Search - Giant :: III

Giant is weakened but still trounces the competition

06/21/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Giant returns after a near 10-year hiatus with their basic sound mostly intact. Just like the first 2 albums, this is a collection of late 80s stadium-rock anthems ("Sky's The Limit" sounds very similar to "Thunder & Lightning," the first song from the group's second album) searing instrumentals ("Combustion" apes Van Halen's "Eruption") and big-hair ballads reminiscent of Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams or Def Leppard in their prime ("Over You" being one of the better ones).

So - for fans of this genre, this contains all the right ingredients, and should make for another classic album. Or does it???



While the album starts powerfully with "Combustion," it starts to lose momentum as this track merges into "You Will Be Mine." Although the song itself is very strong, it is badly let down by the production, with the drums sounding too small & tinny and the guitars being too distant in the mix.



Also, the absence of Alan Pasqua appears to be felt here. The first two albums were characterised by a greater depth of songwriting and his extra keyboards are badly missed here; so overall the album ends up sounding thinner, less "meaty" and less slick as a result.



What "III" really lacks is a couple of stand-out tracks in the vein of "Lost in Paradise" or "Now Until Forever." The album's penultimate song "Can't Let Go" is a very poor copy of these and should have been left off.



Yet for all this, it still puts most recent rock albums to shame. "It's Not the End" is a great modern take on an 80s power-ballad theme. "Oh Yeah," one of the stronger songs, contains the usual Giant ingredients in a contemporary package, sounding fresher than some songs on the album. Also, the album closes with a rousing cover of "Bad Case of Loving You" - I enjoyed that one, although the vocals are a bit weak and mumbled.



Tip - buy the Japanese import if you can (which includes four bonus cuts, including Giant's superb take on Jeff Beck's "Because We Ended as Lovers.")



Overall, this is not as good as the first two albums, but remember this: a weakened Giant remains head & shoulders above the competition."

Just a bit off the mark

M. C. Hall | Garden Grove, CA, USA | 10/24/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having followed Giant since their first album, "Last of the Runaways", I was pleased to see that they are working again. Dan Huff has spent most of his time since Giant's second album doing studio and production work for some of Nashville's most talented artists. The one or two interviews that I've read quoted him as doubtful that Giant would reconvene. Obviously time changes things."III" is an appropriate title, not just because this is the band's third album, but because keyboardist Alan Pasqua does not join the band for this album, reducing the group to a power trio. Surprisingly, his absence definately diminishes the group's punch. A glance back at the band's first two albums shows Alan's name figuring heavily in the writing credits, particularly on firey rockers and the band's more powerful ballads. Some of the bands best hooks are on songs that he co-wrote. Still, this is a solid album. I've been a fan of Dan's guitar playing ever since I heard his work with The Front (way back in the early 80's). It's always a pleasure to hear him play. His vocals are strong here, and seem to get better with each new album. The only exception is on the cover "Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" which he mumbles his way through. I'd give this album five stars, but I'm knocking off one because it is a bit ponderous at times. The tunes just aren't quite as memorable as their hook-filled songs of the past. Hopefully this is just a warm-up and that we'll be hearing more from the boys in the near future."

At last!

Dr Nick | Sheffield, S Yorks United Kingdom | 10/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Giant are/were a "supergroup" of the early-mid 90's, comprising the Huff brothers (also renown as producers), and a couple of mates on keys and bass.
They went on ice after 2 releases, and this is a collection of stuff that didn't make those 2 releases - although hopefully they'll get on and write some new stuff soon.The style is very 90's stadium rock, big choruses, vocals vaguely Brian Adams (but higher), and phenomenal guitar playing (the first track is an Eruption-like number). Most of the songs are pretty good too, although there are one or two that could be better, which is presumably why they were initially left on the shelf!Production is (of course) superb.Certainly good enough for the established fan, perhaps not the best introduction to the band (get Time to Burn first) for the novice, and I'm happy with it."