Alternative Rock music reviews

to admit that I purged this disc from my collection a few years ago. What was I thinking? Hearing the short clips here at Amazon.com reminded me of this embarrassing oversight.

The words "fresh" and "honest" come to mind when hearing this music. Scott says that they wrote most of the songs a week or two before recording, and you can hear the freshness of the songs and the honesty of the peformances on the disc. POL melded the harmonic sweetness of pop, the energy of punk and the rawness of indie to create an intriguing sound. Mind you, it took some time for Scott Hunter's voice to grow on me, but the execution of the other musicians is outstandingly crisp and the songs well conceived. What I like best is the way they threw caution to the wind and went after all sorts of musical ideas, especially rhythmically. I'm looking forward to having this gem back in my collection.

I first heard of Poor Old Lu in my Church Junior High group. Every Sunday, after church, More, the first song of Mindsize, their first album, would start. I asked my youth pastor who they were, he replied Poor Old Lu. My youth pastor was also Dave Sprinkle, father to Jessie and Aaron Sprinkle, half of Poor Old Lu. To me, Sin was, excepting A Picture of the Eighth Wonder, The best album they put out. Containing the classic Cannon Fire Orange, which has shown up on many albums, and such items as Sickly, a great, slow-moving song, and Bones are Breaking, one of the less understood songs, made this a memorable album. I lost my last copy somewhere in Russia, but I will be getting this and Chrono soon, putting me 1-2 albums away from owning all of their music, depending on whether or not my copy of S^4 survives long.

This is my favorite album of all time as performed by my favorite band of all time. Tight, clean production, matched with strong hooks and introspective lyrics make this a must have for anyone who has ever wanted to think while they rock. Buy it if you treasure what the early 90's contributed to the growth and maturity of alternative music. A groundbreaker, to be sure.

I bught this cd by a fortuitous recommendation here in Amazon..

I was also in the mood to experiment those artist not too well known, this ia a great finding a true collector's gem.

The only question is Why is it Paul, that you are depreiving us of more cds???

It's too short! Amazingly well crafted album. One of my all time favorites, and in heavy rotation.

I caught Paul Melancon's version of the Beatle's 'Another Day' on the unsigned station of XM Radio. I thought it was one of the best covers I've ever heard, so I immediately went online to find out more about him.
I've had this CD for a month now and I still listen to it every time I get in the car. This guy has an amazing voice. He can do upbeat and rocking (Guy Fawkes Day) or smooth and haunting (Slumberland). Good music has good lyrics and a good melody; this is great music.
What else can I say? The only thing I would change is the length - I'd be happy if the CD were twice as long as it is.

Excellent cd, blended nicely. Even the instrumental track seems to fit right in the midst of the mayham. The use of the various instruments is part of what seperates Soulfly from many of the other bands in a time that the majority of metal has been drained of originality. People that are disgruntled about the Sepultura break up need to get over it. Max Cavelera is still pushing out great music and who can discourage an artists from flexing his mind and trying something else? Personally i like this album better than the majority(if not all) the Max era Sepultura. Yeah....that's right...i said it. And now i set myself up for the useless review award by the die hard Sepultura fans....oh well!

I'll admit. I found out about Soulfly before Sepultura. I realize that Sepultura 1985-1996 is a lot better than Soulfly in Comparison. But with this in mind, I still am able to Enjoy almost anything Max Does. (Almost, I hate the Record 3) When I picked this Double Record up, I was just starting into the Metal Scene. I feel that it doesn't take a minute long Guitar solo with millions of cords to make a good song/band. What I did feel that mattered were good drums. I am not the Average person, who listens to average music. I like it different, just look at some of my other reviews. I am a drummer/percussionist in a band right now. (Part of my drum set is scratch built)I love Tribal drums, and when I found out about Soulfly, it was an opportunity I couldn't refuse. I picked up this record and the Primitive Digipak with 4 bonus songs. Now that's a lot of Tribal Metal. And while Primitive has somewhat faded, this 2 disc version remains as strong as ever.

Some people say this is Nu-metal. I disagree. The only part that I feel is Nu-Metal is the Verse that Fred Durst "Sings" in Bleed. My definition of Nu-Metal is Rock combine with Rap Elements and no solos. This, my dear reader, is Tribal Metal, something Sepultura started with the record Chaos A.D. What will stand out in Tribal Metal more is focus on the drums and atmosphere. While guitar solos do make an occasional appearance, you're not going to find Beneath the Remains here.

The first Disc, the actual record, is 5 Stars in itself. You can tell that Max was Pissed when they recorded it. This was due to his Stepson's Murder.

1. Eye for an Eye (10/10) Great opener that really gets your attention.
2. No Hope = No Fear (10/10) It used to make my hair stand on end if I got really into it.
3. Bleed (9/10)is where some Sepultura fans following Max, (when this was first released) may have snapped due to Fred Durst making an appearance. I would like to point out that, this was release in 1998, Bizkit didn't start to sell out until the next year, and not that it mattered much. This was probably the best lyrics the D-bag ever wrote.
4. Tribe (10/10) is classic, with Max Cavelera starting out on the Berimbau.
5. Bumba (6/10) is what I could consider filler, while it has a reggae atmosphere and all, I am just tempted to press the skip button.
6. First commandment (9/10) eerie, great song with creepy drums and features Chino from the Deftones. I don't like the Deftones, and they make too many appearances with Max, but they manage to do a good Job.
7. Bumbklaatt (9/10) I guess is an insult Max made up, and the Guitars are what make the song stand out so much.
8. Soulfly (7/10)it's a very nice, calm instrumental.
9. Umbabarauma (9/10)is a Portuguese song about Soccer. Very nice.
10. Quilambo (6/10)is like Bumba. And while it has a good message behind it, it isn't that great. Features Guest Benji from the Reggae Metal Band Dub War.
11. Fire (7/10)it's a really catchy tune, even though the lyrics are very simple, also has a good solo.
12. The Song Remains Insane (10/10) brutal and strange and wheni it starts, it doesn't let go.
13. No. (10/10) If people followed these rules, society would be better. Very Vulgar.
14. Prejudice. (10/10)Benji returns with a better performace than Quilambo. It lists Max and Benji as using Chains on here but I don't here them.
15. Karmageddon (6/10)closes the album with a bizarre instrumental. Good way to close the Album but a little boring.

Disc 2: honestly, why buy the normal version for $17 when you can throw in 3 more dollars and get a bonus disc with 15 songs and extra artwork?

Remix's I feel that the Remixes of Tribe and Soulfly are the only ones that have a real big change. The Eternal Spirit Mix feels like it was combined with First Commandment. The Quilambo and Umbabarauma Mix's sound very similar to each other; it's just played at a different distortion level with some techno noises in the background.

The Live Songs are great and have Crystal Clear Quality. The Opener Eye For an Eye and Tribe are found on the Digipak of Primitive. And after No Hope = No Fear there's supposed to be Spit (Sepultura). I don't know about the rest of the missing Live Songs though. The live version of Bleed with Dana's little brother is hilarious. The kid doesn't know how to sing into the microphone or isn't used to it, because at one point you can tell he isn't close enough to it or he forgot a line.

The Eye for an Eye (Live at Indigo Ranch) 10/10 is basically a Live Demo. (Indigo Ranch is where they recorded it) Somewhat different and pretty cool. In the credits, it proudly states that the drummer mixed it in 5 minutes.

The 2 B-sides. Cangaceiro (6/10) and Ain't no Feeble Bastard (Discharge Cover)(8/10) are short songs that have a Punk atmosphere to them and sound somewhat like Demos.

The B-Side that for some Reason wasn't put on the 2nd disc but should have.

Possibility of Life's Destruction (Discharge Cover) 10/10 it's 1 and a half minutes of Pure Thrash. Very fun!!!

a cool cd but it takes a while to get used to.

I don't know where but awhile ago I heard a promo cd from The K.G.B. and I liked it, so naturally while browsing at my local indie record store and I spotted this I snatched it quickly.

As an EP, it has a fair amount of material on it, the could be hit Space Cadet and the odd pot anthem Free Maryjane are the two major standout tracks. Space Cadet seems a lot more punky than their LP was, the amount of ska isn't as high. The lyrics are witty and fun, perfect for the style of music the band plays. The vocals are high, but not annoying at all.

This a great buy for anyone who enjoys the lighter side of music and fans of bands like Voodoo Glow Skulls, Choking Victim, or The Aquabats

I saw these guys opening up for another band last summer and they were awesome!! I've been looking for their music since then, I can't wait until I can get the full CD!! These guys have a great style of music that catchy and fun to listen to : )

I guess i must be little biased since 3 of them went to my high school (hey guys, i luv you?! ben you owe me ice cream)! this EP is fairly good, with an array of their music, and some really catchy songs that one can never get outta one's head (especially "free maryjane" which is surprisingly well written, witty and easy on the ears & "fortune and fame" which was stuck in my teacher's head after they came to my school). usually that's bad but these songs sound so good that you'll be happy that they're there. they're full-length CD is coming out on June 26th, and it's bound to be great. this is a bunch of really cool guys who really rock, and are actually deserving to be on radio waves. ... i luv you, guys!

Joe Jackson can be something of an acquired taste, but apart from his regrettable experiment in big band (Cab Calloway retired 'Jumpin Jive'; no-one else should attempt it), this is a fantastic collection. The 'Stepping Out' stuff aside, I really enjoyed reliving the frenetic energy of the new wave stuff with 'Got the Time', 'I'm the Man', and other songs of that type. This is an extremely solid collection.

Joe Jackson is so underrated it is a crime.

The only artist I can compare him to in that aspect is "The Dan Reed Network" -- go look them up and be mesmerized.

But "You Can't Get What You Want" just so defines the 1980's to me -- it is a splendid song. There it is, the 5th track on Disc 2 -- just click the link and play it on Windows Midea Player or RealPlayer -- isn't that just a great song?

Check out "Steppin' Out" as well -- and if you can -- find the video of "Steppin' Out" -- damn New York City had such a spell on the viewer in the early 80's.

Joe Jackson was one third of the angry young men triumvirate of the British New Wave, standing alongside of Graham Parker and Elvis Costello. But while he may have never received the critical accolades that have held Costello's career in the spotlight for so long, or the maintained the energy of Parker, Jackson has managed to build an incredible, varied body of work. This two disc set encompasses every phase of Jackson's restlessness. From the hyper-active skinny tie pop of the first two albums, to the New York influenced sophistication of "Night and Day" and "Body And Soul," to his erratic but always interesting later material, it is all covered in this set's 38 selections.

Jackson can also claim to have stroked some major old school influence. "Is She Really Going Out With Him" was one of the first of the genre to crack the American Top 40. His debut, "Look Sharp," remains a songwriter's tour-de-force, all energy and crunch with a stunning array of stylized hooks. The darker "I'm the Man" followed suit, with a more expansive lyrical view and one of his early (but terrific) ballads in "It's Different For Girls." The restlessness was already beginning to take hold, and the dub-frenzy of "Beat Crazy" found Jackson striking out in all sorts of directions. A reflection on his past ("Jumping Jive") marked time till he could sort out his next move (along with taking up residency in NYC).

The result was the sophisticated, swinging pop of "Night And Day," Jackson's most fully realized album. From the elegant dance single "Stepping Out" to the knowing ballad "Breaking Us In Two," this was where Jackson made the transition from his new wave past to pop craftsman of the first order. The follow-up, the more urbane "Body And Soul" bordered on pretension though, Jackson's ego was beginning to show. That album did yield one great single in "You Can't Get What You Want," but like the other ballad here ("Be My Number Two"), the album felt more like style than substance. "Big World" suffered from the same pretensions; Jackson wanted to record an entire album with a live audience, but then forbade them from making any noise in the process. It made for a couple interesting and spontaneous songs (best represented here by "Right And Wrong"), it also sounded stuffy and forced.

After that, there were a couple attempts to return to his roots ("Nineteen Forever") and a concept album or two. Of those, "The Man Who Wrote Danny Boy" (from "Night Music") stands out as one of the finest story songs Jackson has ever written. But it was obvious he was running out of ideas, as the telling title of the "Night And Day II" CD would show. That doesn't mean Jackson had gone flat, the songs on the second disc stand up fine on their own. (And the recent "Volume 4" CD is a strong return to form.)

"Steppin' Out: The Very Best Of Joe Jackson" offers a couple bonuses. Jackson took a swing at the reggae classic "The Harder They Fall" as a single/EP and a non album track, "Enough Is Not Enough," makes its CD bow. "Memphis," the great single from the movie soundtrack of "Mike's Murder" graces disc two. All in all, a very strong collection from an artist who's best work not just stepped out, but stands up to the tests of time.

Listening to both of Far's releases on Epic (Tins Cans With Strings To You & Water and Solutions), you can hear quite a difference in the two. TCWSTY is a little heavier than Water & Solutions and the production is rather poor when comparing. Jonah's voice seems to be drowned in the music at times, which is unfortunate cuz he has such a great voice. But this album is still great nevertheless. The album's opener "What I've Always Wanted To Say" and "In The Aisle Yelling" have a good balance of energy and melody. The last track, "Sorrow's End" is a lot more mellow than the rest of the album, with more emphasis on Jonah's vocals, making it a standout track. But the real star on this CD is the 7 and a half minute long "Job's Eyes" which I believe truly defines Far's sound. All in all, it's a good CD, but like I said, the production needed some work. But that doesn't keep it from still being one of the best in my collection and definetly doesn't keep Far from being one of my favorite bands of all-time. Maybe someday there will be a reunion. Let's hope.

Dang, how many bands is Jonah in? Anyways, this band was one of the best post-hardcore bands to come out in the 1990's, along with Helmet, Quicksand, Fugazi and Refused. This CD proves it with the speed ballet "Love, American Style". If you want something that tells you how screamo was brought along, this is definitely one of those CD's. As I told you in other reviews, I listen to a diverse amount of music. Anything under the lines of metal, punk and alternative, as long as it is not on pop radio.

Maybe the title's a bit overblown, but the statement is undoubtably true. While Water and Solutions features great production and songwriting, I prefer the emotional power and hypnotic riffs of this album by a long shot. Every song is nothing short of amazing, having comforted me in many depressed and terrified moments that result from an anxiety disorder I have. While the music isn't very complex (except for the guitar/feedback interplay in "Sorrow's End"), Jonah's voice makes all the difference. Like Jeff Magnum from Neutral Milk Hotel (except bettter), his honesty in the lyrics and passion in singing make the entire album worthwhile to listen to again and again. Many times, his tortured descriptions of modern day life (combined with the occasional song from the point of view of a teenage girl ) have brought solace to me in times of darkness. They will do the same for just about any depressed soul out there. If you've taken the time to read this, PLEASE do yourself a favour and purchase this recording. I promise you won't regret it. And by the way, the liner notes have some of the coolest artwork I've ever seen in a CD.

This is a pretty good soundtrack, with a number of decent alt-rock songs. It starts off with a good "Kiss" cover, and also includes tracks from "Paul Westerberg", "Goo Goo Dolls", "Primal Scream", and "Smoking Popes". Plus the 80's song "Come On Eileen", and the "REM" favorite "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (and I feel fine)". Of course who can forget when they sang "Superstar" (don't you remember you told me you loved me baby). But the main reason to get this is for the 8 film snippets from Farley and Spade. They're hysterical, and bring you right back to the movie. My advice for fans is to get this cd, "Don't run away from your feelings".

Tommy Boy is a funny movie and I love this soundtrack which is a mixed bag assortment of music which is perfect for me since my taste in music is varied and eclectic and as someone told me all over the place, I also like the tracks that are dialogue from the movie and being a big Star Wars fan I especially like the LalaLuukee track and I'm just so glad I got this CD and now I just have to buy the movie since I had taped the movie when I was out of town visiting relatives and I left the tape behind.

Ok listen up, folks. This is the best movie in the history of the world!! Garaunteed laughs all the time! I would highly recommend this to ANYone!! Again, this is the best movie ever made! BUY IT TODAY!

I have heard this whole CD and it's nothing special. One song is very good and I do wish to have it. It is the first song, "Things don't have to be this way". I do want that song but don't want to have to pay for this very ordinary CD to get it. I have not been able to find where else it is so if someone knows I would sure appreciate you pointing me towards it. Thanks.

I feel that negative reviews are almost always an exaggeration, and it is surely the case here. Jay Farrar is the alt-country love child people seem to love to hate. But they love to hate him because they just loved Son Volt (and Uncle Tupelo) so much. That's history folks. And face it, he's talented and has the voice that hundreds of men try to emulate. This album is certainly not a clone of Son Volt's, but he's not doing Son Volt stuff here. It's a solid album, and worth having in your collection. Listen for yourself.

There are some brilliant reviews here, and some that completely miss the point. I grew up about ten minutes away from Farrar's hometown, and I really fear some reviewers cannot understand the context from which he writes. Imagine the "rust belt", where factories have closed, people have moved away, and sprawl has crept in. You have our hometown area. The song Cahokian, which another reviewer took to task, is especially poignant to anyone familiar with the area. He speaks of the mounds, one being a HUGE ceromonial mound built by native americans which still stands today. The other, a landfill, visible from the first mound, stands across from a motor sports racetrack. The fact that Farrar recognizes this and chooses to speak on it, I believe, shows the consciousness that makes me love his music. If you like this slant, you should really check out March "16-20, 1992". This album completely forshadowed Tupelo's split, with noticable "tweedy songs" and "farrar songs", with Farrar's being of the social consciousness ilk. Please, continue to check out Farrar's solo work, Trace and Wide Swing Tremolo (not a big fan of much else son volt), and any Tupelo you can get your hands on. I should also add, quickly, some favorite songs from S,S,& BL. Please pay attention to Medicine Hat, Six String Belief, and Greenwich Time. Thanks for your time!

I dont know how you people listen to this crap! The only reason i give it two stars is one...they tried to make a cd and two they somehow got signed....dont make the same mistake i made by purchasing this piece o' crap....art core or wutever all it is is out of tune leads and crap guitars with crap screaming..... (o and im 15 im just too lazy to become an amazon member)

I dont know how you people listen to this crap! The only reason i give it two stars is one...they tried to make a cd and two they somehow got signed....dont make the same mistake i made by purchasing this piece o' crap....art core or wutever all it is is out of tune leads and crap guitars with crap screaming..... (o and im 15 im just too lazy to become an amazon member)

I do not listen to any of the so called "rock" out today (ex. coheed and cambria, my chemical romance, taking back sunday, ect.). To be honest, i'd say that it's all crap and none of it even come close to being musical in the slightest way. I listen to Nirvana, Guns N Roses, Metallica, Pearl Jam and even a little Rap. And, i am the LEAST "punk/emo" person you would ever meet.

Vaux was reccomended to me by someone so i figured it couldnt hurt to download one of their songs and take a listen. (Little did i know i'd soon be purchasing their album.) I downloaded "Set It to Blow" and i was just completely blown away. This an amazing fast-paced track with incredible energy and mind-blowing drum work.

Folks, i cant stress enough, that this is the only "punk" band out today that actually displays talent, and incredible talent at that. I used to consider any band who had a lead singer that screams 90% of his lyrics, crap. But Quentin is an amazing lyricist, whom i'd compare to that of Kurt Cobain (the KING of rock and grunge music). The guitar riffs through-out this ENTIRE album are outstanding. The slightly off-beat drum rhythms (such as that on "Switched On") were hard for me to get used to, but after a while they just sucked me in.

The band even proved they can write excellent ballads, in "At Your Will", where it starts off very soft, with slow, quiet, mood-capturing guitar. This is also the point at which lead singer Quentin proves his vocal abilities, softly singing in a beautiful voice to the listener. But the band gets right back into their original rocking out sound with their next track, "Ride Out Bitch".

The album comes to an un-awaited end with "Shot in the Back", a terrible but lyrically amazing story of a lost love. A "kind-of ballad", which is comparable to their other ballad, "At Your Will". In the vocals you can actually hear his pain and his relation to the lyrics. And once again, needless to say of course, amazing guitar work by the three, yes, THREE guitarists in the band.

Folks, this is a truely amazing band and an outstanding CD. It has been in my CD player for the past 4 months since i first got it. I listen to it daily and i've yet to get sick of it. This album is worth every cent i spent on it and more. Its one of the best CDs i own, up there with Nirvana "Nevermind", Nirvana "UnPlugged in New York", Metallica "Black Album" and Guns N Roses "Appetite for Destruction". Vaux combines grunge with heavy rock and a little bit of punk for a truely unique sound, far, FAR above and beyond any of the crap "punk rock" bands out today. The only reason i only gave this album 4 stars is because 5 stars is a spot reserved only for the Kings of all grunge/rock music, Nirvana.

I highly reccomend "Set It To Blow" and if you only purchase one CD within the next year, let it be this one. Vaux is a group of incredibly talented young men who are wise beyond their years in the lyrical content. This is a genuinely amazing album and the only thing i regret is not discovering Vaux earlier.

I can't stand this EP. Seriously. Zao is one of my favorite bands, and their output on this disc is so-so. On it we've got the original "Skin Like Winter", which is full of energy but the production is sloppy. I prefer the version on Liberate te ex Inferis. Zao's "Walk on by, Walk on Me" is awesome, and I have no complaints about this track. Now - Training for Utopia, what a horrible band. They pretty much ruined the split. Chaotic my ass. TFU sounds like a crappy nu-metal band. I understand some dudes from TFU are now in Demon Hunter, who are crappy nu-metal as well.
2 stars for a mediocre Zao track and a great Zao track.

ZAO IS THE BEST BAND EVER I LOVE THEM. MOST OF MY CDS GOT STOLEN BUT IF I EVER FIND OUT WHO DID IT I WILL KILL THEM THAT HOW MUCH I LOVE ZAO. DONT EVER QUIT. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!

I first heard the Training for Utopia singer perform with ZAO live. I was more than amazed. Just Zao alone is enough to make a great concert but together it was amazing. If you like either, or both of the bands like I now do, pick this up, it hardly costs anything and it has some great music on there. ENJOY