Hang Cool Teddy Bear may not be an explicit sequel to Bat Out of Hell -- not in its title or in its composition, with
Meat Loaf once again parting ways with
Jim Steinman, the architect of the Bat songs -- but it sure has enough bombast to trick anybody into thinking it’s the fourth volume of Bat. It’s not, of course: unlike those three career-defining records,
Hang Cool Teddy Bear boasts an actual narrative -- a hazy, unformed tale of a wounded soldier -- instead of merely being conceptual, a difference that should give the album shape, particularly when married with Rob Cavallo’s crisp, bright production. Cavallo corrects all the errors of the heavy-handed metallic Bat Out of Hell III -- its slick processed grind playing like an unfortunate artifact from the moussed and teased ’80 Sunset Strip -- but the album still lacks the songs of
Steinman. Instead, many other writers craft tributes to that over-the-top sound -- notably,
Justin Hawkins, who made his bones with the parodic rock of
the Darkness, American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi,
Bon Jovi &
Desmond Child -- winding up with fist-pumping,
Springsteen arena-anthems and guitar-laden rockers.
Meat Loaf also gets assistance in the studio by a true motley crew --
Steve Vai and
Brian May double-team on guitar, Jack Black sings backing vocals, and House’s
Hugh Laurie pounds the piano. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine