American Alternative music reviews

turning 15 anywhere is a little tough, but when i turned 15 in a new town, with no friends, all i did was listened t o the tape that my brother (4 yrs. my senior) brother made for me. Filled with Dave, Pearl Jam and many others i just cant remember who they were. Suddenly i didn't feel so alone anymore. i knew where to get the music and see the shows. music review covers so much more that the actuall songs on a list. this album made me the musicial woman that I am and i saw BUY ALL DMB ALBUM they will change your life

Ants marching, esp in concert, gets u going or ends a set like no other, this single catches that.

The best song that the Dave Matthews Band has ever produced is now available as a single. The liveliest and most upbeat song, both in concert and on album, is now available in both versions on the same cd. One of the best buys of the year!

This is an excellent album. When I first listened to it, I was reminded of Mr. Bungle's first, self-titled album. To those of you that may not have heard Mr. Bungle, being compared to that band is a very strong endorsement. The Phantom Limbs, however, are more punk than metal in territory similar to many post-FNM Patton works. The creepy carnival motif is fantastically done and never necessary. This album could easily have suffered by relying on its gimmick as a crutch. The scary organ and carnival style, however, are not a crutch on this album, but a perfect augmentation. The music would clearly be quite good even if it were taken away. Hopefully in the future more punk will sound like this, than what is foolishly referred to as "punk" now.

Something Very new and twisted The Phantom Limbs are
a band that when you listen to it , you really listen to it
it's like if you took Goth and punk,and had a Southern Revival
at a circus, lots of great organs they also have a fantastic presence on
stage thier front man Hopeless screeches a desperate cry like
he was bieng torured at an insane asylum, Live they are phantastic and there all really great guys (no matter what Heather says)

I'm originally from central NH where I used to attend youth conferences with some of the members of Thanks To Gravity. I've watched them grow and mature as a band over the years and I'm proud to say that I got to see them for the first time in a tiny local high school. This album is a great testament to their amazing talent.

I was introduced to this band when one of my friends had the CD at spring break a couple of years ago. Every song on it is good. The only thing I do not understand is why they everyone isn't listening to them on the radio. Maybe some day....

I was introduced to Thanks To Gravity through a friend and within a very short time they became my favorite band. Being a highly critical musician myself, who has heard almost everything recorded, I reserve my number one spot for this band. Everyone that I have shared their music with absolutely loves them.

I loved this album. With Used to Be Lucky on this import, it is a must have for any Wallflowers fan who already owns Bringing Down the Horse. I enjoyed the acoustic tracks on this also.

Wallflowers are my FAVORITE band! I listen to their CD's over and over again! They are the best band I have ever heard musically, Jacob's voice is sooo cool, and their lyrics are so real to life!!! I can REALLY connect with their songs! YOU GOTTA BUY THIS CD!!!!!!!!!

Bringing Down The Horse has certainly proven to be the best seller of the year, due to its powerful, gorgeously-crafted songs, the lyrics full of emotion and depth, which makes the album well-worth listening to over and over and over again. I love it!!!!

You simply have no choice. When a record has so many great artists, from Moby, to Dean Martin, to the Pixies, to Isaac Hayes you HAVE to get this C.D.

This album has so many good tracks on it it's hard to point to any one reason why you should buy this album, but certainly the first tracks on each of the two CDs are something special. While I was already familiar with "Pure Shores" by All Saints, the first track on the second CD "Boom Boom Ba" by Metisse is equally as powerful and dramatic, while being completely chilled. Both set the mood beautifully ... Buy it!

There are forty songs on this album, they span a huge range of music from Andy Williams to Leftfield. Where else could you find the likes of Moby, Fat Boy Slim, Propellerheads, Prodigy and Faithless back to back?

The music flows from one track to the other, and it is easy to see that alot of thought went into the selection.

My own favorites were "Shallow grave" Leftfield and the suprising "Boom Boom Ba" by Matisse......

All in all if you buy one album this year, this one should be it!

Fans of the V-Roys and all Tennessee folks should pick up this record. Harrison and the Faults swerve between rock and roll and country with ease and better than anybody. Check out the Superdrag fellas on supporting duties.

This album is a Godsend to the V-Roys fans who loved Mic Harrison's rocking style, a la "Amy 88". I listen to this album often as a cheer-up after subjecting myself to the more depressing sounds of the Jayhawks or Son Volt. In that capacity (and also as a car blastin', windows-down, traffic sittin' time waster) it works wonders on the psyche. Truly a salve to soothe the soul.

I think the standout on this album is the last song, "Poison Land". It's all about the place where I spent most of my childhood, West Tennessee. I recognize the sentiment, and I agree with the conclusion: "This poison land/Just won't let me go" I've been there. It's hard to leave home, and it's especially hard when the place seems to have some kind of wierd vortex that keeps drawing you in. Those of us that get out never quite feel as if we've left.

I will not sit and moan about the passing of the V-Roys any longer. I will just hope that someday they reunite and that I have vacation time accrued for that next day after.

Fans of the now defunct V-Roys will be in for a big surprise when they here the new release by The Faults, featuring Mic Harrison. Harrison has again shown that he is one of the finest songwriters anywhere but this time he has added loud guitars for a rock and roll fiasco that sometimes reminds you of KISS in the mid 70's and sometimes reminds you of the alternative sounds of the present. The Faults ability to change styles makes this a most intriguing album. Don't expect any ballads here as the Faults offer up straight ahead rock and roll. Even though the band sounds great on disc it will continue to be the live performances that will draw attention from fans across the country. Don't miss this great debut offering from the Faults.

Not many other cds out there are as good a value as this cd is. $$$ for a cd with 19 songs from up and coming artists is the best deal going. The CD is quality from beginning to end and is definitely the knida cd you need to recommend to anyone you know who likes music.

You can not go wrong with this CD - nor the price of this CD. The Handpicked CD features artist that have an amazing future in music. Pick up this CD, check out the songs, and then check out your local "creative loafing" and you will see at least two bands are touring in your area soon. CATCH THEM LIVE WHILE THEY ARE STILL PLAYING YOUR LOCAL CLUBS! In other words- catch 'em before they blow up on the music scene.

To name a few: Jump lil Children, Hobex, THE MEAT PUPPETS, Johnny Irion.

The guys in Hottie have surprised me with their excellent taste!
Handpicked is a bargain buy ! Highly recommended!

This album is absolutely amazing. From revered artists such as Jump Little Children, Meat Puppets, King Konga, and Hobex, to the presence of upcoming musicians like Jonasay, Moviestar, Snuzz, and Lapdog, the CD is great from beginning to end. In a time where truly great music is pushed aside in attempts to portray image and glamour, it is refreshing to see a record company release an album filled with outstanding independent music. Everyone should also commend Hootie & The Blowfish for starting this label, to support regional bands from their area, and introducing the world to the great songs from these bands. 19 bands ..... (this is easily one of the best buys of the year).

This was an album performed incongnito by 5 all star artist of our time...I notice that you offer the album in spanish and in german or whatever. The Traveling Wilburys was made by Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and a couple of other top performers..we lost our only copy..now you say it is under heartbreak traveling band (by Tom Petty perchance?) how can that be? These artist are all very import to our era of music...what is this album a ghost of something else...please explain? Tom Petty and the Heartbreaks? Come now...why offer it under different languages with other titles? Or is this a mistake by Amazon? Or is this a totally different album. Otherwise it was realeased in 1996 or 1997.

this band is my favorite band in the whole wide world. they are so much fun to rock out to and they deserve wold wide acclaim and success.

this band totally rocks, they are so much fun to listen to and sing along with. their lyrics are smart and they are rad!

Seldom can the magic of music be captured on a recording,but Jupiter Coyote has done just this, allowing the listener to transcend the moment and be lost in a finer place. A great example of the kind of work only possible for a mature group of artists. This is a beautiful project, quite possibly their best yet. Let us all hope for more like this.

This is a band that has put their heart and soul into their music. Their sound is unique, especially with the guijo (banjo/elec.guitar), smooth sounding slide guitar, and pulsing percussion. I especially like their signature rhythmic changes within a single song. The guest artists on this albulm are fabulous as well. This is definitely a band to check out.

As JC continues to grow, their albums become more and more complex and refined, but still maintain the classic JC punch.

"Ship in the Bottle" is one of the band's early songs, and this new release offers-up a fantastic new spin.

JC is a band that really needs to be seen and heard "live" to be appreciated, but this new album gives us all something to listen to between shows!

Honeymoon In Red is a collaboration between the Birthday Party and Lydia Lunch. Also J.G Thirlwell, Thurston Moore and Murray Mitchell, and the cover art includes photos by Chris Stein And Annie Sprinkle.
Generally this is a very slow album and quite raw. The scraping guitars complement the groaning and the whining. "Come Fall" is the self mocking opener. On "So Your Heart," Lydia plays the dreary hag and sings about the good time we could have had, "but there's gum on the chairs that dance inside my head..."

Horror and true crime meet sex and the single girl. She just can't stay out of trouble, trying to lure some fellow off to the middle of nowhere, where possessive and jealous sounding Cave sings about the killer's car parked right outside my face. Then they chant together in a zombie's jig music: "get it done with!!".
My favourite is the one about the murderous rampage in the movie theatre. What do Lydia and Nick make of this sad incident?: " he's an unknown sam in an unkind land ".
Still Burning is a truly macarbe pop song. Fields of fire sounds like it could be about refugees. "Raining at the border/ tears of blood".
Lydia Lunch and Rowland S. Howard belt out a very punk (Sid Vicious)rendition of Lee Hazelwood's "Some Velvet Morning".

Honeymoon in Red was as cutting edge as post punk could be in 1983. It was shelved until its realease in 1987. One of THE albums of the eighties if youre searching for the key moments in postpunk/ alternative music.

These Immortal Souls, Foetus, Coil, Current 93, The Pop Group, Throbbing Gristle, Sonic Youth, Captain Beefheart, Nico, James Chance, the Boys Next Door, Barry Adamson, Anita Lane, B52's, the Raybeats, KMFDM, ReSEARCH, Die Haut, Sort Sol, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, My Bloody Valentine, Robert Ashley, Snakefinger, Chrome, SPK, Swans, Lenny Bruce, Laughing Clowns, MLWTTKK, No Trend, the Bad Seeds, Einsturzende Neubauten, Dome, Diamanda Galas, MARS, Soft Cell, Lee and Nancy, Yoko Ono, the Fuggs, The The, Henry Rollins, Alan Vega, Henry Cow and Tricky might also be of interest.

Honeymoon in Red is one of the better albums of this genre. What genre? The genre that means you like albums by Lydia Lunch, the Birthday Party, Foetus, Sonic Youth and Swans, plus many others who were really interesting but far more obscure.

Over thirty years ago, when i first heard this song,something about it caught my attention.....the name Phaedra. i started practicing different ways to spell it,Fadra - Phadra- Faydra----and finally came up with "Phaedra" I wrote it all the time and vowed taht it would be my daughter's name.

Years later, when I was pregnant, my husband said "Your'e not naming my daughter 'Phaedra'".

When I was seven months' pregnant, she decided it was time to come......no warning.....just lightening, thunder, SNOW!!!!! I went into labor, and couldn't even make it to the hospital that she was supposed to be born at!!!!

She was delivered on 12/1/74, 3 lb. 14 oz..They recommended that I name her right away, because she wasn't very strong. I looked at my husband and said, with tears in my eyes, "the only name I ever had for my daughter was 'Phaedra'".

So she was named phaedra, and I must have had my angel looking out for us, because MY angel, Phaedra, is fine, healthy, happy, and will be will be married in one month.

Thank you Nancy and Lee, for a beautiful inspiration.

P.S. We are using this song for the bride/father song ( a little hard to dance to, but it holds a lot of memories.)