Thunder - Shooting at the Sun
After being spilt up for 2 years England's Thunder is back - and what a comeback album I might add.

Especially the 2 first Thunder albums were truly amazing and "Shooting at the Sun" ranks among their finest work. The album is simply that good.

The album track by track:

Loser is a strong opener, which clarifies that Thunder is back. A groovy riff drives the song, which makes it a little dark only to be broken by a great melodic sing-along chorus. This song has all the ingredients that characterize a classic Thunder song - equal a fantastic Hard Rock song.

Everybody's Laughing is more in the vein of the later Thunder material. The song has a happy up-tempo beat to it.

The semi-acoustic ballad If I Can't Feel Love has some breathtaking lyrics sung very emotional by Danny Bowes. The solo from Luke Morley fits the emotion of the song perfectly. If I Can't Feel Love is a beautiful song that ranks among the best Thunder ballads.

Shooting At the Sun is irresistible straight Rock 'n' Roll. The song changes pace from the mellow verse onto great melodic rock during the chorus. This is another fantastic song, where you cannot avoid stomping your feet.

A piano plays the melody line on the intro to The Pimp and The Whore. The bridge to the chorus is so well written that you are hooked immediately. The song keeps getting better after each listen. Ben Matthews and Luke Morley duels on the solo. Morley plays a solo part, where Matthews plays the main riff. That is repeated twice whereupon Morley blasts out a great solo.

Only song that I haven't embraced totally is the blues-rocker Shake the Tree. It's still justified being on the record, but it doesn't quite capture me the same way as the other 10 hit songs.

Somebody Get Me A Spin Doctor has a storming chorus. A powerful rocker, which could be a possible live favorite.

The Man Inside grows on you and is slowly becoming one of my favorites. The half-ballad has some emotional George Harrison like guitar.

This chord driven song Out of My Head has a similar chord progression as Higher Ground. However, Out Of My Head is not that strong, but still another song that keeps progressing each time you hear it. Again the chorus is one of those "clap your hands, stomp your feet" ones.

Blown Away starts acoustic for the first 2 minutes after which the song goes electric in typical Thunder style. The sound of Luke Morley's guitar brings memories of the "Laughing on Judgement Day" album. Blown Away is a great finish to the album, since it changes between a mellow verse and a hard rocking chorus. Referring to the title, this album has blown me away.

To be honest this CD is very special to me. I got it on the day of the breakup with my girlfriend, so it took me a few days to give it a spin. To my surprise there was a song, which exactly described my feelings and the state I was in. Forever the song A Lover, Not a Friend will have a special place in my heart.

Anna, if you read this - the chorus describes my feelings very accurate:

You will never know, what a mess you left me in
Wish you could feel it for a day
Cause you abandoned me
With pain and misery
I know I lost a lover, not a friend


Truthful lyrics, which I can totally relate to. Overall the song has a special emotion with an acoustic guitar playing through the verse and an electric guitar, which explodes on the chorus. Furthermore there are 2 fantastic guitar solos with so much emotion that you can almost feel the guitar crying.

I could have written the lyrics myself. I love and can relate to verse lines like:

I don't once recall ever feeling quite so bad
Shattered all those dreams of the future that we had
I hate my stupidity
As much as what you done to me


And to move on, there is the final payback line:

And just for old time's sake
I hope your heart will break


I probably listened to this song around 70 times and I personally want to thank Luke Morley for putting words to my emotions.

I watched Thunder on stage in 1995 and it was truly a blast. I'm in desperate need of some good times - so come to Denmark and play some shows. With their strong back catalogue and this amazing new album they have the remedies to deliver concert of the year.

Overall this is a fantastic comeback album with all the classic Thunder elements. The album has everything: acoustic songs, emotional ballads, party rockers, brilliant guitar solos, great choruses and most of all just great songs.

Danny Bowes' vocals are soulful and he sounds really good on the whole album. He puts lots of emotion to his singing. He spills his heart out on the lyrics, which often deal with a broken heart and lost love.

The solos from Luke Morley are amazing because they match the mood of the song. Luke is an old school blues-rock guitarist. For him it's not important to play X notes per second. He puts importance on emotion and incorporates the solo with the song as a unit.

"Shooting at the Sun" is a vintage Thunder album, which defiantly ranks among the best albums this year with brilliant standout tracks: Loser, If I Can't feel Love, Shooting at the Sun, The Pimp and The Whore and A Lover, Not a Friend.

Written by Michael
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Show all reviews by Michael

Ratings

Michael: 8.5/10

Members: No members have rated this album yet.


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RevelationZ Comments


Comment by Nicola (Anonymous) - Friday, August 22, 2003
Ahhhh Michael love, big hug!!


Comment by Donnie Borgs (Anonymous) - Friday, September 19, 2003
I think this new album from Thunder is really good. I have never injoyed so much music from Thunder but this record has really changed my mind.
And Michael, I'm so sorry about your girl, and as Hardline puts it: Life's a bitch, but keep the Poison-words in your mind "Life goes on"

Cheer up and.... Cheers :-)


Comment by Mary (Anonymous) - Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Indeed a great album. Actually my favourite Thunder album.

Excellent review. Got my hankies. Anna sounds like a cruel person.



Comment by Matt (Anonymous) - Monday, December 20, 2004
This album is completely horrendous, i still cant believe people listen to this "music"


Comment by Sam maggs (Anonymous) - Monday, December 20, 2004
Right back at you Matt, i hope that most people dont come along this lame band


Comment by Ian Harvey (Anonymous) - Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Just saw Thunder last night at a packed out gig in Birmingham, England. Another great show.
To those of you who don't 'get it', well . . . it's your loss. Thunder are one of THE great rock bands and to my mind have never achieved the recognition they deserve. Shooting At The Sun is up there with their very best . . . a classic.
(Don't miss out on their latest, The Magnificent Seventh).


Comment by Jenny (Anonymous) - Sunday, January 21, 2007
Just so every one knows who could not relate to those lyrics
ever have a broken heart and you feel that wait till you move on a bit and find someone who rips out your soul they don't yet have words for that song when they do luke will find them i am sure he just has to call me i can give him all the gore he wants a heart will mend a soul i may go a lifetime and never get over it so hey shooting at the sun is a great work but look forward to one that matches us as we grow up and learn more











Review by Michael
None

Released by
Frontiers Records - 2003

Tracklisting
01 - Loser
02 - Everybody's laughing
03 - If I Can't Feel Love
04 - Shooting At The Sun
05 - The Pimp and The Whore
06 - A Lover, Not A Friend
07 - Shake the Tree
08 - Somebody Get Me A Spin Doctor
09 - The Man Inside
10 - Out Of My Head
11 - Blown Away

Supplied by Frontiers Records


Style
Hard Rock

Related links
Visit the band page

Thunder - Official Website

Other articles
The Magnificent Seventh - (Michael)

The magnificent five do Xmas - (Michael)

Robert Johnson´s Tombstone - (Michael)

Rock City 6 - The Smell of Snow - (Michael)

Six of One - (Michael)

Rock City 8 - The Turkey strikes back - (Michael)

The Joy of Six - (Michael)

Bang! - (Alanna)

The EP Sessions 2007-2008 - (Michael)



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