Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera (1991)
Today I felt up to revisiting Savatage after one of my outside-world friends shared a couple songs from this album. Streets shows the band joining the concept album trend that would carry on in many of their 90s albums. A story filled with different characters and twists centers around a fallen rockstar wandering New York's drug-laden streets. It keeps up the operatic motive of their previous album Gutter Ballet. While it's not entirely awful, it just doesn't appeal to me now as it had a few years ago...
As the band attempted to keep things going from the operatic Gutter Ballet, it sounds like they've gotten farther than they should've had. Streets is almost 70 minutes long, and while I enjoy some long progressive concept albums, it causes some decrease in consistence. Although the band has insisted that this is fiction and autobiographical (that's how I've had to explain the book series that I write), it seems more like a tale of their addiction/success struggles in the pre-Hall of the Mountain King era. Now I don't mind the constant narrations. It's the excessive amount of piano ballads that can be sleep-inducing, better suited for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, no offense.
So, talking only about tracks that I actually like, the title opener impresses me with dark orchestration and vocals. However, it can never surpass "Jesus Saves", introducing the main character DT Jesus and having catchy hooks. "Strange Reality" is another melodic heavy metal highlight to sing along to. After a couple sappy happy tracks, "Sammy and Tex" actually makes me happy with speedy guitarwork by Criss Oliva (RIP). "Ghost in the Ruins" has more of that but with less speed. Along with "Agony and Ecstasy" to get you hooked. As we approach the end, the uplifting ballads become more interesting like "Heal My Soul" which becomes more than just a lullaby. "Believe" is practically a hymn to the rock world, well effective for a radio ballad. I would've loved it slightly more when I was a teen. And I still want more of the earlier speedy heaviness.
Other problems this album seems to have is not enough power in the production. At least the atmosphere allows you to wander through the streets like DT Jesus. I enjoy the guitars and vocals by the Oliva brothers, though Jon seems to have overused the keys despite having some excellent moments. The bass isn't all that audible, and the drums are so f***ing simple with not much of the speed I expect in most metal bands. And the melodies that are often catchy sometimes come out too arena-ish. Perhaps their couple previous albums I should've revisited, maybe even Sirens or Dead Winter Dead. Nonetheless, the band knew what they were doing in the decent Streets....
Favorites (only tracks I like): "Streets", "Jesus Saves", "Strange Reality", "Sammy and Tex", "Ghost in the Ruins", "Agony and Ecstasy", "Heal My Soul", "Believe"