Alternative Rock music reviews

What more can I say??? EBTG's Idlewild is another excellent albulm. The songs are very beautiful...every one of them. I am so glad that I discovered this group because their music takes me places that I love to be. Buy this music because if you don't you will be missing out on something special!!!

This is one of my top three cds, ever. And I own over 900.


I never tire of this music. It is the echo of my youth and the whisper of my future. "Then someone sat me down last night, and I heard Caruso sing" comes from one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written, in my humble opinion. And if you don't agree, that's fine because this disc will still be the one for which I reach on those evenings when I'm not sure what mood I'm in but I do know that I need soothed.

"Idlewild" is a late and recent addition to my EBTG collection, since I really became a fan of the band with 1990's "The Language of Life" and a devoted fan with 1994's "Amplified Heart". It is safe to say that I'm a particular fan of their 90s music; everything before that just seems like a skilled exercise until they hit their groove about ten years into their career. I know there are those that would disagree with me, but "Idlewild" is a good example of why I feel that way.

The songs on this album are all good without being exceptional. Tracey Thorn is a uniquely gifted vocalist; at times on this CD her delivery reminds me of Joan Baez in the 1970s. (Compare her vocal on "Shadow on A Harvest Moon" with JB's "Speaking of Dreams" or "Diamonds and Rust".) The lyrics are atmospheric - I particularly like "The Night I Heard Caruso Sing" in which the narrator decides "If I only do one thing I'll sings songs to my father, I'll sings song to my child; it's time to hold your loved ones while the chains are loosed and the world runs wild." And I enjoyed the lyrics of "Oxford Street" in which Thorn pre-dates John Mayor's "No Such Thing" with the thought "But there is no real world -- we live side by side, and sometimes collide."

What the album lacks for me is one of those stop-everything-I-could-cry-it's-so-good songs, like "Rollercoaster" and "Two Star" from Amplified Heart, "Mirrorball" and "Heart Remains a Child" from Walking Wounded and "Lullaby of Clubland" and "No Difference" from Temperamental. All of the songs on Idlewild are good, none is terrible, but none is exceptional. Not surprisingly (to me) none of these songs made it onto EBTG's recent retrospective "Like the Deserts Miss the Rain".

Another fine release from Dwight Yoakam, this one released after his first Greatest Hits collection. While you'd expect nothing short of perfection from Dwight, this one throws a few surprises and you can see a slight movement away from the sounds of his first three albums. This one includes a duet with Patty Loveless "Send a Message to My Heart" that showcases the talent of both artists. And while this CD contains a little more rowdy sound with numbers such as "Takes a Lot to Rock You" and "Dangerous Man", it also throws in the usual bluegrass number with "Since I Started Drinking Again". There's the usual ballads with, "You're the One' and "Sad, Sad Music", and the brilliant guitar of Pete Anderson showcased in "......Turn Me Loose". This is the stepping stone between "Hillbilly Deluxe/Buenos Noches..." and "This Time", so it is a must-have album for the Dwight Yoakam fan. Well, actually, it's a must have album for any fan of true country music. A+

I have varied tastes, and I can go from opera to country music, and like them both. "Honky Tonk" country is usually not my favorite - but I love this album. If you are a fan, this is one of Dwight's best.

If "Guitars & Cadillacs" were on this DY album it would be my favorite of his. Still, I think it's his best one overall. In my opinion "Heart That You Own" is the 2d best country song I'ver ever heard, next to the immortal George's "Mr. Fool". Since Mr. Fool was done in the late '50's, I believe, that would make "Heart That You Own" the greatest country song of the last 40 or so years. DY is the most important country artist of the past 20 years. I'll vote for that.

Scar culture along with circle of dead children are one of the few grind bands that i can enjoy and their actullie very talented and play great music. If you love pure grind and brutal? Then get scar-culture's " inscribe" and enjoy !

After seeing scar culture live in ny at cbgb i had to buy their album "inscribe" it is one intense piece of original brutality and also amazing crushing vocals!Many grind bands realy bored me and i choose a few to support and i must say that the guys from scar culture are by far my favorite grind band in a long time. If you a lover of pure grind and alot of chaotic brutality nonstop then get scar culture's inscribe it is worth the money! Recommended...

congratulations on finding a very rare metal sucess, from a US band.

lately ive been trying to stop dishing out 5 stars for every cd i love, it doesn't give the reader a full understanding of the music for some odd reason.

but i had no choice for this grindcore band based out of NY, scar culture.

first, the vocals are, well, there are no adjectives to describe them. they vary from a high pitch yell to a low growl, either way they sound great, painful, and they give you a good feeling on just how PO'd the lead singer is. its a shame that he's not in the band anymore.

the guitars shred. every song on this disc roars at you with unbelievable grinding riffs, occassionally i catch myself repeating these in my head (listen to the opening of "keep it to myself" and you'll know what i mean)

get this, the bass can actually be heard on this disc! i cant say how many metal cds i have that have sloppy production that just make the bass feel nonexistent. actually, scar culture's bassist is very talented, which is a big plus considering he's alongside some insane guitarists.

again, adjectives don't do the drumming justice. i was blown away when i heard the opening of "vision", double bass and blast beats galore, but not so many that they get stale and boring. lets just say that this guy dishes out some really fast blast beats and has a sick double bass to second that.

the production is stellar, and while im usually not picky about this, i found the production on this to be noteworthy. every instrument stands out and can be heard clearly. this disc is LOUD, which makes it that much better.

scar culture aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, but if anything they've shed some light on real USA metal, which has been overshadowed by idiots who wear masks and are named after numbers.

This album, along with their other album on Telstar- "Divided"- is one of the very best albums ever to me. ...

Their original being taken down for some reason.

It has the best aspects of progressive metal- long compositions, meaningful, idealistic and interesting lyrical content, lots of technical playing, etc. What this band has going for it above many other bands is their skill at composition and arrangement. How many prog metal bands do YOU know who can do a cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It", with a jazz interlude in the middle? Just shows their versatility and skill, as odd as it sounds (you can find this on the "Divided" album).

Every position in this band is staffed by a first rate player. Even though they broke up due to musical differences, you can see the varying styles of playing make a significant contribution to the music.

They also are quite gutsy in their arrangement of the songs. The third song of Insights- Celestial Haze- is unlike anything I have heard from other prog metal band. It's simply amazing. They have a song on Divided that is quite interesting for other reasons- it's called "Sticks In Space" and it's the Chapman Stick being played in a very cool and overlapped way that's quite spacy, as you may rstand from the name. Very progressive, but in the way Rush was when they did Cygnus X-1. Yes, I did compare these bands! Listen and see what I mean.

Contrast this to the second song- Akasha Chronicles- which is an out and out instrumental prog fest that is also awesome. Play these against each other, and it makes for a heck of an intro. I think of all three of the first songs as a trilogy somehow.

This is not to take away from the other songs. They are just amazing in their sweeping feeling. It's both cool/technical and emotional/idealistic. The topics of the songs seem to me most closely paired with Yes, although their music is nothing like Yes', it still struck me like that.

BUY THIS ALBUM! If you like prog, this is a better arranged halfway point between DT and bands like Porcupine Tree, Transatlantic, The Flower Kings, etc. There is just enough prog noodling to get your fix, enough heavy bits to keep you heavy, and enough slow parts to put in some real feeling. Even saying all this is not enough to express how much I like this album. I couldn't be sadder that they aren't together anymore. I hope that they can get around to creating a new album, but I heard they felt take advantage of by both of their previous labels.

I own about 600 prog albums, and this is in the top ten- even with classic Rush, Yes, ELP, Vanden Plas, and Spiral Architect considered.

Thanks,
REEG!

Lemur Voice is an absolutely phenominal group. They rival Dream Theater; they're that good. Gregor Vander Loo has such an amazing voice. He has great range and emotion. Marcel Coenen can rip on the guitar. His technique, feel, and taste are truly unique. The other musicians are equally incredible. Lemur Voice has a very unique style, with a few hints of Dream Theater. Their music is very progressive. They start out with the amazing opener, "Intuition", which is a heavy DT type tune. "Akasha Chronicles" is one of the coolest instrumentals you will ever hear. "Celestial Haze" is a smooth keyboard-based instrumental, that soothes your soul. Vanderloo's voice is used as an instrument on that one. "More of Nothing" is my other favorite. It is an amzing prog rocker. Lemur Voice's music has so many textures and moods. Unfortunately, they are no longer a band. They put out another album, "Divided", on another label, but I have only been able to get it from MP3.com. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DIVIDED, IT RULES! If you love prog metal at it's very best, buy this album. Lemur Voice is one of the all-time greats. 1000 stars!

Yes, this is a 5-star progressive metal CD, even though you never heard of the band and so far as I know they never made another. I rate them right up there with Dream Theater, though their style reminds me more of Ice Age (another great prog metal band). Grab it while you can!

This is one of the most-played albums on my iPod, it's so great!!! Here is a tracklisting and review of each:
1. Todd Terry In-House Mix (5:43, 10/10): Cool. Just a little side note: Tee re-uses his beats & bass a LOT. On his remixes of this song, he uses the bass from his remix of LeAnn Rimes' "We Can".
2. Gabriel & Dresden Hi-Tek Digital Mix (10:52, 10/10): This isn't a mix, it's a dub. It's still good, though. The dub sounds almost EXACTLY THE SAME.
3. Markus Schulz Coldharbour Mix (10:23, 9/10, and yes, it is really spelled "coldharbour"): I liked this, but I kept waiting for the vocals. The mix goes almost nowhere. Markus Schulz could've put in some more vocals!
4. Ford's Extended Mix (7:20, 10/10): Now THIS is one of the best remixes ever, no question! Check out his remixes of Natasha Bedingfield's "These Words (I Love You, I Love You)". They are just as good. Ford, you are indeed a trance MASTER!
5. Tee's Freeze Mix (5:42, 10/10): What is with these? almost all the Todd Terry & Gabriel & Dresden remixes sound the same! But, Tee manages to make it sound at least a little different each time, where G&D, for the most part, do not. The beat on this just screams "FASHION SHOW". Cool!
6. Gabriel & Dresden Rhythm Club Mix (8:20, 9/10): KEEP THE BEAT THE SAME ALL THE WAY THROUGH! I really thought this would be a different mix, but I was wrong. The middle of the song changes to the exact same as the other mix and the dub! At least they put more vocals in it this time.
7. Tee's Kat Mix (6:13, 10/10): Love it!!! This a "dub" version of the other 2 TT mixes.
8. G&D's Lo-Tek Analog Dub (10:30, 9/10): This is almost the exact same thing as the Digital Mix, except that the weird computerized Jewel thing starts earlier. Okay, but a little more of a change, please!
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TOTAL EVALUATION: 19/20. Gets a point off because of the Gabriel and Dresden remixes, but still a good single. Check this and "Serve the Ego" out! The remixes are KILLER!
l8r

TOP CD Singles from Singer/Songwriters & Sometimes Dance Divas

1. White Flag - Dido
2. Forca - Nelly Furtado
3. World on Fire - Sarah McLachlin
4. Intuition - Jewel
5. Eight Easy Steps - Alanis Morrissette
6. Pavement Cracks - Annie Lennox
7. Welcome to My Truth - Anastacia
8. Voodoo - Amber (The Second Single from her fantastic "My Kind of World" CD. This track, presently being Remixed for a 2005 Release follows on the heals of the XM Radio #1 "You Move Me" (avail as a MAXI Single). Other Standout Tracks include the Pat Benatar-esque "Just Like That" and the Whitney Houston Meets Pat Benatar Power Ballad "Sacrificial Lamb")

These remixes rule! I'm brginner Jewel fan and already I'm hoping she'll(the record company Atlantic) will release "Leave The Lights On" as her third single off the "0304" album. The first remix "Tee's Freeze Mix"(5:41,remixed by Todd Terry) is a cool remix and makes an alternate version to play on the radio.You can also see an remixed "Intution" with this remix on MTV 2's Monster Mix (Dance). Second on this great disc is the "Gabriel&Dresden's Hi-Tek Digital Mix(remixed by Gabriel& Dresden 10:50) is what made this maxi-single a must and best buy! A much deep,dark,jazzy,hip-hop and faster remix than the first. You can also check other remixes by Gabriel&Dresden on Britney Spears's new dancable single" Me Aganist The Music" and Annie Lennox's "Pavement Cracks". Why didn't make a radio edit to this remix? Thirdly is the"Markus Schulz Coldharbor Mix "(10:21,remixed by Markus Schulz) is sort of like a cooldown remix. When Markus remixed this track and named it "Coldharbor Mix" I pictured a nice artic harbor. It's sounds quiet at the beginning but towards five minutes but then changes into a nice techno/electro remix. The fourth remix is the "Ford's Extended Mix" (7:17 ,remixed by Ford The Trance Commander) is the first remix I heard that made want to purchase this single in the first place. This a nice trancier remix of the title track and is good if you're going to a party,roller rink or dance. I wonder how long was the orginal remix. The fith is" Tee's Freeze Mix" (5:39 , also remixed by Todd Terry) is kind of like the original but if you listen closely from beginning to end you'll hear something different. This a cool remix and I like how Todd recorded it to make this remix sound different from the original. The sixth remix is the "Gabriel&Dresden Club Mix"(8:17, also remixed by Gabriel& Dresden) which starts off with kind of hip-hop/jazz version and goes deep into techno to finish. This also an awesome remix! The seventh is the "Tee's Kat Mix(6:10, also remixed by Todd Terry) is like a dub to the two previous remixes included on here and is an cool remix. The eighth and final remix is the "Gabriel& Dresden 's Lo-Tek Abalong Dub"(10:30, also remixed by Gabriel &Dresden) is techno all the way and like dub dosen't feature any of Jewel's vocals except some parts. Don't forget to check out the enhanced portion of this disc "The Making Of The Intution Music Video". It's funny and cool. Overall this single is great and a must-have for any Jewel fan(beginner or already) I hope I can write another CD Review!

The best thing to come out of New Jersey since Kevin Smith, BigWig is continually amazing. Each album has gotten better and better and Invitation has the best overall sound quality of any BigWig album thanks to the mixing support of ubergenius Ryan Greene who has mixed a ton of records for the Fat Wreck family (Lagwagon & Strung Out amongst others). Everyone in the band is an amazing musician but, given he's the lone original member, all must bow at the shrine of Tom Petta, the lead guitarist & lead vocalist. His lyrics are always great, sometimes pensive sometimes funny. When he wants to scream, he has one of the best in the buisness. Just check this album out for the epitome of speed punk and get ready to rock!

I had heard some Bigwig songs before I got this CD. I had heard a few songs off this one, and some off of the other releases as well. Nothing, however, could've prepared me for this fast-paced, metal-influenced frenzy of an album.

Listening to this relentless album is not only a treat, it's a joy. Each energetic member brings his own flare to the group. Matt Gray, the metal-loving drummer, no doubt brings his metal flare to this CD, as his non-stop, breakneck speed drumming only speeds the pace along throughout the album. Bassist Brent Hamer's quick pluck method works well with the frenetic pace. Josh Marsh definitely encapsulates all the abilities of a bona fide frontman, with his Metallica-style rhythm riffs and anthem-style vocals. The high point of the group, however, is lead guitarist Tom Petta. Also heavily influenced by metal, his soaring, speed picking solos and harmonizing is the focal point of the band. When he begins, the viewer is completely surrounded by his amazing talent.

An Invitation To Tragedy is the only Bigwig CD I own, and I will no doubt buy their others. For fans of Pennywise and Much The Same (for those of you who know who Much The Same are), this album is a must.

excellent stuff... all bigwig albums rock

I heard Miss Catch-22 on the radio a few years back. I thought it was a great song but didn't remember the neam of the band. Then I heard "Dancing in your shadow" about a year later on the Y100 philly file cd and new I had to have this album. It took me a while to find it but now that I have it I know it was worth the time and money spent. I don't normally sit throw every song on an album but I had to hear what was coming next. Now that i've heard this I think i'm going to pick up their new cd, Parallel Universe (as well as the Caulfields cds) and try to grab their new dvd. I'm dying to see them play live.

Buy it...listen...enough said

I saw John Faye Power Trip in DE at the Night To Unite, and since they rocked mightily I picked up their album at the show. This is one great pop album especially considering I don't normally even like "power-pop" and generally prefer bands like the Bon Jovi. Quite Honestly, if you like music , you will like this album. I couldn't stop listening to and humming the songs. "Good Year for The Girls" is my personal favorite song, but every song on the album is catchy and good. Kudos to these guys on making a good album and showing up for a worthwhile charity event. I'd recommend checking them out live and buying the album.
-mike

Mother Hips ARE California Soul. With their blend of Country, Rock, and Bluegrass, these guys are like a time bomb waiting to explode. I've been following them and seeing them perform since the early '90's up in Chico, CA. The growth that they've made as a band is incredible. They definitely took a step of faith with this album, producing it on their own label. Like everything else these guys do, it works and works well. Tired Wings and Gold Plated are almost always on the set lists at shows. With the addition of their not so new drummer(not new anymore), their sound has evolved yet once again. Their previous three releases are all very unique and if I may dare say, even better than Later Days. Their new one is coming out late February and it WILL be great. If you ever get a chance to see them live, TAKE IT. The energy and presence they create on stage is electric and contagious. I gaurantee you will leave the show hummin and strummin down the street.

If you go to motherhips.com, you can purchase this item for $15 new. Plus they have a bunch of other merch, and the money goes straight to the band. Don't waste your money on some capitalist ass selling it for $99.

Sherwood Anderson would be honored that the title of this incredible album was inspired by his great novel. True artists have an unspoken bond that surfaces in their work. The Mother Hisp music and lyrics echo what its like to musically and artistically link the human experience. They continue to do this as they explore their talents which are many and broad. In traditional Hips style, label it what you will, these songs of Later Days take you from past to present with hints of the future. I put this CD in my truck in Seattle as I drove across the states. It mirrored ever image and captured every mood of the countryside and remained in my CD player until I arrived in DC. Can't wait to drive back to California.....

My best friend recently bought a sports car with a 300 horsepower V8 engine and asked me to recommend an album to play while driving REALLY fast. Without a second thought, I recommended Libido Speedway. I bought the album 5 or 6 years ago, and it remains a favorite. The music is catchy, aggressive, and great to listen to - especially on the road. The guitar is crunchy, and there's something very appealing to me about their basslines. It's disappointing that a band that could rock so hard never quite broke through, but in Libido Speedway they left behind a gem of an album. My favorite tracks are the opener - Yeah - and #8 - Noctournal Overdrive. Those two stand out, but every song on here is worth listening to. None of them disappoint. Also, if you can find them, I would recommend the Orbit single "I Wanna Make You", and the La Mano e.p.

I saw this CD in Target one day and it was super cheap. I had never heard of the band or anything. I put it in my car CD player and it did not come out for over a month. It is hard to describe my amazement at how great this album was. It starts out fast and just keeps blaring. However, the lyrics and musicianship is amazing as well. Moreover, if you keep listening after the final track, there is a little bonus diddy that is impossible to get out of your head. I know that this band is no longer together, but I have bought their other CDs through the internet and they are great recordings as well. I don't for mentioning specific song title here, because all of the songs are equally great! If you find this CD some place, buy it! You will not regret it.

I saw these guys in Portland, OR, opening for L7. I can't find words for how awesome they were. This is one of my all time favorite albums, which I revisit again & again. Every song has it's own appeal, but Nocturnal Autodrive is my favorite.

im not sure what this band is doin. (they call themselves eager seas now....whatever). but the bands lone cd under the moniker Watashi WA showed a fresh guitar driven approach which can get sadly undermined by the lame drumming and annoying by the numbers heart on sleave lyrics. GGGarth manned the boards......which is kind of weird when you finally hear what the band sounds like. but for the most part its a 12 track package of emo/pop tunefulness. Postivety sounds like the key hear but the lyrics could of been more poetic but isntead they sound like run on sentences that never get to any point. The drumming tempo is odd and irrtating, defusing the pace to too fast where it should be notched down......but i guess all songs like this shouldnt be nesscarily ballads. but depsite uneveness its still a fresh approach in a genre that justr aint fresh anymore

Punk-pop is a genre that I have a hard time giving credibility to. It's an extremely trendy genre and hasn't produced too many good albums. However, it exists and a lot of people seem to like it. The saving grace for this album is how good all the songs are (albeit in an extremely cheesy and guilty pleasure kind of way). None of them are great, but they're all good. This is ONLY for punk-pop fans, though; it has absolutely no other appeal. If you can understand that then we're good. Ok, so how are the songs? Well, they're EXTREMELY poppy and very catchy. They may not be very interesting, but they're all indeed catchy. The singer, though, can get pretty annoying, and this hurts its rating. If you're a punk-pop fan you'll most likely dig this album (I don't especially like it, but I can see why fans of the genre would). Recommended ONLY for punk-pop fans.

Highlights include:
basically every song

My fellow reviewers have basically summed up the good atributes of this album, which is one my sister bought me for my birthday. There's nothing very "catchy" or over-the-top unique about this album, which is why I think it is good. It's classic, timeless, something you could listen to ten years from not and not flush with embarassment. It's also relaxing; makes good ambient noise when I'm in my room.
The cover art is amazing; I wish I could have it printed onto a bag or a skirt or something...ha.