Amazon.com

Now that Beck has effectively exorcised his personal demons with 2002's hyper-confessional Sea Change, he can get back to the business of being a total fruit loop. We all know what that involves: video game sound effects, random shouting in Spanish, and rhymes about popsicles and vegetable vans. And that's just the second track. Guero is like every Beck album condensed into one, a no-holds-barred collision of two-turntables and a microphone with the added bonus of guitars, bossa nova beats, Jack White, lyrics about spaceships and dump truck full of ideas all fighting to get heard about the ruckus. It's an exhausting and exhilarating listen with lots of peaks, such as the digitized power ballad "Broken Drum" and handclap drench folk freak-out "Farewell Ride," and more than enough to restore anyone's faith in Beck as one of the most chaotically inspired songwriters of our time. -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (155)

Phenomenal
Beck is truly one of a kind, and that is what makes his music always enjoyable.You never know what Beck is going to do and that unpredictability factor always makes a Beck album engaging. Too many musicians today are too cliche and you can always predict what direction they are going to take.With Beck, you're in for a surprise ride everytime.

What is unique about GUERO is that it doesn't just appeal to one audience.While Beck may be rocking out with hard guitars on his first single (and notable track) "E-Pro",he doesn't just use a standard drum set.With the Dust Brothers (Beastie Boys) producing he uses drum programming that hints at a very catchy hip-hop edge. Beck goes full fledge alternative hip-hop on "Que Onda Guero" while he chooses a conservative beach rock sound with synth and all on "Girl".

After an engaging three hit track start, Beck disappoints somewhat on "Missing".His follow-up track "Black Tambourine" again uses a Dust Brothers hip-hop beat.While it is a good and fun track, it isn't the caliber of "E-Pro", "Que Onda Guero", or "Girl".

Beck comes back strong with the hip-hop synth arrangement on "Earthquake Weather" where Beck sings with his typical folk/indie-rock style over a genius arrangement."Hell Yes" is another stellar track.Who couldn't say hell yes to that?

While all the tracks on the album are enjoyable listens, the first few and the above mentioned are the best.Beck should definitely be recognized by the Grammys for this. It is an artistic masterpiece.It is a breath of fresh air when an artist doesn't conform to the commercial aspects of music and goes for the independent approach in producing whatever they want to.You keep on doing your thing Beck and hell yes your album is cool!

The Resurrection of Beck
Beck returns in full force and great musical shape with a Cd that runs the gamut from psychedelic Jimi Hendrixlike rock to Jobimish bossa nova travelling through Pinkfloydesque ventures.
True talent exudes from this offering from the first funky single E-Pro,the ethnic QUE ONDA GUERO,the definite next single GIRL and the dark yet inspiring BROKEN DRUM.The presence of BECK in the music world is an inspiring element and reassuring thought that talent lives on,be it hailing from East L.A. or from Topeka

Pretty Good 4 a Guero
EASolinas has the perfect description : Distortion Rock a la Latin Hip-Hop . I made my fantastic edit of Odelay , Midnite Voltures and Guero called : Mixd Emotions ... Six of each ... This Guero is pretty inventive and keeps life a fresh ... Sea of Change I like all of It as it Is ... I guess I am a real at heart 70's child ... Keep it comming ...

BECK RETURNS (AND SAVES THE WORLD)
Alright, alright. We can all get over ourselves now. After months of pointing the Salem-witch-hunt-like finger at Beck and enceremoniously saying that his career has come to a dead stop, I think we need to listen to this album. Because the fact is that if any other upstart band or artist came out of nowhere and produced Guero, we would be hailing them as surefire Messiahs. They would be plastered all over every magazine, poster, t-shirt and record store and would win the Mercury and/or Shortlist prizes before the award ceremony could be put on.

This isn't Beck's best album. But does that really matter? That's like criticizing Abbey Road for not being as good as Sergeant Pepper's. The fact of the matter is we have a truly genious artist (Beck) producing a really great, fun, listenable-yet-challenging and completely original album (Guero) that can only be classified in one genre: "Beck music".

But, "Gasp!" you say. "He isn't creating a wildly new aesthetic and changing the music scene singlehandedly!". "Oh no!" you cry, "Some songs teeter on, dare I proclaim, Minimalism! THE SKY IS FALLING!"

Get off it. This record is just one of the myriad of exciting, buzz-worthy, and unique albums to be released so far this year, so for god sakes, stop debating and BUY THIS ALBUM! And then do me a favour. Sing along to the "na na na" chorus. All three of them. Bask in their carefree glory, and hear them almost speak to you. Do you know what they're saying?

"Forget expectations. Put on some Beck. Be happy."

Best album since Odelay
Beck's mishmash of sound and genre is a wonder to behold, and at times hard to listen to.It requires a patient, open mind and an ability to appreciate artists who are the musical equivalent of Picasso.Guero is not quite as all over the place as Mutations, but it still varies widely from Latin hip-hop to a quasi Country/R&B.Add in some video game sampling and distortion mic and you have Beck.

My favorite tracks on the album are Epro, Que Onda Guero, and Earthquake Weather, but all of them are great.This is one of those rare albums I can listen to from start to finish, and as such, it earns all five of its stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Four CD's and nearly ten years into their career, System of a Down continue to be the Gilbert and Sullivan of this generation, delivering razor-sharp political commentary via beautiful, quirky melodies and discordant harmonies.

The group has mastered the ability to be both successful and subversive--with 2001's Toxicity selling over six million copies and debuting at number one on the Billboard charts, their success in indisputable. As far are their subversive-ness, the lyrical content on Mezmerize is a solid stream of anti-war, anti-corporate and anti-celebrity sentiment. The disc's first single proves as beautifully schizophrenic as anything the band has released. "B.Y.O.B." opens with guitarist Daron Malakian's rapid-fire riff, then frontman Serj Tankian's anti-war screams of "Why do they always send the poor?"; less than a minute later, a nearly-surreal jump to a facetiously perky, beach party chorus that could easily be found on a Britney or Justin record: "Everybody's going to the party/have a real good time." Guitarist/co-songwriter Malakian takes increased vocal time on the disc, including the hilarious, size-obsessed "Cigaro" and celeb-slapping "Radio/Video". Witticism aside, musical and lyrical intensity peaks with the operatic "Question!" and the emotional piledriver that is "Sad Statue", the group¹s unflinching statement on war and Lady Liberty.

The only shortcoming of Mezmerize is, quite simply, that it is short. Clocking in at a mere 38 minutes, the reason given is that this release is one-half of a two CD set--with part 2, Hypnotize, expected in late fall 2005. --Denise Sheppard ... Read more

Reviews (283)

A new breath freshair for rock
If your die hard S.O.A.D. and you haven't still bought this album you should. If your not still you should sample this ablum. All of these disappoinmtent groups out their that they get loads of air time and play time on m.t.v. or v.h.1. This album will diffently prove the fact that S.O.A.D. will remain strong for many more years to come. Majority of the album is fast paced and like their debut album back in 1998. Also it's refrefshing because it sounds different from thier previuos ablums. Their isn't one bad track on this album.

BEST YET
This is the best S-O-A-D CD, It will match or even top Toxicity's sucess. This CD brings out S-O-A-D's true Metal Roots
with lots of speed rifs and great singing by both Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian. Daron Has alot more air time in this CD than in the other ones. A MUST HAVE S-O-A-D CD~!

GET MEZMERIZED!
I picked up this CD to Listen to BYOB a few times then give it to My G/F I put it in My CD Player and let it run all the way Thru and found myself enjoying every track on this Rock Masterpiece
I Always liked SOAD But, I didn't realize how Great They are 'till after listening to this CD
Producer Rick Rubin once again does his magic
SOAD is alot like Rage Against The Machine, 2PAC & Public Enemy They make this sound which isAngry,Dark,Untrusting,makes you question things and at the same time the music is Beautiful and has some of Hope!
The Boys of Metallica could learn a Thing or Two from listeing to this CD maybe how to Play Super-Fast again!

My Fav. Tracks are:
2. B.Y.O.B.
7. Violent Pornography
8. Question!
9. Sad Statue
10. Old School Hollywood
11. Lost in Hollywood(This could be called to slow and melo by some But, it's a awesome way to end this Album)

If you are a Fan of Toby Keith and "His American Take on Living" you'll Ears will Bleed and you'll hate this Album......
For everyone else looking to Hear something Different and Very Special check out this must have CD
My only problem with this Album is it's Short

Open Your Eyes and Free Your Mind
Check it Out -10/10

"And we don't live in a fascist nation..."
Finally, System of a Down is back and this really is a mezmerizing album. Still political and strong. I'm glad they haven't changed their style trying to be like all the "new rockers" in the scene and they just stick to their own thing.

They also add some Armenian melodies in their songs which are very pretty. (And no, I'm not saying that only because I'm Armenian) It adds difference from what you normally hear in the Rock genre. I can't wait until Hypnotize hits stores!


And may I point out in a different review, this person quoted a line from B.Y.O.B. saying:

"And we live in a fascist nation"

And decided to define fascism. No thanks Webster, we don't need a definition. Get your lines straight...If you listen (and maybe read the lyrics) he says

"And we DON'T live in a fascist nation"


So use YOUR head, idiot.

5 stars for music, -3 for the politics
SOAD stands head and shoulders above the rest of the nu-metal tripe out there, fusing disparate elements and making it flow, instead a contrived jagginess that is packaged oh-so-often with experimentalish music. No one can deny this, even if you find them unlistenable. Facts are facts.

However, their ignorance of basic political theory (common to liberal talking heads and a few emotional, uneducated conservatives) absolutely kills it. I don't mind that they believe xyz, it's just that their so upfront about it. It increases their stupidity exponentially. It's the same old song and dance from celebrities who are completely out of touch with governments work.

In BYOB, Serj offers this gem repeatedly:

"Why don't presidents fight the war?"

Wow. Ignorance!

The other notably oblivious line is:
"We live in a fascist nation!"

No. USA IS NOT A FASCIST NATION, SIR. Here's the definition of "fascism":

"A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
Oppressive, dictatorial control."

This does not describe the US at all. Fascist nations do no have a codified freedom of speech. Past fascist leaders include: Mussolini, Stalin, Pol Pot, Hitler, and our favorite: Hussein. this is Poli Sci 101 and so obvious, I'm ashamed to even point it out. Where were their songs when Clinton ordered the disaster calld Bosnia? Were we fascist then or not? They don't know what they're talking about.

Use your heads, idiots! ... Read more

Amazon.com

For its first new set of music since 2000's Warning, Green Day tears up the blueprint and comes up with something unexpected: A punk rock concept album built around elaborate melodies, odd tempo changes, and a collection of songs that freely reference classic rock warhorses like the Beatles and Pink Floyd. "She's A Rebel" and "St. Jimmy" might sound like vintage Green Day but the rest of the disc finds the Northern California trio trying on a variety of different guises: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is a cliché-strewn Foo Fighters-style power ballad; "Extraordinary Girl" floats on Indian strings; and the hushed "Wake Me Up When September Ends" wouldn't sound entirely out of place on a Jessica Simpson record. It doesn't always work. "Dearly Beloved" eerily resembles the Alarm's "68 Guns" while the title track eerily resembles something Green Day has already done far too many times. But, overall, American Idiot is represents a promising step forward. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great cd
Ok well I just have to say that the first time I heard this cd I knew that it would be my favorite greed day cd. I have listened to this cd at least 50 times since I've gotten it! In fact I'm listening to it while im typing this reveiw. My favorite song on the whole cd is holiday and I know that this cd will be my fav. cd for a long time.

I freakin' LOVE this CD
Go get this CD! It is awesome! It has both their traditional punk rock which is always awesome and some more slow music which is also awesome. It's not like any of their other albums before. It's also very opinionated, but you can decide whether that's a good or bad thing. I really don't care! All I know is that this is one heck of a rock opera and a must-have for any Green Day fan!

best cd since kerplunk
this is probally greendays best ccd since kelrplunk almost 10 years ago and its a great cd, get it

green day rox!!!
green day is sik! 1.american idiot 8/10 i loved this song on madden too bad i over played it 2.jesus of suburbia 8/10 catchy a bit long tho still kewl 3.holiday 9/10 'on holiday' 4.blvd of broken dreams 11/10 best song on the cd by far slow rock song but great awsome lyrics catchy tune just awsome 5.are we the waiting 7/10 probably my least favorite song on the cd 6.st jimmy 10/10 awsome i can see this song in the THUG 2 fast and a nawce tune 7.give me novacaine 6/10 i change my mind this is my least favorite slow and annoying i got nothing against slow but... 8.shes a rebel 10/10 catchy lyrics just all around good 9.extraordinary girls 8/10 i hat the begining like tribal drums or something waste of 30 seconds songs ok 10.letterbomb 8/10 ok 11.wake me up when september ends 7/10 catchy lyrics slow and doesnt really go any where remember slow is not bad (take for instence adam?s song by blink) 12.homecoming 8/10 kewl song long though 13.watsername 9/10 slow (see) kewl lyrics i averaged the scores and got 8.38461538461538461538461538... im a math idiot i giv the cd a easy 9/10 buy it!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sent reeling by the one-two punch Conor Oberst's Bright Eyes delivered with I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, Ryan Adams vowed to strike back in 2005 with three of his own releases. The first--a double album, no less--sees the attention-seeking former Whiskeytown singer casting off both the raucous guitars of 2003's Rock N Roll and the rainy-day ballads of the same year's Love Is Hell in favor of the more introspective moments and rustic textures of 2000's Heartbreaker. He's snuck in at least one epic with "Meadowlake Street" and one potential radio hit with the twangy "Let It Ride," while the rest of the set is mostly packed with bleary-eyed laments that feel all too mannered after spending the last few years revealing his naked pop ambition in full. No doubt Adams will make up for it with the next one. --Aidin Vaziri

Recommended Ryan Adams Discography

Heartbreaker	Gold	Love Is Hell
Whiskeytown, Pneumonia	Whiskeytown, Stranger's Almanac	Whiskeytown, Faithless Street

... Read more

Reviews (60)

When will you come back home?

The first disc isn't very good but the second disc has its moments, some of it sounds like the songs I don't like on Pneumonia or worse while some of it is quite good. I would say on Cold Roses Ryan is in the same town of Jacksonville Skyline and Heartbreaker but still can't seem to find his way home.

I remember the rose but honey down at Midway Park the cold roses will soon be forgotten.

Simply remarkable !!!
This is a remarkable album by Ryan Adams with beautiful and also passionate back-up by the Cardinals and vocal assist by Rachel Yamagata. These are 18 distinct tracks bound together by the emotional, melancholy lyrics and melodies of Ryan Adams.If you're even close to a fan of Ryan Adams...this is a must have. Treat yourself, NOW!!!

Only because it takes so much to give an album 5 stars.
I think that this is arguably Adams' most solid and consistent record yet. I've loved all of his records, but let's admit it, even the best of them are uneven. "Heartbreaker", for all of its greatness, gets bogged down in places with its meandering acoustic numbers. Although a more solid record, "Gold" sags here and there. "Demolition", strangely enough, is a pretty solid collection, but still has the feel of a demo collection. And I could go on.

Another thing that people seem to complain about is Adams' style changing, but this has never bothered me. For some reason, it didn't seem strange to me that he would make a rock n roll record. Where he succeeds with the style changes is in the fact that ("Demolition" aside) he is consistent within each record. All of "Gold" had the same feel, all of "Love is Hell" had the same feel. And now, here is a rock-solid country-ish collection from him.

I'm not saying this is his best, I'm just saying that it feels like more of a complete work than any of the rest of his albums have. It feels like he had one creative vision and followed it through front to back.

The packaging alone is worth the four stars.

Buy this record.

excellent, but i'm not sure yet if it's a keeper
This is the type of album that would have been touted as a 'major statement' back in the 70's.But obviously the ground has shifted since then, and this album for better or worse has a calculated, 'retro' feel to it.

The worst that the cynics can say is that Ryan Adams is pandering to an aging boomer mentality (which many others besides aging boomers are afficted with), but even the curmudgeonly can't begrudge Adams his talent.Someone like this doesn't come along that often.

"Let it Ride" is a little gold nugget of a song with a gorgeous middle-eight (hey, I'm not a musician, but it's the part that goes, "I want to see you tonight, dancing in the endless moonlight...").
Not everything else on the album rises to that level, but some other songs, like "Sweet Illusion" and "Dance All Night" come pretty close.

I would rate this album higher than Stephen Stills' "Manassas" double elpee, or Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot".I have to dock it one star for being derivative.On some of the tunes, the guitar and bass do weave around in figures very reminiscent of Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh.There seems to be little point in denying that.If that sound is your cup of tea, wouldn't itmake more sense to pull out your copy of "American Beauty" instead?

Ryan Adams Rocks
Ryan Adams is hands down my favorite artist. This is one of 3 (!!) new albums he is releasing this year. Some will say that's too much, but for me it's heaven. No one can compare to him, in my eyes. COLD ROSES has Ryan and his new group the Cardinals making a great alt-country album very reminiscent of his last group Whiskeytown. "Let It Ride" is the new single and it's awesome. The album has 18 tracks, 9 on each disc. Shaping up to be one of the best cds of 2005. Check it out! ... Read more

Amazon.com

What was widely predicted to be a short-lived supergroup/side-project, Audioslave has instead gratifyingly yielded a bona fide band here. The follow-up to their promising, if not quite artistically congealed '02 debut finds singer/songwriter Chris Cornell contributing a slate of songs that would have done his former Soundgarden proud, while guitarist Tom Morello and his former Rage Against the Machine bandmates cast them in a focused rhythmic groove that suggests the old school can still yield a timely lesson or two. Cornell's best songs may still lurk in the shadows (the funeral hypno-blues of "Heaven's Dead," the martial metal ofanti-war opener "Your Time Has Come," "The Worm" as anthem for self-loathing), yet they're now brightened with such surprisingly sunny fare as "Dandelion," "Doesn't Remind Me"'s charged, existentialist daydream and even a hook-rich, dangerously optimistic back-to-the-future power ballad in "Be Yourself." Morello's work on the title track and elsewhere is a study in taste and less-is-more efficiency, a telling hint of how forcefully these iconic 90's stars have sublimated their egos as their new music has blossomed; who said there are no second acts in American (rock) lives? --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (103)

Save your money
I've been listening to this cd on repeat most of the day, in hopes it would be one of those classics that grows on you. It's not.

I won't get overly detailed on the individual tracks. It has a couple (maybe 4, or 5 if you want to stretch it) of good songs with some catchy riffing, and the occasional mind-skewering Morello solo, but it's a bit weak overall.

The new single "Be Yourself" is terrible. Don't even compare it to "I am the Highway."

Don't expect the same semi-Rage stylings from their debut cd. I don't know if Cornell was very involved in the music writing, butif I had to guess, he wasn't. This cd just does not live up to any of my expectations, so save your money.

Audioslave... A Very Underated Band
I can't say it was worth the wait for this album since Audioslave's 2002 debut.But there is more good than bad on this album.The debut is still better.As for the people saying Chris Cornell wasn't using his full vocal potential on this album....well why ain't you singing for Audioslave then if you know so much? Like most rock bands not every album is gonna be played and sung the same way.Hell it would be boring listening to the same album each time its released.As for the songs here theres some good and some filler.My personal stand out tracks are "Be Yourself","The Curse",The Worm","Out Of Exile" and "Dandelion".One of the least favorites is the single "Your Time Has Come".I've listened to this song many times and still can't get into it.Just like "Drown Me Slowly" and "Doesn't Remind Me". When you listen to "The Worm" it sounds very Black Sabbath-ish,which is kinda cool.I thought "The Curse" was good surprise here.I always get a kick out of Tom Morello's guitar playing.His little tricks he does to make a distinct sound is cool.Nothing to crazy and complex,just a awesome sound.Its too bad alot more people can't get into Audioslave more.I hear just as much trash about them as Creed ever got.Oh well somebodys gotta be a hater.But if you already have Audioslave's first cd this won't be a bad pick up to go with it.

Slightly disappointing
I'd have to agree with G.D. Brennan's previous review and say this one's closer to 3.5.It's certainly better than a lot of the trash out there today, but nothing about this album really grabs me after listening to it a few times.Perhaps the best thing about Out of Exile is that the band's sound appears more organic and cohesive than it was on their self-titled debut, but this unity appears to come at the expense of the energy and experimentation that carried the previous album.Nothing on here matches the primal roar of "Cochise," while the first single "Be Yourself" seems to be a poor rehash of "Like a Stone."On the whole Out of Exile is much more subdued and restrained than the last album; songs like "Doesn't Remind Me" and "Dandelion" actually seems to take their cues from Chris Cornell's mellow solo album, Euphoria Morning, rather than the harsher edge of Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine.Even the bluesy songs, however, aren't as accomplished as "I am the Highway" or "Getaway Car" were from Audioslave's debut.The guitar solos and sound effects that Tom Morello is well known for are also largely absent, with the result that nothing on Out of Exile is as sonically complex as "Shadow on the Sun" or "The Last Remaining Light."This is a stripped-down version of what we've seen before, and while it's a solid sophomore album and may be a good introduction for those new to Audioslave, Cornell, or RATM, I can't help but miss the intensity and energy that underscored their first release.

Not working up to their potential
Listening to "Out of Exile" gave me the same sensation I got in 1996 listening to "Down on the Upside" expecting another "Superunknown."It's Rock'n'Roll-Lite.I agree with the previous reviewer that Morello's riffs are creative and technically superior, but they also get on ones nerves a little.They are too far from the traditional and end up hindering the harmony of the songs.Cornell's doesn't push his vocals to the same limit he did on their debut.With all this said, this CD still manages to keep you humming all day after listening to it.

this is even better than their brilliant debut
Chris cornell is one of the best singers in recent times and out of exile is the best album of 2005 along with angel of retribution from judas priest.this is even more better than their debut which was great too.very very highly recommended.please ignore the retarded one star reviews and get this masterpiece. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Marked by a distinctly more middle-aged melancholy than her previous releases, Aimee Mann's The Forgotten Arm is a successfully conceived story album, following a couple through the life of their relationship. There is much for old and new fans here, as Mann lifts vignettes from the love-and-hate affair of a boxer and his girlfriend like sepia-toned snapshots from a county fair. In fact, it is in just one of those sticky, hot fairground parking lots where the romance blossoms and progresses "in the back of a Cadillac, that's her asleep in the mirror in back." The syncopated, bluesy melodies and strong ensemble of musicians make for a polished effort, and Mann’s gimlet eye doesn’t miss much--from the seductive pain of addiction, bout-induced memory loss, and finally to the inevitable discussion about having (or not) a baby. If indigo is the mood for most of Mann's work, then The Forgotten Arm may be closer to lavender, given the seasoned humor and perspective evident in standout tracks such as "That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart" and "She Really Wants You." This one's a keeper. --Megan Halverson

Best of the Largo-ites

Bachelor No. 2, Aimee Mann	I Heart Huckabees, Jon Brion	XO, Elliott Smith
Heartbreaker, Ryan Adams	Virginia Creeper, Grant Lee Phillips	When the Pawn..., Fiona Apple

... Read more

Reviews (42)

Quality everywhere to be found
Listening to her is like turning on the radio in the seventies and hearing great singer/writer cuts that exude warmth and naturalness. The writing as always is trenchant and the production is superb. As if that weren't enough, the cd packaging is in book form replete with artwork / lyrics and a photo of Aimee on the back that is as beautiful as the music contained within.

The unique Aimee Mann has done it again.
Let's just say from the start that I have given up trying to be objective about Aimee Mann a long time ago. I fell in love with the woman's voice and songwriting abilities the minute I first heard "Voices Carry" in 1985 (which she recorded with her former band Til Tuesday) and followed her around ever since, through thick (the long overdue success of the "Magnolias" soundtrack) and thin (the strangely impersonal and generic "I'm with stupid", her only small misstep in a 20 year career as a recording artist). Her recordings have never ceased to amaze me for two very simple reasons : 1) This woman can WRITE songs that are at once compelling, memorable, catchy and deeply emotional 2) This woman has a singing voice that doesn't sound like anyone else's - the minute you hear her, you KNOW it's her.

This said, anyone who'll take a close listen to her latest album "The Forgotten Arm" will know that Aimee is still one of the most arresting artists of her generation. The album loosely follows the ordeals of two lovers on their path through addiction and alienation, and the music is the key that holds it together : a straightforward, earthy production that echoes vintage rock and roll, all the while sounding totally contemporary. Aimee has stripped down some of the chubbier production tricks of her previous solo albums, and delivered an album that's both richly textured and minimalistic. Of particular interest is the fact that she has been using the piano a lot more than before, and not just on ballads, giving back this underrated instrument its rightful place.

The songs are all amazing, but some of them are of particular interest. The debut single, "Going through the motions", is a clever and catchy pop-rock affair; however the real potential smash single is "I can't get my head around it", a song that will lodge itself in your brain forever. "I can't help you anymore", "King of the jailhouse" and "I was thinking I could clean up for Christmas" arejust as deserving, and the album finds its emotional core with the one-two punch of the achingly beautiful "Little bombs" and "That's how I knew this story would break my heart". "Dear John" and "Goodbye Caroline" are strong rockers and "Beautiful" concludes the album with lyrics that are both mournful and hopeful, leaving the listener to make up their own mind about the way this story ends.

Some will find that this album lacks the emotional depth and sonic adventureness of "Lost In Space", its predecessor; and while it's true that nothing here quite rivals songs like "Invisible Ink" (Aimee's crowning achievement as asongwriter), "It's Not" or "The Moth", this album succeeds exactly by NOT trying to imitate what has already been beautifully recorded. Aimee is a truly challenging artist and "The Forgotten Arm" is a great reminder of that.

That's Actually 3 and a half stars...
Aimee Mann makes me wish that records were still pressed on vinyl. I'd love to be able to look at the artwork and the lyrics in big print while I listen over and over. And as another reviewer noted, you have to listen over and over to get the hooks, which this cd has, but not as many as usual for Aimee. There are a couple of great songs on here ("Going Through the Motions" and "Video"), and a lot of really good ones ("King of the Jailhouse," "She Really Wants You," "I Can't Get My Head Around It" and "Little Bombs"); but this cd hooked me only about as much as "Whatever." If you're an Aimee Mann fan, you may find that this collection pales in comparison to the last two (but I'm a freak for "Bachelor No. 2," and "It's Not" from "Lost in Space" is the MOST PERFECT Aimee Mann song ever). Even a pale comparison, however, is better than 98.9% of what's on the market musically today.

A Cotton Candy Knockout

"The Forgotten Arm" has a melodic and harmonic beauty matching Aimee Mann's all-time best offerings.

There is a real sense of time and place to the sound here.The songs flow.If "I'm With Stupid" was a wintery Londonesque album this is a summertime Americana album, harking back to her Virginia roots, evoking a time and place with both the sounds and the imagery she employs right from the opening line: "Cotton candy was king on the midway that spring..."

Her voice has never been richer, delivering those trademark "low notes" right when it counts and showcasing her heavenly upper range on "Beautiful" and "That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart" - one of the most quietly tender and beautiful ballads she has written since "No One is Watching You Now" or "Ray."

Joe Henry deserves a lot of credit as well for his imagination in helping shape the sound.The injection of a little new blood makes a world of difference on "The Forgotten Arm," with great guitar work from Jeff Trott, punchy drumming at faster tempos, and a very tight core band that you can tell has been touring together for a while. The mix is fantastic with some extremely bold, shimmering, explosive sonics for a "stripped down" album.

For all the justified attention Aimee Mann's lyrics get, her music might just be even better.Nobody is writing catchier songs, and she is often at her best here.Though her songs are mostly about off-kilter relationships, even the cynical observations are wrapped in layers of humor, vivid imagery and sticky sweet music.The difference is in her cleverness and details.Nobody delivers a musical and lyrical combo punch as well as Aimee Mann.

As alongtime Mannlistener and Largo visitor
I find this album consistant with Mann's work...especially with what she has done apart from Jon Brion.Consistancy has it's good and bad points.If you are looking for beautiful melodies and well-constructed lyrics, you will not be disappointed.Every song is a pitch-perfect performance.
But maybe Mann is too consistant?In some ways it is all almost too controlled, too perfect.It would be nice to have her break out and let loose.Brion seemed to tap her impovisational spirit a bit more than her current producers.And the result was less consistant, but also less predictable.Even live Mann is consistant, each song sounding eerily likeher recording of it.Maybe that is what crowds want: the familiar.But I miss the exploration of the unmined spaces of a song that people like Brion (or Dylan, or Lucinda Williams)provide...and Mann sometimes allows herself and her audience. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On No Doubt's great Rock Steady, Gwen Stefani was a "girl that hangs with the boys...just sippin' on chamomile." Three years and a KROQ-nerd Talk Talk cover later, she presents a solo debut that wants it all--Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano, backseat love and lifetime devotion, '70s pop throwbacks and hip-hop beats and Clash adoration (she continues to be managed by the firm of Rebel Waltz, named for a mournful Sandinista!cut). Among the standout tracks are the stomping, Neptunes-driven "Hollaback Girl," the tongue-in-cheek Eve/Dr. Dre collaboration "Rich Girl," and the girl-power manifesto "What You Waiting For?"; another tune, "The Real Thing," nods toward role-model Madonna's "Holiday." Though it can't match Rock Steady's inexorable track-by-track flow, Love, Angel, Baby, Music is such state-of-the-art pop that the description almost feels like damning it with faint praise. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite making it through a difficult four-year stretch in which the band temporarily broke up, singer Shirley Manson left her husband, and new technologies made the sleek electro-rock sound of its first three albums feel passé, Garbage resurfaces in rude health on Bleed Like Me. Manson is still kickboxing the air and stomping the glitter under her heels, as she channels Debbie Harry and Chrissie Hynde on edgy glam-rock anthems like "Run Baby Run" and "Metal Heart." All the while three bookish producers in the background--including Butch Vig, who famously helmed Nirvana's Nevermind--turn up the sleazy machine-like rhythms. Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl sits in on the drums for the menacing "Bad Boyfriend," but it's the confessional title track Bleed Like Me"--part "Walk on the Wild Side," part therapy session for former cutter Manson--that shatters Garbage's image as the ultimate non-stick studio band. "You should see my scars," goes the chorus. And, for once, Manson is actually willing to reveal them. -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (122)

This Garbage doesn't Smell
If you were like me, you loved the first two Garbage albums but felt a little let down on the third release, Beautiful Garbage. It wasn't bad but it wasn't as good as the first two.

Well after waiting four years for a new album I'm happy to report that Garbage is back. Bleed Like Me is another standout performance by a standout band.

It took them a long time to put out their fourth album but it was worth the wait. Please listen to the album closely and for at least two listens, as it gets better the more you hear. I'm equally impressed with the song writing, arrangements and presentation. You'd think by the fourth album they'd be slowing down a little but both crucial elements seem to be as strong as ever.

I like all the songs but here are my favorite five.

"Why Do You Love Me" I believe this is or will be released as a single. It is a medium fast bouncy tune with a catchy
chorus:
"Why do you love me, why do you love me,
why do you love me, You're driving me crazy"
If "Why Do You Love Me" is not the best song on the album it is certainly the most noticable.

The title song "Bleed Like Me" is another dandy. It has the tempo and presence of Garbage's biggest hit "Stupid Girl" but it different enough to really be appreciated. The suject seems to be homosexual in nature as this chorus depicts:
"All dressed up and acting coy,
Painted like a brand new Christmas toy.
He's trying to figure out if he's a girl or he's a boy

Three Killer songs in a row with "Metal Heart" a variable paced Gem. As with the previous two it's quite catchy and has some just killer guitar riffs in it. There's also a bit of electronica in this one too. Lyrics are sweet as well:
"I wish I had a Metal Heart, I could cross the line
I wish that I was half as good as you think I am"

The hits keep coming with "Sex is not the Enemy", maybe my second favorite song. I don't know it's hard to tell. As a lot of Garbages music "Sex is not the Enemy" has a deliciously, querulous delivery and melody. I like the lyrics as well:
"No evolution, Sometimes it depresses me
The ame old same, Oh we keep repeating History"

Shirley uses the megaphone for part of this rolicking rock tune, "The Boys want to fight", Which is a variable tempo but is mostly fast. Cute lyric's too:
"The Boys want to fight,
But the girls are happy to dance all night"

Not their best, but wait a minute...
I ordered this album blindly, because I'll listen to anything that Shirley Manson appears on, even the rather mediocre stuff from Angelfish. I turned it on, and I heard "Bad Boyfriend," and I was BLOWN AWAY.
Unfortunately, I was bored by "Run Baby Run" (it's one of those songs you have to develop a taste for), "Right Between The Eyes" (not nearly enough venom), and "Why Do You Love Me" (it is good, but far from magnetic; I think it was a poor choice for a single). Despite what Rolling Stone says, I think that the best part of the album is the second half (except, of course, for "Bad Boyfriend"). "Bleed Like Me" was eerily brilliant. "Metal Heart" grabbed me with its chorus: "Now that we know for sure that they're telling lies when they say no one gets hurt and therefore nobody dies..." "Sex Is Not The Enemy" is formulaic but the instrumentals are good. "It's All Over But The Crying" is the best breakup song I've ever heard: a happy medium between "YOU BROKE UP WITH ME!!! I HATE YOU!!!" and "I think I'm going to curl up and die." "Boys Wanna Fight" is perfect for an era where every side wants you to believe their propaganda. "Why Don't You Come Over" is loud, biting, and the perfect song for not caring. "Happy Home" is an intense finale in the tradition of "Milk" and "You Look So Fine" (although nothing tops "Milk.")
If you're picky, just download "Bad Boyfriend."
If you have never listened to Garbage before, what the heck, get this: my first Garbage album was Beautifulgarbage. I later realized it kind of sucked, but I enjoyed it a lot then.
If you are a Garbage fan, you need this album, if only to compare and contrast and enjoy Shirley Manson.

another band another album ho hum
Garbage has always been a quality band. Their first album is still amazing. They have put out four albums now and are among one of the great international bands. Their songs are truly massive and have widespread appeal. They are music for festival and rather large venues. "Bad Boyfriend" has a feeling much like Foreigner's "Hot Blooded." Dave Grohl plays drums on this track. Other songs like "Run Baby Run" combine rock and techno music. This is their song that is most like The Cure. "Why Do You Love" is their best single in many tries. "Bleed Like Me" is based on a story by JT Leroy. Shirley Manson has befriended the strange author. He is so reclusive that Shirley had to take his place at a book reading. Most of the album deals with Shirley Manson's personal emotions. This album overall seems a little bit more up. I ran into Duke Erickson at The Roxy earlier this year and he acted like a jerk. He was pissed that I even spoke to him. What a snob! I like their music though. I think that fans of Garbage will like this album.

Review from the Synthesis
After a three-year hiatus and another year in the recording studio, Garbage has returned with their fourth album, Bleed Like Me. After trading in their electro/alternative rock sound for the lavishly produced pop vibe on their last album, Garbage is back to what they do best. Stylistically, Bleed Like Me is close to their first two releases, with the addition of a darker, more aggressive edge. This new facet to their sound is evident from the start of the CD as it opens with the driving, guitar-laden "Bad Boyfriend," and returns throughout the album. Even with this edgier sound, one can't dismiss the catchy pop elements on Bleed Like Me. Songs like "Run Baby Run" and "Right Between The Eyes" are reminiscent of "Special" from Version 2.0. And Shirley Manson's Chrissie Hynde-esque vocal stylings have always brought a pop flavor to the band. Despite being one of the more defining elements of their sound in the `90s, the electronic influence is now more subdued. But those who love Garbage's electro sound need not worry, as songs like "Metal Heart," "Boys Wanna Fight," and "Why Don't You Come Over" contain enough electro elements to keep them happy. Solid from beginning to end, superbly produced and full of sonic ear candy, Bleed Like Me is a much-needed relief from the neo-new wave sounds permeating the air waves.

- Jason Catanzarite
Synthesis.net

A Triumph!All Killer- No Filler.
This is my first listen to Garbage, and now I see what I was missing.Manson's singing is great and the songs have unusual arrangements that are very appealing.And, Garbage rocks!I have been listening to this for a week and I am not tired of it yet.Buy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Taking three-years between albums has made Weezer grow slower and more sober. But on its fifth disc the Los Angeles quartet is no more secure about its place in the world than it was a decade ago in longing tunes like "The World Has Turned And Left Me Here." Singer Rivers Cuomo, still struggling with adolescence at 34, is all apologies. "All I have to do is swing and I'm the hero/ But I'm a zero," he sings on "Perfect Situation," and "I am terrified of all things/ Frightened of the dark," on the lighters-aloft power ballad "Hold Me." The band, meanwhile, keeps things from getting too heavy by punctuating the songs with a familiar rush of bouncy new-wave melodies and fizzing power-pop riffs resulting in the hair-flinging metal of the future D.A.R.E. theme song and album high-point, "We Are All On Drugs." --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (173)

The Return of the Weez(er)?
3.75 stars.
There is something that I realized just recently. I am one of those fans of the first two Weezer records, the brilliant "Blue" album and "Pinkerton", and am also one of those people who felt truly dissapointed by the last two records, "Maladroit" and "Green". But my revealtion was this: this isn't the same Weezer that made "Blue" and "Pinkerton". Five years passed between "Pinkerton" and "Green", and in thattime something left(namely the dope fresh funkiness and silliness of one Matt Sharp). I dunno what exactly. But this is not the same Weezer. This is Weezer Mach Two. So to think that an album like the first two will come out again is silly and stupid, at least to me. And once I realized this, a certain kind of contentness washed over me.
So, Weezer's fifth record "Make Believe", how it is? Well I am happy to report that is the groups strongest and most consistant group of songs since "Pinkerton", even if there is a tad too much filler to classify it as an undiputed classic(at least to me).
"Perfect Situation", "Pardon Me" and "The Damage in Your Heart" are what Weezer have always done best, arena heavy pop songs with infectious choruses, and are two of the songs Weezer have done thus far. A trio of power ballads, "Hold Me"(which brings back the loud/ soft dynamic like "Say It Ai'nt So"), "Peace" and the records best track(and best Weezer song in nearly a decade) "Haunt You Every Day" all features choruses that bring back the goosebumps, along with lyrics anthemic enough that you're singing along at the top of your lungs before the second choruses even kicks in. "This Is Such A Pity" is a straight up Cars homage, and an excellent one at that, a nice slice of pop that Ric Oseack and crew would have been damn proud of to have written(it's odd that they go full Cars when the man who wrote the Cars music isn't producing, isn't it?). And "Freak Me Out" adds extra dimension to the record and showcases a different side of Weezer that will hopefully be explored further on the next Weezer record.
On the oppiosite side of things, lead off single "Beverly Hills" is just to simple to leave much of an impression(though the Steve Miller inspired solo rocks), and "We Are All On Drugs" is too preachy to be taken seriously, and questioningly borrows its melody line from the grade school recess school yard anthem "Diarehha". "My Best Friend" rocks a melody that is not very memorable and lyrics that are just a tad to touchy feely for my personal taste.
The production, courtsey of Rick Rubin, or as he is known affectionatly "The Beard", is as clean as a Weezer record has ever been, with all the rough spots cleaned over for a crystal clear product. This is neither heere nor there to me since it should be about the quality of the songs, not the production that matters(you hear me Steve Albini!), and lyrically, Rivers walks a fine line between more introspective material and bland pop lyric writting, but this time it at least sounds like he's trying.
Now don't take any of this as me telling you not to buy the record. I'm saying buy the record. It's a GOOD album. I don't think it's great, but it's defintley not awful either. There are six or seven songs here that are the best stuff that they've written and played in nearly a decade, and it really is cool to hear Weezer sound slightly impassioned about playing music again. And this time I'm glad to see that this isn't a begruddging liking of the record, like some parts of "Green" and "Maladroit" that are okay but you say they're better because you need to convince yourself that it's better than it is. This time the songs really are good that are good. And that makes me excited to hear the next Weezer record for the first time in a long time. Weezer Mach Two is finally finding their footing. "Make Believe" made me pretty happy.
And isn't that what a good record is supposed to do anyway?

Highlights few, not what it used to be
After recording and rerecording over 70 songs for album 5, Weezer scrapped almost all of them and put in new songs for the new album "Make Beleive".Billed as "the most important album of their career" by Rolling Stone (can be seen on the sticker that is on the shrink wrap), but in a completely different vein.The album starts off with the hit single "Beverly Hills".A simple catchy song and in this reviewer's opinion, one of the 3 best on the album.There's some 80's influence on tracks like "This is Such a Pity" (synths), but not to the point of the somewhat overdone new wave revival that has recently become popular.One track, "My Best Friend", is easily my favorite song on the album.Maybe its just because it reminds me of the brightness of the green album and I like the organ sound.The other highlight of the album is "We Are All On Drugs" (on the initial pressings of Make Beleive there is an incorrect version of this song).All in all, if there was a comparison to another Weezer album on this one it would be closest to Maladroit, but there is still very little similarity.This is a decent album but it isn't the best to be someone's first Weezer album.

Make Believe: 4.999 out of 5
Although Weezer has changed their views and music style since the long-past 1994 era, the new album, titled Make Believe, proves that the boys can still deliver.The new album is chalk full of pinkerton-reminescent songs (Perfect Situation, Hold me, Peace) along with the occasional super pop-song (We are all on Drugs, Beverly Hills).I would have the say that the only song on the entire album that gets the 'skip' button is "My Best Friend."Many older weezer fans love this song, however, because of its raw and unadultered innocence.The new album has interesting musical appear as well.The guitars range from clean, to distorted... from power chords to harmonics.There are also pianos, keyboards, and harmonicas present in more songs than not.So there you have it,the long anticipated fifth album from Weezer;trust me, this one is definately a keeper.=w= J.O.N.A.S. =w=

Great Listen
I get tired of Weezer fans comparing everything to Pinkerton or TBA.Is this album as good as those?No, it's not.Is this a great Weezer album to add to the collection?Yes, it is.

MB sounds nothing like the previous albums, but at the same time, it sounds entirely like the old albums.There are new instruments and effects that really enhance the listening experience and the eclecticness of the band.

I have been a fan of Weezer since the beginning, and I feel that songs on the album rank up there with the best of them all.My personal favorites are "Perfect Situation", "This is Such a Pity", and "Hold Me"."Freak Me Out" is one of the most interesting Weezer Tracks I have heard, as practically the whole melody is harmonics.

Anyways, this is a perfect summer album and completly worth the price and the shelf space.

Enjoy!!!

Weezer is Back!
The long awaited return of Weezer will not disappoint! After listening to Make Believe in its entirety, I have come to the conclusion that it is one of Weezer's best cds, much better than Maladroit or The Green Album...as far as the songs go:

"Beverly Hills" - seems to be made just to be the radio hit single, it's sound and lyrics don't really flow with the rest of the album, it is definitely the most poppy song on the album

"Perfect Situation" - Starts out with a riff very similar to "Simple Pages" from the Green Album, but then goes it's own direction and is pretty solid

"This Is Such A Pity" - Rumored to be the second single off of the album, definitely brings a different sound than "Beverly Hills" as it has a synth type vibe to it, the lyrics seem to be a little more emotional, maybe reminicent of some Pinkerton stuff

"Hold Me" - My personal favorite! The lyrics are so simple, but yet so deep...there is clear emotion on this track, and the guitar is mellowed out, and it definitely brings back the Pinkerton feel, an excellent song! I'm not sure if it gets any better than Rivers singing "hold meeee" at the top of his lungs

"Peace" - Another excellent song, bringing the emotional side again, guitar is a little poppy, but still nowhere near as poppy as the Green Album

"We Are All On Drugs" - Almost sounds like it is rapped, similar to the way "Beverly Hills" sounds...it brings the poppy side to the album again, and could possibly be the second single, the chorus however is a little heavier than "Beverly Hills"

"The Damage In Your Heart" - Another emotional piece...not my favorite song by any means, but I still like it a lot, as I do with the rest of the album

"Pardon Me" - An excellent song, written very well...the lyrics seem to be about Rivers asking for an appology for all that he has done wrong...Starts out a little slow, but builds up to a strong chorus...I read that this was Rick Rubin (The producer)'s favorite song

"My Best Friend" - Very catchy track, similar to the poppy beat of "Beverly Hills", so if you enjoy that song, you will like this song as well, definitely my least favorite song on the album, very simple beat, very simple lyrics...nothing special about this one

"The Other Way" - Another great song on this album...Pretty mellowed out, decent chorus, lyrically is well written and caries some emotion, pretty good song

"Freak Me Out" - One of my favorite songs on the cd, it's pretty mellow, maybe the softest of songs on the cd, but it carries a good beat, and I really enjoy it

"Haunt You Every Day" - Very good ending track, it's no "Only In Dreams" but then again, nothing ever will be, but it carries the emotion that I love from Rivers in the lyrics, has a great beat, with some nice guitar, one of my favorite tracks

Overall, this album is comparable to Pinkerton, but it definitely shows progression and maturity from that album as well, some songs bring the poppy sound of the Green Album too, so it's kind of like a PinkGreen Album, if that makes sense...

As far as the extras on the cd go, I found them to be rather disappointing, but I'm not judging a cd by that...I definitely recommend this album to any Weezer fan! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Killers. Interpol. Franz Ferdinand. Without New Order's influence they could have all ended up making albums of country & western ballads. Since the demise of Joy Division in 1980, the British synth-pop quartet has been diligently changing the course of popular music, lobbing unlikely but inventive hits like "Blue Monday" and "True Faith" into the charts. Twenty-five years on, New Order remains shockingly vital. Its eighth proper album overflows with shimmering melodies, anchored by Peter Hook's spine-tingling bass lines and Bernard Sumner's thin but emotive voice in thrilling new songs like "Krafty" and "Dracula's Castle." -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (74)

Will someone please steal this album from me?
Why the odd title?I drive a little over a half hour (each way) to and from work, and since I bought this album I have listened to it over and over.(I know, dumb eh?)

At first listen I thought "Get Ready" was a far superior album, but I found that the more I listened the more I heard.By far a much more progressive album for New Order, but still classic sounding that fits the fact that "yes, New Order was an 80's band", but this is their new album that is so 21st century.A worthy addition to any collection, whether rock, pop, 80's, or synth.

Refreshing....!!!!!
In am an old Joy Division fan and have followed New Order ever since.When Technique came out in 1989 I could not stop playing it when I was in Brunei of all places.Since then I have had kids, etc. etc. but still love to listen to music.My favorite station is http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/.So when they started playing the new NO some months ago I could not believe my ears and straight away pre-ordered it on www.amazon.com. It took some getting used to but now it is the CD I play most in the car and it brings tons of smiles to my face.The kids may not like it too much but for me it brings back good memories and it is so refreshing to see that old 'rockers' can still bring out a record that surely must be one of the top ten of this year.If you like their record and have not discovered BBC1 go to their website and listen to the live show or the various shows from the previous week which are all accessible on their 'player'.If you pay $12/month here for satellite radio then think again...

Alt-rock icons make us feel like its 1992 all over again.
New Order's history is filled with mournful iciness, sublime electro-disco, seminal Britpop and episodes of portly overblown grandeur. And, depending on what moves them, the band's fans always seem to gravitate toward one of these elements more than the others. To that end, Waiting For The Sirens' Call offers something for everyone: "Turn" has that 1986 college-rockin' jangle that'll make elderly R.E.M. fans tingle. For the synth- and sequencer-damaged among us, there's the electrolytic "Krafty" and the disco workout "Guilt Is A Useless Emotion." Going off on another tangent, "Workin' Overtime" is the band's simultaneous nod to '60s garage rock, the Beatles' "I Feel Fine" and that last Elvis Costello album.

The axis of mystery and implied arrogance that made New Order compelling may be gone, but that's okay; none of us is the same person we were decades ago. As far as right now goes, Waiting For The Siren's Call is a fine distillation of everything New Order have been. And when you've got a passport that's as thick as theirs, it's admirable that they refuse just to walk away from this thing entirely.spin j.p

Definitely not an "instant hit" album!
Waiting for the sirens' call will NOT hook you immediately. It's not that kind of album. There isn't any obvious hits, except Who's Joe, Krafty or Jetstream.
When I played it the first time I was kind of bored. Too many songs didn't hook me, sounded just "ok" and after Get Ready, I was disappointed.
However, days passed and I didn't play the album - didn't want to! And then, when I played it again after a week or so, out of nowhere, I started to like the songs! One by one, they PERFECTLY matched each other - carrying specific mood.

Now I think it's one of their better releases - much better than, for example, Republic and on par with Get Ready (I like that album very much).
It's incredible how this album works! If you like New Order, you'll certainly love this album. Do NOT expect to like it on the first listen! You probably won't - maybe just 3-4 songs!

This album has some ultimate NO gems and classics: Who's Joe?, Waiting for the siren's call, Dracula's Castle, Turn. They are magnificent!

There are no fillers here, excet that I don't like "I told you so" that much - interesting, but not my cup of tea, and "Guilt is a useless emotion" has some kind of generic chorus. That's a shame, considering that the song starts extremely well! Just the chorus isn't that memorable. But great for a summer fun! :)

All in all, a very very solid effort. As the time goes by, I expect that I'll like this album even more. It's THAT kind of a record. So refreshing these days - I'm fed up of instant hits that I get bored with after few weeks/months.

Just another perfect album!
At first listen I did not like Waiting For the Siren's Call as much as New Order's last album Get Ready. This album is just as good as Get Ready. If you want a perfect album from a great band. Pick up Waiting for the Siren's Call and Get Ready, Get Ready was the best album of 2001 in my eyes. WFTSC is going to be in the running this year.

Dear, New Order

Why havn't you toured the US other than a couple of dates. Please come to Pittsburgh.

Yours Truly, Substance ... 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 (54)

Decent CD but BEWARE!!!
The music is pretty good (though still not as good as Ben Folds Five), and the DVD features are kind of a cool bonus.But frankly, I would rather have had just the music in a format that would play on all my CD players.The audio side would only play on 2 of the 4 players I tried it on (haven't tried my car yet which is obviously important).

"Why you gotta Act Like You Know When You Don't Know"?
Ben Folds brings a certain classicism with his signature style on SONGS FOR SILVERMAN.It is obvious that Folds is a brilliant songwriter, vocalist, and phenomenal pianist. The reason I think that Folds is underrated as an artist is because he is for some an "aquired taste" per say.He isn't your typical rock or pop artist.He is in the elite league of the "piano-power" artist which includes himself, Tori Amos, and recently Vanessa Carlton.I think that if more people were to hear Folds, he would surely be more popular because as an artist, he has a lot to offer.I'd be certain that if more jazz listeners were to hear him just play they'd certainly be wowed by his pianistic skills (I'm a jazz listener and musician that is wowed).

But SONGS FOR SILVERMAN did give Folds his largest opening as well as his largest debut numerically.The biggest trap that Folds falls into is filler material. The best song is offered right at the beginning and it is "Bastard" which experiments with odd meter and an incredibly enthralling fuzzy bass line. His incredibly catchy line is the title of this review "Why you gotta act like you know when you don't know", he sings enthusiastically.

"You To Thank" and "Jesusland" are fine tracks as well. And there are certainly other enjoyable listens.The true highlight is "Bastard" though. Folds piano skills and his vocal sophistication are flawless on hits as well as non-hits.This music has a light feel that is not boring in the least.This is a very nice album.4 stars.

Where is The G.I. Folding Action????
I Went To A Ben Folds Concert To See Ben Fold Something...Boy was I dissapointed!

A Must Listen For Any Fan
This latest release from Ben Folds is by far his most mature offering, and not simply for a second song written for his children. The lyrics are incredibly witty and real, not unlike the story-like albums "Ben Folds Five" and "Naked Baby Photos." Ben continues to make dynamic and gripping rock 'n roll with his piano, while delivering vocal tracks that make you swear he hasn't spent most of the last decade on tour. For anyone who will have an appreciation of where this album fits into his life, pick it up and listen to it. Again and again and...

Silversongs for man
Ben Folds, completely ignored in France, deserves all the attention of all those which likes the pop one and the songwriters with subtle melodies and refined harmonies. I draw the attention of those particularly, inconsolable as I am to it myself, of the disappearance of Elliott Smith. Because Ben Folds forms part of this family of musicians who can find melodies and athmosphères immediately captivating without never falling into the facility. The two men knew each other and estimated themselves mutually. Ben Folds offers to us besides in this album "Late" a very beautiful song dedicated to Elliott, simple, and direct - one could not make any more beautiful homage. If Elliott were a guitarist: Ben Folds is a pianist (and a good one !). All its songs are arranged around a base piano-bass-battery (traditional formation for the jazz but less in the pop one, Ben not hesitating besides flirting with jazz, as in "You to thank".) Strings, choruses and guitars come enjoliver these beautiful melodies. Its texts are full with humour, full with an irony which would surely make smile Randy Newman itself ("You to thank", again). One will appreciate this familiarity which one immediately has with the musical universe of Ben folds, who releases an obviousness which had with the musical culture of the artist and the very personal transformation of his pop influences into catchy songs. One will precipitate several times of continuation on Jesusland and especially Landed, potential hit, which would have made green of jealousy the Elton John of the great time - that of Tiny Dancer.
It should be noted that this disc exists in a Dualdisc edition: a universalCd side, a DVD side. the dvd one has the advantage of offering one mix 5.1 of the album, a making of of the album which introduces Ben Folds well, and an alternate version of Landed with strings which does not have anything gadget. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Irish troubadour Damien Rice doesn't so much reinvent the folk genre on this lush, impossibly mature debut album as push its boundaries in several compelling musical directions at once--all the more remarkable considering the album was largely self-produced and home-recorded. His songs revolve around familiar, bittersweet concerns of life, love and their attendant frustrations, but delivered with conspiratorial intimacy on melodic wings that (like on the graceful "Cannonball") Rice seems almost embarrassed to share. If there's anything like a template here, it's "The Blower's Daughter," the song that first attracted the interest/stewardship of film composer David Arnold (whose guest production provides "Amie" with expansive cinematic elegance) and became a massive Irish hit. His plaintive vocal, embroidered by the mournful solo cello of Vyvienne Long, is suddenly brightened by an instrumental flourish and Lisa Hannigan's vocals--before just as quickly wafting on the breeze. With touches that range from "Day in the Life"-styled string collages to the dizzy, exhilarating neo-operatic excesses of the 16-minute "Eskimo," Rice's musical palate here is as adventurous as his songs are grounded in emotional intimacy. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (154)

Haunting and Beautiful
Damien Rice has a beautiful Irish tenor voice. And it works wonderfully in his folk aranged album. He also has a female companion who harmonizes with him, and she is a fantastic vocalist. This album is composed of guitar, the two vocalists, some percussion, and generally a cello or small strings arrangement. That makes for a wonderful album to listen and relax to.
The song-writing on the album is amazing. Rice writes songs like conversations and uses the wonderful (and beautiful if you've seen the video) female to sing the response. Many songs are about lost love or bad love or just love, but they are not just simple, stupid, pop love songs. They are incredibly crafted lyrics that can stand alone without music, which says a lot about Rice's songwriting skills.
Buy this album if you enjoy folk/pop music. James Taylor, Angie Aparo, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Gark Jules and David Gray are a few musicians I would say if you like you'll enjoy Damien Rice.

The most beautiful album I have ever heard...
Searching for words to describe this album are like trying to count the stars in the sky. (I know it's cliche, but it works). This album is amazingly beautiful.

Back in May I picked up a friend of mine in Chicago after she spent the semester in Ireland and the whole way home (a 3+ hour drive) all we listened to was O. After we arrived home, I decided I had to have the album. I ordered the import off amazon and before it arrived, I got to see Damien back in Chicago at Schubas. If the album itself doesn't amaze you, go see him live and you'll fall in love. Just a few more weeks until he plays Chicago again.

This album ranges from soft ballads (The Blower's Daughter) to heart-wrenching rock (the second half of I Remember). Unlike many albums from folk singers, I think this one is best listened through all the way at once. While there are great standout tracks (Amie, I Remember, Delicate), the whole album tells a story. There is a gradual almost epic-like progression throughout that sends the listener on a roller-coaster of emotions.

One of the greatest things about this album is the fact that Damien recorded this (mostly) in his basement over the course of a year. Instead of being thrown into a studio for a month to record the album using manufactured emotion (having to record on days you don't feel like it), Damien recorded each of the songs when he was "feeling it". That's why all of the emotion in these songs are SO real, so genuine. There is nothing manufactured about its sound. Another magnificant thing about it is the range of instrumentation and musical genre used. As I said, there are the slow, soft ballads, and rocking songs as well as Operatic elements (Eskimo)and beautiful orchestration in "Amie" and "Cold Water".

From listening to the album and several live shows I have, I can tell that Damien does not have a powerful, controlling, confident voice. Rather his voice sounds strong at times, but is usually more reserved and cautious. This cautious tone makes the album all the more believable, showing it is true emotion that has not been overproduced or forced.

I really can not say enough good things about this album and if I could give 10 stars, I would. As I said, my favorite tracks are #1 Delicate, #6 Amie and #9 I Remember, but there is not a bad song on the album.

As one other reviewer already said, my only complaint is that the last song (Eskimo) has 2 "hidden tracks" [Prague, and Silent Night (a song set to the tune of the traditional Silent Night Christmas song, but with different lyrics)] that should have been seperate tracks finishing off the album with 12 instead of 10. But as my only complaint, I must still recommend this album.

E-mail me if you have any questions whatsoever.

Loved it!
Damien Rice is such a talented musician. His music never gets old, you can listen to it over and over again. His soultry voice is always nice to listen to. I highly recommend it!!

Fearless
This is my first review of anything on Amazon, though I am a constant reader. I simply had to talk about this album.

The best way to describe this album is fearless. He takes the road less traveled by other up-and-coming singer-songwriters. While the new batch has had some very good singers, nothing compares to this album. They seem more interested in making a "clean" album, while this album seems like he is alone in a room baring his soul.

Though the strange thing is about the album s that you know he could not have been alone in a room. There is so much going on, so many chances taken that it is hard to descibe. Simply saying that it is an acoustic album is wrong. The album brings in much more.

Fearless in his atempts to expand beyond just him and his guitar. Consider how at the end of Amie, out of nowhere comes what sounds like an entire orchestra. It sounds beautiful and it becomes almost impossible to imagine the song without it. Then the gorgarian (sp?) chants that enter into Cold Water. By the end of the album it seems only appropriate to have an opera singer at the end of Eskimo.

But the wonderful things about the album is that it doesn't rely on these tricks. They are simply used to enchance the songs. Cannonball is simply him and his guitar, and it is one of the best songs on the album (a song friends of mine have confessed crying to when they heard it).

Another huge difference between him and others is the feeling involved. I have yet to hear another singer coming out now who you can feel their pain so clearly and identify with it(Howie Day is close). The only line in the chorus of The Blower's Daughter is "I can't take my eyes off you..." The way he sings it and the passion in his voice make the line more romantic and meaningful than an entire boy-band album.

Just the other night I went outside with my CD Player to sit on the front porch and listen to music while I smoked a cigarette. I started at track one, and became so engrossed in the songs, I just sat there until the album finished. It is THAT good. And it is that