This thread discusses the Content article: Michael Schenker Group - In the Midst of Beauty

Vairy nice!
Stay on that wagon, Mikey!

I didn't like this too much. There was very little in my book to distinguish this from other recent Schenker output - it starts of well but gradually loses steam till you are checking to see how many songs are left until its over. I felt this even about Tales but the stellar vocal performances on many of those songs make me rate it higher than this one. And Barden's really underpowered throughout this album.

I'm going to piss someone off with this, but I have a very hard line on Schenker, having seen him live many times and been listening to him since UFO's Lights Out first came out.

Schenker is nothing without someone like Phil Mogg to add the structure and melody to his guitar playing. No doubt Schenker is a (troubled) genius on the flying V, but if you honestly assess his recorded output since he left UFO, there's not a whole lot there to recommend. Yeah, sure we all have a favorite song or album (I like his first one) but really, his career can barely fill a decent greatest hits album with truly great, lyrical, melodious songs. Whereas when he was with UFO, they could pump out classics with their eyes closed.

The flip side, unfortunately, despite some great work by Paul Chapman and now with some strong albums with Vinnie Moore, UFO needs Schenker. The Mogg/Schenker combination, as volatile as it is brings melody to Schenker's flash, and power to Mogg's melody.

My opinion, any ways.

While my viewpoint is not that extreme and I really like the albums with Barden and Bonnet among other things Schenker, I hear you overall. Nothing is as good as the 70s Schenker-era UFO.

Well a friend just linked me to a clip that made my day:

The second half of the video where he's doing more alternate picking, wearning denim and leather jacket with sleeves rolled up? That's my musical hero material. Those licks never fail to give me the chills.