Bad For Good

Postmodernism dictates that no one piece of media holds greater value than any other. Everyone’s got a shot at the brass ring, everyone has a chance for their 15 minutes. Case in point: Jim Steinman seized his opportunity for stardom after penning Meat Loaf’s now eternal classic Bat Out of Hell by releasing his lone solo effort Bad For Good. It is all of the sincere, goofy, Wagnerian bombast of Bat with none of the restraint or the vocal powers. No, Jim does not have the range to pull off these monsters, but goddamn if he doesn’t give it his all. The unhinged spoken word “Love and Death and An American Guitar,” the literal cannon fire in the title track’s climax, and the “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” spiritual sequel “Dance In My Pants” are pure, uncut Steinman: grand gestures and huge choruses about the power of Rock And/Or Roll. It is an album that dares you to laugh at its bleeding heart, still beating, and succeeds in conquering any cynicism you bring to table. You can’t help but root for it, so why fight it?