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Antonio's album reviews
well i've done a few and i don't want to clutter up the site, so i'll put my reviews in here from now on. I'll also be taking any requests to review albums, just pm me the artist and cd name, as well as a link to it, and it'll be good to go
Albums reviewed so far Mastodon-Crack the Skye Chiodos-All's Well that Ends Well Bumblefoot-9.11 Clutch-Robot Hive/Exodus Jane's Addiction-Nothing's Shocking Avenged Sevenfold-City of Evil The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Axis:Bold as Love Foo Fighters-Foo Fighters Jane's Addiction-Ritual de lo Habitual Butthole Surfers-Hairway to Steven Frank Zappa-Apostrophe(') Reverend Horton Heat-It's Martini Time Between the Buried and Me-Colors Muse-Origin of Symmetry R.E.M.-Green Green Day-Nimrod Dixie Dregs-Free Fall more to be added soon |
Mastodon-Crack the Skye
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Release Date: March 24, 2009 Label: Reprise Records well, i got hold of a leaked version of the album, so here it goes.... Mastodon's latest effort seems more like a transition than a definite thing. This is the last of their "elemental" albums: where Remission was Fire, Leviathan was water, and Blood Mountain was Earth, this explores the idea of Air and the Ethereal realm(time travel, wormholes and crap). as a concept album(and yes it is a concept album), it's much more focused than its predecessor in the story, which itself is out of its mind. here's the story, btw: There is a paraplegic and the only way that he can go anywhere is if he astral travels. He goes out of his body, into outer space and a bit like Icarus, he goes too close to the sun, burning off the golden umbilical cord that is attached to his solar plexus. So he is in outer space and he is lost, he gets sucked into a wormhole, he ends up in the spirit realm and he talks to spirits telling them that he is not really dead. So they send him to the Russian cult, they use him in a divination and they find out his problem. They decide they are going to help him. They put his soul inside Rasputin's body. Rasputin goes to usurp the czar and he is murdered. The two souls fly out of Rasputin's body through the crack in the sky(e) and Rasputin is the wise man that is trying to lead the child home to his body because his parents have discovered him by now and think that he is dead. Rasputin needs to get him back into his body before it's too late. But they end up running into the Devil along the way and the Devil tries to steal their souls and bring them down…there are some obstacles along the way yeah, crazy stuff. but anyway, this is definately a new territory for this band. from the first song, you can already tell where they're headed in a more classic, prog rock direction. even so there's still parts to bang your head and pump your fist into the air. Musically, it's good, but the Muscality isnt as present as in Blood Mountain. This album focuses a little more on the melodies/singing than previously, plus there's a more, airy feeling to the songs themselves, like they're not entirely there. There also seems to be an....incomplete feeling after listening to it, like there should be more songs included or something. The songs themselves though, are still great. While the sudden shift in their music may turn off some people who are still waiting for "another Remmission", this'll nonetheless garner some new fans for this band, even though it's far from radio friendly music. All in all, i give this album an 8.5/10. the songs are well crafted and fantastic, but there could be more put into the album so it doesn't feel as empty. Oblivion- an abrupt tritone assault kicks this album off. then it shifts to a chugging riff and a shockingly new singing style for the band. This song has a very sad feeling to it. at the end it starts the riff of the next song with what seems to be a banjolike instrument Divinations- This sounds more like a standard Mastodon song, akin to Crystal Skull or Circle of Cysquatch on BM, with a kickass solo to match Quintessence-This also sounds like normal Mastodon, although the vocals and some parts are slightly different from their usual shenanagins. it's infectious chorus'll have you singing "LET IT GO, LET IT GO!!". at the end comes a strange transition, sort of a mini song before The Czar. The Czar- My favorite song on the album. this is split into 4 parts, Usurper, Escape, Martyr, and Spiral. Usurper repeats the same phrase "don't stay, run away" over and over again in an almost hypnotic way. Escape is where it kicks in, with a kind of southern riff that has an almost danceable groove to it. Martyr has a calming effect to it, but still has a monster riff to match as well as a melodic singing part and a furious solo. Spiral picks up where Usurper left off, with added harmony. it ends with a sad piano playing the sung melody. Ghost of Karelia- The guitar riff on this song is very eriee. the vocals are once again present as they somewhat mimic a guitar part. It's still big, but it isn't as much of a headbanger as some previous songs. possibly the low point in the album Crack the Skye- The song the album is named after isn't as riffy as it could be, once again focusing on melodies, which are themselves pretty good. the guitars in the middle of the song seem to be disappearing and reappearing at once. this is possibly the most emotive song on the album, as you can feel it tug at your heart strings. The Last Baron- it is the longest song on the album(13 minutes exactly), and possibly one of Mastodon's most epic achievements. starts off right away in a slow sludgy fashion with acoustic and electric guitars in the background. then the electrics take the forefront in a riff that then transitions into a dark and mysterious area. then comes the pounding drums that transitions into a quick riff that almost makes you forget the entire song before it. in the middle is a rediculously jazzy point that'll turn you upside down, but not before going back to the fast riff of before. then comes a sweet riff fest that then goes back to the intro, just so they could burn it into your memory a bit more. The song ends with a solo and a trill on the piano EDIT:if you read all of that, god bless you original link- http://www.musicbanter.com/album-rev...rack-skye.html |
Chiodos-All's Well that Ends Well
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Release Date: July 26, 2005 Label: Equal Vision Records well seeing as the other review for this album sucked, i decided to do one myself. i got this cd after hearing a few songs from Chiodos. While people may tag them as "just another emo band", there's more to them than that. They struck me as kind of accessible for youth of today as well as a band that isn't afraid to experiment with their song structures and such. listening to each song, there's a sense of experimentation as well as one of familiarity. Maybe it's because of the singer's voice, with it's combined high pitched-ness(is that even a word?) and screaming. The guitarists do a good job of working together, alot of their playing is very cohesive and can encompass good riffs as well as solid rhythms. I loved the bassist's playing on "All Nerieds Beware", but with the rest of the album, he seemed unattentive, like "wtf? is this dude even here?". The Keyboardist(yes they have a keyboardist), adds the experimentation to their songs and leads the Prelude as well as the two Interludes. The drummer seems to stand out the least to me, but then again i'm not a drummer. All in all, i would definately reccomend this album, seeing as Chiodos can push boundaries as well as keep their sound. As for a rating, i'd give this album a 8.7 out of 10, cause while some parts aren't as good as they could be, there's still enough to enjoy here. Prelude-Just a short intro to the album; a piano piece. the name definately fits it All Nerieds Beware-The intro bleeds epic. when it seems like it's about to kick you in the face, the bass comes in and halts everything. Then everyone comes in and the bands skills are shown, in music as well as melody/harmony. This is a damn good song if you want to get into Chiodos One Day All Women Will Become Monsters-the first few powerchords in the beginning set up the whole song. This one is a little more accesible, seeing as the song structure is a little more simple and there's less screaming. Expired in Goreville-I have a kind of love/hate relationship with this song, like i want to get into this, but i can't. it starts of hard, then the keyboard leads a good part of the piece. Baby, You Wouldn't Last a Minute On The Creek-This might be one of their most popular songs. the guitar starts off a sort of a fingerpicking style, then the song transitions into something that's a little tried but true in a band like this. Overall a good song. The Words "Best Friend" Become Redifined-The opening riff to this song is BEASTLY. it tells you that these guys mean business. then the piano comes in and calms you down before you kill anyone. the drums here are somewhat foreboding, then a slow, emotive guitar part takes the song up. in the middle there's a part that sounds like it should be in an R&B song. Interlude Pt. 1-Once again the piano is the only instrument here. it's a bit more sophisticated than the Prelude, i must say. There's No Penguins in Alaska-I really like this song. The guitar riffs are pretty catchy and the keyboard has a very good part in this song. they both work hard here. Interlude Pt. 2-This sounds like circus music. 'nuff said We're Gonna Have Us a Champagne Jam-The riff here kicks off the whole song. this'd be something to make you move. This song is pretty singable too, moreso than some of the other ones. No Hardcore Dancing in the Living Room-Don't be fooled by the name of this song. This'll make you want to do anything BUT hardcore dance. The intro is very calm at first then builds up slightly. The riff here is kind of "meh" to me, but then i kind of coasts to a point where it's pretty melodic and not so bad. Who's Sandie Jenkins-This seems more like filler than an actual song. While alot of the elements of their other songs are present, it seems like they're just messing around To Trixie and Reptile, Thanks For Everything-For an ender, it's pretty upbeat. Once again this is more melodic with less screaming. not a bad song to go out on, with the ending that's pretty emotive and a fade out to a nice ending with the keyboard. original link- http://www.musicbanter.com/album-rev...ends-well.html |
Bumblefoot-9.11
thanks to sweet_nothing for providing the link to download this album :thumb:
http://www.guitareuroshop.com/catalo...efoot_911.jpeg Release Date: Nov 6, 2001 Label: Hermit for those of you who may not know who or what Bumblefoot is, i'll fill you in. one of the definitions is a bacterial infection in animal feet(ew). the other is Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, one of the craziest guitarists today, rivaling those of Petrucci and Buckethead. Not only does he have the technical chops to be a virtuoso, he also has the zaniness and creativity the likes of Frank Zappa. This album is no exception. much of the songs on this album seem to be more of an excercise in creativity than just the standard shredder's "look how fast i can play!" music. Each song has a uniqueness to it, but it's still Bumblefoot. And for anyone wondering why he named this album 9.11, it was originally slated to be named Guitars SUCK, but the September 11th tragedy, Thal changed the name out of respect for the victims. He later donated all of the proceeds of the sale of the album to the American Red Cross. All in all, i give this album a 8/10, for anyone who wants to hear some weird stuff or just likes different types of music Fly In the Batter-The album starts off FUNNNKAAY. this song sounds like some nu-metal song from the 90's. while this may throw off some people expecting some guitar acrobatics, trust me, the solo's chaotic enough to satisfy. Lost-off time and crazy, this song features xylophone along with guitar in one hell of a ride. then everything stops, and transitions into some kind of spoken word about being lost in the forest. there's a solo in the middle, but then it goes back into another spoken verse and the opening to finish Raygun-While this has the sounds of a raygun being made by the guitar, and a lot of other stuff, this is essentially a blues song. What's that you say? A raygun and the blues?? Hell yes Hole In the Sky-this is a 51 second song, and just a nice, calming transition. it's beautiful if i may say so myself. Children of Sierra Leone-This song is very ominuous and creepy, like a halloween ride that you just want to get off Don Pardo Pimp Wagon-Compared to the previous one, this song is pretty damn upbeat. It just screams Theme Song Music, like "Welcome to the Bumblefoot Show!" this is a kickass song if you want to get into Bumblefoot, it has his strange guitar style along with a certain quirkiness that only he can pull off. There's enough soloing in this to turn your brain into sludge, at one point you hear the sounds of a cellphone being played with the guitar. Freaking Sweetness Legend of Van Cleef-The Weirdness doesn't stop with this song. it has the sound of Knights during the middle ages, having retrieved the Holy Grail, being showered with praise and glory. uh, so yeah, it's a little epic. Guitars SUCK-GREAT SONG! i don't know how i could state it any better. this shows Ron Thal's insane skills, starting with an insane tapping section using a thimble to get to the high notes. then out of nowhere it goes into a slide guitar solo that's both gentle and powerful at the same time. then right when you're all comfy and sh*t, it busts back into the ferocity, ending on a bluesy lick that makes you want so much more Hall of Souls-The definition of a filler track. i'm not really sure how he plays this, but i can tell it's on a classical guitar. the title of this fits it so well, it feels as if you're going through a Hall of Souls Top of the World- this features Frank Zappa's son, Dweezil Zappa on solo guitar. a sad song about a girl who can't take all the BS in the world, about to walk off the ledge and wanting to fly away, only to fall to her death R2-With the strange song transitions, you gotta wonder if this guy's bipolar or something. This literally sounds like elevator music........F*CKING AWESOME ELEVATOR MUSIC!! Time-Kind of a weird ending for this album, but not bad. really slow and basically how we're all on borrowed time. The ending is a riff that pretty much sounds angry and fades out here's a few of the songs for anyone who wants to listen(these are the best vids i could find on youtube) Fly in the Batter- YouTube - Bumblefoot - Fly in the batter (Live at Shredfest) Lost- YouTube - Bumblefoot - "Lost" Raygun- YouTube - Bumblefoot - "Raygun" Hole in the Sky- YouTube - Hole In The Sky Don Pardo Pimpwagon- YouTube - Bumblefoot - "Don Pardo Pimpwagon" Legend of Van Cleef- YouTube - Bumblefoot - Legend Of Van Cleef Guitars SUCK- YouTube - Guitars Suck - Bumblefoot Top of the World- YouTube - Bumblefoot - Top Of The World R2- YouTube - Bumblefoot - "R2" original link- http://www.musicbanter.com/album-rev...ot-9-11-a.html |
Clutch-Robot Hive/Exodus
well, here's another review:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Dx8EvtwNIM.../cf0cd30e.jpeg Release Date: June 21, 2005 Label: DRT Entertainment As some of you may or may not know, I'm a big fan of the band Clutch. they're one of the first bands i got into and one of the few that i still listen to today. Clutch is a band that has survived through the 90s, with all of the numetal and grunge and haved emerged with their own cohesive style, fusing alternative, hard rock, and blues, among several other styles. They always seem to be developing further, fine tuning their style while still staying true to themselves. Each song on the album is it's own thing, but still has a familiar tone. One thing these guys have been about is big, meaty riffs, and that's just what this album offers. Tim Sult and Dan Maines make a great guitar/bass combo; bouncing ideas off of each other and laying one hell of a foundation. The addition of a organ/keyboard player, Mick Schauer, is a good one. he makes subtle, yet punchy additions to the songs. Drummer Jean Paul Gaster annihilates the drum kit as well as providing some jazzy fills. Then there's Neil Fallon. The masterful lyricist with an English degree of all things under his belt, who weaves bazzare and very cerebral lyrics in his "pack a day" vocal style. This album has much to offer for people who like their rock laden with some blues. There's a good amount of hard rocking tunes mixed with laid back, atmospheric touches that make this a good album whether you need to be pumped up or just want to relax. in all, i give this a 9.5/10. The Incomparable Mr. Flannery -This song is one of the more rocking ones, with a Zeppelin-esque sound to it and a catchy as hell riff/chorus. a kind of song when you want to rock out at a college party Burning Beard-this is kind of the oddball on the record. it's alot heavier than the other songs. a real headbanger, sounding like something that would be on one of their older records. it also goes the "Black Dog" route; play riff-stop-sing-play riff-stop-sing, etc. great song though Gullah-my favorite song on the record. the opening riff fires in with fury, then preceded by one of Dan's best bass lines to date. the keyboard comes out well on this song, especially at the really funky part of the song. overall a great song by the whole band Mice and Gods-another really rocking song that you can chill out to. the chorus is catchy as hell, and the riffs are perfectly placed. Pulaski Skyway-Tim Sult gives a tasty intro in this song about industrialization. At this point in the album, the keyboard is out in front with the guitar and bass. the guitar solo is spaced out and just goood. Never Be Moved-This song up until the middle isn't bad. Not great, but not bad. Then the guitar and bass kick in with a quick, almost punkish riff. there's even a keyboard solo 10001110101-a very calm, floating intro with the keyboards, then the song kicks in. This song seems to be about a robot messiah, named 10001110101. and if you think you won't be able to remember that name, don't worry, Neil sings it in a way and enough where you'll have it stuck in your head for the rest of your life Small Upsetters-technically an instrumental, albeit one line of lyrics here and there. a somewhat jamming, yet chill song Circus Maximus-destined to be one of their classics, about a circus with the most unusual of creatures. A funky and undeniably catchy riff as well as singing. Tripping The Alarm-The second instrumental on the album. this one has more of a jamming feel, like the guys are more into the song this time 10,000 Witnesses-I feel like i'm in a Gospel Church whenever i hear this. probably because of the choirlike 'hey, uh huh huh huh" being repeated throughout the song. Land Of Pleasant Living-This is a VERY chilled out song, with the echoes of the keyboard and the bassline. When the guitar kicks in, it speeds up a bit, but is still out of it. Gravel Road-This is a cover of a blues song by Fred "Missisipi" Mcdowell, and they cover it pretty good, even using acoustic guitars like old blues players. it's really a combination of electric and acoustic. when it sounds like it's going to end, Jean Paul takes the skins like a madman, and at the last second, the song shifts into a real heavy riff that only Clutch could do and an ending solo with JP once again at the drums Who's Been Talking?-yet another blues cover, this time by Howlin Wolf. a pretty nice end to the album. here's some of the songs, for your listening pleasure YouTube - Clutch - The Incomparable Mr. Flannery YouTube - Clutch - "Burning Beard" DRT Entertainment YouTube - Clutch - Gullah YouTube - Clutch - Mice And Gods YouTube - Clutch - Pulaski Skyway YouTube - Clutch 10001110101 Robot hive exodus YouTube - CLUTCH-Circus Maximus YouTube - Clutch - Gravel Road |
yeah anybody who sees this feel free to comment, i'll start another review in a bit
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Release Date: August 23, 1988 Label: Warner Bros. Jane's Addiction is a peculiar band. If i had to classify them as a genre, it'd probably be Alternative Ethreal Jungle Rock, and this album is one hell of a testement to that. listening to it made me feel like i was in the depths of the Africa, swinging on vines and feeling the breeze running through every part of my body(and i mean EVERY part). They're also one of those bands that work best with every part intact. It wouldn't be Jane's Addiction without Perry Farell's scraggly, yelping vocals, Dave Navarro's free flying solos and riffs, Eric Avery's odd, yet fulfilling basslines, and Stephen Perkins' world influenced drum parts. There's an overall feeling of darkness and mystery in the songs, where parts seem to drift in and out, as if they were possesed. There's also an unbridled, animalistic tone in their music, even on songs that may seem very tame and relaxed. This is an excellent album, not only for fans of the band or anyone wanting to get into them, but for anyone not afraid to free themselves listening to music. 10/10 Up the Beach-This is essentially an intro. this song really hits you, but more in a slow, let it sink in kind of way. The guitar works well here with a descending lick and everything is very calm and at the same time very big. Ocean Size- a short acoustic intro shifts to a rocking riff that kicks off the album. a very vibrant song it shows more of what's to come on the cd. the solo is a bit formulaic, but such a good tone. in all honesty i'm in love with Navarro's guitar tone Had a Dad-Another really rocking track that makes you want to get up and jump around. all of the instruments can be heard well and really make all of them make the song whole. in the middle you start hearing church bells, which actually goes very well with the song Ted, Just Admit It...-apparently this was written for Ted Bundy, lucky guy ;). the longest song on here starts with a bit of drumming on different forms of percussion. The bassline really gives a feeling of being high above the clouds in contemplation. the guitar is a bit diminutive in the beggining, but then comes up front to bring the rock. Farell delivers an angry message in the song, that "SEX. IS. VIOLENCE!!" then the drums give an ominous, jungle drumming feel, then it REALLY kicks in. overall just a great song Standing in the Shower...Thinking-once again, just a real vibrant rock song. The Bass is funky, the guitar straight rocks, and the drums bring it all together. then the singer slows down the music, to proclaim how he's "Standing in the Shower ....Thinking". Summertime Rolls-very much a soft song, sounding very desperate and lonely. this song gives a feeling of meditation and being above it all. the vocals, contrary to much of the other songs here, are the central focus of the song Mountain Song-This song is focused on ONE riff, and a catchy one at that. probably the heaviest song on here. you might either get really pumped or really angry listening to this song. either way it's a real banger. Idiots Rule -interesting tidbit, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea plays trumpet on this song. the title is pretty self explanatory. it's, guess what, another unbridled animalistic rocker that makes you want to get up and start punching the air to the rhythm Jane Says -there's no real need to go into this song, pretty sure everyone here's already heard it, so yeah. Thank You Boys-WTF?!?! this is so totally NOT like Jane's Addiction, seems almost like a joke ending for the album. but hell, it's only a minute, so just go with it. Pigs in Zen -not a bad way to end, with a funky and rocking song with a really good tone on the first and ending guitar solos, making it seem almost unreal. the end comes with Perry rambling on with some bullsh*t :D |
Janes Addiction are a band I should really like with their skewed view of Rock music and although they have some great moments, I have never been truly blown away by them. is it Farell's voice or the underwhelming production? I'm not quite sure. It's about time I gave this another listen as it's been quite a while since I have heard it.
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Well, I've got some news everyone.
seeing as i have just finished classes and i'll be able to have more free time on my hands, and because i want to expand my musical horizon rather than posting the same old stuff, i'll start taking any requests for album reviews. anyone who wishes that i review something can PM me with the name of the artist and album, as well as a link to it. feel free to post in here too so yeah, just so you know |
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something that often gets overlooked with JA is avery's influence, sure he was the bass player but he wrote a lot of the music. he was never interested in being a bass hero like flea or les claypool, his bass lines usually very sparse and rarely more than a half dozen notes. 'had a dad' is his song, about the abandonment and confusion in regards to his own paternal situation. we'll have to agree to disagree on 'summertime rolls', i don't hear it about being alone at all. if anything it's the total opposite, being able to finally enjoy the sun and nature with your love without any distractions. actually, it's about smoking a J but whatever. that ONE riff for the mountain song is also the FIRST riff the band ever jammed on. they felt so good about it when they finished they didn't bother changing anything about it. i always took 'idiot's rule' as a commentary on underground music and the pretentious hypocrites that force themselves into it for appearances. it makes the line 'you know the man you hate, you look more like him everyday' a bit more poignant. 'thank you boys' might not sound like anything else on the disc but on the Soul Kiss video there's footage of the band schmoozing with various bigwigs all over the place and one old dude asks perry to describe the band and he comes back with 'we're like a cross between duke ellington and the bad brains'. this is a nod to the duke. the other thing with this disc is that it gives you a bit of an idea of what to expect from the live side of the band. tracks like 'ted just admit it', 'summertime rolls', and 'pigs in zen' with the jam out parts lent themselves really well to live situations where farrell would feed off the crowd and freestyle rants. some were better than others but no two live versions had the same vocal blurbs, the end of 'pigs in zen' is a perfect example of this. then again i've also listened to this band quite extensively in the past along with porno 4 pyros. the 'soul kiss' video is nice and all, but anyone really interested in the history of Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiciton should look into 'Whores' it's a great read and covers way more than that video. Amazon.com: Whores: An Oral Biography Of Perry Farrell And Jane's Addiction: Brendan Mullen: Books |
well thanks for clearing all that up, but i'll keep the review the same. just so people can see it from a first impression type thing
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Avenged Sevenfold-City of Evil
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Release Date: June 7, 2005 Label: Warner Bros. I picked this up a few years ago when it was released, and at first i didn't like it. This was back when i was pretty new to rock and metal and woulldn't really pay attention to the music(yeah, messed up, i know). I've grown a bit since then and have now i truly appreciate this album. Avenged Sevenfold to me gets a bad rap as some kind of band who toned down to sell records, but i don't see it as that. listening to this album, the songs didn't have that "make it appeal to the largest audience possible" vibe to me. it seems like a very genuine, sincere release, where the band stays true to themselves. sure there's a large focus on the singing, but on this cd, everyone gets their time in the sun. I also like how on some songs they add instruments like trumpets and acoustic guitars that really make the songs larger than life. while it may sound strange, considering all of the guitar noodling and drumwork on here, my favorite part of this band are the vocals, specifically the melodies in the songs. i feel that M. Shadows has a very good voice, as well as quite an ear for making really good vocal parts. that's not something everybody can do like that(i know i couldn't). of course the guitarists, Synester Gates and Zachy Vengeance, are very talented. to some people, the guitars are the only worthwhile thing in the band. i disagree, but hell, that's their opinion. Their bassist Johnny Christ isn't bad either, and he has some good parts, but he's more a rhythm than showy bassist. probably one of the strongest, yet painfully underappreciated parts of this band is the drummer, The Rev. along with providing breakneck speed playing to their songs, his drum fills are enough to make your head spin while simultaneously making your ears cum in uncontrollable pleasure. so yeah, he's like, good, i guess:rolleyes: in the end, i'd give this album a 8/10. a pretty solid effort and in my opinion, a landmark for this band Beast and the Harlot– a breathe-in descends into an opening that makes you feel as if you're hurdling down towards hell. The riff here makes you want to bang your head. This is a good rocking track with some catchy hooks and some good guitar work Burn It Down– This is the song that made me buy the album. from the first few seconds of double bass poundage, i fell in love with this song. the riff here is one of my favorites EVER. this song really has a dramatic feel to it, especially right before the chorus. alot of backup singing, which adds greatly to the listen. good song if you want to get into them Blinded in Chains– a good fast song, the drums are really good on this track, especially the fills. from what i can tell, this song is about being controlled by corrupt leaders(political commentary much?). in the middle of the song, it sounds as if they're crying up to the heavens in despair, which is all good. when you think it's over, the bass comes in with a pretty kickass line and kind of an ending breakdown the traverses into a soft part with acoustic guitars in the background Bat Country– one of their more commercial releases, hell, it was even on TRL for a while. i really like the solo on here, not only technically well done, but catchy enough so you don't get lost in a sea of jumbled notes. Trashed and Scattered– my favorite song on here, once again in large part to the vocal work. This song is basically one of those f*ck you, i'm better than all of this deals. this also has one of my favorite lines ever Quote:
Seize the Day– eh, i'm not really into this song. basically a ballad, and even though i like a good ballad, this one kind of irks me. my favorite part really is the guitar solo, which has a stlye akin to Slash and the like Sidewinder– About being a vampire. i really like ther riff in this one. the songs end with out of left field. a flamenco style outro, courtesy of Synester Gates and his dad. yeah you heard me The Wicked End– a pretty good bass intro into a pretty metal song. you'll be headbanging to this, guarantee. the metal part thn changes into a more slower and majestic part for the chorus. the solo here is probably one of Synyster Gates' best, he just tears that sh*t up Strength of the World– a 9 minute song. i rememeber reading an interview where they wanted to bring back "long songs", so yeah. It begins with an acoustic guitar, castinets and trumpets that make it sound like something out of a spanish western movie. then it breaks in with the rest of the band in their usual fashion. The chorus, "STRENGTH OF THE WORLD!" is just strong in here. in the middle, the acoustics come back in for a soft, heartfelt part. the song ends with all the instruments coming together nicely Betrayed– written after the death of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, apparently from the perspective of the guy who shot him. really good riff here as well as the melodies, which are well done. in the end a good song M.I.A.– dedicated to the troops overseas. basically about being a soldier and stuff. imo, it isn't bad, but it isn't great either. i guess they kind of lost some steam by the end of the cd. |
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Axis, Bold as Love
well time for another review.......
http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/...f8d46010.L.jpg Release Date: December 1, 1967 (UK), January 15, 1968 (US) Label: Track (mono & stereo), Barclay (stereo), Polydor (Europe - different stereo mix only, Overseas - stereo only), Reprise (mono & stereo), MCA (stereo CD & mono LP) This was Hendrix's second studio album, and one of the most important of his career. as you may guess from the album cover, this represented quite a shift than what was on Are You Experienced?. This showed the band branching out into more genres and experimental ventures. alot of studio work is used on here to create soundscapes almost unheard of, even by today's standards. The guitarwork of Jimi Hendrix is in it's prime, while being great as a soloist, his rhythmic style on many of the songs is just as intriguing. Its not just Hendrix who shines on this album either, both Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding have some really good moments on Axis. In all, i give this album a 10/10, and recommend it to ANYONE, not just fans of rock music, cause it's quite the trip. EXP- The beginning of the album is a mock radio station, called EXP, and uses guitar to imitate some really strange sounds. it's a bit creepy, imo, but definately one hell of a way to introduce the record. Up From the Skies- a very chill and relaxed song, but at the same time pretty toe tapping. the guitar solo is a bit standard, but fits well. also the bass isn't as present here as in later songs. Spanish Castle Magic- almost a 180 from the last song, this is one of Jimi's hardest rocking songs, with some kickass riffs that'll get you headbanging in no time. definately one hell of a listen Wait Until Tomorrow- this song showcases Jimi's R&B influences, along with showing some of his rhythmic prowess. the backup vocals on here work well too. Ain't No Telling- pretty quick and straightforward song, with some good rhythms and guitar work, though it doesn't "wow" me that much. Little Wing- one of my favorite songs EVER. such a beautiful and delicate song, and in my opinion, his best solo, because of the sheer feeling put into it. anyone who wants to get into Hendrix needs to listen to this If 6 Was 9- there's a strong feeling of defiance and rage here. a real rough and tumble song at first, then it transitions into a point which i could only call total insanity. at that point there's one hell of a bass run and guitar solo. the lyrics are also very strange and somewhat cryptic. that along with alot of studio trickery definately makes it one of the band's more psychedelic releases. You Got Me Floating- not the best song to follow If 6 was 9, but still a good song. there's some studio work on this one too, but it's a bit more subtle here Castles Made of Sand- this is a great song, showing just why Hendrix was one of the best guitarists ever. i can't really explain this song, it's really something you'll have to hear to believe. She's So Fine -bassist Noel Redding takes the vocals on this one. not as much of a deep song as the rest of the album, but kind of a fun, happy go-lucky kind of trip One Rainy Wish- almost a ballad, emphasis on ALMOST. a very beautiful and heartfelt song for anyone who just know songs like Purple Haze and think Jimi was just a crazy guy who lit his guitar on fire. Little Miss Lover- one of those "hey girl, you're hot. let's sex" songs. kind of makes Jimi look like a badass Bold as Love- another song which is beautiful, but at the same time hit's you right where it hurts. one of the best songs on the cd, and just when you think it's over, it continues and fades out with an impromptu jam here's some of the songs for anyone who wants to listen. oh yeah, and ignore the "download this song" things in the beginning EXP- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - EXP - Axis Bold As Love Up From the Skies- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Up From The Skies - Axis Bold Spaish Castle Magic- YouTube - Jimi Hendrix - Spanish Castle Magic Wait Until Tommorow- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Wait Until Tomorrow - Axis Bol Little Wing- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Little Wing - Axis Bold As Lov If 6 was 9- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - If 6 Was 9 - Axis Bold As Love Castles Made of Sand- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Castles Made Of Sand - Axis Bo Little Miss Lover- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Little Miss Lover - Axis Bold Bold as Love- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Bold As Love - Axis Bold As Lo |
If 6 was 9 makes me dribble a little into my kecks.....
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kecks= trolleys=jockeys=underwear :D
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just gonna toss my two cents on Axis: Bold as Love. by far my favourite hendrix album.
EXP - it's actually credited as the first track that prompted journalists to use the term 'heavy metal' to describe what they were hearing although in this particular case the track sounded like 'heavy metal falling from the sky'. either way, sabbath might have invented heavy metal as we know it but this is the track that got people using the term to describe music first. up from the skies - hello wah pedal. as far as i know this was the first track hendrix recorded using that effect. she's so fine - total filler. from what i understand noel redding was a bit of a whiner and resentful of hendrix. giving him one track per album was their attempt to make him feel like an equal. redding was originally a guitar player who ended up being 'downgraded' to bass player behind hendrix and seemed rather resentful of it. from what i understand he was also very pissed that hendrix re-recorded his bass lines for the 'insanity' part of 'if 6 was 9' and the outro to 'bold as love'. 'one rainy wish' is a criminally overlooked track. the twist around 1:15 when he sings 'i have never! laid eyes on you...' too awesome. 'bold as love' - it's one of those tracks that makes all the hair on my body stand on edge when it transitions to the vamp at the end. the day it doesn't happen is the day i know i've died. |
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Foo Fighter-Foo Fighters
http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/9876/foofoo1dg.jpg Label: Roswell/Capitol Release Date: July 4, 1995 This album is the self titled debut of the Foo Fighters and in my opinion, an overlooked gem in their discography. I see this album as a crossroads for Dave Grohl; where he had left off in Nirvana he was going to pick up with the Foo Fighters. This was his time to shine, to be in the forefront, to see if he could hold his own without Kurt or Krist. Was he going to fall back on the old sounds and ways, or was he going to move on with his own ideas and make a name for himself? Well after listening to this album, i found that there was more of Dave's own design than just some tribute deal. While there were a few moments they seemed to be channeling a bit of Nirvana's energy into the music, this was mostly an effort ala Foo Fighters. The songs have as much rock in them as they do singability, one of their biggest strengths. While much of the music has interesting structure and while they're good at what they do, FF isn't the type of band to start being all about the instrumentation. They're capable of making good music, but by their own rules. In all, i give this album a 7.5/10, while not the strongest record they've released, it's a good starting point for anyone wanting to check out the band, as well as a statement from the Foo's that they're here to stay. This Is a Call - a few seconds of silence, then a hook that'll have you singing, even if you don't speak the language (i played this for my dad who only speaks spanish, trust me). The Chorus "This is a call to all my past resignations" is basically Dave saying thanks to all of the bands he had been a part of. The rest of the song seems to be about prescription drugs, hehe. in all just a great song. I'll Stick Around - This comes out quickly, and has a total Nirvana vibe to it, from the opening riff to the chorus of "I DON'T OWE YOU ANYTHING!" From what i've heard, this song was directed at Courtney Love, whom he and Krist were battling over control of Nirvana's music after Kurts death. I also remember in an interview during the shooting of the vid for this song, Dave saying "This is straight grunge, grunge is here to stay" or something along those lines. I wonder if he ever looks back on that and winces just a bit. Big Me- One of my favorite FF songs to hear and play. This once again shows the band's ear for catchy hooks and good songs. This is a real "It's such a nice day, let's have a picnic and run around in the fields" song. What's somewhat related and also interesting is the video for this song, which parodies Mentos commercials with "Footos". this shows a bit of their more joking and playful side IMO Alone + Easy Target- Kind of a banging, stomp your feet kind of song that shows the Foos can rock too. I get quite a feeling of frustration from Dave when he sings this, but not too much that he's gonna throw a chair across the room. Good Grief- A slightly faster pace on this song that makes me think of a combination of hard rock and a throwback to 80's pop in that while it rocks, you can still snap your fingers and dance from side to side. i don't know, that's just me i guess. Floaty- an acoustic style intro goes over to a point that makes this song live up to it's name. I really feel like i'm running slow motion on some clouds or something. The added flanger on Dave's voice is a nice and slightly psychadelic touch. Weenie Beenie- Now this is a real rocker! The vocals are really muffled in this one, even in the chorus. It seems to harken back to some punk roots for these guys. Oh, George- The chords in this song give a very worried tone, like a train about to crash, and at the same time a kind of sad one. also the first song on here with a solo. It ain't great, but hey it's a solo. For All the Cows- Bit of a jazzy feel on this one, with the drums sounding like snapping fingers. then it dives into some rock and right back to before. apparently this song is about cows :P X-Static- *strumming a chord* *strumming a chord*, then drums and bass come in. *still strumming*, then vocals come in. then backup vox come in on th chorus. a bit relaxed for a song called X-Static. Wattershed - The riff at first made me think i was gonna hear some nu-metal, but then it kicks in to quick, hard rocking song that'll get you headbanging. at a certain point they get all weird time signature on you, but it's really subtle and you might not notice it at first. Exhausted- a song with this name seems like it belongs at the very end of the album. This was the Foo Fighter's first single, right before "This is a Call". well i can say the name definately fits it, it seems like it's very tired and just wants to go to bed. I think of some poor shmuck who has to go everyday to a job he hates when i hear this song. |
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but yeah, i never knew that about EXP, it just seemed like a straight freak-out track to me. i'll give it another listen and how did i forget about the wah wah on Up From the Skies? crap i feel stupid now, haha and kinda sucks how noel got put on the backburner, i always thought he and Jimi were good friends yeah and i think One Rainy Wish is really overlooked not only in how you said, but as it also showed a somewhat different side of Hendrix to me oh and bold as love, <3. that's all i gotta say |
You have great reviews also man.
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thank ye ;). and yeah, feel free to reccomend anything or tell me on how i can improve the reviews
oh and i updated some of the songs on the Foo Fighters review |
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you're right about EXP though, it is just a freakout track. it's just that journalists back in 67/68 had to figure out some way of describing what they had just heard hehe. the wah on 'up from the skies' is subtle, it's one of the few tracks where he uses it in that fashion. it's easy to overlook if you've already heard his bigger hits and who's going to be listening to hendrix album tracks without having heard 'all along the watchtower' or 'voodoo chile' first? and yeah 'the experience' wasn't exactly the shiny happy hippie vehicle a lot of people think. mitch mitchell and hendrix WERE great friends as evidenced by his continued drumming in the post experience days. it was also very clear in an old bbc documentary i caught in the late 90s about the recording of 'electric ladyland'. at one point they're getting comments from redding and mitchell, noel seems almost annoyed at having to talk about how great hendrix was 'again' and then there's mitchell struggling with his emotions as he talks about a lost friend. plus that doesn't even touch on the shady backroom contracts and BS the suits were pulling behind the scenes or so the stories go. just a little comment about that foo fighters disc :p: from what i remember grohl had been working on that album for a while before nirvana ended. it was just something he'd do to keep himself busy while on tour. pretty sure everything you hear on the disc is him. it's not something that started after nirvana so much as something that got delayed because of how the band ended. |
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and yeah i have 5 of his cds, mostly cause my guitar teacher was a HUGE fan(he even met Jimi when he was 9), and would teach me Hendrix songs and lend me cds and stuff, and i gotta say that all along the watchtower and voodoo chile are massively overrated, there's so many better songs by him IMO. and yeah with Noel and Mitch, guess not everything was groovy in the 60's eh? ;) and yeah i know the 1st foo fighters cd started as dave's side thing in the Nirvana days, i read up a bit on that and how he was so afraid to present any songs he did in fear of throwing off band chemistry. and yeah he did rerecord the entire album himself, cause he thought the version he did with the band wasn't up to par and he also rerecorded much of the band, minus their 1st drummer. after that guy found out is when he decided to leave. |
i wouldn't call those hendrix tunes 'massively' overrated but they aren't the be all end all of his work the way some go on.
wasn't aware about there being an initial band for FF. i always thought he had the recordings done then pulled a group together to tour it once nirvana ended. either way i don't think anyone anticipated how successful that 'side project' was going to be. |
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so what's coming up on review front? |
Antonio, I just read through much of the thread and I wanted to commend you on your reviews and choices. Would you be up for reviewing another Janes Addiction album?
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yeah sure, any album specifically?
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but yeah, just give me a link to get the album and it'll be good to go |
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but now that you mention it, i may do Green by R.E.M. sometime soon, or one of Between the Buried and Me's albums. Megadeth's Peace Sells...But who's Buying looks like something i'll do too. oh and i just checked the review index and i don't see any sublime. how lucky for me!:yeah: also, atm i'm downloading The Butthole Surfers' Discography(idk, spur of the moment thing), so i might do one from them if it tickles my fancy |
Jane's Addiction-Ritual de lo Habitual
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_srtTyzB9fb...o_Habitual.jpg
Label: Warner Bros. Release Date: August 21, 1990 Thanks to RezZ for the link This was the second studio album from Jane's Addiction, and compared to their previous effort in Nothing's Shocking, a bit more rock in it's step. I was a bit saddened by this, seeing as NS had more of a primal and natural edge to it. Even so, after listening to the album, i found much to love in it. this was released a year before Nirvana's Nevermind and was hailed as a harbinger of things to come, and i can see that, with that sort of tone in the music as well as a sense of freedom in what they're doing. another thing Eric Avery it seems has more of a bass presence on here, which as a guy who loves bass presence, i see that as a Big Plus:thumb:. Something i found out when i was getting the information on this album was how it was divided into two parts, where tracks 1-5 were their more rockish oriented songs, track 6-9 are in whole a tribute to Perry Farrel's deceased friend Xiola Blue, who died at age 19 of a heroin overdose. the tracks seem to be a chronicle of her life. In all i give this album a 9.5/10, with much of it's new ideas and the direction it showed the band going into, this is a must have for any Jane's Addiction fan and fan of music in general. Stop!-Beginning with someone presenting the band in spanish this song then switches time signatures like clothes, only to "STOP!" at various points that make it as uncomfortable as it is exciting. No One's Leaving - Slapping da bass, didn't know Eric Avery had it in him :D. the guitar seems to surround you in a cloud of effects, even during the solo. Ain't No Right - i feel a bit alienated listening to the beginning of the song, with Perry talking about "Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll" like it's a bad thing ;). then when you think it's over, it goes to a song more their sound and feel, with funky bass, guitar and primal drums to match Obvious - a bit calmer than the previous song, but still as intense. It seems to be a plateau song for them, where things run smooth the whole way. Been Caught Stealing - Definately one of their biggest hits, but not my favorite JA song. nothing wrong with it, i'm just so tired of hearing that by them and ONLY that on rock radio. Even so, i think that it definately deserves a listen for anyone who wants to hear this band. Three Days - ah, the ten minute epic. it seems that these guys have crossed into that territory. with a very slow and calm bassline from Avery from the start, it goes into a just a slow song, where you could feel the pain in Perry's voice. it starts to pick up, but still the same feeling with a bit more guitar. The solo in this song is possibly Dave Navarro's best effort, with him stepping a bit outside the ol' pentatonic scale and exploring some new territory. definately give this song a listen, you'd be denying yourself something great if you didn't. Then She Did... - this song seems to be a bit more intimate in its approach than any of the previous ones, starting off calmed and then going into the band's massive sound, complete with violins! It then comes back to the more quiet, inward feel of before. Of Course - i smell a bit of Middle Eastern influence! It starts with that and Perry sounding like he's half asleep, but in a good way as he keeps bringing "La La, La La, La La, La La" into the mix. Classic Girl- The final song on the album seems to feel like the night after a huge party, waking up with a hangover and looking around to see all of your stuff either tampered with, damaged, or stolen. it's also a sense of peace and calm in the air. Even with the shift at approximately 2:45, it still holds that feeling. |
Very good review. I honestly feel pretty much the same way about each song. I guess the only difference between you and I is that this album has to be my favorite of theres. And its funny you mention how Dave goes out of his pentatonic box for once, because I saw an interview with him where he talks about how he doesnt know much theory and he almost always sticks to major/minor pen scales.
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