always enjoyed how wild and a wall of sound it was as a rock opera, but the whole album turned out to be an extension of that song, with Meatloaf's charisma and vocals on full display. His voice powers into the forefront on the title track and others like Paradise By the Dashboard Light, but also croons with sincerity on ballads like Heaven Can Wait. The instrumentation is great all over this record, and feels like a Springsteen record turned up to 11 (with Max Weinberg and Roy Brittan being all over this album too!). Wailing guitar solos, epic piano and sax moments, that wall of sound Springsteen has, all of these are present here. It's a really enjoyable listen!
A little too on the 'musical' side for me but the album has its hits and super talented dude
I don’t really care for it. I get that some people idolize Meat Loaf. I just think the songs are too long for what they are and sound like they come out of Grease.
Unexpectedly epic...
I don't think I'd ever put this on, on my own volition, but it's an interesting album, and I've glad to have listened to it. Bat Out Of Hell and Paradise By the Dashboard Light are catchy. But I was a little put off by the dialog on You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, haha. So many of the songs feel like they're 2-3 songs in one.
Still fab
Pretty good operatic rock album. The hits were bangers.
Love the food, not the artist.
Not my thing
Metloaf nie dla wszystkich parę dobrych kawałków ale to tyle, nie warto
horrible couldnt finish
All in all, i really enjoyed it.
Un rock fuerte onda Black Sabath, no me gustó.
I don’t see what all the fuss is about
Really enjoyed this album, it has a good mix of toe-tappers and feels. Lyrics are worth listening to and tell stories, are humorous at times and enjoyable always. Album was cohesive and flowed from song to song.
From the late meatloaf comes a rock opera all about teenage hormones and bad decisions. A classic that's starting to show its age.
Well I know ONE song from Meatloaf lol and it's not on this album. It will be an interesting listen. I get a musical movie type vibe so far. Especially track 2 sounds like a play. Reminds me of Grease.
pretty epic at times
Nunca lo he escuchado más allá de su superéxito que no está en este disco. Pues tiene un aire más cercano a Bruce Springsteen y su E Street Band de lo que esperaba y la verdad es que está bastante bien. Entiendo que debe ser escuchado y aunque no me guardo ninguna canción concreta lo volveré a escuchar.
Masterpiece
feels a bit dated but wow anyway!!
Have to give it a 4 just for nostalgia
Bat out of hell For crying out loud
Loud but fine
mmm not my thing really. I liked "paradise by the dashboard light" best but overall it is a bit too old-fashioned for me and the album is not something I would listen to at this moment.
What I like about Meat Loaf is the epic love ballads. What I don't like about Meat Loaf is the epic love ballads. My mum and dad were big into Meat Loaf, a product of their generation. So I'm quite familiar with these songs. From this listening session I'll say my favourite is Paradise By the Dashboard Light.
A lot of fun! I was familiar with two of the tracks, but the rest held up too. That spoken word intro to "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth" was a bit horny! I quite enjoyed it on these play throughs, but I imagine it might grow a bit tiresome with repeated listens? Fave track - "Bat Out of Hell" - gotta be, really. It's anthemic - makes a great karaoke song for getting the whole room joining in...
Pretty decent overall.
paradise by te dashboardlight isgrotendeels verantwoordelijk voor deze rating. ultiem nummer om op te dansen en zingen tijdens het koken.
I recall a friend of mine listening to this a lot back in the '90s. I didn't get it. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't think it was great either. Reading about how hard it was to get anyone willing to produce it and the initial lackluster reaction in America, and after a re-listen, I still feel that my 1990s opinion is correct. It is better than I recalled (esp. "Bat out of Hell"), but it's still just "good but not great". I would attribute its album sales to falling in the "least common denominator" category -- it appeals to a lot of people, yet few of them would actually give it five stars. Some will, but most won't. I'm giving it 3.5 and rounding down for all the (over)hype.
I obviously knew Bat Out Of Hell and Paradise By The Dashboard Light but never heard the full album. While those two tracks are definitely the standout moments, It was an overall enjoyable album.
Massivly kitch and OTT operatic rock that is hard to take seriously but sold by the truckload through the 70s/80s/blouarara. Its like a stage musical (and that's where it ended up) 2.75
The record has some good hits but the theatrical instrumentation is not my type. Nevertheless I enjoyed it a lot.
I get why people like this but it doesn't do much for me.
Great album.
Certified rock opera. Unfortunately just not my taste. Aware of how impressive it was, just not for me.
A little too theatrical for the metal I prefer but it's still pretty fun. Lots of quirky instrumentation and catchy lyrics.
I was never a meatloaf fan, but I gotta say actually listening to the entire album wasn’t really that bad.
è un tenacious d ante litteram?
Paradise by the Dashboard Light is timeless with Ellen Foley's singing that's dripping with sexuality as the baseball play by play builds to a crescendo. Holy cow I think he's gonna make it! Brings back memories of summer nights and the 1972 Scamp. I thought I knew the album but didn't know that Todd Rundgren produced it, Edgar Winter plays sax, the baseball play-by-play was done by a longtime Yankees announcer (and shortstop) and that the drummer and pianist from the E Street band played on the album. The Springsteen-like rolling piano licks around two minutes into the album make a lot more sense. There is no doubt that Meatloaf can sing. He has a powerful voice and excellent range. Ditto Ellen Foley for her performance on Paradise. But aside from Paradise, this album doesn't have the excitement level I thought it had back in the day.
I read in Wikipedia that some critics pointed out the influence of the "Born to Run" album released a couple years earlier. I hadn't noticed, but singing along to "Bat out of Hell" it was quite easy to jump over to "Thunder Road" and back again. "All Revved Up with No Place to Go" also sounds like it could be a Springsteen number, a good one too. There's a few heard-'em-a-million-times songs here, especially "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", which is epic, and "Two Outta Three ain't Bad" which ain't bad. MeatLoaf has a versatile voice and effortlessly shifts from rockers to cheesy ballads, Steinman knows how to craft an album that capitalized on the excessive mid-seventies sound, before North America discovered punk, and Todd Rundgren nailed the production. I'm not crazy about the album but it's a timeless classic.
When Boston's debut album arrived the other day, I was charitable in my review because it was a guilty pleasure back in the day. I was hoping this album would also bring me back to my more innocent formative years as it was released around the same time in the late 70s when I was going to high school and these two albums were all the rage. Unfortunately this one hasn't aged well and its dragged down by its cheesy cliche'd writing. This is basically Bruce Springsteen for the Broadway Musical crowd. I must admit though that when singer Ellen Foley yells "Stop right there!" at the 4:25 mark of Paradise by the dashboard light its an iconic rock moment.
Not yet interested. Maybe one day
Amazing piano parts mixed in with hard rock for a unique sound
Bizarre hard rock show tunes. Got some fun moments, but also a lot of cheese.
Todays album is a glorious rock opera by Meat Loaf! This album is stacked with hits, including: Bat Out of Hell, Paradise By The Dashboard Light, and Two Out of Three Ain't Bad. This album is ahead of its time, and sounds like it should have been released in the 80's. These huge epic rock ballads really took off in that era. Meat Loaf puts everything he has into the delivery of Jim Steinman's beautifully intricate songs. The keyboards, the motorcycle gang-esque tough leather and chain feel of the album cover as well as the music, the phenomenal soaring guitar solos, the themes of adolescent love, and lust, the sexual innuendo, everything about this album is just perfect!! Yes it may come across as cheesy, but in the most glorious of ways!! Overall, a phenomenal album. One I've listened to many times before, and will absolutely listen to many more times to come!! An easy 5 stars!! RIP Meat Loaf, thanks for the music!!! Favorite songs: Paradise By the Dashboard Light, Bat Out of Hell, Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night), All Revved Up With No Place to Go, For Crying Out Loud, Heaven Can Wait Least favorite songs: none, this album is a gem! 5/5
A prime slice of operatic cheese, outrageous and sleazy and mostly fun. Jim Steinman and Mera Loaf are a match made in glam heaven.
I've heard a couple of songs from this but never the full album. Big rock opera feel, really goes all out on the theatrics and cheesy songwriting, big choruses etc etc. It's a high 3, low 4 sorta situation. Didn't hold me the entire time but rocked when it did. And the cover art is fucking sweet. 4/5.
Love Meatloaf. Nothing quite like this album before or since (except other Meatloaf records, of course).
Lihamurekemies on helvetin kova. Mahtava rock ooppera levy. Eka kappale best
Silly
Starts really well but gets a bit samey
I was watching a TV show (Maid) where this album is referenced, and it immediately got me excited for when I get this album - lo and behold, the very next day I get it! This is such an easy 5/5 - one of my favorite albums. Pure rock, great vocals and instruments that enhance the drama of the subject matter. "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" and "Bat Out Of Hell" are my standout favorites, but the whole album is great.
Kinda fun but went on too long
The album's namesake and Paradise by the Dashboard Light are definite high points. Could take or leave the rest though.
It was kinda imperdictable. What do you want more from an album? It has all of them together. Admirable storyline, poetic and relatable lyrics and an awesome production. Without any doubt it's a five.
Pretty good
This album starts well enougth with Bat out of Hell a catchy rock opera type thang. I start to challenge my thinking, maybe I've been too harsh. After the 56th minute of the same song I started to lose the will to live, distracting myself by pouring a kettle of boiling water over my feet . Relived the second song starts, however the relief is short as you are then tortured with what can only be described as a form of audio waterboarding. There is nothing about this album that is good or enjoyable. Who is more to blame Jim or Meat what a pair of w****s
Cheesy as hell but wouldn't work if it wasn't
Totally musical theatre. It's outrageous! Love it.
this album is conjuring smells from a buffet I ate at as a child. meat loaf is an appropriate name for this act. the cover is sick as fuck and I don't think it matches the music I liked bat out of hell but I don't think it needs to be ten minutes long. the fact this album has 9 songs and is an hour long is insane, also 2 are unplayable so I think it may actually be longer.
This album is good, but I don't love all of it. Is that fair to say?
Objectively this is a really good album, but I just have never really been into Meatloaf. It just feels too... manufactured maybe?
I have never enjoyed Meat Loaf. Well, I like the food.
Pretty, pretty, pretty good.
This is one of the greatest albums of all time. the lyrics, the performance, Jim Steinman is a god.
Such a short album I didn’t even register when it moved to Elton John in the playlist .
blegh! meatloaf schmeatloaf ⭐
This is so over the top melodramatic, I kind of can't help but like it. I was surprised to hear what sounded like influences for Hedwig and the Angry Inch in this record. Apparently this is adapted from a rock-and-roll musical interpretation of Peter Pan; well now I'm going to have to go back and listen again and pay more attention to the lyrics.
Never listened to this, but apparently I knew the singles from the radio. Really enjoyed it though, and I'm not that surprised. I was super into Bat Out of Hell 2 when I was a kid. 4/5
The fact that this is the third best selling album of all time sounds weird on paper, and I usually forget why until I actually play it. This is probably among the best mixture between rock and roll and Broadway that exists, and sounds so full of life. Some of it is a little too cheesy for words, but it’s a classic for a reason. B
Good but not quite a 4 for me. 3.5.
Meat Loaf is a great fucking performer & a true American hero. RIP Mr Loaf.
Very theatrical! A little too much for me but I respect it. 3/5 for me. Cool but not my taste.
Meat Loaf is the king of the rock opera. That’s really all there is to say. Shame he died from COVID complications after refusing the vaccine.
The album cover does not match the sound at all. Not really my cup of tea but I gotta appreciate how awesome of a rock ballad / rock opera this is.
This is somehow my first time listening to this album, but Meatloaf's sound is still so recognizable that I feel like it's my 3rd or 4th spin. It's like Queen but with more motorcycles and cocaine.
Flipping through my uncle’s old records when I was a kid, I used to think this album was hardcore and way more metal because of the cover. But then we played it one day and it’s actually a super cornball melodramatic rock opera of sorts instead. Surprise! Meat Loaf can belt it out like no other, but this hasn’t aged very well thematically. Paradise by the Dashboard Light is the tired and clichéd old “ugh women amiright?” joke that is so played out now. There’s nothing remarkable here, but I can see why it appealed to so many people, classic rock staple and all that.
13th March 2023 Listened while working from home, busy work and life time. Moved things out of our room now living room is finished. Weirdly listened to meatloaf on the drive back from the airport on Sunday. I just love him, reminds me of uni.
Fond memories of my dad playing this one on nighttime car rides. There were only two songs on here I set aside on the project highlights playlist, but when the thing's good, it's great. It was incredible to look up stuff about this, each new detail more insane than the last. E Street band fresh off of "Born to Run?!" Todd Rundgren producing it after nobody else wants to touch this? One of the best-selling albums of all time, but barely seems to have sparked any imitators?? (in the US mainstream at least. A young Tobias Sammet was probably extremely warped by listening to this, entire subgenres of metal owe a lot to it, etc)
Amazing 4.5/5
MEATLOAF
Ja hier worden we wel blij van. Meat Loaf weet de guilty pleasure / voorliefde voor rock operas toch weer lekker aan te wakkeren. Her en der is het super corny ("I want you, I need you"), maar Twilight by the Dashboard Light, Bat out of Hell en You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (wat een lange titels allemaal) zijn echt super en tillen dit album echt naar een 9, dus hier gewoon 5 sterren.
Incredible, epic, one-of-a-kind operatic rock album.
Overall an energetic album that doesn't overstay it's welcome. However, three ballads it's probably more than needed in a record like this.
De eerste van de lijst die ik op LP heb! Niet omdat ik het heel goed vind overigens. Het is mij te bombastisch en theatraal.
Ok, I’ve got to give it up to him. This was much more enjoyable than expected. I found myself grooving to every song!
Not sure why this is one of the best selling albums of all time
The whole album gives rock opera vibes. 4.5
One of my least favourite things an artist can do in music is have the first song of the album drastically better than everything else on the album making you expect a fun album full of crazy guitar and piano solos (this happens to some extent but not even half as good as the first song). Jim's voice starts to get annoying by the second song and this album starts going in a more country orientated direction which I am not a fan of. Overall 7/10, realistically never going to listen or even think about this album again unless I hear the title track in my playlist in which case I will thoroughly enjoy that 9 minutes and 50 seconds
Do the authors of this list feel that every random album to make a blip on the radar of pop culture deserves mention? This cheesed out dweeb rock is so bad.
This was super interesting and really great
Even when I was first really getting into this type of music, I could never get into Meat Loaf.
Very solid, glad i finally had a chance to spin it
Es la falopeada más rara que escuché. Evidentemente es un musical pero bueno, está bien y con eso basta. No se si lo volvería a escuchar, pero ta es lo que hay. 5/10.
Bem bom
I was totally wrong and prejudiced about Meat Loaf. This album is melodic, like a rock opera. Absolutely enjoyable.
Who knew the chick who plays Ellie on The Last Of Us was a big Meat Loaf fan? This is worth noting because the actress who plays Ellie, Bella Ramsey, was born in Nottingham, England in 2003, 26 years after Bat Out Of Hell (or as we die-hards cleverly call it, BOOH) was released. And we know this because Ramsey excitedly shared her Top 5 Spotify Artists from 2022 (!) on Twitter. Meat Loaf was number 4, behind Cigarettes After Sex, Paolo Nutini, and girl in red (Phoebe Bridgers was number 5 because of course she was). It's not even surprising that a 19-year old English Actress was listening to a shitload of a 45-year old album. Meat Loaf will probably be in another 19-year old's Top 5 ten and 15 years from now. There was no one quite like Meat Loaf, just like there isn't another album quite like BOOH, an album that takes a lot from Springsteen (it even features E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg), Phil Spector and the Ronettes (on "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth), the Eagles ("Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad") and many others. Apparently, radio stations in Omaha, Nebraska were among the first to play songs from BOOH, which means 7-year old me listened to a lot of "Paradise By The Dashboard Light". So this one is ingrained in me. Some would grow up to fight that to the point of embarrassment. Not me. I'm not ashamed to ride hard for this album. I understand I'm not going to find a Coupe de Ville hiding somewhere at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box.
I know without checking the reviews that this album is a polarizing one. You either love it or you really, really don't. But I mean, come on. It doesn't get much more fun than Bat Out of Hell. Big-hearted, anthemic, toe-tappingly, batshittingly brilliant music. Solid musicianship, with a deep bench of musical talent. Wildly excessive in the best way. Truly a unique album and a pure joy to hear. Let it go, snobby, this one is pretty great. High 4. Fave Songs: Paradise by the Dashboard Light, You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night), Bat Out of Hell, Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, For Crying Out Loud
5/5 Classic
Fun better than expected
Classic over the top operatic rock.
The metal operatic itself. Lots of gusto, bravado and big vocals. Loads to love. RIP Big Guy
Cheesy at times but still pretty good
Imagine driving a car that runs on leaded gas. The exhaust smells good, but you know it's just because it makes you nostalgic for drives with your dad and it's literally rotting holes in your brain. When you pay attention, everything rattles, and you know this old thing is long past its expiration date. That's basically anything by Foreigner or Journey. Meat Loaf, on the other hand, is like eating Popeyes. I like eating Popeyes. My friends enjoy Popeyes. I literally couldn't care less about the long-term implications of eating Popeyes. It is comforting, fun, and a welcome addition to any long drive. Bat Out Of Hell is an S-Tier Arena Rock classic. Every song is romantic, operatic, and a hard-hitting banger that would definitely be so fun to see live. The only reason someone wouldn't like it is because 1) they have no heart, or 2) they can't get past the name Meat Loaf. Both of these groups are stupid. Listen to this album.
I’ve listened to this album many times before and it’s an absolute thrill. The only thing keeping it from being perfect is that some of the songs that aren’t 10/10s are a bit forgettable
I knew one song off of this album, and the rest of this album is pretty similar to that song, that is to say it's pretty good. I probably should have expected that. The instrumentation is very enjoyable and Meat Loaf did a great job on the vocals. The songs feel like they belong on the same album and carry the same energy, but manage to be distinct. This was a great listen. My favourite song was Paradise by the Dashboard Light.
What are we doing here?
I was not into the vibe of this record at all. Pretty sure I won't ever listen to this record front-to-back again. There were a lot of talented musicians and composers working on this music but it didn't do much for me. As an 'imitation' it was impressive - I’m hearing SO MANY influences - It’s like Grease/Rocky Horror/Jesus Christ Superstar, but with Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street band, Queen, Boston, 1970s Elton John (the one true Elton obvs) and Bob Seger as the backing band, Alice Cooper is the producer.
I can respect the nature of the album, and like the theatrics of Meatloaf - Fight Club, you know? The cultural significance is likely lost on me by being generationally removed. Fun in principle, but I probably won’t spin this album again for my own pleasure.
Buen disco de rock suave, con una voz portentosa y con temas bien construidos. No muy guitarrero.
Don't think I've ever heard this album in its entirety. Super cheesy, but I love it :D reminded me of ABBA at times. What a ride! Saved tracks: Bat Out of Hell, Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, For Crying Out Loud
Idk it's corny but in a fun way. Not something I'll go back to but it's fine. Saw someone refer to this as a Springsteen album for theater kids; sounds about right. Favorite track - You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) Least Favorite track - All Revved Up with No Place to Go
It's so over the top and theatrical that i can't hate it, not a lot of people could have made an album like this and commit as hard as this man did, but sometimes it's a little too much for me.
This was the rock that Fez from that 70s show listened to with his foster parents when Eric, Donna, Kelso, Jackie, and Hyde weren’t around.
YES
First track is a banger. The rest are good but not as great. 4 stars rip big man
Decent
Perfect album
Bättre som album än som de låtar jag hört strövis. Debutera med typ en rockmusikal? Det funkar mycket bättre än jag kunnat tro.
The biggest selling recording from a musical even though the musical never really existed (although it now does), Bat Out of Hell is surely the most over the top record on this list. A strange inclusion - rock and roll heavy grand opera? Meat Loaf’s charisma as a singer can’t stop this feeling overblown and as a vehicle for Steinman’s ludicrous songs it must have worked - this shifted units.
Never knew it was THAT popular in the UK and New Zealand. A good album with a narrative feel and of course, Meatloaf. For whatever reason I associate a lot of these songs with wedding receptions. Probably reflects the kinds of wedding bashes that I get invited to.
No words, hours and hours of listening never ever get tired of this.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, but Paradise By the Dashboard Light is still my favorite. At times the lyrics were cheesy, but the instrumentals were great. Also, the album cover is good. Fave track(s): Bat Out of Hell, Paradise By the Dashboard Light
Decent
it's not the best but it is fun! i only knew meat loaf from my father and because he got hacked to pieces by tim curry (meat loaf not my father). But maaan this man is fun. good album with fun tracks, loved that stupid intro for you take the words right out my mouth. so kitsch but love it.
i had a hell of a lot of fun listening to this album! it's maybe over the top, potentially cheesy, but who cares when you're having this amount of fun?? these choruses are extremely catchy--i dare you not to sing along. this album is one that's meant to be enjoyed as a whole. jim steinman, the composer, made sure of that. each song by itself is a soaring, epic masterpiece. together, all songs could almost be overwhelming--but there's also this whimsical feel, like meat loaf and steinman didn't take themselves too seriously. the piano and saxophone are beautiful intermittent touches. not to mention, meat loaf is actually a good singer! this album couldn't work without that talent. when he holds the notes at the end of "for crying out loud" or "bat out of hell," oof!
This was an incredibly fun, exciting, over-the-top, campy, dramatic album. Every song reaches heights with its own soaring level of epicness. It's one of those albums where the songs already seem like they're at 100%, and then all of a sudden the ending or outro takes off to 200%. Again, over-the-top is the word here. One thing is for sure: no song here can really be considered "dull". Really, the cohesiveness of this album makes it feel like a rock opera, and thanks to Jim Steinman's contributions here, if you didn't know better, you might could believe this to be an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, as well. Parts of this album definitely sound Springsteen-esque as well, if Springsteen took himself less seriously. Some new information for me was that this album was produced by Todd Rundgren. Ultimately, this isn't particularly relevant information, but as someone who appreciates Rundgren's music, I'm even more appreciative knowing that he helped make this album happen.
Paradise By The Dashboard Light
Honnêtement la chanson titre et Heaven Can Wait sont de très bonnes pièces, mais le reste de l'album est trop typique opera rock à mon goût.
This album sits on the border between a two-star hell and a three-star hell.
inescuchable
It is an alright album, although it is not quite my taste. “Rock opera,” would describe the album quite good.
Surprisingly horny
Pretty good album, good energy
Very feeling it rock. Love it. Lots of repeating of the same phrases. But music is amazing
3.75
Five Stars Obviously
Overall pretty solid album. Recognized a few popular songs. Definitely liked the first half better except for the weird skit at the start of track 2. Closing track was pretty as well. 7/10
I turned this on to try drive my 5yo son out of the room, so I could take a shower in peace. Moments later, he was dancing with his ukulele as a guitar and singing along. I knew I had made a terrible mistake.
Passionate pubescent energy. A classic. Loved it.
Bombastic, over-the-top, downright dumb in places, but still great.
Fantastic theatrical rock.
скучно
3.5 stars
Enjoyed this more than I would have enjoyed the sequel album. Eddie forever!
This might be first album I could come close to singing along to every song. Owned it in like 10th grade. Played a ton. Used to go to Waffle House with friends and always play two songs on the Juke Box: 1. One of the Waffle House themes because how ridiculous is it that they have those on the juke box and you’re paying them to advertise? 2. Paradise by the Dashboard lights to get my moneys worth. Love the silly intros. Fast talking. Cheese lyrics. Musically leaves a bit to be desired but whatever. I want to give this a five just to troll Ryan, but it’s a four
Quite a performer
Yea great
Not my preferred genre
Good lord this felt like an eternity. I’m stuck at someone’s theater performance and waiting for the curtain-fall to free me.
Was enjoying the novelty factor in the beginning but then Elton Osbourne began to overstay his welcome and the song lengths started to become a crude slap to the face.
First off, this album is incredibly stupid. But, it’s also ridiculously fun. Meatloaf takes you through musical journey complete with rock N roll, ballads, a backing gospel choir, and a never ceasing amount of cheese. 4/5.
It bores me now mostly.
Massive overkill of this album in the 80s, but nice to listen to it again after 30-35 years or so. Iconic album with iconic songs and album cover, a bit uneven for 5 stars.
Whiny mainstream rock. Paradise by the Dashboard Light is a good song, but hardly makes up for the rest, especially when hearing it for the gazillionth time.
Mixed feelings about this one. Probably heard some songs, in particular Paradise, far too often, and I don't like the bombastic approach. But at the same time there are some really strong tracks here. So 3 it is.
nostagia wins again
Не понравилось
Meh
Couple a goodies in there
I really don't know why this got popular.
Own this classic!
Never really liked meat loaf, it always turns out dry
Never delved into meatloaf before. Melodramatic, over-the-top, cheesy as hell... almost proto-power/symphonic metal. Right up my street. Would give 4.5 if I could
Eeeeehhhh
Ce n’est pas identifié comme du glam rock, mais le côté théâtral me plaît vraiment, et j’ai toujours été fan de la voix de Meat Loaf.
I wonder how much budget was spend on coke
only good thing abt this album was the beginning of “you took the words right out of my mouth”. thats all also why cant we give a half rating? if we could i would rate this album 0.5
def not something id listen to i hate musicals but i like the way "you took the words right out of my mouth" starts abi yok cidden ölüm gibi bi albüm hiç beğenmedim çok aşırı müzikal ve genel olarak kötü yani bilmiyorum kendi türünde kötü değildir ama ben cidden bu tür şarkılardan nefret ediyorum 45 dklık işkence gibi ABİ YETER AMK BİT BİT YETER CİDDEN YETER SUS ARTIK JIM SUS SUS YETOOOO SUS ARTIK BİTMEDİ AMK ALBÜMÜ YA 1/5 cidden berbat amk kendimi kesicem
Grew up listening to this album from my dad's CD collection, so this gives me fond memories, but I don't really like music anymore.
very fancy rock opera
Idk man I think this is terrible lol
I have a real soft spot for meatloaf for reasons I am unsure of and I loved this
A very funny listening experience
Well, the instrumentation and showmanship have their merits but I just can’t connect to this, sounds cheesy and dated.
It's like Queen looked at Springsteen and said, "That's all you got? Lad, let me show you how it's done." It's got every bit of theatricality and epic operaness of a Queen album but with the weird, americana-esque feel of Springsteen and just a little... offness that's pure Meat Loaf. It feels like a parody and a tribute at the same time. It's stupid how good this is. It's just huge.
It’s the Loaf, what more needs to be said?
I think I’ve heard this in my nightmares before, utterly terrifying. The constant whiplash of every song ending and starting again 15 times was exhausting. The opening to the second track was repulsive. A few scattered thoughts from during the listen: -I feel as if I’m on my way to vote republican -Meat Loaf is quickly becoming one of my top 5 most feared sleep paralysis hallucinations -Lorde really tried to title an album “Melodrama” after this had existed for years -I am fearful of those who listen to this during their 8 am commute -I don’t think I have audibly laughed so much during an album before, I doubt that was Meat Loaf’s intention Best track: Heaven can wait (if I had to choose, dont be mistaken for praise) Dishon mentions: everything else
kinda sounds like Tim Minchin lol
Oh, what fun!
An absolute banger of an album, even the weakest song on here is better than some albums strongest songs. Yeah genuinely isn’t a bad track on this album and must be close to 40 years after its release. It is still able to hold its own against modern albums. Absolute 5/5
Fabulous! Histrionics galore, production values through the roof. I still sing along with every emotional nuance. On a hot summer night, will you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses? Absolutely!!!!
I am not listening to this too hungover
Jesus fucking christ this is shit. Even the one I thought I liked, turns out I only liked a snippet of, not the entire 9634 minute long song.
friend, just admit it when this stuff hits it hits good hot n impulsive
You have to take it for what it is, a fun an flashy album yhat doesn't take itself seriously. The title track is the most over the top of the album and by far the best one. There are some other good moments on it too but honestly we're here for that bombastic rock opera schtick
What if Elton John did The Who's Tommy with Queen's band? That pretty much sums it up in the cheesiest way possible. Sure, Heaven can wait, but I couldn't wait for this album to end.
Classic pop rock. Love the kitcsh - you'll like to sang in a karaoke !
This album is a classic of kitsch pop/rock to me. Powerful intro, catchy songs and lyrics all the way after. I would never say it's a masterpiece, but certainly an album I always enjoy listening. Always loved the delivery of Meat Loaf.
i fw this heavily
Amazing album from start to finish. I love this album so so much.
Has some pretty solid feel good songs on it but overall is mainly overdramatic and theatrical
Some of the best rock ballads written. Operatic and completely over the top. Love it.
A classic album that never gets old!
Now this is what I call feel good music. Probably the most "rock opera" sounding album I've ever heard.
3.4 - Once in a while it's fun to walk into an unassuming dive bar on a Friday night to find it unexpectedly teeming with students from the college nearby. Invariably the bar owner has fired up the karaoke machine, and a rowdy group of young women dressed in tight jeans and tall boots are singing "Paradise By the Dashboard Light." That's the (only) correct context for this record as far as I'm concerned.
Classic
Amazing bombastic Rock and Rock. When it works it really works, just a couple of tracks that don't quite succeed.
Aardig pop-album. Vooral het nummer "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth" is geweldig. De rest echter gemiddeld, waaronder het kapot gedraaide "Paradise By The Dashboard Light". ***
When you look for a mega epic, feel-good, you-only-live-once rock record, you can't get any better than this
First track was super emotional and i liked it a lot, but the rest of the album tired me and i lost interest
Прослушано! Отличный альбом, к нему нужно вернуться.
Maybe I'll just never get it...
T3B 1. Bat Out of Hell 2. Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad 3. You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth
Ugh. Meatloaf
Of course I've heard this album before. Each song on this thing has been played at different points in my life. It's not my favorite album, but I think it's difficult to deny just how fucking awesome this thing is. Favorite tracks: "Bat Out of Hell", "Paradise By the Dashboard Light", "Two Outta Three Ain't Bad"
Two out of three ain't bad was s huge song when it came out. I never bought the album and I knew Paradise. Paradise is a fun song you just have to go with it. But I think meatloaf had one of the most underrated voices in rock
Good, great opening song and I liked the closing one. Album Cover: 5/5 very cool
I love this album and not ashamed to admit it, so many people I know just cannot tolerate it. It's goofy, cheesy and fun rock n roll. RIP Mr Loaf!!
Overblown rock and roll show tunes. But… if you’re into that kind of thing, this is as good as it gets. And what person of a certain age doesn’t remember Paradise by the Dashboard Light fondly? I never need to hear it again, but have to admit it was kind of fun.
This was a hard one for me. When it's working, it's amazing. But I get so bored during the ballads.
Meatloaf is cheesy. But it works, somehow. It's not great, it's not bad, I don't hate it, I don't love it. The songs may be a little long for me.
It feels testy to say a single bad thing about Bat Out of Hell, as nicely put-together it is from cover art to final note. It really is only one complaint: The cycle doesn't obviously add anything to rock music, and the lulls are, on the other hand, obvious. It might be my seeming genetic aversion to musicals. In any case, the album is a worthy addition to the canon, and I love that motorcycle more the more I look at it.
MEATLOAF IS AN ICON!
Just terrible. Been something I've tried to avoid all my life - I simply cannot understand why this is so popular
It's growing on me. Completely ridiculous and bombastic, but done with a proper sincerity rather than a smug ironic detachment which saves it imo. Catchy as hell, and pretty enjoyable for what it is. Also finding out it released in 77, rather than the 80s as I had assumed lends the album an air of originality, almost as a model for the arena rock of the 80s.
bat out of hell - mycket teatralisk och storslagen, definitiva inslag av progg (nästan lite symphony x?). känns lagom fånig men ändå kanske på ett tidsenligt 70/80-talsätt. 6/10 you took the words right out of my mouth - en redig 80-tals popdänga, komplett med piano, tamburin och kvinnlig duett. lagom långtråkig spoken word intro. 3/10 heaven can wait - en helt vanlig popballad, extremt tidsenlig i samtliga avseende, och därmed, väldigt generisk och alltså, tråkig. 2/10 all revved up with no place to go - en sliskig och upbeat "kärlekslåt", med smakfulla inslag av saxofon och piano. särklass den mest minnesvärda och intressanta låten på plattan, inte minst på grund utav dess mer i sammanhanget okonventionella låtstruktur, däribland det energiska double-time slutet. 6/10 two out of three ain't bad - någon slags blandning av #2 samt 3. outhärdligt generisk och tråkig. 1/10 (skip) paradise by the dashboard light - särklass mest exentriska och proggiga låten på albumet, trist nog har jag få ord mer att ägna låten. skaplig men stinker av sin tid och hade varit bättre uppdelad i två låtar, och kanske något decennies avvaktning i hopp av åtstramning av fånigheten och kåtheten. 2/10 for crying out loud - återigen en popballad men denna gång med den mer storslagna, teatriska och proggiga andan av plattans namne. 4/10
This is my third time listening to this album, and as I started going through it again, I thought that three would be too much. Though the album is an experience, I wondered if it would hold up to having experienced it over and over again. As the music started and grew louder and more bombastic, I realized I was going to be sitting and listening through the whole thing again. It's good. It's great. It's strangely operatic and an amazing performance by Meat Loaf. Even if it feels kind of juvenile sometimes, it manages to raise itself up to be something more. I honestly don't know how Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman managed to make this whole thing work, but man did they make it work.
Sucks
Ja ne znam zašto, but I dig that album cover. Album je okej, dobro ga je poslušati, ali se neću na njeg vraćati. P. S. Iskreno sam mislio da će album bit puno žešći - očito da naziv benda, albuma i cover nekad ipak ne odgovaraju glazbi koju sviraju.
At least one understands the bombast and sheer over-the-topness right out of the gate, from the first screeching notes of the eponymous opener. One always felt a bit sorry for Meat Loaf, his clownishness and obvious need for adoration (occupational hazard for actors, alas). Certainly he could sing, but was it necessary to oversing every f’ing note or for every song to be operatic? That the playing is overwrought may be stylistically consistent, but makes for an exhausting listening experience. There are Mahler symphonies that take a lighter touch than “For Crying Out Loud,” the mawkishenss-on-steroids closer. One blames Steinman, obviously, with TR as an accomplice. Neither were fluent in understatement or subtlety. There is broad appeal – “Two Out of Three” straight up works and “Paradise” is unforgettable (both in the positive and pejorative senses) with the Rizzuto clips approaching performance art –but, per usual, one finds broad appeal to be more bug than feature. Plus, the incessant and near-desperate overreaching for the audience is cringe-making – utterly undignified and approaching outright groveling at times. Meat Loaf seems to fall roughly between a roadside attraction and a novelty act, more than a one-hit wonder, but not much more, which feels about right, karmically speaking, in the grand scheme.
hard to approach this with fresh ears, given the ubiquity of Bat out of Hell. To me it is caught between not being heavy enough for hard rock, not complex enough for prog rock and too over-elaborate for rock n roll. Good but not a classic for me
perfect example of “don’t judge a book by its cover”
As a teenager, I really liked this album. But I'm an adult now and it's all a little juvenile.
hated it every second too phony
These are REALLY good songs. OK, prog rock isn't really my scene. It doesn't warm my heart. But nobody can deny that they are songs.
Really fun, really camp, a cool place for glam rock to go in 1977
Every aspect of this album is completely over the top. Orchestras combined with electric guitars, lyrics that tell stories. He belts out every song and doesn't hold back while singing. Most of the songs on this album were hits. Overall great album from the 70s
Drowned in syrup.
Possibly the best ballad album of all time. Iconic and timelessly fun songs. Some parts were a little overdone, but for the most part, a very solid album. 4/5
Surprisingly good, started out high tempo and mellowed with some really nice songs. Two out of three ain't bad was good
Proof that being over the top can be a virtue when done in such a blatantly exaggerated way. Alas, the record is marred by side B taking itself rather too seriously and, thus, being rather boring.
Unbelivable
super cheesy rock opera album.. and it's awesome!
I love this absolutely theatrical and ridiculous piece of work.
5/5
This album is too melodramatic for my tastes. While that might be appealing to some people, it is not appealing to me. Despite that, the vocal performance is incredible and the production is solid as well. Standout song is Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.
Album was released on my birthday in 1977. All Revved Up With Nowhere to Go is the worst track on this album, but not horrible. Whole thing is like a musical. I love this album. It’s super good.
Heard this a lot as a child. He was talented.