Search - Napoleon I :: I Napoleon

Unfairly overlooked album

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 09/07/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the more interesting albums to emerge from the late 80's / early 90's hair metal scene. To go by the band's photo and point of origin (Canada), you'd expect glossy melodic rock in the vein of Von Groove or maybe Honeymoon Suite. Instead, I, Napoleon is a much more straightforward rock & roll album that draws liberally on both the blues and Southern rock, with just the right amount of experimentation to keep things interesting.



I, Napoleon reminds me a lot of bands like Kill for Thrills, the Front, and Royal Court of China in that they all took a somewhat unconventional approach to a very conventional genre, and all remain largely unknown to this day. There are also hints of Warrior Soul in this album, though I, Napoleon's lyrics tend towards narcissism and self-destruction rather than social and political issues.



In a perfect world, this would have been a successful album and the beginning of a bright career for I, Napoleon. Instead we got Nirvana and the rest of the flannel brigade, and this type of music was left for those few of us who remain faithful to melodic hard rock and metal. If you count yourself among that number (and I assume you do if you're checking out this listing), you would do well to add this bad boy to your shopping cart.



PS - While I share the reviewer from Seattle's appreciation for this fine album, there is no way - and I mean NO WAY - that it should ever be mentioned alongside Savatage and Evergrey. They're not very similar stylistically, nor was I, Napoleon even remotely near as talented and awe-inspiring as those two amazing bands.

"

One of the best i own from the 80's - 90's

Barry Thomas Craig | Seattle, Washington USA | 12/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Over ten years later, this disc remains in my CD player. I still sing the songs in the shower. This disc has a lot of strong elements to it, including classical passages, catchy melodies, dark passages, and the right mix of heavy, subtle, and emotional. It is both weird and serious, which sets up the basic manic/depressive mood of the disc.



CONTENT: It seems to be a concept piece, following an immature male as he goes through a selfish range of emotions after losing his girl. He goes fairly quickly from "I still want you around" to "I'm gonna kill myself". It is good stuff, and it sounds very honest. The singer is more than a little off balance, so you get a sense that he's a breath away from doing something he'll regret. At first you want to make fun of the guy, then you feel sorry for him, and eventually you relate.



SOUND: Although the sound is similar, I think it is a stretch to associate this too much with 80's "let's rock the sex" bands like Cinderella, Poison, or AC/DC. Because of the classical elements, dark subjects and high emotion, this recording reminds me more of proggy bands like Evergrey and Savatage. But to each his own, I think it will appeal to everyone."

One of the best

toto | bulgaria | 11/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is realy one of the best hard rock albums. If you like cinderella, bon jovi and poison, you will love it."