Judas Priest Album: “Turbo”

This was my fifth official Priest album. I got hooked on them with "Defenders", had to run out and get "Screaming" immediately after that, dubbed a friend's copies of "British Steel" and "Hell Bent" (keep your shorts on Sony, I have since purchased the CD's...twice) and then waited two years with baited breath to get my hands on this classic. Like many, I was initially revolted by what was coming through my speakers. Priest singing songs about love and partying, with glossy synth-heavy production and electronic drum sounds? Even the token teen rebellion song ("Parental Guidance") is kind of lighthearted and not really an "angry" song at all. It was a little hard to take at first. But it soon came to be my third favorite Priest album, right behind the 1-2 punch of "Screaming" and "Defenders". Maybe it has something to do with the fact that this album came out right when I was graduating from high school and it served as a really kickin' soundtrack for my final summer before college (it IS a great driving record, make no mistake).

The first four songs on this album are total classics in my mind. "Turbo Lover" remains one the best songs they've ever done, I don't care what anyone says. I put it on one of my jogging tapes several years ago, right at the point where I normally start to lose steam, and let me tell you, that song really kicks in the adrenaline for me. "Locked In" is also a great song, I love those electronically altered wails on the guitar in the beginning. "Private Property" has a cool bubbling synth in the beginning that transitions into a mid-tempo brooding rocker. "Parental Guidance", despite my earlier comments, is a fun singalong song mocking parents and the PMRC for being so [bad] about rock n' roll and its supposed influence on kids. "Rock You All Around The World" is my lease favorite song on the album, and "Wild Nights, Hot & Crazy Days" and "Hot For Love" don't do much for me either. But "Out In The Cold" is easily the best ballad Priest has ever done, totally blows away "Before The Dawn", "Night Comes Down", or "A Touch of Evil". It was also a great choice for opening number on the "Fuel For Life" tour. If you can get the VHS version of "priest...live!", check out how well this song works as the opening number. Doesn't seem like it would since it's a ballad (although Priest ballads are typically pretty darn heavy), but you'll see what I mean. The closing track, "Reckless", is also a great tune, Halford's voice is great as always and he really know how to emote the lyrics.

I don't care what the naysayers say, this is an essential chapter in the Priest story. If your musical tastes are so stringent that you can't sit through this one, then don't bother with Priest at all, go listen to your collection of death metal albums and leave the rest of us alone!

Convetional history tends to brand this album as "Priest goes pop" and most reviews state that this is where the "metal gods sell out." Hmm. Well, they do incorporate synths into their sound, reduce the tempo, phase out some of their aggression and do have a catchy hook in each song. Is that selling out, keeping up with the times or is creativity and an expansion of one's sound? Whatever it may be, it all amounts to one thing: One hell of an album.

The whole thing is an 80s hair metal fan's dream come true. Bon Jovi and Def Leppard addicts will revel in the general party sentiment that pervades this album. The beauty of this thing is that there's no lovey-lovey filler crap in there. Each track is a rousing, synth-drenched rocker that will bury itself deep in your cranium. The tracks are indeed metal, folks. Fist-pumping, sing-along metal. Does that sound lame? Well, it isn't. It's not like we're puting up with crap like "United" (off of British Steel)... each track is fast-paced and worthwhile. While the lyrics may not deal with hellions or rippers, they're great stuff to blast during a house party with your mates.

Hightlights includes: "Turbo Lover," "Parental Guidance," "Private Property"... ah, heck, all of them are fantastic!

I'd suggest you snatch this thing up as soon as you see it. It's brief but bloody concise. No filler; just good time pop metal that shouldn't be passed up.

I bought the tape of Turbo the day it came out, as would any other normal Priest fan, I mean, Priest was a promise of quality right? Riding home in my friend's truck, we eagerly popped it into the tape deck....then...some ghastly blip-blip-blip noise not unlike Flock of seagulls rasperried out of the speakers. My mouth dropped open...I fast forwarded...then again...then I placed it carefully back in it's case and chucked it out the window. (True story) If you have never heard Priest before (hard as that is to imagine), I recommend British Steel or Defenders of the faith to any 30-ish guitarists who want to hear how it's done. I recommend Jugulator if you are 15 to 25 and think that Priest is over the hill. I'm afraid I can only recommend Turbo to 30-ish women who used to be 16-ish girls who liked Loverboy.

I don't know how anyone could NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM. It totally rocks...Turbo Lover is the best Priest song ever, and Out in the Cold is stunning as well. I love the pop-approach they took to this album, I love their glammy look during the tour, Rob looks hot, this whole album is just sexy and fun. ENJOY IT!

TURBO IS ONE OF THE BEST JUDAS PRIEST ALBUMS EVER MADE. TO THOSE WHO THINK OTHERWISE OFF WITH YOUR HEADS...LOL