Meatloaf went through a rough patch a few years before this record was release. He'd split up with Jim Steinman, signed with Arista and lost his voice a few times. It got so bad (Blind Before I Stop) that few people thought he could ever come back.

But then he had 'I would do anything for love', and us fans new he was on the road to recovery.

Welcome to the Neighbourhood is one of his best albums ever, an audio showcase for the man's extraordinary talents.

If you're expecting the heavy(ish) rock of Bat out of Hell, you're in for a disappointment, but if you appreciate good music and want to listen to a whole album of songs and musical inserts without having to fast forward or skip tracks, then this just might be the one for you.

At practically an hour long and with 12 tracks, there wouldn't be too many records out lately that can touch it for entertainment value. Even Evanescence (which is superb) only manages to come in at about 50 minutes, so strike one up for the Meat.

TRACKS

1. Where the rubber meets the road.
A fine, inoffensive track to start us off. A bit sing-songy to be a classic.
Classic line - "Used to be sex, was a fine Hello"

2. I'd lie for you (and that's the truth).
Scored Meatloaf a hit, although never got to the heights it deserved. Great rock ballad for two lovers to sing at each other.

3. Original sin.
Not the best version of a stupendous song. Check out Pandora's Box album Original Sin for the true rock version. This one does have a quieter charm for a Steinman song.

4. 45 Seconds of ecstasy.
Not sung by Meatloaf, but by Susan Wood. I'm sure all the ladies out there have had 45 seconds of ecstasy, I know my wife has. (Then I came home and caught her). No more explanation needed.

5. Runnin' for the red light.
Nowadays this would probably come under a country and western cover.
You could picture Garth Brooks doing it. Has a beat a bit like the end of sex. (More later)

6. Fiesta de las Almas Perdidas.
Haven't a clue what this translates as. This is not so much a song as a musical insert (Jim Steinman's fave) which leaves you thinking ...Que?

7. Left in the dark
Soft and gentle, at least at first, and allows you to hear the words properly, which is what you should really listen to as it tells a rather too familiar story for some, and acts as a warning for others.

8. Not a dry eye in the house.
Meatloaf does poiniancy. And with a voice like his, he can really brew up a cloud of emotion.

9. Amnesty is granted
Something a litle more rock music for those fans who might think he has deserted them. Not one of the best.

10. If this is the last kiss (lets make it last all night)
Good tempoed ballad type song, should have all of the fans pleased (even the rockers).

11. Martha.
The rockers are not going to be pleased. This is a quiet song, filled with emotion from Meatloaf. It may be contraversial, but I think this is one of Meat's best songs ever. The tune is simple but the lyrics are so heartwarming.

12. Where angels sing.
Another strong song, semi-ballad, but certainly not the rock Meatloaf you might expect.

One thing that runs through a lot of Meatloaf's later albums is a story. A lot of the time the story is about sex (just listen to Paradise by the Dashboard Light). This album is no different.

Listen to the words, and the story unfolds. Mostly, for the censors sake, it is in the form of metaphor and innuendo, but this is a pretty clear album that's hard not to pick up the undertones.

For the die-hard Meatloaf fans, you'll probably already have bought it and love it.

For the Rock fans who want him to bring out another Bat out of Hell, it probably isn't worth the money, especially if you can ge
t it from a library.

For those people who were never really too keen on Meatloaf, this album is not the heavy rock style of his past. Rather its the culmination of a man who has learnt from his mistakes and produces records for himself, to satisfy what he wants to sing.

And what he wants to sing is pure poetry with a tune.