Alternative Rock music reviews

This was one of the first cds I ever bought. I was a member of BMG music service, too young to be prosecuted by the law for not paying... life was good. Being that this album literally built the backbone to my music collection, I might be a little partial.

I'll just lay it out plain and simple. The first two songs are some of the most fun you'll ever have listening to "quasi-industrial" music. They're fast, aggressive, mean and violent! Good times all around. There are a few songs that kinda slow the album down, like "Shell" and "Volcano." They are more artsy and slow. The lyrics are great but they unfortunatly keep this album from getting 5 stars.

Luckily there are several saviors on this album as well. If you like NIN's "A Warm Place" with it's ambient depression mixed with a hint of danger, well my friends you will go monkey bones for "Analgesia" and "Transcretion!" These two songs combined with the first two are worth $18! These are pure soundscapes that 100% eclipses anything I've ever heard before or since. I wish that Pig would realease an album of nothing but this ambient fluff, it's so amazing!

The rest of the album is above average, especially when pitted against what's being cranked out these days. Pig's "Sinsation" is still an unbelievable album that I will always listen to, even when I'm old and moldy. A great listen from start to finish.

For most albums (read: pop), the 'age test' is simply one or two months, past which the public forgets and moves onto the next hyped thing. And why not? Most music that comes out today is fabricated pap with good marketing and nothing else behind it.

I purchased this album when it came out almost 9 years ago, purely on a whim. It was on Reznor's label; I liked the Nine Inch Nails sound and I felt this would be a good horse (swine?) to bet on.

Damn, am I happy I did.

Sinsation is probably PIG's closest to the NIN sound. It's a marriage of his symphonic tendencies, jazz influences, and snarling guitars into a cohesive unit. It's less eclectic than his past albums, more experimental than his later work, and definitely his biggest release (being on a major label) - it's a wonder it wasn't more well received.

My favorites, at first, were "Serial Thriller Killer," "Hamstring on the Highway," "Painiac (Nothing Touches Me)," "Volcano," and "Hot Hole" - the lineup of heavy, orchestral rock songs. They pack a punch that still resonates with me today - in large part because they're not simple rock fare, but rather beautifully structured compositions with spoken samples (Beetlejuice and George Bush Sr. are ones I caught).

Later, I grew to appreciate the soundscapes that Raymond Watts utilizes so well as 'cooling' periods between the aggressive songs: selections such as "Golgoth," "Shell," "Analgesia," and "Transceration." If I want to sit and relax, I think nothing of programming my CD player to play just these tracks, which offer no hint of the aggression they sandwich. The moods on this album are like night and day.

Even after 9 years, I still play this album fairly regularly, and I love it every time. The only reason I give this album 4 stars is because Praise the Lard and The Swining/Red Raw & Sore are even better albums, and therefore deserving of the full rating.

I hate to make this comparison, but I honestly think that a fan of NIN (especially The Downward Spiral and perhaps Broken) would do himself/herself well to pick up Sinsation, too. It all goes up from there.

Some other reviewers were right, I got this album for less than 7 bucks but it was worth much much more. Pig, an overlooked and underrated band that MUST be heard by any fans of KMFDM, NIN, Ministry, Fear Factory etc. Maybe Trent Reznor didn't want to distribute any more of this album because they were making him look bad. Pig is harder, heavier and more original in so many ways. I love KMFDM, but Pig seems to be a darker alterego of them that continues to grow on me. Time for me to stop typing. Words don't do this band justice. You need to hear them. Buy it. Pay more than 7 bucks if you have to.

Suzanne Vega is always worthwhile to listen to. These early recordings give us some insight into her past and how she made it into our ipods today.

My first acquaintance with Suzanne Vega was at age 12, with 'Luka'. I had known Vega made an album before 'Solitude', but the only songs I'd heard were 'Marlene' and 'Queen & Soldier'--both superb. Twenty plus years later, I've had the sheer delight in hearing Vega's entire first album.

The songs are all perfect, emotional and compelling, creating lasting images. The amazing thing about these songs is Vega's music is not background. Despite its mellow folk sound, the lyrics demand (and deserve) the listener's full attention.

Unfortunately, Ms. Vega's time with Froom robbed her of some of this original emotional impact. Much as I enjoy 'Nine Objects' and her other ventures, this first album resonates in a way the others don't. She almost returns to this album's greatness on 'Red & Gray', but somehow this one's the one.

Suzanne Vega's debut is one of the 80's most overlooked and underrated treasures. Remarkably assured for a debut, the almost ethereal melancholy of this album denies any real comparison; it is unfailingly unique. Opening with "Cracking", a semi-spoken word piece piercingly scored with acoustic guitar and airy synthesizer, a tone is set that is mesmerizingly maintained throughout. The tone is crystalline, and its brittle beauty is remarkable in its timelessness. There have been some who have criticized the lush production and "new age" synth work, this criticism now seems dated itself; the instrumentation is utterly true to the spirit of the music and lyrics. In "Freeze Tag" the contrast of folk guitar and synth continues, again with haunting effect. "Marlene on the Wall" is almost lighthearted (in contrast), and "Small Blue Thing" does the remarkable trick of turning self-absorbed bathos into a gorgeous elegy. The three highlights of the album (besides the chilling "Cracking") are "Some Journey", "Straight Lines" and "The Queen and the Soldier". "Some Journey" is as erotic as anything she has done, and features some great Darrell Anger violin at the end. "Straight Lines" is a smartly unsentimental tale of a woman's suicide, with lines like "She is streamlined, she is taking the shade down from the light, to see the straight lines."
Finally "The Queen and the Soldier" is a straight up folk ballad that neatly sums up the dangers of love, while being opaque enough to be adapted to anyone's pain; brilliant. Suzanne Vega, in my opinion, never again reached the pure lustre of this jewel. It is a work that deserves to be considered genius.

Skinny Puppy are often lumped into the same crowd as Ministry, but (other than being an influential, innovative industrial band) the two bands really aren't at all alike. Skinny Puppy don't have the metallic edge of Ministry, because when Ministry use guitar riffs, Skinny Puppy use synthesizers. For example, "Tormentor" has spidery synths, and "Spasmolytic" features trippy, reverberating keyboards. If I had to compare Skinny Puppy's sound to anybody else, I'd say they combine the techno-like music of Autechre with the angular rhythms of Meshuggah. Nivek Ogre's sings in a very raspy (if repetitive and sometimes robotic) tone over layers of sleek industrial/dance/electronic music. The final sound is so so futuristic and creepy, it could be the soundtrack to almost any sci-fi movie. "Too Dark Park" is probably the most cold, barren, and mysterious sounding C.D. I own. There are a few nearly danceable/toe tappable moments (like "Rash Reflection" and "Nature's Revenge"), but this album is never typically catchy or (commercially) accessible. "Too Dark Park" is a very unique sound--you'd be hard pressed to find another C.D. that Skinny Puppy ripped off--but there are a few songs (i.e. "Grave Wisdom," which could be the soundtrack to a laser or light show) that are Nine Inch Nails-esque. So, "Too Dark Park" is recommended to fans of NIN and other industrial music. But this C.D. is certainly not for everybody; if you think all industrial music sounds like Ministry, then you'll be in a for a big surprise when you hear this C.D.

I never thought noise could sound so good. This is'nt music in the normal sense of the word. This is more like a colossal collage of mangled sounds.Not very many people are fit for this type of experiance. If you are one of the people who like listeng to radio, or if you think that anybody on "American Idol" is a artist than you should forget you ever heard about Skinny Puppy. On the other hand if you have ever thought that the world would be better if you were aborted then this might be for you. The first Skinny Puppy cd I bought was the remission EP. That was several years ago. I dont know if I ever even listened to the whole thing before I got rid of it. I got into other industrial music like Front Line Assembaly, KMFDM, and Velvet Acid Christ. Finally I decided to give the Puppy another chance. I talked to some Puppy fan at a music store and he suggested that I start with something other than Too Dark Park. So I bought Mind instead. I really didnt think it was all that special for a while. Finally it sunk in and I thought that I should try Too Dark Park. I am so glad that I did. I have probably listened to it at least twice a day for the last 3 months. I have come to the conclusion that it is the best Industrial cd ever made. Before I heard it I thought that Caustic Grip was the best Industrial cd ever. It still is awsome, but Too Dark, Last Rights, and ViVisectVI have already passed it up in my opinion. According to other reviews people usually say that you sould start with the more accessible puppy cd's like The Process, and The Greater Wrong. I really think that is wrong. I think you should start with Too Dark Park or Last Righs first. Sure it is harder to listen to, but why not start with the best. The lighter stuff will just give you a wrong impression of what the puppy is about.
Convulssion 10 This is a twisting heap of grating noise. This one went way the hell over my head the first time that I heard it. I was smiling as I put the cd in my stereo, and by the time it was over I just stood there like a deer in the headlights. I had no idea what just happened. I didnt even know which way was up or down. Once you get the hang of it you will see just how awsome it really is. One thing I like doing is playing it really loud when I am at a stop light. Especially if you have a car full of w!gger$ next to you. As I drive away they just have this confused stupid look on there faces. Their is a good video for this song as well.
Tormentor 8 Signifacantly tamer than Convulssions. It is still very good. Definantly far from being the best one in my opinion. On most cd's this might be a 10. Its far from the typical dance song, yet there are plenty of awkward beats.
Spasmolytic 10 "Kicking the habit, Possesion in the flesh" This one is actually kind of catchy for a Skinny Puppy song. Dont let that worry you my wretched rivetheads. It still feels like a syringe in the eyball of conformity. I really like the effect of the echoey bell, and the noise of the train horn.
Rash Reflection 8.5 "Kiss the masters feet" Probably the easiest listening song here. Very repetitive, but thats not a bad thing because the song is good.
Nature's Revenge 10 Total frickin masterpiece! This song shows that Skinny Puppy can make beautiful music. Underneath the noises you have some strings and even some sampled opera. There is also some brief guitar pieces. It sounds like a cure melody, but simpler.
Shore Lined Poison 15 My favorite song on the cd. Its better than perfect. Think a noisier more agressive version of Nature's Revenge. Lots of cool noise. A lot of it I cant recognize. I do think that the fire alarm is awsome sounding. Sadly I also here the siren of a pig here, but its still good noise.
Grave Wisdom 10 Some of the best melody of the cd is here. Layer's of melody and noise, upon more layer's of melody and noise. Their is awsome beats here. Nothing wrong with this song.
T. F. W. O. 10 Another great one. There is some guitar riffs here. The chorus is just t!ts. Kind of upbeat for a Skinny Puppy song. I dont know what the title is a acronym of. If somebody knows please include it in your review.
Morpheus Laughing 10 My second favorite song on the cd. This is just one of the coolest industrial songs ever! There is this clattering tattering sound throughout the song. It is addictive. The melody that is here gives it a dark aptmosphere.
Reclamation 9 Istrumental. The lyrics are so distorted you cant understand them. Very dark music with swirling noise.
I definantly recommend this cd. It is my favorite Industrial cd ever! It is also in my top 5 cd's of anykind ever!

Always the HEAD FUKK of HEAD FUKK's..why would any one need ''drug's'' with this album?? well becasue they are weak that's why!!! this is a million time's more MIND OPENING than any stupid ''drug''!! ABOVE DRUG's FOR SURE!!

If you ever wanted to have some of your worst fear's put in yer head while awake, then this is what yer after, I always picture huge abandon mental hospital's and wall's opeing up to reveal to me very secluded tale's of torment or sadness, alot of it from nature itself as well!! as well as alot of other NIGHTMARE related theme's!!

An album like this really I warn you not to buy, I mean very few can handle this, you have to know what this is about to be able to take it!!

If you think you can handle it, then be my guest, just dont complain to me when they find you, crouched in the coroner of some abandon mental ward drowning in yer own spit!

NIGHTMARE's ARE REAL IN SLEEP AND IN REALITY!!!!!!!! YOU COULDNT PAY ME TO GET IN THE HEAD's OF THESE GENT's!! AS DARK AS MUSIC EVER GOT!!!! I WARNED YA!!

''GRAVE WISDOM''

Skinny Puppy are often lumped into the same crowd as Ministry, but (other than being an influential, innovative industrial band) the two bands really aren't at all alike. Skinny Puppy don't have the metallic edge of Ministry, because when Ministry use guitar riffs, Skinny Puppy use synthesizers. For example, "Tormentor" has spidery synths, and "Spasmolytic" features trippy, reverberating keyboards. If I had to compare Skinny Puppy's sound to anybody else, I'd say they combine the techno-like music of Autechre with the angular rhythms of Meshuggah. Nivek Ogre's sings in a very raspy (if repetitive and sometimes robotic) tone over layers of sleek industrial/dance/electronic music. The final sound is so so futuristic and creepy, it could be the soundtrack to almost any sci-fi movie. "Too Dark Park" is probably the most cold, barren, and mysterious sounding C.D. I own. There are a few nearly danceable/toe tappable moments (like "Rash Reflection" and "Nature's Revenge"), but this album is never typically catchy or (commercially) accessible. "Too Dark Park" is a very unique sound--you'd be hard pressed to find another C.D. that Skinny Puppy ripped off--but there are a few songs (i.e. "Grave Wisdom," which could be the soundtrack to a laser or light show) that are Nine Inch Nails-esque. So, "Too Dark Park" is recommended to fans of NIN and other industrial music. But this C.D. is certainly not for everybody; if you think all industrial music sounds like Ministry, then you'll be in a for a big surprise when you hear this C.D.

I never thought noise could sound so good. This is'nt music in the normal sense of the word. This is more like a colossal collage of mangled sounds.Not very many people are fit for this type of experiance. If you are one of the people who like listeng to radio, or if you think that anybody on "American Idol" is a artist than you should forget you ever heard about Skinny Puppy. On the other hand if you have ever thought that the world would be better if you were aborted then this might be for you. The first Skinny Puppy cd I bought was the remission EP. That was several years ago. I dont know if I ever even listened to the whole thing before I got rid of it. I got into other industrial music like Front Line Assembaly, KMFDM, and Velvet Acid Christ. Finally I decided to give the Puppy another chance. I talked to some Puppy fan at a music store and he suggested that I start with something other than Too Dark Park. So I bought Mind instead. I really didnt think it was all that special for a while. Finally it sunk in and I thought that I should try Too Dark Park. I am so glad that I did. I have probably listened to it at least twice a day for the last 3 months. I have come to the conclusion that it is the best Industrial cd ever made. Before I heard it I thought that Caustic Grip was the best Industrial cd ever. It still is awsome, but Too Dark, Last Rights, and ViVisectVI have already passed it up in my opinion. According to other reviews people usually say that you sould start with the more accessible puppy cd's like The Process, and The Greater Wrong. I really think that is wrong. I think you should start with Too Dark Park or Last Righs first. Sure it is harder to listen to, but why not start with the best. The lighter stuff will just give you a wrong impression of what the puppy is about.
Convulssion 10 This is a twisting heap of grating noise. This one went way the hell over my head the first time that I heard it. I was smiling as I put the cd in my stereo, and by the time it was over I just stood there like a deer in the headlights. I had no idea what just happened. I didnt even know which way was up or down. Once you get the hang of it you will see just how awsome it really is. One thing I like doing is playing it really loud when I am at a stop light. Especially if you have a car full of w!gger$ next to you. As I drive away they just have this confused stupid look on there faces. Their is a good video for this song as well.
Tormentor 8 Signifacantly tamer than Convulssions. It is still very good. Definantly far from being the best one in my opinion. On most cd's this might be a 10. Its far from the typical dance song, yet there are plenty of awkward beats.
Spasmolytic 10 "Kicking the habit, Possesion in the flesh" This one is actually kind of catchy for a Skinny Puppy song. Dont let that worry you my wretched rivetheads. It still feels like a syringe in the eyball of conformity. I really like the effect of the echoey bell, and the noise of the train horn.
Rash Reflection 8.5 "Kiss the masters feet" Probably the easiest listening song here. Very repetitive, but thats not a bad thing because the song is good.
Nature's Revenge 10 Total frickin masterpiece! This song shows that Skinny Puppy can make beautiful music. Underneath the noises you have some strings and even some sampled opera. There is also some brief guitar pieces. It sounds like a cure melody, but simpler.
Shore Lined Poison 15 My favorite song on the cd. Its better than perfect. Think a noisier more agressive version of Nature's Revenge. Lots of cool noise. A lot of it I cant recognize. I do think that the fire alarm is awsome sounding. Sadly I also here the siren of a pig here, but its still good noise.
Grave Wisdom 10 Some of the best melody of the cd is here. Layer's of melody and noise, upon more layer's of melody and noise. Their is awsome beats here. Nothing wrong with this song.
T. F. W. O. 10 Another great one. There is some guitar riffs here. The chorus is just t!ts. Kind of upbeat for a Skinny Puppy song. I dont know what the title is a acronym of. If somebody knows please include it in your review.
Morpheus Laughing 10 My second favorite song on the cd. This is just one of the coolest industrial songs ever! There is this clattering tattering sound throughout the song. It is addictive. The melody that is here gives it a dark aptmosphere.
Reclamation 9 Istrumental. The lyrics are so distorted you cant understand them. Very dark music with swirling noise.
I definantly recommend this cd. It is my favorite Industrial cd ever! It is also in my top 5 cd's of anykind ever!

Always the HEAD FUKK of HEAD FUKK's..why would any one need ''drug's'' with this album?? well becasue they are weak that's why!!! this is a million time's more MIND OPENING than any stupid ''drug''!! ABOVE DRUG's FOR SURE!!

If you ever wanted to have some of your worst fear's put in yer head while awake, then this is what yer after, I always picture huge abandon mental hospital's and wall's opeing up to reveal to me very secluded tale's of torment or sadness, alot of it from nature itself as well!! as well as alot of other NIGHTMARE related theme's!!

An album like this really I warn you not to buy, I mean very few can handle this, you have to know what this is about to be able to take it!!

If you think you can handle it, then be my guest, just dont complain to me when they find you, crouched in the coroner of some abandon mental ward drowning in yer own spit!

NIGHTMARE's ARE REAL IN SLEEP AND IN REALITY!!!!!!!! YOU COULDNT PAY ME TO GET IN THE HEAD's OF THESE GENT's!! AS DARK AS MUSIC EVER GOT!!!! I WARNED YA!!

''GRAVE WISDOM''

Skinny Puppy are often lumped into the same crowd as Ministry, but (other than being an influential, innovative industrial band) the two bands really aren't at all alike. Skinny Puppy don't have the metallic edge of Ministry, because when Ministry use guitar riffs, Skinny Puppy use synthesizers. For example, "Tormentor" has spidery synths, and "Spasmolytic" features trippy, reverberating keyboards. If I had to compare Skinny Puppy's sound to anybody else, I'd say they combine the techno-like music of Autechre with the angular rhythms of Meshuggah. Nivek Ogre's sings in a very raspy (if repetitive and sometimes robotic) tone over layers of sleek industrial/dance/electronic music. The final sound is so so futuristic and creepy, it could be the soundtrack to almost any sci-fi movie. "Too Dark Park" is probably the most cold, barren, and mysterious sounding C.D. I own. There are a few nearly danceable/toe tappable moments (like "Rash Reflection" and "Nature's Revenge"), but this album is never typically catchy or (commercially) accessible. "Too Dark Park" is a very unique sound--you'd be hard pressed to find another C.D. that Skinny Puppy ripped off--but there are a few songs (i.e. "Grave Wisdom," which could be the soundtrack to a laser or light show) that are Nine Inch Nails-esque. So, "Too Dark Park" is recommended to fans of NIN and other industrial music. But this C.D. is certainly not for everybody; if you think all industrial music sounds like Ministry, then you'll be in a for a big surprise when you hear this C.D.

I never thought noise could sound so good. This is'nt music in the normal sense of the word. This is more like a colossal collage of mangled sounds.Not very many people are fit for this type of experiance. If you are one of the people who like listeng to radio, or if you think that anybody on "American Idol" is a artist than you should forget you ever heard about Skinny Puppy. On the other hand if you have ever thought that the world would be better if you were aborted then this might be for you. The first Skinny Puppy cd I bought was the remission EP. That was several years ago. I dont know if I ever even listened to the whole thing before I got rid of it. I got into other industrial music like Front Line Assembaly, KMFDM, and Velvet Acid Christ. Finally I decided to give the Puppy another chance. I talked to some Puppy fan at a music store and he suggested that I start with something other than Too Dark Park. So I bought Mind instead. I really didnt think it was all that special for a while. Finally it sunk in and I thought that I should try Too Dark Park. I am so glad that I did. I have probably listened to it at least twice a day for the last 3 months. I have come to the conclusion that it is the best Industrial cd ever made. Before I heard it I thought that Caustic Grip was the best Industrial cd ever. It still is awsome, but Too Dark, Last Rights, and ViVisectVI have already passed it up in my opinion. According to other reviews people usually say that you sould start with the more accessible puppy cd's like The Process, and The Greater Wrong. I really think that is wrong. I think you should start with Too Dark Park or Last Righs first. Sure it is harder to listen to, but why not start with the best. The lighter stuff will just give you a wrong impression of what the puppy is about.
Convulssion 10 This is a twisting heap of grating noise. This one went way the hell over my head the first time that I heard it. I was smiling as I put the cd in my stereo, and by the time it was over I just stood there like a deer in the headlights. I had no idea what just happened. I didnt even know which way was up or down. Once you get the hang of it you will see just how awsome it really is. One thing I like doing is playing it really loud when I am at a stop light. Especially if you have a car full of w!gger$ next to you. As I drive away they just have this confused stupid look on there faces. Their is a good video for this song as well.
Tormentor 8 Signifacantly tamer than Convulssions. It is still very good. Definantly far from being the best one in my opinion. On most cd's this might be a 10. Its far from the typical dance song, yet there are plenty of awkward beats.
Spasmolytic 10 "Kicking the habit, Possesion in the flesh" This one is actually kind of catchy for a Skinny Puppy song. Dont let that worry you my wretched rivetheads. It still feels like a syringe in the eyball of conformity. I really like the effect of the echoey bell, and the noise of the train horn.
Rash Reflection 8.5 "Kiss the masters feet" Probably the easiest listening song here. Very repetitive, but thats not a bad thing because the song is good.
Nature's Revenge 10 Total frickin masterpiece! This song shows that Skinny Puppy can make beautiful music. Underneath the noises you have some strings and even some sampled opera. There is also some brief guitar pieces. It sounds like a cure melody, but simpler.
Shore Lined Poison 15 My favorite song on the cd. Its better than perfect. Think a noisier more agressive version of Nature's Revenge. Lots of cool noise. A lot of it I cant recognize. I do think that the fire alarm is awsome sounding. Sadly I also here the siren of a pig here, but its still good noise.
Grave Wisdom 10 Some of the best melody of the cd is here. Layer's of melody and noise, upon more layer's of melody and noise. Their is awsome beats here. Nothing wrong with this song.
T. F. W. O. 10 Another great one. There is some guitar riffs here. The chorus is just t!ts. Kind of upbeat for a Skinny Puppy song. I dont know what the title is a acronym of. If somebody knows please include it in your review.
Morpheus Laughing 10 My second favorite song on the cd. This is just one of the coolest industrial songs ever! There is this clattering tattering sound throughout the song. It is addictive. The melody that is here gives it a dark aptmosphere.
Reclamation 9 Istrumental. The lyrics are so distorted you cant understand them. Very dark music with swirling noise.
I definantly recommend this cd. It is my favorite Industrial cd ever! It is also in my top 5 cd's of anykind ever!

Always the HEAD FUKK of HEAD FUKK's..why would any one need ''drug's'' with this album?? well becasue they are weak that's why!!! this is a million time's more MIND OPENING than any stupid ''drug''!! ABOVE DRUG's FOR SURE!!

If you ever wanted to have some of your worst fear's put in yer head while awake, then this is what yer after, I always picture huge abandon mental hospital's and wall's opeing up to reveal to me very secluded tale's of torment or sadness, alot of it from nature itself as well!! as well as alot of other NIGHTMARE related theme's!!

An album like this really I warn you not to buy, I mean very few can handle this, you have to know what this is about to be able to take it!!

If you think you can handle it, then be my guest, just dont complain to me when they find you, crouched in the coroner of some abandon mental ward drowning in yer own spit!

NIGHTMARE's ARE REAL IN SLEEP AND IN REALITY!!!!!!!! YOU COULDNT PAY ME TO GET IN THE HEAD's OF THESE GENT's!! AS DARK AS MUSIC EVER GOT!!!! I WARNED YA!!

''GRAVE WISDOM''

I ordered this cd after seeing Joe Firstman live on accident (opened for Jewel, I had never heard of him before)...and fell in love with his music! This cd is everything I had hoped for-heartfelt, gritty at times, soulful, sweet, and rockin', and the best part is I like every single song on it (which is usually hard to find). I must say, although this cd is excellent-he is MUCH better live...just him and his guitar. But, I think that's true with any great performer. I give this album two thumbs up!

Saw Joe in concert and was hooked on his unique style and songwriting. Powerful vocalist and musician. Every single song on the CD is great!

This is an amazing CD. Don't think twice, buy it now! Joe's voice is beautiful and the songs are unique and catchy!

"Six Feet Under" was a TV rarity - consisently funny, but still emotionally involving, with stunning acting, brilliant visuals, a unique and odd subject, clearly defined characters, and excellent writing. Now, we can add "amazing soundtrack" to that list.

The first of the two "Six Feet Under" soundtracks, this is definitely the lesser of the two - but that isn't to say it's not good. It has a wide selection of styles so that pretty much anyone can listen to it - electronica, indie, Mexican, art, rock, pop, jazz, and more. Only a few songs are ill-placed, but then again, that's only as a CD, each and every one is the right choice for the show.

"Six Feet Under" opens with Thomas Newman's immediately recognizable title theme. Newman is one of the best score composers of our, and possibly all, time, because of his remarkable ability to perpetually surprise you. Think the score for "American Beauty" or "Lemony Snicket" - full of instrumentation and flourishes most composers wouldn't even consider. "Six Feet Under" features an oboe part that will never stop creeping you out and great use of synthesizer, piano, bells, strings, and guitars to round it out. Even when you're done with this CD, you'll be humming this one song more than any other. The CD also features two extended remixes of the theme.

After the theme, we jump straight into Lamb's "Heaven," which is undoubtedly one of the most disturbing songs I've ever heard. Hiding under a mask of electronica music, muted dance-floor beats, and quietly peaceful vocals is a horrible feeling of haunting quite hard to describe, but rest assured you'll know what I mean in the quiet climax, when the vocalist whispers the word "heaven." It is anything but. Had they been unable to hire Newman, this could easily have been the show's theme song. Similar in sound are the other electronica songs, contributed by The Beta Band, Zero 7, and the atmospherical group The Dining Rooms.

Then comes The Stereo MCs' pointless hard song "Deep Down and Dirty," which is neither a good song nor a pleasant one. The late jazz singer Peggy Lee follows that with her sultry "I Love Being Here With You," which is a good AND pleasant song, and which is ironically funny seeing as the song's scene in the show features a mortician smoking a cigar and singing the song to a corpse. Soul giant Shuggie Otis and Latino musician Orlando Cachaito Lopez chime in with a pair of tunes to raise your spirits, and the album's love songs are tackled by Paul Buchanan and Classics IV, to staisfying effect.

You can just see Claire Fisher in her rom throwing buckets of paint at the walls and trashing her head to The Dandy Warhols' "Bohemian Like You," a great and highly amusing song that will be accebtable to most teen listeners forced to endure the "mindless drivel" their parents regularly listen to. One-hit-wonders The Devlins follow up with, well, their one hit, "Waiting." The song is played continually throughout the show, at the most poignant times, and is a great fit. The wonderful PJ Harvey also drops in. Let's not get into "Yummy Yummy Yummy" by Julie London, which is inexplicably bad.

There is something for every type of listener here - those who like quite synthesizer, those who like rap, those who like sitting alone in their rooms, those who like partying, those who like jazz clubs, and those who need an education in what is good and what is not. Even if you've never seen this show, it'd be a great CD to purchase simply because everyone who hears it is bound to appreciate something on it.

if you love the show, you'll love this soundtrack...and if you don't love the show......what's wrong with you?

To match all its quirkiness, the show "Six Feet Under" found the perfect pairing of music to go hand-in-hand with its woven tapestry of the continuing saga of the family-run funeral home business. Whomever was responsible for selecting the particular bands and musical cuts they used, and the ones that made the album, worked as much magic as those who wrote the witty scripts!

There really isn't much new here. If you've heard a lot of pop-punk, and you like that sort of thing, you'll like this. But there isn't anything different in this than, say, yellowcard. Not original and therefore not worth buying, in my opinion.

Siewart is right when he says that Junction 18 doesn't really do anything new...but most bands don't, if they did there would be no such thing a musical genres. But the fact is that they avoid the cheesy cliche sound I usually associate with "pop-punk" bands due to the fact they actually have some degree of musical talent and the singer can actually write decent lyrics. If youre a fan of the genre definitely check this out as its as good or better than any of the other bands.

Ok, I admit it, this is only my favorite emoish CD because I really don't like any other bands of that genre. Really, my appreciation for that music begins and ends at Junction 18.

Maybe I like this CD because it was the first punkish CD that I ever heard when I was in eighth grade. It struck me like nothing else had before and immediately I was hooked to the catchy, overly-emotional lyrics and interesting guitar lines.

Not every song is great, some are in fact rather forgettable, but this album contains gems like Granite Street Knife Fight (probably my favorite song on the album), Lucky as Mars and Lost in Adeline. Each song is sang with a certain amount of passion (even though I typically find emo lyrics to be rather stilted) and the guitars provide some depth, unlike many other rather shallow punk bands.

Maybe, this is not the most original CD to ever come out, but damnit, the songs are really catchy and even memorable, which is far more than can be said about the vast majority of bands in that genre. It is almost a shame that the band released so little material.

XTC's music is full of great writing, arranging, playing, witty lyrics, and pristine production. Pop music with an attitude. This "sweetest hits" collection, drawing from eight studio releases between 1979 and 1992, would be a good introduction if you don't want to buy (my opinion) their essential studio albums ("White Music", "English Settlement", "Skylarking", "Oranges and Lemons"). The issues I have with this release is there is not one song represented from their first two releases, and like any fan, the songs selected are not exactly what I would pick.

Previous reviewers have pointed out, the lyrics to "Respectable Street" on this disc are altered. The words changed were... abortion to absorption, contraception to child perfection?, and sex position to proposition. If these words are so offensive, another tune should have been selected so the artist's lyrics stay intact. Why butcher the artist's vision? It's puzzling that the bold lyrics of "Dear God" were not changed, but the lyrics above were. Nevertheless, this is a fair compilation from an awesome band.

This is one of two strong compilations of XTC, although I had to get it used on Amazon. Geffen has apparently lost the rights to the XTC catalog (and it has trickled out on Caroline), so this great collection is likely going to drift into oblivion. Get it now, because more so than the recently reissued "The Compact XTC," "Upsy Daisy Assortment" delivers XTC's maturation into a first class melodic pop band.

"UDA" bypasses the first two arty albums to focus on XTC's first major statement, the biting but catchy "Drums and Wires" album. The rough edges had been smoothed over to allow for the wittier songs to subversively insinuate themselves, like the brilliant tale of "Making Plans For Nigel." In a distinctly British scenario, our lad Nigel is a boy who "likes to speak and he loves to be spoken to." It laid the groundwork for such delightful political rants like "Generals and Majors" (which would have been a hit if American radio hadn't been terrified of new wave and the RSO original release of "Black Sea" hadn't been still-born by the record company's collapse). After all, the Beach Boys 'oo wee oo' of "Respectable Street" permits a goofy litany of suburban snootiness to skim by and a line like "Saturday I saw him retching over our fence" to breeze through like a perfect pop moment should.

Shortly afterwards, Andy Partridge's disdain for and strain from touring left him physically exhausted, so he abandoned the road to work on music and start a family. The album that preceded the stoppage shows that perhaps he was feeling tired of the pop rat race, as "English Settlement" held psychedelic overtones and a more rustic feel. The hit UK single "Sense Working Overtime" sums that train of thought up best, but the anti-racist "No Thugs In Our House" still packs serious wallop. By "Mummer," though, that bite began to taste bitter, and "Funk Pop a Roll" snarls at what must have been their early distaste for Geffen records ("big money selling you stuff that you really do not need"). Just the same, "Love On a Farmboy's Wages" could easily be the most beautiful song the band ever recorded.

The following record. "The Big Express," finds the band floundering to maintain a sound; "The World Over" was probably the best song on it. It took Todd Rundgren to come in (and the trippy Dukes of Stratosphere side project) to make the band deliver a rejuvenated album. "Skylarking" was easily the most coherent disc in the XTC library. Rundgren's Beatlesque production flourishes and musical linking of songs into mini-suite arrangements brought XTC to a brand new audience, and the bitter anti-hymn "Dear God" got them headlines. But the delightful double-meaning of "Grass" and the production scope of "Earn Enough For Us" also allowed the band to expand on their huge field of ideas. This all finally paid off when the first single from "Oranges and Lemons" became XTC's first major American hit and the album became a success. "The Mayor Of Simpleton" tossed of buoyant hooks with an easy to swallow story lyric, as did "King For A Day." The final gasp of XTC's decade, "Nonsuch," found them fighting with their label (who originally declined the album) and was another modest success. "The Disappointed" is a wistful look at fading loves, as dreamy as "Chalkhills and Children's" nostalgia.

It is at this point that XTC basically went on strike, not releasing any new music till 2000's "Apple Venus." I really can't give "UDA" the five stars I might have because of omissions like "Wonderland," "This Is Pop" or "Sgt Rock." As such, it is still a wonderful tasty assortment of candied goodies. Get it while there's still stock.

As with all collections, there will be "what's here and what's not" arguments, but overall this is a great bunch of "XTC" songs for any fan. It includes the early tracks "Generals and Majors", "Senses Working Overtime", and "Making Plans For Nigel", which "Primus" covered on "Miscellaneous Debris". Plus the later tracks "Mayor Of Simpleton", "King For A Day", and "Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead", which "Crash Test Dummies" covered on the "Dumb And Dumber" soundtrack. Also here is "Dear God", which turns up alot on 80's radio. If you enjoy smart alt-pop, or someone like "Elvis Costello", you'll enjoy "Upsy Daisy Assortment".

I heard the excellent Tom Lord-Alge remix of 'Waiting' on the Six Feet Under soundtrack. I was immediately keen to hear more. However, the fact that the album is called 'Waiting', and that the sleeve notes contained the lyrics for that song only says a lot. It would seem that they are banking on that one song selling the album. Unfortunately, even the version of 'Waiting' on the album is not as good as that on the SFU soundtrack.

Increasing the bass can thicken the album a little, as I have done on all but the first listen, but it is mosly bland forgettable pop. Lord-Alge produces some of the other album tracks (not the version of 'Waiting') but all of them seem to need a kick to be at all memorable. Some of the songs aren't bad but they fade into a mire of similar, forgettable fare - especially when held up against the near incandescent version of Waiting that led me to them. This album has gathered dust since the first few listens. Disappointing.

I must confess, I'd never heard of the Devlins until I bought the Six Feet Under soundtrack. I'm in love with "Waiting". It's honestly the most beautiful song I've heard in awhile. It makes me think of someone very dear to my heart.
On the strength of this one song, I plan to buy the entire album. If you like the Devlins, please check out Neutral Milk Hotel.

This is a fantastic album. I first heard the song Surrender during the first Lilith Fair tour in Washington state. They played it as "mid music" between groups. It took me several years to figure out who the group and song were but it was well worth the effort.
The Devlins are outstanding!