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Based on the hit comic book about a man who returns from the dead to avenge his killers, the film adaptation of The Crow suffered a cruel irony when star Brandon Lee (son of martial arts superstar Bruce Lee) died during production after a bizarre onset accident. That event only deepened the film's aura of death and gothic unease, moods that are brilliantly underscored by this well-chosen collection of stark alt rock, dark metal, and industrial dirges.

The opener, the Cure's typically angst-ridden "Burn," is about as sentimental as this album gets, bookended by Jane Siberry's wistful "It Can't Rain All the Time." Sandwiched in between is a virtual primer on powerful mid-1990s alt and industrial rock, from Nine Inch Nails hammering Joy Division's "Dead Souls" into its own image to the blistering snarl of Helmet, Pantera, and the Rollins Band. So-called pop-song scores often have a cheap afterthought feel to them; this one, a refreshingly integral part of the film itself, stands as a great album in its own right. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (44)

my "trapped on a desert island" cd
There's so much to love about this soundtrack. It's dark, but it also has its tender parts, like the movie did. The cure starts the cd with "Burn", a tortured, haunting, strange kind of love song befitting of Robert Smith on a bad day. The Machines of Loving Grace come next with a breathy, sinister vocals and minimal guitar. Stone Temple Pilots' Big Empty is reflective and powerful, and is one of STP's easier songs to sing along with, as you'll no doubt be doing. Nine Inch Nails' cover of Deads Souls is up to true Trent Reznor form, screaming about torment, in the beautiful way. Rage Against the Machine, Rollins Band, Helmet, Pantera, and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult add acid to the mix while the Violent Femmes, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Medicine, and Jane Siberry mellow it for just the right amount of contrast. Perfecto.

Everything a soundtrack should be
The Crow soundtrack not only reflects the dark mood of the film, it actually did much to create that dark mood in the first place. One is hard pressed to say which came first, the movie or the music; that is how closely linked both aspects of the production are. Jane Siberry's It Can't Rain All the Time will forever be identified with The Crow in my mind; this hauntingly beautiful track makes this album worth buying all by itself; I know of no other song I could even compare it to in terms of its depth of feeling and quiet intensity. The other 13 tracks are pretty amazing songs in their own right, serving up a sampler of styles from rock's slightly darker and heavier side. Stone Temple Pilot's Big Empty is immediately recognizable to anyone who ever listened to a radio in the early 1990s, but I most enjoyed hearing some offerings from bands I am less familiar with. My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult is a band I have never heard of outside of The Crow soundtrack, and I'm really surprised this group has not received more attention over the years. For Love Not Lisa is another group that impressed me, especially with the "I would die for you" refrain that forms the heart of their song Slip Slide Melting. I know Pantera only be reputation, and I'm glad I got to hear a sampling of their work here. Nine Inch Nails and Rage Against the Machine are two bands that have never captured my attention, but their contributions to this soundtrack have me thinking I ought to take another look at them. Rollins Band's Ghostrider came as a bit of a shock to me because the lead singer sounds remarkably like Jim Morrison, and this song really has the sound of a modernized Doors song. The Cure and Violent Femmes are two of my favorite groups, so I could ask nothing more of a soundtrack than to include an incredible new song from each of them. There really and truly is not a bad song to be found among these fourteen tracks. Those who abstain from the heavier side of rock and roll may not enjoy this album as much as I do, but this is an impressive assembly of substantive tracks from a diverse spectrum of quality artists, and every single track serves a real purpose in the movie itself.

Great soundtrack to a great movie
I recently watched "The Crow" on the Sundance Channel and although I knew about the movie I had never really seen it. I really liked the movie and ordered the soundtrack. I admired the tragic story esp. with the death of Brandon Lee in the making and the stylish filmaking, but there was something special about the movie and the soundtrack really takes you back to the movie. The soundtrack rocks and I am so glad I got it. Even without the movie this collection of early 90's rock really stands out.

one of the best soundtracks out there
this sountrack is wonderful. just listening to the album takes you through the movie itself. the frist track by The Cure is great. being the first track, it really draws you in and keeps you curious about the rest of the album. overall i think its just plain great.

Moody Soundtrack for a Moody Movie
"The Crow" soundtrack (which is dedicated to the memory of the late Brandon Lee who died while filming the movie and will always be remembered by the part he plays, whether he likes it or not) opens with a spellbinding, quintessential "Crow" song: "Burn" by The Cure, a song linked to the transformational movie scene where Eric Draven (Lee) decorates himself in white foundation, black leather and lipstick after revisiting his trashed apartment. Machines of Loving Grace's "Golgotha Tenement Blues" (#2) and Nine Inch Nails' "Dead Souls" (#4) follow in this same ambiance, keeping with the dark moodiness of the film. The heavier, more aggressive side to this soundtrack can found in tracks like [#9] "The Badge" by Pantera, [#10] "Slip Slide Melting" by For Love Not Lisa, and [#11] "After the Flesh" by My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult--all favorites of mine. After this last song, I generally turn the CD off before the remaining three sappy tracks, which wrap up with the Jane Siberry tune that's titled after the words in the movie: "It can't rain all the time." If you're a fan of this 1994 dark fantasy--or you just like the majority of alternative rock bands/artists on here--then this soundtrack is certainly worth owning. It's a great piece of "The Crow" nostalgia. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No less a suspect pop-culture authority than Howard Stern has repeatedly proclaimed that "everyone loves lesbians!" But what do lesbians love? Rhino Records boldly claims to know the musical answer to that question on this richly eclectic collection of female artists compiled for a lesbian audience. And if that's a bold--if readily transparent--marketing move, it shouldn't distract one from the charms of this cross-genre compilation. The songs here run the gamut from acoustic angst (Ani DiFranco) to pop (Wendy and Lisa, Jill Sobule), MOR (Taylor Dayne), folk (Two Nice Girls), and dance (Fem 2 Fem). k.d. lang contributes "Just Keep Me Moving," while cult fave Phranc gives Herman's Hermits hoary"Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" a new slant. The emotions range from intense eroticism (particularly Janis Ian's sultry "Ride Me Like a Wave") to the steely pragmatism of Sandra Bernhard's remake of Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover."-Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (11)

My Kind Of Music
After listening to this album I struggled to reach a decision on my overall view, but generally the album is very good and is worth buying. With the eception of K.D.Lang I hadn't heard of any of the artists before and now I wonder why? I love track 5. Cool as I am - Dar Williams and it is the one I play the most. Other tracks I would recommend are, 3. I kissed a girl - Jill Sobule, 9. I'll be your shelter- Taylor Dayne, 10. Prey to you - Kristen Hall and 16. Twist in my sobriety - Tanita Tikaram. The only songs that I disliked were the last two, 50 ways to leave your lover - Sandra Bernhard and I spent my last $10.00 (on birth control and beer)- Two Nice Girls. All in all its a good album that every girl should have.

Not just for women.
I'm a straight guy. Matter of fact, I look like the bouncer who wouldn't let you into that bar in college. That having been said, let's chuck all stereotypes, theirs no room for them in music. I know the average buyer would dismiss this title without giving it a second look. But, Lesbian Favorites earns, at least a peak. We all know and respect K.D. Lang, Taylor Dayne, and Ani DiFranco. If you're a fan, chances are you already have these songs. But, it's the artistes who've been hiding in the periphery that make this collection required listening for folk/rock fans. Case in point: Gretchen Phillips who gained notoriety with Two Nice Girls in the early nineties. You remember, she was the architect behind the alt classic "I spent my last $10.00 on birth control and beer." What? Haven't heard it. No problem, it's track 18. As for Grech's previously unissued cut "Swimming", take my word that it would challenge the eroticism of any other song on the market. Another notable is Disappear Fear. A nifty duet from Maryland, that lives halfway between the Indigo Girls and Shawn Colvin. Others such as: Jane Siberry, Farron, Dar Williams, and Janis Ian have been making great music for a long time and deserve their day in court. If you're a folk/rock fan then check out this groovy sample of first-rate musicians.

I am not a lesbian, but this album may change my mind!
I love this album. I first became interested in female music when I heard Roshan Murthy sing about dookie. Basically, I hate this cd, but its worth listening to. Check it out and maybe you too will become a lesbian. Being a man, I dont think its possible for me to have any common interests with these women, but more power to you. I have guy friends who are interested in other guys....so I think I can understand the the women's struggle for equality.

More of a Bi favorites CD
My sister had the CD, and I loved it. I actually got it for the last song by 2 nice girls, but have enjoyed most of the cd. Many of the songs could easily be sung about a man or a woman, and some of them will appeal to both Bi's and lesbians. Perhaps because I am not a lesbian, about a fourth of the songs grated on my nerves after a few minutes, but the first five tracks and the last four are a good reason for any bi or straight woman to get this cd, or maybe a man who wants to encourage his girlfriend to try women.

Very Misleading
I bought this cd hoping for hot lesbian confessions, or at least a bunch of women moaning, and all I got was so terrible music. I guess a couple of the songs were good, but overall, it was just a waste of my money. No good lesbian stuff here. ... Read more

Album Description

A collection of previously unreleased live recordingsbroadcast on 'Morning Becomes Eclectic,' the daily musicprogram at 89.9 KCRW in Santa Monica, Ca. Featuring artists like Coldplay, Zero 7, Air, REM, Nick Cave, Dido and NorahJones. Palm Pictures. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pass on this one
Radio station in-house recordings can be hit or miss. The Mountain and others have some really great productions. I wish I had passed on this one. The selections are poor with no production quality.

Accurate Sampling of the morning show
KCRW and Nic Harcourt are part of my morning commute each day. The music is said to represent what cannot be heard elsewhere on the radio. For the most part they succeed in coloring my morning with class, elegance and quality--and that can be found on the CD. But aren't Norah Jones and Coldplay all over FM now? Whats amazing is how clear these recorded versions are; on most you couldn't even tell they were live in-studio performances.

I love the station, Nic and the music, BUT the one complaint is that selections are sometimes turgid and try to reach toward intellectualism/elitism. There's not really anything meaty, soulful, street or dance- though Venegas adds a little color. So in the true sense of the word, its not as 'eclectic' as the title would seem to imply. Again, this is what you hear on the show.

Still...a lovely selection to add to your collection.

Fabulous live (unplugged) performances from the best artists
This album (the second in the "Sounds Eclectic" series) compiles some of the best works from one of the most eclectic radio shows there is: Morning Becomes Eclectic, which airs from Santa Monica's station KCRW (also catch the streamed version of their programs at KCRW.org). It's hard to pick one of the tracks above others: all in all, the album provides an excellent sample of some of today's best acts. However, I do have some personal favorites:
-The version of "Yellow" performed on piano, by Coldplay's Chris Martin;
-REM's beautiful rendition of their hit from their latest album, "I've Been High;"
-A plunge into the work of one of Mexico's (and Latin America's) best rock acts, Julieta Venegas, performing "Casa Abandonada;"
-"Fever," a track that brings to mind Stillwater's "Fever Dog," an awesome road track;
-"Jesus on a Greyhound," one of my favorite discoveries from this album, performed by Shelby Lynne; and
-Norah Jones' "Feeling the Same Way," wrapping up the selection made by the show's DJ, Nic Harcourt.

Get a copy of this album and you will be able to sample the best of today's musical works. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

........this album.........
.

I'm honestly a little suprised I gave this album 5stars as some of the songs are weak. But make no mistake--the album is great when taken as a whole, and that's exactly how it should be taken. There's a lot of talent here (Matthew Sweet, Sonic Youth, Sheryl Crow, Grant Lee Buffalo), some of which does better than others. There's kookiness here with the bizarro Japanese band Shonen Knife (and this very well might be their best recording). Pre-album Dishwalla makes a strong showing and we can also remember why we all loved 4 Non Blondes.

Why exactly this album works I can't say. But it's one of my favorites. I you like alternative and if you like the Carpenters and sometimes wonder how it's possible to like them both, buy this.

How you found this album is beyond me, but if you're here, I can already guarantee you'll like it enough to make it worth your don.

ps--Richard Caprenter is not forgotten! he plays keyboards w/ MSweet!

pps--My dad heard Shonen Knife's bouncy rendition of "On Top of the World" (his & m'mom's song) and was shocked that is was degraded into "hard rock". If you're familiar w/ Shonen Knife you'll undoubtably find this classification bewildering. My point is, if your musical tastes run parallel w/ my father's, burn your monitor Right Now.

Not a sorry attempt to "copy" Karen's unique sound
This album is what a tribute album should be. Most tribute albums are just newer artists singing a "copy" of the original. This album is a pleasant surprise because it is 90's bands performing the songs in a new style. Sure, there are some weak covers (I did not care for Cracker's version of "Rainy Days and Mondays") but most are AWESOME! My personal favorite is Dishwalla's version of "It's Going To Take Some Time", Sheryl Crow's "Solitaire", and Redd Kross's "Yesterday Once More". The other songs are well done as well. Shonen Knife's cover of "Top of The World" is a lot of fun.
To be honest I do not see any other way a tribute to the Carpenters could have been done. There is no way to copy Karen's unique and haunting voice so the best way to honor her memory (besides listening to her recordings) is to bring her's and Richard's music to the younger generation.
I do not think the artists that participated meant any disrespect to the Carpenters music. They simply wanted to show that The Carpenters music doesn't have to be for our parents' ears!

I THINK I'M GONNA BE SICK
This album is without a doubt the most repulsive thing I have ever heard. These poorly executed renditions of Carpenters songs blatantly spit on the memory of one of the greatest singers who ever lived. Shame on anyone who had anything to do with this travesty that calls itself a tribute! If you loved The Carpenters and were thinking of buying this album because you thought it would do justice to their legacy, don't bother. Hearing the butchery of their music will only break your heart, or make you so angry you can't see straight. If you've always hated The Carpenters and enjoy making fun of them, then, by all means, buy this album and revel in its awfulness, get out your guitar or your kazoo or whatever, learn the songs, and see if you can possibly perform them any worse than the artists on this album do. (Odds are pretty good you can't.) And, if you have an eating disorder and wish to get better, don't buy this album; once you hear it you'll probably never eat again. The only place this album belongs is in a landfill.

The Only Covers cd I would ever talk about
Amazing Cd... Not all songs are great, but the ones that are make up for it. Great job by all though. Who would have known I would become a fan of the carpenters.

I highly recomend this disc. Sonic Youth, Mathew Sweet, Sheryl Crown, The Cranberries, Redd Kross, Grant Lee Buffalo, and many more. Such a good Cd.

Superstars.
This should appeal to those who either enjoy "The Carpenters", or the mid-90's alternative scene, and especially to those who like both. I'm one of those people. While I'm not a "Carpenters" fanatic, I do know all the originals enough to really like the covers. Almost all of these are good, but the covers by "Shonen Knife", "Sonic Youth", and "Grant Lee Buffalo" are great. My favorite might actually be from "Sheryl Crow". Her rendition of "Solitaire" is excellent. So basically, it's just a great "Carpenters" flavored alterna-sampler that most anyone should love playing on "Rainy Days and Mondays". ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Fantastic if you like Leonard Cohen or a few of these bands.
Tribute albums are always a mixed bag but the standard of material makes this listenable right the way through. The massive highlight for me is the Pixies doing 'I can't forget' in a true Pixies style and making it sound for all the world like it's always been their song - and one of their best songs at that. Truely breathtaking. If you like the Pixies and haven't heard this song buy the c.d. - it's worth it (and the rest is pretty good too!)

John Cale's cover of 'Hallelujah' is a real unexpected gem while James mix up the lyrics on 'So Long Marianne' but come out on top and House of Love do a luxurious 'Who by Fire'. REM are disappointing with a really unadventurous plod through 'First we take Manhattan' - I anticipated a much more interesting interprettation from them.

If you like Leonard Cohen or some of the bands here it's definitely worth getting - even the lesser covers don't damage some wonderful songs.

I'm a fan
I heard this album before I had heard any of Leonard Cohen's work. Such was the effect on me that I immediately sought out work of the man who had inspired this, and have been a fan of Cohen's ever since. Tribute albums can always be hit and miss affairs, but there are no misses on this. There is a strong feeling of deep respect for the man throughout the record. It is difficult to single out particular tracks, but Geoffrey Oryema's Marianne, The Pixies I can't forget and John Cale's Hallelujah are probably the cream of this bounteous crop. If you are into any of the bands on this, or looking for an easy route to enjoying Cohen's music, or even an ardent fan of the man, this is certainly worth having. A similar tribute album called "Tower of Song" also exists, but this is far superior.

A middling tribute album
After spending the last few years wandering other musical landscapes, I rediscovered Leonard Cohen this year (years after being a mega LC geek in school) and especially wanted to seek this album out again.

Compared to Famous Blue Raincoat (much shorter but much, much more luminous), I'm Your Fan is middling. What's up with the two covers of Tower of Song? Why is the cover of Suzanne so freaking boring? But then there are the beautiful plusses -- A Singer Must Die, the funky cover of Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On (who wouldn't want to hear THAT at a wedding?) and the oft-mentioned version of Hallelujah. I really like the French version of Avalanche (I didn't get the original for many years after this and was very surprised as my hand translated version was very different).

Bottom line: if you want 1 LC tribute CD, get Jennifer Warnes's. If you want 2, get this one too.

A must have
I bought this CD when it first came out in the 90's, as part of my R.E.M comprehensive collection. Since that time, this has stayed constantly near or in my CD player. Each interpretation of his songs highlights the beauty of the lyric he composed.

I would be hard pressed to find a favorite track. I am a die hard R.E.M fan, but I don't think theirs is the best (near the top, maybe). But I would have to agree with most about The Pixies rendition of "I Can't Forget".

not the best cd in the world
i got this as a gift, and since i enjoy leonard cohen music, i expected to enjoy this too, it's wasn't too dissapointed, but most of the interpetations to his songs are either trying to sounds just like leonard cohen or just too strange or unfit to the songs in my eyes.

if anyone's looking to a good introduction to leonard cohen, i suggest "the best of" or just spending your money on any other leonard cohen cd, in this case i think, the sorce's still much superiour to the reflection, yes, the nick cave interpetation is great, but it doesn't justify getting the whole cd. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Some missteps, but not bad
Summer of Drugs/Soul Asylum
Probably the darkest song Victoria has ever recorded. Soul Asylum does a good job. Almost as good as the original.

Main Road/Lucinda Williams
Victoria's version is kind of hard to crack, somewhat overproduced. Lucinda does a great job finding the "song" and bringing it into sharp relief. One of the CDs highlights.

Crazy Mary/Pearl Jam
Not a Pearl Jam fan, but this is the definitive version of Crazy Mary. I sure don't miss the Van Dyke Parks string arrangement that bothers me on the original. Eddie Vedder sounds awesome.

Merry Go Round/Buffalo Tom
A delightful, punky version of the original.

Weeds/Michael Penn
Penn does an admirable job. Instrumentation/arrangement is tops, but this is one of those songs that only Victoria can really bring to life.

Animal Wild/Shudder to Think
Indie guitar rock version of one of Vic's lesser-songs sounds like it was written just for them.

Tarbelly and Featherfoot/Lou Reed
I know Lou Reed is a big Victoria fan, but this sounds like a reject from Songs for Drella. Doesn't come close to capturing the wonder of this classic Victoria song.

Opelousas/Maria McKee
McKee sure has a big voice and this is a big production. An interpretation that doesn't stray to far from the original

This Moment/Matthew Sweet
Too bad this has yet to appear on a Victoria studio album. Very nice.

Frying Pan/Evan Dando
Another Victoria classic. I had the fortune of hearing Vic's version first. Some songs just shouldn't be slowed down.

Lights/Jayhawks
Another Victoria song that is kind of hard to grasp. But the Jayhawks turn it into a memorable, twangy treat. Another highlight. The best cut on the CD.

Why Look At The Moon/Waterboys
Fluffy, jaunty, entertaining version, played like an Irish jig or something by the Waterboys.

Big Fish/Giant Sand
Unrecognizable in the hands of Howe and friends. Not very listenable either. For much better Giant Sand/Victoria collaborations, check out Ramp, by Giant Sand.

Holy Spirit/Michelle Shocked
Shocked's dramatic bellowing doesn't really do this song justice. She tries hard. It's okay, I guess.

A victory for "Victoria'.
This disc was released as a benefit for "Victoria Williams", but I feel like I've benefited from it myself as well. Her songs are all good, but the group of musicians covering them is even better. "Pearl Jam" probably got the most people to buy this, however I like the songs done by "Soul Asylum", "Evan Dando", "Waterboys", and "Lucinda Williams" just as much. "The Jayhawks" and "Matthew Sweet" do a good job too. Basically it's just a really good bunch of music. Also, there's currently 121 used copies on here for sale, so it shouldn't be too hard to come by.

Great intentions, fair CD
Sweet Relief is proof that the best of intentions don't necessarily guarantee a great CD.

The first and foremost goal of this CD was to raise money for musician for Victoria Williams, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and had no medical insurance.

The CD's songs are written by Williams and covered by some of the hottest "alternative" bands of the 90s. How disappointing, then, that the disc's inspired performances are the exception rather than the rule.

Things start out promising enough with Soul Asylum's acid-tongued performance on "Summer of Drugs", which arguably features some of Williams' best lyrics:

"Sister got bit by a copperhead snake in the woods behind the house/Nobody was home so I grabbed her foot and I sucked that poison out/Sister got better in a month or two when the swelling it went down/But I'd started out my teenage years with that poison in my mouth."

Equally outstanding performances are logged by Michael Penn on "Weeds", Pearl Jam on "Crazy Mary" and the Waterboys on the bouncy "Why Look at the Moon", but the rest of the 10 songs are merely fine to passable.

As a Williams fan, it's also worth asking why there isn't a song included by Williams herself, especially since she has a wealth of overlooked music and has continued to tour and record since her diagnosis and this CD's release.

Think about it: if more people bought her original recordings, her relief might be even sweeter.

Uneven, but Worthy
Williams' songs are idiosyncratic, to say the least, which means that some of the artists here fail to connect with the material. Check out Lou Reed and Giant Sand's ponderous selections for the ugly details. However, there are some fine things, too, not the least of which is Maria McKee's barn-burning title track, the only cover to actually improve upon the original. Elsewhere, Lucinda Williams brings the right amount of laconic yearning to "Main Road," Pearl jam does a bang-up job of "Crazy Mary" and Michelle Shocked proves herself a top-flight gospel singer on "Holy Spirit." Those who find Willaims' material loopy, self-conscious and/or rambling will find nothing here to change their minds, but its all for a good cause, and there's plenty to enjoy.

Many songs on this CD are my absolute favorites
I LOVE Lucinda Williams singing about "Little redbud, off the main road, lucky little girl." Don't know if I can exactly explain why. The melody and lyrics are fey, slightly off-kilter, but in a good way. Lucinda's voice is a perfect match with the tone of the song. Also I love the song about wild-eyed, crazy Mary. The lyrics are beautiful and perceptive, and the tune is so sad. The place associations (Louisiana) resonate with me in a specific way, since I lived in Lafayette and Baton Rouge for a short time and I have many enigmatic memories of that place. On the upside, there are 4-5 songs on this CD I cannot do without, but the rest I can take or let go. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you missed 1998's Family Values tour featuring Incubus, Orgy, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube, Rammstein, and Korn, fear not: 15 tracks from the aforementioned bands, plus "interludes," add up to well over an hour of neo-metal-angst-rap that can be enjoyed without venturing into a mosh pit. The CD is a cool deal in that it contains the best songs from each lineup, including radio hits such as Orgy's cover of New Order's "Blue Monday," Limp Bizkit's breakthrough version of George Michael's "Faith," and Rammstein's incendiary Germanic ode "Du Hast." Korn's medley of older material and singles from Follow the Leader prove why they're the headliners. In fact, this CD--and the tour itself--was partly based on the accurate assumption that Korn have such a strong influence that any band they tour with must appear Korn-approved kool to the kids. Both Ice Cube and Rammstein seem out of place, though kudos to Korn for including them. Ultimately, Family Values '98 is a great sampler for a metal-rap neophyte. --Katherine Turman ... Read more

Reviews (106)

It's All Good Except For Ice Cube
I am a big fan of KoRn and Limp Bizkit, so I thought this cd would be good. First of all I didn't hear of Incubus until this cd. Their song "New Skin" is incredible, and its one of the best on the album. Then it goes to Orgy where they have 3 pretty good songs including the hit-single "Blue Monday". After that Limp Bizkit comes on with 3 awesome songs including one of the best songs of 1998 "Faith" and House Of Pain's song "Jump Around". Then here's the part I skip, Ice Cube I feel shouldn't belong on there. Next, you have 1 song by Rammstein, their single "Du Hast". Last KoRn comes on with their first song being a mix of songs including "Shoots and Ladders",then the 2nd is "Freak On A Leash",3rd is a mix of "Twist" and "Chi", and the last one to end the album is "Got The Life". This is a really good cd for anybody who went to the Family Values Tour or just likes any of these bands, it is a great mix of some of the best bands out there today.

Great Rap/Rock/Hardcore
'Family Values Tour 1998' is a great CD. I ranked the tracks:

1. ORGY - "Blue Monday". 9/10. Great chorus, great singing, a excellent song.

2. LIMP BIZKIT - "Faith". 9/10. Great verses, great singing, heaps of DJing.

3. INCUBUS - "New Skin". 8/10. Great guitar work, great chorus, great singing, great song.

4. LIMP BIZKIT - "Jump Around". 8/10. Great singing, great rap.

5. LIMP BIZKIT - "Cambodia". 7/10. Good song, good vocals, good rap, good song.

6. ORGY - "Dissention". 7/10. Great singing, great sound.

7. ORGY - "Gender". 7/10. Good sound, good singing.

8. ICE CUBE - "Check Yo Self". 5/10. Pretty pathetic, electronic sound.

9. ICE CUBE - "Natural Born Killaz". 4/10. Repetitive, stupid.

10. KORN - "Freak on a Leash". 3/10. KoRn's best, but still bad, 'chant' is stupid, vocals are bad.

11. ICE CUBE - "Straight out Compton/ F**k tha Police". 3/10. Rappy, stupid.

12. KORN - "Got the Life". 2/10. OK but pretty bad song.

13. KORN - "Shot Liver Meleody". 2/10. Hurts ears, bad sound, pathetic.

14. RAMMSTEIN - "Du Hast". 1/10. Bad singing, German, electronic, pathetic.

15. KORN - "Twist/ Chi". 0/10. No words, worst track, horrible.

I also ranked the bands:

1. LIMP BIZKIT - Great audience connection, great songs. 8.5/10.

2. INCUBUS - Should have played more, "New Skin" is great. 8/10.

3. ORGY - Great songs, great singing and a great band! 7.5/10.

4. ICE CUBE - Bad Rap, bad songs. 4/10.

5. KORN - Bad vocals, bad songs. 2/10.

6. RAMMSTEIN - Bad song, very, very bad band. 1/10.

Overall, this CD is great. The best bands were Limp Bizkit, Orgy and Incubus. Bands like Rammstein, Ice Cube and KoRn we could do with out. 'Family Values Tour 1998' is a fantastic CD if you like Rap/Rock/Metal.

Fred Durst, Wes Borland, Brandon Boyd, Mike Einzigner, Alex Katunich, Chris Kilmore, Jose' Pasillas, Sam Rivers, John Otter, D.J Leathel, Jay Gordan, Ryan Shuck, Paige Haley, Amir Derakh and Bobby Hewitt are really cool people.

Jonathan Davis, Fieldy, David Silveria, James Shaffer, Brian Welch, W.C, Crazy Toones, Til Linderman, Richard, Kruspe, Paul Landers, Oliver Reidel, Flake Lorenz and Christopher Schneider are not good musicians.

'Family Values Tour 1998' by KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Rammstein, Orgy, Incubus and Ice Cube is a fantastic album. Well produced by Josh Abraham. Five stars for a great album.

family Values tour '98
This CD Is The Best Of all The family values tour CD's
If you want to hear the best live performamnces of these bands you will need to buy this CD.

few minor problems
great cd. several minor problems- why the intros? take them out, and we could have more Rammstein and Incubus. alternatively, take out the Limp Bizkit song that ISN'T a cover; the other two are much than it. the Korn songs are great (since they are an excellent band you can't expect bad from them). considering I don't like live recordings, you know this one must be good for me to give it such a good rating.
here are 2 other good live "sampler" cds (I call them that because usually they have the hit songs from the artists):
Family Values 99 (various artists)
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah (Nirvana)

A touch of rock
This cd includes everything I like, everything I have ever listened to! Limp Bizkit, KoRn, everybody. This is a cd you should get whenever you can. Go and buy it! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Amazingly together
All of the songs on the album are ones that I'm fond of. I'm pretty surprised at how the songs flow into each other as well. Cranberries "Zombie after White Zombie is rather clever. Check this out if you miss the more heavy sounding songs from the 90's. MTV's Buzz Bin was one of the best things to me in the 90s, and I'm really sad that it's gone now.

Great for the occassional listener to 'new' rock
I first bought this CD because of one amazing song: Cantaloop.

I hate rap. Yet this is the one song, in its fusion of the old jazz track, with some rap type singing, that just works, as the only song I know where the rap sound adds to the song. It's a pretty unique song I recommend nearly any rock listener check out.

However, several of the other songs have grown on me, too, which is saying something for someone who is a classic rock fan who otherwise generally feels 'they stopped making good rock in 1980' (The Wall, Who Are You, Led Zeppelin's last albums...)

They're only overplayed if you listen to the sort of stations that played 'new' music at the time - and they seem much less played now. "Plush", "More Human Than Human", "Zombie", "Everything Zen", "Low", "Creep", "Hey Man, Nice Shot", "Mother" are all actually good to my taste.

After owning the CD for years, I like it now even better. It may be the only post-1980 CD I need:) (I exaggerate slightly).

FYI, a lot of the songs have the 'post 1980' sound in rock where there's a combination of soft and very hard (some are more just hard) - but they're the cream of the sound, where so many songs with a similar sound lack the quality of these selections.

Buy the CD for Cantaloop, and enjoy the icing on the cake from the other good songs.

Great Collection, overplayed radio hits
For a sampling of what was great during the alternative era (circa 1995-1996 for a majority of these tracks), this is a great collection. From "Plush" by STP to "Zombie" by Cranberries to "Hey Jealousy" by Gin Blossoms, this is pretty much definitive of that era. A majority of the tracks were also worn out over the radio, and of course I got tired of hearing them back then, but since they're not played as much in 2002, it's good to be able to flash back to those days once again. Definitely worth the price if you don't own any of the CDs by these artists!

no more buzz, but still a good listen
this is a good way to get the best songs from these artists. it is true that each of these songs were very much overplayed. but in recent years, radio and mtv have changed their focus to the boy bands, and this cd has become a welcome alternative to my ears. my only complaint with this cd is that it includes the edited version of more human than human. other than that, it makes for a very enjoyable listen.

average compilation of worn-out hits
Well, this album is MTV for you - take the great songs and play them to death. The advent of the "Buzz Bin" made us think about "alternative" music. Once an indie haven for those who didn't want to get involved with cheesy 80's pop or hair metal, it is now big-bucks stuff. This CD gives us all of the latter - Cracker, Stone Temple Pilots, Danzig, etc. All were great songs the first twenty-three times we heard them. We bought their albums only to have their best song blasted at us again and again. Don't buy this - you'll lose even more appreciation for the very songs that made rock music what it is today. Instead, go buy something awesome like Sunny Day Real Estate or Belle and Sebastian that won't get overplayed by greedy television personalities. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

An OK tribute to Lennon
I must admit that the reason I bought this CD is because I'm a fan of John Lennon and of the grunge scene of the early 1990's. So needless to say, I enjoyed the cover of "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier" by Mad Season (LAYNE STALEY'S VOCALS ARE ALWAYS AMAZING) and "Steel and Glass" by Candlebox, but for me the best track was "Working Class Hero" by The Screaming Trees. Mark Lanegan's voice is unbelievable and this cover is closest in my opinion to the original in quality. A pleasant surprise were Mary Chapin Carpenter's surprisingly good cover of "Grow Old With Me" and the cover of "How Do You Sleep" by The Magnificent Bastards. Collective Soul does a very good cover of Jealous Guy. Now, on to the bad. No surprise The Red Hot Chili Peppers would be found here with their cover of "I Found Out", I never liked "Power To The People", so I was going to skip it anyway, but The Minus Five didn't do all that bad with it. It actually shocked me that an established band like Cheap Trick couldn't pull off "Cold Turkey".

All in all, this disc is really worth picking up used, I'm glad I didn't pay full price, but it is a keeper since about half the tracks are at least decent.

Best cover album i've come across
I got this disc at a used CD shop in town for six dollars, I wasn't expecting much, as most of the Lennon cover/tributes i've heard were pretty lacking. I was dead wrong. There is only one bad cover on this dics, every other is great!

Red Hot Chili Peppers/I Found Out - Slow, Angry, and funky. Something the peppers haven't ever done before and its cool to hear them do a song that doens't stick to their style. 3/5

Mad Season/I don't Wanna Be a Soldier - I never liked this song, but I think this cover is more enjoyable than to original (to me) Driving guitars and bass, and some really good vocals. 3/5

Candlebox/Steel and Glass - Awesome cover off the Walls and Bridges album. It's especially good because the guitar were buried by the string in the original, but Candlebox's cover features loud guitars and stand out bass. Cool guitar solo too 5/5

Blues Traveler/Imagine - Pretty standard in the beginning, with some cool bass fills, but after the first verse things get really blusey and some harmonica come in. Good rendition! 4/5

Screaming Trees/Working Class Hero - I always thought this was one of Lennons best, but the only cover i've heard was by Cyndi Lauper and it was awful (love cyndi though) The song starts out with just two guitars chiming with vocals, but it builds up and adds a cello and evtually drums and bass come in and give the song a lot of power, great cover. 5/5

The Minus 5/Power To The People - I head this song tacked on as a bonus track on "Plastic Ono Band" and this cover is millions of times better than the original, believe me. It is amazing Minus 5 were able to see the potential of this otherwise lackluster song, fuul of energy absolutely great. 4/5

The Magnificent Bastards/How Do you Sleep - Rockin cover. Performed with all the spite and malice of the original, featuring a cool guitar interlude. 4/5

Flaming Lips/Nobody Told Me - Amazing! recorded with cheap, super distorted guitars, it sounds perfect. Great drumming and basswork from the lips as usual. 5/5

Super 8/Well Well Well - Sounds just like the original, except for the extra loud guitars on the chorus and the awesome vocals (not to mention the solo!) 5/5

Cheap Trick/Cold Turkey - I don't like Cheap Trick, I don't like Cold Turkey, I don't like this version. Weakest cover on the disc 2/5

Collective Sound/Jealous Guy - Acoustic guitar instead of piano doing th cords on this one, no stirngs either, really cool! The only reason I don't give this one a 5 is because Elliott Smith's cover of this song is ten times better. 4/5

Sponge/Isolation - The biggst suprise on this disc. Opens with a strat playing arpeggios with the vocals, sounding very sad and eerie, but then the chorus comes in with an explosion of power chords and drums. Best cover on the disc. 5/5

Toad The Wet Sprocket/Instant Karma - a very happy, clean sounding cover. Not much else to say, very enjoyable! 4/5

Mary Chapin Carpenter/Grow Old With Me - Very sparse mostly her and a piano. The sound is so lush and beautiful, and her vocals are outstanding. 5/5

George Clinton/Mind Games - here's something unexpected, George Clinton from the funk grou Parliment giving this song some soul. Clinton does a superb jop, lots of strings and guitars, and delight and a great way to end the album! 5/5

Gooood music

Outstanding tribute album that collects Lennon's best and starts off with an incredible kicker "I found out," performed by the Chili Peppers.

"Working Class Hero" and "Imagine" are a little overdone, though, and I tend to skip through them. "Imagine" is especially drippy with emotion.

Kinda grungy guitar sounds in this with some great vocals. Definitely recommend to anyone who wants Lennon filtered through 90s rock.

-- JJ Timmins

Surprisingly enjoyable set of grunge-tinged covers.
I'm pretty shocked at the negative reviews above, but its kind of the nature of tribute albums. I really enjoy this CD-but I'm a big Beatles fan AND a fan of 1991-95 "Seattle Sound" type grunge. The latter part is important for enjoying this disc. "I Don't Want to be a Soldier" by Mad Season (with members of Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam) and "Working Class Hero" by Screaming Trees (another lesser known Seattle band) are the standouts, along with "I Found Out" and "Well Well Well". I thought these were excellent meldings of Lennon's awsome lyrics presented in an alternative rock format that might be more accessible to younger listeners. Then maybe they'll chase down the originals-and that's always a good thing.

There's a cohesiveness to the songs and artists. It doesn't feel forced or disjointed like the Led Zep Encomium disc (where you could just see the A&R guys doling out asssignments to the "hot" bands on the label). I play 75% of this disc when I dig it out. It's worth your time and $$$.

A bit disappointing
John Lennon's music was so intensely personal that it can be difficult for someone to convey his emotions in a cover version. Also, this album contains covers by several flash-in-the-pan groups who don't seem to have a clue what they are singing or why.

In the category of trying to re-create a personal song, there is 'How Do You Sleep?' performed here by The Magnificent Bastards. Although the lead singer sounds appropriately angry, what is he angry about? John Lennon was angry at Paul McCartney at the time he recorded the song, so that cannot be re-cycled. Another intense song of Lennon-angst, 'Well Well Well' gets a fairly good turn from Super 8, but nothing could match Lennon's misery on the original version. I was very disappointed with Cheap Trick's version of 'Cold Turkey' which is virtually unrecognizable and sounds like a pop tune rather than the painful tale of a man overcoming heroin addition.

There are very few highlights on the album, where the artists create their own version of the Lennon song, but keep true to the emotion of the original, without sacrificing their personal stamp. To me, the best versions on the album are 'Imagine' by Blues Traveler, which is very folky and mellow, but also very distinctive with John Popper's vocals. Collective Soul do a very good version of 'Jealous Guy' and Mary Chapin Carpenter's version of 'Grow Old With Me' is tender and memorable.

I wouldn't recommend buying this cd, since most of the versions are forgettable. It's not really worth it for the few good songs on the album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The joke's starting to look a little worn around the edges. It's facile to observe that the people who toss the phrase "family values" around don't have Limp Bizkit, Korn, Filter, or Primus in mind when they talk about wholesome entertainment. Well, duh. That said, this a solid collection for those who like the aforementioned bands and their allies, though just about all of this stuff is available in other versions. One highlight is Staind's heavy-duty "Mudshovel," though the best performances overall are from Limp Bizkit, which explains why they provide 4 of the 16 tracks on the album and no other act serves up more than 2. Tracks from Method Man and the Crystal Method weirdly break up the metal that dominates, and there's the obligatory acoustic bonus track, featuring Aaron Lewis of Staind and Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Limp Bizkit and Korn Do It Again
Limp Bizkit and Korn have made another awesome Family Values Tour and cd. These guys blow me away. Instead of Rammstein, Orgy, and Ice Cube they have added Method Man, Redman, Filter, Staind, The Crystal Method, and Primus. Limp added the most songs, with 5. They added the singles Nookie, Break Stuff, and Re-Arranged, along with I Would For You and a duet with Aaron Carter of Staind called Outside. You will find listening through on this album pretty easy. I also reccomend buying the regular casing instead of the Limited Edition packaging because the other is stupid. Read my second review for it and you will learn more about it. My favorite tracks are Rockwilder by Method Man and Redman and Mudshovel by Staind. Here is my song by song review:

1.Break Stuff-Limp Bizkit You've all heard this song before but it sounds different on live.

2.Lacquer Head-Primus OK song. Not to great. Not quite feelin it.

3.Mudshovel-Staind Great! My favorite song on the cd along with Rockwilder.

4.Falling Away From Me-Korn The song is a little different live but still really good.

5.Rockwilder-Method Man, Redman Great! My favorite track along with Mudshovel. Different live too, Redman is backing up Method Man a little while Method Man sings.

6.Hey Man, Nice Shot-Filter Not quite feelin it.

7.Rearranged-Limp Bizkit Again it sounds different live but still great.

8.A.D.I.D.A.S./Good God-Korn A.D.I.D.A.S. is better but Good GOd is still good.

9.My Name Is Mud-Primus Too busy listening to the rest of the cd for this one. Sorry. Check back later.

10.Welcome To The Fold-Filter Same as above.

11.Keep Hope Alive-The Crystal Method Same as above.

12.I Would For You-Limp Bizkit Horrible, just horrible. Slow, acoustic, and horrible.

13.Nookie-Limp Bizkit Awesome song. You've heard it. You don't need my word on it.

14.Outside-Staind and Limp Bizkit See tracks 9, 10, and 11. I know it's acoustic though.

Buy it but if you have kids by the edited. I don't really like live albums but this one is my favorite besides Family Values 98 which I also reccomend. Buy both. I reccomend it to anyone who likes plain metal, rap metal, any rock, or plain rap. By the way, what are Filter and The Crystal Method doing here? I'd rather see Slipknot and Papa Roach or Fenix Tx, or System Of A Down, or Static X, or anny metal band. There should be more Method Man or Redman or bboth too. Well, BUY THIS TODAY! OR ELSE!

The Second Best in the Series.
1.Limp Bizkit-Break Stuff-5/5Limp Bizkit, performing "Break Stuff" as the first song on the show. Wouldn't that get you hyped up? This song sounds really cool live.
2.Primus-Lacquer Head-?/5I don't like Primus, so I've never listened to it, so I can't rate it.
3.Staind-Mudshovel-5/5-My favorite on the album, the crowd goes crazy on this song. Great sound quality.
4.Korn-Falling Away From Me-5/5-Korn didn't get much crowd action on this song, probably because it was new at the time. Still, really good, but isn't this Korn's tour? Shouldn't there be more of their songs? I think Limp Bizkit took over.
5.Method Man & Redman-Rockwilder-0/5-Let's get one thing straight: RAP [is bad].
6.Filter-Hey Man, Nice Shot-?/5Just like #2:I'm not big on Filter, so i can't rate this becasue I haven't listened to it.
7.Limp Bizkit-Rearranged-5/5-This is a fun song live, and I love how Fred talks to the crowd.
8.Korn-A.D.I.D.A.S./Good God-5/5-Korn got a huge crowd response on both these songs, and especially on "A.D.I.D.A.S.". The Third best.
9.Primus-My Name Is Mud-?/5-See #2.
10.Filter-Welcome To The Fold-?/5-...You know...
11.The Crystal Method-Keep Hope Alive-3/5-I don't like techno, but this song is really cool. Fun to listen to when you're bored.
12.Limp Bizkit-I Would For You-3/5-This is Ok, but gets boring after a while.
13.Limp Bizkit-Nookie-5/5-I don't need to explain it, we all know what happens when Limp does "Nookie".
14.Aaron lewis & Fred Durst-5/5-This is a beautiful song, and it's even better live. Aaron Lewis has the best voice in the world. Second best on here.

...If you're going to get the Family Values albums, get '01 first, '99 second and '98 third.

Good bands, decent collection.
I would think this would appeal mostly to those who saw this tour, but it's still a good disc. I don't like it as much as the 1998 tour, but it's still good. "Limp Bizkit" dominates this collection, but there's still good songs from "Primus", "Staind", and "The Crystal Method". The live "Outside" is the bonus song here, and "Durst" also covers "I Would For You", which is an old "Jane's Addiction" song, though it's not near as great as the original. Overall this is good if you like the bands, otherwise it doesn't have much "Value".

hmmm...
"Family values" is pretty good live album that features some most shining alternative/metal stars from end of century.of course Staind's "Mudshovel" or Primus "Laquer head" are great as other tracks but the appearance of Method man and redman is quite scary.And Korn's is not sounding so good on here,without a kick.they had a bad day or what?
also the sound is not superb.bass is vanishing somewhere or it tottaly blows your speakers out so you can't hear other instruments.if the production was better than i would give it 1 star more.also - why do we need it? tracks are all like studio versions (except fred durst's "I would for you" that appears only on this cd) and you can get them with better sound on other compilation albums...
well i have got mixed feelings about it.a good compilation from this tournee.i mean,fans will buy it but i wuoldn't call it a great album.just a compilation.not the strongest one around...

A decent little package.
Seeing how I have had this CD for two and a half years now and have reviewed the other two Family Values live discs (1998, 2001), I figured what better time than now to review the 1999 disc which, despite it's shortcomings, delivers a great sounding live show. Before I go on in this review, I should mention how crisp and clear the sound quality is on all of the songs. If only all live albums could sound this good.

The headliners in 1999 were Limp Bizkit, who after being the opening act on the 1998 tour, had finally reached superstardom with two multi-platinum albums under their belts. And what better time than before their 15 minutes of fame was over for them to headline. Really, the band is in top-form on here. All of the LB tracks (sans "I Would For You," a Jane's Addiction cover) draw from "Significant Other," which still stands to date as their most successful (and in my opinion, best) album. Although the song selection is a little weak, they still deliver an excellent performance. I especially enjoyed listening to "Nookie" and "Re-Arranged."

Korn are also featured on here, but not as extensively as Limp Bizkit, for two reasons: One, Korn were not the headliners and two, Korn only appeared for a few dates on the tour. That being said, however, their selection on here is great. You get a combo of "A.D.I.D.A.S." and "Good God" that just sounds excellent and a nice rendition of "Falling Away From Me" that only suffers from Jonathan's strained vocals (I suspect he had a cold or something).

Minimally featured are the Crystal Method and the hip-hop duo Method Man & Redman. Crystal Method perform "Keep Hope Alive" and it is the only track of theirs that is on here. I like Crystal Method, but live techno? Kind of pointless. I think the CD could have benefited from more Method Man and Redman, the latter being one of the best and most underrated MC's of the 90's. Their contribution "Da Rockwilder" serves as a nice break in the otherwise alternative/nu-metal clutter.

Staind give their radio-hit "Mudshovel" a nice performance, and frontman Aaron Lewis shines on the acoustic track "Outside," which everyone has heard by now and ended up being the song that catapulted them into fame.

Primus contribute two songs "Lacquer Head" and "My Name is Mud" that are pretty enjoyable, but for the uninitiated, might be boring. They sort of stick out like a sore thumb on this tour, but give a nice performance nontheless.

Finally, Filter. I have nothing against Filter, and the two songs they contribute are really good songs ("Welcome To The Fold" and "Hey Man, Nice Shot"), but they sound like complete cacophony on here. Really, listening to them perform on this CD I get the impression that they must be the worst live band ever. These tracks will make even die-hard fans cringe.

So, overall, I think this is a pretty good live CD. Once you can get past the pointless, preachy, typical Fred Durst rambling throughout the booklet, you'll enjoy it. But just like the other two Family Values CD's, it's hit or miss. If you didn't like any of the bands before, this CD won't change your mind, but if you happen to be a fan, you will find something to make you happy on here -- That is, unless you're a Filter fan... ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Almost as good as Willie himself.
These aren't the most recognizable "Willie Nelson" songs, but the covers are mostly good. Actually I'm pretty impressed with the selection of bands on here. It's as fine as the 1989 "Neil Young" tribute album. Not every one of these are winners, but I really like the covers by "Mark Lanegen", "L7", "Jerry Cantrell", "The Reverend Horton Heat", and of course "Johnny Cash". The only real problem with this disc, like all tributes, is that it just makes you want to hear the real thing, which of course "Willie" is.

Best Tribute Album ever?
Wow. How to start?
I guess lets go in order and point out some highlights:
Johnny Cash starts things off here with an amazing version of "Time of the Preacher". It's a harsh and cold world he sings about, and the guitar and drums match the lyrics perfectly, and Cash's voice - well except for "I See a Darkness" or "The Mercy Seat" on American Recordings III, this is the best he has sounded in years.
And then what looks like a strange segue but fits so surprisingly well - L7 doing "3 Days" -back and forth between harsh music and beautiful voice - never thought I would like a song by them, but...
Shotgun Wille and Bloody Mary Morning just rock - try listening to track 4 and not having more energy afterwards - I had a great conversation about this song in the Albuquerque airport with a Willie Nelson fan, who listened to this version and agreed that it had even more energy and heartache than the original.
Presidents of the USA lend their unique sound to "Devil in a Sleeping Bag", followed by one great song after another (who would expect Jello Biafra or X or Kim Deal to cover Willie's songs?)

Now all we need is a Cash tribute by bands like this...

Awesome
I recommend this comp. Some really good bands on here. I especially like the first track with Johnny Cash, kicks much behind.

You can't go wrong with this CD.
This Cd is an all time must have! There is something here for everyone. Country fans have to love Willie or they can't be country fans. Rock fans get to hear some great songs by great bands written by the greatest song writer of all time. From ballads to driving rock, get this one you'll love it!

this is indeed a 5 star
i cannot believe that noone reviewed this fantastic cd! it is marvelous...from L7 to kris kristofferson...it rocks! i mean that wholeheartedly! ... Read more

Album Details

Depeche Mode Tribute Album. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Very, very good!! It doesn't get better than this.
Although Depeche Mode is damn good, modern remakes of their stuff is even better. "Fly on the windscreen" by God Lives Underwater, "Everything Counts" by Meat Beat Manifesto are the best, but Hooverphonic, Failure, Smashing Pumpkins, and Monster Magnet also put out great songs. But the best of all, Rammstein. Who would have thought a Depeche Mode song could sound so good sung by a german guy with a killer voice. You have to hear it to believe it. All in all, my favorite CD out. I highly recommend to everyone.

~Biatch

Very uneven but diverse and enjoyable
The biggest mistake fans make is to rate covers only against the original song. The CD should not just be compared to the prior band but enjoyed on its own merits too. I admit if you've heard the song before, it's hard to enjoy a bad version of it. But, everyone agrees there are gems on this album and while they don't like the same songs, the album is a nice listening experience. Some of the songs are a little bland but still enjoyable, while a few are a bit jarring.

My personal favorites: to me these songs make the CD worthy of purchase. The track by God Lives Underwater is very dark and [sultry], with a compelling chorus. Failure's is smooth yet edgy, and The Cure gives us a dark and heavy rock song.

Good/interesting ones: Meat Beat Manifesto is a good one, with a strong beat and well blended music. Gus Gus has a funky beat and builds up slowly, paired with a far-away female voice. Monster Magnet was dark and moody, Dishwalla's Policy of Truth was smooth and easy to listen to. Rammstein's version of Stripped has an energetic, industrial feel I enjoyed. While I'm not a fan of heavy music, it was enough upbeat to enjoy. The somewhat sweet lyrics paired with heavy beat made an interesting combo.

Lacking something: Smashing Pumpkins felt a little flat compared to their normal work. The Veruca Salt track had sweet vocals but it lacked humor.

Uneven songs: Self did a playful song ruined by a terrible and sluggish chorus. Locust's Master and Servant was done to lounge music and is lacking the original's brilliant, dark edge. Rabbit in the Moon's vocals and music seemed badly paired at first. It came upbeat midway through and turned into an enjoyable song.

Not my favorites: Apollo 440 was jarring and loud, with random yelling in the background. (Maybe I don't like industrial punk enough?) Deftones had some very heavy bass guitar and felt too noisy (sorry, Deftones fans.)

You love those Rammstein vocals--they are sexy and HARD
The only song on this compilation that sends shivers up me spine is Rammstein's version of "Stripped". It is powerful, lovely, strange, and glorious. It manifests the terror that I've always felt the original song merely implied. DM are a band replete with smoldering intensities. Their agonies are subtle and exquisite in their subtlty. Rammstein turns what seemed like a mere suggestion into a demand backed with the threat of real punishment.

Locust take the opposite approach on "Master and Servant" and come up with similar results. I've never been able to take the original vary seriously. It has always possessed a high camp value for me mostly because I've seen Martin in his chainmail. The song threatens something sinister and exciting but it never comes off for me. Now Locust turns a silly song into a wondeful lounge piece replete with alternating vocals between a male and female voice. The result is jarring and far more subversive than the original. Again, DM pose the threat. This is the promise.

The Cure turn "World in my Eyes" into a strange middle-eastern number. As usual, Robert's inflections are sublime. I get closer to swooning every time I hear it. It is starting to have a similar effect on me to the Rammstein track.

Monster Magnet articulate the rage that is implied in "Black Celebration". They also brings forth a tasty dose of machismo with the Phil Lynott/Thin Lizzy vocals that build in intensity over the course of the track. It is heavy, sexy and very direct. Somehow, I imagine that their "Black Celebration" is going to involve debilitating alcohol abuse and varioius criminal activities. The original made me wish desperately for a black mass held in the forest. Monster Magnet doesn't get that, but they've at least got naked sororiety sisters dancing about a fire and that is good enough.

The Deftones shoud have amended the title of their track to "To Have and to Hold (under the water). It is dark, supremely spooky and perfect for those long jaunts alone into the woods. It reminds me of Tool somewhat, and Metallica, oddly enough.

Of the rest of the bands, I like Gus Gus and the Smashing Pumpkins a bit. Dishwalla is alright but becomes less the more I hear it. The only tracks that are completely reprehensible are by Varuca Salt, Apollo 440, and Self. Skip those every time.

Overall, this compilation features tracks by several bands not intent on just copying the master. The result is a pretty good album overall.

Hit and Miss
I am a Depeche Mode fan of the first degree, so it was only natural that I should pick up an album of covers from some pretty high-profile bands. And while there are some things for the DM fan to enjoy here, at least half of the CD is a waste of time and space.

Let's consider what was done right. The Cure and DM already have a major overlap in fan base, so I expected a good interpretation of "World in My Eyes" right off the bat. I was not disappointed; this version is more fast-paced and has almost an Arabian feel to it. Very cool and just as good as the original, in its own way. The Deftones' "To Have and to Hold" is creepy and morose, a perfect song choice to create a nexus between the bands. Chino Moreno's vocals here are less breathy than on some of his more recent albums such as White Pony, but the Deftones were still relatively new when this CD hit the shelves. I also was drawn to Gus Gus' take on "Monument", which is frankly a DM song I was not previously aware of (probably a B-side from the early days... DJs have a talent for digging up obscure early Depeche Mode stuff to show how far back their obsession really goes. Find Danny Tenaglia's remix of "I Feel Loved" for further evidence.) Between this track and their two remixes of "Only When I Lose Myself," I became a huge Gus Gus fan in no time. I like Hooverphonic's attempt at "Shake the Disease" very much, a sultry trip-hop reinvention with the same heavy heart as the original. Veruca Salt's retread of "Somebody" is not bad either, as the song already seems like it might come from a feminine perspective.

There are also some in-between efforts here that could have been so much better with just a few minor changes. Failure's take on "Enjoy the Silence" is initially stunning because it is a pretty effective acoustic interpretation of a totally synthesized song. Then the drums hit a little harder and suddenly you get whacked upside the head with a slab of distorted(...)guitar. All of this would work really well if it weren't for the vocals. This singer has a very whiney yet flat delivery that really disfigures what would otherwise be a pretty cool take on a well-known DM song. Same goes for Dishwalla's "Policy of Truth." Good sonic arrangements are ruined by a guy who sounds like he wants to be Michael Hutchence but is really pretty far off the mark.

The rest of these tracks just sound very odd and quite often get skipped. I have to admit, though, that Rammstein's "Stripped" is kind of addictive in its ridiculousness.

Worth buying if you're a deep DM fan and you don't mind skipping tracks to find the good covers.

God Lives Underwater
I bought this just because God Lives Underwater does an amazing job on 'FLY ON THE WINDSCREEN'. Smashing Pumpkins put me to sleep jeez! There are some versions that are better than the originals like GLU's, The Cure, & Hooverphonic. The rest were good but loungy/breezy, and odd.
Oh Yeah 'UP OFF THE FLOOR' GLU 4th cd will be released late September 2004 on megaforce/locomotive records! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A benchmark for live to radio compilations
This compilation is, at the time of writing, the best part of ten years old. And, in my humble opinion, it has never been bettered. Production quality is first rate, performances are almost flawless and the mix of music is spot on. You and yours can't fail to be sucked in by this one. John Cale's first poem blending seemlessly into Tori Amos doing 'Silent all these years', Beck's 'Mexico' is hilarious and wry even after all this time, The Modern's just don't want to end and you won't want them to, Lindsay Buckingham comes up with a magnificent arrangement for an old Fleetwood Mac tune (since copied badly by The Dixie Chicks) and a just wonderful ode to Chet Baker to finish. This is a CD that makes much of modern chill out laughable and shows what can be acheived by a group of people who really love music. It is a primer for the rest of the Rare on Air series and a great place to begin. Grab this while it is still in print.

best compilation i own
i originally bought it for "never goin back again" an acoustic version by lindsey buckingham. but there are about seven other really strong songs on the album. and how they tracked the selections is something you could tell a lot of thought and time was put into. songs in general flow one into the next beautifully, especially track twelve into thirteen. highly reccomend to anyone considering.

An excellent document of the best of the early 1990's
Rare On Air Vol 1. is the first in a series of 5 live compilation cd's from southern california's KCRW. "Morning Becomes Eclectic" hosted by Chris Douridas was possibly the greatest music radio show of it's time in all of the U.S. On any given morning from 9am to noon, live performers from the likes of Beck to Joni Mitchell to Patti Smith show up to turn in intimate and often startlingly great performances. This first edition is the best so far and features excellent songs by John Cale, Michael Penn, and Tori Amos. After Douridas left the station for a new job at Dreamworks, the morning show fell flat with new DJ Nic Harcourt. Some say it's picking up steam again and luckily the whole world can tune in via the internet. The first 3 in the series are all worthwile and this particular addition shows why KCRW is a groundbreaking music radio station. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent but small sampling of the event.
The CD set here is not meant to represent the concerts themselves but the event as a whole. the songs (and announcements) reflect the moods, styles, genres, humor and talents of the artists as a snapshot. This means that some bands may not have their best or most popular songs on these CD's. Both Cd's have a mix of:

Popular bands playing hits ( Melissa Ethridge, Cranberries, Collective Soul),

Popular bands playing lesser known songs ( Blues Traveler, Live, Candlebox, Cypress Hill),

And classic bands playing from their catalog ( CSN, Peter Gabriel, Joe Cocker).

Leading the second disc, Metallica dominated the set with an energy no one else seems to bring. (As I said some of these songs dont represent the bands' overall performance very well)Another review stated that this song, "For whom the Bell Tolls" was the definitive live recording of the band and I totally agree. The recording of this song is required for any metallica fan. The clarity beats any bootleg and the intensity beats the few live recordings the band is willing to sell.

Other standouts include: Cypress Hill, NIN, Blues Traveler, Aerosmith, Dylan, Chili Peppers, Primus and the Neville Bros.

Some may be dissapointed by Jackyl, Green Day, Blind Mellon, Salt N Pepa's song Shoop has dated very poorly, and the stage announcements can get repetitive. I personally found "Come Together" to be a little gratuitous as a reference to the original music of Woodstock. As a side note, I believe that Slash from GNR plays on "The Hunter" with Paul Rodgers though i could be mistaken.

It is possible to refute one complaint I have seen about the set (and the event). The sampling of the discs makes it clear that the bands selected are for the most part not platinum sellers, and those few that were, normally didn't have the "hit" song selected for the cd. The commercialism of the event itself may be an entirely other matter. Still I believe that at least 17 of the 27 bands have never seen platinum or achieved mainstream success. Bands like "Rollins Band" are talented but are so niche they are never likely to do so.

All in all I love the set. I believe it is worth the purchase if only for the Metallica song. However, this does not represent even a fraction of the music at the event and a true box set should be made available.

A sacrilege to the real Woodstock
The event that was Woodstock 94 was enough of a greedy corporate scheme--now there's a CD set of the music? The idea of a 25th anniversary celebration of the Woodstock event was a great one, and inviting Bob Dylan and CSN was a great idea on someone's part. But the event went on to insult those musicians by placing them alongside such groups as Candlebox and Collective Soul. Is someone really implying that those bands make music that is as socially relevant as that of the first Woodstock? Now, almost 10 years later, those bands have completely dropped off the radar, while Dylan is still going strong. There is great potential in an event like this, and that is what angers me about the final result. It took into consideration only the marketability of its artists, not their message, while the message was the whole point of the first Woodstock event. Bands like Green Day have gone on from this event to do...well, nothing, really. Meanwhile, Joan Baez, an original Woodstock performer, sang at a peace rally in my city just last week. Please don't give more encouragement to corporate shenangigans like this by purchasing this CD. Save your money for artists with conviction and staying power. Sure, rock festivals based on marketability have their time and place (I don't object at all to Ozzfest or Lollapalooza), but their place is not cashing in on a genuine, heartfelt gathering of performers with something real to say.

Metallica...
...on this disc is the greatest live recording of a Metallica song. It just perfectly encaptualates why they are so great, and have such a loyal fanbase...

Trent Reznor going nuts is good too :)

i was at woodstock94 killer show killer cd
u have bands like the ever talented green day the rockin' band aerosmith metallica and more it was a blast and if u didn't go u should get this cd it's just a little piece of woodstock94 4 all of us

IF U WERE AT WOODSTOCK94 ITS A MUST HAVE
I was at woodstock 94 and whenever i want 2 think back at the great experence i had i just pop this in and WOW im there my favs are Metallica,Joe Cocker,Candlebox,Cypress Hill and Primus ... Read more