RE: HOW can such a great maestro suck so totally? L. RON HIT
Thomas G. Murray | Bristol TN/VA | 10/25/2005
(1 out of 5 stars)
"If you love the Winter brothers, real R&B/rock fusion, DO NOT buy this album! Whenever the late, nowhere-near-great Liar Ron Bubblebrain put out any book, the Scientologists were ORDERED to go buy them by the hundreds, because, basically, they SUCKED and no one who was not a Scientology brain-slave would ever consider them as decent (or even passible) literature. Hubbard's scripture, "Dianetics: A Science of Mental Diarrhea," was more of the same: Really idiotic science by a really lousy author; and idiots pay MILLIONS to learn what basically is a bad scifi fantasy by a pathetic, lying idiot with delusions of grandeur. As with the infestation of Christianity into perfectly-viable Pagan societies, what Scientology gets ruined, cheapened and ultimately destroyed---or should I say, remaindered. I shudder to think that a man so brilliant as Winter has become a Scientology dimwit, but Bob Dylan became a Fundy Christian; maybe they've been eating lead paint or something.
I strongly suspect that the "glowing" review listed below was written by a Scientologist slave. If you really want the low-down on this stupid, fake "religion," check out lermanet on the web; and you don't have to surrender your soul to do it.
Meanwhile, do NOT listen to this crappy mess OR watch John Travolta's "Battlefield Earth" while smoking marijuana: You're liable to hurt yourself LAUGHING!"
What?
Delvis | Plymouth, MI United States | 06/25/2004
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Watch out - if you like to "come out at night", best stay away from this "mission". This sounds like some of the earlier pop Prince projects- but they are better. I picked up the cassette of this album for a quarter - and still question if I got my moneys worth! While Edgar has always had a more commercial lean than brother Johnny, he still has my respect as a school of rock professor. You can find a decent sax solo or two on this recording, maybe. But overall, this is a concept project album, and contributes little musically to the Winter cataloge."
Mostly silly, but it has its moments
NoWireHangers | Sweden | 11/07/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I've only just started reading the book so I don't get all the lyrics, if they're related to the book.
The music is very uneven. There are one or two somewhat catchy songs with good musical arrangements, for example the first two songs. Some of the songs are just plain bad, like "Bang-Bang" and "Just A Kid". "Joy City" is somewhat catchy and the lyrics are so awful it's funny. It's also hilarious that it sounds like they're playing table tennis. The whole song is so silly it's funny.
Most of the album works on a "campy" level because it's so over-the-top and silly, or just to listen to as background music, but it's not "good". Buy it only if you find it at a cheap price."
"Cry Out" as Your Ears Bleed
James Choma | 07/25/2007
(1 out of 5 stars)
""Mission Earth" was sold on the premise that L. Ron Hubbard was responsible for the words and music. Hubbard died in 1986; however, this album was released in 1989. Apparently he left behind detailed instructions and tapes as to how it all was to come together. For one reason or another, it fell into the hands of Scientology devotee Edgar Winter. An odd choice when you consider Winter hadn't had a hit in almost a decade. Whether or not Edgar Winter was Hubbard's choice to execute his plan, I don't know, but even if U2 released this back in 1989, it would still be a train wreck.
Here's an example of some of the notes Hubbard left behind: "Now you will note that this melody has a very dirty bass horn. And this is a fairly dirty bass horn. Now don't get a melodious bass horn, you want a dirty bass horn. This is an interesting trick of reversals whereby you have chorded actions that would normally be in the bass taking place in the treble."
Winter, as producer, arranger and performer, had nothing but praise for Hubbard's insight into the recording process, as well as his use of "counter-rhythm" in Rock, comparing its use to Paul Simon's "Graceland."
After listening to this, my unenlightened ears heard nothing but bad lyrics set to bad 80's pop music. And I mean bad pop music -- generic music released in the 80's that made it to the Goodwill and Salvation Army sale bins a month or so after its release.
To be fair, there is one -- just one song that I found that stood out from the rest, "Treacherous Love." There is a descent song there. I feel comfortable stating that it may be classified as the LEAST mediocre song on the album.
But there's no denying that there are some stinkers here. Are they so-bad-they-re good stinkers? Yes, I think I'd qualify them as such. "Bang-Bang," "Just a Kid," and "Spacer's Lot" have many a wince-inducing moment to them. Hubbard seemed to have a rule: any upbeat song MUST have a horn section.
Don't think I forgot about the album cover. It scares me.
You want to drive the neighbors crazy? Looking for a great white elephant gift? Here you go: the soundtrack to the dekalogy, Mission Earth, my friends.