Alternative Rock music reviews

mark lanegan second solo album after the fantastic "the winding sheet" and it sort of in the same vein as that nice acoustic/blues/country songs with his remarkable voice singing with delight of subjects that i won;t go into.. but this is a beautiful well thought out finely recorded album an album which draws you in..to the man "mark lanegan" it traps you in a world
which lanegan was living at the time of writing this album as i heard some other reviewer say you can smell the smoke and whiskey when you're playing this album and i truly agree with that reviewer
if you like screaming trees you may find the departure too much.but i loved the screaming trees and i love this along with "the winding sheet" "bubblegum" his recent classic album
this is the third classic lanegan album i don't think you'll ever find a dud in his work a truly one off artist

Lanegan is awesome, is hauntingly charming is the truth only the truth and nothing but the truth, really, his folk is deligthfull and poetic, his lyrics are charged with alcohol, tobaco sadness and melancholy is hard to resist the voice of this tormented soul, the man with the cloud over his head, production on Whiskey for the Holy Ghost counts with excellent producers such as Terry Date, and remarkable musicians such as Ben Shepperd on bass guitar and Van Conner on guitar. Kingdoms of rain, Carnival, Borracho (gooood one) Dead on you and Beggars Blues are just a few of the master pieces contained on maybe his best work to date, American Folk have in Lanegan one of their best elements now that saddly iconic figures such as Johnny Cash have left us but we can trust this beautifull artform of contemporary music have yet future and way to walk , im happy for that
HM

Most of the songs on this album are quite introspective and moody. I enjoy that kinda music. If you like the way that sounds.those words..then you may be inclined to appreciate the sounds lanegan makes with others. very soulful yet stinging in the sweetest most cruel sense of the word.

Man...has lanegan put his yearning for answers to life's never ending question marks to music so well and so expressively....enchanting.....dark, brooding and when I listen to his music I envision walking down a spiraling staircase as I pass many little black hells lit with the faded orange torch lights of his slow scorching voice...he just cuts my soul slowly and dangerously with that ol pleading voice of his. Enjoy this one...its "very real"..his genuiness..a rarity in todays music industry.

This rocks. Its like opivy with horns, and a little more hardcore. If you like opivy, rancid, voodoo glowskulls, big d and the kids table or streetlight manifesto, get this. It will blow you away.

I can't not begin to tell you how good this is. There is so much energy so much range in this cd that it will drive you mad, this is hands down the best ska record ever. It's great even the lyrics are pretty good (one of the biggest complaints I have about ska even though I do love it) it is about growing up hangin' out you know the drill. 17 great songs who could ask for more? The vocals are great I like Nic's voice a lot it has good range he goes from normal singing to screaming (not like SCREAMING actually more like yelling) and the music is steady you know it doesn't go fast/slow/fast/slow it usually stays steady you know like mid/fast/fast/mid/slow/fast something like that if you get my drift. Favorite songs, dance floor, Pretty Girls (my very favorite), Dimestore Hoods, Verbal Klint, Jeff Acre F!ed his Truck up. I love this album buy it and sing along.

Link 80 is incredible. They combine intense punk rock with horns and ska melodies, and also a very thrash and an almost heavy metal sound. Definitely one of the best skacore bands ever, these guys are an amazing example of their genre. If you are interested in hearing skacore or if you are a fan of any form of punk rock this cd will not dissapoint. This is the kind of CD that can be appreciated by all kinds of people from a variety of musical preferences. Catchy yet unforgivingly fast and brutal. Op Ivy fans check these guys out! "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

If you love tori, you'll say yes. But the truth is, if you already have a lot of other singles, I just don't think this is a necessary one to own. I enjoyed Daisy Dead Petals, but you can get Corflake Girl on Under the Pink and a live version of Honey (which I prefer) on the Hey Jupiter cd. I just don't think Sister Janet is worth all of the fuss. If you love tori you'll get this regardless of what I say, I just thought I'd forewarn you of having some repeat songs in your collection.

The single to "Cornflake Girl" is one of my favorite CD singles. Usually with a single, the B-sides are fun to have and the disc is worth having a listen to every once in a great while. This single is different. It has found its way into my player more often than some band's full-length albums!

"Cornflake Girl" is one of my top favorite Tori songs, and even though this version is edited, it's still fun to listen to. It also features three really tremendous B-sides. "Daisy Dead Petals" is a quirky little ditty that goes from frolicking, to subdued, and back to fun and bouncy. "Sister Janet" is a beautiful song whose lilting piano opening reminds me of a song from the film "Amelie". "Honey" is a song that I first heard live on the "Hey, Jupiter" EP. The live version is excellent, but I was even more impressed to hear the studio version. Tori found yet another gorgeous piano melody and wrote some great lyrics to go with it ("Cowboys know that cowgirls ride on the Indians side"). Since this is not one of the singles that has gone out of print (like most of the Little Earthquakes singles) I would recommend that all Tori fans have this in their collection. A listen through Under the Pink doesn't quite feel complete anymore without hearing these three B-sides.

The original version of the title track can be found on Amos's second solo release, "Under the Pink." The version here is the one used for the promotional video clip for the song. It is shortened dramatically, with a significant amount of content taken out. The reason for this is quite simple: the original is simply too long for radio and video play. Regardless, it worked: "Cornflake Girl" remains one of Amos's biggest hits to date. The b-sides on this single include the cute, but not ground-breaking, "Daisy Dead Petals," and some of Tori's best b-side work: the Amos fan favorite "Honey" and the haunting "Sister Janet."

This is a fantastic album. The fact that 5 star reviews are still being submitted over 10 years after its release (and they're not the beatles or u2 or anything) should speak volumes. I have played this CD countless times over the years and I am amazed that I am not sick of it. I am a pretty constant consumer of new music. Get this CD - you won't regret it! (PS I've never done an Amazon review before, but the fact that this has had only 22 motivated me). It is melodic, catchy, uplifting and cheeky - in short, a little piece of musical bliss.

Kao sto su The Smiths obelezili tokom '80. alternativnu pop scenu, tako su Teenage Fanclub obelezili '90. Odlican pop album koji sada vec spada u pop klasiku.
Vredno svake paznje i obavezno za ozbiljniju kolekciju.

If you like catchy guitar-driven tunes, actual harmonies (not screetching) and not every song sounds like all the others, Teenage Fanclub is a great band, and 'Grand Prix' is probably their finest CD.

Few words can ever describe that magic that the Cocteau's put down on record and this only continues that. It's not as harsh or a little frightening as Garlands but it makes for great listening. Enjoy!

When I first heard this album I was 19 years old working as an import buyer for Tower records in Portland, Oregon, I am now 39. And after 20 years there still hasn't been a record like it. The year this album came out Michael Jackson's Thriller album was on it's way to becoming the greatest selling album of all time. My main contact at an import distributor company told me of a new album called "Head Over Heels", by a group called Cocteau Twins that was getting rave reviews in Europe. For me personally I was sick to death of the music that was popular at the time and I decided to buy two copies, one for the store and one for me. When I took it home and listened to it I knew I was listening to a kind of music that had never been made before. After doing research, I discovered that this was actually their third recording, after "Garlands", and "Sunburst and Snowblind" and bought copies for me and the store of these records as well, and after this I became their biggest fan. I also found out that it was two 20 year old people, named Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie responsible for all that you hear. Ladies and Gentlemen, this record is a masterpiece. "Head Over Heels" is tied with "Victorialand" as my favorite Cocteau Twins record, but it is my favorite album of all time. From the incredible opening of "When Mama Was Moth", to the orgasmic ending of "Musette and Drums", this album is the best album ever made, in my opinion. Let me review my five favorite songs off of "Head Over Heels". 1)"Musette and Drums". It was after hearing this song for the first time, that I became their greatest fan. It was and still is my favorite song of all time. The last two minutes of this song is the greatest piece of music ever recorded. And understand that everything you are listening to is made by two people. This song is incredible. And after it is over, play it again. 2)"My Love Paramour". The sexiest, and most erotic song they have ever done. Pure genius. 3)"In Our Angelhood". Pure Rock and Roll, Cocteau Twins style. 4)"In The Gold Dust Rush". Angelic and beautiful. There is a part of this song that sounds likes an airplane is about to crash, it is actually the music spinning. Listen to it loud, and you will hear what I mean. Incredible production. 5)"The Tinderbox(of a Heart)". This song makes me feel like I am out looking at the ocean watching the tide roll in. I have this album to thank to having an open mind to listening to music. I learned to have patience and tolerance of all kinds of things because of this record. I rate this album the greatest along with the group that created it.

"Head Over Heels" was the second album from Scottish group The Cocteau Twins and marked the beginning of their trademark ethereal "dream-pop" sound. However, to some degree at least, the sound was less atmospheric and more rhythmic than on later releases, especially on the techno-ish "The Tinderbox (Of A Heart)."

Liz Fraser's hymnal vocal style was already at the forefront here, though it is more comprehensible than on their fabled "Victorialand". On the opener "When Mama Was Moth", Fraser's voice was low-key and Guthrie's electronics backed by an oboe took us through a slow, gothic, soundscape, but on the beautiful "Five Ten Fiftyfold", Fraser's voice came into the forefront and her soul-like harmonies and wonderful embellishments to the acoustic guitars. "Five Ten Fiftyfold"'s beautifully spare saxophone just shows the listener how this band could keep continuity with itself on "Victorialand" (compare "Lazy Calm").

"Sugar Hiccup" was a continuation of this, but Fraser's magical singing was even better, whilst the brilliant "In Our Angelhood", with its danceable rhythm, was a highlight of the album, and was the almost-exuberant "In The Gold Dust Rush", and the haunting "Multifoiled". "My Love Paramour" showed Fraser's voice take on a new dimension from traditional folk and soul spirituals with her glossolalial tone in the intro of the song, whilst "Musette and Drums" was the rocking closer that most subsequent Cocteau albums were to have.

An acquired taste like all feminine music, but an essential Cocteau Twins album.

This album is not what you'd think 80s music to be. It is definitely off-beat and unlike anything else in my 80s CD collection. However, it is excellent music (if a bit simplistic), that will catch your ear and demand repeated listenings. Their follow-up album, "Song", just wasn't as good and suffered from a lack of creativity compared to "Life's Hard and Then You Die". This disc, however, is recommended!

I bought this ablum purely by chance back in 1986, yes on LP (remember those) because I liked the artwork on the cover. What a gem!! Glad to see there are others out there who think the same. I recently had a friend over for dinner and played "Driving", and this friend can remember hearing this song on the radio in the UK on the exact same piece of road, except going in the other direction, and had never come across anyone with this album before. I have known this friend for over ten years. Due to a new laptop, I have this album on my mp3 player, it goes everywhere...Buy it!!

A beautiful blend of melancholy, humour and whimsy combines with their wonderful sense of spaciousness on this record-they occupy a position in music history that--well--only they could occupy. If that doesn't quite make sense, just buy the bloody thing and be done with it. An Honourable mention also for their earlier 4 track 12" EP Fish Waltz, which contains The Better Idea and Lullaby from Life's Hard...., but are different (and amazing) workings. Oh yes--I almost forgot the elusive and atmospheric album "Song". This is just exquisite--a rainy afternoon masterpiece-for me the apex of their career (so far?), and so different from Life's Hard, but instantly recognizable as them-hilarious in parts, too! Give 'em all a whirl!!!!!

Howie Day is not a character from your favorite anime series. I've always liked him. This CD is pretty good. This DVD is incredibly good. However, Howie Day's music (from this ep, don't worry) is best described when in reference to live performance. I saw him live in Nashville and St. Louis when he opened for Nickel Creek (and, though it feels like sacrilege, he totally upstaged them) and he was phenomenal. He started off with "Sorry, So Sorry," which had been my favorite on 'Madrigals.' I could hardly wait for the guitar and vocal loop stuff he does toward the end, and it surpassed expectations. He played several other songs (including "My Heart Will Go On," "Africa" and "Don't Panic" covers), my favorite being "Ghost." There was so much going on in that song, but it all made sense musically. He closed with "Madrigals." It was beautiful, and every girl in the audience was swooning, including myself. You have to see it. He puts so much personality into his performance.. I probably enjoyed that aspect the most. The Madrigals CD/DVD is great. I have a new-found appreciation for it after seeing him twice, but whether you have or haven't, I think this is the best Day purchase you could make.

This is an absolutely wonderful cd. I personally like it much better than his new one, but Australia and this one really, truly showcase his talent as a guitarist and singer-songwriter. This music is honest and heartfelt. I hope Howie's next cd will be more like this EP and Australia. That's more what the music industry needs - honesty and true talent, less Ashlee Simpson and other manufactured singers.

I found Howie Day through the internet since he hasn't broken into the Australian main stream yet. This guy is seriously talented. One of the best solo artists I have heard in a long time. The Madrigals CD/DVD set shows how talented Howie Day really is. How he can get so many sounds from just an Acoustic guitar is truely amazing. I would recommend this album to anyone who is sick of manufactured pop artists (can I really call them artists?) produced by record companies purely for making money.

I first became an Iron maiden fan after listening to the not so fan appreciated album "No Prayer for the Dying". After hearing that album I wanted to quickly by as many of their other albums as I could. After researching I decided that I wanted to make my first 2 album purchases be Number of the Beast and then Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Well, because of certain circumstances I was able to obtain mainy other albums, but never Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. After years of listening to the albums I owned I came to the decision that Iron maiden was one of the best heavy metal bands in the world, and that not very many albums could touch the greatness of work like Number of the Beast and Piece of Mind. Then finally came the chance to purchase Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Let me just start off by saying that this album is way underrated. No words could really prepare for how great this album was gonna be. For the first time I was able to listen to an entire Maiden album and like every single minute of every single song. You don't only listen to SSOASS, you experience it. Bruce Dickensons vocals are not only amazing, but flawless. On this album he continues to prove that he has the most unique voice in heavy metal and that a voice can be just as powerful as any other musical instrument. Steve Harris, like before, lets his instrument be heard unlike many other hardrock and heavy metal bands. The Title track of this album is one of the best, and even though it stretches over 9 minutes, it never seems drawn out. I'm not gonna get into any more of the songs because I would be talking on it all day long. I'll just finish by saying that SSOASS is Maidens best work, and probably in the top 5 of greatest albums of all time.

Words that come to my mind when I think or listen to this album are : magical , beautiful , amazing, breath taking, etc. etc. etc....
This album takes me to another world of fantasy and mystery. I enjoy listening to it that much.
No one I ever heard was able to top 80s Maiden, and I doubt anyone will.

Seventh Son of a Seven Son seems to have always been underrated especially by Iron Maiden fans. There are a lot of reasons why this album should not measure up to albums like "Number of the Beast" or "Piece of Mind"...and they all fall flat!
I feel that this album is propably Iron Maidens most harmonic effort so far, by that not saying it is the best. The album have an occult/supernatural theme that it keeps all the way through. All the songs seem to revolve around mysticism and the occult, which give great contiunity. The sound is different from their previous albums though, and that might be what a lot of fans dislike, metal-fans never been too happy about changes. I find the new sound refreshing though, and Iron Maiden seem to be at their best, both lyricaly and musicaly. The extra emphasis on keyboards might scare some fans too.
I truly enjoy the "theme" of the album, I find it entertaining with a subject for an album, almost like Bruce Dickinsons solo-album The Chemical Wedding. All the tracks seem wellcrafted and wellproduced and very maidensk. There is nothing wrong with this album.

... that Kathleen Wilhoite is the voice of ABC/Disney's "One Saturday Morning" cartoon "Pepper Ann", and sings the theme song to the same! --- TMB

I thought this cd was really good too, I discovered her along with the Nikka Costa connection (She sings background on this CD), but the She is nothing like her, this CD is real good, ... the Joy, and Whatever it takes are Standouts...
But her newer one is even better than this IMHO, Find her CD "Shiva" if you can, because that CD is even better than this one..

Kathleen Wilhoite is one of those rare people who not only act incredibly well (she was Chloe, Susan's sister, in 'ER') but also sing and not make a complete botch-up of it. I originally heard of Kathleen Wilhoite when 'Wish We'd Never Met' was used in an episode of 'Buffy' called 'Consequences'. If you liked that song then you will no doubt love this album.

The tracks here are a real good mix, with Kathleen neither leaning towards one style of the other. Each song is completely individual and rather than spouting out the same old love songs, any tracks on here are easily related to. Of the faster tracks, probably 'Suck The Joy' is the best, with 'Old Familiar' being a personal favourite of the slower songs.

This is not only an artist that defies conventions but also one that makes completely new ones for herself. 'Pitch Like A Girl' is a valuable addition to anyone's record collection, worth any amount of hunting for. It's simply magnificent.

Just as another reviewer stated, it took me a while to pick up this album. However, when I did, I couldn't put it down. This is an album that you can listen straight through without missing a beat. The song Battle Cry is by far my favorite on the album, and if you ever get a glimpse of the video you will be hooked. Hands raised and stomping feet,this is by no means a preachy album, but it is simply real! I would recomend this album to anyone. In addition to Battle Cry, Sunday, Bloody Sunday is definately one that you will have on repeat.
As far as the players go, they are all excellent musicians. The drummer is amazing and the vocalists in the band are exceptional. These guys rock and rock hard!

I absolutely love this Cd. I only found out about it by searching through Amazon.com. I am so glad I found out about it because I love this cd. There isn't one song that I can't knock on. I really do not listen to Christian rock but I listen to songs from this cd everyday! Give Pillar a chance and you'll do the same!

Pillar has evolved since "Fireproof" and this disc is a solid rock effort instead of a rap/rock hybrid. These guys are not only talented, but they put their faith right out front without ever sounding "preachy". Lester Estelle is one of the most talented drummers you'll ever hear (or see for that matter)and Noah's guitar work is driving and relentless. Don't worry whether or not Pillar is "hard enough" or "fast enough". It's not a band's sound that shows their talent, it's their lyrics and playing and this cd is packed with both. Pillar simply ROCKS!