Amazon.com

U2's second decade often seemed as preoccupied with the band's burgeoning superstardom--and how to confront/confound it--as it did with creating music. The band managed only four albums during the era (only half of its '80s output), projects whose gestations seemed perennially plagued by turmoil as much as mercurial creative instincts. But as this anthology chronicles, U2 ultimately managed a considerable feat: producing a memorable, lasting body of work in a decade where one of pop music's chief attributes was its disposability. The disc mixes hits like "Mysterious Ways" and "One" with seductive soundtrack cuts (the title track to Wim Wenders's Until the End of the World, Batman Forever's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"), new mixes of "Discotheque," "Staring at the Sun," and "Numb," and a pair of strong new tracks, the Orbit mix of "Electrical Storm" and "The Hands that Built America," the title track from Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (60)

All They Couldn't Leave Behind
U2's 1990s "Best Of" album is a rather strange collection. The band recorded only four studio albums during that time, all of which ardent U2 fans most likely already own. So this disc is for casual fans who want only the highlights, right? Well, not exactly. 1991's "Ach-tung Baby" gets the most conventional treatment--the four selections from it ("Even Better than the Real Thing," "Mysterious Ways," "One" and "Until the End of the World") are all the original versions. Likewise, the band's most recent studio album, "All That You Can't Leave Behind" is grossly underepresnted with only two selections ("Beautiful Day" and "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of") that are also original versions.

It is the rest of the material where things really get strange. The three songs from the album "Pop" are all remixes, probably in acknowledgement that it was U2's least successful album. Likewise, the "Zooropa" cut "Numb" gets a similar realtering, but one that serves it very well. Otherwise that album is also underrepresented. Of the non-studio album tracks, "The Hands That Built America" from the "Gangs of New York" soundtrack is a ho-hum ballad (like the movie), while the two other new songs included add little to the band's legacy. The CD booklet, however, is quite cool--lots of photographs of the band looking pretty slick for a bunch of forty-somethings.

Overall, "The Best of...1990-2000" contains a lot of outstanding music, but is nevertheless a terribly confused anthology.

Classic songs and awesome new ones!
Well, I've read a few reviews on this album, and all have been either ok or negative. However I personally believe that these are some of U2's best songs ever. They're a bit more electronic than the ones on the previous Best Of album, but that's the normal course of evolution for this band. Plus, it includes hits from the 2 best U2 albums ever, Achtung Baby and All That You Can't Leave Behind. The new songs are VERY good, especially "Electrical Storm". William Orbit is a genius and it's great that he added his ethereal sound to this track. Other great additions are "Miss Sarajevo" featuring Luciano Pavarotti and "Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me" from the Batman Forever soundtrack. While it's a great album, I think it'll suffer from the I-like-their-earlier-stuff-better syndrome, which is a popular opinion for second greatest hits albums. Look at Madonna's GHV2, another fabulous album that has been ignored for this same reason. I own both U2 Best Of albums plus quite a few of their studio albums. Maybe it's because in 1990 I was 13, but I actually like this newer stuff better...

The best
Its very hard for me to be critical of anything U2 does because they are just an amazing band! I've been totally into them for over 20 years and my collection is humungus. Having read some of the reviews posted here, I can however understand where they are coming from. I have always believed that 'greatest hits' and 'bests of's' are always aimed at a mass audience and not entirely focused on dedicated fans - fans should already have all the tracks anyway!

This compliation, for U2 hardcore fans, is a little dissapointing. I thought the first best of was ok but lacked an obvious structure. Would it not have been better to start from the very beginning and include all the rare original tracks - Boy/Girl, Another Day and Celebration (I cant believe this was not included - also, I wish they had taken that awful Xylophone (spell?) out of I Will Follow). Maybe all this will come together in the future when a Beatles-like Anthology comes out. It is just obviously aimed at the mass audience who wont buy U2 albums but like the odd song.

The Best of 1990-2000 has a little something extra that the first didnt. The remixes of the songs was a bonus for all U2 fans - if you prefer the originals then simply play the album versions. What happened on Mysterious Ways though? There is a slight change in lyrics from the original single, yet there is no mention on the sleeve.

I am trying to be as objective as I can here which is not easy. Everything they do is superb and cant be knocked. I will only try to comment on things I find a little negative (not easy for me to do).

I was never a big fan of Even Better Than The Real thing and only gave that song its due respect when I heard it live.

Electrical Storm is a must because its not on an album - the other mix on the flip side is better. It does seem to follow the usual U2 template that they seem to be sticking to more than ever though (Edge could have really gone to town on a lead at the end but seemed to hold back).

Gone - yes, the album version is better and yes I will only play the album version. This version seems an after thought from developing it live but its far better live.

The Hands That Built America - This could have been done better and lacks what it promises in the beginning.

Staring At The Sun - I would have prefered this song if it hadn't been done by U2!!! It so un-U2. What are those lyrics??? Still, it has a feeling and the feeling is good. Its a cracker live.

Numb - This is one of the few U2 songs I dont like at all. Why is it here?

I would like to have heard a remix of The Fly. Granted, the original is murky. If they could have redone it as they did on the Boston concert DVD I would have been happy - now if I want The Fly, I play Boston!

Thats the negative comments out of the way.

My advice, like most of the other reviewers is - if you are into U2 buy the albums. If you are just passing by, buy the compilations.

I too like U2 :)
While admittedly not a diehard fan of U2, I remember checking out my sister's U2 cds as a teen and I liked some of the songs. This is a good compilation of what I feel is their better more talented era, although I love "Sunday Bloody Sunday" from the other "best of" U2 cd.

David Rehak
author of "Love and Madness"

Clearly, not a "best of"
The second U2 "best of" was a waste of time. The first one, "The best of 1980-1990" was a pretty good compilation, but quite short ( 65 minutes, U2 could have added 2 extra songs like Gloria, Out Of Control or MLK ). This time, this compilation is 50% horrible.
The hands that built America is so boring, one of the worst U2 songs, without a doubt. All the remixes are so bad !!!!. This is overall a big, big mistake. This is not the best of. I remember once participating in a U2 poll, in which they asked to the fans the best song from each album, before this "best of". One of those songs was "Please"... so where is this song ??? why U2 didn't include it ??. I don't know why U2 keep putting "Until The end Of The World" as one of their best songs. "The Fly" or "Who's Gonna Ride..." were real songs for a "Best Of".
This would be my "Best of 1990-2000"

1- Even Better Than The Real Thing
2- Mysterious Ways
3- Beautiful Day
4- Electrical Storm
5- One
6- Miss Sarajevo ( COMPLETE )
7- Stay ( faraway so close )
8- Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Off
9- Lemon
10- Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
11- The Fly
12- Discotheque ( ORIGINAL )
13- Hold me, Thrill me, Kiss me, Kill me
14- Staring At The Sun ( ORIGINAL )
15- Please ( single )
16- If God Will Send His Angels ( single ) ... Read more

Reviews (745)

Do you really want to think and stop?
Is the sophomore effort by SOAD as good as their eponymous debut? Absolutely! As a matter of fact, it bests the first album in just about every way. The songs are strong, melodic and fierce, and the instrumentation is much improved. Every song on this disc is good to great, with prison song, needles, chop suey, science, toxicity, psycho and the immense aerials leading the way. The songs are so good simply because they are a breath of fresh air at a time when conformity and sameness permeate the music business. From the alternating crunch/beauty of Chop suey, toxicity and aerials, to the sheer variety of sounds they ... coax out of their instruments (sounds like Daron Malakian is playing a mandolin on Chop Suey), these songs sound like no other. In addition, Serj's voice is an additional instrument as he seems to have several different styles (from deep-throated growl to pleading wail; the only other hard rock vocalist with a range like Serj is Glenn Danzig). Anyway, do yourself a favor a pick up a copy of this CD (the bonus CD stuff is cool too)and enjoy some flashlight reveries caught in the headlights of a truck.

Paul M

I WANT TO BUY AN ISLAND AND DICTATE IT
After hearing Chop Suey I had to get this cd. As soon as I heard the first song, Prison Song, I knew I would love this cd. (I could rant for hours and hours about the drug war and the current ridiculous drug policy but "Prison Song" pretty much sums it up). Other very good songs are Forest, ATWA, Deer Dance, and Toxicity, but those are just my personal favorites-all the songs are good. There's little filler on this cd, if any. System is kind of different and not everyone will like them, but people who decide to give them one star should at least have enough musical knoweledge and intelligence not to compare System and Drowning Pool. They have different styles, System's being far superior, much more unique, interesting, and talented than Drowning Pool's (who should be classified under unoriginal, untalented, headache-inducing, Korn clone *expletive*-(censored courtesy of Amazon.com). This is completely random, but speaking of censoring isn't it great when Mtv shows some video that has fairly explicit and graphic scenes and then they go and beep out the "s word". Well anyway, to sum up all the points in my random useless review I think the drug policy in the U.S. is idiotic, Drowning Pool sucks, I don't like censorship, and the System cd is awesome and everyone should go buy it.

corgancobainmalakian is a dipsh*t!!
corgancobrainmalakian, you make me want to vomit!! Zach De La Rocha is a much better singer than Serj Turkian (he's a stupid Turk) will ever be!! So what if RATM isn't around anymore, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath aren't together anymore. I'm glad RATM isn't in Hot Topic, its a sign that they're too good for that. Daron Malakian is a terrible song writer and guitarist. Soil's guitar solo was NOTHING to scream about. 99% of his songs don't make sense. RATM isn't one dimentional, each of their songs sound completely different from the rest. SOAD is a hypocritical no-talent new-metal (not nu) band, get that through your empty head you ass-raming chode!! If you're from England and if Amazon has a British website, go to that one you retard!! Stay in your own website!! I hate you and I hate any band who's main influences are Slayer and Cannibal Corpse. Go listen to the kids in my school, ha!! All the kids in my school are retarted, they listen to rap, or the rock kids listen to pop-punk emo crap like Simple Plan and Dashboard Confessional. The metal kids listen to Korn and SOAD. I hang around the classic rock kids. They can actually sort out good and bad music (something you can't do). Another reason SOAD sucks is because they're in favor of religion over science, why don't these guy might as well say creationism is more factual than evolution!! Face it corgancobrainblahblahblah, RATM was, is, and always will be better than SOAD. If you don't like the truth, suicide is your answer.

SOAD ROCKS THE ALL TIME MAX DUDE!!!
The System has been my favorite band since I first heard their music, Toxicity is the best of all 3 albums I love the songs Toxicity and Chop suey If you are a true rock fan you will listen to this Kick @$$ CD!!!

KarlMarxEmilioZapata is a retard!
Karl Marx you (...), how dare you slag off the legends that are System of a Down? And you say they rip off RATM? Don't make me laugh you goon, RATM had some cool guitar work but apart from that they were 1 dimensional, every song sounds the same and Zach De La Rocha's nasally rapping gets old. Serj Tankian on the other hand has the best voice in rock, I'd like to see Zack De La Blah Blah try & sing the harmonies to "Aerials", haha yeah right. I don't care if SOAD are in Hot Topic you nut licker, RATM aren't in Hot Topic because they split up 4 years ago you dork, otherwise they would be too.

Now on to Toxicity. The best tracks are: Aerials, Chop Suey!, ATWA & Needles. Daron Malakian is the best song writer in music, he is the most important figure in music since Kurt Cobain, SOAD are GODS!!! If you think Malakian can't play listen to the solos on "Soil" from their debut album.

Buy this album and Karl Marx, go listen to your New Kids on the Block CD's! ... Read more

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Billy Idol's secret is one that he shares with, of all people, Trent Reznor--the ability to take a pop base and disguise it with layers of other genres, most notably hard rock. His adaptability is on display throughout this 16-song career retrospective. It's amazing just how well the former Generation X frontman's songs have aged. Songs such as the disco-punk hit "Dancing with Myself," "White Wedding," and "Cradle of Love" are as appealing as ever, as is even "Shock to the System," just about the only listenable thing from 1993's Cyberpunk, an object lesson on the inadvisability of jumping blindly on a bandwagon. Fleshing out this best-of is a newly recorded cover of Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)," as well as a live, acoustic version of "Rebel Yell," and a few other choice rarities. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (48)

Ultimate Hits Collection From '80s Icon
Most of us know Billy Idol from a few songs, most notably "Rebel Yell," "Dancing With Myself," "White Wedding," "Eyes Without a Face," and his remake of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Mony Mony". All of those hits are included, but so are less-popular but equally great songs such as the haunting "Sweet Sixteen" and the open-road scream of "Don't Need a Gun". The album, which is conveniently in chronological order, wisely does not venture too heavily into Idol's impressive but commercially-ignored album "Cyberpunk," and it only includes one new song--a surprisingly good remake of Simple Minds' "(Don't You) Forget About Me" [useless fun fact: Billy Idol almost sang the original version back in 1985]--but the album is full of hits. That in itself is impressive since most greatest hits albums are nothing but a few stellar singles with some also-rans pasted on for effect, but it's doubly so in Idol's case since a lot of Idol's minor hits are just as good as his bigger ones. If you already own all of Idol's albums, you shouldn't waste your money on an album that only has one new song, but for those just getting into Idol, this is an excellent place to start.

Now THIS is Vital.
I remember so long having to make due with his remixed "Vital Idol" disc for a "hits" package. This is what I wish I had all that time. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but this is way more complete. 16 rebel tracks in all. "White Wedding", "Rebel Yell", and "Cradle of Love" are the BIG hits, but it's "Eye's Without a Face", "To be a Lover", and "Sweet Sixteen" that make this totally awesome! It's hard to pick favorites though, these really are ALL classic songs from the blonde, punk Elvis. Included are the covers "Don't you forget about me", and The Doors "LA Woman" from the "Charmed Life" album. I actually would have liked another track from that one. His newer "Shock to the System" is pretty good too. I would highly suggest getting this. You'll be "dancing with yourself" in no time.

Greatest Hits of Billy Idol
Billy Idol was simply one of my favorite artists of the 80's, he was not only a good singer but also a charismatic stage artist. Idol( who become a big teen idol, through the 80's)started as a punk rocker in Generation X in the late 70's, it wasn't before he started solo that he become the big star. His Punk image still existed but he mixed the punk with new wave 80's rock to become one of the 80's big names.

On this album you'll find all of his big hits. Including trademark "Rebel Yell" where the screams the lyrics, catchy uptempo "Hot In The City" "Dancing with Myself" with Generation X. His R&B influented version of "Mony Mony" and his own "Got To Be a Lover", Goth "White Wedding" And beautiful ballads "Sweet Sixteen" and "Eyes without a face". For the first time we'll also get his 1990 hit "Cradle of Love" on a compilation. But also "Shock the System" from Cyberpunk, (a album from 1993 that didn't work out) and a un-released version of Don't You (Forget About Me).

In 1988 Billy Idol released a best of album called "11 of the best" and apart from 5 news song this album is simular. However "Cradle of Love" one of his best songs was not released yet back then. I think this album is wortwhile, especially if you like Billy Idol. This is the ultimate collection, i don't expect to see another "greatest hits" album anytime soon, so get this.

Finally a greatest hits that contains ALL his hits
This greatest hits is so good and so complete that you can sell your other billy idol cd's.

Has every good song that I know of from him.

Essential Idol!!!
This great CD collects the best of Billy Idol's career on one nice shiny CD!!! 16 great songs in all!!!Essential Idol!!! Includes:Dancing With Myself,Mony Mony,White Wedding,Rebel Yell,Flesh for Fantasy,Cradle Of Love,LA Woman,Catch My Fall,Eyes Without A Face,Rebel Yell(live and acoustic),and more!!! A great one disc collection!!!Great remastered sound!!! Two thumbs up!!! Five stars!!! A+ ... Read more

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An all-star cast has joined forces to produce a wonderful CD and, if that weren't exciting enough, a portion of the proceeds will help restore music education in the U.S. public school system through the VHI Save the Music Foundation. Clever new renditions of familiar Muppets and Sesame Street tunes abound, but Semisonic's Dan Wilson, ex-Del Fuego artist Dan Zanes, Toad the Wet Sprocket's Glen Phillips, and Bleu wrote songs for this album, and Tom Waits's lullaby "Bend Down the Branches," originally recorded for a short film, makes its debut on this CD. No offense, Kermit, but the frog's 1979-vintage "The Rainbow Connection" never sounded so sultry as Sarah McLachlan's version here. Another favorite is "The Hoppity Song," a rock & roll ode to Five for Fighting frontman John Ondrasik's son Johnny. Make no mistake--this isn't one of those CDs that is more for adults than kids--songs about hygiene, the alphabet, and crying ("It's All Right to Cry" originally from Marlo Thomas's Free to Be You and Me) are truly "for the kids." That said, adults will enjoy hearing their favorite artists switch gears in this gentle (mostly, not Bleu's energetic "Snow Day!"), upbeat compilation, which combines just the right blend of familiar sing-along songs and exciting new material. The booklet doubles as a foldout coloring book, with illustrations for each song. A fun and noble effort for a fun and noble cause. --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Best of the Kids music
I was tired of hearing The Wiggles and Sesame Street had lost it's charm after the 1000 time listening to it, so I tried this CD-What a Gem!! I have a 2 yr old and a 10 yr old. They both love it. I love that it's artists that I like and music that they like and the lyrics arent questionable. It's a fun CD with varied styles. Sarah McLaughlin and The Rainbow Connection makes me teary-eyed, it's a great rendition. We love Guster and We've Got to Be Clean, and all the others.The Tom Waite song is my personal least favorite, but it's even acceptable.

I eagerly recommend this if you're tired of the same hum ho kids music. This is one you will love just as much as them.

Definitely worth a La La La Listen!
I bought this album primarily because it had a new Barenaked Ladies track on it (and since they haven't been touring this year I am STARVED for new BNL tracks) - but also because I am one of the "Sesame Street" generation & thought it would be fun to have a cd with some classic kids tunes sung by some of my favorite artists from today.

I was not disappointed!

The tracks on this cd are funny, sweet, nostalgic and even poignant (especially Sarah McLachlan doing a truly beautiful rendition of Kermit's "Rainbow Connection"). There is also a wonderfully diverse range of musical artists on this album... Cake, Tom Waits, Wilco, BNL, Dan Wilson. If you weren't a fan of any/all of these artists *before* hearing the tasty tunes provided on this album, you may well be before you've finished listening to the last track.

This would be a fun & even useful gift for friends or family who have young children, but I think it's going to be even more fun for those of us who grew up with Sesame Street and The Muppets. Who can resist singing "Mahna Mahna" or "The Hoppity Song" at the top of their lungs? I sure can't!

Better yet, the proceeds from this album go to two great causes; VH1's "Save the Music Foundation" in the U.S. and "The Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach" program in Canada. Being a former Band Geek myself, I know how important music was in shaping my character and my life. Other kids should have that same opportunity. And that alone is reason enough to buy this album IMO.

La La La.... lovely!

One of the best "family" CD's I've found
I work at a daycare, so I am inundated with different kinds of "children's" music day-in and day-out. This CD is the one I reach for on the weekend! My 2-year old loves it, and the babies that I work with at school do too. It is fantastic!

Best yet for rocking out with a toddler!
At our house, we run round and round the living room table with Hippity Hop playing at high volumes. This CD is a blast for both kids and parents. It is musically interesting, full of humor and sincerity, and is just plain fun. It makes us all smile - and we have yet to grow tired of it.

Fun for everyone!
This cd brought memories back to both my husband and I, especially with "Over the Rainbow", and it is an absolute hit with our now year and a half old son. The songs are catchy and fun and great to dance to. My only complaint is the "Snowday" song which I feel is a bit too heavy for young children. My husband likes it though. ... Read more

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The same year American college students and FM radio stations found hipness in the Clash's "Train in Vain," a quartet of students from England's Leeds University calling themselves Gang of Four released their debut album. Politically charged and pumped full of extremist theories and punk rock vehemence (and now out of print since 1997), Entertainment continues to rank among the most critically acclaimed and influential records of the post-punk epoch it helped to define. The record is funkified by stop-start rhythms and sharp vocals that mimic Joe Strummer's sing-to-shout shifts, a sound that has turned up in the music of a quarter-century of bands, from the Minutemen to Fugazi. The original 12-song track list--including the vehement slam on media and politics "I Found That Essence Rare" and the punk passion play "Damaged Goods"--is reinforced with all four songs from the band's 1980 EP Yellow, as well as four others never-before-released, including a live cover of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane." --Scott Holter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

marriage of intelligence, angst, politics, and aesthetics
The roots of Gang of Four can be traced back to 1976, but from opposite ends of the globe. In their native England during that year, The Sex Pistols, The Damned, and The Clash dropped the bomb that was punk whose shockwaves can still be felt to this day through music, literature, art, politics, fashion, etc. In China also in 1976, a renegade faction of communists staged a leadership coup after the death of Mao Zedong, holding out for 10 days and calling themselves the Gang of Four. Back in England a year later, a punk band began as four art students from Leeds appropriated not only the name but also the insistance upon bold ideological stances from those Maoist revolutionaries. After achieving considerable success with their debut Damaged Goods EP on the remarkably prescient Fast Productions (who also signed The Mekons early on as well), Gang of Four landed a deal with EMI which resulted in Entertainment. This album -- like Joy Divisions' Unknown Pleasures and the first three Wire albums -- transformed punk with its ingenious marriage of intelligence, angst, politics, and aesthetics, and has not been improved upon since, despite the best efforts from the current crowd of post-punk revivalists (i.e. The Rapture, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, etc.).

Gang of Four were Andy Gill, Jon King, Dave Allen, and Hugo Burnham; well at least for Entertainment and the two follow up records. Entertainment's politics have been at the center of most of the reviews you'll find praising this record, but those politics wouldn't have been heard had Gang of Four not been a f---ing tight band, with Gill's rapid fire guitar arppeggios, Allen's agitated funk-punk basslines, and Burnham's explosive post-disco rhythms. Every thing that has been written about Gang of Four in the past is true, especially from those kind people at Pitchfork who sneered at the end of their review of Entertainment that "anyone who says it's played out is a douchebag." Truer words have not been spoken.

Waited so long...
Since coming across a list of the best albums of all time on a music website I respect, I have made an attempt to collect as many of the 10's I could (out of some 110+, I have gotten about 40 or so). One of the highest ranking albums, Gang of Four's 1979 debut "Entertainment!", was the one I could never come across in a respectable package. Most of those albums have been remastered, and when I received word that "Entertainment!" would be remastered by the fine folks at Rhino, I knew I would have a keeper.
I am highly pleased with this album. The actual packaging is somewhat flimsy, a small cardboard slip that will likely not last very long. However, the liner notes and especially the music make up for it. It's easy to see where current bands like Franz Ferdinand, Rapture, and Bloc Party looked for some inspiration: jerky funk-punk workouts that never shy away from making the Grand Statement of political intent. The bass is melodic, the drums are primal, the guitar is more of a sonar, and the vocals are alternately sneery and soulful. I have yet to listen to the album more, but my first impressions have been one of quiet awe: this is the real deal. Get your copy today! ... Read more

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Three albums into Tegan & Sara's career, it's still somehow necessary to get a couple of facts about them out of the way before diving into their latest offering. They are, yes, identical twin lesbians, and they do occupy the space--more like a vacuum, really--between the riot-grrl menace of Sleater-Kinney and the un-fun folk of Indigo Girls. That out of the way, So Jealous is the duo's best disc yet, meriting more than the mainstream notice that has so far evaded it. All the components are in place: a beyond synthy, full-throttle band, including John Collins and David Carswell of New Pornographers, and songwriting so honest as to make a person--any person--check to make sure no one has been snooping in her diary ("I won't mistake you for problems with me/I won't let my moods ruin this you'll see," from "I Won't Be Left"). The vibe is early-80s pop-punky (Tegan & Sara's singing can sound like Missing Persons' minus the squeals) spiked with a rock'n'roll edge--if the title track were noisier, it might sound at home on a Yeah Yeah Yeahs disc. Destined for hugeness, if only in indie circles for now, Tegan & Sara provide something crucial for pop princesses to be So Jealous of, and that's genuine talent. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

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There's a classic episode of The Little Rascals where one of the gang can't join everybody else on the ballfield because he has to stay home with his younger brother, who has the croup. "I can't come out and play," he whines. "I've got to stay home and grease Wheezer!" Nobody at Geffen Records knows whether this was the inspiration in naming Weezer, but it makes sense. Like many of their peers, the members of the Los Angeles quartet seem to have spent their formative years in front of the TV; when they were a little older, they were just as entranced by college rock. Finally, ala the Rascals, one of the gang said, "Hey, kids, let's put on a show!," and the result is Weezer's uplifting, unpretentious, and extremely endearing debut.

The self-titled Weezer is lean and mean at 10 short, punchy tunes, but nearly every one is powered by a larger-than-life chorus or a simple but effective lyric. "Undone-The Sweater Song" uses an unraveling sweater as a metaphor for a relationship on the rocks; "Buddy Holly" pays heartfelt tribute to the '50s rocker, and "In the Garage" paints a scene of suburban teens jamming while surrounded by posters of Kiss. Producer Ric Ocasek of Cars fame pushes the vocals and rhythm guitars, and this bare-bones approach may earn comparisons to fellow garage-pop band Green Day. But Weezer has more in common with the late, lamented Big Dipper, another group of slacker wiseguys that you just had to love. --Jim DeRogatis ... Read more

Reviews (397)

Weez yourself up!
Overall this was a great album! Weezer was founded on February 14th 1992. In 12 years they have made 4 excellent albums:
Blue Album (this one)
Pinkerton
Green Album
Maladroit
The best one was definetly this one, the blue one simply because it has the best songs and lyrics. Rivers has a great voice which you could also exhibit in the other albums.

MY NAME IS JONAS (10/10) This song was so good, the melody was wonderful.
NO ONE ELSE (9/10) This song is great but it repeats itself a lot.

THE WORLD HAS TURNED AND LEFT ME HERE (8/10) It was too slow for my liking but like I said before every song is great.
BUDDY HOLLY (10/10) You probably heard this one before on the radio, if not its great and quick.
UNDONE THE SWEATER SONG (8/10) It is funny but I didnt like the long intro and the end is creepy.
SURF WAX AMERICA (7/10) This gets boring but it is still great!
SAT IT AINT SO (10/10) This is a great nice beautiful song!
IN THE GARAGE (9/10) I loved it but its pretty sad.

HOLIDAY (8/10) cool song cool tune.
ONLY IN DREAMS (7/10) to slow for my liking and too lon of an intro, beautiful.

Thats all. I listen to this album so much listen to me. If you like it I would buy the other weezer albums but none of them are this good. This is the best album by far. Buy this album.

We're going where the wind is blowin'........
I'm not one of these people who associates this cd with childhood memories, i didn't have a clue who Weezer were a few years back. I bought this last year, and i still listen to it nearly every day because it doesn't get tired after repeated listens, it 'matures with age'. You begin to notice the beauty of the guitar arrangements, or spot a harmony which you fall in love with. The instumentation is fantastic, subtle drumming, laid back bass (especially on Only in dreams) and the great distorted guitars. The huge contrasts between the subtle pluckings in the verses and the whirring power of the chorus in Say it ain't so is what makes the song so fantastic. On an earlier review, i read that someone sang the whole album with his friends, and that is exactly the effect Weezer has on me- these are the sort of songs that are made for singing along to (unluckily for the majority of my neighbours!). The interwoven vocal harmonies are fantastic, the ending of Undone, and Holiday have wonderful multilayered vocals. This is also one of those great albums that exists as a whole, the track order means that you are led through different moods effortlessly, the climatic 'heartbeat' section of Holiday signals the ending, and Only in dreams draws the album to a close as well as Pink Maggit does on Deftones 'White Pony'. After buying this cd i've lent it to a lot of my friends, and they all love it and have become huge Weezer fans, we're counting the days till we can see them live in a few weeks!

The Best Weezer!
I have been a weezer fan from the start(so like when i was 4)! Personally I think Blue Album is the best because it has great guitar parts and lyrics. I think this is a great cd for about anybody(especially if you like alt. and emo). It is great for road trips or just hanging out. If you get this cd you will love it! tracks 1,5,7,8, and the last are the best. The last track starts off quite and kinda quites down and then takes off and really starts rocking! Any weezer cd is good and you will absolutely love it all!

Bomb Diggity
This CD is a classic and I am sure my kids will listen to it when they grow up. Definitely one of my favorite rock albums of all time. Say It Ain't So and Undone are really great songs. Get this CD.

One of the worst albums ever recorded
In a magical era of music history, when grunge had conquered the universe, WEEZER seemed to fall softly and solidly into place as an undeniable staple of 90's rock. The Blue Album revolutionized the mainstream music industry, swerving the idea of 'coolness' from sadly suicidal to humorously honest, somehow making the genre 'fun' again. And from the almost boyish vocals of Rivers Cuomo to the playful basslines and venomously addictive guitar hooks filling the album, it's safe to say that WEEZER has also managed to create one of the most enjoyable albums ever recorded.

The playful tone of the album is swiftly set with that AWESOME opening song, "My Name Is Jonas", which arrests a brilliant guitar melody with those trademark madly-catchy vocals from Rivers. It's a great song that nearly everyone on the planet has heard, I'm sure. Other songs that have infested the radio over the years include my favorite track "Undone-the Sweater Song", which contains one of the GREATEST choruses ever, as well as that pumping king-of-all-geek-anthems, "Buddy Holly". "Say It Ain't So" also adds a great vocal point on the album, which could also be said for "Holiday", a song that sounds like a remnant of the 50's musical era.

Other standout tracks include possible the stupidly greatest love song ever written, "Only In Dreams". With lines like "She's in the air, in between molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide . . .", who could even dream of disputing it!?! THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT!!!! "Surf Wax America" and "In the Garage" are also among my favorites, with slow, thoughtful, churning idiocy that make my ears bleed with joy every time I give'em a listen.

Obviously, if you have NOT heard of this album, something is seriously wrong with the alignment of the planets and must be remedied by obtaining and listening as loud and as long as inhumanly possible. This truly is an album of a lifetime, a magical and special plastic tool used to unlock the endless questions of an impossible human existence. If you ever want catchy, fun, and oh-so-true songs of the geeky human soul, than this album is a mandatory requirement.

And as the WEEZ once said, "If the music's too loud, turn it down". ... Read more

Album Description

With over 6 million records sold and 2 Grammy’s under their belts, The Wallflowers have released their fifth album and first with producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen). Rebel, Sweetheart is the welcome re-introduction to a grown up rock & roll band with a renewed sense of purpose. The Wallflowers have created an album that yearns forclarity while reflecting the world’s complexity – these are songs written by a man and performed by a band that’s already lived a little. From the powerful expression of hope on the first single "The Beautiful Side Of Somewhere" to the moodily stunning "We’re Already There", Rebel, Sweetheart is poised to be the most focused and accomplished album of their career. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

This album is amazing....
I've been a Wallflowers fan for a couple of years. I heard some music from their last album... and then I realized that it was the same band that had done "One Headlight" and I was hooked. I started listening to some of their older stuff, and I really liked it. Over the past year, I had kinda lost contact with the band, because they had some inner struggles and I figured like many other bands they would disband so I had stopped checking up on the band over the summer, and then I heard that they were coming to perform at Jubilee City Fest in Montgomery, AL, where I live, and I was surprised to hear that they were still together. Last week I was flipping through a magazine and I came across an article on Jakob and about the new album and I was surprised, because since I had stopped checking up on them, I didn't know they had released a new album. Needless to say, I rushed out the next day and bought the album, and I was not disappointed.

My boyfriend is a huge Bob Dylan fan, and I got him to listen to some of the Wallflowers earlier stuff, and he would say that they were good, but that he preferred Bob Dylan because his music had more "depth" to it. While I have yet to coerce him into listening to their new album, I'm willing to bet that he'll have more to say about this one. Jakob has fully matured now, and it seems like he is no longer afraid to take a leap into the unknown. Every line of this new CD has meaning behind it, reminiscent of some of his father's earlier stuff, but with some rock behind it to back it up. I am definately happy with where this album is going, and if you don't go out and buy this album and absolutely love it, then theres something wrong with you.

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent
Jakob Dylan, no matter how often they may compare him to his rock-legend father Bob, is a very talented rock star in his own right.He is an exceptional rock vocalist, guitarist, and I think most of all, an excellent songwriter. You can not deny him those things because he is one of the BEST songwriters (not just chord progressions, but actual songwriters) out there.

REBEL, SWEETHEART is an excellent album.While the fuss now is over many of the sub-genres of rock and roll resurging with groups like The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and The Bravery, I think that is important to always remember a group like The Wallflowers. What makes this particular album stronger and more enjoyable than says FRANZ FERDINAND or HOT FUSS is the songwriting.It is so focused and so unique. True, it probably isn't correct to compare a straight ahead rock album to new wave or indie-rock, but songwriting wise, compared to Flowers or Kapranos, Dylan is on a "higher level" so to speak.

One of the positive things about this kind of music, rock, American rock, is that there is a true emphasis on making every word have wait.If you listen to U2's HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB, you also see there is an emphasis and weight on every lyric song because it is so pure.That is the case with THE WALLFLOWERS.Dylan has crafted a masterpiece of which no one can deny. The musicianship of which he articulates is phenomenal.It takes only one listen to fall in love with this great recording that should DEFINITELY be a Grammy Nominee in 2006.

It is hard to pick top picks because this album is so well written, but "Days of Wonder" and "The Beautiful Side of Somewhere" are my two personal favorites.I Love this album and I highly recommend it. 4 1/2 stars!

The Wallflowers hit a grand slam.
Jakob and the Wallflowers have produced a solid, solid album that is equal to or surpasses BRINGING DOWN THE HORSE.It is unfortunate that they don't receive credit where credit is due; they're a great band putting out solid rock records when that genre receives little to no airplay because of Clear Channel, Infinity, and Entercom dominating the airwaves.Luckily, that is starting to change with XM and Sirius.I think it is blowing the corporate executives' minds that people are actually willing to pay to listen to good music.The new "Jack" format on traditional radio is just a cheap imitation of what you'll find on satellite.Once again, REBEL, SWEETHEART is a great album.On the Wallflowers previous albums there were always a couple tracks, with the exception of BDTH, that I found skippable, but not so on this album.There are great melodies throughout, and Rami Jaffee's keyboards return to prominence.Many of the tracks are catchy, but it is an intrinsic catchiness that stems from Jakob's fantasting songwriting, not because the band is seeking airplay hits.The album is eclectic, "From the Bottom of My Heart" is a great, stripped-down, acoustic ballad.And as another reviewer mentioned, "Back to California" isa good rocker.Each time I listen to the album the more I like it.I could care less for Jakob's politics, but hey, he's entitled to his opinion, and that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate his great music.Give this album a try, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

The Best Wallflowers offering yet!
I just purchased this album and I have to say I am impressed. This band has matured so much that they are breathtaking to listen to. I became a huge 'Wallflowers' fan when I heard 'One Headlight' and immediately ran out and purchased 'Bringing Down the Horse'. I don't have their other albums, except 'Red Letter Days' which I thoroughly enjoyed. This album blew me away. I was expecting some of the pop/rock tunes I heard on 'Red Letter Days' and got more than I bargained for. This is the rock band that I remember, all of the songs on this album were so 'musical' and the lyrics...wow. Jakob Dylan's voice is so rich and poignant, and he sings like he means every word. My fav songs on this cd are 'Days of Wonder', 'The Beautiful Side of Somewhere' and 'God Says Nothing Back'. 'God Says Nothing Back' sent chills up and down my spine. Just a great song. I highly recommend 'Rebel, Sweetheart'. It's the best Wallflowers offering to date. Buy this cd if you're a fan or even if you've never heard of this band. It is thoroughly enjoyable!

Dylan's masterpiece
Jakob Dylan's best album. I thought Breach and Red Letter Days were pretty good, but this one is just breath-taking. Dylan's lyrics are touching and powerful, and all the songs just seem like they fit perfectly into this album. There is not a filler on it. The Beautiful Side of Somewhere is the 1st single, and just a great song. Other favorites of mine are The Passenger, Here He Comes, God Says Nothing Back, Nearly Beloved (sounds Beatle-esque to me), All Things New Again. Back to California is a good rocker. Best album of 2005, GO BUY IT and get the Wallflowers back in the top of the charts where they belong!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Considered the breakthrough album that delivered a more palatable version of industrial music to the commercial audience, Pretty Hate Machine left its dingy mark on pop culture. The abrasive "sonarchy" of the album was first churned by despondent club-goers who roiled with the rhythms and aligned with the angst-ridden convictions. Since its release, the album's tempered deviations came to signify an aesthetic reverie for machine-driven martyrdom. Permeated by hissing engines and dissonant strains, the tracks cascade outside channels of modern complacency. Hits like "Head Like a Hole" and "Down in It" are recognized by the acidic beats, piercing riffs, and lyrical hostilities which snare the listener with disparaging rhapsody. Not for the light-headed, Pretty Hate Machine afflicts the inner sanctum and strikes a nerve. --Lucas Hilbert ... Read more

Reviews (279)

Once upon a time, there was a man named Trent Reznor........
That's what I'll be saying to my grandkids in the future, when Nine Inch nails is firmly set as a music phenomenon and Trent Reznor is a legend everywhere you go. This album is the first of the group, and the album that really brought industrial music into the eyes of the world. It would definitely be safe to say that NIN is not only an industrial band, it is THE industrial band. Trent Reznor is a musical genius, and this album proves it. The songs are eerie and electronic, very powerful in a slow, forboding sort of way. The best song on this album is the first, Head Like a Hole. Terrible Lie follows, another masterpiece, and soon your mind is set that Nine Inch nails are no disposable trash. Alot of great, dark bands have come along recently. Marilyn Manson, KoRn, Cradle of Filth, but Trent Reznor will always hold a special place in my heart.

Black As Your Soul
Nine Inch Nails' incredible debut album Pretty Hate Machine is a personal favourite of mine and one of the most consistently good albums I have ever listened to. Each and every track is of a Grade-A standard and the album contains essential NIN tracks such as "Head Like A Hole", "Terrible Lie", "Down In It" and "Sin", but really, they're all essential. The opening track and alternative radio hit "Head Like A Hole" is a classic example of great industrial rock, with it's thrashy guitar and gloomy synthesizers, though it's not really indicative of the rest of the album. In fact, unlike subsequent releases, there is very little guitar at all on this album. Trent Reznor utilizes walls of synthesizers and electronic noise to generate a stark and bleak sound. Overall, the album is more accessable than other Nine Inch Nails albums but still dark and caustic, despite having catchy melodies. Lyrically Trent Reznor tackles such subject matter as betrayal, disillusionment and loss of identity. All the good stuff. Pretty Hate Machine is a marvel, and (dare I say it?) a work of genious. A true classic.

freekin excellent
by far the best nine inch nails album ever. I remember buying this from the local record store on vinyl back in 89. My mind spun watching the blue and pink decals twist on the turn table forming this wierd filament of psychodelic colors; WAY cool!. Despite this being an 80s album, this music would still be considered hot today. This record has so much variety in the techno/ industrial genres let alone Reznors other albums. This one is unique and a must have for all nine inch nail fans.

Yummy
Seems like I get to everything late in the game, but better late than never, eh? I thoroughly enjoyed the entire disc, finding nothing to skip over every time I listened. Favorite tracks were "Down in it" and "Kinda I want to." "Something I Can Never Have" struck a cord. PRETTY HATE MACHINE hit a good two weeks on my "sit-and-spin-in-my-player" ranking. Two weeks of good, solid listening. I found what little profanity there was appropriate and not enough to make me roll my eyes.

this cd never cools off!
Ok you know how when after you finish playing a CD, when you take it out, its warm? This CD has not cooled off since i got it 2 days ago. I probbally listend to it like 50 times in 2 days. I'm obsessed with it, as soon as it finishes playing, i hit play again. Most of the time, im not really listening to it, but it makes great back ground music. It's also awesome if your "actually paying attention" to the CD. I definatly recomend this CD. If you wana get to know nine inch nails, get this. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Hot on the heels of The River, his commercial breakthrough, Springsteen's decision to release the stark, demo-quality Nebraska seems downright perverse. But the genius of the album is unmistakable--with just an acoustic guitar and his howling harmonica to back him, Springsteen tells the stories of characters walking on both sides of the law, some of them directly on the line in between. The effect is that of a powerful series of black-and-white photographs--the details are bleak in and of themselves, but they ignite the imagination in ways that are more satisfying than full-color shots would be. "Mansion on the Hill," "Highway Patrolman," "Atlantic City," and the frightening "Nebraska" are among the most sharply rendered and memorable works of Springsteen's career. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (95)

Bruce's Finest
I always preferred when artists go acoustic, and record a low-quality album. Albums like Nebraska capture an artist at their most intimate. This was Bruce Springsteen's stark, low-key acoustic record. It was very dreary, as it was beautiful. His tales of suffering and being on the wrong side of the law was profound and you can feel it in his howl and his singing. He already had the reputation of being a high-energy, bombastic satdium act but Nebraska captured him in a whole new light. It was more reserved than Born to Run, and it had more personality than many of his albums. Songs like "Atlantic City," "State Trooper," and "Highway Patrolman" send chills down my spine, whereas other songs like "Nebraska," "My Father's House" and "Used Cars" express Springsteen in a more vulnerable, yet very striking voice, particularly Nebraska's tale of a serial killer. Even non-fans of The Boss can appreciate this album for its sense of intimacy and depth. Springsteen would never be this bare after this album, although certain subsequent works do show his profound side (particularly Tunnel of Love and the Rising).

Not for Everyone
"You wanna know why I did what I did; well, sir, I guess there's just a meanness in this world." So ends the first and title track of this album. The song 'Nebraska' is based, like Terrence Malick's 1973 movie 'Badlands', on the story of the 1950's killer, Charles Starkweather. As with all the songs here, Springsteen sings in the first person, becoming the characters he breathes to life. The first song, chilling and nihilistic, sets the tone for the rest of the album, which portrays the stark working class existance of small town life.

Here we meet people living on the edge. People with a thin sense of hope running on empty. Yet out of the initial depression and bleakness of his landscape, Springsteen can find a humanity in many of his people, still shining just beneath the surface.

This is not an album for everyone. Certainly, it is different from most of Bruce Springsteen's music, perhaps finding it's closest echo in 'The River'. The sound is raw, apparently recorded in Springsteen's own basement, and features a solo performance with only guitar and harmonica. It's tone and sometimes despair recalls the desperation of the dust bowl blues; the lyrics resonate like Raymond Carver stories put to music. Never before or since has Springsteen created such evocative slices of life with such an economy of words.

All in all, an extraordinary album. Unique, wild, raw, and beautiful. Deceptive in its simplicity, and disturbing too. A great album.

Shows his true artistry and ability
Bruce decided he had to make this album to further himself as an artist, as to not get stuck in a routine of writing typical pop songs. It took a lot of guts to do, especially because he knew that it wouldn't be an immediate big smash, and because he also knew that he could have easily remained in the same vein he had been in and sold more records at the time. In the book "Howling At The Moon," Walter Yetnikoff, who was President of CBS Records when Nebraska came out, described the first time he listened to it with Bruce. He said Bruce was very nervous, because he knew it wasn't a commercial album, and so Yetnikoff, who was drunk at the time, listened to it, and responded by calling the album the wrong name, "Yeah, I really like 'Omaha,' Bruce." A mistake in the name, but it was not a mistake to release this album. It allowed Bruce to explore darker and different areas of his craft, and to master them, while showing people that he is not the one-dimensional caricature that many make him out to be. Highlights on this album include: Nebraska (very scary), Atlantic City (it's interesting to listen to the original version and compare it to the version on the Live in NYC DVD; really one of his best songs ever), Highway Patrolman, State Trooper (his visceral screams are the highlight of the album), and Open All Night. You can really hear his influences on this one, including Dylan, Orbison, and Buddy Holly. It paved the way for him in the future by opening up his creativity, and for fans of typical "Born in the USA" Bruce, this is a realy eye-opener, and it might take a while to grow on you, but believe me it will!

"Deliver me from nowhere..."
Raw and unrelenting, Nebraska is a shock to the casual Bruce fan's system. Alike nothing he had created before, it was a true testament of Bruce's artistry. He rarely gets enough credit for the chances he took musically through the years--Nebraska being probably his biggest one. This album could have been awful. It could have cemented the notion that Bruce could never be anything close to "Dylanesque." This could have done to him what going electric did to Dylan. But...it didn't. Not only does Nebraska prove Bruce's lyrical talent, but it also proves that he is not just the electric guitar wielding, theatric stage performer that we all know and love.

Recorded on his own tape recorder, in his bedroom, it's just Bruce and his acoustic guitar yearning for redemption, deliverance, and a reason to believe. The lyrics on this album will get inside you immediately, within the first few lines of the title track. They will pull you into the desolate world of his disparaged and lonely characters. Bruce is a master at painting portraits of life in his words by creating characters you can feel, see, and love. On 'Nebraska', he creates antiheroes for the common man. In "Johnny 99" you start to empathize with the main character as he descends toward madness after losing his job at the plant in Mahwah late last month. In "Highway Patrolman" Bruce displays the moral ambiguity of an honest man torn between his duty as a law officer and his own flesh and blood. Others like "Used Car" and "Mansion on the Hill" are Bruce's retelling of his childhood memories. They will leave you feeling lost in time, like you are looking into the soul of an old black and white portrait.

"State Trooper" is a song like no other. Bruce himself wasn't sure if it could be even called a song, but he threw it on the record anyway. I wouldn't recommend listening to it while driving alone, especially after midnight, because it might scare the s*** out of you. Either that, or you will go mad and drive endlessly trying to escape from nowhere.

'Nebraska' is one of those albums that takes on a whole new persona depending on when you listen to it. In the daytime, it is a realistic journey into the past, a walk with each character down the street of hopelessness towards a meaningful existence. At night, however, it turns into a descent into loneliness, desperation and uncertain fear. Listening to this record will definitely take you somewhere. It may be somewhere unpleasant, somewhere to close for comfort, to real to discern. It may take you to a place where everything you've ever known in life fails you. And it may strike you kind of funny...but at the end you'll somehow be left with more of a reason to believe.

Taped it off the radio in 1982
Maybe it's got something to do with my frame of mind at the time, but I really found myself able to enjoy Nebraska while not having much use for The Ghost Of Tom Joad past "Youngstown". My original tape of Nebraska came directly from radio when it first came out. I had to sacrifice one of my precious Beatles tapes for Nebraska, but I considered it a good trade. I was about to leave work as it was starting and wasn't going to make it home in time to tape it there, so I stuck the Beatles tape in and let it record on my boom box while I listened in the car on the trip home. I wound up sitting in the car and listening to the whole thing, then went to work to retrieve the tape the next day. I know people who absolutely hate Nebraska because it "depresses" them, (these people also consider BITUSA his best work,) but I've always just considered it moody. It's perfect for late night drives on dark and lonely highways, and that's where I was back in 1982. It always reminded me of a Johnny Cash album, something that hit home years later when Johnny recorded "Johnny 99". ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Definitely Worth a Listen
Bought this CD after hearing their single "Cold" trusting the rest of the songs would be good and I was more than right. Some tracks can get you really hooked. Song Review:
1. Starless (6/10) Good opener..shows what they can do
2. Cold (10/10) Awesome song..also sounds like their most original song
3. So Far Away (8/10)Another good song...I really like the bridge
4. Colors (6/10)Labeled a hit on their album cover...not exactly but it's alright
5. Death Trend Setta (4/10)Sounds a lot like Rage Against The Machine
6. The Deep End (8/10)Very good song
7. No Giving Up (10/10)Best song on the CD next to Cold...definitely give this one a listen.
8. Dead Skin (4/10) Alright song...nothing special compared to the others
9. Disco (2/10) Not the best
10. The Unkown (7/10) Great closer..a more mellow song

Nickelback + Saliva = Crossfade (with traces of sevendust)
I finally went out and bought this CD yesterday, because I live in the same city that the band is based in, Columbia, SC. The funny thing is, I've never heard of them untill one of my friends told me he was the drummer's cusin. After buying the record I listened to it, and all I have to say is, WHERE IS THE ORIGINALLITY. I know Nickelback is pissed. The music is good, I give the effort 5 Stars, but as far as being original i have to keep the 3 1/2 Stars.

Songs:

COLD - ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL SONGS ON THE CD (good song)

COLORS - SOUNDS LIKE NICKELBACK & SALIVA WROTE THIS ONE TOGETHER (good song though)

DEAD SKIN - SOUNDS LIKE SALIVA & SEVENDUST MIXED TOGETHER IN A STIFF ASS DRINK.

DEATH TREND SETTA - SEVENDUST ALL THE WAY (I KNOW THEY'RE PISSED)

DISCO - DISTURBED MIXED WITH NICKELBACK, IT SOUNDS THE SINGER FROM DISTURBED SET IN FOR THE SESSION IN THE STUDIO (well you heard it first, only in SOUTH CAROLINA)

NO GIVING UP - P.O.D. Satelite Style mixed with NICKELBACK

SO FAR AWAY - SALIVA & NICKELBACK AGAIN

STARLESS - SEVENDUST, NICKELBACK, AND SALIVA ALL IN ONE (WOW..not)

THE DEEP END - POD, LIMP BIZKIT, NICKELBACK, SEVENDUST, SALIVA, AND SOME HINTS OF KORN.

THE UNKNOWN - Exactly that, its unknown.

THIS IS A GOOD RECORD AND TOTALLY WORTH 13 BUCKS AND I HIGHLY PRAISE IT FOR WHAT IT IS. I JUST THOUGHT MUSIC LIKE THIS ONLY CAME OUT OF CANADA, WELL WHATEVER SELLS, GO LUCK TO THEM, AND TO PUTTING THE SOUTH ON THE MAP.

I HAVE TO REPRESENT FOR MY HOME TOWN, & MY STATE.

Love it
1.Starless- Great song to open with, its crazy weird but I love it. 5/5
2.Cold- Love this song its what got me to listen to the band in the first place. 5/5
3.So Far Away- Its a good song, I like how it opens, just a good song to listen too. 4.5/5
4.Colors- They have it as a hit on the Cd cover? Well really its good but I happen to Think starless and So Far Away are better. 4.3/5
5.Death Trend Setta- Well its ok, little rap sound sometimes, when hes singing, I happen to like it a little. 3.5/5 Weakess song, Little different.
6.The Deep End- Now I happen to think this a great song, like the song of the insturments and the overall voice of the band.. 4.4/5
7.No GIving Up- Reminds me of Pod when they did satellite-start of it, Good song. 4/5
8.Dead Skin- Like the over all song, love the lyrics kind of hint of dark... 4.8/5
9.Disco- This is another song that was like what the?? Kind of speed, like hes raping but notreally trying. Its ok but not what I thought would have been on this cd... 4/5
10.The Unknown- This is one of the best songs on the cd, great way to end the cd with this song, I listen to it every time i need to get past the disco song, haha which is why i like this song, Its slow and Cool sounding, with a taste of dark... 5/5

Great cd...for a re-release...
This cd was ACTUALLY created 3 or 4 years ago. Crossfade used to be a different band and had to change their name when they signed to a record deal. Columbia decided to bring them into the studio and have them do all the tracks on their self-produced cd. So in actuality these songs were all done when some of the bands mentioned in the previous reviews were just blowing up...so give it some slack. The songs are well written and I love every song on the cd. They left some good songs off the re-release, but hey...maybe we'll see them next cd. Crossfade is an energetic and hard working band and deserve EVERY penny they get. Don't think these guys sit around. They tour and play as much as they can and I'm sure the year and a half it took to get signed and throw out a cd for us was stressful. AMAZING cd.

One Killer Song To Be Remembered
"Cold" off of this new albumn is the absolute epitome of greatness. The lyrics are the best and the song itself just takes the listener to another world. To Chase-maybe you should listen to see if this reminds you of yourself...
Crossfade may not be the highest ranked group yet, but with more hits like this they are sure to kick ass!!
Before long they will contend with Staind, Cold, Nickelback, and Shinedown. Great CD!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Linkin Park’s second studio effort (not counting the 2002 remix album Reanimation) overflows with glossy production values and Big Rock oomph, fully embracing the pop instincts of their Hybrid Theory debut. For many, Theory sounded inexcusably corporate, from its too-timely rap-rock sound to the long list of product endorsements included in the liner notes. Meteora will only amplify those complaints, but this album is actually truer to the band’s nature. It’s still impossible not to hear strains of Limp Bizkit, Korn, Rage Against the Machine, and the like. None of those acts, howeve, would try something as blatantly anthemic as "Easier to Run," which would sound fine to a Def Leppard fan, or as borderline danceable as "Breaking the Habit" and "Session." Linkin Park is what Trent Reznor was always afraid of becoming, but if you ever wished he would drop the pretenses and just make a hair-metal record, you'll find Meteora to your liking. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (1215)

Excellent Job for Linkin Park!!!
This cd is AMAZING! Here, the rates to its tracks:

01.Foreword: A start where the members of the band express themselves and describes this perfect cd. (NO RATE)
02.Don't stay: A song which gives you a model of this cd in which Linkin Park features Rap, Heavy Metal & Rock. Very Good Song! 8/10
03.Somewhere I belong: This is their first single and once I heard to it I became a SUPERFAN of Linkin Park. Amazing song but not the best one. 9.5/10
04.Lying from you: Chirriuping screams! The sounds in this songs are fantastic! I like this song more than "Don't stay". 8.5/10
05.Hit the floor: Not so good as the rest of the songs in this album. I believe this is the least well-done song. 7/10
06.Easier to run: EXCELLENT song! It's similar to "Crawling" in Hybrid Theory, but with less screams. Well-done indeed! 10/10
07.Faint: Second single and OUTSTANDING! The bridge is something incredible! The chorus is amazing and the music, too! EXCELLENT SONG! THE BEST IN THIS ALBUM! 10+++/10
08.Figure.09: An excellent song, too. The intro is similar to "Don't stay", however this song is the second best one in this album. I adore it! 10/10
09.Breaking the habit: Rapid song, i particularly love the verse 3 where Chester sings with a variety of background sounds that give a mysterious climate to the song. Fantastic song! Very Good! 9.5/10
10.From the inside: Very Good song with a lot of screams in the bridge. Very well-done indeed! 9/10
11.Nobody's listening: This song is very different from the others 'cos it has a Rap style which in other songs it isn't very remarked as in this one. The tubes sounds give a tropical climate to the song. Excellent song!!! 10/10
12.Session: It's like a moment to relax. No vocals.... only music. 8/10
13.Numb: The third best song in this CD! EXCELLENT AS OUTSTANDING!!! It's the third single in this CD; the first is "Somewhere I belong", and the second one is "Faint". "Numb" is the third one. 10/10

Excellent work for Linkin Park. Congrats to all of U 'cause U surprised us once more with an outstanding album which is "METEORA".

Somebody's Listening...
You have to give Linkin Park due credit: their lyrics are exceptional, their creative talent easily makes up for their lack of technical music proficiency, and their sophomore album, Meteora, cleverly echoes their platinum debut Hybrid Theory without ever feeling like a cheap imitation.
After the brief and mildly interesting introduction, Meteora kicks off with 'Don't Stay,' which sounds like the harder, darker prodigy of Hybrid Theory's 'One Step Closer.' 'Somewhere I Belong' is distinctly similar to 'In The End,' 'Numb' follows suit with 'Pushing Me Away,' 'Session' is a far better instrumental number than 'Cure For The Itch,' and 'Easier To Run' sounds like a cross between 'Crawling' and 'My December.' This comparison in essence sums up Meteora, which is essentially HT, Reanimation and a little bit of Evanescence's Fallen sliced up and served on a turntable. The overall sound is slicker, darker, more complex and mature, and lends itself well to the fact that this is their second album. Linkin Park also branches out a bit more this time around, taking a page from Reanimation, which cleverly escapes HT's flaw of every song sounding almost exactly the same; 'Breaking The Habit' and 'Nobody's Listening' are quite different than anything on HT. A bit more variety would have been dangerous, but possibly would have made Meteora truly magnificent.
"In the end," (Sorry, I had to...) Meteora's tragic flaw is identical to that of Hybrid Theory: it's simply too short. At 36:35, it simply ends too quickly for a full-budget album. This is undoubtedly to make the CD radio friendly, but a bit less commercialization and a bit more music would have been nice. As it stands, Meteora is far from a dud, and is actually a great album. A bit more substance would have made it legendary, but it's moments of brilliance, though few and a bit too far in between, certainly make it worthy of the Linkin Park name and the status symbol that is Hybrid Theory.

Can't Get Enough!!
I absolutely love this CD. I listen to it over and over again whenever I get the opportunity-even at school! These songs are what get me through the day. My favorites are "Hit the Floor" and "Lying from You". Besides the great songs, the CD also has cool extras that you can get by putting it into your computer.

Awesome!!!!
This is an awesome cd! Hybrid Theory was good too, but LP brought it to the next level with Meteora. I won't go through the whole cd but some of my favorite songs were, Breaking the Habit, Faint, Numb, Easier to Run,and Nobody's Listening. There is definite hope for their next album. I think that it will be even better! LP rocks!!!

One of My favourite CDs
I love anything punk or alternative, and i live for this CD! It's on of my favourite CDs from any artist. The lyrics and music are amazing and its definatly, in my opinon, the best CD that they've put out. Even if you dont agree that it's their best, you have to admit that its a great CD and even tho its only like 35 minutes, for those 35 minutes you can lose yourself in some truly amazing music! ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's nothing particularly original about Kasabian. The hirsute Leicester band swaggers like the Stone Roses, plays dance-rock like Primal Scream, and mouths off like Oasis. Singer Tom Meighan even once famously derided Strokes singer Julian Casablancas in an interview with the NME as a "posh f---ing skier." But these are also the things that make Kasabian's debut so endearing. It's an album that spills over with personality and confidence, delivering massive club anthems in the form of songs like "Processed Beats," "Cutt Off" and "L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)," where the band finds just the right balance between primitive riffs and space-age grooves. -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Haven't quite purchased the CD yet, but....
I just wanted to let one of the reviewers know that the song, "Club Foot", was used in the trailer for "Serenity". I hope I could be of some help. I need to buy the CD now - I'm going to the concert on June 15th....

solid solid album, i want to hear more
It's funny how the amazon review states that "There's nothing original about Kasabian," and then finishes the review to say that the band finds "just the right balance between primitive riffs and space-age grooves."

Has any other band really done that? If so, please let me know!

The album is great... it reminds me of the Verve, but with more of an edge, and some DRIVING bass lines that really make you want to move.

A great combination of some cool electronic effects, some solid musicianship, some bangin rock out grooves, and easy to listen to yet powerful vocals.

Check it out!

Kasabia
Well the cd is awesome. My friend found it in STRANGEEEEEE MAINEEEEE, a store on Congress St. in Portland , ME.
And so it goes like this. He puts the cd in the cd player, theres no case to this cd by the way(yeah i know,strange maine guy),
and BAM!, its like damn!, we know this SONG! BUT from where?
SO, does anyone know what movie, commercial, show, that the song "club foot" was featured in?
PLEASE post after you see this if you know.




"club foot" is in....................vhat?

word

~Nate and Ruis

Pretty good, not great
It seems like I've heard a lot of this before. And the sounds get a little tedious within the disc itself. But it is about average overall, and given a lot of pure dreck out there, it's alright.

It might help, of course, that I'm not well versed in the sources copied/inspired/stolen from, so is a bit fresher than it might otherwise be.

Club Foot is good, as is Test Transmission. Most of the others have some catchy hooks will playing, but nothing very memorable afterward IMO.

And since the disc is now, fair use, on my ipod, it must not be that hard to get it there. Spend 5 minutes here and elsewhere and solutions present themselves pretty quickly.

WARNING: NOT PLAYABLE ON MP3s COPYWRITED
I liked the song club foot so I bought the CD.HUGE MISTAKE.The CD has some sort of copywrite protection such that it cannot be played on IPOD or other MP3 players (I use an iRiver and it didn't work).It is really annoying-you cannot make any copies even for legitimate reasons like keeping a copy in your car (and just trying to play the CD with a computer is a pain in the butt).I think Kasabian sucks for copping out and letting RCA dictate how I should use a CD that I own.It is like GM selling you a car and telling you that you cannot drive it in Canada!?! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Are they alternative-country rockers or alternative rock crooners? That was the conundrum following Rilo Kiley’s 2002 release, The Execution of Things, and with More Adventurous, the band’s first record with major label support, we have our answer. Jolted by the divinely pure vocals of Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett's howling guitar on prospective indie anthems like "Portions for Foxes," the Los Angeles foursome has two fists through the earth in their quest to depart the underground. It's obvious from the opening smack-talk sing-a-long "It's a Hit" that Lewis is the centerpiece of this 11-song pop consignment (leaving the capable Sennett to sing only the acoustic low-fi "Ripchord"), and the unabashed charisma that is her trademark infiltrates throughout—from rockers ("Love and War") to ballads ("Absence of God") to pop ("Accidntel Deth") to Dusty Springfield soul ("I Never"). And while the production is polished to radio-friendly, it fails to dull the charming accessibility of a band that wears progression as a badge. --Scott Holter ... Read more

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Take one part Ramones, one part Buzzcocks, and one part Husker Du, and you've got the basic foundation of Green Day, a punky, witty, melodic San Francisco Bay area trio who became overnight stars in 1994 when this album, their third overall release and major label debut, catapulted them to the top of the pop charts. Led by guitarist/vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong and their secret weapon, powerhouse drummer Tre Cool, Green Day put '70s and '80s punk in a compact '90s package with songs like "Longview," "Basket Case," "Pulling Teeth," and the hit semi-ballad, "When I Come Around." One the few modern alternative rock bands with a bona fide sense of humor. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (376)

A review of the brilliant Dookie (Green Day) by Daniel Bland
The album starts with the wonderful 'Burnout', which has a certain energy about it which makes you want to play it over and over again. 'Having a blast', has an addictive drum beat, and Billie Joe's punky voice adds that special touch. Billie Joe's lyrics are very modest in the 3rd song, 'chump', and towards the end there is a wonderful piece of music, without singing, which I love. 'Longview' has a lovely variety, with the majority of it being slow, and a great heavier chorus. 'Welcome to paradise's'brilliant chord structure possibly makes it the best track on the album. 'Pulling teeth', a slower song, but still, a superb song. Then, 'Basket case' and 'She', two similar songs - slow,fast,slow,fast. Theses songs will leave you speechless, at least until you come to 'Sassafras Roots'. Although, slightly repetitive, the parts which are repeated are excellent. On to 'When I come aroun', maybe their most famous song, maybe my favourite. Again, a slower song, ! but still, it will stick in your mind. Number 11, 'Coming clean'. A song which I found rather boring. After listening to the album a couple of times, you will skip this song and move straight on to 'Emenius sleepus'. Billie Joe, again his voice is brilliant, he's feeling sick and he wants to go home. But he'll have to wait, 2 songs left. 'In the end'. Another great song, with a supreme drum beat near the end. The last song, 'F.O.D.' The first 1 and a half minutes are very slow, and light, and then, an explosion. The music errupts. Something which has to be played at full volume. A bonus track, at the end of 'F.O.D' is 'All by myself'. Funny 6the first time, but something which is not worth waitng for. All in all a great album, and something which should not be missed

"Possibly the most influential album of its time"
In the start of a decade that looked to be filled with dance and rap as the dominating genres of that era, there was a shining glimmer of hope for fan of rock. The now legendary band from Berkeley, Green Day, released quite possibly the most influential album of its time, as it has triggered the start of many other bands in the area (Blink 182, No Use For A Name, etc.). In their release of this cd, they began their journey in the rock world, and in effective fashion:

ANALYSIS OF TRACK LISTING:
1. Burnout: 4.5/5-a fast paced, distorted guitar-blaring anthem that showed how people didn't grow up, but rather just burnout out.... A great start to the album with a great drum part in the bridge

2. Having a Blast: 4/5-possibly one of their most controversial songs (next to Platypus, on nimrod), it is a song about a person who is going to kill everyone in their path.... a very catchy song

3. Chump: 4.5/5-One of the un-appreciated tracks of this cd, Chump is about hating a specific person, though you've never even see them.... the instrumental in this is very good

4. Longview: 4/5-The original and only tribute to masturbation to date (at least to my knowledge).... despite it's widespread appeal, you may grow tired of this song, due to its excessive air time on the radio.... the bass part in this song is quite good as well

5. Welcome to Paradise: 4.5/5-A re-release track from their Lookout! Records release, kerplunk!, this track is about a young man who ventures away from home and eventually finds himself in paradise.... one of the best bass solo's i have ever heard

6. Pulling Teeth: 3.5/5-A slower-paced song, highlighting a true event of being busted up by the one you love (Mike Dirnt had both of his elbows broken while having a pillow fight with his wife Anastacia).... good, but a little bit too slow for my taste

7. Basket Case: 5/5-Quite possibly one of the best songs of all time, this song focuses on the mental instability of a single person and his ventures to find sanity.... A MUST LISTEN!!

8. She: 4.5/5-another great song, following up Basket Case.... it is mainly a reflective song giving advice to a girl that the person loves.... to stop yelling at them before they go insane..... Dirnt shows his talent with another great bass intro

9. Sassafras Roots: 4/5-a repetitive song that ventures the question "May I waste your time too....?" the lyrics will catch on, and don't be surprised if you end up singing it after hearing it a few times

10. When I Come Around: 4/5-a solid song, possibly their most well-known song on this album.... it is about getting somewhere that you need to be, and the one that matters knowing where to find you.... has a good guitar solo, and a solid bass and drum line

11. Coming Clean: 4.5/5-a better song than When I Come Around, it is a great increase of the pace that was held back by the previous track.... it is mainly about a person "coming clean" about being of an alternate sexual orientation.... a fun, quick and to the point song

12. Emenius Sleepus: 4.5/5-A continuation from the previous song, Billie Joe now sings how he's sick and wants to go home, since he doesn't know his friend at all anymore.... a VERY good song, as it keeps the pace of the album up as it comes begins to come to a close.....

13. In The End: 4/5-the second to last song, it provides a clear message: not liking what you see in the future and hoping that you're not dead when somethin important comes around.... it has a solid bridge yet again, and brings us into the final "official" track of the disc......

14. F.O.D. 4.5/5-the final track of the CD, it is a mellow beginning, but then a loud and very clear anthem.... it mainly just says how the person wants everyone to F.O.D., which if you listen to the song, you will figure out what it means.....

Hidden Track: All By Myself 3.5/5-a very funny track that the guys recorded while they were high in one of their friends basements.... funny, but it won't be worth the wait for much more than two times

really cool; good for any fan
Really awsome for any Green Day fan, but if you're not, step away. I, being a HUGE Green Day fan, think that you'll LOVE most of these songs, I recomend "Pulling Teeth","Basket Case", "Longveiw" and "Welcome to Paradise". The only song on this CD I don't LOVE is "Coming Clean", not really interesting. All really strict parents who hate cuss words as small as "crap", this is a bad CD for your kids.

The one that started it all...
the downfall of real/street punk, that is. This is when Green Day "sold out", but they were never realy punk, they and their friends at clubs had a skewed version of what punk is. They think it is about spreading peace or some sissy stuff like that, and it is not, Anarchy is the opposite of peace, it is unadulterated freedom, real, true, freedom to do whatever you want. And punk music should be noisey and aggressive. This is one of those bands(the leader, in fact) that made people think this poppy crap is punk, and almost completely killed real punk rock. If it wasn't for bands like the Casualties, punk would truely be dead, but it isn't dead, and won't die. Punk is back and it's here to stay! I HATE GREEN DAY, BUT AT LEAST THAT SISSY SONG ISN'T ON THIS!

Not Bad
Fun lightweight pop-punk. Nothing terribly interesting or in any way groundbreaking, but not horrible either. I'd burn a copy, no way would I pay for it. To call these guys punk is ridiculous. They're very mainstream in terms of attitude and desire for acceptance. If these guys had showed up at a Black Flag concert back in the day they would have had their arms and legs ripped off and thrown in a pile. This is safe enough for your 13 year old daughter and makes for a pleasant listen when driving your kids to and from soccer practice. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nirvana may have been the biggest thing in the music world in the early '90s, but the trio maintained an uncommon devotion to core fans who knew them when they were still sleeping in a van. Fending off the adoration of punk-rock dabblers in the media and their audience while simultaneously welcoming stalwart underground-music supporters, Kurt Cobain did things on his own terms--until it all came crashing down. A decade after Cobain's 1994 suicide and the band's demise, With the Lights Out remains true to the ethos that defined the band and the alt-rock revolution that rose and fell with them.

Eschewing the standard hits-sprinkled-with-rarities mix, this lovingly compiled three-CD, one-DVD collection is made up almost entirely of previously unreleased selections. The handful of previously heard tracks are obscurities along the lines of the group's cover of "Here She Comes Now," recorded for a 1990 indie-rock tribute to the Velvet Underground. But it's not the B-sides and compilation oddities that define this idiosyncratic set; rather, its spirit is captured in the bedroom demos, radio performances, and sloppy amateur video recordings that catch Cobain and cohorts developing from just another punk- and metal-inspired bunch of grunge rockers pounding away in the bass player's mom's living room into a band that defined an era. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

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For all his tattoos and bulked-up frat-boy persona, singer Bradley Nowell had real soul, which made his fatal heroin overdose even more tragic. There's more to this Long Beach, California, trio's debut, released shortly after Nowell's death in 1996, than white suburban punks imitating Jamaican ska music. The band comes up with great songs, notably the catchy MTV hit "What I Got"; spooky dub-reggae undertones, produced by the Butthole Surfers' Paul Leary, to go with the snappy horns; and surprisingly progressive lyrics that attack sexism and other social ills, especially on "Wrong Way." Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone, obvious forebears, Sublime become slightly tiresome after 17 songs, but the band is great in short doses. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (366)

ONE OF THE GREATEST CDs OF ALL TIME
If you haven't heard Sublime before, I suggest buying this CD. It's full of ska, reggae, punk, rap, and hip-hop. All of the songs are great, energetic, and they all sound different. This is how I would rate each song:
(1)Garden Grove:A++
(2)What I Got:A+
(3)Wrong Way:A+
(4)Same In The End:A+
(5)April 26, 1992:A+
(6)Santeria:A+
(7)Seed:A+
(8)Jailhouse:A
(9)Pawn Shop:A
(10)Paddle Out:A
(11)Balled Of Johny Butt:A
(12)Burritos:A
(13)Under My Voodoo:A
(14)Get Ready:A
(15)Caress Me Down:A+
(16)What I Got(reprise):A
(17)Doin' Time:A+

This is the last CD that Sublime made before Brad passed away, and it's one of their best. It's to bad he went away at the height of their success, but he new some day he would "lose the war".-Pool Shark

R.I.P. Brad Nowell

RADIO HIITS, WHO CARES, STILL A GREAT CD!!
I don't get why some people will give a cd a lower rating cause it gets radio play. You shouldn't like or dis-like a cd cause some of its songs on the radio. Anyway i'm a huge Sublime and own all there cd's (execpt stand by your van) I think this cd doesn't get enough credit just because excellent songs like what i got, wrong way, santeria and doin time are played on the radio. It also holds some other gems like Garden Grove, April 29, 1992 (Miami) which has a great story line, Same in the end, Burritos, Get Ready and Caress Me Down. The best song has to be what i got (reprise) when you listen to it just makes u feel good. In my oppion this is Sublimes second best album behind 40 oz to freedom, but it is still great.......... mad love out to lou dog and RIP BRAD..........PEACE!!!!!!!!

Bradley Nowell sounds even better now that he's Dead.
"Sublime" is one of my favorite albums of all time and it is by far the best Sublime record. Listening to "Sublime" is like the equivelant to watching an episode of Cops. There are songs about prostitutes, pawn shops, weed, race riots, and guns. All good fun!
Some highlights are:
"Garden Grove"- I like when Bradley goes through the list of reasons why his soul is unsound.
"Same in the End"- Totally rocks.
"Seed"- Totally rocks too.
"Burritos"- Should have been another single.

You'll love this
No matter what type of music you listen to,you WILL like this.Trust me.This is one of the only CD's I can listen to over and over and not get tired of.Some of the best tracks would have to be "What I got","Seed","Santeria",and "Wrong Way" are the best tracks on the cd.There's a serious point in all the songs,but the it's so inresting and catchy,you don't even notice.You'll love it so just buy it.

no band can compare
Sublime is just one of those bands that can't be compared to or imitated by anyone. Brad had a great gift with not only lyrics but amazing vocals. This CD especially shows sublime had true musical talent and wasn't imitating anyone like most rock bands are today. Every song on here is good and each song shows how many different kinds of music sublime could combine into one CD, rock/rap/punk/reggae/ska. This cd and 40 oz to freedom are by far the best 2 sublime cd's out there. RIP brad and your music lives on. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The West of veteran TV writer/Deadwoodcreator David Milch is as grim as it is gritty, sprinkled with salty dialogue and punctuated by sudden brutality and raw sexuality. The original soundtrack cues by composer David Schwartz (represented here by his evocative show theme), Michael Brook and Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek play off that vision with often stark rootsiness. But it's the series' rich slate of songs -- choices whose inventiveness often rivals that of The Sopranos -- that consistently reinforce its all-too-human drama, if not the crusty veneer. This collection gathers the best songs from the series' first season, coloring the milieu with evocative hillbilly romps like Michael Hurley's "Hog of the Forsaken" and the a capella grace of Margaret's Native American "Creek Lullaby." But the collection's musical eclecticism stretches far beyond mere genre concerns, variously encompassing the nascent jazz of Jelly Roll Morton (a rollicking "Stars and Stripes Forever"), Delta blues of Bukka White and Mississippi John Hurt and even Gustavo Santaolalla's hypnotic Brazilian fretwork. But the collection's country and folk-tinged performances are its most resonant, whether invoking earthy traditions (the gospel fervor of the late June Carter Cash's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee's more heretical "God and Man") or more contemporary stylings like Lyle Lovett's "Old Friend" and the gentle "Twisted Little Man" by Michael J. Sheehy.--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great companion to the show
Since Carnivale is in such dire straits, I've really gotten into this HBO show, which serves as a good replacement in my heart. For those not in the know, its a gritty, violent western that takes place in the gold-mining camp of Deadwood, where famous names like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane traipse through. I knew I would enjoy the soundtrack, as it had a lot of blues and country stuff I was familiar with. June Carter Cash singing 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken' would turn even the most hardcore atheist into a believer, and the Bukka White and the Jelly Roll Morton tracks were great too, but there were so many other amazing surprises on it for me. Top song is called 'Hog of the Forsaken' and is this nuts piece of fiddle and yodel and lunatic lyrics. I loved it. There are other tracks on the CD that are good songs, but do not work within the context of the show, specifically 'Twisted Little Man', which doesn't sound very western at all. Still, a high quality selection of tracks, and the show soundbites on the disc, which contain more cussin' then Tarantino in the shower, are great too.

Dusty, grim and sometimes poignant (like the series)
As a fan of the series Deadwood, I found this soundtrack CD to be both satisfying on its own merits and a successful evocation of the spirit of the series.It contains a lot of authentic American music that has the traditional feeling appropriate to the Old West setting of the show.There's gospel, folk, country, blues, and many pieces of miscellaneous instrumental music.It's telling that when the music producers wanted a true-sounding version of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," they went to the source, June Carter Cash.I also like the fact that they filled their show and this disc with many excellent songs by relatively unknown artists like Mark Lee Scott and Michael Sheehy.However, I think my very favorite music from the CD are some of the instrumentals, especially the themes by Gustavo Santaolallo and the great Michael Brook.In between the music, there's also a great deal of dialogue samples from the show -- and that's what gives the CD its parental advisory label.(The presence of strong language in those dialogue samples will be no surprise to anyone who has seen Deadwood!) ... Read more