Industrial music reviews

My feelings over the past few years towards music are that the people doing the best music are always underappreciated. I remember years ago when Jane's first cd came out that Spin and some other magazines started to give her some press and MTV actually played her first single. But then the record industry when mad (what a surprise) and a lot of great artists got left behind. For myself, Jane was the worst person for this to happen to.

Her newest cd shows that Jane has not missed a step. I recommend this cd to anybody who enjoyed her first album, or anybody looking for a truly original artist.

No can touch this amazing woman. I honestly did not think she would be able to top her first extraordinary CD "Comic Book Whore", but "Burner" is just as awesome and then some. This CD kicks major .... Each song is a testament to her unbelievable talent. "Happiness" is one of the most amazing songs ever recorded - that song alone is worth buying the CD. In the world of trendy pop tarts, Jensen soars above them all with her raw lyrics and amazing ability to use music as imagery. She deserves Goddess status in the world of rock 'n' roll.

My first review read: "While Burner may not be as satisfying as her first CD, Comic Book Whore, it is a really a pleasure to listen to. If you enjoyed her first CD, you will love this one." But that has changed. I know adore this CD. Jane Jensen and The Dolls are an amazing group. Burner really shows off Jane's talents and her ability to grow as an artist and person. While her muisc may be too dark for some to admit enjoying, listening to a couple times is worth the gamble.

I've had this CD for a couple of years and still like it. I'm not a huge fan of this genre -- I'm more into techno/trance/dance/house these days -- but if you like interesting synth-heavy dark/goth industrial like such better-known bands as Xymox, Delerium (early), Front 242 have made at times you may like Spahn Ranch.

I do have to add that I like "Architecture" better than "The Coiled One", and for some reason I didn't really appreciate or fully grok this CD until after I'd heard "Architecture" several times; then I got it. Funny how that it is... Anyway, this is a pretty good if not great CD, definitely on the moody/harsh/angry side. Maybe not 4 stars, but definitely more than 3 1/2.

As a big fan of industrial and electronic music I've been exposed to a large amount of good and bad albums. I count the Los Angeles based Spahn Ranch's "The Coiled One" in the good column. When I used to vend music at industrial and goth clubs I made a point to turn a few younger industrial music fans onto this album. (As an interesting aside, "Spahn Ranch" is also the name of the old western filming set that Charles Manson's gang was based from.)

My favorite tracks (which you can listen to) include "Locusts" and "Compression Test". Locusts is fairly upbeat and aggressive, while Compression Test is a much slower and measured track that is more reminiscent of older Belgian-styled electronic body music (EBM). Others have suggested listening to "Heretic's Fork", and though it is not my favorite track, it is still a good track and very representative of this album. Please listen to all three tracks and decide for yourself if you like this album.

Other tracks like "The Judas Cradle" can be best described as good guitar based industrial akin to KMFDM or Denmark's Birmingham 6. Overall, this album represents a good mix of guitars and electronics and non distorted vocals.

This is one of my all time favorite EBM cd's. Every track is excellent. The Coiled One is definetly a desert island disc for any electro industrial fan! Check out Heretics Fork, one of the all time classic EBM /club tracks.

I've had this CD for a couple of years and still like it. I'm not a huge fan of this genre -- I'm more into techno/trance/dance/house these days -- but if you like interesting synth-heavy dark/goth industrial like such better-known bands as Xymox, Delerium (early), Front 242 have made at times you may like Spahn Ranch.

I do have to add that I like "Architecture" better than "The Coiled One", and for some reason I didn't really appreciate or fully grok this CD until after I'd heard "Architecture" several times; then I got it. Funny how that it is... Anyway, this is a pretty good if not great CD, definitely on the moody/harsh/angry side. Maybe not 4 stars, but definitely more than 3 1/2.

As a big fan of industrial and electronic music I've been exposed to a large amount of good and bad albums. I count the Los Angeles based Spahn Ranch's "The Coiled One" in the good column. When I used to vend music at industrial and goth clubs I made a point to turn a few younger industrial music fans onto this album. (As an interesting aside, "Spahn Ranch" is also the name of the old western filming set that Charles Manson's gang was based from.)

My favorite tracks (which you can listen to) include "Locusts" and "Compression Test". Locusts is fairly upbeat and aggressive, while Compression Test is a much slower and measured track that is more reminiscent of older Belgian-styled electronic body music (EBM). Others have suggested listening to "Heretic's Fork", and though it is not my favorite track, it is still a good track and very representative of this album. Please listen to all three tracks and decide for yourself if you like this album.

Other tracks like "The Judas Cradle" can be best described as good guitar based industrial akin to KMFDM or Denmark's Birmingham 6. Overall, this album represents a good mix of guitars and electronics and non distorted vocals.

This is one of my all time favorite EBM cd's. Every track is excellent. The Coiled One is definetly a desert island disc for any electro industrial fan! Check out Heretics Fork, one of the all time classic EBM /club tracks.

I've been listening to sp for many years, and this one's still my favorite. Fascist Jock Itch, with it's simpistic yet angry guitar and the great drumming gets the blood flowing, even if it's near impossible to understand what Ogre is saying. Tin Omen and Rodent are also great songs, although I prefer the Rodent version from Dystemper more. But the greatness of Worlock, wow... It is still one of my favorite songs of all time, even years after I first discovered it. The haunting lyrics, the main chorus, and the buildup to the end... Just brilliant! None of the Worlock remixes compares to the original

It's come to my attention from a Wikipedia article about the lawyer, Jack Thompson(He's a lawyer who is trying to fight against the videogame industry and wants to censor violent videogames), that an Amazon reviewer gave his book a 5 star rating during what JT called a bookstorming and that review was removed (They filled up the book with negative tags, photoshopped pictures, and 1 star reviews). The positive review was by a user called BushSupporter who appears to be against Skinny Puppy as well as videogames. Anyway, if you're here because you hate Jack Thompson and are curious about the band this may be a good CD for you if you want to listen to a combination of metal and electronic music. Al Jourgensen's influence on this album provides a few songs with some great guitar work along with several electronic songs that have a great beat. What may turn you off is Ogre's vocal style which has changed in recent releases. He snarles like a psychotic beast with heavily distorted stream of consciousness vocals. The Greater Wrong of the Right and The Process are two other releases that may be more for you if the vocals don't sound good to you. At least give it a chance and see what you think.

...and I have to say, it's unbelievably good.

There is not a single bad track on this album. I can't believe I've lived so long without hearing the brilliance of Skinny Puppy music. Although i have to say that this is not music for everyone. Only those who consider themselves fans of industrial music should buy this cd. If you don't consider yourself a fan of industrial music, then pay this album no mind, because if you do buy it, you'll write some ignorant bad review of it.

Standout Tracks to me were:
"Fascist Jock Itch" - This is easily the most energetic song on the album. You can feel the energy surging into you as you listen to it.
"Worlock" - This song is just f***ing good. There is no way around that fact. Pleasant, yet at the same time extremely emotional. It also has a very deep message in its cryptic lyrics. This song now stands among my favorite songs of all time.

I've been listening to sp for many years, and this one's still my favorite. Fascist Jock Itch, with it's simpistic yet angry guitar and the great drumming gets the blood flowing, even if it's near impossible to understand what Ogre is saying. Tin Omen and Rodent are also great songs, although I prefer the Rodent version from Dystemper more. But the greatness of Worlock, wow... It is still one of my favorite songs of all time, even years after I first discovered it. The haunting lyrics, the main chorus, and the buildup to the end... Just brilliant! None of the Worlock remixes compares to the original

It's come to my attention from a Wikipedia article about the lawyer, Jack Thompson(He's a lawyer who is trying to fight against the videogame industry and wants to censor violent videogames), that an Amazon reviewer gave his book a 5 star rating during what JT called a bookstorming and that review was removed (They filled up the book with negative tags, photoshopped pictures, and 1 star reviews). The positive review was by a user called BushSupporter who appears to be against Skinny Puppy as well as videogames. Anyway, if you're here because you hate Jack Thompson and are curious about the band this may be a good CD for you if you want to listen to a combination of metal and electronic music. Al Jourgensen's influence on this album provides a few songs with some great guitar work along with several electronic songs that have a great beat. What may turn you off is Ogre's vocal style which has changed in recent releases. He snarles like a psychotic beast with heavily distorted stream of consciousness vocals. The Greater Wrong of the Right and The Process are two other releases that may be more for you if the vocals don't sound good to you. At least give it a chance and see what you think.

...and I have to say, it's unbelievably good.

There is not a single bad track on this album. I can't believe I've lived so long without hearing the brilliance of Skinny Puppy music. Although i have to say that this is not music for everyone. Only those who consider themselves fans of industrial music should buy this cd. If you don't consider yourself a fan of industrial music, then pay this album no mind, because if you do buy it, you'll write some ignorant bad review of it.

Standout Tracks to me were:
"Fascist Jock Itch" - This is easily the most energetic song on the album. You can feel the energy surging into you as you listen to it.
"Worlock" - This song is just f***ing good. There is no way around that fact. Pleasant, yet at the same time extremely emotional. It also has a very deep message in its cryptic lyrics. This song now stands among my favorite songs of all time.

I've been listening to sp for many years, and this one's still my favorite. Fascist Jock Itch, with it's simpistic yet angry guitar and the great drumming gets the blood flowing, even if it's near impossible to understand what Ogre is saying. Tin Omen and Rodent are also great songs, although I prefer the Rodent version from Dystemper more. But the greatness of Worlock, wow... It is still one of my favorite songs of all time, even years after I first discovered it. The haunting lyrics, the main chorus, and the buildup to the end... Just brilliant! None of the Worlock remixes compares to the original

It's come to my attention from a Wikipedia article about the lawyer, Jack Thompson(He's a lawyer who is trying to fight against the videogame industry and wants to censor violent videogames), that an Amazon reviewer gave his book a 5 star rating during what JT called a bookstorming and that review was removed (They filled up the book with negative tags, photoshopped pictures, and 1 star reviews). The positive review was by a user called BushSupporter who appears to be against Skinny Puppy as well as videogames. Anyway, if you're here because you hate Jack Thompson and are curious about the band this may be a good CD for you if you want to listen to a combination of metal and electronic music. Al Jourgensen's influence on this album provides a few songs with some great guitar work along with several electronic songs that have a great beat. What may turn you off is Ogre's vocal style which has changed in recent releases. He snarles like a psychotic beast with heavily distorted stream of consciousness vocals. The Greater Wrong of the Right and The Process are two other releases that may be more for you if the vocals don't sound good to you. At least give it a chance and see what you think.

...and I have to say, it's unbelievably good.

There is not a single bad track on this album. I can't believe I've lived so long without hearing the brilliance of Skinny Puppy music. Although i have to say that this is not music for everyone. Only those who consider themselves fans of industrial music should buy this cd. If you don't consider yourself a fan of industrial music, then pay this album no mind, because if you do buy it, you'll write some ignorant bad review of it.

Standout Tracks to me were:
"Fascist Jock Itch" - This is easily the most energetic song on the album. You can feel the energy surging into you as you listen to it.
"Worlock" - This song is just f***ing good. There is no way around that fact. Pleasant, yet at the same time extremely emotional. It also has a very deep message in its cryptic lyrics. This song now stands among my favorite songs of all time.

This album was the first of the new lighter sound Shihad put out. Their previous albums were HARDOUT!...they kind of went a bit soft..but in doing so proved they can really write a good tune, and appeal to a much wider audience. Apparently Iggy Pop considered them to pretty good at the time!. However , changing their name to Pacifier and an attempt to break into America proved their downfall, both in cred and sound.
Now re-renamed Shihad!, they have decided to get back to NZ and be what they originally were...a hard out rocking good band...new albums are apparently in the works under their old moniker.

This is the best Shihad (in my opinion) album. Runs the gauntlet with Hard Rock, Blues Rock, little Punk Rock, and a great ballad to finish it (Boat Song). Everything song has a little different slant/sound to it. Highly recommended!!

New Zealand's own Shihad - (now known as Pacifier - ironically enough, they changed their name to "pacify" potential american audiences after Sept 11, cuz they thought Shihad sounds too much like Jihad)- The best rock outfit in a long time - these guys are real rock stars.. I just wish Australia would stop claiming them as their own, and the rest of the world would sit up and notice.

Iggy pop, Faith no more, and others have lauded the boys from the 'had.. just check 'em out for yourself. Especially if you like big rock, kind of industrial, with a punkish edge.

check out 'La La Land', 'Yer head is a rock', and 'Pig Bop'.. also check out their next album after this "The General Electric", and "The Blue Light EP"... tunes to watch for 'my mind's sedate', 'wait and see', 'the thin white line', 'sport & religion'.

Go The 'had!!

The single and remix for the title track had been getting good play in the clubs and bars of Chicago since Xmas '89, and we all waited in line on Lincoln Avenue for Wax Trax to open on the day the LP was released. Chris Connely was onhand and signing those white "RevCo World" Tshirts. He wrote "Keep playing with Cocks" on mine. The album may have been their last worth buying as the whole scene fizzled out by the next Spring. Highlights of the album are the studio version of "In The Neck" which had been a live staple for several years and the LP mix of "Physical". The artwork was great and I remember this as being the first Wax Trax recording offered on Compact Disc, but maybe it was just the 1st that I bought!

Revolting Cocks is one of Alain Jourgensens many side projects and its amazing, weird, disturbing and stupendous at the same time. The lyrics are filled with rage, venom and anger. Alain Jourgensen is as crazy as ever and he has written something quite special. Tracks such as beer, steers and quuers, stainless steel providers and (Lets get) Physical are all really well done. The cover for this album is very nice and presents some of the members on what looks like an old roman coin and the book-let is sparse yet the logotype is well done and not as odd or strange as other Jourgensen albums.

it's weird i like it. if you know me, you'd think i'd get bored listening to it because there really isn't a lot of change in the music. it's just real beat and groove heavy industrial. one long steady sound you can rock out to while you do stuff. i love it and you should get it.

The single and remix for the title track had been getting good play in the clubs and bars of Chicago since Xmas '89, and we all waited in line on Lincoln Avenue for Wax Trax to open on the day the LP was released. Chris Connely was onhand and signing those white "RevCo World" Tshirts. He wrote "Keep playing with Cocks" on mine. The album may have been their last worth buying as the whole scene fizzled out by the next Spring. Highlights of the album are the studio version of "In The Neck" which had been a live staple for several years and the LP mix of "Physical". The artwork was great and I remember this as being the first Wax Trax recording offered on Compact Disc, but maybe it was just the 1st that I bought!

Revolting Cocks is one of Alain Jourgensens many side projects and its amazing, weird, disturbing and stupendous at the same time. The lyrics are filled with rage, venom and anger. Alain Jourgensen is as crazy as ever and he has written something quite special. Tracks such as beer, steers and quuers, stainless steel providers and (Lets get) Physical are all really well done. The cover for this album is very nice and presents some of the members on what looks like an old roman coin and the book-let is sparse yet the logotype is well done and not as odd or strange as other Jourgensen albums.

it's weird i like it. if you know me, you'd think i'd get bored listening to it because there really isn't a lot of change in the music. it's just real beat and groove heavy industrial. one long steady sound you can rock out to while you do stuff. i love it and you should get it.

listen to this drunk and high and you will initially laugh and say "my god, it sounds like noise/anarchy/christ has just died and is in the process of being resurrected".

after awhile, you'll say, "my god! ive never heard anything quite like it!"

then you'll give it four stars like i did.

While as loud and amelodic as reputed, Merzbow is not at all random or 'mindless feedback and noise'. 1930 is an excellent noise composition with plenty of rhythmic sounds and a lot of variation in texture and frequency. While there are no 'beats' or recognizable instruments, there are repeated patterns, and plenty of loud/soft contrast. This is my first Merzbow album and it's succeeded in getting me interested in his other work... People can say it isn't music, but it's definitely sound as art... which to me, is what music is.

1930 is the perfect example of the noise genre- sound without familiarity. You won't listen to it and hear any noise that makes you say "Oh, I know where he got that". Some of it may be sampled but he alters it beyond recognition. Because of this the overall effect of the album is one of relaxation, a sort of cleaning of the mind.

Listened to as a whole this album takes you to a cold, inhuman but not at all threatening place in the subconscious. If I'm agitated or stressed out, putting on 1930 neutralizes my feelings. The sound doesn't remind me of anything in particular, so I don't think of anything in particular when it's playing. Other people (fans) have expressed similar reactions to it. All the compositions on this album are different and well thought out, while at the same time having a spontaneous quality that lets you know it was created by a feeling, creative human being. It's a dynamic album too, there's quiet to go along with the loud.

If you find Merzbow too unpleasant, simply don't listen to it, but I don't see the point (Scott Baldwin) of posting a worthless negative review on EVERY album of his you can find. If you hate him so much there's no reason for you to have heard ALL of those albums, and you can't review albums you haven't heard.

Merzbow defines a form of art that only existed in small amounts (metal machine music, some TG) before he was around. I recommend Merzbow to those who are still interested after reading the reviews on this site. I also recommend SPK, Non and Metal Machine Music for something similar.

5 stars. This is as good as noise gets.

Have you ever heard the rattling and stomping of skateboards on a tin ramp for hours on end in an echo chamber that is a cul-de-sac? Well, after a long search I have found the match and better. I will play it on my Bose at full volume out of my window for hours. Merzbow, here we go.