American Alternative music reviews

This was the first Thin White Rope album I ever owned. If it's not quite their best (Amazon won't allow 4 1/2 stars), then it's certainly very, very good indeed. I'd send the first-time TWR rope buyer to 'Moonhead' and 'In the Spanish Cave', and only then to 'Sack Full of Silver'.

I first heard this on vinyl, and was about to refer to 'sides' (how quaint), so adjusting for CD... The first 8 songs are excellent, if perhaps lacking the creeping psychosis of the 2nd and 3rd albums - until you reach Triangle, quite possibly the most lyrically terrifying song in the TWR canon. Any song that claims 'Sometimes I make burns on my arms / Cause it moves that feeling from heart to my arms' isn't for the faint of heart. And kudos for not only attempting a Can cover (Yoo Doo Right), but improving on the original. But the last two songs don't quite keep up the pace.

If you're feeling _really_ adventurous, why not try the TWR live album 'The One That Got Away'? And you thought the studio version of 'Triangle' was frightening....

At that point the band was mature, the playing is very good and the clean production is very close to mainstream music. Finally, they were blessed with a very good (new) drummer, too. But it's the music that will catch you forever. The songs - a kind of Western complex root-rock music - are sombres, and the singing is very soulful. All the tracks are excellent, and I can only cite my favorite: Triangle song. After this album, you can dig out their whole production; you'll find no misstep.

Check the credits on the "best of" cd, it's a new recording, not a new song. the Dead used to play it, and Adam did not write the words or the music nor did anyone else in the band.

it's a good remake, but it's a remake.

so any matching guitar chords are just a funky coincidence, or hell, maybe that's why they did the remake i the first place

What a truly amazing song... to have never released it seems rather criminal of Adam Duritz. Though perhaps he doesn't feel the gravity of this song in the way his fans seem to. Adam really just ought to sit down some lonely night and record it solo, as this song truly deserves to be let out of studio exile. In the most urgent sense.

This CD, if it can be found anywhere, is well worth owning for that one amazing song.

Now, one must add to the geeky muddle: "August and Everything After" has been sung in concert at least twice, as I myself have heard two different recordings of it from seperate concerts. Now I don't know how many recordings actually exist in total, but it's surely not so terribly few as others have claimed. My notion is that Adam has performed it perhaps a handful of times throughout the Crows' career. It is a long, difficult song to play, so it's infrequency does not surprise me.

The song is legendary... and rightfully so. The rest of the CD is good, too. However, the stars awarded here are for the astounding "August and Everything After." It truly outshines the other material on this release.

One of the reviewers said below that they played it at other concerts in 2003 which is false. They only played it once at that concert the only concert they have played it at ever.

Rumor has it before that concert that his Dad had a copy of it, the only copy in existance prior to the concert.

Why sing it now after all these years? The story goes is that someone showed up on the offical message board claiming to have lyrics to the song and a copy of it, and wanted to prove to Adam that she did have some connections, and it became one huge fight so that Adam hearing about this, decided to put the rumors for rest once and for all by playing it, and getting the song out there, which had before been the mythical song that everyone knew about which no one heard.

The reason for it being left off the Album, is that it is a very long song, a little over 10 min, and Adam kept screwing it up, so they decided to take a break, so adam during that break decided to play a different song for some famous country singer as a gift, and when all the boys came back from break, they heard this song, and the producer said to adam, "what was that?, the other song is too long, that is going on the album." That is how August was left off the album, and Raining in Baltimore made it on.

i have loved sheryl crow ever since tuesday night music club has come out she is so inspiring and her music rocks. the reason why she is a artist is because look at her she can play any type of guitar, acordian, harmonica and she has the best voice. every single song on all of her cds are excellent but my favorite song would have to be hard to make a stand i have the one quote frome the song written on my wall "weve got loud gutars and big suspicions great big guns and small ambitions but we still argue over who is god", i think everybody schould own every single sheryl crow cd it would make the world a better place

well, i'd say that sheryl has evolved so much in her time. and the best part about it is that she lives through her music. songs such as "home" is just so limitless. it brings it back to the heart whether it'd been broken or not. then "redemption day" is a great dylan-folk song, that states the trials of war and politics. then the radio free songs that are just so damn catchy, but there's so much more to her than her music, she is truly a raw, honest, real person. definitely invest time and effort in being expose to more sheryl material. a good thang (for you to do...) go see her live. she's just so captivating. oh yeah. TGS is great. she rox loud. keep the groove on.

Well after a disaster MANY years ago when I accidentally purchased a LL double CD of her poems, thinking it was music, I have finally purchased another Lydia CD. I've been waiting until I heard one I liked and this is it - excellent grunge/alternative/punk/rock CD. Live side is a bit rough in spots (well hell, isn't that why we love live recordings!?) Bit of Sonic Youth in there, not to mention a couple of times I thought of Marianne Faithful (eg Why'd you do what you did on the Broken English album).Overall a great double CD with all excellent songs, nice backing band and LL as she sounds best - not trying to be too way-out.
Voltage

This album is a collaboration between Lydia Lunch and guitarist Rowland S Howard. While it is not as sonically diverse and experimental as Lunch's body of work from the 80s, it is a very good collection of songs..

Musical influences for this album seem to be drawn from 90s grunge and 70s punk and rock, as well as "goth" rock. Some songs sound like a darker version of Hole (with more intricate songwriting) while songs like "Solar Hex" and "What Is Memory" are reminiscent of early post-punk, specifically recalling the sound of Christian Death's debut album. Also thrown in is an incredibly well-done light bluesy version of Led Zeppelin's "In My Time Of Dying". Instrumentally, the album focuses on the classic bass/drum/guitar/vocal arrangements, with Clint's well-written and played distorted lead guitar taking center stage with Lunch's semi-off-key vocal delivery, which gives the music a more grunge-styled offbeat feel.

These songs are all quite dark, being consistent throughout (in both sound and quality). It sort of bridges the gap between 'goth', 70s rock, and 90s 'grunge'.

The live disc, made up mostly of live versions of songs from the studio CD, is decent.. Not perfectly recorded...some tape hiss and occasional distortion/warping/choppiness of the drums or other instruments..and a bit of a volume drop-off on the last couple tracks... The tracks are played well...similar to the first disc...a bit sloppier at times, of course...with some volume inbalance between Lunch's vocals and the male backing/accompanying vocals (that are often mixed too loud and are often not all that well-performed) that can, at times, be annoying...

Disc one is definitely a 5 star album and is well worth the money for this set. The live album is far from perfect, but it's a nice bonus.

I first found out about Thanks to Gravity when they opened for Guster (back when Guster was Gus) in Boston in the late 90's, and they are really good. Slingshot is also an excellent album. What makes Thanks to Gravity so different from other bands is their lyrics have depth and are like poetry - they're not cheesy pretty boys with zero talent. Check them out - they'll never disappoint.

This is a great album from the best unknown band around. High energy songs, original arrangements, and poetic lyrics make this release one that I've listened to continuously since it's release years ago. The band's most obvious asset is lead singer/ acoustic guitarist/ violinist Andy Happel, but the other members also shine. This is a difficult band to categorize with words, so your best bet is to check out the sound samples here or on the band's self-titled website.

The high points on this album are "The Last Time" with it's terrific bass line, a new fast version of "Scorpio Come" (originally on the "Sonata Brutalle" album), and two covers. The first of these is Madonna's "Justify My Love," which is turned into a funky number with a pleading vocal. The album proper ends with "Pachelbel's Canon," a song that's been a concert favorite since the early nineties. This arrangement is nothing short of spectacular, and the Happel-penned lyrics will have you singing "Yeah" as the song reaches it's high point.

If you're tired of all the prepackaged garbage out there and are looking for some good, fun, acoustic based rock, buy this CD!

Way back, in my first year of high school, during a boring assembly in the auditorium, the monotony was suddenly broken by a rocked-up performance of a Christmas song ("Santa Claus is Coming To Town," if I remember correctly) by a young Paul Jago. Young girls swooned. Jago`s high falsetto voice became embossed in my brain. Not long after, Jago`s band, the Gandharvas, released this album, and with a little help from Muchmusic (Canada`s MTV), they garnered a little fame. As a live act, they were unmatched by their canuck contemporaries. Soap Bubble is experimental and quirky, and a very impressive first outing. Their potential wasn`t fully realized until their next album, Kicking in the Water, but this one is stunning nonetheless. Most songs are infectious from the get-go, and the psychotropic title track still remains, years later, a frequently-spun staple in my stereo. Sadly, the Gandharvas are now defunct, but this album remains a telling legacy to the rare treasure that the band was.

The gandharvas are truly a unique band. Many people claim that bands have a sound that is different from anyone else, but the gandharvas never sound the same as THEMSELVES from album to album or even song to song. If you are Canadian, chances are you've heard "The First Day of Spring" but it is not at all indicative of what this album sounds like. It's really hard to explain or compare their music, so I have to just say go out and buy their albums. If they are no more or not, I am not sure. I have heard rumors both ways, but regardless they are a great band that more people should have taken notice to. In my personal opinion their second album, "Kicking in the Water" is the best of their three, but this, the debut album, is great as well. Check them out!

This sublime record of seemingly harmless songs has a way of creeping in and making a home in your brain. You will find yourself singing these pleasant little melodies in your head as you're going about your day. Then you may ask yourself...what is this melody I'm singing in my head?...is it a Beatles tune?...A Bowie riff?...No! It's this blasted P4R band! Then you must listen to this record again, and really listen this time. This stuff is cool, and not as simple as you may have thought. It seems they deliberately messed with song structure, perhaps in an attempt to make it less accessible?? But NO! The infectious pop-ness of these Pistol for Ringo songs can not be obscured! This is indeed a pop surprise, and a rare and great unknown find. And that's the truth.

A very good CD

I listen to it regularly and I always listen to it from beginning to end.

This was originally a six song EP released in 1983. It was recorded live at the Peppermint Lounge in February of 1983. This CD features two additional songs recorded at the same concert. The songs consist of Cramps originals plus a cover of the theme song from "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" and a cover of the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction". This is a decent live recording, but not really the Cramps at their best. The CD also includes the song the Cramps recorded for the movie "Return of the Living Dead", "Surfin' Dead" (one of my personal favorite Cramps songs). I believe this was also the first time that Poison Ivy posed for a "cheesecake" photo for an album cover.

a divey bar is where they really shine. Lux Interior is a great frontman. The recording quality is pretty good, and the setlist is great.

Usually, I don't bother to review live recordings because I personally see them as a cheap way for bands to make extra money. However, the Cramps' 1983 album "Smell of Female" is one of the few CDs that proves otherwise. For one thing, a majority of the tracks are brand new and have never been played before. In addition, with primal drums and Poison Ivy's raw, tense guitar strings, the Cramps' rockabilly rhythms sound just as groovy and n'sync as would be on future studio recordings. Unlike most other live CDs, "Smell of Female" actually does capture the excitement and energy within the Peppermint Lounge. Underneath the twisting disco lights, frontman Lux Interior struts on the stage with a take-no-prisoners attitute; like he had on the Cramps' previous efforts, he growls, croons and belts out his vocals with off-the-wall passion. Although "Smell of Female" is worth hearing from start to finish, I would like to pinpoint a few highlights. "Call of the Wighat" is an underrated classic unto itself, since Lux's jungle lyrics are infectious and cartoonish in nature. "I Ain't Nuthin' but a Gorehound" once again heavily draws musical elements from 1960's surf pop. "Psychotic Reaction" (which includes a blown harmonica) has a feverish beat that reflects that of a non-stop steam train! Also, the way Lux performs this track is undoubtedly inspired by Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. "She Said" is downright hilarious; while the chorus is nothing more than gibberish, Lux's improvised lyrics display much tongue-in-cheek humor. This song, by the way, includes the frontman's outrageous interaction with the audience. In general, "Smell of Female" is a live album worth purchasing because it marks the Cramps' transition from 1981's "Psychedelic Jungle" to 1986's "A Date with Elvis."

This was originally a six song EP released in 1983. It was recorded live at the Peppermint Lounge in February of 1983. This CD features two additional songs recorded at the same concert. The songs consist of Cramps originals plus a cover of the theme song from "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" and a cover of the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction". This is a decent live recording, but not really the Cramps at their best. The CD also includes the song the Cramps recorded for the movie "Return of the Living Dead", "Surfin' Dead" (one of my personal favorite Cramps songs). I believe this was also the first time that Poison Ivy posed for a "cheesecake" photo for an album cover.

a divey bar is where they really shine. Lux Interior is a great frontman. The recording quality is pretty good, and the setlist is great.

Usually, I don't bother to review live recordings because I personally see them as a cheap way for bands to make extra money. However, the Cramps' 1983 album "Smell of Female" is one of the few CDs that proves otherwise. For one thing, a majority of the tracks are brand new and have never been played before. In addition, with primal drums and Poison Ivy's raw, tense guitar strings, the Cramps' rockabilly rhythms sound just as groovy and n'sync as would be on future studio recordings. Unlike most other live CDs, "Smell of Female" actually does capture the excitement and energy within the Peppermint Lounge. Underneath the twisting disco lights, frontman Lux Interior struts on the stage with a take-no-prisoners attitute; like he had on the Cramps' previous efforts, he growls, croons and belts out his vocals with off-the-wall passion. Although "Smell of Female" is worth hearing from start to finish, I would like to pinpoint a few highlights. "Call of the Wighat" is an underrated classic unto itself, since Lux's jungle lyrics are infectious and cartoonish in nature. "I Ain't Nuthin' but a Gorehound" once again heavily draws musical elements from 1960's surf pop. "Psychotic Reaction" (which includes a blown harmonica) has a feverish beat that reflects that of a non-stop steam train! Also, the way Lux performs this track is undoubtedly inspired by Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. "She Said" is downright hilarious; while the chorus is nothing more than gibberish, Lux's improvised lyrics display much tongue-in-cheek humor. This song, by the way, includes the frontman's outrageous interaction with the audience. In general, "Smell of Female" is a live album worth purchasing because it marks the Cramps' transition from 1981's "Psychedelic Jungle" to 1986's "A Date with Elvis."

This was originally a six song EP released in 1983. It was recorded live at the Peppermint Lounge in February of 1983. This CD features two additional songs recorded at the same concert. The songs consist of Cramps originals plus a cover of the theme song from "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" and a cover of the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction". This is a decent live recording, but not really the Cramps at their best. The CD also includes the song the Cramps recorded for the movie "Return of the Living Dead", "Surfin' Dead" (one of my personal favorite Cramps songs). I believe this was also the first time that Poison Ivy posed for a "cheesecake" photo for an album cover.

First thing I couldn't help but to notice about this release,of course was the stunning cover where guitarist Poison Ivy looks extremely HOT!'Smell Of Female' is okay as far as a live album goes.It's got some good tunes like "You Got The Taste" and "Faster Pussycat" for starters.However,I see/hear two things wrong with 'Smell...'.One,the duration is just 33 minutes and two,their version of the 1967 Count Five garage/psych classic "Psychotic Reaction" is rather weak.I've seen the band play live twice now and I KNOW they can do better on that cover.I liked 'Rockin' N Reelin' In Auckland,NZ' and 'How To Make A Monster' better(see my reviews on both).

Great, Great, awesome CD. I definitely recommend this and Psychadelic Jungle/Gravest Hits. Very Very Good. You aren't cool unless you have this. THat's right, I went there.