Uhm...for die-hard fans only, I guess!
Here's what the booklet says : “The British heavy Metal legends produce a series of alternative takes on classic favorites to herald a worthy new entry to the Saxonian Insitute Of Metal!...
...There is always feral beauty in a raging beast...and with Unplugged And Strung Up, Saxon's selection of unique, fresh and adventurous interpretations of material previously heard only with raw Heavy Metal thunder, the point is triumphantly underscored. …”
Comment: not àll 14 songs have been string up or unplugged, now have they? I mean, album opener “Stallions Of the Highway” merely gets a remix but is still present in heavy version, ”Forever Free” and “Just Let Me Rock” were both re-recorded in all of their previous Heavy splendour, and both “Battle Cry” and “Militia Guard” are found here in a simply re-recorded version, all baffles blowing with full Heavy Metal Thunder indeed! In other words, one third of the album at least has nothing to do with the album's proposed premise about acoustics or orchestrations.
“… Unplugged And Strung Up reveals layers and pieces previously dormant in many of the 14 classic Saxon songs chosen for this makeover, thanks to some ear-catching new arrangements and mixes. Recorded, mixed and mastered with Andy Sneap in Derbyshite, UK earlier this year, Biff and Co. re-evaluated, reworked and re-energized the towering likes of “The Eagle Has Landed” and “Crusader” by introducing orchestral dynamics to offer added dimension. “Frozen Rainbow” from the band's 1979 debut, gets a stunning acoustic reprisal which transports it into a power ballad to be proud of, whilst “Red Star Falling” soars and sweeps the emotions with its orchestrally-arranged dovetail. ...”
Comment: “layers and pieces previously dormant”...huh? Are you kiddin' me, somehow? I mean, what actually happened in the 5 “orchestrated” songs, is that parts of either the rhythm of lead guitar were simply taken over by orchestrated sounds...which may well have been generated by keyboards, since no classical musicians were mentioned for their possible contribution to the material (besides, it would've been too expensive to do this album with English musicians anyway!). Added layers? Whence, my friend? About the acoustic version of “Frozen Rainbow”? Okay, no negative comments there, what so ever, because it's a great acoustic guitar/ vocal track at any rate! As far as the “unplugged” state of the live recorded “Iron Wheels” goes...well, it still has an electric bass in it, don't it? The other two acoustic tracks however (album closers “Requiem” and “Coming Home”) they too are classy!
General comment: see first paragraph of this review...but add the following: still, any fan of good music should at least have a listen, if only to get some comprehension of how closely related some styles of music can be! By the way, an orchestrated version of the track “Call To Arms” was already available as album closer on the full-length album by the same title. I'm uncertain whether the track on this album is a different one (haven't gone checking, see?)!
Bonus: Yeah...bonus! This album also comes in a limited digipak version, about which the booklet says: “...As if this reinvention wasn't enough, Saxon superfans and collectors can purchase a digipak version of the release which will include 2002's storming set of full-volume, pedal-to-the-medal re-recorded hits Heavy Metal Thunder. Featuring staple Saxon stormers such as “Motorcycle Man”, “Strong Arm Of The Law” and “Dallas 1 PM” it is a quintessential part of any collection...”! Is that so? I happen to have the original recordings, on vinyl and all...so why should I want to spend my hard-earned money... Okay, okay...that's just me! I mean, I'm a far to eclectic music fan to obsess myself with any one band in particular, but I shall respect any other music fan's right to make up his/ her own choice about what to spend their money on! I regret to say that to me, personally, this album (including the bonus digipack disc) have been nothing more than a curiosity, and although I will appreciate acoustic and/or orchestrated versions of songs as bonus tracks to limited editions of regular albums, this collection was experienced as somewhat of a waste of my time! Sorry to be so rash about that, in spite of my understanding that the guys probably put their hearts and soul into the project!