Scorpions - Comeblack

It will be a sad day when Scorpions hang it up.  The band is on top of their game live, but has suffered on their last couple of releases.  The band's last studio release, Sting of the Tail, was to be their last, but due to the inspiration that they had on the road, they decided to enter the studio and record a new CD.  Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop the clock...  Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, because this is not a CD of new tracks, it is a CD full of covers and re-recordings of past hits.  Rather than pen some new ideas and record an EP, Scorpions decided to cover other artists as well as themselves.  Comeblack is an interesting pairing of classic tunes reworked as well as some interesting covers from their peers.

I have to admit that I was disappointed this was not new material, but was willing to give it a shot.  The CD starts off in fine form with the re-worked version of Rhythm of Love.  I always thought this track needed some more UMPH! and they did it here.  I was never a big fan of the original song, but the new version is much heavier and seems to flow better.  The rest of the re-worked songs are kind of a wash.  Like most bands that have re-worked their classic tunes, it always seems the original is better, which is the case here.  The covers are interesting choices but don't really blow you a way. Tainted Love and Ruby Tuesday came off interesting, but still didn't grab me.  If you're a Scorpions fan you'll see this one as a throwaway or one that will go in the collection, just to say you have it.

Bottom Line: It would be ashame if this were the last recording from the band.  It was bad enough  when I though Sting of the Tail was it, but now with this one, it seems that the band has sank down one more notch.  Thank God the new 3-D Movie rocks.

Standout Tracks: Rhythm of Love, Tainted Love and Ruby Tuesday.

-Ragman is hoping that the band will do one more kick ass record before they hang it up.