Top 20 reunion albums that tarnished a rock band’s legacy

ply making a cool rock album with not diving in too deep with the pathos or the politics; this one doesn’t get it right. So it’s a third Stooges album that is far from essential, far from the genius of the first two, both from 1970. And it sounds like a soundtrack album, i.e., not as strong and direct as a normal Iggy album.

10. Sammy Hagar – Ten 13

This guy has such an interesting career, almost three careers within one, and here we are with the guy who pens I Can’t Drive 55, only to lay it down a hundred more times with less insight, less perspective, less energy. He’s so good at softer tunes, and so good with Waboritas up tempo, and here we got 13 nondescripts, is what it is. And there’s already a Part 2 now, yes, Thirteen. Hey, I’m just the writing guy; you do the listening on this one.

9. Blue Cheer – Highlights and Lowlives

This is the only “reunion” album Blue Cheer has done, as far as I can tell, given that Actual Assistance doesn’t count. Man, I love Summertime Blues, and as a live band, they were mesmerizing in their grunge era revival. But quite frankly, there really hasn’t been too much to be interested in, exactly like the band Mindfunk, shaped with some of the same guys in 1996, suiting the era very badly. This is hard rock that didn’t have enough good playing, good feeling, good vibe, good anything.

8. Thin Lizzy (sort of) – Thunder and Lightning

Well, we might call this a mess if we include the two John Sykes/Lynott 1981/1983 recordings, but let’s stick with the official lineup, which also covers 1974/1983. There’s nothing wrong with the record, really, except for the fact that there’s no Brian, no Gary, no Scott, no… Robbo! I guess it makes the riffing easier when you only have John to consider and the memory of Phil, but it also makes the stage a lot less crowded. And yeah, so it’s a power trio, and sure they do play the old stuff. But it’s just not the same, is it?

7. Kiss – Psycho Circus

It’s a pretty cool album, really, but this “reunion” album by Kiss is here just for not being a proper reunion. Ace played two solos, Peter played half the album, and then they were pretty much out of there. It’s like Kansas c. 2018 having all new members except by Ativan and Phil and Rich Williams, even though the songs resemble what Kerry, Robby and Dave once brought forth. Anyway, call it what you will: reanimated, repositioned, but Psycho Circus ain’t the real deal.

6. Ted Nugent – Craveman

In a sense, this was a John Kalodner-inspired record, which told Ted to crunch it up, toughen things up in a fashion this raconteur wouldn’t do with his own sequels or with the previous 10-year break. And boy, the marionette strings make it pretty damn clear that it’s John deciding, what with the drum sound, guitar sound, song selection and overall deal that doesn’t sound much like Nuge doing what Nuge does, does it?

5. King Crimson – The ConstruKction of Light

Well, here’s the problem and it’s also the solution: this was an album that I suggested only be heard by anybody who still could dig what Crimson could do. It sounds too much like people who used to like each other but now don’t, and they’re also about 10 years too late doing a jam-rock offering. But that happens, Edvard Munch, that construction of light thing, hence the idea of a reunion album taking a legacy out of tune. Consider your tea leaves.

4. Steppenwolf – Rise and Shine

Not exactly fair to kick ’em when they’re down, but then they shouldn’t have done this album, should they?

3. Dio – Magica

Let me put it this way and I don’t think you’ll disagree with me; the first five Dio albums are the definitive Dio. And then there are three different versions of Elf, two technically being Dio records, and then this oddity, Magica, where we find old friends, music about dragons and wizards and witches is… Punchy and heavy, yes, but hardly ever magical like we remember, remarkable, reactionary, Renaissance.

2. Alice Cooper – The Eyes of Alice Cooper

I don’t think this album means anything, but I’ve been trying to think if it means