Alternative Rock music reviews

This CD was recorded on the tour for the "1,000 Kisses" album. Songs from "Flaming Red" and "Living with Ghosts" are also included. I am a huge fan of her work and I am normally wary of "live" recordings. "A Kiss in Time" is solid, start to finish. If you are a fan of her work, I highly recommend this CD. If you are unfamiliar with her work, this would be an excellent place to start appreciating her amazing talent.

Why Patti Griffin is not known to every adult in america is a musical mystery. Why I don't hear her on my radio is confounding.
She is the Dylan of this age (her voice a delicate directed whisper one moment, and pealing the paint off the walls in another). Her devastating honesty and intensity confirm faith in the capacity for human expression to attain ethereal majesty. She exposes that inalienable connection we have to a universal truth in speaking directly to the soul.
Buy this as an introduction to her other five cd's. You will very likely buy them all.

Yes, I have to admit that I first heard this album while flying back and forth between NYC and San Francisco earlier this year, as part of United's in-air music programming. Well, let me say that somebody there is doing their job well.

I'd been curious about Patty Griffin's music before that, as I'd seen that she'd written some good songs used by the Dixie Chicks (FUTK), like "Let Him Fly" and "Truth No. 2." But I hadn't heard her own voice or playing until those flights, and am happy to say that I've not stopped listening to this album since.

This collection covers a lot of territory, presenting songs from most (if not all) of her albums, and has a very bittersweet tone overall. Griffin's humble personality is very apparent when she introduces some of the songs and expresses her gratitude to some special guest musicians. The production is one of the better I've heard on a live album in a while, and effectively seems to capture the feel of seeing the show inside the Ryman.

I'd recommend this as an excellent place to start for someone just getting into Patty Griffin's music. The accompanying DVD is also worth having, as it features a series of interviews with Griffin about her music and a couple of music videos.

I bought Lucky 7 only by listening to a couple of the samples and reading reviews. I definitely have not regretted my decision at all. "California Girl" is the obvious single, but I also really like the song "Runaway". This CD might take a few run-throughs to really grow on you, but give it a chance and you WILL NOT be disappointed!

Lucky7 is amazing and If you liked showoff check out chris from showoffs new band Farewell My Enemy at www.farewellmyenemy.com they are really f'n awesome.
Tom

come monday is my favorite song so far. i love this band , they have great lyrics and a great sound .. pick up this cd ..

This debut album by the Lighthouse Family is one of those compilations that will slowly grow on you. I was actually introduced to this group through their second album, but this album shows where the quality originated.

Unique and beautiful are words that come to mind when describing songs like 'Lifted' and 'Ocean Drive'. The overall album is set out to near perfection.

Recommended to anyone interested in plain good music.

I expect to be listening to this album / artists in 25 years time. Although the music/words sometimes run 'deep' it is light hearted, uplifting and has tunes you will sing all through the day. A family favorite. One wants to sway to to many songs and others put your dancing shoes on and yet it is amazingly the type of album you can just sit at sunset and relax to. Even our elementary age kids love it and we played it all through a family vacation in Mexico, playing it non-stop for 10 days. I created a heritage DVD memory collection for my dad's 70th and each 'branch' of the family tree chose a favorite to incorporate. We chose 'Lifted' and 'Heavenly'!

I bought this cd... [and] played the track Ocean Drive for me with the purpose of elevating my mood. All I can say is that I am thrilled I made the purchase. It is the perfect CD to relax to or to go for a long drive to. You will NOT be sorry when adding this cd to your collection!!!!!!

I am a listener of mostly HEAVY METAL...still I am not narrow minded to other styles or genres of music. Thus, when I listen to good muscianship and well written lyrics, I will give the credit where it is rightfully due......School of Fish won me over and over again with this cd. Every track easily flows after the other. Never do I skip a track....I just let it play on thru. There are no fillers....however, I do have my favorites. The obvious "Strange Days," "Talks Like Strangers," "Speechless," and "Euphoria." I have traded other cd's from my collection, but this is one I won't let go. I eventually get to it after letting my other METAL cd's get some play...and when I do get to School of Fish, it is so damn good and refreshing listening to it. This is a get in my truck and take the drive with the cd playing until all the tracks are played.

I always like a CD I can put in, throw the headphones on and not worry about having to skip this song or that song...This is one of those RARE compilations. This band/CD reminds me of another early 90's debut by a band called The Poorboys (Pardon Me). Just spilling over with catchy guitar riffs and understandable lyrics. If you like no-nonsense Rock n Roll the way it's meant to be played, do yourself a favor and get this CD...Especially since it's available "like new" for less than $1 + shipping. And if you can find The Poorboys, give them a listen too...You'll be playing it around the clock before long.

This is one fine album! From the great hook of 3 strange days to the wonderful dreamlike Speechless and Euporia. Just a supurb album to sit back and relax too. Put this one on, grab a cold one and enjoy the popouri for the mind!! It's a shame that the SOF disbanded after 2. It would have been nice to hear all the terrific music this band of musician's could have created.

Whether I understand what they're saying or not,I still love their songs.

I got this disk from friend of mine and at first I was sceptical about it,but after a few listenings i was hooked it,s a really good disk.I highly recommed it.

Well, to get this over with, I think everyone should chek out both www.herzeleid.com, and http://dict.leo.org. Type in Du hast at dict.leo.org, and it will show you what that means. The point in keeping the confusion was so that the double meaning could shine through. Obviously it's confused a lot of people who don't want to do their research.

But the real point here is that this is a great album. I adore each and every last song on it. I can't pick a favorite song on here, though I've tried. It's very good for people who like Evanesence, Metallica, Depeche Mode, or even Disturbed. I completely recommend it. Pick it up and enjoy!

I remember hearing Better Be Home Soon, the first single, the first time many years ago. It was a very nice song but surely not a contender of being a major hit. There had to be other songs lined up being hit singles, this one being merely an introduction to their new album? The reality was, however, that Temple Of Low Men barely has a single radio friendly song. The song closest to it, Never Be The Same got some airplay on Rock oriented radio stations but was mysteriously never released as a single.

Unlike their first self titled album, which was full of catchy pop tunes and a glossy production, Temple Of Low Men consist mainly of darker tunes. This is not to say that they are not catchy, they simply do not provide necessary radio fodder to sell. Not being an established major act, the album thus became a major commercial flop. Artistically, however, Temple was a break through proving that Don't Dream It's Over was not simply some sort of luck. I Feel Possessed starts the album and signals a much richer production than before, with Neil Finn content of showing a dark side in a similar fashion of Sting's Every Breathe You Take. The rest of Temple is in a similar vein, thoughtful lyrics, catchy tunes and an imaginative production, very clean but yet mostly without the glossy 80s feel that ruined many recordings of that era.

Temple may not be the most joyful records around but it is a fantastic grower that is still worth listening to today. With hindsight, this was a hint of what lay around the corner with Woodface, which combined the best qualities of Crowded House's first two releases and later Together Alone, creating an alchemy of what they had previously done, taking that one step further by making a masterpiece.

Read a fairly big sample of the reviews here and you'll see that there's far from concensus on what CH's finest effort is but I'm going to make my plug for this album. While the peaks on this (except perhaps the stellar ballads "Into Temptation" and "Better Be Home Soon") don't rise as high as "Something So Strong" or "Don't Dream It's Over", the album feels like a darn near seamless whole. The first four songs are a flat-out sonic wallop from the off-kilter love song "I Feel Possessed" through the angular "Kill Eye", subtle strings of tortured love song "Into Temptation" ("Into temptation/Safe in the wide open arms of hell..") and average guy manifesto "Mansion in the Slums" (whose best bit is when writer Neil Finn spins around the usual lyric "I'd much rather have a caravan in the hills than a mansion in the slums" to admit "I'd much rather have a mansion in the hills...What I mean is, would you mind if I had it all..I'll take it when it comes"). The tracks in the middle are a bit ho-hum but the disc rebounds with "Sister Madly", a sing-along pop ditty if there ever was one, and the understated "Better Be Home Soon".

BOTTOM LINE:
A truly wonderful pop album that probably was the victim of the choice of singles ("Better Be Home Soon" is great but American pop radio, at least, usually likes an up-tempo hit to lead off a disc on the airwaves. Had they started with "I Feel Possessed" and "Sister Madly" the band might be more than a 3 hit outfit Stateside.) It's my favourite listen overall from the group.

Hello again people. It's the pompous Seer that you know so well who is back to reviewing considerable music to explore. I was on vacation. Spent some time on the Gulf of Mexico. What a time! After almost killing myself with those jet skis, I became sedate (and also quite a sight) lounging on the beach-sunglasses, white beard flowing, with a constant supply of tropical drinks courtesy of the hotel. Sounds nice huh? I won't even discuss the amount of money I spent tipping the busboy. I am saddened that we can't use spirituality instead of money. If that were so, Metamorpho would be a very rich Seer. Ah well.
Chance (my guide that looks like Robert DeNiro but without the scowl) bet me that I could not write a cohesive review about Crowded House. So I cut my vacation early and flew back home to write this for my adoring public.
To start, let me say that I have all of Crowded House's C.D.s and ALL are excellent in the pop genre. That said, there is something about Temple of Low Men that I find intriguing over and over again. To make sense of this, I asked my guides exactly what it was? But to no avail. I suppose the lure of a roulette table takes precedence over true reflective. Also, age is not a positive factor in my favor. I never thought I'd careen into another generation gap. The slights of life.
Anyway- Neil Finn's compositional talents are very considerable and noteworthy. In some way there are a number of topics going on here- possession,rejection,redemption,isolation and the attempt at true communication and connection. All done in a sometimes confusing stream of conciousness. But no matter - the thought bubbles that emanate from Neil Finn's mind are indeed crowded and when they are released we are exposed to amazing bits of songwriting. Even though this is the pop genre, Neil's compositions are anything but matter-of-fact. He throws chords and changes in here that are incredible and unique. And the talent and the production make you wish you had 6 ears instead of 2.
The album begins with "I Feel Possessed" and the swirling and beckoning musical backdrop perfectly fits the alluring and dream-like state that Neil finds himself in. It is a giving in to an uncontrollable quest that constantly eludes us.
"Kill Eye" is disturbing and rough. The emotions in this are at war. The subject, although destructive and possessed, still has underlined goodness that cannot be expressed. We then move from the roughness to "Into Temptation", a lilting, subtle and sad song. We know that the subject here has many regrets over his failures and that he feels guilty by being possessed by temptation. Great lines here, "the guilty get no sleep, in the last slow hours of morning, experience is cheap,I should have listened to the warning". Neil's expressions with words are a joy to behold.
"Mansion in the Slums" is one of Metamorpho's favorites. A puzzling tune for sure. It is the isolation that comes by being rich as opposed to the connections by being poor. As he states, he'd rather have the best of both worlds. Neil does not want to only have the option of one or the other. A struggle for personal freedom. With "When You Come" is a double-entendre of sorts. An exploding, sensual attack of love from the earth and the heavens. Pay attention to Neil's poetry and how the music builds to a crescendo. Absolutely remarkable.
"Never Be the Same" and "Love this Life" are a perfect duo of songs. They both concentrate on survival after failure. In "Never Be the Same" he urges everyone to not stand around, like friends at a funeral. That suffering is always personal. However, the subjects "might still survive, and rise up through the maze" all the while knowing that things could never be the same after what they went through. The music on this is pure pop pleasure juxtaposed against difficult emotions. "Love this Life", on the other hand, proceeds on a calmer scale. It is the resolution that even though disaster may strike, we are alive, and the experience of the pleasure and the pain, are still a worthy measure of being human.
"Sister Madly" is a jaunty little shuffle about about, paradoxically, a steam-roller of a woman. It is a disconnect and the disconnection comes from how she treats people. She knows what she's doing, and is guided by another type of obsession/possession. "In the Lowlands" is a troubled state of affairs and, again, the music matches this urgency. Neil finds himself to be too late to fix the situation and his relationship and his desire will transform to fear. The music mirrors the situation and the lyrics, again, wax poetic and vital.
"Better Be Home Soon" seems simple enough, however, it too is about possession, about something that has a hold. The emotions within his love are pushing him away. Yet, he holds the key and is right for the first time in his life. Again, the lack of communication is a theme here, and, although he can go on without her, she runs the risk of getting back home too late. This is the best song on the album, in my opinion, and, in many respects, home is where the heart is.
In conclusion, I have come to "feel possessed" (and obssessed) about the music here. It is a wonder-and very well worth your consideration. Hope I did a somewhat half-decent job. I hope everyone's summer is filled with sun and joy. Now, listen to Metamorpho -you'll be glad. Again- I would not lead you down a false path and make you drink poisoned Kool-Aid. Catch the real drift (see my other reviews). Now, back to the beach. Yours in eternal light-------Metamorpho (Morphy)

I remember hearing Better Be Home Soon, the first single, the first time many years ago. It was a very nice song but surely not a contender of being a major hit. There had to be other songs lined up being hit singles, this one being merely an introduction to their new album? The reality was, however, that Temple Of Low Men barely has a single radio friendly song. The song closest to it, Never Be The Same got some airplay on Rock oriented radio stations but was mysteriously never released as a single.

Unlike their first self titled album, which was full of catchy pop tunes and a glossy production, Temple Of Low Men consist mainly of darker tunes. This is not to say that they are not catchy, they simply do not provide necessary radio fodder to sell. Not being an established major act, the album thus became a major commercial flop. Artistically, however, Temple was a break through proving that Don't Dream It's Over was not simply some sort of luck. I Feel Possessed starts the album and signals a much richer production than before, with Neil Finn content of showing a dark side in a similar fashion of Sting's Every Breathe You Take. The rest of Temple is in a similar vein, thoughtful lyrics, catchy tunes and an imaginative production, very clean but yet mostly without the glossy 80s feel that ruined many recordings of that era.

Temple may not be the most joyful records around but it is a fantastic grower that is still worth listening to today. With hindsight, this was a hint of what lay around the corner with Woodface, which combined the best qualities of Crowded House's first two releases and later Together Alone, creating an alchemy of what they had previously done, taking that one step further by making a masterpiece.

Read a fairly big sample of the reviews here and you'll see that there's far from concensus on what CH's finest effort is but I'm going to make my plug for this album. While the peaks on this (except perhaps the stellar ballads "Into Temptation" and "Better Be Home Soon") don't rise as high as "Something So Strong" or "Don't Dream It's Over", the album feels like a darn near seamless whole. The first four songs are a flat-out sonic wallop from the off-kilter love song "I Feel Possessed" through the angular "Kill Eye", subtle strings of tortured love song "Into Temptation" ("Into temptation/Safe in the wide open arms of hell..") and average guy manifesto "Mansion in the Slums" (whose best bit is when writer Neil Finn spins around the usual lyric "I'd much rather have a caravan in the hills than a mansion in the slums" to admit "I'd much rather have a mansion in the hills...What I mean is, would you mind if I had it all..I'll take it when it comes"). The tracks in the middle are a bit ho-hum but the disc rebounds with "Sister Madly", a sing-along pop ditty if there ever was one, and the understated "Better Be Home Soon".

BOTTOM LINE:
A truly wonderful pop album that probably was the victim of the choice of singles ("Better Be Home Soon" is great but American pop radio, at least, usually likes an up-tempo hit to lead off a disc on the airwaves. Had they started with "I Feel Possessed" and "Sister Madly" the band might be more than a 3 hit outfit Stateside.) It's my favourite listen overall from the group.

Hello again people. It's the pompous Seer that you know so well who is back to reviewing considerable music to explore. I was on vacation. Spent some time on the Gulf of Mexico. What a time! After almost killing myself with those jet skis, I became sedate (and also quite a sight) lounging on the beach-sunglasses, white beard flowing, with a constant supply of tropical drinks courtesy of the hotel. Sounds nice huh? I won't even discuss the amount of money I spent tipping the busboy. I am saddened that we can't use spirituality instead of money. If that were so, Metamorpho would be a very rich Seer. Ah well.
Chance (my guide that looks like Robert DeNiro but without the scowl) bet me that I could not write a cohesive review about Crowded House. So I cut my vacation early and flew back home to write this for my adoring public.
To start, let me say that I have all of Crowded House's C.D.s and ALL are excellent in the pop genre. That said, there is something about Temple of Low Men that I find intriguing over and over again. To make sense of this, I asked my guides exactly what it was? But to no avail. I suppose the lure of a roulette table takes precedence over true reflective. Also, age is not a positive factor in my favor. I never thought I'd careen into another generation gap. The slights of life.
Anyway- Neil Finn's compositional talents are very considerable and noteworthy. In some way there are a number of topics going on here- possession,rejection,redemption,isolation and the attempt at true communication and connection. All done in a sometimes confusing stream of conciousness. But no matter - the thought bubbles that emanate from Neil Finn's mind are indeed crowded and when they are released we are exposed to amazing bits of songwriting. Even though this is the pop genre, Neil's compositions are anything but matter-of-fact. He throws chords and changes in here that are incredible and unique. And the talent and the production make you wish you had 6 ears instead of 2.
The album begins with "I Feel Possessed" and the swirling and beckoning musical backdrop perfectly fits the alluring and dream-like state that Neil finds himself in. It is a giving in to an uncontrollable quest that constantly eludes us.
"Kill Eye" is disturbing and rough. The emotions in this are at war. The subject, although destructive and possessed, still has underlined goodness that cannot be expressed. We then move from the roughness to "Into Temptation", a lilting, subtle and sad song. We know that the subject here has many regrets over his failures and that he feels guilty by being possessed by temptation. Great lines here, "the guilty get no sleep, in the last slow hours of morning, experience is cheap,I should have listened to the warning". Neil's expressions with words are a joy to behold.
"Mansion in the Slums" is one of Metamorpho's favorites. A puzzling tune for sure. It is the isolation that comes by being rich as opposed to the connections by being poor. As he states, he'd rather have the best of both worlds. Neil does not want to only have the option of one or the other. A struggle for personal freedom. With "When You Come" is a double-entendre of sorts. An exploding, sensual attack of love from the earth and the heavens. Pay attention to Neil's poetry and how the music builds to a crescendo. Absolutely remarkable.
"Never Be the Same" and "Love this Life" are a perfect duo of songs. They both concentrate on survival after failure. In "Never Be the Same" he urges everyone to not stand around, like friends at a funeral. That suffering is always personal. However, the subjects "might still survive, and rise up through the maze" all the while knowing that things could never be the same after what they went through. The music on this is pure pop pleasure juxtaposed against difficult emotions. "Love this Life", on the other hand, proceeds on a calmer scale. It is the resolution that even though disaster may strike, we are alive, and the experience of the pleasure and the pain, are still a worthy measure of being human.
"Sister Madly" is a jaunty little shuffle about about, paradoxically, a steam-roller of a woman. It is a disconnect and the disconnection comes from how she treats people. She knows what she's doing, and is guided by another type of obsession/possession. "In the Lowlands" is a troubled state of affairs and, again, the music matches this urgency. Neil finds himself to be too late to fix the situation and his relationship and his desire will transform to fear. The music mirrors the situation and the lyrics, again, wax poetic and vital.
"Better Be Home Soon" seems simple enough, however, it too is about possession, about something that has a hold. The emotions within his love are pushing him away. Yet, he holds the key and is right for the first time in his life. Again, the lack of communication is a theme here, and, although he can go on without her, she runs the risk of getting back home too late. This is the best song on the album, in my opinion, and, in many respects, home is where the heart is.
In conclusion, I have come to "feel possessed" (and obssessed) about the music here. It is a wonder-and very well worth your consideration. Hope I did a somewhat half-decent job. I hope everyone's summer is filled with sun and joy. Now, listen to Metamorpho -you'll be glad. Again- I would not lead you down a false path and make you drink poisoned Kool-Aid. Catch the real drift (see my other reviews). Now, back to the beach. Yours in eternal light-------Metamorpho (Morphy)

Half the songs are excellent, the rest are good to ok.
The only complaint is the one song (Campfire) thast not sung by Lena.

My freind loved the album too, and he listens to completely different music than I do.

Kokomemedada isn't as good (too many songs not by Lena) but its still very good

I wish more music like this was actually appreciated by the larger world. Oh well, I am glad that I have found it!

this is definately a POP genre, but if your into that, i cant recommend a better band. i really like stereolab and was massively impressed by their level of emotionalism, but KOMEDA is just plain more fun. sure komeda doesnt have a comparable library; but they have a sound i found to be 1 notch more intoxicating. this album (the only one i have - they seem to be hard to find) ALWAYS puts me into a good mood. always. you just cant resist it. is it perfect? no, it has some cheesiness in it. but the musical and vocal talent is top notch. pure infectious pop.

Let's face it. Hulk Hogan has created this generation's Dark Side of the Moon! This amazing album takes you on a roller coaster ride both musically and emotionally. But, just like most great albums, it leaves you wanting more. Here we are ten years later and we still haven't recevied the Hulkster's sophomore effort. He needs to give up wrestling and all that reality show junk and focus on what he is really great at: playing the bass and delivering razor-sharp rap verses. Long live the Hulk!

Words cannot describe Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band's "Hulk Rules".

No words can accurelty describe the pure pleasure youll expirance from listing to this cd, a must own for any hogan or wrestling fan buy it or god hates you.

Under the Western Freeway makes me think of playing Mario Brothers on an acid trip. It's saturated Nintendo-esque sounds are defintaley interesting...though maybe a little overused. Less catchy than Sophtware and Sumday, which could be a good or bad thing. However, if you are a Grandaddy fan, I definatley suggest adding this to your collection.

Picked up the mantle that Pavement dropped circa Wowee Zowee without sounding too much like Pavement... Grandaddy really had something good with this album and Sophtware Slump. The songs are simple but not boring. Their lo-fi sound and Jason Lytle's fragile voice makes for a perfect combination and the resulting tracks sound very sad and distant while still rocking along in most cases. This album feels very much about place and it's an enjoyable experience to step into Grandaddy's world for a little while.

Honestly, tell me cause I love this stuff. These guys managed to dodge so much crap in the music industry and stay on top of their game from album to album. But this. Truly their finest work. It's absolutely remarkable. "Summer Here Kids", "Everything Beautiful is Far Away", "AM 180" are all jams that I could not live without hearing from time to time, it's a timeless piece of music that is about joy and happiness coming out of your radio.
More importantly it's absolutely gorgeous songwriting intertwining over and over again, over this wall of music you can't escape cause the sounds are so familiar and exist somewhere between a computer and guitar. It's the transformation from a folk to more sonic sound and it's almost like Grandaddy is singing merrily the whole way there.