Alternative Rock music reviews

Smashing Pumpkins... Yeah, you remember them, right? They were that one band with the weird looking bald guy who dominated the airwaves/charts ten years ago. Well, like most of the people here will tell you, Siamese Dreams was their finest album and it was the pinnacle of their career. In my humble opinion, it was the only good thing to come out of the whole "Grunge" trend. But, even that doesn't do this album justice. Despite many people's accusations, the Pumpkins didn't try to capitalize on the success of Nevermind. If anything, they were more influenced by the wall of sound approach of My Bloody Valentine.

Listening to this album is an interesting experience for me. I was seven when it first came out, and even though I didn't hear the full album until around 2001/02, I remember some of these songs being played periodically on the radio. Most people do not realize just how big this band was at one time -- they were once hailed as "the new Nirvana." Of course, the label was misguided and used as a selling point. Nirvana's success was unparalleled, over hyped, and unexpected. Cobain didn't really "change the face of music" like most people like to believe. He just gave a new found recognition for bands that had once been obscure and underground. However, the Pumpkins stand on their own two feet, so do not believe the unsound comparisons to Nirvana. In any case, this is a solid album. It presents a lot of the same old overused rock cliches, but it presents them in a remarkably different way.

I think that when it comes down to 90's mainstream rock this was one of the better releases. Nowadays, most people know that the whole grunge trend was a farce. It was just the same old technique of presenting something that had been around for years as "the new." If anything, Grunge revived rock in order to kill it off in a more cruel fashion. It gave rise to the horrible rap metal, nu metal, and emocore bands that dominate the mainstream nowadays.

I used to listen to a lot of rap music like nas and biggie and underground artists until i heard today on the radio, within a week i had this amazing album in my hands and i have been listening ever since.
Now don't get me wrong i have plenty of good rock albums but this album just blew me away-there is not one bad track on the whole album. It's been 8 months since i purchased this album and i swear it hasn't left my stereo since-buy this album and find out way.......

Easily among the greatest rock albums ever. This is a must have!

When else have have seemingly mismatched driving rock and syrupy sweet vocals ever blended so well together?

Smashing Pumpkins... Yeah, you remember them, right? They were that one band with the weird looking bald guy who dominated the airwaves/charts ten years ago. Well, like most of the people here will tell you, Siamese Dreams was their finest album and it was the pinnacle of their career. In my humble opinion, it was the only good thing to come out of the whole "Grunge" trend. But, even that doesn't do this album justice. Despite many people's accusations, the Pumpkins didn't try to capitalize on the success of Nevermind. If anything, they were more influenced by the wall of sound approach of My Bloody Valentine.

Listening to this album is an interesting experience for me. I was seven when it first came out, and even though I didn't hear the full album until around 2001/02, I remember some of these songs being played periodically on the radio. Most people do not realize just how big this band was at one time -- they were once hailed as "the new Nirvana." Of course, the label was misguided and used as a selling point. Nirvana's success was unparalleled, over hyped, and unexpected. Cobain didn't really "change the face of music" like most people like to believe. He just gave a new found recognition for bands that had once been obscure and underground. However, the Pumpkins stand on their own two feet, so do not believe the unsound comparisons to Nirvana. In any case, this is a solid album. It presents a lot of the same old overused rock cliches, but it presents them in a remarkably different way.

I think that when it comes down to 90's mainstream rock this was one of the better releases. Nowadays, most people know that the whole grunge trend was a farce. It was just the same old technique of presenting something that had been around for years as "the new." If anything, Grunge revived rock in order to kill it off in a more cruel fashion. It gave rise to the horrible rap metal, nu metal, and emocore bands that dominate the mainstream nowadays.

I used to listen to a lot of rap music like nas and biggie and underground artists until i heard today on the radio, within a week i had this amazing album in my hands and i have been listening ever since.
Now don't get me wrong i have plenty of good rock albums but this album just blew me away-there is not one bad track on the whole album. It's been 8 months since i purchased this album and i swear it hasn't left my stereo since-buy this album and find out way.......

Easily among the greatest rock albums ever. This is a must have!

When else have have seemingly mismatched driving rock and syrupy sweet vocals ever blended so well together?

Smashing Pumpkins... Yeah, you remember them, right? They were that one band with the weird looking bald guy who dominated the airwaves/charts ten years ago. Well, like most of the people here will tell you, Siamese Dreams was their finest album and it was the pinnacle of their career. In my humble opinion, it was the only good thing to come out of the whole "Grunge" trend. But, even that doesn't do this album justice. Despite many people's accusations, the Pumpkins didn't try to capitalize on the success of Nevermind. If anything, they were more influenced by the wall of sound approach of My Bloody Valentine.

Listening to this album is an interesting experience for me. I was seven when it first came out, and even though I didn't hear the full album until around 2001/02, I remember some of these songs being played periodically on the radio. Most people do not realize just how big this band was at one time -- they were once hailed as "the new Nirvana." Of course, the label was misguided and used as a selling point. Nirvana's success was unparalleled, over hyped, and unexpected. Cobain didn't really "change the face of music" like most people like to believe. He just gave a new found recognition for bands that had once been obscure and underground. However, the Pumpkins stand on their own two feet, so do not believe the unsound comparisons to Nirvana. In any case, this is a solid album. It presents a lot of the same old overused rock cliches, but it presents them in a remarkably different way.

I think that when it comes down to 90's mainstream rock this was one of the better releases. Nowadays, most people know that the whole grunge trend was a farce. It was just the same old technique of presenting something that had been around for years as "the new." If anything, Grunge revived rock in order to kill it off in a more cruel fashion. It gave rise to the horrible rap metal, nu metal, and emocore bands that dominate the mainstream nowadays.

I used to listen to a lot of rap music like nas and biggie and underground artists until i heard today on the radio, within a week i had this amazing album in my hands and i have been listening ever since.
Now don't get me wrong i have plenty of good rock albums but this album just blew me away-there is not one bad track on the whole album. It's been 8 months since i purchased this album and i swear it hasn't left my stereo since-buy this album and find out way.......

Easily among the greatest rock albums ever. This is a must have!

When else have have seemingly mismatched driving rock and syrupy sweet vocals ever blended so well together?

U2-Achtung Baby *****

The greatest album of all time? Maybe. We certainly wouldn't have the U2 of today without this album. Thats right no All That You Can't Leave Behind, no How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Achtung Baby laid the blueprint for what would become modern day U2. No more western influence, no more country western sounds (well except for the occasional stunt with the late and very great Johnny Cash). With Achtung Baby U2 embraced the underground techno-club scene that was happening in Europe at the time and brought it into rock and roll. While throwing all caution to the wind and letting any and all ideas be used and letting all the creativity flow U2 managed to create one of the if not the all time greatest rock and roll album. One things for sure it offers something for everyone.

Bono, what can you say about this man that hasn't already been said a hundred fold? As a person he is amazing, as a musician he is even better. His voice reached a peak on this album. Sometimes operatic, at times raspy, and others just signature Bono. Many believe that Bono hit a lyrical peak with this album, and their write. Much wider of subject matter, and more passion behind the subjects. The Edge absolutely kills on this album. Simply fantastic. Doubt able that he ever played better then on this album before or since. `The Fly' alone is a testament to that. Larry and Adam did more then step out of the box on this record they created a whole new one, one that many weren't ready for but were glad to hear.

`Zoo Station' opens the album, a song that threw many for a loop at first listen. "This isn't U2!" Well it was and a totally new U2, one that was better then ever. A great way to open the album. `Even Better Than The Real Thing' is one of the strongest tracks on the album and a true fan favorite. A classic in fact.

`One' The single greatest song the band ever recorded. Nothing like it in the bands cannon or in anyone elses. Perhaps the most misunderstood song ever along side The Polices' `Every Breath You Take.' If you were to compile a list of the greatest songs of all time this would be in the top fifteen.

`'Until The End Of The World' is a downer. It points the finger at all the downers in the world and yet at the same time makes you feel better about yourself for not being one, unless you are then, sorry.... `Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses' is one of the most original songs in the history of rock. The entire production behind the song is fantastic. The lyrical content is nothing short of amazing. Truly a classic among classics. `So Cruel' is slower and very melodic. Very deep with beautiful lyrics, some of Bono's all time best.

`The Fly.' `The Fly' is the coolest and most original song the band ever recorded. Totally uncatogorizable. It's rock, yet soul, and Gospel and so many more things all at the same time. It features a killer guitar solo by The Edge, one if his all time best, not to mention the brilliant guitar riff. The lyrics are a personal favorite, and the doweling chorus is over the top.

`Mysterious Ways' was the biggest hit single off Achtung Baby, and for good reason it has the greatest groove ever. The lyrics are so catchy it's ridiculous. `Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World' is a really pretty song. Not sur eon the subject matter but one things for sure this is one of the bands all time best songs. Hands down. `Ultra Violet (Light My Way)' is a great song. Very spacey and different. One of the better songs on the album really. `Acrobat' is too cool to put into words. This is one song that must be heard to be understood, brilliant. `Love Is Blindness' is a very cliche song title, and in reality the lyrics follow the same pattern. But that doesn't take away from the greatness of the song. Easily the best choice for the closer.

The Joshua Tree showed us that U2 could fill arenas, Achtung Baby showed us that U2 was and still is one of the greatest bands in the history of rock and roll. So when I think of how to end this review a saying comes to mind, "Ahead Of It's/Their Time," well that just simply will not do. Timeless is more like it. Highly, Highly recommended.

I am not one of those that can say that I know the trajectory of U2. Im more of a prog rock fan in this field. However, I can spot good rock-pop music, and this album has it.. do not know the context of the bands evolution, but this is art.

Achtung Baby began the era where U2 went from earnest, socially-conscious Irishmen/Englishmen to "cool" rockstars who simply cared. They abandoned the mountain men clothes and bought some shades and leather. They left the desert, and put on dresses and makeup. Maybe one day we'll forgive them for that last part.

Achtung (Attention) Baby is U2's best album I've heard. The songs have more of an edge (no pun intended), and the album is more interesting than The Joshua Tree.

I'm hard to please when it comes to the idea of a "perfect album." Even records I've given 5 stars to, have at least one dud. AB is no exception: I don't care for The Fly. But as a listener and lover of music, I know that this song suffers from relativity. It sounds sub-par because of the stellar company it's in.

One is not just U2's greatest song, but the greatest song of all time. Forget Smells Like Teen Spirit and Billie Jean. One is the best. No matter how many times I listen to it (which seems to be on average 5 times a week) I get chills all over again. It is never a chore to listen.

Achtung Baby is great. It would be even greater if it were remastered. In fact, U2 need to remaster all of their albums from the 80s and early 90s. Then, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up War, and to listen to The Joshua Tree more than I do.

What a poor excuse for music. Cant sing, cant play, this is whats called music? Poor excuse for entertainment. Must be awful if you can pick it up for less than $3.00 on line

THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM THAT NIRAVNA MADE. IT HAS SONGS THAT WERE NOT RELEASED ON ANY OTHER ALBUM. MY FAVORITES ARE PLATEU AND LAKE OF FIRE. IT ALSO HAS THEIR BEST SINGLES BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. EVERYTHING SOUNDS GREAT.

I loved this album. He sung all of the songs perfectly. My favorite part of the album were the covers. They were awesome. I recommend this album to any Nirvana fan.

Ive been listening to this album for what feels like forever. and i still analyse the songs and relate. For those who know the offspring and what there newer albums have to offer please for the love of god check this out and it will be a life changing experience.. then thank me! After all who else writes legendary lines like "if you look away, you'll be doing what they say, and if you look alive you will be singled out and tried" i mean who? Also(going off the album) you get a cance to see them live, the atmosphere created is one of a kind.

this has got to be the offspring's best album ever! with the classics "come out and play", and "self esteem" this IS a classic! "gotta get away", "bad habit", and "nitro (youth energy)" are a couple more of the great songs on this CD. so if you're thinking about listening to any of the offspring's albums - this should definetly be your first choice! the songs in the beginning are better than the ways later on the album.

time to relax: 10/10 just a good intro, because you have no clue what to expect next!
nitro (youth energy): 10/10 awesome drum roll in the beginning! and it has a great sound - and tone!
bad habit: 10/10 some of dexter's clever lyrics about how lame *ss drivers tick him off!
gotta get away: 10/10 awesome song! great vocals, guitars - etc.!
genocide: 8/10 yeah a good song, i guess it can grow on you
something to beleive in: 7/10 not the best song. it just has a wierd sound.
come out and play (keep 'em seperated): 10/10 holy [...] - the best offspring song ever! the lyrics are so true. and the beat and rythmn MAKE you like the song - and the guitar riffs make the song fun.
self esteem: 10/10 another one of their greats! the bassline makes the song 20 times better - and it's hard to just not like the song!
it'll be a long time: 7/10 not the best.
killboy powerhead: 9/10 i just like the song overall.
what happened to you?: 6/10 to me this is one of those songs i'll probably only listen to once or twice my whole life...i don't think the ska thing is working that great for them...
so alone: 7/10 nothing really hits me about this song.
not the one: 7/10 same.
smash: 10/10 one of my personal favorites, because...for whatever reason - i honestly do not know...

The Offspring's recent albums may be really dissapointing, but because of their older albums, particularly Smash, I will always have respect for them and they will remain one of my favourite bands. People say all the time how 94 was a great year for punk, and this album is one of the reasons why.

Like all truly great albums, this one is great from beginning to end, starting with the witty "Time to Relax" down to the punk anthem "Smash". For one, these guitar riffs are just incredible, and the lead singer Dexter has got a really awesome voice. These two elements come together to create 13 of the best modern punk songs ever. "Come Out and Play" and "Self-Esteem" are classics, no question. "Nitro (Youth Energy)", "Gotta Get Away", and "What Happened To You" are some of my personal favourites, but like I said before, all these songs are great.

If you like punk/rock music, then you need to buy this album as soon as you possibly can because it would be a crime not to have this CD. Fans of newer Offspring should also check this out to hear what they were like before. I promise you will not be dissapointed. This is one of the best albums of the 90s, and really, it belongs in any CD collection.

I bought Chariot after hearing "I Don't Want to Be" and "Chariot" on the radio. After I listened to it once I fell in love. I left it in my car CD player for a couple months. I've had the CD for over a year now and can still listen to it over and over again without skipping a single song.
Gavin DeGraw is so amazingly talented. I recently saw him in concert. It was the best concert I've been to. He really cares about his fans too. He stayed after the show to meet and greet everyone. He is such a nice guy, not many musicians would do that.

The world of pop music really needed this one: a singer/songwriter with great passion and talent along with a keen sense of how to best connect with his growing audience. The lyrics are heartfelt and wonderfully witty. The voice and piano playing are top notch. It's really in his amazing energy that he sets himself apart from all the others. For such a young life to have felt deep emotion and emerged with a sense of humor - and mystic grandeur - is a real accomplishment. Looking forward to future output from this prodigy.

Gavin DeGraw's Chariot has honestly changed my life. I'm sure that most people think that this is exageration or whatever, but its the truth. Its an album that is charged with soul, Gavin seems to have poured his soul into this and you can hear it through the lyrics and the music. Especially in the stripped bonus disc. Every single song on this cd is out of this world. Gavin is an amazing songwriter and can play the stuff out of the piano. He has soul and his voice is so incredible, the thing he can do with it, just crazy. This is one of the few albums I own that I can listen to all the way through without my musical A.D.D. kicking in, meaning, I can listen to each song all the way through without flipping impatiently. The love songs are true and from the heart, and songs like "I Don't Want To Be" speak to everyone about life. The first time I heard that song was on One Tree Hill when Gavin was first getting famous and I couldn't believe that someone could write something like that. In fact, my dad thinks that's the best song Gavin has ever written. When my family was going through hard times at home, I put on Chariot and life just seemed better. Musically and lyrically, its by far the best album and my favorite that I own. Buy this because it will change your opinion of music in general. Through Gavin's music, I discovered better music.

Tori is my favorite female singer ever!!!

Little Earthquakes is my favorite Amos cd with Hotel close behind.

I could do without several songs on LE, so if this were put down to 9 or 10 songs, it would be in the top 15 cd's ever. It's pretty close anyhow!

I think FROM THE CHOIRGIRL HOTEL is more diverse, but Little Earthquakes is so good at what is does, it's mesmerizing!

My favorite songs are:

CRUCIFY
GIRL
SILENT ALL THESE YEARS
PRECIOUS THINGS
CHINA
TEAR IN YOUR HAND

Those 6 are so beautiful!!!

Listen to this on a good system and escape to a magic place!

Tori Amos is just incredible. Period.

And ' Earthquakes ' just may be the best of her records,

but ......well they are ALL so good that its hard to decide.

Roger Daltry once said that he hoped that Pete Townsend never

regained his sanity because his mental pain was what made him

such a songwriting genius. I guess Tori is the female rock

equivalent of Pete. Sort of like Heart is to Zeppelin and

Sheryl Crowe is to McCartney. Bottom line is that thank god

some CHICKS are out there representin' by playing and writing

some good pop music instead of ruining the biz by

dancing around in their underwear and lip synching to pre-recorded tracks ( I won't mention any names here - you get the picture

Though this is Tori's first album (besides Y Kant Tori Read), it was the third one of hers I received, after The Beekeeper and Under the Pink. So I had a little time to get used to her. And I'm glad I did, otherwise this album would probably be in the garbage can.

Crucify used to scare me, back when I first heard it on the radio. It was four years ago, and I was eight. It's interesting how Tori Amos is now my favorite artist, and that's an honor, because I am extremely picky about music. The only other singers whom I will let into my CD collection are Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, Eva Cassidy and Alicia Keys.

My favorite tracks on this album are Little Earthquakes, Tear In Your Hand, Girl, and Happy Phantom. Please, fellow Toriphiles, forgive me because I love Tear In Your Hand. I hear that it's mainstream and boring, and everyone's entitled to their opinions, but I personally find it relaxing and nice break from all the intensity of this album. Girl is a very cool song, although it sounds a little old-fashioned. The lyrics always remind me of Merope Gaunt from the book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince-a girl whom everyone thinks will amount to nothing and is brought down by low opinions of her. Happy Phantom is cute and jaunty -kind of a Mr. Zebra-The Wrong Band combination. It sounds like it could have been in The Wizard of Oz, and not just because of the reference to Judy Garland. Precious Things is abrupt and brash; always making me think of those little cherub angels-possibly from the line "I want to smash the faces of those beautiful boys/Those Christian boys". A few lines in Silent All These Years have Tori's voice sounding like that of Eleanor Audley, my all-time favorite actress. Me And A Gun is straightforward, not leaping around the fire but plunging right into it. And lastly, the title song-wow! It has the most distinctive sound of anything I've ever heard. It begins with faint strains of electric guitar, then opening up into a full, echo-y sound that is incredibly calming.

This is a spectacular album. But if you're a new Tori fan, you probably shouldn't start with this one. Start with Scarlet's Walk or The Beekeeper. Start with Under The Pink or Boys For Pele if you must, and definitely do NOT start with From The Choirgirl Hotel. Start with one of her least enigmatic albums, and slowly work your way up the Yellow Brick Road.

Nu metal sucks - its not even metal. you can't be metal with rap and hip hop influenced stuff. rap sucks. numetal is lame. you cant bang your head to this. its tuned down way too much and theres no fancy guitar work?? no solos? not even any fancy guitar riffs? well korn is considered the "best band" in numetal abd korn sucks so therefore numetal is the lamest "metal" genre ever if you can even call it "Metal"

STAY AWAY FROM NU-METAL, they just want your money

Korn's "Take a Look in the Mirror" was the immediate follow up release to 2002's "Untouchables" (Take a Look in the Mirror was released in 2003). I like this album a little bit better than "Untouchables" because not only did they stop the over usage of synthesizer, there's even the element of hip-hop in a few songs, just like "Follow the Leader". Let me put it out there that I pretty much can't stand the hip-hop/metal fusion thing for the most part (bands like Limp Bizkit, Crazy Town and Linkin Park) but for whatever reason, whenever Korn does it, it's alright. I don't know, call it biased because I've been listening to them since 1995 but maybe it's just because they don't abuse it by doing nothing but hip-hop/metal fusion.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this album. This was a nice refreshment of some of their old school tunes because a lot of the songs on this album are very reminiscent of albums past like "Life is Peachy" and "Follow the Leader". You get a great mixture of heavy songs, 2 hip-hop fusion songs ("Play Me" featuring NAS and "Y'all Want a Single") and even some slower, more eerie songs as well.

"Untouchables" had some great riffs and bass lines in it but this one blows that away, far away by comparison in that respect. It almost sounds like Munky and Head tune their 7 strings all the way down just to get some of the riffs and Fieldy has some amazing bass bridges in this as well. I thought the lyrics were a little stale here and there, but nothing that made me say "WTF! What happened here?!"

This album is a real throw back to their early days so if any fans out there were turned away by "Untouchables", this is a great CD to get you back in the good graces because it's very similar (in my opinion) to "Follow the Leader" (minus the near minute of silence to start the CD). And the cameo by NAS is very impressive. The guy is an amazing rapper and again it's awfully refreshing to see that kind of versatility from a rapper and a metal band that can write a song around him that actually sounds good (sorry but "Children of the Korn" w/ Ice Cube did nothing for me). I'd pick this up in a heart beat. I was very impressed. 4.25 stars (just a little closer to 4 than 5 on the Amazon rating system)

Since 'Issues' was released I've been less impressed with KoRn's work. 'Untouchables' was good but nothing spectacular, and with 'Take a Look in the Mirror' KoRn takes it up a notch, but still fails to blow me away. I absolutly haved 'Right Now' but that's mostly because the video is so rediculous that it makes the song itself even less impressive. Songs like 'Break Some Off' and 'Counting on Me' bring me back to what I love about this band, but they still fail to really showcase what made their previous albums so great. 'Let's do This Now' is one of my favorites, as is the cover of Metalica's 'One' which makes for one awsome live performance. The highlight to me though, and I know a lot of people won't agree, is 'Play Me' featuring Nas. Yes I know, rap and metal don't mix...right? I say wrong cuz when it's done right it sounds like this. This isn't Limp Bizkit, this is brutal guitars and Nas people. Awsome track. This is a good CD, but still not great. Judging by the way things are heading though, in due time KoRn will be back where they started, and that's a really really good thing.

"Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" was Sarah McLachlan third album, and with classic songs like "Possession", "Good Enough", "Hold On" and the great title track it is by many considered her finest.

The album was her big commercial breakthrough, helped by several great singles. Among those are the opening track "Possession" with its controversal lyrics describing the world through the eyes of a rapist.

It's an overall quiet album ( with a few exceptions ) and most songs are likely to grow on you. My immediate favourites were the song I knew from her terrific live-album "Mirrorball" - quite interesting that some songs like "Hold On" are really quite different from the live-versions. Among the "new" songs "Mary" is becoming a favourite. By the way, I was fortunate get a version with the Joni Mitchell song "Blue" as a bonus-song.

Great album!

La voz de Sara Mclachlan es una voz inconfundible. Si pudiera definirla con una textura diría que es terciopelo. Todos sus discos son ESPECTACULARES pero para mí y mis memorias de una época de mi vida, este es el mejor de todos. Ojo con las letras.

I love this CD, I've alwayed liked Sarah, and this is one listened to everyday. Its relaxing and powerful at the same time. She is a very talented singer and this is certainly among one of her finest works. Released in 1994, thjs is her third studio cd. While Sarah was fairly unknown when this released, she has since climbed the charts and this cd has stood the test of time as one of the best -- beautiful lyrics, gorgeous vocals and soothing harmonies that touched millions of people.