Friday, October 27, 2017

Throwback Thursday: "So Far, So Good... So What!", by Megadeth



By 1988 American thrash metal band Megadeth had been working their way up through the underground scene with their first couple of albums. The arrival of their third release So Far, So Good... So What!would usher in multiple changes that included: the arrival (and firing of after the tour) of guitarist Jeff Young and drummer Chuck Behler, more mainstream attention (despite no commercial radio airplay), and more technical song writing.

So Far, So Good... So What! primarily features faster more technical songs with themes that range from nuclear holocaust to censorship to loneliness and beyond. Like much of Megadeth's pre-existing material at the time the album is fast, heavy, aggressive, and is definitely a no holds barred presentation of rhythm guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine's true feelings on things. It features the band's concert staple and dedication to the memory of Mustaine's former Metallica band mate bassist Cliff Burton titled In My Darkest Hour.

Anarchy in the UK is quite obviously a Sex Pistols cover, but is played a lot faster and a great deal more aggressively. Mustaine originally wanted to put Problems on as the Sex Pistols cover, but the label made him use Anarchy in the UK instead because it was a more widely known song. That said, Mustaine gives it his all and has every bit as much attitude, anger with the establishment, and sincerity in his performance as Johnny Rotten did in the original. Incidentally, the second guitar solo in this cover is played by Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones who manages to keep up with the band quite well.

In My Darkest Hour is one of Megadeth's most emotionally powerful songs. The lyrics are about isolation and loneliness, but Mustaine himself has stated multiple times over the years that when he wrote the musical parts he was thinking about Cliff Burton, who had died in a freak bus accident not long before the recording of the record. It's a mid-tempo song, but it is every bit as heavy and poignant as any of the more balls to the wall material. It's incredibly rhythmic and in some ways primal, which definitely speaks to the raw emotional end of the song that much more.

So Far, So Good... So What! is a mixed bag because it does contain some of Megadeth's stronger material, but most of the album is rather forgettable. In a way I'm glad that the next album Rust in Peace ushered in the iconic line-up of Megadeth that would last into the early 2000's. That said, it's still a good album and is worth multiple listens. It has its shining moments and those moments make it worth the money spent to get it.

So Far, So Good... So What!, by Megadeth receives 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Into the Lungs of Hell
2. Set the World Afire
3. Anarchy in the UK
4. Mary Jane
5. 502
6. In My Darkest Hour
7. Liar
8. Hook in Mouth

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/So-Far-Good-What-Explicit/dp/B000TGZPUU/ref=ice_ac_b_dpb?ie=UTF8&qid=1509087109&sr=8-1&keywords=so+far+so+good+so+what

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