Alternative Rock music reviews

Its hard to say that any album could be the quintessential Los Lobos Album. They have so many different aspects and nuances, it would be impossible to capture them in one album. Kiko comes pretty close to capturing the Lobos' essence though. Songs like Dream In Blue, Angels With Dirty Faces, & Peace showcase the basic Los Lobos "East LA Roots Rock" sound. One of my favorites, Saint Behind The Glass, is a nod to traditional Mexican Music while still maintaining approachability to the non-Latino listener. Rio de Tenampa showcases the band's ability to seamlessly meld Mexican and Country sounds together in one unique package. Every song on here is written and played with great depth and feeling, but none more than the melancholy When The Circus Comes, which I find so emotionally stirring. While this CD has a certain Hispanic flavor, it is a great introductory album to a band that appeals to lovers of all different genres of music including, Latin, Country, Blues, Rock and more!

I've got a half dozen of these guys' albums, most of which are great in their own right, but this is hands down, their absolute best. It got all kinds of accolades when it came out back in 1992. Sometimes, critics go goo-goo-ga-ga over some record, and later you wonder why. That's not the case here. This album has stood the test of time.

They're doing this album live in its entirety in a few cities right now, but there's a chance they'll expand the tour. Not to be missed.

We heard a song - Kiko and the Lavendar Moon - from this CD on the radio. As soon as I got home, I ordered the CD. It was good as expected. I have a friend who is an avid Lobos fan. I want to add myself to that list now.

This reminds me of the 80s and when I first saw the movie. Back when music was purely original. It definitely fits the mood of the movie!

VARIOUS ARTISTS
THE LOST BOYS SOUNDTRACK

This is really the first time I have reviewed a cd that is not rap/hip hop related, but I love the movie so much I felt that I should review the soundtrack and add a rock type of music review to my review list. So with out further a due

1.GOOD TIMES-this is a nice bouncy energetic song, with a great beat and nice vocals from INXS and JIMMY BARNES. For some reason when I hear this song I see a montage from the NFL or something, especially during the hook. You know clips of moments from the games of the week, and shots of drunken fans holding it down. Over all this a pretty good song.4/5

2.LOST IN THE SHADOWS [THE LOST BOYS]-I have to admit that I really like this song, it fits the film perfectly and the hook is great. The whole entire song is pretty eerie if you listen to what the lyrics are saying. LOU GRAMM did an excellent job on this track, and PAT MORAN and Lou him self did a great job on production. This is definitely a highlight of the soundtrack.5/5

3.DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME-all I can say about this track is that it is great. I have always been a sucker for slow songs, and this track falls into that category. Although it speeds up a bit when the beat drops it still has that cinematic feel to it, and then it slows down again after the hook. ROGER DALTREY did a great job on this track. This a great way to follow the previous track, classic after classic.4.8/5

4.LAYING DOWN THE LAW-INXS and Jimmy Barnes return with their second and final track of the soundtrack, and I prefer this one over the first. This one sounds smoother and more laid back. And like the first one this one was produced by MARK OPITZ and remixed by BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN. I love the sax in this track, and the hook is nice.4.5/5

5.PEOPLE ARE STRANGE-this is another highlight of the soundtrack, this was one of the songs I remembered from years ago when I first had seen the film. RAY MANZAREK produced an excellent track, and ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN held it down nicely on this track. This is definitely a highlight of the soundtrack.5/5

6.CRY LITTLE SISTER [THEME FROM THE LOST BOYS]-this is with out a doubt the best song from the album, and definitely the most memorable from the movie. I remembered this song from the movie more then any other, and is also the reason my girl went and bought the album the other day after we saw the movie again after all these years of sitting in the house. The organs on this track are off the hook, and GERARD MCMANN holds it hard on this song. And for some one that pretty much only bumps rap for the most part I have been known to blast this in the ride from time to time. This is definitely a classic record, I know everyone who has seen the movie knows this one.5/5

7.POWER PLAY-another good song comes threw on this track, with a track that sounds like it belongs on a movie soundtrack from the 80's. I can't explain enough how this joint just screams 80's, which is great because my girl loves 80's music. And to be honest this is a really good song just like the rest. EDDIE and THE TIDE tear this track with a nice energetic performance.4/5

8.I STILL BELIEVE-this song starts out real eerie and creepy with nice effects and then drops a nice beat. This is another song I remember from the movie, and like the others another I enjoy. I would also like to say TIM CAPPELLO gets into this joint hard when the hook drops each time. Like the previous track this one is a good song and a good addition to the album.4/5

9.BEAUTY HAS HER WAY-another good song follows the last track with a song I swear should have been on that flick "THE LABRINTH" [not sure if I spelled that right]. Not that is a bad thing, in fact this is a really enjoyable song, and MUMMY CALLS turn in a great performance on this track. This is over all a pretty good song, and the hook is nice.4/5

10.TO THE SHOCK OF MISS LOUISE-this is that carnie music for merry go rounds and stuff from the movie, so with that said I really don't know how to review this track. To be honest with u I really don't listen to this track, so I guess for the type of music it is, it is good.5/5

So there u have it the first music review I have done that is non rap, and to be honest I like all of the songs on here. Most of my friends want to kill me for listening to some rock music. So I love to jam this cd when any of them ride with me any were, my girl loves it though as she loves everything 80's.

The editorial review of the soundtrack on this page was a bit harsh. Sure, no new ground was broken music-wise here (the majority of the songs are remakes of '60's and '70's tunes) but, tell you what, it's WAY better than the canned, corporate crap that's foisted on the buying public nowadays.

What I like most about movie soundtracks from the '80's and early-90's is that undertalented and overexposed starlets weren't doubling as singers (whose "songs" - composed by other people - were just as "stellar" as the remakes they were "acting" in). Even as recently as the early-90's, people either acted or they would sing (once in a great while there would be someone who would be successful at both, but that was the exception rather than the rule).

I love "The Lost Boys" soundtrack because it *does* capture the mood of the movie quite nicely. I can't help but think of the motorcycle racing scene whenever I hear "Lost In the Shadows (The Lost Boys)." And despite what our resident soundtrack expert has to say, Roger Daltrey's take on Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" was pretty good (I may be alone here but I think Daltrey was a lot better than the remake that Elton himself came out with a few years later with George Michael).

My favorite track is "Cry Little Sister (Theme from The Lost Boys)" by Gerard McMann (which is where the background singers are saying, "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not die"). I've always liked the sound of church organs and the organ in the middle of the song sends chills up and down my spine every time I hear it.

The soundtrack isn't loaded with songs you don't hear in the movie. If you're a fan of the movie and have watched it many times (to the point where you can say every line withOUT watching the movie), you'll enjoy being able to listen to this and thinking of the accompanying scenes.

One of the best movie soundtracks of all time.

Yeah I said it...to me at least, this is better stuff then Mecca and The Soul Brother.They refined their sound and the result is a more focused effort than "Mecca". I like pete's smoother style of production (even though i LOVE all his stuff).
C.L. is as on point here as ever, even though he switched his focus from mainly battle raps to love songs, C.L.'s still got the lyrics. He has the versatility to switch from party oriented joints like "Take You There" to honing his technique on "Get On The Mic". While Pete goes from a smooth guitar sample on "I Get Physical" to a dope horn loop on "Searching", all while binding the album together with beautiful and expertly placed interludes of soul samples that set the dreamy mood.


I HIGHLY reccomend this to any fan of hip hop...it's such a shame how low hip hop's quality level has dipped since this gem was released.

This album represented 90's hip hop in its truest sense. It was almost ahead of it's time. It too bad that it did not get the recognition it deserved and it's too bad that Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth does not get the props they deserve. Pete is definitely one of the great hip hop chemists and C.L. Smooth is a lyricist in every sense of the word. I wonder if C.L. serves as inspiration for Hova because to my knowledge, very few could wrap lyrics around a beat like C.L in the early 90's just very few could wrap lyrics around a beat like Jay in the late 90's. C.L.'s lyricism was stellar as well as witty. It's those same lyrical attributes that made Jay the most loved and most envied in the game. The Main Ingredient is a work of art.

Make love a great influence.

Rest in peace Curtis Sneed. We love you and still miss you. We used to jam this album didn't we?

This is a great hip-hop album no question about that.. On this album I think I would probably say my favorite tracks is "I Get Physical" and "Worldwide". I don't think this album is as good as Mecca And The Soul Brother though it just doesn't give me the same feel and just that vibe of great hip-hop as that album does. But even so don't miss out on this album.. check it out and enjoy.

Justin

Less Than Jake's "Losing Streak", really got me into a Ska/Punk phase a few years ago, so I read a bunch of positive reviews about Slapstick, and figured I'd better pick up this CD. To be honest, I didn't really like the CD at all at first and was initially disappointed because I was hoping for a Less Than Jake clone. But like Operation Ivy's "Energy" album, I got a couple of its tunes stuck in my head, and the more and more I listened to it, the better and better it became. It's one of those albums that every time you give it a listen, you hear something new, and like it that much more. The CD was also my first exposure to vocalist Brendan Kelly (Later a vocalist for The Broadways and The Lawrence Arms) whose voice just packs every song with overwhelming energy and excitement. The lyrics are deep and thought out, many of them political, and many of them dealing with the everyday life of being a punk in Chicago. This band was the starting point for many artists in the great punk bands of the 1990's and early 2000's. Members of this band eventually went on to bands such as Less Than Jake, The Alkaline Trio, The Broadways, The Lawrence Arms, and The Honor System. This really is one of the Greatest Ska/Punk CD's of all time.

If you like this CD I would also suggest:

Operation Ivy- "Energy"
Less Than Jake- "Pezcore" & "Losing Streak"
The Suicide Machines- "Destruction by Definition"
The Lawrence Arms- "Guided Tour of Chicago"

IT just doesn't get much better than this. Every single song on this cd is upbeat, fun, loud, exciting, and darn catchy. Alll the songs have the perfect mix of punk and ska. Just enough punk and just enough ska. I love it. It's also perfect party music to jam too. I really enjoyed this album.

Slaptick and Operation Ivy i think are the two best punk/ska bands ever. I hope they do a reunion tour or something cuz i would love to see them live. This cd has 25 great tracks which is impressive.

Our six year old son loves "Start Dreaming" CD by Mr. Ray. This is kid's music that rocks. Mr. Ray has a hip sense of humor, and he is so much better than the sticky-sweet stuff you see on much of kid's television.

Mr. Ray had a new DVD, too called "The Mr. Ray Show!" The DVD, also available on Amazon, is great. Our son's favorite songs are "Kalien the Alien" and "I Want to be a Dinosaur."

Highly recommended.

My sister gave my daughter Mr. Ray's "Start Dreaming" CD as a gift and since then she's been singing his tunes all day long...upbeat and fun kid-and-parent-friendly songs that I've caught myself singing along too!!

To top it all off, we had the extreme pleasure of having Mr. Ray to our house for a birthday performance for my neice this past weekend and I have to say that he was incredible! He had all the children laughing and dancing and singing along with him....even the parents were bopping to the tunes! Mr. Ray is not only talented, but also a super-friendly guy. You couldn't ask for any more!!

My family can't wait for his next CD to be released. And we hope to see him in person again soon....THANK YOU MR. RAY!!

...that children's music can be meaningful and enjoyable for adult's. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of music, and a former alernative radio DJ, the thought of listening to my 4-year-old daughter's music made me scream -- until we 'discovered' Mr. Ray. This is one of my favorite CDs. Well written, hip tunes make this the perfect holiday gift!!

As a teenage Destiny's Child lover, but also a Christian, Out Of Eden was the perfect replacement. They made switching to mainly Christian music a LOT easier! God is good! OOE has godly lyrics & an awesome sound. What are you waiting for???

i love the cd. it has no cussing and noviolence what soever. i went to my first concert watching them sing. although my dad lost the cd i'v been trying to listen to it online but when i go to web sites it only lets you hear 30 seconds or you can only buy it.

As usual these girls bring it all! If you love Gospel R&B then get OUT OF EDEN's THIS IS YOUR LIFE as well as Virtue's latest "Free" and "Kiss" by Trin-i-tee 5:7.

My favourite tracks include ALL YOU NEED, DIFFERENT NOW, THIS IS YOUR LIFE AND ROLLING STONE. This entire CD is worth the purchase, you WON'T be disapointed, go get it NOW!!

This CD is packed with spiritual content, sweet beats and lovely ballards which make this a stand out project. Can't wait for the new CD to drop 2004

I majorly lucked out when opening my Mother's Day gifts last year to find this gem. This is beautiful, moving, intelligent work by a woman of the same qualities. Masterful...

This is all the Kate you need ...

A bit pricey, but damned well worth every penny! The two rarities discs are actually worth the skyward price alone! Have always been a fan of "Cloudbusting (The Organon Mix)" and here it is on "This Woman's Work I" in all its glory right next to an extended mix of "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)." Excellent!!

Do yourselves a favor ... RUN over to your nearest bank and take out a loan to get this collection! You will NOT be disappointed, I promise you this.

Cheers, Kate! You still got it, girl ......

"This Woman's Work" is a fantastic investment-- containing virtually all of Kate Bush's available recorded output up until 1990, it allows an artist of extraordinary importance and talent to be appreciated in a historical context.

Bush's growth over her first six studio albums is nothing short of stunning. I'll avoid writing full reviews of each album here (I've written them under each album), but take a moment to discuss each.

Her debut, "The Kick Inside", extremely strong and moving, while it shows a bit of insecurity in performance (her voice is somewhat immature and has a tendency, in its upper register, to get a bit harsh) and lyrics that would later be drastically improved upon, Bush is fully realized as an artist-- from her hit "Wuthering Heights", an intriguing and amazing swirling pop song to the albums powerful opener "Moving" to its standout track, the beautiful "The Man With the Child In His Eyes", its amazing that she was as young as she was (some of the material was recorded when she was 16 or 17). The followup, "Lionheart", shows clear signs of being rushed, and isn't the leap one would hope it to be above its predecessor. Still, Bush has grown in confidence as a lyricist exploring a number of different moods and thoughts, including a bold for 1978 song about closeted homosexuality (the stunning "Kashka from Baghdad").

Bush began her real growth as an artist with "Never For Ever", as she began fusing her old sound with a more confident delivery and better arrangements. The result is a far more varied and interesting album, from the tense chaos of "Babooshka" to the psychotic pulsings of "The Wedding List" to the delicate sensuality of "The Infant Kiss". This exposition in mood continued on "The Dreaming", an album of experimentation and mood, largely a dark effort, it is difficult to digest at first, but moments such as the horrific "Pull Out the Pin" and the delicate "Houdini" stand out.

Bush's masterpiece, "Hounds of Love" is next, a two sided album-- the first an exposition in mid-tempo pop, clever arrangements, and fantastic, self-assured vocals-- "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)", the title track, and "Cloudbusting" all stand out with their fantastic arrangement. The second side, a story of a woman drowning and experiencing her life suffers from occasional over-reliance on production techniques and samples, but shines on the pretty "And Dream of Sheep", the haunted "Under Ice" and the simply amazing "Jig of Life". Its followup, "The Sensual world", probably never could have lived up to its level, and suffers from sloppy sound, but it does have what may be Kate Bush's most beautiful piece, the truly breathtaking "This Woman's Work", and other standouts like "Rocket's Tail" and the funky "Heads we're Dancing" make this uneven effort worth a listen.

The bonus discs contain most of the rarities from Bush's back catalog-- b-sides (around a dozen of them), soundtrack pieces (several), two French sung songs, a couple a-sides and re-recordings, four live tracks from the "Onstage" EP, and a handful of remixes. The material is of mixed quality, some of it is pleasant enough but was wisely kept off the albums ("The Empty Bullring", "Under the Ivy", "Burning Bridge"), some of it stands up with Bush's best material (the quirky "Ran Tan Waltz", the lovely "Warm and Soothing", the a capella "My Lagan Love"). The live tracks are interesting to have, and I'm glad to have the remixes, although I really could care less about remixes as a rule. Unlike many folks, I actually prefer the original vocal on "Wuthering Heights", I think the youthful sound in her voice fits the piece better.

If there's a complaint to make, its that this needs a reissue with some remastering (the sound is good but could be better in light of modern remastering) and the material that was recorded after its release. But aside from that, this set is a fantastic value, its worth paying a bit extra for it-- I dug up an Australian copy which was quite a bit cheaper. But regardless of price, the material on here is essential.

first of aal i want to apoligise if my english isnt good nut i'm from belgium,europe and we speak dutch.
okay now, as being a huge ltj fan , i own all the albums and this was a hard album to get in.
this cd is totally different from albums like hello rockview anthem, or any other ltj album.
like people who only like ltj since anthem or borders and boundries will msot likely hate this cd. this cd has a more rougher (?) sound. you wont find things like auto tuning on this album. and instead of anthem's pop punk with a little bit of horns, this album is alot more ska, you either hate it or love it. songs are also very short and im sure some have been written in an even shorter time, cause musically this album is a lot of the same. but nevertheless this is a good album if you like true ska-punk ( and thats no punk with horns you idiots!!).
early ltj fans will love this album ( like i do) but new fans will be disappointed and thats why i give this album only
3 stars.

This is a really cool Less Than Jake album. This was realeased just after Pezcore and has that same sound, sort of raw and rough around the edges, as opposed to the later albums like Borders and Boundaries, Anthem, and B is for B-sides, which have tighter horns and an overall smoother sound. This album has a lot of good stuff on it. It's energetic and fast like all of LTJ's work. This is a nice addition to your LTJ collection.

I have recently become a fan of less than jake. Their first song I heard of theirs was "All My Friends Are Metalheads" playing Tony Hawk 4 and decided to go out and pick up "Hello Rockview", since that time i have aquired numerous albums of theirs. The first taste i had of Less Than Jake was the more punkish version that shows up in "Anthem" and thier newer cds.
So when i first opened this album and popped it in my cd player, it sounded like a poorly recorded mess of music. After several months of neglecting to listen to it i decided to give it another chance. Pretty soon I started listening to the music more and realized how great it actually is. The songs have very catchy sing along lyrics and are fast paced. The meaningful lyrics and messages in the songs are great and make this album that much better. I would recommend this cd to anyone, even a new less than jake fan can get into it if they just give it a chance. You may hate it at first, but before long you'll find yourself jumping around singing along to the songs.

I used to listen to (gag!) alternative rock like green day, one i heard this album though, I threw all that sh-t in the trash and became hardcore rocker. No matter what song it is, The Bled seam to nail it just right, and if you can sit still while listening to this, then you must have ears of steel.
Just buy it, and see what hardcores all about

although to me this albums sounds a tad typical for hardcore, it is done so well that it stands out. both lyrically and instrumentally this band shines, never really taking the easy way out in a song. the energy never wanes on the album, keeping one on the edge of their seat the entire way through. the soft parts - which there are few - compliment the music surprisinly well. it's very easy seeing a band trying what they do and failing horribly. pass the flask deserves any attention it has received, and is a great addition to a record collection.

When I look back over the last decade or so, I can think of about a dozen or so albums that have defied the boundaries and strict confinements of the hardcore genre, and have branched out to create epic masterpieces. There's obvious picks like Cave In's blistering "Until Your Heart Stops", Botch's frantic "We Are The Romans" and Killswitch Engage's metal/hardcore bridge "Alive, or Just Breathing?" The Bled's 2003 debut "Pass The Flask" rightfully claims a place along side any of those amazing pieces of music. It's not just that, but "Pass The Flask" almost single-handled nails on the head the sound of what hardcore has become today (which is not an easy thing seeing as how the genre sees so many influences) so much that is essential listening for anyone interested in this type of heavy music. If you aren't a believer yet, be ready to be converted upon your first taste of what the flask has to offer.

When "Pass The Flask" hit shelves back in the early half of 2003, hardcore was very much on the rise. Although the Bled had been active in the scene for almost four years prior to this release the buzz was incredible surrounding this record. It didn't matter who you were or what type of music you listened to. Once you heard "Pass The Flask", you were converted and you understood what the fuss was about. I know I did. If it isn't apparent enough from the first seconds of "Red Wedding", it will be by the time the album closes with "Nothing We Say Leaves This Room." There's just an unparalleled amount of musical and lyrical ability behind this album, that denying it is impossible.

The band themselves can match up equally to any of the great hardcore bands of the new millennium. Pick any song on this album, and I guarantee that it will at least impress you musically at some point. From beginning to end "Pass The Flask" is an emotional roller coaster that at times will take you to dazzling heights, and at others will drag you into the depths of the lowest lows. The guitarists play together with an unparalled musical relationship and create some of the most precise and interesting riffs that I've seen a hardcore band play in years. There's also nothing particularly metallic about their sound, which means you aren't being beaten over the head with the typical boring swedish influenced riffage that is overabundant in today's music world. Compositions like the blistering opener "Red Wedding" or the crushing "You Know Who's Seatbelt" hit you hard and heavy from beginning to end, while "I Never Met Another Gemini" and "Porcelain Hearts And Hammers For Smashing" balance the bands brutal elements with their more subdued tendencies. And let's not forget when the two throw out one of those heart-pounding breakdowns like on "Ruth Buzzi Better Watch Her Back" and "The Sound Of Sulfur". The drums (which dependent on your perspective might be the most important instrument in a hardcore band) are also showcased here. They don't follow typical patterns or structures and the beats can often take the songs to new heights as evidenced by "Spitshine Sonata." They also don't feel the need to show off or be amazingly technical, and can be just as effective when they are simple as when they are complex. And finally James Munoz brings the band's sound together perfectly. Now a vocalist who basically screams his lungs out the entire time may not sound like anything special, but the way his voice fits together with the band's instrumentation is amazing. He also mixes in just enough melody (although I'd hardly call it that, it's more like spoken word as seen on "Porcelain Hearts And Hammers For Smashing") to bring in fans who might be turned off by the constant screaming approach. But the melody is very little, and for the most part James does what he does best, and that is assault the listener along with the rest of the band.

However as good as the band is both vocally and musically, none of it would matter if the songs themselves weren't good. But no worries here, as every single song on this album is equally as amazing and impressive as the next. There's also a broad range of elements incorporated into the band's sound, so songs do not feel repetitive or redundant in the least. From beginning to end there's not one weak point in the cd that I can find. Every song is an equally amazing composition in its own right, and the way the albums is structured creates a perfect flow and atmosphere that is as chaotic as it is soothing. And if that were not enough, the lyrics that this band pull out are still some of the best for this type of music. While incoherent poetry seems to have become the big thing in hardcore today, when this record came out these songs were among the best of any band who was playing at the time. Although they may have lost some worth now, there's no denying the time and effort put into them. Besides Geoff from Thursday I still don't think anyone is writing better lyrics.

If you're already not big on the hardcore genre, than even an album as good as this is probably not going to change your mind about anything. However if you have even the slightest interest in heavy music, then I would recommend picking up "Pass The Flask" immediately, especially if you're into hardcore. As far as the modern style of what hardcore has become, this album pretty much nails the sound on the head. If you've never listened to the Bled, this is the perfect place to start. As you can tell I think very highly of this album, and I'm sure after one listen you'll be thinking the same thing. And with that I kindly "Pass The Flask."

This, of course, was the first album by They Might Be Giants. It established their "formula" of short songs with catchy melodies and silly lyrics. It is somewhat overlooked today, because TMBG almost never play any of these songs in concert anymore. But it does feature a number of classic TMBG songs, like "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head", "Don't Let's Start" and "Hotel Detective". Some of the other songs don't quite hold up as well, but it's a solid first album that would lead to (arguably) better things.

Back in 1990 on the school bus - I saw that cartoony cover art from my friend's cassette tape and asked, "What the heck is that?" He let me borrow it that day and I've been a fan ever since.

The opening of the album is what hooked me for life. John L's distinctive voice struck a nerve. Every song here is totally catchy, melodic, downright weird, and fun to sing along with. Got all the words to every song memorized.

If you like a silly good time, you'll be susceptible to these infectious little ditties. One of my top 5 favorite CD's of all time.

With a completely different sound of later albums, TMBG's debut album contains lots of the classics (Don't Let's Start, Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head, She's an Angel), favorites (Everything Right Is Wrong Again, Nothing's Smelling Like a Rose, Rhythm Section Want Ad) and some bizarre They Might Be Giants tracks (Toddler Highway, Rabid Child). If you are a They Might Be Giants fan or a Geek Rock fan, you will not be disappointed with this CD.