Thunder – Please remain seated

CD:
Thunder
Price:
13.99

Reviewed by:
Rating:
4
On 1 January 2019
Last modified:1 January 2019

Summary:

This is a great album. Admittedly on first listen I wasnt quite sure about it, but the more I listened the more I grew to love it. Thunder have come up with great new versions of their songs and it's an album I'd definitely recommend checking out.

Thunder release their new album in January. It’s available as a single CD or a two CD edition as well as digital formats and vinyl. The album isn’t a typical new album though – there’s no new material and no cover versions either. Instead, Thunder have chosen to look back at the songs they’ve released over the years and to pick some to remake. When I say “remake”, I really mean it – this isn’t a case of making a few minor tweaks, oh no, they’ve totally changed the songs giving them a completely different sound.

Needless to say it’s an album that is likely to intrigue many fans, but also to dismay some – the thought of anyone changing songs they know and love (even when it’s the band that made the original version) is always going to be contentious.

I have to admit it’s been a strange album to listen to at first – hearing those great rock songs totally changed and performed in a largely acoustic way with a different pace and feel is something that on first listen I wasn’t quite sure about, but the more I’ve listened to the album the more it’s grown on me. A big part of why it’s worked so well is the fact that they haven’t just picked their most popular songs – no matter how open minded the fans are, a reimagined “Backstreet symphony” would probably have been a step too far. Instead they’ve picked a few hits such as “Low life in high places” and “She’s so fine” and a load of lesser known tracks such as “Fly on the wall” or “Just another suicide”.

I’m particularly impressed by the fact that the band have done quite a qude variety of reworked songs – it’s not a case of “lets do acoustic versions of everything”. Yes some are simple acoustic arrangements, but others are electric or semi-acoustic. The new version of “Loser” for example still has keyboards and electric guitar but it’s a much gentler version than the original – more ballad than rock song. While songs such as “Bigger than both of us” have a very brisk tempo, others like “Empty city” have been given a much slower treatment.
The final song on the single CD version of the album is “Low life in high places” which is given a piano and vocals stripped down version until around half way through the song when a choir briefly joins in and then Danny’s voice is joined by some female backing singers and then the electric guitars join in. It’s a great version of a much loved song and an excellent way to bring the album to a close.

The second disc adds another seven Thunder songs being given the same sort of treatment. Since one of those is “Higher ground”, I was slightly apprehensive but they’ve done a great version of the song – not too radically different so it’s one I think fans will enjoy.

This is a great album. Admittedly on first listen I wasnt quite sure about it, but the more I listened the more I grew to love it. Thunder have come up with great new versions of their songs and it’s an album I’d definitely recommend checking out.

“Please remain seated” will be released on 18th January 2019.

Tracklisting:

Single CD edition:

1. Bigger than both of us
2. Future train
3. Girl’s going out of her head
4. I’m dreaming again
5. Fly on the wall
6. Just another suicide
7. Empty city
8. Miracle man
9. Blown away
10. Loser
11. She’s so fine
12. Low life in high places

Two CD edition:

Disc 1

1. Bigger than both of us
2. Future train
3. Girl’s going out of her head
4. I’m dreaming again
5. Fly on the wall
6. Just another suicide
7. Empty city
8. Miracle man
9. Blown away
10. Loser
11. She’s so fine
12. Low life in high places

Disc 2

1. Stand up
2. River of pain
3. Like a satellite
4. Robert Johnson’s tombstone
5. Higher ground
6. Everybody wants her
7. Long way from home

This is a great album. Admittedly on first listen I wasnt quite sure about it, but the more I listened the more I grew to love it. Thunder have come up with great new versions of their songs and it's an album I'd definitely recommend checking out.

About Ant May

I spend half my life at gigs or festivals and the other half writing the reviews and editing photos, and somehow find time for a full time job too. Who needs sleep - I've got coffee.