Alternative Rock music reviews

I was a college freshman in the spring of 1983 and already had "Chronic Town" (just the 5-song EP, on vinyl), and my dorm roommate thought they stank and would never release anything else and would fade into oblivion along with hundreds of other Next Big Things.

I had to admit she was right about the last part, until I got a small package in the mail one day in late April.

It was a cassette tape from my brother.

Side one, "Deep Sea Skiving" by Bananarama.

Side two, this.

It sounds just as fresh and exciting now as it did 23 years ago. And it was only a sneak peek at what was to come.

Now you all know where my "name" came from!

I have no idea or any great interest in how this record impacted listeners in 1982. the point is that the good tunes still hold up today as vital and thoroughly engaging. Their early albums were a bit inconsistent (maybe this one less so) but right from the off when they hit it they really hit it. My favourite track by a landslide is "West of the Fields". The drum and base find a groove that is mesmerising; as far as i'm concerned one of their absolute best tracks; just so good - although I must confess to having no idea as to what the song is about (laughs). I suspect the clue is in the album cover. The other tracks I still really get off on after many years are sitting still, 9-9 and shaking through. They carry interesting beats and melody with delightful vocals that still sound fresh today. Talented bunch.

What a wonderful, magical record this. I was in college when REM appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and caught the indie rock world (which at the time was kind of in a loud SST (Black Flag, Meat Puppets) and Minneapolis (Husker Du, Replacements, etc.) frame of mind, somewhat by suprise. REM quickly became darlings of this world, in part by invoking and evoking some of the quieter, more introspective, elements of music past, particularly the mid 60s folk-rock era of the Byrds and the Lovin' Spoonful. Anyway, this is a record filled with wonderful, hook filled tunes, solid, tasteful playing (particularly by guitarist Peter Buck) and some rather good vocalizing by the then long haired, introverted singer Michael Stipe. In the end product, REM created an iconic record, which like A Love Supreme, Sgt. Pepper, Blonde on Blonde, What's Going On, Rocket to Russia, and Never Mind the Bollocks, is both of its time and transcendent of it, as well.

Although I've heard Brian Wilson 80 million times and I'm sick of it...it is still awesome for those who haven't heard it 70 million times. These guys put on a great show, and are talented musicians who sound great. When I Fall is one of the best songs on this disc, fortunately this song is not overplayed. Straw Hat and Old Apartment are great upbeat jams, and of course If I had $100K with their hilarious improv tops it off. Bottom line, very fun, entertaining, and good music.

Here is a live record containing a band that sounds as good live as they do in the studio. In the Spring of 1996, The Barenaked Ladies performed amazing rock sets at both the Rivera in Chicago and The Oympia in Montreal. With a group trained on the double bass, bass guitar, keyboards, accordian, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, drums, and vocals; it is pretty obvious that the Barenaked Ladies' music is very musical and unique. Their songs are a light rock, very poppish, but ear catching. Some of them are even given a Swing feel and beat. This album is a must have for any fan and for anyone who enjoys listening to music. Enhanced CD features include footage of skits and and live performances.

Stand out tracks include:
"Brian Wilson"
"Straw Hat And Old Dirty Hank"
"Jane"
"When I Fall"
"Hello City"
"The Old Apartment"
"Life In A Nutshell"
"If I Had A $1,000,000"

So many live albums can be "flat". You can't go back and redo anything and if the crowd has an off night or isn't into your show, you can't go back to the studio and re-record cheers or fill in the "other" instrument (the audience).

Oh, how different this album is. BNL have so much energy and so much interaction with the crowd, I'll bet no editing was needed. You can hear the crowd singing along with them and they interact with the crowd and play along with them so well. The energy of this album makes you feel like you are at the show (and I've seen them live and this is a great record).

Filled with so much energy you may never go back and listen to the studio versions of these songs again. A great record with great mixing, great energy and great lasting power.

October Rust, the follow up to Type O Negative's breakthru release Bloody Kisses, is excellent from start to finish. While the album seems to lag a bit in the middle, when these tracks are listened to in isolation they are actually quite good. While this album is not quite five star material it is chock full of great tracks like the atmospheric Love You To Death, the humorous My Girlfriend's Girlfriend, the spooky Wolf Moon, and the haunting (pun intended) closer Haunted. This is a more consistent album than it's predecessor but overall I find Bloody Kisses just a tiny bit better. The songs are more streamlined in their arrangments and the production is exquisite. This is a great album to acquire for the Type O novice.

In honor of winter's presense surrounding me, I'd like to discuss one of my favorite "seasonal" albums, Type O Negative's October Rust. And by seasonal, I mean it encompasses all seasons--just take the cover art, which by each song pairs photo of the woods in different conditions, different lights. October Rust is the most melodic of Type O's works to date, and as a result, the favorite of many fans. It may be softer than their other albums, but still retains some aggression and lots of haunting through its ambience, deep guitar bellows, and Pete Steele's bottom-of-the-well bass vocals.

Type O Negative has this way of merging sarcasm and beauty. It's just an ever-apparent characteristic of their style. In October Rust, they start out by playing a little gag on us, but before we have too much time to respond, we are immediately thrust into "Love You to Death," a song of ultimate gothic romance. The romance continues with "Be My Druidness," a tale of pure lust. The sun is alive and burning in "Green Man," a song about the human condition through the seasons. Next, if you're dreaming of a black Christmas, you have to experience "Red Water." It's not a song of Christmas morning, but rather Christmas mourning. The mood and the transitions in this song are amazing. "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend," the most catchy tune on the album, is all about kink and unconventional romance. "Die With Me," a song about the departure of a loved one, is softer with beautiful crescendos. "Burnt Flowers Fallen," though minimal in lyrics, carries some great moments, though one of the weaker tracks. Themes of burning continue into "In Praise of Bacchus, where we have wounded images of New York City--a song that intensifies the most at the end. "Cinnamon Girl" takes the basic melody of the Neil Young version and twists it into something completely Type O. "Wolf Moon" carries moods of isolation in the deep woods; of the warning and spell-like quality of a full moon shining upon darkness. Tortured sensuality drifts through "Haunted," the final and darkest track.

October Rust, since the very first time I heard it has been one of my favourite albums. You can put it on any time and I find it just washes over you...in a good way of course. It's one of those strange albums, Cult of Luna's 'Reciever' being another, that is all at once heavy and almost chilled, haunting and uplifting...but whatever else it may be, start to finish it's amazing.
Tracks to look out for; Green Man, Wolf Moon, Love you to Death.
Nothing but respect for the Negative, and in my opinion it is their finest work.

This is the real thing performed with joy and depth by a
woman who was born do do nothing else.
A superb showcase for Ani's singing,guitar playing,and
overall stage mastery that is not to be missed.On this effort
she is using a crackling,popping backup band that is enjoying the performance along with her.
One of the best live albums you have heard in a long time--
both in musicianship and sound quality.
If you are an established fan of Ms Difranco,this will have you clapping with glee.If you are not---you will be after you
give this one a listen.I fall into the latter catagory.This was my first experience with Ani's music.rest assured it will
not be my last.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Ani Difranco is, to say the least, an extremely prolific artist. I can say I've been a fan for a good chunk of years now and I *still* don't have all her albums. (i'm working on it) She just has so many! She's a rare breed in that she's an artist that seems to release an album at least once a year (if not more frequently) and I love that about her. With Ani it is truly all about her craft, she could care less about the big wigs and the commercialism of the music business. Since what, 1989-1990(?) she's been on her *own* label, (Righteous Babes Records) & done everything herself with a select group of trusted folks. In other words, A)she's far from a sell out B)She knows what shes doing, and she LOVES what she's doing

Living In Clip is **ESSENTIAL** for anyone who appreciates Ani's music. Whether you're a long time fan or someone who's only just recently stumbled upon her greatness. It has so many amazing, classic Ani songs...and even better, it's LIVE so you can literally hear her in action- with an audience, catch a bit of goofy banter & Ani-ness all at once.

The music is great here. Some of the songs are jazzed up, an old time favorite from the early 90's "Both Hands" is wonderfully remastered with a backing orchestra and it sounds amazing.

Ani Difranco is not your typical artist/musician. Some artists are "music-musicians", and some are more concerned with the words and the messages conveyed. Ani is both and she does it all so effortlessly. Her songs aren't sweet little 4 minute pieces with a chorus and an A major melody. She actually has something to say, and one way or another she gets you to listen.

Long time fans love Ani for her frankness, her fierce and sometimes snarly voice that she uses in so many different ways. She can do a melancholic jazz song--from playing the instruments to singing the notes. She can whip out an accordian and string words together like nobody's business and turn it all into an upbeat funky song, (like a lot of those on Little Plastic Castle). Bottem line, she's all about variation, being a dynamic performer...holding people's attention.

This double disc live set is her at the top of her game, putting critics in their place and giving us all a damn good set of songs in the process.

"Gravel", "Willing To Fight", "Untouchable Face", "Shameless", "Both Hands", "Firedoor", "Shy", "Napolean", "Out of Habit".... All of these are CLASSIC Ani, but of course don't skip over the rest of the songs cuz they're great too.

I have I think ALL or almost all of Ani's albums, and I am a huge fan, but this is one of the best albums she has put out. Well, truthfully, I like them all, but anyway, in this one you really get her great LIVE sound which is slightly different than her studio sound. Ani in concert is AMAZING and this gives you a glimpse into that world. You'll love her silliness and her fierce gut-wrenching renditions of her most famous songs. Listen from start to finish for a real thrill or put your favorites on your ipod. The energy on the album is wonderful. I think this is a great introduction to her music if you've never heard it. If you are already a fan, you will LOVE this one!!! Oh, and in case you've never heard her, she is kind of folk/rock/punk/funk even jazzy at times. Listen to the clips provided or check out www.righteousbabe.com. Every album has a different flavor.

considering i was told by a lot of people that this band was thrash metal I decided to pick up this cd for 2 bucks on ebay. this isn't really thrash at all. it's just double bass pedal and death metal type riffs. dont get me wrong i like this cd but its too industrialized for me, so if you like industrial and want to hear industrial death metal here you go. if you were like me and want to haer some thrash look else were. =]

Fear Factory is essentially what you get if Nine Inch Nails, Slayer, and Morbid Angel fused together into one.

Onto the album, the machine gun double bass, the crushing guitar riffs, and Burton C. Bells growls are the main points of this album. The drums are so fast it sounds like automatic weaponry is going off in your speakers. The bassist is largely inaudible, but he is the main guitarist from Archetype and Transgression, so I know he can handle his instrument well.

My favorite songs: Demanufacture, Hunter-Killer, Pisschrist, New Breed, and Self Bias Resistor.

Also get Soul of a New Machine, Obsolete, Archetype, and Transgression for amazing Fear Factory.

You heard me right folks, "Demanufacture" is Fear Factory's best album ever, and it's also one of the best metal albums of all time. Don't get me wrong, "Soul of a New Machine", "Obsolete", "Digimortal", and "Archetype" are all great albums, but like I said before, this album is their all time best, and it's down right addicting from beginning to end. I've had this album for two years now, and whenever I listen to this, my mind is completely blown away, I just love it. Burton C. Bell's vocals on here are much more different then they were on "Soul of a New Machine", but he's just absolutely awesome on here. His angry screams on here echo Phil Anselmo and Max Cavelera, and his clean singing is just incredible beyond words as shown on tracks such as "Self Bias Resistor" and "Dog Day Sunrise". Dino Cazares's awesome machine-gun-like guitar riffs shoot right through your body like a cannon shot. Chrisian Olde Wolbers's bass lines are hearable and very groovy. Raymond Herrera's sick double bass drumming is just fast and relentless throughout, man this guy is without a doubt one of the best metal drummers ever. The opening title track "Demanufacture" is absolute pure bliss. Whenever I hear the chorus to that song, it immediately gets my blood rushing and my fists pumping. Other great standouts on here such as "Body Hammer", "Replica", and "Flashpoint" have crunchy, heavy grooves, while "New Breed" and "H-K (Hunter-Killer)" are fast, blood rushing, hard hitting, and flat-out intense. Please note that the song ratings on here apply to the original version of this album (without the bonus tracks) that I own.
Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Demanufacture (4:12) - 5/5
2. Self Bias Resistor (5:12) - 5/5
3. Zero Signal (5:56) - 5/5
4. Replica (3:56) - 5/5
5. New Breed (2:49) - 5/5
6. Dog Day Sunrise (4:45) - 5/5
7. Body Hammer (5:05) - 5/5
8. Flashpoint (2:53) - 5/5
9. H-K (Hunter-Killer) (5:17) - 5/5
10. Pisschrist (5:25) - 5/5
11. A Therapy For Pain (9:43) - 5/5
Total Time: 55:13

Overall Score: 100/100
Grade: A+ all the way

So anyways, if you're a fan of Fear Factory, industrial metal, thrash metal, death metal, or just metal, you must own this album. If you don't have this, then what the hell are you waiting for, go out and buy this album now!! Fear Factory Rules!!

If you like this, I also recommend these albums as well:
"Far Beyond Driven" by Pantera
"Destroy, Erase, Improve" by Meshuggah
"Burn My Eyes" by Machine Head

considering i was told by a lot of people that this band was thrash metal I decided to pick up this cd for 2 bucks on ebay. this isn't really thrash at all. it's just double bass pedal and death metal type riffs. dont get me wrong i like this cd but its too industrialized for me, so if you like industrial and want to hear industrial death metal here you go. if you were like me and want to haer some thrash look else were. =]

Fear Factory is essentially what you get if Nine Inch Nails, Slayer, and Morbid Angel fused together into one.

Onto the album, the machine gun double bass, the crushing guitar riffs, and Burton C. Bells growls are the main points of this album. The drums are so fast it sounds like automatic weaponry is going off in your speakers. The bassist is largely inaudible, but he is the main guitarist from Archetype and Transgression, so I know he can handle his instrument well.

My favorite songs: Demanufacture, Hunter-Killer, Pisschrist, New Breed, and Self Bias Resistor.

Also get Soul of a New Machine, Obsolete, Archetype, and Transgression for amazing Fear Factory.

You heard me right folks, "Demanufacture" is Fear Factory's best album ever, and it's also one of the best metal albums of all time. Don't get me wrong, "Soul of a New Machine", "Obsolete", "Digimortal", and "Archetype" are all great albums, but like I said before, this album is their all time best, and it's down right addicting from beginning to end. I've had this album for two years now, and whenever I listen to this, my mind is completely blown away, I just love it. Burton C. Bell's vocals on here are much more different then they were on "Soul of a New Machine", but he's just absolutely awesome on here. His angry screams on here echo Phil Anselmo and Max Cavelera, and his clean singing is just incredible beyond words as shown on tracks such as "Self Bias Resistor" and "Dog Day Sunrise". Dino Cazares's awesome machine-gun-like guitar riffs shoot right through your body like a cannon shot. Chrisian Olde Wolbers's bass lines are hearable and very groovy. Raymond Herrera's sick double bass drumming is just fast and relentless throughout, man this guy is without a doubt one of the best metal drummers ever. The opening title track "Demanufacture" is absolute pure bliss. Whenever I hear the chorus to that song, it immediately gets my blood rushing and my fists pumping. Other great standouts on here such as "Body Hammer", "Replica", and "Flashpoint" have crunchy, heavy grooves, while "New Breed" and "H-K (Hunter-Killer)" are fast, blood rushing, hard hitting, and flat-out intense. Please note that the song ratings on here apply to the original version of this album (without the bonus tracks) that I own.
Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Demanufacture (4:12) - 5/5
2. Self Bias Resistor (5:12) - 5/5
3. Zero Signal (5:56) - 5/5
4. Replica (3:56) - 5/5
5. New Breed (2:49) - 5/5
6. Dog Day Sunrise (4:45) - 5/5
7. Body Hammer (5:05) - 5/5
8. Flashpoint (2:53) - 5/5
9. H-K (Hunter-Killer) (5:17) - 5/5
10. Pisschrist (5:25) - 5/5
11. A Therapy For Pain (9:43) - 5/5
Total Time: 55:13

Overall Score: 100/100
Grade: A+ all the way

So anyways, if you're a fan of Fear Factory, industrial metal, thrash metal, death metal, or just metal, you must own this album. If you don't have this, then what the hell are you waiting for, go out and buy this album now!! Fear Factory Rules!!

If you like this, I also recommend these albums as well:
"Far Beyond Driven" by Pantera
"Destroy, Erase, Improve" by Meshuggah
"Burn My Eyes" by Machine Head

I like every kind of music from rock to rap to celtic to latin. I own over a thousand cds & this is on the top three list of my all time favorites. Anyone that is hurting after a bad realationship, is depressed, or just wants to be in love, can relate to this album (even if you havn't been through any of these three things, it's still a terrifc cd). I personally can relate to all ten of the songs on it. It would be a mistake for any fan to be without this album or anyone that likes good music for that matter.

Some cds you only like a few songs. I have never owned one melissa cd that had even one song I did not like! Way to go Melissa! I hope she is healed from her cancer scare!

I do like Lissy, and have quite a few of her albums, but when I think about it I think I like her more for what she is (ie when I was 19, the fact she was an out lesbian rocker was enough) than her actual output. Prior to this one, only her debut would I put on and listen to all the way through, though many of her other albums do have fantastic standout tracks.

Having said that, Skin is one of the most completely accomplished albums in my collection (and I have a few!). It runs the gamut of human emotion (well, to do with love) and encompasses variation in musical terms. It's all rock, but there are ballads, pure rockers, folk and even a bit of electronica sneaks on The Different, my fave track from the album.

Her naive lyrics are charming and "in front of total strangers won't you kiss me" on I Want To Be In Love, I think, absolutely sums up a gay person falling in love in one succinct line, like I have heard nowhere else, ever. (Please don't take that as any kind of gay versus straight comment, it's just straight people kissing in front of strangers doesn't really compare to gay people doing it.)

If you're thinking of buying a Lissy and don't know where to start, there's no better place than here. Skin really is an awesome, adult, heart-felt album that will not leave your 'regularly played' selection for years. I bought it on special after the fact and I almost want to send her a cheque for the difference. It's that good.

(Almost, obviously. I'm not a fool.)

I had heard a few songs from Songbook in the store, and decided to try this 'live' album. Unfortunately, this was quite disappointing. Nothing of the magic that was Songbook.

Capable note-wise, Cassidy's delivery is however, very unmoving here. It was, and is, very annoying, that I keep imagining this was all sung by Ann Wilson (of rock band Heart). But this is the wrong kind of music for a voice like that; i.e. she doesn't sound good live.

A wonderful and somewhat different contribution from one of the true artists of our time.

It's a shame we couldn't hear more from this exceptional artist. Eva takes me to another world with her soothing voice. I couldn't wait to hear this CD and share it with my friends. I highly recommend it!

When I heard this album back in 1993/1994, I did not knew that would become one of the most important albuns of the 90's! The very first pop age album.

I discovered OP about 10 years ago, through a friend who soon turned me into a fellow fanatic. Ten years later, I still haven't taken it (or Falling Farther In) out of heavy rotation on my list of "CDs I can't live without". The lyrics flow effortlessly, and Mary Fahl's vocals will haunt your memory.

This is a CD of inspiring, melodic songs played and sung impeccably, completely standing alone as its own genre in the world of popular music. Some have compared it to Renaissance, the 1970s English band with Annie Haslam, but it's not very similar. This CD is romantic and emotional, and stands up on numerous repeated listenings. It can move you to a surprising degree, with unexpected suddenness. It has been a treasured CD in my collection for a decade now. One can listen to it closely and it is intense and passionate, yet one can also put it on in the background and is lovely and unobtrusive. My favorites are the most dramatic songs musically and in lyrics: "Take Me As I Am", "Bury My Lovely", "Eyes of Mercy", "Paths of Desire" and "Always".

One of my favorite pop albums of all time, and I enjoy this album even more than their more well-known 1997 album "Whatever & Ever Amen". The songs feel different from each other (the funkadelic edge of "Jackson Cannery" to the classic pop sounds of "Philosophy" and "Uncle Walter"), yet they sound enough the same to know what album you're listening to.

"Underground" and "Video" are also standout tracks on this CD. The former delivers the joys of alternative rock with an upbeat sound, while the latter a slower but very catchy look into the future when "we live in a video".

If you're looking for a sunny pop CD with excellent musicianship, look no further than right here.

This album is absolutely fantastic. Ben has shows some great storytellins ability in his originals and of course is a phenomenal piano player. Percy and Darren are also great musicians and help create and incredibly full and interested sound for a three piece.

For all you people who say and think that Brick is BFF's best song you're all sadly mistaken and STUPID AS HELL!!!

While perhaps a great song in concept, the fact that it is their only mainstream hit and was overplayed to DEATH leads me to believe anyone who says its their best has ONLY HEARD THAT SONG! Ben is one of the single greatest song writers in pop music history and if you want to hear some of his best check out the list below:

1 - philosophy
2 - selfless cold and composed
3 - don't change your plans
4 - best imitation of myself
5 - gone
6 - missing the war
7 - fred jones part 2
8 - the last polka
9 - emaline
10 - evaporated
11 - you to thank


thats just a small hint of how many songs that are BETTER than brick.
-justin