Scorpions first album came out in 1972.   35 years later in 2007 they did something I never expected.  They released an album that for me was a big surprise. This is not the typical Scorpions album you are used to hearing.  They made an album that sounded like a modern rock album but there is still the Scorpions sound.  After their last few albums, my expectations were low as they I feel they have struggled to find themselves since the mid-90’s.

The album is different than their other albums as it is a concept album.  Per the band’s website:

 Humanity: Hour 1 is a concept album based on a loose storyline by Desmond Child and futurist Liam Carl, which predicts a world torn apart by a civil war between humans and robots. This apocalyptic nightmare serves as a warning shot to all humanity, whose only hope of survival is to reclaim our humanity.

Desmond Child was also one of the producers along with James Michael.  You know Child from his songwriting prowess for some of the 80’s biggest bands such as Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Kiss.  And James Michel you know as the lead singer of Sixx:A.M.  They both helped the Scorpions craft an album that reminds you why they are one of the great rock bands in history.

The album has some heavier songs than you might be used to from them and at the same time, they still have some great ballads to change up the pace throughout the album.  The one thing I love about the album is that it opens with two unbelievable & heavy songs and ends with two equally amazing tracks.  On the track “The Cross”, Klause Meine does a duet with Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins and is probably my favorite song on the album.

Below is the albums track listing and videos for four of my favorite songs on the album. Give it a listen and remember the greatness that is the Scorpions.

Track listing:

• Hour 1
• The Game of Life
• We Were Born to Fly
• The Future Never Dies
• You’re Lovin’ Me to Death
• 321
• Love Will Keep Us Alive
• We Will Rise Again
• Your Last Song
• Love is War
• The Cross
• Humanity