It was bound to happen. A Pearl Jam Greatest
Hits album, a.k.a. 'let's meet our contractual obligation to the label'.
If you don't own all of the albums (as you should) then you can get a peak
at the genius of Pearl Jam with this 30+ song two-disc set. It's
a good starter kit for new fans but you are much better off biting the
bullet and buying all the CDs because PJ's best moments are usually found
on the album cuts and not the singles.
On the negative side, I think anyone that
remixes a PJ song should be shot, even if it is Brendan O'Brien. This may
be a sucker move to draw in the diehard fans that already own the albums
but the CD is cheap enough that diehard PJ fans will buy it anyway.
Just the idea of Soul Asylum playing a
prom is worth the price of admission. This collection is a pretty solid
representation of what makes this such a great band. They came together
at a shelter that housed those displaced by a major flood and performed
for two High Schools that combined their proms. The rawness of the delivery
matched with the melodic and lyrical genius. But it is riotous covers that
makes this a must have CD. How can you not love Soul Asylum rocking out
" School's Out," "To Sir With Love", "I Can See Clearly Now," and the showstopper,
Glen Campbell's " Rhinestone Cowboy". My only complaint
is when the band performed their own music, they focused on their more
commercial albums instead of their brilliant early ones. But over all this
album is a bit tongue in cheek but still brilliant.
If you do not already own this album, you
are missing out on one of the keystone punk releases. The Damned sound
even more brilliant in retrospect, 25 years later. Here is your chance
to own one of great punk albums of all time! If you already know
and love this album, then you'll get you yarbles off on the alt-versions
and b-sides. The one thing that really impressed me about this version
is the mastering almost captures the brilliance of the original vinyl release.
If you are a vinylhead, you'll know what I am talking about. So drop everything
you are doing and run, don't walk, to your nearest record store and buy
this album. No record collection is complete without it. (The day this
came out, I sat outside of the local indie record story for twenty minutes
waiting for them to open so I could buy it.)
I have a soft spot in my heart for KISS.
I don't care what anyone says, they have had some great music over the
years and a lot of those songs are included here. The problem I have with
this CD is it the latest in a long line of "hits" cds this band has flooded
the market with over the past decade. This should have ended with the boxset,
which is usually the crème de crème greatest hits release.
Here is just a sampling of the repackaged hits albums this band has put
out over the past ten years (according to All Music Guide). Very
Best Of Kiss, Greatest Hits, Greatest Kiss, You Wanted The Best, You Got
The Best!, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best Of
Kiss Vol. 1 & 2, The Box Set, KISS Box, The Originals 1974-1979, Dressed
To KISS, First KISS Last Licks (box). Did we really need another
compilation? Guess Gene needed the cash.
Somewhere between Motorhead and Pink, you
will find a band called Go Like Hell. This independent band combines
punk rock sensibility with classic rock warmth to make an oddly enjoyable
concoction.
From their mohawk sporting front-woman
to their cross dressing (yet still mean looking) guitar player, this band
has no shortage of character.
When it comes to originality, however,
the band falls a bit short. You’ve probably heard the riffs on this
album a hundred times before, but on the bright side, the band makes them
worth listening to for the 101st.
While nobody will accuse them of reinventing
the musical wheel, the band still comes through with a good energy and
some darn catchy songs that make Go Like Hell worth checking out.
Although their mullets are turning to “skull-ets,”
Slugnut is still trying to carve a slice from the heavy metal pie.
The drums are tight, the guitars are heavy, but the vocals take what would
be a 2 ½ star album and knock it down to a 2.
After a few songs, I got an undeniable
urge to slug the lead singer in the nuts, which reminded me again of the
band’s name, Slugnut. Hmm…maybe that’s where the name came from.
Music To Rob Banks To is the debut
album of four Florida natives that make up New Crash Position. It's a rock
album with a uniqueness of not sounding like all the other rock albums
out today. The are no influences by styles or trends. It's high energy
keeps you moving while staying melodic. It makes you think that if you
were robbing banks this would make a pretty good soundtrack. It's not really
a heavy album but it has the potential to make New Crash Position a known
name.
The album is being released by handout
records and is available in major and indie stores in the southeastern
parts of the U.S. So if you, like me, live in a more northern region you
probably have no idea who New Crash Position is. If you go to www.newcrashposition.com
you can hear how they sound, then if you feel so inclined you can get the
CD while your there. It's well worth it.
Coming out of Austin, Texas is Subcore.
The album is an EP called Room To Breathe. The sound is strong and
could be described a nu metal, maybe. Whatever the you choose to label
them, they are good. The have a strong base line, melodic riffs, good drums,
and vocals that are easy to follow. The title track of the album should
be proof enough, but if not there are five other songs right after it to
check out.
In addition to the good tunes, the CD has
alot of extra stuff for your computer. There is a link to the website,
some desktop wallpapers to download, five different videos (live
stuff mostly), and even a game about picking up girls at a show. Also included
are mp3s of all the songs and a mail client (if you need one), the only
thing is you need flah player to use it. So check it out, if the music
alone doesn't win you over (and it will) then at least there is some cool
extras to play with.
Something About Vampires And Sluts, contrary
to the cool name, has nothing to do with neither vampires nor sluts. If
your a fan of Depeche Mode or The Cure there's no doubt that you'll like
this album. "We break our own hearts" is full of whiny vocals, synth, a
drum machine, and female backup vocals. The backup vocals were pretty good
so the album was not a total loss and there were some catchy songs (Track
11: Jet Black).
If nothing else it would make a decent
gift for that one depressed pseudo-goth person in your family. And for
the love of all things holy somebody get this band a drummer.
Put together one part Alter Bridge add
some Alien Ant Farm and you have the trio hailing from New York City named
All Parallels. The bands latest offering entitled "Formulate A Tragedy"
(On The Rise) combines a range of melodic punk and progressive tunes and
keeps them short, sweet and to the point. The band lets it all out on the
first track entitled "Work". With great guitar harmonies and catchy melody
lines, "Work" displays what All Parallels can achieve with just three people
making music they believe in. The album covers a lot of ground musically
but all within boundaries, each song relating to the next. The song "World
We Be Livin In" demonstrates the bands ability to fuse different progressive
and post-grunge styles taking from bands such as Alice In Chains and Kings
X. "Such Fragile Things" keeps the album fresh by combining Weezer type
melodies and guitar work but once again staying within the framework of
the record. Guitarist Adam Kestler fills the album in with heavier riffs
in many of the songs verses but provides enough guitar hooks in the choruses
and breakdowns to avoid "Boneheaded Riffage" territory. The vocals and
lyrics of front man Larry Chiswick are truly a highlight of the album fitting
right in between Kestler’s guitar riffs. Drummer Anthony Amodeo lays down
a percussive and aggressive foundation to each song by not over-playing
but adding just enough fills so the album can breathe and stand on it’s
own. It’s obvious that each member of All Parallels are able to showcase
their musical abilities within the songs while staying within reason and
not going overboard. All Parallels set a good standard for modern rock
today by taking catchy choruses, melodies, great guitar work and putting
them all together to create songs that are interesting and simply stated,
not boring.
I am pleased to report that the collaboration
between Brittany Spears & Madonna & their shameless, ridiculous
attempt to weasel their way into the world of alternative music has just
failed, I caught them red handed. Consider this both a CD review and exposé!
Oh, wait! I'm sorry, this isn't a new Brittany Spears/ Madonna band, (I
think), it's Call Me Alice, ooops! How embarrassing! I'm so busy blushing
it's hard to type my contempt for this horrifying pop music calling itself
alternative. Oh no, now I'm laughing so hard at that designation I keep
falling on the floor urinating on myself!! All I can do is copy & paste
a review from my MSN search results for info on Call Me Alice:
"It is a horror story for the ears..."
Yup, no argument there, (thanx MSN search result description #1.)
"Call Me Alice is a very creative music
project unlike anything else available at the moment ..." Whew, thank you
God! (thanx MSN search result description #11)
"I was intrigued enough by Call Me Alice
to sneak a listen before I packed it off to ..." Oooh! Ooooh! Let me finish
that sentence! I know where I'd love to pack this album off to!! (Thanx
MSN search result #15!)
Call Me Alice. "Against All F5ive".
They should just recycle the title from their first album for every album
they release. "Sweet New Disease" represents truth in labeling. This sticky
pile of goo will have you hoping this style of music soon rots & dies
a painful, screaming death. Excuse me, I have to go change my pants.
Posted by Ganj:
Who would be dumb enough to listen to Pearl Jam?
Posted by Shoebag :
*25th
Posted by Shoebag:
Damned are good. The Stooges are better (20th Anv. edition of 'Raw Power').
Posted by GREENMUSE:
ha ha antiguy.at admitting this,ill have to turn in my punk rock credentials....but ive yet to buy machine gun ettique.there i said it and im ashamed.may bob have mercy on my worthless soul.though i should own the rerelease by this weekend.
Posted by aG:
Why are you still reading? Go buy that Damned CD!
