American Alternative music reviews

If you want a concert DVD, pick this up! Great music, a great live show, great quality and enough Dave to satisfy the biggest fan. A really nice setlist including "Two Step" "Dancing Nancies" "Ants Marching" "Jimi Thing" among others. Great jamming and some wonderful covers like "All Along the Watchtower" as well as "Cortez the Killer" featuring Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule/Allman Bros. If you want to see one of the greatest live bands at their best, buy this DVD!

I wont repeat what everyone else has said in more detail. However, I wish to mention 2 things:
This is one of the GREATEST CDs/DVDs EVER!!! For every reason.
And secondly, I don't know why people keep missing the fact that the song "#41" IS ON THIS CD.

While the recordings of these songs are also great, the DVD of this concert is a lot more fun to watch and is easier to listen to because you're watching something.
Dave Matthews Band is what I like to call a "musician band" (i.e. Santana). They aren't up there to make money and get attention, they're up there to make music and have fun playing it. This concert is outstanding. However, most of the songs are 10-12 minutes and also consist of long jam sessions by the band in the middle of things. So, these songs are somewhat hard to listen to unless you are a die-hard DMB fan or if you are a die-hard music fan. Don't get me wrong-- I don't discourage the rest of you from buying the CD or DVD, but keep in mind what I said. Having said that, here is an overview of each track:
1-"Don't Drink The Water"
This track starts out with a 3-min. (unnecessary) intro, but then explodes into a rock symphony in classic DMB style-- incredible musicianship and concentration. Towards the end, everyone drops out except Carter (the drummer) and Dave. I love the lyrics:
"Don't drink the water,
there's blood in the water,
don't drink the water."
Then Dave goes into screaming random syllables at the top of his lungs. The second best on the album and a perfect opener. 11/10.
2-"So Much To Say"
I love the guitar at the beginning of this song. LeRoi (the sax player) is playing bari on this. Geez, those South Africans know how to sing. 9/10

after this, they segue right into one of their better known songs:
3-"Too Much"
I love D. Matt's rap at the beginning, and then Stefan comes in w/ his distorted bass, and another great guitar break--this all happens within 15 seconds of each other. Great lyrics (beware of the random f-word in the middle). The So Much To Say/Too Much medley is wonderful. 10/10.
4-"Granny"
More great guitar; I love how Carter just does fills for most of the song, and then towards the end he starts playing an actual beat. One of my faves. 10/10.
5-"Crush"
This is the most complex song on the album. In the beginning with the bass groove, it's almost jazz funk, then when Carter comes in it switches to an almost hip-hop groove. Oh well. A great one nonetheless. 10/10.
6-"When the World Ends"
Again, almost hip-hop at the beginning. Great poly rhythms. The drumming is the strong point of this track. 10/10.
7-"Dancing Nancies"
I know this is one of their most well-known songs, but it's not my favorite. I like Boyd's solo, though. 7/10
8-"Warehouse"
A great guitar riff and audience participation make this a strong point. 10/10
9-"Ants Marching"
Another of my favorites on the album. Great riff. At one point, the audience sings part of it by themselves, which is kind of cool. 11/10.
10-"Rhyme and Reason"
I like this song because LeRoi plays alto, and I also play alto, but this is not one of the better tracks. 8/10.
11-"Two Step"
Duration: 18:56... dang, this song is long. Basically a big ol' long jam session, which makes it great. It's almost like some kind of strange polka... I don't know. Pretty good sax. 10/10.
12-"Help Myself"
Another good track... blah, blah, blah. 9/10.
13-"Cortez The Killer"
At this point, Warren Haynes comes out and plays electric guitar. Great cover of Neil Young, but different for DMB; it's a lot slower than a lot of their stuff. 10/10
14-"Jimi Thing"
This is another track where a sizable portion of the song is a jam session, which ultimately makes it great. This is where Dave finally decides to introduce the band. He also does some great rap/scatting... whatever you want to call it. Great electric guitar by Warren Haynes (special guest). 10/10
15-"What Would You Say"
Good riff. Not my favorite. 9/10
16-"Where Are You Going"
Almost country, but not quite. An okay track. 9/10
17-"All Along The Watchtower"
And, finally, we get to my personal fave on this record, and I am in awe of this. Un-be-lieve-able. I'm almost speechless. However, this is almost (ALMOST, I say) ruined by the cheesy bass solo at the beginning. There is a slow, ballady part, but then Carter comes in with an ominous chuckle. After that it comes clashing through to organized chaos of sound. Every single musician plays this song perfectly. The coolest thing on this song is that Boyd (the violinist) puts distortion on his electric violin and plays a solo. This is a must-hear for all music fans (all 12 minutes and 59 seconds of it). "Fire!! FIRE!!! FIIIIIIRE!!!!!" Awesome. 100000000000000000000000000000/10!!
18-"Grey Street"
I love the lick at the beginning, Dave plays a twelve-string on this one. Great sax work. Another of my favorites. 10/10
19-"What You Are"
Really weird at the beginning. Not a strong point. 8/10
20-"Stay (Wasting Time)"
A good track. Good vocals. The best sax work on the CD. A great riff. 10/10
All in all, an excellent CD. It's kind of like a greatest hits, but without songs from "Stand Up", which is their latest album. Definitely a great buy for any music fan.

What can I say? I love Tonic, the band is excellent, their cd is excellent! It was worth the money.

Sugar is one of the great records of the '90s, in fact its in my personal top ten. The rock songs are instantly catchy and the ballads have a quiet depth lyrically and musically. The overall quality of the songwriting is outstanding. Their previous album was uneven with some rock'n'roll highpoints, 'Sugar' is all quality. The followup to 'Sugar' is 'Head on Straight', while not quite as smooth as 'Sugar' it too is a worthy addition to any rock and roll record collection.

A alchemic blend of rock-anthems and melancholy musings, this album from trio Tonic is even better than Lemon Parade. This really is the thinking man's rock in a world quickly sinking beneath the nu-metal and hip-hop deluge. It's an eclectic sound...somewhere between Paul Simon and Live, with perhaps a dash of Crowded House. In equal turns both soothing and inspiring, this album is the latest in my collection from a Band that continues to grow and explore.

My personal favourite tracks are Knock Down Walls, which growls and drives with a 'still-humming-it-3-hours-later' chorus, Queen, which is both subtle, and rock-out fun, and Waltz With Me, a rythmic, gentle love song that is touching without getting slushy.

Yeah, I have favourites, but I love every song on this album...its one that I'll stick in my player and realise only when I come to switch it later that its already played through 3 times. More upbeat than Lemon-Parade, I'd highly recommend this to fans and new-comers alike.

Tribute albums are always a tricky business. It is rather difficult to create a cohesive album of disparate artists trying to re-form familiar songs into their own unique style. This Emmylou Harris produced tribute album for Gram Parsons is certainly no exception. It's not really a bad idea in theory. Gram Parsons was many things, but "great singer" was not one of them, so to have some polished pipes singing his songs was an idea with potential. Unfortunately, hardly any of these artists can put in the emotion that Gram infused in his plaintive vocals.

Of course, this is not meant to say that this album is without any hidden gems. Sheryl Crow and Emmylou teaming together on "Juanita", Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield doing "$1,000 Wedding", and Lucinda Williams and David Crosby's take on "Return of the Grievous Angel" are all wonderful versions that actually approach transcending the originals. And even the "average" songs on this album (since they're all Gram Parsons' songs) are still better than much of the music out there. The only one I find offense with is the lifeless version of "Sleepless Nights" by Elvis Costello. Other than that, this is an imminently listenable tribute album but should only be considered for purchase after you've heard the original Gram...that is, unless you're the type of person who thinks those kids on American Idol perform those classic songs better than the original singers.

Every tracks of this album are so stunning, esp. Sleepless Nights and A Song for You. You will have to find Gram Parsons's work to guarantee his talent.

It was midnight and I stumbled upon a show called West 57th Sessions, from New York and unbeknown to me, what I was watching was a live performance of this tribute CD, "Return of the Grievious Angel." I managed to record the remaining 5 or 6 songs and hope to see it on video one day.

With little familiarity to Gram Parsons, I was so taken by this tribute that was so well done, with fine musicians. Emmylou Harris, who sang with him before he died in the 70s so young, has kept his music alive and introduced him to new generations of music lovers.

On the show, I was introduced to Beck, I thought to myself..."who is this guy who sounds like Parsons?"

A favorite of mine, is Steve Earle and Chris Hillman on "High Fashion Queen. " The group consisted of Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Cowboy Junkies, Elvis Costello, Wilco, David Crosby, Whiskeytown, etc. How wonderfuls the tribute of "In My Hour of Darkness" by the Rolling Creekdrippers.

Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow duet to "Juanita", the mixture of solid sweet voice of Crow and that soothing cracking voice of Emmylou blend so perfectly.

If ever there is a presence of Gram Parsons, it is here! This is truly more that a tribute, it is as haunting as Gram Parson was, a young man who died too young, too hard!

If you want to hear Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris duets, she has a 3 CD box set that features duets with Parsons, probably the best part of her CD collection. ....MzRizz

The cd has alot of good songs, but they are not enough to get a true sense of each bands particular style. So even if you like a band's thirty seccond teaser, you may not like that band's other music.

It might not be the best punk compilation (check out the Peace/War double album or the Dischord box-set or the Punk-O-rama series for some alternatives) but its definitely an essentaial one. And not just for minutemen fans either, anyone who likes fast, loud punk should take a look at this.
Obviously, its good for anyone with a short attention span, but some of the songs are good enough for you to put them on 'repeat' and listen to them 14 times. It's got huge variety (blink and Black Flag, GWAR and The Descendents, AFI and Wizo....) so theres gotta be something you'll like. Even if you hate some of it ( I still don't know what to think about the Real McKenzies's track) it'll be over in 24 seconds.
Obviously the huge variety is an incentive to check this out, but theres also a whole lot more quality than you'd expect of an album with 101 songs (99 tracks, ... punk fans......). How many albums do you own that can claim to have 74 great tracks?

Okay guys, this cd is awesome, I heard that there was a super rare vinyl pressing of this, but I mean, is that for real? Anyways, yeah you should buy this cd, it's kinda wierd saying this, but it sounds... dated. Yeah I know it's only seven years since this came back and most of this bands are still around (and putting out some lame albums) but even the bad bands seem to put some good songs on this joint! No joke. I can listen to the whole thing through and through cause it has shoit songs... I don't see why you wouldn't get it, I mean it's a classic comp, I wish there'd be more like it, you know like an updated thingee. Oh yeah the Ataris song is suprising to my liking, it's all about those lame bands that the radio STILL plays even though it's been like (oh eight or so) many years since that song was written. Blah blah blah... anyways, I think fat wreck should put out short music volume 2, I mean what is wrong with that, it must have been hell getting this together though, I don't doubt em for not doing it again...

This album makes me feel absolutely miserable in the best way possible.

Check it.

I'll be the third to reinforce the idea that you really have to let this CD grow on you. I first heard of this band through the "Kids" soundtrack. "Good Morning Captian" was the last song on the CD and I loved The Folk Implosion, who put that soundtrack together and I figured if they liked Slint I would to so I got Spiderland. At first I blew it off as boring but then came back to it knowing something was there. Then the genius of it struck me. I have to be in the right mood but I always come back to it and out of my collection of over 400 CD's, Spiderland stays in my 100 CD changer 80% of the time.

This album will reward any fan of rock music that is earth-shatteringly original. Creepy and intense without being loud or aggresive. Trust me it gets it's hooks into you. I'm glad these guys didn't have a 15-year career, true greatness only happens once in a while and rather than kind of enjoy 9 more mediocre records I can give all my time to Spiderland.

Slint are the forefathers of Math-Rock, or whatever you want to call the Shellac-Fugazi-Jesus Lizard-Clutch sound. If you are a fan of these bands, get all three of Slint's releases. Trust me--after one listen, you'll wonder why you waited so long! Everything the other reviewers say is true, including Steve Albini himself. This CD is, in a word, perfect.

I will say this: Spiderland affected producer Steve Albini so deeply, he formed another one of his "crazy, self-indulgent" bands and based it primarily on the foundation of Slint's sound. He called this new band SHELLAC. Shellac's first CD, "At Action Park," almost sounds like Spiderland part II, ("Bosche's dick" is a song about Slint's sound guy; they also had help from Slint techy Jennifer Hartman) as Steve and his band mates recreate and nearly pick-up where Slint left off after their 1992 break up.

Shellac (and other bands like it) are influenced so deeply by Slint, their recordings almost sounds like an homage. But don't call Shellac posers or copy-cats; the members of Slint were playing hard core and punk in the mid-80's, as was Steve Albini and his bands Big Black and Rapeman (which coincidentally included Jesus Lizard's bass player in its line-up). In fact, these artists are so closely and simultaneously linked, where else will you find a label claiming analog recordings rule? Only on a Slint or Big Black recording, my friend.

This band is the very essence of Canada.

The Tragically Hip make truly beautiful music and this CD is my personal favourite. For anyone just getting in to them, this is a great CD to start with. The other great introductory albums are Live Between Us (a good sampler plus the Hip are fantastic live), Road Apples (for the older Hip sound) and Trouble At The Henhouse (for "Ahead By A Century" alone).

For any existing Hip fan, this CD is an instant classic; a must own. Bobcaygeon is an Ontario anthem never to be surpassed, but every song on this release is a gem, most notably: Thomson Girl, Poets, Emporer Penguin and Travelling Man.

If ever anyone, anywhere goes to a cottage, they must bring: 1)Atleast one 2-4 of Canadian (or preferably Alexander Keith's or Moosehead) and 2) this CD. Nothing goes with the stars like a beer and Bobcaygeon. Nothing.

I definitely recommend this CD. If you don't like it, ILL give you your money back.*

*Offer valid for Canadian citizens only. Not valid in Quebec.

This is a great place to start if you're curious about the tragically hip. This is the type of album that brings the word "art" directly to mind. A truly original sound, very poetic. "Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man" is one of my favorite songs of all time. Check out all of the hip's music, but start with Phantom Power.

i love this CD, all great songs. Although not as popular as some of theyre older music, i find this CD above thier others in my CD player the most. I Especially love Poets. If your Canadian, you should own at least one of the Hips albums. I'd suggest this should be it.

gotta have this one. It's got one of their best songs on it, SHINE.

Never herd 3/4 of the song on this CD! Real good!!

This is a great listening CD! I really loved the collection of hits! Being a newcomer to CS, starting with Youth and then immediately following with this CD, it gave me such great insight into the band's music and what they were all about. Because I really got hooked on this CD, I then had to go back in time and do some soul searching with all of their previous albums, which I am so grateful that I did. I'm now such a great fan of theirs and just love their music. Buy this CD, you truly can't go wrong.

well lets styart off by saying that im a big fan of blind melon, second what the hell is everyone's problem! how could you say this album sucks?! Even though no rain is basicly the only good one on here dosen't mean you have to start a giant fit over a half decent album! This one guy i read is saying all this crap about the bee girl... what the hell does she have to do with.. anything!

I've been listening to this albumn for about a year on and off. I've become a big fan of Blind Melon and love their other albumns yet I have to say that they just can't compare to their debut. This albumn is powerful and simply amazing. The first 5 songs are catchy and well composed with searing guitar, strong bass, steady rhythm, and Hoon's extraordinary vocals. The lyrics are well thought out and just great "feel good" style of funky,folky, rock. The last part of the albumn is where the real gems are however. "Change" feels somewhat lacking instrumentally but the lyrics and emotion make this beautiful song one of BM's best. "Deserted" is an extremely powerful song that will leave you in awe. "Holyman" has some of the albums best guitar work. "Sleepyhouse" along with "Time" is probably the albumns best all-around song-with heartfelt lyrics and fresh interesting compositions. "Drive" is a great song with the albumns best vocals. "Blind Melon" has a song for evey mood. From mellow and deep to intense feel good rock and roll this albumn will blow you away. I'd give it ten stars if I could.

The only band that really mattered after a very long while. Up there with the greats like Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Bob Dylan,The Rolling Stones, Thin Lizzy. The rock and roll is rocking, the folk, very folky, the grunge, really grungy,the songs, very catchy, the lyrics, meaningful and thoughtfull. The guitars are rocking,soloing, blending, harmonizing, the vocals are heavenly. You might have heard No Rain on the radio. I think it is the weakest song on the album. The other songs are just unthinkably great. A very very strong debut. Not since the first Led Zeppelin album have I been so impressed.

Excellent CD by REM. Had this CD many years ago, but haven't seen it in almost as many. Seller sent me one brand new, and I have been enjoying it ever since!!!
Thanks!

I have this on vinyl, original IRS. The CD does not do the vinyl justice but even the vinyl can stand to be remastered. They have done this with all their early albums, why not one of their best? Vinyl or CD, I will take either. This album has to be considered the last of the "we don't care if we are big pop stars" REM. Next it was Green, that is, "the color of money." Their most southern album, the title says it all. Live the south in all its glory and mainly it inglorious reality -- dirt poor, hard and backwards.

Taken as a stand alone alblum, this is still one of REM's stronger efforts. Despite the passing of two decades, songs like Life and How to Live It, Driver 8, and Can't Get There From Here possess a raw energy and excitement that never become dull. The record then offers a change-up with some great tunes that are a bit more somber and mellow. Maps and Legends, Good Advices, Old Man Kensey and the pretty banjo driven Wendell Gee. About the only klinker here is Auctioneer Another Engine which repeats the chorus seemingly dozens of times which can produuce a sligh headache. Still forgiving the guys for that one, the record as a whole can stand up against REM's best and is a pretty good listen even for new fans

This CD being the first one I ever bought, I always remember the tracks that accompany this soundtrack to the wonderful film. "Love" is a sweet and sincere opening for the soundtrack, along with other classics "Do You Believe in Magic" and "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" (a song everyone hears these days on the popular E-Harmony commercials). Shonen Knife's cover of The Carpenters' "Top of the World" is one of the highlights of the soundtrack along with Alan Silvestri's "Parent Trap Suite" which is quite lovely to listen to. Hopeful tunes including the harmonous "Never Let You Go" by Jakaranda and the acoustic sentimental "Here Comes The Sun" provide plenty of sunshine to all listeners. Perhaps the only song that I could deal without is the cover of "Let's Get Together" by the girl group Nobody's Angel. Hayley Mills' version of the song from the original film is much better; even the snippet we heard Lindsay Lohan sing while waiting at the elevator in this film could've made the CD better!
Overall, the film is great and so is the soundtrack.

The movie was cute, but the music was absolutely GREAT! Although some may complain about the 'missing' song, no big deal, you're still in for a treat if you buy the soundtrack. The songs are simply fun and happy, and make you want to get up and dance. The next time you are depressed, turn on the CD and let your misery wither away.

This movie is a remake of the original one (1961) starring Hayley Mills.

This movie is decidedly more modern and Lindsay Lohan gives a glorious performance- as both Halley and Annie.

However, the plot is a tad less realistic. It's believable that the owner of a California vineyard would send his kid to the summer camp, would a London designer send her daughter to a summer camp in another country?

I don't think so.

The pranks the two play on each other are less mischievious than that of the original, but the ones played upon Meredith Blake are much more!

The story begins when Halley Parker from Napa, CA meets Annie James from London, U.K. at a summer camp. The two become rivals and play pranks upon the other, until the camp director snaps and has both put in an isolated cabin- together.

Remarkably, Halley and Annie are mirror images of each other, as well as share the same birthday. They are allergic to the same foods and Halley has only a dad and Annie only a mother and only a picture of the other parent. When they show the other their other parent, they recognize them and find out they're twins.

The plan then becomes to switch places and get their parents back together.

The plan moves into action even faster when Dad Dennis Quiad announces his engagement to gold-digger Meredith Blake (not the actress's real name.)