Cartoonish, overwrought, dumb, but fun.

Review Score: (6/10)
Meat Loaf is a pretty good singer with a hyper sense of melodrama. Too bad the songs almost never live up to the bigness of the voice and arrangements, but Bat out of Hell remains a guilty pleasure.

The problem is always Jim Steinman's songwriting. Though he writes some good melodies, Steinman is one of the worst lyricists in the history of rock. "But there ain't no Coupe de Ville hidin' at the bottom of the crackerjack box"? This problem is somewhat alleviated by performances filled with gusto, and Todd Rundgren's slam-bang production. Bat out of Hell is a sonic marvel, the bigness of the guitars and vocals matching the largesse of Meat Loaf's musical direction.

Thanks to Steinman's lyrics the sentiments are expressed in the most cement-headed ways imaginable. But just for the adrenaline and the impressive sonics, not to mention its historical significance (its baffling longetivity, sales nearing the 20 million mark domestically), add Bat out of Hell to your collection.

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