Alternative Rock music reviews

This CD, their second I believe, was accidentally brought to my attention by a friend. My reaction was immediate and powerful. I was hooked. I have since played it for several other friends, in California, Texas, and Tennessee, and they all seem to experience the same reaction I had. With that in mind, I do find it hard to comprehend their relative obscurity. Malford Milligan's vocals demonstrate the power of Sam Cooke with the facility of Stevie Wonder, and Grissom's subtle effects on tasty riffs are only outdone by his composition skills. This band rocks with a southern flavor, with LA style production. I have been dearly hoping to see them and am encouraged that rumors are about that they may tour soon...

I didn't even know this band existed until a guitar player friend of mine gave it to me. I absolutely love this CD. The music is great and the beat is awesome. I can't help but get into the music. I find myself driving down the road just belting out tunes along with the CD. Not a pretty site, but FUN!

Reading the reviews for Storyville, I'm so pleased to see such enthusiasm for their art. They truly are fantastic. Their brand of blues is phenomenal, and I still mourn their "passing". The lyrics are inspired, touching, heartfelt blues material. I was so lucky to catch Malford Milligan in a show in Austin recently and to find out he has released a CD of his own. It truly was a heartbreaking tragedy when Storyville split.

Not quite Heaven Up Here full-tilt boogie great but plenty of killer tunes on here for any Bunnies fan. The "go to Iceland" cover shoot reminds those of us who grew up in the '80s as a very bizarre period in Britrock (remember Killing Joke actually moving to Iceland where their career came to a frozen halt?) where bands had this pre-Bjork fascination with all things Icey.

Yet another classic by the Bunnymen, Porcupine has a tendency to be overlooked in favour of Crocodiles, Ocean Rain and Heaven Up Here. Listening to it, it's easy to hear why - much of the album is very claustrophobic, with thick, impenetrable production and gloomy lyrics. Max Bell, who provides the sleeve notes for the recent British reissue of the album, compares he band's experience making the album to 'spending a month in Das Boot'. A sense of tension and entrapment certainly shows in the music, creating a an atmosphere that is much denser than other Bunnymen albums. Personally, I think that it enhances the mood - although it can give you a headache.
Porcupines kicks off with the two 'poppiest' songs on the album, The Cutter and The Back of Love, before plunging into the depths with My White Devil and the quite brilliant Clay, which features a particularly haunting moment with a reverb-laden McCulloch vocal singing 'when I was the Cain, you were the Abel' over some tribal drumming from De Freitas. The title track continues the mood, introducing a haunting synth line into the mix, and building to an energetically miserable climax with a worrying sense of dissonance that typifies the album. The second half kicks off with a lovely modal guitar lick before lurching into Heads Will Roll, which is the catchiest song on the album since The Back of Love, but much more twisted. Ripeness has a slightly repetitive tune, but makes up for it with a fantastically tight, funky rhythm. As always with Porcupine, though, there's more going on, with the subtle use of Eastern-tinged scales giving the song a darker twist. Higher Hell is a musical hybrid of the title track and Clay, and features a clever lyrical inversion of Heaven Up Here. Gods Will Be Gods is an undoubted standout, building to a furious climax over five glorious minutes before suddenly cutting out. In Bluer Skies is the calm after the storm, and a great, melancholy ending to what is possibly Echo & the Bunnymen's darkest album.
This was as far as the band could go in this direction; Ocean Rain was a much lighter, airier effort and has had much more acclaim over the years than the more difficult Porcupine. Repeated listens, however, reveal that this album has just as much to offer as its successor. It was recently named on BBC radio as a 'great lost album'. I think that about sums it up: it's as good as any of their first four, and has an atmosphere all of its own that has never really been equalled.

Without question my favorite Echo album, if only for the first three songs alone (although the rest are brilliant as well). What a rush. This is the quintessential Bunnymen sound, no holds barred and no waiting.

While they are a great group, I have not liked their more recent reunion albums. This one, however, is one for the ages.

Not quite Heaven Up Here full-tilt boogie great but plenty of killer tunes on here for any Bunnies fan. The "go to Iceland" cover shoot reminds those of us who grew up in the '80s as a very bizarre period in Britrock (remember Killing Joke actually moving to Iceland where their career came to a frozen halt?) where bands had this pre-Bjork fascination with all things Icey.

Yet another classic by the Bunnymen, Porcupine has a tendency to be overlooked in favour of Crocodiles, Ocean Rain and Heaven Up Here. Listening to it, it's easy to hear why - much of the album is very claustrophobic, with thick, impenetrable production and gloomy lyrics. Max Bell, who provides the sleeve notes for the recent British reissue of the album, compares he band's experience making the album to 'spending a month in Das Boot'. A sense of tension and entrapment certainly shows in the music, creating a an atmosphere that is much denser than other Bunnymen albums. Personally, I think that it enhances the mood - although it can give you a headache.
Porcupines kicks off with the two 'poppiest' songs on the album, The Cutter and The Back of Love, before plunging into the depths with My White Devil and the quite brilliant Clay, which features a particularly haunting moment with a reverb-laden McCulloch vocal singing 'when I was the Cain, you were the Abel' over some tribal drumming from De Freitas. The title track continues the mood, introducing a haunting synth line into the mix, and building to an energetically miserable climax with a worrying sense of dissonance that typifies the album. The second half kicks off with a lovely modal guitar lick before lurching into Heads Will Roll, which is the catchiest song on the album since The Back of Love, but much more twisted. Ripeness has a slightly repetitive tune, but makes up for it with a fantastically tight, funky rhythm. As always with Porcupine, though, there's more going on, with the subtle use of Eastern-tinged scales giving the song a darker twist. Higher Hell is a musical hybrid of the title track and Clay, and features a clever lyrical inversion of Heaven Up Here. Gods Will Be Gods is an undoubted standout, building to a furious climax over five glorious minutes before suddenly cutting out. In Bluer Skies is the calm after the storm, and a great, melancholy ending to what is possibly Echo & the Bunnymen's darkest album.
This was as far as the band could go in this direction; Ocean Rain was a much lighter, airier effort and has had much more acclaim over the years than the more difficult Porcupine. Repeated listens, however, reveal that this album has just as much to offer as its successor. It was recently named on BBC radio as a 'great lost album'. I think that about sums it up: it's as good as any of their first four, and has an atmosphere all of its own that has never really been equalled.

Without question my favorite Echo album, if only for the first three songs alone (although the rest are brilliant as well). What a rush. This is the quintessential Bunnymen sound, no holds barred and no waiting.

While they are a great group, I have not liked their more recent reunion albums. This one, however, is one for the ages.

This CD reminds me of the the worst decade in music since the 1920s. The 50s had rock and roll, the 60s had rock and motown, and the 70s had classic rock. The 80s had, well, the "Thompson Twins". zzzzzz

HANDS DOWN, THE BEST THOMPSON TWINS ALBUM-EVER. ALONG WITH SOME OF THEIR BEST SINGLE (LIES, LOVE ON YOUR SIDE), THIS ALBUM CONTAINS SOME OF THEIR BEST SONGS-PERIOD! LIKE, TEARS, ALL FALL OUT, LOVE LIES BLEEDING, JUDY DO. IF YOU NOTICE EVERY THOMPSON TWINS ALBUM HAS A STAND-OUT BALLAD AMONG THE SYNTH POP. WELL, THIS ALBUM HAS TWO GREAT BALLADS: IF YOU WERE HERE (FROM SIXTEEN CANDLES) AND POSSIBLY THE BEST TT SONG EVER: KAMAKAZE. ALL IN ALL A GREAT ALBUM FROM ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED BANDS EVER.

The first TT album as a trio consisting of Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie and Jo Leeway. Without doubt one of the best examples of joyful synth pop from the early 80's. Many described the Thompson Twins as highly contrived at the time, but really who cares if the music is good? And the music was great. I can only describe this as the most flexible and bouncing pop you will ever hear. Infused with a great sense of fun and drama, every tracks delivers something. If you want to listen to one TT album, this is definitely the one. Highlights include Love Lies Bleeding, Lies and We Are Detectives. And yes, the original cassette issued included an additional album of remixes - we would LOVE a re-issue of this on CD!

This box set is, for lack of a better word, massive. All 11 Massive Attack singles from "Blue Lines", "Protection" and "Mezzanine" are collected here, complete with B-sides and a host of remixes. A quick breakdown of why this is a worthy addition to any MA fan's record collection.

Outstanding Remixes
1. Daydreaming (Luv It Mix)
2. Daydreaming (Brixton Bass Mix)
3. Safe From Harm (Perfecto Mix)
4. Protection (Underdog's Angel Dust Mix)
5. Karmacoma (Portishead Experience)
6. Karmacoma (Napoli Trip)
7. Risingson (Underworld Mix)
8. Teardrop (Scream Team Remix)
9. Inertia Creeps (Manic Street Preachers Version)
10. Back/She Comes (Mad Professor)

Premium B-Sides
1. Any Love
2. Home of the Whale
3. Superpredators

Excellent Overall Singles
1. Daydreaming
2. Safe From Harm
3. Hymn of the Big Wheel
4. Teardrop
5. Inertia Creeps

Hidden Treasures
1. Any Love (Larry Heard Remix)
2. Be Thankful For What You've Got (Perfecto Mix)

The heat-sensitive packaging is excellent, and the only misfire I can think of is the Blur remix of Angel. An excellent representation of the evolution of MA, this collection is a treat for diehards and casual fans alike.

This box set contains all of the remixes of massive attacks singles. If you are a hardcore fan -- you must buy this. My favorite single is the Unfinished Sympathy single.

I own the 3 albums of Massive Attack but I can't get enough from them 'cause I love their music too much. I just want more and I won't consider money or anything and I'd buy any product (cds, posters or whatever) related to MA..... and this Singles Boxset is like the ID for a real MA fan. You may not love all the remixes but it definitely worths the price 'cause you own the singles, you own the boxset, you own MA, you are a real MA fan!

I looked forward to this album as a number of my favorite songs were on it but I was disappointed that songs like "Hard Times" and "Lady Margaret" were not sung all the way to the end. Both left off about two thirds of the way through the song. I mean if you aren't going to sing the complete song, why bother?

Since my youth I have had an ear for roots music, whether I was conscious of that fact or not. The original of that interest first centered on the blues, then early rock and roll and later, with the folk revival of the early 1960's, folk music. I have often wondered about the source of this interest. I am, and have always been a city boy, and an Eastern city boy at that. Nevertheless, over time I have come to appreciate many more forms of roots music than in my youth. The subject of the following review is an example.

This is music that was performed, and meant to be performed for a live audience on Saturday night after a week's hard work, or early in the morning looking out over the mountain at nature's handiwork, or at any time to evoke the loneliness of the mountains and the hardness of life. And the music brings to life all those sentiments. Certainly this is music to entertain in a time before radio.

A note on subject matter- The bulk of the songs concern home, hearth lovesickness and religion as might be expected from mountain people. And that is okay. The following is something on the order of a discalimer I feel a need to mention. This reviewer, although not a religious man, can appreciate the simple, fundamentalist but very personal religion evoked here. Not to romanticize the simple rural folk of the past but I do not believe that the religious sentiments expressed here are the same as those of religious fundamentalists today who want to ram a theocracy down our throats in the United States today.
Enough said.

Wonderful music and extraordinary musicianship. Beautiful harmonies, make-ya-wanna-dance tunes, make-ya-wanna-harmonize along songs. Old songs beautifully rendered in voice and instruments. I have a lot of bluegrass and "traditional/roots" music and this is one of my favorites. Highly recommend

Simple Minds came closer than ever before to all-out rocking on this album. They do rock here, but they still exhibit skillfully played musical shadings. Highly inventive, underrated guitarist Charlie Burchill steps forward and rocks, but not without his rhythmic subtlety. At the time, this album was criticized for being poorly mixed and sounding muddy, but I quite like that thick din of sound. I haven't heard the remaster, so I hope they haven't botched it.

"Up on the Catwalk" kicks things off with rumbling thunder and haunting keyboards. One of SPARKLE's best songs despite borrowing the already overdone U2 theme "I'll be there tonight." Singer Jim Kerr delivers a fantastically wordy vocal that moves into improvisation towards the end of the song.

"Book of Brilliant Things" is good but not my favorite, although it grows on you with that catchy guitar hook.

"Speed Your Love To Me" and "Waterfront" are the album's glorious centerpieces. Simply brilliant and uplifting (and totally rockin'!)

"East at Easter" is a slow burner that builds with subtle intensity.

"Street Hassle" is one of Lou Reed's best songs and SM actually improve on the original, giving it a smoother, more organic quality. Fantastic orchestration. And, let's face it, Kerr has a much better voice than Reed. Lou must've approved because he sings (or, rather, speaks) on SM's "This Is Your Land" from STREET FIGHTING YEARS a few years later.

"White Hot Day" - not the best, but still a good song with musings about "time."

"'C' Moon Cry Like A Baby" is another favorite. This one has an infectious swing.

"The Kick Inside Me" is the hardest rocking song on the album.

"Shake Off The Ghosts" is floating serenity. Keyboardist Michael McNeil, so integral to the whole album, really takes this instrumental to a place of wonderment. A beautiful way to finish.

It's wonderful to hear an album that rocks without banging you over the head with feedback, distortion and the like as so many bands do today. People who call this the start of their U2-style bombastic phase are really missing the point.

This album sounds as fresh in 2005 as it did when I first bought it in '83. Amazing stuff

The first time I heard Waterfront (listening to KROQ while on vacation in Orange county back in 1984) two things became very clear to me...one, that Sparkle in the Rain was a must-own album and two, that it would be years before Portland, Oregon would ever have a radio station as cool as KROQ (actually, it took twelve years)

Simple Minds came closer than ever before to all-out rocking on this album. They do rock here, but they still exhibit skillfully played musical shadings. Highly inventive, underrated guitarist Charlie Burchill steps forward and rocks, but not without his rhythmic subtlety. At the time, this album was criticized for being poorly mixed and sounding muddy, but I quite like that thick din of sound. I haven't heard the remaster, so I hope they haven't botched it.

"Up on the Catwalk" kicks things off with rumbling thunder and haunting keyboards. One of SPARKLE's best songs despite borrowing the already overdone U2 theme "I'll be there tonight." Singer Jim Kerr delivers a fantastically wordy vocal that moves into improvisation towards the end of the song.

"Book of Brilliant Things" is good but not my favorite, although it grows on you with that catchy guitar hook.

"Speed Your Love To Me" and "Waterfront" are the album's glorious centerpieces. Simply brilliant and uplifting (and totally rockin'!)

"East at Easter" is a slow burner that builds with subtle intensity.

"Street Hassle" is one of Lou Reed's best songs and SM actually improve on the original, giving it a smoother, more organic quality. Fantastic orchestration. And, let's face it, Kerr has a much better voice than Reed. Lou must've approved because he sings (or, rather, speaks) on SM's "This Is Your Land" from STREET FIGHTING YEARS a few years later.

"White Hot Day" - not the best, but still a good song with musings about "time."

"'C' Moon Cry Like A Baby" is another favorite. This one has an infectious swing.

"The Kick Inside Me" is the hardest rocking song on the album.

"Shake Off The Ghosts" is floating serenity. Keyboardist Michael McNeil, so integral to the whole album, really takes this instrumental to a place of wonderment. A beautiful way to finish.

It's wonderful to hear an album that rocks without banging you over the head with feedback, distortion and the like as so many bands do today. People who call this the start of their U2-style bombastic phase are really missing the point.

This album sounds as fresh in 2005 as it did when I first bought it in '83. Amazing stuff

The first time I heard Waterfront (listening to KROQ while on vacation in Orange county back in 1984) two things became very clear to me...one, that Sparkle in the Rain was a must-own album and two, that it would be years before Portland, Oregon would ever have a radio station as cool as KROQ (actually, it took twelve years)

From the ominous bass notes of 'Clagger' which open their'Secret South'CD to its finale, this no frills approach to a mythic western past informing a tense present, is unforgettable and disturbing. Edward's voice compliments the music with appropriate desperation, yearning, fear, or anger. It's a tough brew and utterly compelling; early Cormac McCarthy set to rapid foot stomping. The core of the work from,the revamped 'Wayfaring Stranger' to the heart renting,'Poor Mouth' is an enthralling treat. Dylan's,'Nobody 'Cept You' slots comfortably in the mix, totally absorbed into the sackcloth fabric of Edward's vision.

written with strong spirituallity! A masterpiece of masterpiece's. 16 hp will be one of those bands that will be discovered by the mainstream (fine) artworld years from now. they bring to us a fossil of the past that sheds light on where we have been and where we are going now and forever more.

I stumbled upon the band quite by accident about four years ago. it was late one night and I was coming back from I someplace I can't remember when "Clogger" came on the radio of a local college station. I liked the song a great deal and heard "Heel on the Shovel" I think a few days later, but couldn't remember the band's name. Several years later I did, and I have been enthralled with the music ever since. I'm not a country fan and I certainly don't consider myself a christian music fan, but it's not about that. It's about the internal struggle, and Edwards draws you into the thick of it. The music takes you into strange land, and if you're comfortable then you're not listening hard enough. This is a more streamlined album than the previous two, but at the same time it's definitely a worthy successor. It's the same aural landscape, it's just a slightly different approach. This album is more accessible due to tracks like "Clogger", "Cinder Alley", and "Praying Arm Lane". "Strawfoot" and "Wayfaring Stranger" are undeniable foot tappers. None of the songs are poor in my reckoning, but to each his own. I consider this work, like all their material to be very important musically- definitely one of the best buys I've made in a long time.

i have the turn the tides cd and it's pretty good the songs are uplifting and straight forward it's production quality could be a lot better but hopefully the album that they're working on now will have better production, they just started touring again last fall and I'm not exactly sure when the CD release date is since they havn't put up the info but i'm guessing it'll be some time summer or fall 06 if you wan't to listen to a couple of songs they have a demo or two up at myspace.com/38thparallel

38th Parallel's "Turn the Tides" is, in all honesty, one of my favorite albums of all time. Though it is only ten concise songs, the members of 38th Parallel have proven that they are unbelievable lyricists and quite skillful musicians. I love the style in which the album is delivered, as well as how vocalists Mark Jennings and Nathan Rippke complement each other. Here is a breakdown of the tracks.

1. Hear My Cry = 8.3/10 - I was never really a fan of this one, I thought it was a rather unsatisfactory opener. There is some impressive harmonic singing in the chorus, and a powerful delivery in the verses. However, "Hear My Cry" never really did it for me.

2. Turn the Tides = 9.9/10 - Perhaps my third favorite song of all time. "Turn the Tides" is a fast-paced rap-induced track after which the album is named, and with good reason. The dual vocalists play off each other wonderfully during the verse, then proceed into a similar chorus, which impresses me more each time. The bridge introduces a beautiful but brief appearance of a violin. This song is by far my favorite on the CD, and amazes me each time I hear it.

3. Higher Ground = 8.9/10 - Great mix of acoustic and electric guitars in this song, which proves to be one of the softer songs of "Turn the Tides". Both vocalists harmonize in a comforting and uplifting chorus. A great song to listen to anytime.

4. Clouded = 9.7/10 - "Clouded" holds a place as my second favorite song on the album, as its gentle verse leads into a remarkable chorus, which is very relatable. I love the sound of the bridge as well. I can't help speaking softly with Nathan Rippke during the verse of "Clouded", which displays some of the brilliant lyrics featured in this CD.

5. Who Am I = 8.3/10 - I don't really enjoy this one too much. It's a hip-hop song that resonates throughout the whole track. It just doesn't do much for me, except for the lyrics.

6. Horizon = 8.8 - This was the single off "Turn the Tides", and with good reason. As the band declares, it captures what 38th Parallel is about, as it contains soft melodic singing, as well as a driving rap pre-chorus, and a harmonic and catchy chorus. Like "Higher Ground", it can be listened to in any mood.

7. State of Mind = 9.6/10 - This is one of my favorite tracks, as it opens with a very soothing guitar pattern and a verse of both vocalists playing off each other, as they do so well. This song's bridge is one of my favorite of all time, with the wonderful violin coinciding with guitars, also done by the band Skillet in their song "Collide".

8. You Are My God = 9.6/10 - This is a beautiful ballad of praise toward God. It is incredibly soothing, relaxing, and comforting to listen to, as the soft singing resonates over heavy guitars. The bridge introduces some aggression to chorus, as Nathan Rippke cries "Show me now" between each measure.

9. Wither = 9.4/10 - "Wither" provides listeners with perhaps the greatest display of the passionate, brilliant lyrics of 38th Parallel, as the bridge contains a mumbling rap about of friend of the band who has been taken by AIDS. This song is brilliantly done, and I love to listen to the powerful chorus.

10. Three Times Denied = 9.2/10 - A great closing to a sensational last four songs of "Turn the Tides". This proves to be the heaviest song on the CD, as the two vocalists combine to make it a heartfelt and emotional anthem, especially during the intense and driving chorus.

There's no denying that NuMetal as it's called (mix of rap/rock) has caught on over the past couple years and that it's very catchy if done right. Like many Christians I listen to many different genres of music. NuMetal is one genre that until I listened to Ames, Iowa's 38th Parallel I really didn't have a Christian option to listen to that was really good. Turn the Tides is flat out a great album from beginning to end. Every song is strong lyrically and musically. I love everything about this album but I there is a very sad ending to this review and the band itself. The band lost their record contract a couple years ago during a reorganization and never resigned. With no record deal the band has disbanded and sadly won't put out any additional albums. I've heard various reasons behind their breakup but the two main are the afore mentioned lack of record deal and the desire for some of the members to complete their education at Iowa State University. Hopefully they'll get back together sometime in the future and begin where they left off!