Amazon.com

If rock's most successful and memorable acts have usually succeeded by wrapping their own distillation of music history and personal tastes in whatever fashionable trappings are currently gripping the culture, it's hardly surprising that the Cars remain one of the most enduring symbols of the punk/new wave era. This 20-track anthology distills that argument perfectly. Ric Ocasek's songs embody a solid '60s sense of pop craftsmanship informed by a trend-conscious stylistic sheen and a cynical, slippery emotional detachment that's often betrayed by his own distinctly weary brand of romanticism, from the anxious pop of "Just What I Needed" and "You're All I've Got Tonight" to the melancholy-on-ice musings of "Drive" and "Tonight She Comes." Sixteen of the 20 cuts here were chart singles, and radio staples like "Bye Bye Love" and "Dangerous Type" might as well have been. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Excellent compilation, with one minor flaw
[My rating for this is four and a half stars, not just four]P>If you listen to a classic rock station on a regular basis, then there is no doubt that you hear The Cars frequently. This band combined new wave and classic rock, and did it with surprisingly good results. Many of the tracks (Just What I Needed, for example) are a perfect fusion of the two styles, while some tracks go for one or the others (Good Times Roll is more of a classic rocker, while Bye Bye Love is more on the new wave side.) Like another review specified, there were two Cars compilations out before this. So, why should you get this one instead? Read on and find out.

First of all, you've got just about every one of the band's big hits (Just What I Needed, My Best Friend's Girl, Good Times Roll, You're All I've Got Tonight, Bye Bye Love, Moving In Stereo, Let's Go, Shake It Up, and I'm Not The One.) You've even got many lesser-known hits that shouldn't fail to please. Also, this compilation has nearly DOUBLE the songs the first hits album did. You've got twenty awesome songs here, on one CD. The fact that it's a single-disc compilation means it's an affordable one. Remember how in my review title I said the compilation had only one flaw? That one flaw is the fact that the compilation is lacking Candy-O, one of the band's biggest hits. Without it being here, this compilation should've been called "Almost Complete Greatest Hits."

Final verdict? If you're a casual fan of the Cars and you don't want to shell out the extra cash for the two-disc hits compilation, get this one. Of all of their hits compilations, this one is the best value by far.

Not Really Necessary, But Still Good
As with most of today's bands, record companies have a knack for releasing "greatest hits" or "best of" collections ad nauseum to entice us consumers to give up our hard earned bucks. This CD is a perfect example. Although this collection contains tracks not originally included in "The Cars Greatest Hits", there's very little here that wasn't already available in the excellent Anthology set, "Just What I Needed", that Rhino Records released several years ago.

This collection does the original "Greatest Hits" album one better in that it includes many favorite album tracks that get considerable "deep cut" airplay on classic rock stations, but it really isn't superior to the anthology. As is usually the case with "greatest hits" albums, fans will lament the exclusion of certain songs or the inclusion of certain others. Personally, I could have done without "Tonight She Comes" and "You Are the Girl", both of which I consider inferior songs and which were not included in the original "Greatest Hits". Nevertheless, they were minor hits for the band and probably should be included in this collection if for no other reason than to satisfy completists.

Unless you're a rabid fan or a completist, there's no reason to buy "The Complete Greatest Hits" if you already own the anthology. If you don't and are trying to decide which one to purchase, I'd still go with the anthology because it comprises overall a much more interesting collection of songs, has rare alternate versions of a few tracks, and a very thorough and informative booklet on the band's history and career.

Is this a best-of?... or greatest hits?
This is certainly a killer collection of songs, and I envy anyone who is much younger and not familiar with the band, for they are in for a quirk-rock treat!
But, was 'All Mixed Up' never released as a single?
It's just a shame it's not on here, I think it's the best song in their catalog... the Red House Painters re-make really put into perspective what a great tune it is

Just what I needed
I've written a lot of Amazon reviews - mostly movies, but a few CD's and books - and I thought today I would praise The Cars.

I *was" gonna say I already have the Greatest Hits which could easily have been a double album by sticking the Candy-O album (have it) on it and adding a few scattered goodies from other albums I recall, such as "Bye Bye Love", "Moving In Stereo", "You're All I've Got Tonight" and "Hello Again".

I'm not sure how you can leave "Heartbeat City" and "Candy-O" off a greatest hits, but I suppose you have to draw the line somewhere. I don't know "Why Can't I Have You" and "You Are The Girl" by name, so at least I have a couple new experiences ahead. I hope they are as good as the 2 "missing" songs.

And so here I am, buying a second GH album. But I'm not complaining at all - I can choose which to listen to based on the songs they don't have in common.

THIS IS A FIRST-----IN HISTORY !!!!
This is truely the first "REAL"-hits album ever done the right way. I wish that every band and record company could do a job great, like this album. THIS IS FIRST CLASS----done by pro's. SO LISTEN-UP MUSIC COMPANY's and learn from this album how a real "GREATEST HITS" album should be done. YOU LOSERS ! We,the music fans, are sick of your CRAPPY SO CALLED "HITS ALBUMS". ... Read more

Amazon.com

What's great for Ben Folds fans —true fans, not the kind who signed on after hearing 1997's un-Ben-like radio hit "Brick" —is that Songs for Silverman picks up right where the excellent Ben-comes-into-his-own Rockin' the Suburbs left off in 2001. These are heartfelt songs: sometimes cheeky and occasionally heartbreaking. "Gracie," written in a hopeful key for Folds' young daughter, unravels to playful but brilliant piano plinks; "Late," for the departed singer/songwriter Elliott Smith, sidesteps straight-on sadness to convey a sense of lost camaraderie; and the clear-eyed "Landed," delivered in Folds' unadorned, tree-trunk sturdy voice, will inspire untold revelations for those stuck in stalled relationships. The music, meantime, maintains its sharp edge: "You to Thank" juts out with the help of a two new players in a celebratory jazz direction, while "Give Judy My Notice" dabbles in country and a chorus swells for "Jesusland." Throughout, Folds' piano work remains a pop-music goodie bag that defies duplication. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (24)

The Best Album of 2005 (So Far)
There have been several highly anticipated (by me) albums put out this year as of May, and I think this one is my favorite so far.It has everything you'd look for in a ben folds album and more.The dvd side of the dual disc version is short but interesting and funny.In short, this album is very solid all the way through.I'd recommend it to new ben folds listeners and I'd highly reccommend it to those who are seasoned fans of Mr. Folds!It has a slower tempo throughout the album with the typical folds' rockin' flashes.

Brilliant pop music
I had heard from many friends that as a huge Billy Joel/Elton John fan (well at least Elton pre-"Less than Zero") that I had to get into Ben Folds. I had heard "Rocking the Suburbs", and while I liked it I wasn't blown away or anything, except for a few songs. But after receiving this album as a birthday gift, I can now say I am a devout fan of Mr. Folds. Anyone who is a fan of very melodic, chorus-concentraded pop music will love this album. Most of these songs remind me of Elton circa-"Madman Across the Water" and Todd Rundgren circa-"Something/Anything?". For the most part, the melodies are absoultely gorgeous, the lyrics intelligent and subtle, and the musicanship and prodcution top-notch. This confirms to me that Ben Folds is, along with Jeff Tweedy, Miles Kurosky, James Mercer, and Elliot Smith; among the best pop songwriters of the past 10 years.

Ben is peaking
i've followed Ben Folds for a few years now.i consider him a genuine talent on the keys.he sits comfortably between Elton John and Billy Joel.

SFS positions him as a talented songwriter in addition to his prowess with the piano.SFS is well built and will be a lasting part of my library.good good stuff.

just saw him in New York City.he was at his absolute best.see him if you can.pick up SFS and you will be looping 'Landed' and 'Sentimental Guy' over and over as i have been.or maybe i'm just enamored by the talent of Ben Folds.

check it out.

Outstanding!
Ben Folds continues to improve with each album.Songs For Silverman is comprised of 11 songs - filled with powerful piano, beautiful harmonies and more examples of thought-provoking Ben Folds lyrics.It's nice to actually hear (though it is subtle) some guitar and other instruments occasionally.They add a nice touch to the standard piano, bass and drums.Ben's vocals and arrangements have never been stronger.

Excellant Album
I bought this cd and haven't taken it out of my cd player yet.I really enjoyed rockin the suburbs and this album picks up right where Ben Folds left off.I think the melodies and more serious lyrics are a great combination.A must have for all Ben Folds fans. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On the evidence of Rockin' the Suburbs, Ben Folds's decision to jettison the two-piece Five that had backed him on four largely excellent albums has not resulted in any significant shift in trajectory. The Ben Folds Five were only getting better, gradually discovering the confidence not to hide their musical uniqueness (there have been too few piano-led power trios) and lyrical intelligence behind undergrad Barenaked Ladies-style gags. Songs like "Mess" and "Brick" signaled an extraordinary new songwriting talent worthy of comparison to Folds's obvious idols, Elvis Costello and Paul Simon. Only this album's title track harkens back to Folds's fondness for comedy, and it is by far the weakest track here. The rest is mournful, reflective, and, at best, quite magnificent. Folds's hymns to his family, "Still Fighting It" and "The Luckiest" are shot through with an honesty that's rare in alternative rock. The acerbic essence of character sketches such as "Carrying Cathy," "Losing Lisa," and "Zak & Sara" are leavened with a generous compassion. Folds's second solo effort is his best album yet. The remainder of his career must be anticipated with equal parts expectation and impatience. --Andrew Mueller ... Read more

Reviews (237)

Vintage Folds with a subtle new taste
I'm a strange person when it comes to music. I'm the kind of person who tends to hear about a band for months. From my friends. From TV. From an internet article. But I generally don't search out anything from these people unless I get stuck on one of their songs.

I saw the Ben Folds video for "Still Fighting It" on VH1 (probably one of the few times they aired it) this past spring, and downloaded the song. I had known the actual song "Rockin' the Suburbs" from seeing the video, and had downloaded it last fall. But I never ventured to buy the full album until this past August.

Wow.

I remembered Ben Folds Five vaguely from their hit "Brick" -- I'm 16, making me only 11 or so when it was released, but I remember liking it immensely back then.

The album is exquisite. Most of the songs rank with Folds' finer work with the band that carried his name. "Zak and Sara" is an extremely catchy song reminiscient of '60s pop that tells the tale of a typically quirky Folds protagonist. "Fred Jones Pt. 2" is the heart-wrenching story of a reporter fired of many years of service at a newspaper. Folds is one of the most well-respected songwriters of his time for a reason -- his characters live on far past the life of his songs.

But it's the melodies, of course, that make Folds the pop prodigy that he is. "Carrying Cathy" features a simple riff and amazing strings that give it a haunting feel, due to the content. "The Luckiest" is a melodic, sleepily trodding tune that is one of the most insightful, cleverly-worded love songs I've ever heard.

But Folds' first solo outing adds something else to the Five catalog that you just can't put your finger on. Obviously there's the lack of Folds' two former bandmates, but you can always distinguish a solo Ben Folds work from a Ben Folds Five work. Maybe it's just the way the record is produced, maybe it's simply the atmosphere, but there's a good feeling about this record. Hands down, it is one of the best pop records of the last few years.

It's very rare that an artist holds on to the same creativity and fervor that they had with a band without a band. Ben Folds has done just that.

Best Pop CD of the 90s
Ben Folds is a mature piano pop rocker in the same vein as Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne and other 70s rock legends. However, he taps this vein while injecting his own brand of intelligent independent poetry and storytelling that put both Holden Caufield and Broadway confessionals to shame. He knows how to play his instrument as well. In addition to playing every instrument on this album, his piano keeps getting more and more complex. Now it seems that Ben is finally figuring out how to perfectly incorporate his piano into his sound.

Melody comes natural to Folds and his music's quality reflects this attribute. There is not a truly bad cut on this album. It flows beter than any album I've heard from this year or in some cases, any year. He can inspire, depress, motivate, and maniplate sometimes in the same song. While some may call him derivative, he incorporates his own signiture style onto every song.

Now a track by track analysis and the reason I like this CD so much:

This album is superb. Annie Waits is the perfect opener as it tells a story about pain, longing, and lonliness with a perfect and ironic pop beat and clap (8.5/10). Zak and Sara (without an H) is the perfect follow up. It is another example at how great Ben's sketch's can be when the music is fabulous as well (8.5/10). Still Fighting It is the anthem that would not have sounded out of place in the 70s. It is great to hear live (9/10). Gone is another song with hypnotic verses and a grand climactic chorus (9/10). Fred Jones Part II is the sad and bleak look into life after being reduced to a figure. It describes being picked up and dropped, the paradox of old age, and becoming obsolete. It deals with the despair associated with aging.(10/10). It is basically about lost youth and how people are replaced and dehumanized every day in the American Corporate System. Or its just a story of a man named Fred Jones. Beautiful and expressive but ultimately a downer (With the lead singer of Cake helming backup vocals). Ascent of Stan is a song about a hippie with a cheesy and retro dance thump. Its all in good fun though (8/10). Ironic tales of mushrooms and conformity have never sounded better. Losing Lisa is an example of semi plagarism, not that I hate the song at all. It is a great song about good times past but the chorus sounds like Happy Together by the Turtles in my opinion. Still However, with Ben's telling lyrics and perfect playing, it manages to become an original of its own. One of the best on this album or any Folds has ever recorded (10/10). Carrying Cathy is sort of an ironic tale about a girl who is helpless and eventually comits suicide (irony in the chorus, Everybody was always carrying cathy). However, it is disguised as a ballad, a format it works very well within (8/10). Not the Same has the greatest chorus on the whole album. While the song may be repetitive and a tad offkey sometimes, the chorus is gigantic and will send chills up your spine. The best anthem on the record is not really an anthem but a story of a bad acid trip. This is the best song off this album played live (10/10). Oh well! Now to Hiro's Song. Bouncy and bright pop about an older Japanese man and his concerns about his younger mistress. It is funny and musically diverse. This one is definately a worthy addition to the album (9/10). Rockin the Suburbs is Ben's only LP foray into the depths of modern radio rock music. With a guitar and an angry sneer, he comments on angst, fear, and suburban alienation with a winking and satirical gesture. This song is worth its weight once you hear his impersonation of Zach De La Rocha of Rage Against the Machine towards the end of the song. Not Ben's best but it makes for an interesting and enjoyable diversion (7/10). Fired is the most musically accomplished song on the album and this aspect makes it one of the best songs as well. Good lyrics, great song; this is what Ben should strive to write more often, a perfect mix in between substance and style (9/10). The Luckiest is a ballad about Ben's wife. It is soft and touching as well as a tremendous shift from the rest of the album. It has incredible lyrics that stun through their simplicity. The genuis is how Ben manages to sing it and completely defy expectation. A superb closer and ends the album in a perfect reflective and intelligent tone. (9.5/10).

This record is by far one of the best to come out this year. Plus or minus Hiro's song, it is still engaging and well played. Most of all, Ben Folds's music is fun and rarely ever gets old after repeated listens. He writes amazing character sketches and lyrics that will affect you in the wierdest ways. Intelligent, affecting, and emotional piano based rock and pop played perfectly. This is a must have record and is essential to any listener of Pop (real Pop, no top 40, though they might like it as well) music! tHis record will someday be deemed the classic that it deserves to be. ...Peace... (98/100)
(BEN, {PLEASE WRITE A ROCK OPERA!)

*For everybody except there are a few swears here and there.

Support Ben Folds (solo and with his band The Bens), Snuzz, Ben's Brother Chuck Folds, and ex-Fiver Darren Jesse whenever they come to town). They all give excellent shows!

And that's about all...

My favorite..EVER!!
I love this CD. There are 3 songs on it that have moved me to tears more than once. Ben's lyrics are so meloncholy and I think everyone has experienced what he has written about at some point in their lives. A couple of the songs really speak to those of us who are middle aged and realize how short this life really is. His lyrics are amazing and great for a long drive in solitude with your stereo and your own personal memories.

Addictive
This CD is both fantastic and addictive - one of the only Cds that don't require any track skipping!

Excellent CD!
1.annie waits-very good song, upbeat, different-good opener
2. zak and sara-sooo good! one of my favorites on the cd, funny lyrics, makes you happy!
3. still fighting it-eh, good, slow, you have to be in the mood for it
4. gone-good song. somewhere in between slow and fast. very good lyrics. fun to blast-you get into it.
5. fred jones part 2--one of the prettiest slow songs ive ever listened to. very sad song, just soo pretty and calm. you'll like it.
6. the ascent of stan--a different kind of song, not one of the best on the cd, but not bad either. good piano as always.
7. losing lisa-good. not the best, good lyrics though!
8. carrying cathy-another really pretty song. interesting lyrics.
9. not the same-lyrics make you think, slower-but very good.
10. rockin' the suburbs--good song! faster, kind of silly lyrics but its good!
11. fired-my second favorite song on the CD after zak and sara---soo much fun to listen to, upbeat, cheerful, sooo good!
12. the luckiest--sooo pretty!!!! very sentimental, calming. very good!

VERY good cd! something different! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nomadic Southern evangelist Leon Followill may take soap suds to the mouths of the kinfolk wunderkinds--his three sons and a nephew--in Tennessee quartet Kings of Leon, whose second album spins enough cuss phrases and sexual allusions to leave Dolly Parton flushed. But the peculiar 20-something longhairs also fuel up on a filthy shotgun bass and relentless guitar riffs, complementing the delightfully discordant drawl of vocalist Caleb Followill to whittle a 35-minute grab bag of garage rock, English blues, sixties psychedelia, London Calling-ska, spaced-out country waltzes and front-porch, red-state revelry. Without revising its 2003 debut Youth & Young Manhood, producer Ethan Johns (The Jayhawks, Ray LaMontagne) steers the band down a similar mischievous road, integrating poles-apart rhythms and techniques into an energized jumble of rotating tempos and lyrical bombshells. Putting faith in earth-shakers like "Velvet Snow" and "Pistol Of Fire," the wound down and pleasing "Milk" and its yodeling cousin "Day Old Blues," the Kings ultimately escape Preacher Leon’s retribution, rendering him speechless--save for a simple "amen." --Scott Holter ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Sony-BMG are Twats, but KoL Still Rock
Firstly, in response to reviewers like FarkingBastage, it is perfectly acceptable to voice whatever concerns you have with a CD in your review. Readers who are thinking about purchasing the CD need to know not only whether the music is good, but also whether it's a royal pain to play the music on iPods or burn a backup copy for yourself. This is a product review, and there is no reason why it must be constrained to the music. If I feel like commenting on the album art, DRM protection, or anything else, then, it's certainly relevent.

In that vein, Sony-BMG needs a swift kick in the face. I use iTunes & iPod to play all my music. I have a new-ish Dell with WinXP, but, for some reason, programs like Easy CD CReator and Media Player don't recognize my CD Burner. It's some kind of glitch, because I downloaded other burning programs, and they work. iTunes also burns audio CD's. The problem, however, is that SunnComm's techsupport people suggest burning an audio CD with Windows Media Player, then ripping it with iTunes. This is their "official" solution!! Technical geniuses, I tells ya. So, since Windows Media Player is the only way to burn DRM-protected songs to CD, I'm screwed. I can't put these songs on my iPod. Nor can I make backup CD's in case this one gets scratched or lost.

In the future, I will avoid these "protected" albums if at all possible. Even now, I find myself wishing I could take the CD back and buy the tracks from iTunes Music Store.

However, on to the music. Kings take it to the next level on this one. I loved Y&YM---hearkening back to some real ballsy, gritty southern rock. Caleb Followill's voice is just so damn unique, and fits in with the sort of southern-rock-on-a-friday-night aura of the band. Aha Shake just seems tighter, more seamless, even if a few of the songs lack the hook that Youth packed over and over again. Nothing comes without a price, I suppose...but the rock-ness of Aha Shake makes up for what's lost in memorable riffs.

Oddly enough, I always seem to remember my least favorite track with these guys. On Youth, it was "Molly's Chambers". I heard about KoL through the Onion AV Club---not via the incessant radio airings of Molly's Chambers. Good thing, too, because if I had based my judgment of them on that most popular song, I'd not have even thought about buying the album.

On Aha Shake, my least favorite song is "Day Old Blues". I'm positive I'm not the only one. It starts with a slow, melodic poeticism. Then, like many other KoL songs, it breaks into harder/faster style for the chorus. The problem is, from that point on, the vast majority of the song is this annoying chorus, over and over again. "Dayo-Dayo-Dayoohhhh, Dayo-Dayo-Dayoohhhh, Dayo-Dayo-Dayoohhhh, a-BLOOOHOOO!" Repeat. Again. And again. One more time. Talk about a broken record...quite frankly, I am forced to skip over this track every time. What were they thinking?

The rest of the album is slick, rockin, heavy, but still spry on its feet. Highly recommended---but, if I were you, I'd buy it @ iTunes Music Store to get around Sony-BMG's annoying DRM mechanism.

Excellent music, terrible cd
i love the cd and listen to it constantly. however, the copyright protection is terrible. it is easy to google and hack it, but i just refuse to accept drm like this. i refuse to pay good money for a cd and not be able to use it the way i want to (i.e., put on ipod). i returned it. hope you do too.

BRILLIANT!
I find it interesting that most of the reviews for this cd are either 5 stars or 1 star. Ah, those crazy Kings of Leon. You either love em or hate em.Of course, many of the 1 star reviews are attributed to the capabilities (or lack thereof) of burning the cd to IPods and MP3 players, etc. While that may be annoying, I personally can't relate because I simply downloaded the album from the internet and it works just fine on my cd player.

And oh how fine Aha Shake Heartbreak truly is! On my first listen, by the time the opening track Slow Night So Long ended, I was grinning ear to ear. Finally a band that not only knows how to rock, but knows how to have fun! It's like the Beatles and the Stones have been resurrected through these kids. Every damn song on this album is sure to make you want to sing, smile, and... well, shake. Seriously, everytime I hear the drum and jingle bell intro to Taper Jean Girl, I want to get up and jump up and down on my car. If only I could do that while my car drives by itself.

Some people may not like these guys because of Caleb's voice, which is scratchy and pretty unintelligible. But once you get past the fact that you can barely understand anything this guy says, you come to realize it doesn't matter. This is pure rock n' roll, people. Best rock album I've heard in a LONG time. Best of 2005.

"Heartbreak" is right!
Kings Of who????I have not heard of this band until rumor had it they were touring with U2.Shortly after, I caught "The Bucket" on the radio and thought that it was worthwhile to pick up the album.Aha!Where do these great review from the likes of Rolling Stone come from???I wasnt only disapointed with the album, I have given serious thought of selling the album back.I love all kinds of music, especially alt rock.But this is beyond anything I've heard.Not worth it.

Quit Your Whining!
This is for all the reviewers who have complained about the copyright protection on this CD.Uhhh....you are stupid.But, more importantly, please stop reviewing the album based on the copyright protection.The copyright protection has nothing to do with the music itself.

If you hate the album, you hate the album, but the copyright protection has nothing to do with the music.

BTW, you dolts, I had almost NO PROBLEM copying this album to my hard drive and then copying it to disc.Yes, I DID have problems doing it disc to disc, but so what?Maybe you need to get a system better than Windows 98, maybe you need some better burn software...I don't know.Maybe monkeys are more computer literate than you.But, IT'S NOT THAT HARD, SO QUIT YOUR BITCHING!

I am giving this album 5 stars for two reasons.First, because it is awesome and doesn't resemble anything I hear on the radio today.The Kings are in a league of thier own!

Second, so I can hopefully help push up the rating of this album from all the bellyachers who gave it one or two stars on a criteria THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MUSIC!It is too bad Amazon doesn't have moderators, because I would report all you people and have your reviews thrown out, sort of like a defense attorney raises an objection to a judge and claims "relevance".

Now go back to computer school 101 and get off this board!

Go Kings! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Lovely songs; Sleeper Film.
This is very nice compilation of thoughtful ballads, some of lesser known singers and writers.Travolta can carry a tune (it would appear).His singing meshes well with his character in this charming movie.All things considered, this is a rathr good, enjoyable film.I especially like the numerous literary references.I am commenting on both the soundtrack and film, as both are worry of listening and viewing.

Grayson Capps
This is an incredible soundtrack not to mention a great little independent film. Don't listen to the critics on this one because the majority of them are flat out wrong. There should be more movies like this with compelling stories, strong acting and sweet music. Much better than the blockbuster trash that's so prevalant today. Anyhow, check out the soundtrack if only for the great New Orleans singer/songwriter Grayson Capps -- who's a little known gem from that historic music town. The rest of the soundtrack is worthy too...with tracks by Thalia Zedek, Trespassers William (another little known band that is pretty incredible), Los Lobos, Nada Surf, lots of rare blues and two sweet little songs by John Travolta. I couldn't have made a better mix of music myself! ... Read more

Amazon.com

While English pop monarchs Duran Duran have remained active for two decades, it's clear that the indomitable ensemble was at its peak during those mercurial '80s. This greatest-hits collection documents the band's ambitious beginnings as a funky glam-rock outfit and follows its gradual transformation into a high-tech pop band with loads of commercial appeal. Featuring now-classic tunes like "Girls on Film," "Rio," and "Planet Earth" as well as more recent songs like "Ordinary World," Greatest focuses on Duran Duran's unending string of hit singles. Although the young quintet that performs "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "A View to a Kill" has little in common with the posh, aging trio featured on 1997's "Electric Barbarella," vocalist Simon Le Bon provides some impressive continuity to these proceedings. --Mitch Myers ... Read more

Reviews (129)

Great set of Duran Duran tunes
This Greatest Hits compilation is an excellent introduction to Duran Duran, one of the top groups of the 80's new wave. All of their best known songs are here, with a few ommissions that hard core fans will lament (but they have all the studio albums anyways, so what does it matter?) If you're only going to get one Duran Duran album this would have to be it.

The top tracks are the MTV smashes "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Girls on Film", the slow and beautiful "Ordinary World", my personal favorites "The Reflex" and "Electric Barbarella", one of the top Bond movie themes "A View to a Kill", the butchered (i.e. edited) yet still wonderful Rio, and "Union of the Snake". For volume of music, this CD is a great value running almost 80 minutes and containing 19 songs. The 5 star rating narrowly being missed due to the large number of edited tracks. (Rio especially.....it just didn't need to be done)

This is a great set covering most of the band's recording career. Well over an hour of great tunes will make it a pleasure for even casual fans of 80s synth-pop, and shows why Duran Duran is one of the most enduring bands from that era.

The Greatest Band
Duran Duran is one of the biggest bands of the 80's and have been having hits for more than 2 decades and are still making good songs. I saw them in concert in 99 and they were excellent even without taylor. Review of songs-
1.is there somthing i should know? 3.8 stars
2.the reflex-4.5 stars/catchy pop song
3.a view to a kill-4.7 stars
4.ordinary world-5 out of 5 stars-good ballad
5.save a prayer- 4.7 stars/haunting song
6.Rio- 5 out of 5 stars/classic
7.hungry like the wolf-5 out of 5 stars
8.girls on film- 4 stars
9.planet earth- 5 out 5 stars
10.union of the snake-3.8 stars
11.new moon on monday- 4.3 star
12.wild boys- 4 stars
13.notorious-4 stars
14.i dont want your love-3.8 stars
15.all she wants is-3.8 stars
16.electric barbarella-4.5 stars
17.serious-4.3 stars
18.skin trade-3.9 stars
19.come undone- 5 out of 5 stars/beautiful song
Overall excellent album/A classic/ Worth the money

Alright, now listen...
Apparently there are lots of reviewers on Amazon saying that they think Duran Duran is bad. And everytime people mention the eighties, there always seem to be someone laughing at how music and fashion were in those days. If you don't like the fashion because the colours are wrong, fine. If you don't like the music because the synthesizers scare you, fine. But if you say you don't like it just because it's old, then YOU are the problem!
I'll let you think just what you want about the 80's as long as you have another reason than "it's too old". If you lived at the time and you think it wasn't good, then you have every right to think so. Or if the music just isn't your kind, then everybody must respect that. But if the only actual reason for you not liking it, is that it happens to have been made a couple of years, decades or even centuries ago, then you simply have no taste. Maybe you're just trying to be popular by following the modern fads, is that it? Well if you like what's on MTV right now, you can start telling yourself that you don't know anything about music in itself, becuase that's a fact.
I was born in 1987, so I don't remember much of the 80's at all. Most of my friends find 80's stuff too strange for them. But I like it.
I didn't grow up during the 80's, my parents don't listen to 80's music. Actually, there's no particular reason for me liking the 80's, but I do! And I also like the 60's and 70's. I'm a teenager of the 21st century, and I like what I missed. Ironic like hell, but the 80's is one of many tastes of music and style, and that is more than you're ever going to have if you keep disliking stuff that isn't new. I see that one of you advice us to buy AudioSlave's new album instead. Will you like that album by 2008? So listen you taste-less non-polite whoever-you-are, if you don't like the music you bought this year at the day you grow old, I'll be glad to laugh at you for all the huge ammounts of money you wasted on albums you can't seem to like more than as long as it's being advertised. Just leave music and put your money on something that you understand.

Duran Duran is almost just what I like when it comes to music and style. So my personal opinion will be 4 stars out of 5.

sounds more like the worst
please dont listen to this awful new wave band from the eighties(one of the worst decades of music).it is cheesy horrible bands like this that had almost destroyed rock music till it was rescued by bands like pearl jam and soundgarden.Songs like girls on film,rio and wild boys sound dated and lousy and you will be well advised to avoid this crappy band who are thankfully defunct.my rating 0/10.

Don't go with the flow
Great collection of songs from Duran Duran. I like them all. One problem, though, some of the songs are butchered to meet the time limit. Rio's intro is shortened, which didn't bother me because the long one got on my nerves but the ending is cut down too which really vexed me. In Save a Prayer the first and second verse were spliced together. I think some other songs were more subtly tampered with, shortening extended intros or interludes which once again didn't bother me because I get agitated when these instrumental bits drag on but that's just me. I'm more of a lyrics person and I also like a song that has a good tune.
At first I wasn't too thrilled with Girls on Film, but if you read the lyrics to it you can see how utterly sarcastic it is. I won't get into the video for it but the song is actually pretty clever in a satirical way. The other songs are good dance tunes. Come Undone and Ordinary World are classics with a lot of substance. Good for those who like Duran Duran's popular songs (popular in their time). No, Violence of the Summer is not on this CD, but the person who said it was made it clear they wouldn't be caught dead buying this anyway so I can understand the little mistake.
I have to say that I've encountered more respect for people's opinions in high school than when it comes to Duran Duran in the outside world and I find that very sad. I'm guessing that those considering buying this have heard Duran Duran before and therefore those who hate the band should put their time to better use but if you haven't then yes I would suggest you hear some of their songs first before considering this album. I'm one of those people who think that's the safest thing to do with any band since tastes in music is so subjective. But the only thing worse than modeling your likes and dislikes after what's "cool" is trying to convince others to go with the flow. That's where my name comes in. It's also a quote from a Duran Duran song. Too bad all the haters will be lost there because this last part is for them. ... Read more

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As charming as the McGarrigle Sisters and pulsating as a scaled-down Lucious Jackson, Los Angeles duo The Ditty Bops call upon a 20th century grab bag of musical trends for the dozensongs that make up their eccentric debut album. Abby DeWald (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Amanda Barrett (vocals, mandolin, dulcimer) employ their effortless harmonies as instruments as they sashay through an influential spectrum that spans Bix Beiderbecke’s swinging twenties, through the Hot Club Quintet of France by way of Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, and into the contemporary experimentation of producer Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Suzanne Vega). The lyrics may never garner a Walt Whitman prize ("Why does blood turn brown when it dries?" and "Why can’t white people play the blues?" the Bops wonder in "Wishful Thinking"), but they do offer the perfect, sing-a-long complement for the twosome’s intoxicating, foot-tapping melodies. Give the record three spins. You’ll know every song. --Scott Holter ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

"I'm ready / Ready for what's next," Bono announces at the outset of Achtung Baby, the album that proved the so-called "band of the '80s" was capable of blazing into the '90s by replacing its flag-waving arena-rock stance with screaming synths, clubby rhythms, and industrial skronk. The group advances its sound without losing accessibility on "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses," "Even Better Than the Real Thing," and "Mysterious Ways," while pushing the envelope a bit more on "The Fly," "Zoo Station," and "Acrobat." The moody ballad "One" is arguably the finest song the band has produced, full of sorrow, compassion, and hope all at the same time. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (348)

Arguably U2's best and truly one of the all time greats
On New Year's Day 1990, Bono with his cowboy gear said after performing with BB King, "We have to go away and dream it all up again." Well what a fantastic dream they must have had, because nobody could have ever expected Achtung Baby.

Mostly recorded in the beautiful city of Berlin, U2 fed off of the mixed feelings over the re-unification of Germany. The pressures that were mounting amongst group members over the seeming impossibility of reinvention were relieved by the great music that they were producing.

The album is full of fantastic riffs from Edge's ground breaking experimentation with guitar distortion, and memorable choruses from a fine vocal performance by Bono. You'll find the classics One and Mysterious Ways, as well as the enduring live favorites Until the End of the World and Even Better than the Real Thing. However this is not a four track record as the remaining tracks are also among the group's finest works. I got it for the tracks I knew and ended up liking the others just as much or even better.

I just realized that almost a decade has passed since the time of release, and it doesn't sound even a bit out-dated: a testament to how influential it was. This album is an absolute essential.

Even Better Than The Joshua Tree Thing!
I remember when I first heard the lead-off single from this album back in the fall of 1991, "The Fly" - and how I thought that it was the sound of U2's deathknell, for its sound being a million miles from the jangly guitar of the Joshua Tree. And, initially, I disliked the overall effect of the album.

'Course, I was 15, what could I possibly have known?

Today, this stands for me as U2's crowning achievement, perhaps, after All That You Can't Leave Behind. The songs have stood the test of time, unlike the other U2 musical output of the 1990s. Zooropa doesn't quite do it for me anymore, save for "The Wanderer". In fact, my playing of Achtung Baby in 2002 sounds more refreshing, more vital, more important than when I first started to take a liking to the album in 1992. It is the sound of experimentation done successfully. "Until The End of the World" never ceases to amaze me, and "One" may well be the greatest song U2 has ever written, the anti-love love song. It also may well be the greatest sequenced U2 album, something the current 1990-2000 compilation is not. Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Chopping down the Joshua Tree could not possibly sound better!

A classic of its generation
Many great bands achieve perfection on one album, a high point of epiphany and clarity that is so obvious that it can't be denied - though that band's avid fans often like to. Be it the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper, Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, Led Zeppelin's fourth album or Elton's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - all of these albums transcend time and genre, and are immediately and eternally accepted as classics by almost everyone, far beyond the bands' fan base. That happened for a record number of artists in 1991 - perhaps the greatest year rock had since 1973. Guns n' Roses had their Use Your Illusion; Red Hot Chili Peppers had Blood Sugar Sex Magik; Nirvana scored with Nevermind, and the list goes on - Pearl Jam, Temple Of The Dog, Spin Doctors. And U2. U2 achieved perfection on Achtung Baby both in their songs and in their sound. Much of the thanks should go to the production team; Achtung is the last U2 album produced by Daniel Lanois, but Brian Eno's (the master-producer who worked with David Bowie, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, Robert Fripp and Devo, among others) influence is at its strongest here, and with the help of Mix-artist Flood (techno-wizard who helped Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins to the top) he creates a new sound for U2, a sound that is rougher, harder and more electric, but also more captivating and more powerful than they ever were before. U2 dragged themselves kicking and screaming out of the 80s, emerged out of pop-rock and into the alternative and the avant-garde, and created an album that is at once catchy and groundbreaking.

From the very first sounds of the album's opening track, 'Zoo Station', it's clear that this will be a very different experience from The Joshua Tree or anything else they released before. The song is by far the heaviest and hardest track on the album, which makes for a great opener and a great introduction to the 'new', more produced, more experimental U2. That is not to say that the band mates' celebrated skills are nowhere to be seen; in fact, The Edge's guitar sounds better than ever, but he abandoned the clean tone that made him famous during the Joshua Tree / Rattle & Hum period for a much harsher, more distorted sound. What attracted me to U2's music was always the sound rather than the songs, and on Achtung Baby the sound is all around perfect. That can be felt on the album's catchier, mellower pop tunes, like the hit ballad 'One' and the successful single 'Mysterious Ways', as well as on the more experimental pieces - 'The Fly', 'Love Is Blindness', or 'Even Better Than The Real Thing'. U2 made a completely new band out of themselves in 1991, in terms of both music and subject matter; politics are nowhere to be found on Achtung Baby, and even the love songs have become more complex and sarcastic. U2 and Bono are darker here than they ever were.

But all that does not mean that they lost they skill for making catchy tunes; on the contrary. Each song on Achtung Baby is a perfect pop song, and it produced a number of hit singles that equals its massively successful predecessor. Thus the ideal balance is struck between the qualities of each member of the band and the production team - Bono's pop poetry, The Edge's explosive guitar, Eno's always expanding experimentation, Flood's electronics. That balance will not - could not have - lasted for more than one album; Eno would take over on Zooropa, then Flood would have his own on Pop, and Bono would reclaim the group on All That You Can't Leave Behind. All of these albums are great for their own reasons, but not one of them could be compared to the inspiration of Achtung Baby. Even the most cynic of U2's haters should give it a listen; it really is one of the masterpieces of its time.

New Ground Broken
Berlin, 1990. U2 are months removed from the end of the "Lovetown" tour, and they are struggling to figure out what to do, as the recording sessions for the untitled new project began. For the first time in their career, they were getting nowhere, and fast. Add this to the fact that there were massive disagreements about the creative direction they should take, and the fact that The Edge was going through a difficult split from his wife at the time, and you have one very tense, very uncertain atmosphere for these recording sessions. It was a breakdown of sorts, and U2 nearly broke up. Were it not for one song, they may have never released anything together again.

Fortunately, that song did come to be, and the rest is history, as it quickly led to U2 finding their groove and figuring out what they wanted to do. Achtung Baby was a much darker, much more techno and dance-oriented then anything they had ever done. Bono's lyrical fortes have always been politics and sexual innuendo, and after a decade of political music, this album is straight a love-sex-relationships-loss record, which is no surprise as The Edge was going through his own marital split at the time and Bono was also having some problems(which have since been resolved) concerning touring and being away from his family for so long. This record captures all the different ways love can manifest itself, and, in contrast, the different ways it can be lost. Highlights include chart hits 'Even Better Than The Real Thing', 'The Fly', and 'Mysterious Ways', live favorite "'ntil The End Of The World'(which has generated so amazing performances), unknown gems 'So Cruel', "'Ultraviolet', 'Acrobat', and 'Love Is Blindness'.

When one things "Achtung Baby", however, one thinks of one song. 'One' is often considered as being right up with "Yesterday" in terms of the greatest rock ballads ever written, and more importantly is the song that saved U2 from breakup. To quote Larry Mullen Jr., "I remember walking into the control room, and hearing this riff, it's the riff from One, and just thinking, 'that is IT, THIS is something special". For me the brilliance of "One" is that it has so many different meanings that no one has ever been able to pinpoint its original genesis lyric-wise. It could be talking about tolerance and acceptance amongst the human race, it could be talking about AIDS, it could be talking about a relationship gone bad, it could even be talking about the band itself, as in the band members are not the same but they have to carry each other in order to make the band work. Just a brilliant song, as are most of the songs on this record(come on, there are only three songs on it that I haven't mentioned).

What's perhaps even more brilliant than this record is the way in which U2 decided to tour it. I am convinced that no tour will ever be able to touch the spectacle that was, "ZooTV". The brilliance of this tour lies in its intent: on the outside, when you see Bono strut on stage in a leather outfit with fly shades and slicked back hair, the band with massive amounts of hardware behind them, the first reaction is that they're a band that has let superstardom go to their heads, a group of arrogant individuals. However, this is not the case. The intent of this tour is to, in fact, make fun of the importance the media puts on things like U2 by putting all those huge TV screens on stage, while at the same time using them to bring more important issues to the public's doorstep: the gulf war, the sarajevo linkups(in which Bono talked to young people in Sarajevo during its wartime, via satellite, during shows), etc.

The most amazing part of all this is that U2 were able to make such drastic changes, take such big risks for already being the biggest band in the world, and be able to not only maintain that title, but attract legions of new fans at the same time, while still being true to the music THEY wanted to make. That hasn't happened very often at all. Ever. Fans will argue over which of masterpiece #3("The Joshua Tree") or masterpiece #4(This) is better, but I say, just appreciate "Achtung Baby" for what it is: A great, groundbreaking rock record.

Aural Prophecy that doesn't scrape your ears.
The first thing that will strike you about this album: it sounds like it came out in this decade, easily. This fact alone is what sets musicians apart from other musicians, and off the bat makes this album worth your money without anything being said of its epic content.
This has to be U2's most raw CD since War. The majority of songs on the CD are love songs composed to anonymous women, or songs at least about love. Bono, in my opinion has always contained an intense poetic propensity to describing how emotions labeled as love affect relationships. Most rarely though, Bono is unselfish with the production of songs; he has always allowed other band members to contribute or work over lyrics.
Edge (the guitarist) uses as usual his patented delay and distortion pedals to amplify his classic guitar sound, but also adds an extra 'Berlinesque,' tone his emporium of six stringed instruments.
Larry Mullen (the Percussionist) comes along slowly and steadily in this album. Regrettably he is the weakest instrumental link here, (since he had not undergone his formal training in New York yet.) He still does a more than adequate job, and definitely drags no one down.
Adam has always been a beast on the bass. Whether he styles his sounds to flashiness or he sticks to his minimal complimentary guns, he sets an incredible mood picked up on by all the other members of the band.

**Most importantly, this band has unity. Each player is completely musically on board with every other member. They compose their own music, (and of course have collaborators such as Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lilywhite, and others) but they really produce what they compose. That is something that only a handful of popular musicians can say today. Popular music is so diluted with sound technicians, pitch modifiers, (for vocalists) basically anyone who can poke their nose in and write music for pop icons.

U2 stands alone as the authentic, unblemished rock band that sings deeply and evokes deep emotion.

This CD will move you and blow you away. It gets better with every listen, something that can't be said for most CD's.

In my top 20 of all time. ... Read more

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Was it homesickness that compelled long time Los Angeles resident k. d. lang to fashion her one woman campaign for north of the border nationalism, or just plain good sense? As an organizing tool, all Canadian content has long been a mainstay of the Canadian Broadcasting System but few have selected their material with such a fine hand and a high aesthetic. The expatriate singer has taken great pains to create a sophisticated homage to her Canadian roots, elegantly reinterpreting 11 songs penned by some of her more illustrious countrymen (and women) such as Jane Siberry, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen. The idiosyncratic chanteuse turns Cohen's "Bird on a Wire" into an aching monochromatic lament, exploring new tributaries of pain that didn't exist in the original, while recasting Neil Young's "Helpless" into haunting anthem of memory and comfort, all the while sounding anything but helpless. A gorgeous love letter to her brethren, complete with an intelligent and understated orchestration. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

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Green Day takes the title International Superhits literally,offering a no-surprises compilation of all the songs that made a big dent oncommercial radio. From the pop-punk heroes' breakthrough album Dookie ("Longview," "Welcome toParadise") through Insomniac ("Brain Stew"), Nimrod ("Good Riddance [Time ofYour Life]"), and Warning("Minority"), if a record produced a hit, that song is on this album. There areonly two new tracks on the Superhits (both recorded a couple of monthsbefore the album's release)--the spazzed out rock & roll singalong "Maria" andthe puppy-dog love of "Poprocks & Coke." Because International Superhitsdoesn't pull from Green Day's early EPs and Lookout albums or offer any livevariations, though, this album is really only one for the serious-mindedcollectors who don't want to skip past a single Green Day release.-- Jennifer Maerz ... Read more

Reviews (142)

Green Day has always been my favorite band.
I've always loved Green Day, who were at their peak in 1994 and enjoyed many other hits afterwards, including Brain Stew, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), and Minority. Even with an album that only came out less than two years ago (Warning), Green Day is getting less and less recognition. With newer pop-punk bands such as Blink 182, Sum 41 and New Found Glory becoming more popular, Green Day has been ignored.

Let's get to the point. International Superhits is great for the casual listener, or just someone who wants to rediscover them. But unless you desperately want to hear Maria and Poprocks and Coke (which are decent songs), or J.A.R, I wouldn't recommend this to the fan who already has all of their Reprise releases. Unless you want a good cd to listen to all the way through, which this certainly is.

The songs are all good! There is not one song I can't listen to...truthfully, there isn't one song I don't like by Green Day. The two new songs, as previously mentioned, are both good...the catchy, but somewhat repetitive Maria, and the poppy love song of Poprocks and Coke, but they're not much compared to the others. You'll get every Green Day hit on this CD, from their first single (and possibly one of their best songs) Longview, to the timeless classic Good Riddance, to the melodic Waiting, the somewhat harsher Geek Stink Breath and Brain Stew, and the lesser known Walking Contradiction and She...they're all here. Green Day is a fun band to listen to, and this is a nice representation of them.

One thing that slightly peeved me is that there are no songs from their Lookout releases on here. I can't say I liked 1039 SOSH, but Kerplunk is my second favorite (after Nimrod). Beware! When you buy this, you're not getting the full Green Day experience...there are great songs such as Going to Pasalacqua, 2000 Light Years Away, Christie Road, and many others that aren't on here!

Oh yeah, if you want more Green Day, check out all 6 of their albums, you'll find some good songs that weren't played on the radio. They include, but aren't limited to, 86, Stuart and The Ave., Westbound Sign, Scattered, Jinx/Haushinka, Prosthetic Head ... Castaway, and Misery. ...

If you're that person who has heard songs like Longview and Good Riddance on the radio and liked them, but has never bought a Green Day release, by all means BUY THIS! Green Day fans with the entire collection, you may not want to get this unless you need something to top it all off or are just mad for the song J.A.R.

And J.A.R is a great song.

Green Day's best CD
Of course this is Green Day's best CD because it is a greatest hits CD. The album has all of their best songs , but I am a little disappointed that it had no songs from 'Kerplunk!' or '1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours', but never the less, all of the songs on the album are 'superhits' and it just reminds you what a good band Green Day are.

1. Maria

2. Poprocks & Coke

3. Longview

4. Welcome To Paradise

5. Basket Case

6. When I Come Around

7. She

8. J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Relva)

9. Geek Stink Breath

10. Brain Stew

11. Jaded

12. Walking Contradiction

13. Stuck With Me

14. Hitchin' a Ride

15. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

16. Redundant

17. Nice Guys Finish Last

18. Minority

19. Warning

20. Waiting

21. Macy's Day Parade

As you can see, most of Green Day's best songs and definitely worth buying. This album is definitely Green Day's best because the songs are better than the songs on 'Nimrod', 'Insomniac' and even 'Dookie'.

True Superhits
IF you are a punk rock fan, Green Day is your band. They are absolutely amazing and always will be. First of all, Billie-Joe Armstrong is a true rock revolutionary. He has and an unmistakable voice that will be recognized everywhere. His guitar skills are also quite accomplished. Mike "Dirnt" is by far the best bassist out there today. He is absolutely amazing. He plays the bass guitar like he is soloing on a normal electric guitar. Finally, the fantastic Tre Cool on drums. Another one of the best in his field. If you listen to the drums in the background, you will be blown away at how good he is.
International Superhits is by far their best CD yet, and it should be since it is a Greatest Hits album. Everyone of these 21 songs deserves to be on this CD and totally kicks ass. The CD starts out with two new tracks that are just as good as the rest. If you are a newcomer to green day, a casual fan, or even if you have all of their CD's, I recomend this CD. Every fan of Punk Rock or any type of Rock music for that matter should go out and buy this CD

Awesome
This is an excellent album for the summer's travels and just great for putting into your cd player and not having to skip every few songs. This album had all their hits and I fell in love with ALL of them. From the energetic and wonderful Maria to the most beautiful song Macy's Day Parade, this compilation is 21 of the best songs around. A must have for a Green Day fan or someone who has heard classics like Basket Case or Good Riddnance and want to see what this band is really made of.

Best Green Day CD Ever
hey guys, this cd is the best green day cd ever. just buy it, its awesome! its got ur fav, walking contradiction,when i come around, Longview, basketcase and much more! this cd rox and is one of the best punk rock bands i've heard. get ur copy now... ... Read more

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If Nevermind's sound is familiar now, it's only because thousands of rock records that followed itwere trying very hard to cop its style. It tears out of the speakers like a cannonball, from the punk-turbo-charged riff of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" onward, magnifying and distilling the wounded rage of 15 years of the rock underground into a single impassioned roar. Few albums have occupied the cultural consciousness like this one; of its 12 songs, roughly 10 are now standards. The record's historical weight can make it hard to hear now with fresh ears, but the monumental urgency of Kurt Cobain's screams is still shocking. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (1198)

Classic
Enter David Grohl on drums, exit Chad Channing, say hello to Geffen records. Nirvana signed to Geffen because of Sonic Youth, that's it. If they had to sign to a major, Geffen seemed ok for Sonic Youth, so Nirvana reason it should be OK for them. The production team of Butch Vig and Andy Wallace 'tidied' up the sound of the early Nirvana circa 'Bleach', but new drummer Dave Grohl was a far better, louder and more dynamic performer than Chad Channing. Nirvana live concerts had attracted Geffen Records attention in the first place. Kurt wanted the group to be popular, and could see them maybe selling as many records as Sonic Youth. 'Territorial Pissings' was considered for a single release, but it was put to them 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' might make for a better choice. The rest was, as they say, history. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' transformed the underground scene, groups like Mudhoney, even Tad were suddenly being signed by major labels, 'Grunge' was well and truly born and 'Nevermind' eventually knocked Michael Jackson off the top of the album charts. That was seen as slightly significant..... 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' itself is actually nothing other similar groups hadn't done before. Kurt himself was actually unsure about the song, considering it's structure too similar the songs by The Pixies in particular. For whatever reason though, it was Nirvana not The Pixies who would make the breakthrough. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was huge, but never the best song on this album. 'In Bloom' is better, clever lyrically certainly. And then we have the guitar that runs through 'Come As You Are' and it's great stuff, especially Kurt's guitar solo.

'Breed' is as raw and thrilling as anything from 'Bleach' in terms of sound, the bass groove is fabulous, everything is fast and Kurt screams as if his life depended on it. We still have a melodic chorus, the melody thing had been with Nirvana right from the start though, witness 'About A Girl'. 'Lithium' became another big single, with a great 'yeah, yeah, yeaaeahahh' chorus. 'Polly' revealed a previously unimagined softer side of the group, just Kurt and acoustic guitar for the most part. A lovely song, though. 'Territorial Pissings' is back to the more demented Nirvana sound of their earlier work with fuzzy, distorted guitars, absolutely amazing drumming, fabulous throat splitting vocals from Kurt. A wonderful song. 'Drain You' is one of my own personal favourites on the album, certainly a less celebrated song than much of the first half, but there is something simple about this, certainly it's a more straightforward song production and mixing wise. I like the melody, I love Kurt's vocal. It's as simple as that. 'Lounge Act' is a weaker song on the record, 'Stay Away' back to the furious drumming and groovy bass parts. More Kurt Cobain screaming, and this is an enjoyable song. 'On A Plain' does nothing the rest of the album already hasn't, and can get trying at times although the chorus still has a mighty big hook stuck all through it. Perhaps the most remarkable song on 'Nevermind' isn't 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' although that was certainly the most important song here. The closing 'Something In The Way' has a semi-mumbled, weary Kurt vocal, a lovely, beautiful melody notable for a haunting Cello running through the chorus. It's a great song, simple as that.

A great album, not as great as some would have you believe, not as BAD as those complaining that the singles from this record are played on MTV and the radio so often as to reach the point of throwing up if you hear 'In Bloom' just one more time. This is now an omni-present all time classic of rock in terms of status. It's never going to go away.

A truly revolutionary album
Nirvana may not have been the first alternative rock band ever. In fact, Nevermind, their biggest album, may not be the best alternative rock album ever (Ten by Pearl Jam and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by Smashing Pumpkins give it some tough competition). But one thing can't be denied: Nevermind was the album that made it all possible. Anyone who enjoys the music that sprang from alt-rock's "golden age" (1991-about 1996) owes something to this album. Even listening to it today is an experience. Its music bombards your ears with an assault of punk energy, tempered by just enough pop sensibility to make it extremely enjoyable and tremendously good at the same time. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" can rightfully be regarded as the first real grunge rock hit, and it is the album's most popular song. "In Bloom" is probably the best track on Nevermind, thundering out of the speakers with truck loads of hard, melodic force. "Lithium" and "Come As You Are" are also two very good and very big hits from the album. "Breed", though it didn't become a megahit, is probably the second best song on the album, thrashing forth with superspeed punk velocity (it's one of those songs you just can't get out of your head). Overall, this album was truly groundbreaking, and deserves a 5 just for its originality and influence. But it is also incredibly enjoyable, and it sounds just as monumental today as it did ten years ago.

I've never listened to this album, but...
A friend of bought this album four months ago after repeatedly reading how utterly fantastic it was,how it was probably the greatest album ever. Today he uses it as a coaster for cups of coffee.

13 years and still kicking
well, depending on what u grew up with all changes the aspect of what you like...so all opinions are welcomed, but in my opinion nirvana has qualities that some bands could only dream to master, instand fame, and kurt's ability to write lyrics, just listen to what he has to say before you criticize his voice, everyone is born with a different vocal talent. And then there's my man Dave Grohl on drums where he belongs, not on guitar with the foo fighters, anyways, nirvana had the attitude needed for this decade and if not for them...music today would not be the same, you can't deny it...

DIS ALBUM ROX
this album is by far the best album of the 90's! anyone who doesn't have dis album has 2 get it. with a song like, smells like teen spirit, who could go wrong? everytime i listen to this album, it just blows me away. Kurt is the ultimate, and if u dont have dis album, u r totally missin out! get it! it rox! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Bursting at the seams with creative energy, the Clash's stunning 1979 double album more than made up for the artistic and commercial disappointment of its predecessor, 1978's tried-too-hard Give 'Em Enough Rope. With ex-Mott the Hoople producer Guy Stevens harnessing their sound as never before, the band yielded what proved to be the best work of their career. Bouncing from hard rock (the apocalyptic vision of the title track) to rockabilly ("Brand New Cadillac") to reggae ("Rudy Can't Fail") topop (the Top 40 hit "Train in Vain"), the Clash knocked down all musical walls and, in the process, ended the argument over punk's viability in the U.S. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (310)

must have for any music collection
The cover is a copy of Elvis Presley's first studio album -showing that the Clash meant to change things.The Sex pistols divided the history of rock and roll in half and this album meant to set the record straight the the next era of rock and roll was personal. I think no other album set such lofty sights since sargents peppers and no other recording has taken itself higher. Sorry Beatles this is the greatest album of all time bar none. Joe strummers voice is amazing.As it mixes with the more polished Mick Jones, it set a new standard for dueling rock singers. London Calling sets the record off " London Calling to the far away lands/ now war is discovered and battles coming down" the hopelessness of 30% unemployment in london and the threat of nuclear war on the youth of the world with out a say in their own future. "london is drowning/ and I live by the river"
I remember putting on album one and was still in my room (at 16) 7 hours later listening to this gem of a recording.
By favorite tracks are Hateful about a drug addict and his dealer.Clampdown about apartied in South Africa(years before MTV and Paul Simmon thought it was cool to deal with).All lost in the supermarket about feeling lost and out of place in your own world.Revolution Rock great raggae song. Spanish Bombs and Lovers rock about taking responsiblity for your sex life.
All pretty heady subjects for a rock group, but the clash took their fans seriously and with respect. Listening to this album was a revolution battle cry for the 80's of Reagan and the arms race at any cost.

One of the top 5 albums ever - period
Here are the top 5 albums in the history of rock and roll. 1. The Beatles- Revolver 2. The Beach Boys- Pet Sounds 3. Bob Dylan- Blonde on Blonde 4. The Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 5. The Clash- London Calling

That's no misprint, this album is THAT good. Every single song is just plain amazing on this album, from the raw punk power of "London Calling," to the rockabilly of "Brand New Cadillac," to the introspection of "Lost in the Supermarket," the rhythm of "Rudie Can't Fail," and the pop genius of "Train in Vain," this album is bursting with styles and makes up the ultimate rock record, blending punk, pop, reggae, and rock together and making a sound so full of joy and purpose, it hasn't been reproduced since. Why this band seems to be forgotten, I have no idea, but just remember that the real slayers of stupid hair rock started the battle in 1977, and triumphed with this album in 1979, paving the way for intelligent rock in the 80's and alt rock in the 90's. I just can't say enough about this album, whenever I put it in, I end up listening to the whole thing, this album is perfect, amazing, inspiring, and rock at it's finest. Any serious music fan who does not have this album should be ashamed of themselves, this is the BEST album to come out of the 1970s (Yes, it's better than Zeppelin IV, Songs in the Key of Life, Imagine, Exile on Main Street, and Never Mind the Bullocks to name a few). Please, buy this album, or at least take a listen on the site, it's catchy, full of raw emotion. There is a song for every mood, and yet its cohesive as a celebration of life, and rock n roll. Daring, and beautiful, London Calling is one of the top 5 albums of all time, buy this NOW!!!!!!!!!

One of the best punk albums EVER!
London Calling from the Clash is the basis for any punk music. They even had some reggae styles in songs like Guns of Brixton, Rudie Can't Fail, and Revolution Rock. This whole album is solid with a statement. Well worth the money.

'That's so punk rock.'
Jack Black spouts this in the recent film, 'School of Rock', as he sees school kids taking over a bus, and it's funny to many people, but some may scratch their heads. Why? Simply because the image of punk rock today is so distorted. It's albums like this where you really see how trashed the name punk became and what the hell IS punk rock.

'London Calling' is a vertebrae for all that is different in the genre so aptly labeled, punk. It has a melodic rock sound, it has reggae/rhythmic vibes, and it's definitely not the same each time around. Strummer Inc. made something that was basically a road sign that took you off the main highway. From the title track forward, the album is a raw slam with lessons and literature.

From 'Guns of Brixton' to 'Rudie Can't Fail', I mean, where do you not see difference? When everyone mentions punk and the godfathers behind it, they never mention Bowie, The Who, or even Cash, they always mention the now brothers and siblings of punk, Ramones and Sex Pistols. What makes The Clash so different from them is that this isn't the usual taste of punk, it's rock and roll daring to be different...which is what punk is in general. If everyone's wearing greasy hair, the kid with the hat is more punk rock than the bar chords of today.

See that's why 'London Calling' is so exceptional. It's such a farce in today's standards that punk rock is the ridiculous truckers' hats sideways and the shorts all mocked up;in actuality it's a fad that everyone does, contradicting what it is! It's laughable if you know where I'm coming from. In conclusion, punk rock is rare...and it's certainly not what it's called today. You want originality, theory, and difference? 'London Calling' is, no pun intended, your calling.

Exceptional is an understatement.

another worthless blurb about a masterpiece
the best album i've bought since the strokes, and when it comes down to it, so much better than the strokes it ain't even funny. this band sired the strokes. i've never been a big punk fan, but this isn't punk...it's way better than just that. this album covers just about every music genre there is, opera and country aside. absolutely amazing...not a single poor track on the entire record--and it's loooong. it came out the year i was born, 1979, and i have no idea why it hasn't gotten more credit outside the punk community. i mean, all the critics loved it, and still do, and it's considered classic, but it's also very accessible, immediately affecting/inspiring. so good. favorite tracks: "rudie can't fail," "hateful," "train and vain,"...the last one of which you've probably all heard, whether you know it or not.

easily one of the greatest albums ever released by any band in any genre, during any decade. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Her intensely personal lyrics grabbed the headlines, but the bravest departure here is the way Morissette's unique vocals stand naked in the mix--a technique that drives home the painful honesty of tracks like "Right Through You," "Forgiven," and "All I Really Want."Sheryl Crow or an earthier Tori Amos are fair analogies, but Morissette is a genuine original with a rare ability to make listeners care, think, and question.--Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (403)

Amazing truth and variety of emotions bring Morissette alive
A few months ago I had never really heard mush of Alanis, except for 'Head Over Feet,''Ironic,' and I danced the Rumba to 'Thank U.' The songs were okay, but when asked to speak of great music artist, she was not even in my top twenty. Then my friend Ali gave me 'Jagged Little Pill' as a gift. I have never been so surprised by an album, nor have listened to it as much in so short a time. The power of her lyrics and the variety of beats seem to speak right to a person, and aren't at all superficial.

'Perfect,' my all-time favorite, is heart-wrenching the the fact that it is true in so many places, but is then followed by 'Hand in My Pocket,' showing that though seh will go through things it doesn't seem she can handle, she can come out on top. 'Forgiven' is a torn and tattered ballad that seems to sear you within with it's pathetic cries, and 'Mary Jane' will be one that thousands of people can understand, either in 1st or 3rd person.

Her sassy and angry music are great at times, and show that she isn't all whiny ballads and 'hurting,' that she can kick someone's butt if need be. But the one that shows the most soul is the hidden track at the end, which she does acapella. If you want to know Morisette, listen to that.

With feeling
The '90s was a decade marked by good CDs from many female rockers, such as Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant, and Sarah McLachlan, but Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill is clearly one of the stickouts. Moreover, among well-known '90s CDs, only Nirvana's Nevermind and Pearl Jam's Ten compare to "Pill" in intensity. But Alanis's songwriting is more consistent track for track than Kurt Cobain's or Eddie Vedder's. On this album, her introspective lyrics and riveting vocals are complemented by a smoking band featuring members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Any musical shortfall is made up for by the fire and panache of Alanis and her backers.

Each cut on Pill is marked by sharp guitar riffs and clever lyrical hooks. Interestingly, the songs seem to change tempo and intensity more often than the norm, moving between slow/soft and fast/loud, giving Alanis a chance to express her angst in different musical settings. The rhythm guitar blasts in the choruses of "You Oughta Know," "You Learn," and "Ironic" are staples of FM radi