A2 Review in eclipsed magazine

[frozenhero]

Genre: Acoustic Rock/AOR



Rating: 7/10



Similar in style: Scorpions; Tesla; Foreigner



Slowly but surely Status Quo are creeping off the larger stage. One last tour is scheduled to happen this autumn, electrically. Afterwards only special events, more likely with acoustical than electrical instruments, are going to follow. At the same time, Francis Rossi & Co. [!] are administering their back catalogue by now re-recording it with acoustic instruments and re-arranging parts of it. Two years ago, "Aquostic (Stripped Bare)" was the first acoustic career retrospective. Since the songs, stripped "bare" like that, worked well and the album sold respectably, it was clear for Rossi, that there would be a repeat. "Aquostic II - That's a Fact" continues, as the saying goes, exactly where the first part left off. 18 known Quo songs (one less on CD compared to the LP) from "That's a Fact" through "Backwater" up to "Rockers Rollin'" and two [!] newly written songs make up an album that is remarkably listenable from start to finish. Sometimes the songs even improve by the new approach: "In the Army Now" or "Ice in the Sun" now sound much earthier.



Top-Track: Mess of the Blues



translated from German to English by yours truly

[smokie]

Thank you for this. 

Another generally positive review then?

The critics seemed to have been fairly open minded about Aquostic 1&2 and at least listened to them before judging. 

[snakelady]

Nov 24, 2016 6:20:37 GMT smokie said:

Thank you for this. 

Another generally positive review then?

The critics seemed to have been fairly open minded about Aquostic 1&2 and at least listened to them before judging. 

Indeed - newspaper reports I've seen so far have been overwhelmingly positive with most considering A2 even better than A1 and the new songs are reviewed favourable (albeit most seem to only have listened to the 1CD version with ISRYH missing). 

What didn't work with A1 IMO was the chronoliogical order of songs (I only ever listen to the Roundhouse), so maybe reviewers didn't much appreciated it either ? That has been dropped and therefor been an improvement for A2.
What I'd really like to have now would be a live recording of A2 as well. 

[frozenhero]

GoodTimes also reviewed the thing, but it seems more like they just wrote "either you like it or you don't", whereas they were RAVING about the first part (Highlight of the issue, long review!!).