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

Reviews (403)

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

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

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

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

Each cut on Pill is marked by sharp guitar riffs and clever lyrical hooks. Interestingly, the songs seem to change tempo and intensity more often than the norm, moving between slow/soft and fast/loud, giving Alanis a chance to express her angst in different musical settings. The rhythm guitar blasts in the choruses of "You Oughta Know," "You Learn," and "Ironic" are staples of FM radio, with intense and passionate vocals by Alanis. In the slower moments she also sings well, softly beautiful or showing good range, as in "Mary Jane." In "Head Over Feet," she demonstrates her ability to sing effectively in all the musical grooves. Opinions vary on this album--I have it coming barely short of five stars--but what I don't see at all is any shortfall in Alanis's vocals, which are superb. You'll find many good songs and some great ones, and consistently strong performances by the lead singer.

"Unquestionnably The Best Album of The 90s"
I never really liked Alanis until i heard "Ironic"..i then listened to her album and...wow, i jus completely changed my view on her. My personal favourite is "You Oughta Know", its just...rage and emotion, some think she's crazy, but..i think thats good music. Same goes to "Right Through U" and "Unforgiven". All the songs on this album are different from each other. They have different meanings and topics,no wonder why she won album of the year at the Grammys. I also love "Hand In My Pocket" and "You Learn". I love the harmonica in "Head Over Feet", u jus cant match it. "Mary Jane" really shows her vocal ability and her hittin the high notes, i guess u can call it the "ballad" on the album.Overall, whoever doesnt have this album..its a must, ur missin out.

Fingernails on a blackboard.........
If you like the sound of someone dragging their fingernails across a blackboard you'll love the sound of Alanis Morrisette's voice. Bad does not adequately describe this disaster of an album. I recommend playing this loudly and contiuously to death row inmates and then releasing the inmates...........they've suffered enought.

Heartfelt, soulful... buy it.
There are so many tracks on this album that are quality music. This was my introduction to Alanis' music and over the years I've watched her grow up, physically and metaphysically, and she's come a long way. Alanis isn't fake-y and she isn't just pulling a gimmick to get you to buy her albums (unlike Madonna, with the exception of Ray of Light by Madonna). Alanis has a pretty good website too, so if you're a fan, you should probably check that out as well. As a lyricist, her writing is somewhat subtle... some people may think the words are meaningless or insane, but really the meaning is deep and thoughtful. I appreciate her not treating her fans like they are brainless robots, there is much more to Alanis than first appearances would lead you to believe. In fact, of all the "stars" out there, if I could meet any of them, I would choose Alanis.

And yeah, I'd be so embarrassed if she read this. hehe ... Read more

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Jokingly referred to as the White Stripes' British album, Elephant is scattered with cultural references that give away the fact it was recorded far from home. Just listen to the lyrics on "Seven Nation Army" ("From the Queen of England to the hounds of Hell") or the album outro, in which someone chips in, "Jolly good, cup of tea?" But while there are new twists here, from Meg White discovering her voice to a tongue-in-cheek threesome with Holly Golightly, Elephant is no great departure for Jack and Meg White. They still push their creativity (and the boundaries of their eight-track) to new heights. Check out the startling, Queen-inspired "There's No Home for You Here," while the deep bass line on "Seven Nation Army" makes it a classic indie dance track. But while some songs fly off into new realms, there's plenty of their trademark straight-up bluesy rock, notably the overtly sexual "Ball and Biscuit." And there's Jack's plaintive, resolutely modest and yet theatrical voice. --Caroline Butler ... Read more

Reviews (619)

Stripes become the Anti-Radiohead, produce classic record
The liner notes to Elephant contain this gem:

"No computers were used during the writing, recording, mixing or mastering of this record." Please note this is a "record" and not a compact disc.

That buried nugget really sums up this album, the best recorded in the United Kingdom since 1980. The equipment Jack and Meg White used was as primitive as the technology that gave us that earlier classic, Pretenders I. The simplicity makes Elephant more intriguing than high tech sound devoid of all humanity. Rock and roll stripped of its blues and country roots can be interesting but completely soulless. Jack sings the blues on Elephant and the record ends with a country and western tune. The White Stripes have become the Anti-Radiohead, ironically in the same year that band has released its first decent CD (note: "CD") in five years.

No record is perfect, but this comes astonishingly close. There is no weak spot. You expect one halfway through after Jack sings the lovely melody "You've Got Her in Your Pocket." What immediately follows, though, are the best hard-driving songs on the album--the overtly sexual blues moan "Ball and Biscuit," and the amazing rockers "Hardest Button To Button," "Little Acorns," "Hypnotize," "The Air Near My Fingers," and the upbeat "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine." The three punk-influenced songs that open the album--"Seven Nation Army," "Black Math," and "There's No Room for You Here," already have marked this album as the best of the year before you even get to this point. Sometimes you hear the Animals, sometimes the Stones, sometimes Robert Johnson. Along the way is Meg's haunting vocal debut, "In the Cold, Cold Night," which marks a strong addition to the Stripes' arsenal.

Because it is so rare to be this effusive about anything, there is a temptation to fob off as silly the last song, "Well, It's True That We Love One Another." Yet on second listen, this playful country trio that features Holly Golightly with Jack and Meg measures up to the rest of the album.

This is more than the best album that has been released this decade. It is a record destined to be a classic.

Minty Fresh
The White Stripes saved a lot of money on their latest release by not falling into the trap of high production values and recording the entire album in a matter of days on aged equipment. At first glance, it may seem as if they paid off every single music critic in America with the extra cash. Honestly, Elephant is a fine piece of work but five stars from Rolling Stone is pushing it.

If you aren't familiar with the band, The White Stripes are a Detroit based duo comprised of Jack and Meg White(brother/sister). They scored their first mainstream hit with "Fell In Love With A Girl" last year. Ever since, loyal fans and critics have been waiting for a chance to officially dub them rock gods. Are they deserving of that kind of title? It depends.

Let me break it down for you the way I see it. Jack White is on his way to stardom and he's letting his sister come along for the ride. Elephant is at it's very best when Jack gets a chance to show off his very formidable guitar skills. The album hits bottom when Meg takes the mic. "In The Dark, Dark Night" is a well written song spoiled by her lack of vocal ability. Her drumming is extremely simplistic but luckily, fits well with the band's style. The only other crystal clear low point on Elephant is the closing track. "It's True That We Love One Another" is just plain cheesy and makes the album and its performers seem all the more odd.

If I had to sum up Elephant in one thought I'd say... It isn't for everyone. You're either going to love it for what it is or be let down by what it is not. But after all is said and done, a couple below average tracks don't stop The White Stripes from distinguishing themselves from the rest of the rock revival crowd that has been so popular lately. It grows on you, and one listen to "Ball and Biscuit" should convince anyone with a rock bone in their body that Elephant is worth the time.

they stink, just kidding!
oh, man. these guys are great. i just love 7 nation army. such a catchy song. their whole album is great and i recommend you go buy it right now if you like bleusy rock music. its hard to believe that its a two person band.... can you even call that a band? but it doesnt matter, cuz they play better than a lot of other bands out there. the only reason why i give it 4 stars is because Meg's drumming isnt as good as it should be on some songs. also, i think they should have someone else that could play bass guitar along with Jack. GO BUY THIS CD NOW, OR ELSE STOP READING THIS REVIEW! I SAID STOP READING! YOU'RE STILL READING! GO BUY IT!

ugh
Just because it doesn't sound like Britney or Puddle of Mudd doesn't mean it isn't uninspired generic garbage. This band is not talented nor original. Their songs were probably written by middle-aged record executives who are trying to appeal to teens who secretly watch MTV and shop at Urban Outfitters for vintage-looking t-shirts with "witty" phrases.

If the only reason you listen to this band is because someone told you it's cool (and that means you considering thats the only way anyone could possibly like this uninspired drivel) just realize that people who like music that is actually good are still laughing at you because you're still nothing more than a pseudo-pretentious loser who wants to seem alternative. Take my advice and drop the black hair dye and white belts because you'll never be anything more than a fake until you start thinking for yourself.

Much better than I had heard on MTV
Firts of all it is a two part band but that means almost nothing. Almost every song has more than one guitar part. I believe Jack White is an amazing guitarist. He may not rip Metalica solos but he plays a good slide and sounds great in my opinion. Sure the drummer is nothing special and the is no bass but that is why i gave 4 stars and not 5. ... Read more

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Resembling at times a soft-sung Robert Plant, Buckley was an intuitive vocalist capable of dizzying arabesques and choir-boy sweetness. He is joined here by a tight band for 10 tracks highlighting his stylistic range--Pearl Jam bluesy on "Eternal Life," impossibly serene on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," art-school noisy on "So Real," Led Zep daring on "Mojo Pin." Unorthodox, this was the debut of '94. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (418)

Jeff Buckley: lives on in "Grace"
Jeff Buckley's debut album "Grace" evokes the strongest of emotions every time I listen to his intense lyrics and dramatic voice. How can an album be anything less then beautiful with such truthful lyrics as, "I remember the smell of the fabric of your simple city dress..." and "lover, you should've come over, it's not to late..." Everything he writes comes from the heart, nothing is ever embellished or overdone. An indescribable feeling comes over me when I listen to "Grace." It strikes an intense emotional chord that has never been duplicated by any other artist. Jeff Buckley was one of the few original artists with both attributes of talent and a ethereal voice. It saddens me that I will never have the opportunity to see him live or hear other genius melodies that I'm sure he would have released. Jeff Buckley's life and career ended too soon when he left the world in 1997. Though he is gone, his honest words and beautiful, confessional music lives on in "Grace."

Best debut by anyone---would have been #1, one day.
Grace is an album that young musicians hope to make and experienced musicians hope they can be remembered by. He certainly left his mark on the singer-songwriter world, influencing popular acts such as Lisa Loeb and Radiohead front-man Thom Yorke. Grace is deeply rooted in the classics, (Led Zeppelin etc...) and makes no attempt to distract anyone from Jeff's golden pipes with feeble attempts to sway an ever-changing audience. His confidence is overwhelming seeing as though he choose to cover Lenoard Choen's Halleluiah and the old standard Christian carol. His band, led by the soft yet convincing hands of drummer Matt Johnson, is certainly nothing to sneeze at considering Jeff co-wrote some of the songs with them. His live show was the perfect complement to this soon-to-be quintessential 90's album. It was complete with broken srtrings and spitting,and swearing, and the music was well above the standards of any youngster in that room. (July 15, 1995 Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, Ontario) God rest his talented soul.

Excellent
This is undoubtedly one of my favorite discs. When the album originally came out I was overwhelmed by the range, ecclecticism and rawness of Buckley's voice and lyrics. His covers are also adeptly rendered.

Buckley's talent is lost on some, but anyone with an appreciation for creative and daring musical exploration will enjoy this collection. Years after first buying the album I still have it in "active rotation." This is not for everyone. Buckley seems to be a love him/hate him artist, but he managed to indelibly mark the musical landscape and is often cited by other illustrious artists as a point of inspiration and reference.

haunting, sweet, heavy, light, flawless, broken
Any attempt I have made so far to describe this album to those who have never heard it has fallen far short of the power of actually playing it, but I must try again, I always do... it is not music for the background, or for a party... It is haunting, it is sweet, it is perfect and flawless and yet broken and, at times, heavy with the emotion of a sinner. Yet also it is light, in songs such as "Hallelujah", a constant favorite. Every song is full of various emotions, and they are not simple or wonderously happy. They are the feelings of one who lived a life, however short, full of misery and yet found a way to leave that behind. Buckley was different from the rest of us, its true. Everything he felt was hundreds of times stronger than a normal person should feel. And yet, his music is not complaining, it is just feeling. You can adapt the beautiful lyrics and quavering,(perfect) voice to any feeling you may be having, and be immediately lifted by the beauty you hear.

It is beauty. It is perfect. It is also ironically indescribable.

a classic!!!
anyone that would call this cd crap is a goof and that is what he ate for dinner.what a fool!long live jeff and tim.now go home and listen to boy george!!! ... Read more

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While the hype machine forever proclaims this or that new artist to be "unique," "original," or "a fresh new voice," most of the time what you hear is more of the same old, same old. Thus, it is a rare joy to hear a newcomer that actually qualifies as all of the above. Mindy Smith fits loosely in the alt-country genre but adds some distinctive touches that set her apart from the field. A residency in Nashville brings a welcome Music Row level of craftsmanship to the playing and production, while her singing and songwriting take the music to places where cliché has never been. A song like "Hurricane" has a hook Faith Hill would kill for, but tells a tale of rebirth that might prove a little raw for her emotional range. Like Julie Miller, Smith writes songs that deal with redemption and spiritual matters in a way that is powerful without being off-putting to the more secular among us. Likewise she can write about her stepmother's passing in terms general enough to make it a stirring ode to the loss of any love--and do it in a voice that could make a statue misty. Smith more than held her own on the Dolly Parton tribute, Just Because I'm a Woman, alongside the likes of Alison Krauss, Norah Jones, and Dolly herself. One Moment More proves that it was no fluke. This time believe the hype. --Michael Ross ... Read more

Reviews (64)

EVERYONE NEEDS THIS CD! MINDY IS OUTSTANDING!
Wow! I was so impressed by Mindy Smith's debut album. She is definitly one of the best female singers anywhere. Her songwriting skills are unbelievable. Mindy's voice is the kind that only comes along once in a lifetime. So do yourself a favor and don't miss out on this CD. I wish I could tell you what the best songs on the album are but EVERY SINGE ONE is my favorite. I couldn't even pick one over another if I tried. Mindy caught my interest by singing "Jolene" on a Dolly Parton tribute album so I decided to keep an eye on any material she put out. I was beyond surprised at how great this CD is. I never would have expected something as emotional, thoughtful, and well put-together as Mindy's CD. Support Mindy Smith and go buy this CD as soon as possible!! You will never regret it.

Great, ORIGINAL Singer/Songwriter.
In a world of today, full of musical bubble-gum pop garbage such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, or rap such as 50 Cent or Eminem, Mindy Smith is in a world all her own.

She renews our faith that original singer and songwriters who write heartfelt lyrics still exist. And she makes her presence known. When she sings a song on this album, her lyrics are so filled with emotion, you can FEEL the song. And that's what good music to me is. A song that you can relate to, or even if you can't, you understand what the song is about, and you can feel it in the music. All of the songs on this CD are great, and I can easily listen to them all, but with any CD there are favorites. Stand-out songs for me are:

Angel Doves - A very great moving song. I am not a very religious person (at all, really) myself, but you can't help but feel this song. It really hits you. - "Spreading hope out over us, like angel doves."

Down In Flames - A slow, depressing, melancholy type of song. You can translate it several ways...but either way you do, you'll get a great meaning from this song. It's great. "I need some direction, I need someone to listen, someone to tell me that they know, that life's so hard, it's the little things that seem to be getting me today, yeah...and I'm going down in flames, going down in flames"

Hurricane - Another slow, melancholy type of song. The echo in her voice after she says she heard the faint trace of thunder is lovely. The lyrics are great, a really well put together song.

Jolene - Although a Dolly Parton cover, for anyone who may have never heard Dolly's version, you'd think Mindy Smith wrote it herself. I prefer this to Dolly (or anyone else's) version. Mindy Smith's voice is great on this song, especially on the "Jolene's"

One Moment More - I like the acoustic version better, without all the background music, it's more sad and sentimental, but this version is great too. Probably my 2nd favorite on the CD. A great love song. "You've got to hold me, yeah, and show me now...give me, just one part of you to cling to...and keep me, everywhere you are."

Raggedy Ann - My favorite song on this album. The level of emotion Mindy is able to write through these lyrics and through her voice in this song is unlike any I've ever heard. There's no way to describe it unless you hear it for yourself. The way she says "hey" a lot, is also wonderful. "I'm just a little girl, I'm Raggedy Ann, making believe I'm happy, hey, Raggedy Ann, falling apart at the seams."

To sum it up, this album is one of the best EVER. Amazing for a debut CD. The hype is real for this CD. Mindy Smith is not like any other artist out there today, she's unique. And that alone is warrant to at least give this CD a listen, add to that the songs are well-written, real, touching songs is a nice little bonus. I can't wait for a follow up album to this.

Best Album of the Year!
Every song on here is a winner.

This CD has folk, country & rock songs and they are all great.

I can't for Mindy to put out another CD and hopefully I'll see her in concert soon!

Buy this CD, it is great!!

To The Core Of One's Soul
I had never heard of Mindy Smith until I caught her opening for Jonny Lang last night in Saratoga and as guilty as I feel for saying this, I was totally and completely moved by her songs and her genuine and heartfelt love for her music! Her spectacular raspy voice can touch the inside of anyone who takes the time to listen to her! She will go far and I hope for many more CD's to be released by her! She wrote all of her own lyrics and damn, that gal can sing!

Saw her in concert
She is AWESOME! Last night I saw her in concert with Johnny Lang and she rocked! She filled the concert hall with her powerful voice and sent chills down our spines. I would recommend her to anyone! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Seether's Seething Sophmore Album
Seether's second album, "Karma And Effect" has officially arrived, atfer being put off a bit too long. Around the time they probably should have released the follow-up to 2002's "Disclaimer," they received some late-blooming success, thanks to a re-working of the track "Broken" which featured Evanescence frontwoman (and Seether frontman Shaun Morgan's significant other) Amy Lee on background vocals. Instead of a new album, we got a remixed and repackaged version of "Dislaimer," simply titled "Disclaimer II." Sure, it featured some bonus tracks, but brand new material is what we all wanted, and finally, it has arrived.

Seether seem more than a little annoyed by their success, and as such, haven't altered their sound or style one bit, which unfortunately is a double-edged sword. Regardless, they must be commended for their efforts, as most hard-rock bands that receive success for showing a lighter side tend to soften up in time (we'll forgive Staind however, as their frontman actually found happiness). That's just not the case here. The same group that made "Disclaimer" re-appears on this new album. And yes, I do see the irony in that statement, as there are two new members in the band. All thirteen tracks on "Karma And Effect" sound like they were made just to please Seether's fanbase, and they definitely will. 3/4 of the album is made up of agressive, but infectious, rockers in the same vein as "Gasoline" or "Needles." Sure, there is the catchy radio-fare of "Remedy" and "I'm The One," but other songs, such as the album opener "Because Of Me" and "Burrito" (which apes lyrics from the aformentioned "Needles") will rip up your speakers. For fans of "Driven Under" and "Fine Again," songs like "The Gift," "Never Leave," "Tongue" and "Plastic Man" are perfect successors and are destined to become classics. The main problem, however, with this album is that is just feels too familiar. The stubborn attitude and resistance to change becomes a big problem, as it feels like we are just listening to the same album again. Hell, the album even begins heavy and ends soft, just like it's successor. Some of the riffs are a bit tired, and the lyrical content gets a little redundant as well, as Shaun seems too insistent on taking strikes at the music industry and their record label -- which reportedly instructed him not to swear, to tone down the album cover and change the name, which was originally "Catering To Cowards."

However, with all flaws aside, it's still a solid follow-up, and hopefully it should continue to ride the wave of success that got started last year. Fans of the band would be hard pressed to not find something on here they like, and each of the thirteen tracks could easily be a hit, which is hard to pull off. So the bottom line is, if you liked "Disclaimer" and are hungry for more, "Karma And Effect" will satisfy your appetite.

No sophomore jinx here!
Not to put a ki-bosh on the band, but this is just a superb follow-up effort to a great initial recording. Unlike DISCLAIMER, the band has cleaned up its vocabulary to meet modern right-wing corporate sensibilities, and the resulting effort is MUCH more focused as well. Seether breathes soul and meaning into modern adolescent (and otherwise!) angst.These guys are a breath of pure oxygen after listening to the daily grind of politics and business as usual, never mind the mindless pop-radio crap that passes for "music" coming from the mainstream, sycophant, conservative press.Seether too negative?Is that even be possible given the current state of world affairs?I assert that perhaps Seether is merely one of the more RATIONAL (nevermind lyrical) voices currently out there.Seethe me baby!These guys are pure rock (skip straight to #6 and put your amp and speakers on the line) as it was always meant to be!Not a bad track to be heard - a "Repeat All" CD for sure! Tell me #13 "Plastic Man" doesn't rival or exceed The Beatles' "Yesterday" in all respects (I'm 47, I heard the original "power ballad" originally). Buy it, warn the neighbors (better yet, invite them over), listen to it VERY LOUDLY!, and love it!

Good CD
Great follow up! This is an awsome CD. Its good to see a band that keeps rocking on thier sophmore album. unlike Audioslave's new album which went soft.

Awesome
I was afraid to buy this album because I didn't think it would measure up to their last Disclaimer album.Now that I've listened to it a few times, well, I think it's better than Disclaimer and that's saying a lot.Seether is truly a talented band.Buy this album if you liked Disclaimer!

Mediocre At Best
The original Disclaimer had roughly four good songs on the album.The alleged "Remedy" hit which I have never heard of until now is whiny at best.The album lacks a heart and soul, and the lyrics sound like something from the George Lucas love story vault.If you're a fan you'll learn to accept your fate that you've wasted $14.00. ... Read more

Reviews (91)

Something different, finally...
I totally disagree with the idea that these guys are anything like the Strokes or any other indi-pop band I've heard. These guys are actually good. The sound, as someone else mentioned, is refreshing. Every time I put the CD in, people ask who it is. For a debut, it's an unbelivable album.
In terms of influences, I hear undertones of The Black Crowes, AC/DC, Tom Petty, and Rolling Stones. Odd thing is, of those guys, the only one I like is Tom Petty. But I like Kings of Leon. They have some serious energy, great hooks, fun lyrics, and they play the hell out of their instruments.
There are two or three songs I don't like, but for the most part these guys put together a great string of tunes. "Happy Alone" will stick in your head for days. "Dusty" is probably my sleeper favorite. Sort of this spoken-word ramble with thumping bass and cool twangy guitar licks. Kinda like what you might get if you put Chuck Berry in a garage band...
I'd love to see them live, and will definitely check out their next album.

great band
I bought this album not knowing much about it. I had read some reviews and stuff and decided to give it a try. The first time I heard it I thought that it was really good. The vocals are different. After hearing the vocals a few times you get used to it. Once you get past that the album is awesome. The instrument play is above the rest. The only better instrument play these days is the White Stripes. The strokes suck and to compare Kings of Leon to them is absurd. If you cant see the southern rock influence then you dont live in the south and dont listen to our music. Buy this cd. You wont regret it. Oh yeah and if you are skeptical about the vocals dont be. They are good to. They arent your cookie cutter vocals. The lyrics are good to. Happy alone and Holy Roller Novicaine are the best tracks.

The Bottom Line
"New Southern Rock Band" is a term that seems to be all but extinct sans any project that has to do with a side-project or a re-tooled version of the Allman Brothers. Alas, here comes Kings of Leon. Youth & Young Manhood to me is almost the perfect quintessential debut album title for a younger rock band, and the attitude and presentation of their first release depicts this theme quite well. First of all, this IS a fresh, original sound. For the most part, Kings of Leon present themselves as a southern rock influenced group who speed things up a little but are careful to keep the soul intact. If the songs sound familiar, you might have heard them approximately every 10 minutes during the movie "Stuck on You," on which they are prominently featured. Rightfully so. Take this one with you on the road for a weekend trip, pop it into the player, and you'll have a new favorite.

One word - FANTABULOUS!
To be honest, i only bought this album because the 'kings' looked hairy, and i like hairy men! and thank the LORD i DID indeed buy this AMAZING album because it is the best debut album i have ever heard.The kings have introduced me to THE most beautiful and graceful song i have ever heard, 'talihina sky'. it is TRULY a work of art (and none of that rubbish you find in the tate modern).Some might say that Caleb's lead vocals are annoying, or even unbearable but to me, it is a refreshing change to hear raw and unspoiled vocals and it is a crying shame that so many artists have yet to take the jump and to stop using computers or whatever to 'perfect' their voices. I couldn't say what the best song on the album is because they are all so incredible it would break my heart to say. However, i can say that the highlight of listening to the album was pressing the 'repeat' button when the beautifully crafted 'talihina sky' ended and the album was over. What i also love about this album is during most of the songs ('Joes Head' and 'Trani' in particular) the lyrics seem so mixed up and Caleb's singing is so fast and his accent is so heavy that it is impossible to decifer what he is saying. However, i didn't care and carried on listening because the music truly speaks for itself. Also, when you look up the lyrics it is a nice surprise to find what the songs are about and then when you listen to them again it is almost as if the songs are reborn and they are now new to you. 'holy roller novocaine' has THE most amazing bass line which really made me listen to the music, rather than the lyrics. Caleb has a voice that could cut through glass and his raw lyrics are amazing. The drums also excell on this album and the drummer's backing vocals are also FABU! So, to sum up this BEAST of an album, it really made me fall in love with music all over again and if you want to own the most amazing debut album on the history of the earth, you would buy this record. Or if you choose not to, then you wouldnt know talent if it came up to with a lampshade on its head, shook your hand and said, 'hello, my name is talent, how u doin'?' PEACE OUT! (buy the record, if you regret it you may sue me!)

Best and Most Promising Debut of 2003
The Kings of Leon are the return of rock and roll. No band has rocked so hard and well on a debut like this in a long, long time.

The Kings of Leon loudly proclaim the return of southern rock and do it insanely well. This album really is better than most give it credit for. It's not just a really good album, it's an incredible album. The only credible knock on this album I've heard thus far is the lead singer's voice. I love it, some hate it. It's just one of thsoe things. He all but completely yells his voice out on track 5, "Trani." As I said, I love it, others will hate it.

Regaurdless of whether or not you like his voice, by the time you've gotten to "Holy Roller Novocaine," you become so engrossed in the music that you don't notice there's no more songs after that. This is the kind of great rock music that seems to be missing from the world today. Easily one of the best of 2003 and the best debut of 2003. Expect more from these guys for quite some time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This reunion of singer-songwriters Rodney Crowell and Vince Gill with pianist Tony Brown, ace guitarist Richard Bennett, and steel guitarist Hank DeVito sounds like the country equivalent of the Traveling Wilburys--a veteran supergroup having too much fun to take itself too seriously. Alumni of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, the Cherry Bombs were Crowell's backing band in the '70s. Since then, Gill has become a star, Brown has become better known as a label executive, and Bennett has seen considerable demand as a producer. Starting with a call to loosen up on "Let It Go, Let It Ride," the album shows a spirit of playful camaraderie. It's tough to imagine either Crowell or Gill putting a cut titled "It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long" on one of their own albums, but the collaboration here is a honky-tonk highlight. DeVito remains the band's secret songwriting weapon, as "Wait a Minute" (in collaboration with Crowell) and a revival of "Sweet Little Lisa" (previously recorded by Dave Edmunds) capture the exhilaration of early rock & roll. A former gospel pianist, Brown adds revivalist preaching to this busmen's holiday. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (2)

after one month
I feel you cant really judge an album to you have listened to it for at least a month so that is why im writing the review for this album over again. Some songs which i thought were just ok i think are great now and others still seem a little on the weak side. I have listed the songs again with a new rating for each one after a month of listening.<br /> 1.the clincher:9.5/10<br /> 2.get some:10/10<br /> 3.vitamin R:10/10<br /> 4.still running:9/10<br /> 5.breach birth:8.5/10<br /> 6.panic prone:8/10<br /> 7.another know it all:8.5/10<br /> 8.tug-o-war:7.5/10<br /> 9.to return:7/10<br /> 10.emotional drought:7/10<br /> 11.bend the bracket:5/10<br /> In my opinion the cd does real well during the first 1-7 songs but after that on 8-11 it just didn't seem to have as much energy and creativeness to it. I often find my self turning off the cd player at track #7 in fear of losing my taste of the cd. But i will say even thought the last tracks are downhill i still feel the first ones are so good that if you dont get this cd you are not a true rocker. <br />

good but not great
Well Chevelle is back for another one after Point#1 and Wonder whats next. The previous 2 albums had more solid based songs with catchy choruses, this one is based more on the music than on how the lyrics fit in the songs. Even though lyrics are creative they never really fit into the songs that well. The guiter riffs are awsome once again but the only problem is that the words in the lyrics are repeated too many times and many of them feel too stretched and in the wrong place as if they were a filler. Never the less Chevelle brings another amazing cd to the selves possibly even heavier then Wonder whats next. The songs keep you on the edge of your seat even if they tend to drag on for a while. I have rated the songs to show what i think of them 1.The Clincher:9/10:gives you a sense of the Family System,it starts a little slow but brings a nice finish by the end and displays a new touch of rock from them 2.Get Some:9/10:creepy but cool starting, reminds me of Dont Fake This which is a great song, has interesting break in the middle that has just enough flow to keep it apart of the song 3.Vitamin R:10/10:what can i say this song blew me away, it's a perfect example of a song well done and thought out, i think the rhythm fits it so well it makes it Chevelle's best song 4.Still Running:8/10:didnt need the starting message it just draws away from the song, the song is pretty good overall but seems just like another B class song 5.Breach Birth:9/10:nice beginning gives you momentum to keep interested in whats up next, catchy chorus but is repeated a little to much as if they ran out of lyrics to say 6.Panic Prone:8/10:smells like a follow up to Send The Pain Below except it never really goes anywhere making it half slow and half tempting song trying to amount to something that it cant 7.Another Know It All:8/10:has a nice rock beat to head bang to even though it seems a little dull at times it still has some rage in it 8.Tug-O-War:9/10:the first intro is a little weak but the rest of the song displays a good range of music swings that make you want to listen on 9.To Return:9/10:just listening to the beginning gives you a sense of something good is coming, this is another good example of a song that has a good sense of lyrics that fit well in the song, even though the intermission in the middle of the song is a little off the song is still a fine example of Chevelle 10.Emotional Drought:8/10:once again a nice chorus, if only the song could stay in tacked instead of wondering too far off from it self, besides getting to detoured at the end its perfect and it should do well on the cd 11.Bend The Bracket:2/10:i have no idea what happened here i guess they ran out of fillers and just put an extra track from the messing around files in here, this song sounds like a follow up to One Loney Vister but it has no real structure and and the music rhythm doesnt even go with the lyrics Even though this album slightly disappointed me i highly suggest you buy it, it has plenty of rock on it to keep you listening for hours. ... Read more

Reviews (171)

This band's aging nicely....
Ten years after their debut, surprisingly, No Doubt is still around. Who would have thought? Their original sound was so...early 1990's....I would have figured that they would have died out with the grunge era. Boy, was I mistaken! Gwen and company have learned the secret to success: keep your sound fresh while still containing some of the original elements of your music. What No Doubt has done in the past decade is shown how a band can age gracefully, changing their sound as they go, and having a good time doing it. There are some instant classics on this compilation, namely "Don't Speak". But, don't overlook "I'm Just A Girl", "Spiderwebs", or "Ex-Girlfriend" either. All of these songs are great. Of course, the new hit "It's My Life" makes me think back to the early 80s new wave craze...and who knows...maybe No Doubt is the harbinger of a resurgence in that genre of music! In any case, this CD is a wonderful addition to your collection. Get for your living room...get it for the car...get it for everwhere!

A Good No Doubt "Starter Kit"
No Doubt wisely didn't name this CD "Greatest Hits", because only about 6 of the 15 songs on here were bonafide hits. They also were smart not to call it "Best Of No Doubt", because few of the songs on here are really the best No Doubt has to offer. Most of their finest material can be found on their albums, especially Return of Saturn and Tragic Kingdom. Nevertheless, this album is exactly what it claims to be: a collection of all the singles No Doubt has officially released between 1992 and 2003. The standouts range from the recent: the new single, a quality rock-driven cover of Talk Talk's "It's My Life", and Rock Steady's "Hella Good"; to the obvious: their biggest hits, "Don't Speak", "Just A Girl", and "Spiderwebs" from their most popular album, Tragic Kingdom; to the underrated: "Ex-Girlfriend", "New", and "Simple Kind of Life" from the woefully overlooked Return of Saturn.

Chances are if you are buying this, you are either a No Doubt fanatic who buys everything they release (such as myself), or you are a casual fan, who knows a few of their radio songs and want them on one disc. To the hardcore fans: buy Boombox instead: you get this CD, a b-sides and rarities CD, all their videos on DVD, and Live In The Tragic Kingdom on DVD. All this for less than $50!
If you are a casual fan, don't let your No Doubt collection stop here: buy all 5 of their albums (1992's No Doubt, 1995's Beacon Street Collection, 1995's Tragic Kingom, 2000's Return of Saturn, and 2001's Rock Steady). You will not regret it. Listen to how this great band has evolved over the years--from the ska-driven band they were in in the late 80's and early 90's (as demonstrated on "Trapped In A Box", included here)to the innovative New Wave/Pop-Rock band they are today.

A great way to get into this excellent band.

No Doubt About It
As I was loading the songs of The Singles 1992-2003 onto my computer, I realized something - this was the first CD that I had ever given every song a five-star rating in iTunes. This isn't just a set of singles from over the last 12 years - it's also really, really good music.

Every song here has some of the smartest lyrics you will ever find in music, as well as the most memorable themes. Take "Don't Speak" - in an era when every singer asked their ex-lover what had gone wrong, Gwen Stefani pleaded, "Don't speak, don't tell me because it hurts." My favorite song on this CD (and favorite song, period) is the catchy, unforgettable "Just A Girl". "Trapped In A Box" is the weakest track in the way of singing, but its smart lyrics make up for it. "Simple Kind of Life" channels reflective sadness, while "Hella Good" and "Hey Baby" are party songs to the core. "New" can be only described by the word 'fresh'. "Ex-Girlfriend" is all of it a high-powered bass riff. "Excuse Me Mr." is an even more frantic plea for attention and respect.

If you can buy just one CD, make it this one. If you're not quite sure about investing in a No Doubt album, buy this collection. Listen, and not only will you want ND's other five CDs, you'll know why fans will buy The Singles just for its new track, the '80s remake "It's My Life". It's well worth every one of its 59 minutes and 37 seconds.

amazing album, stupid idiot review!
I was appalled to see one idiots review of this album giving Bathwater and new 0/10 and 4/10 to trapped in a box. I have to say that i think trapped in a box is an amazing song, its one of the most intellegent and unique songs out there. If you don't understand the song you shouldn't bash it in your idiotic review. ( I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN A REVIEW THIS IS JUST BECAUSE IM ANGRY AT THIS IDIOT) :)

i loved this
No Doubt have such a varied compliation on this album its unbelieveable but brilliantly brilliant! From hard rock, to hip hop pop right through to a little rap, some regee and some show tune! One song I found mesmerising was Trapped in a Box, i felt something about it that was like the songs in rocky horror picture show. Such a unique song. I'm just a girl is a great song, I've always loved Gwens voice its very unique and unlike any other voices. My favourite song on the album is very difficult to say because I adored everything. And They haven't let us down with the most recent, It's my life which is one of my favourite songs of all time. All and all this was one hell of an album. Don't stop there No DOubt keep them coming.
You truely would be in need of medical care if you did not like this. BUY IT. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though he was born well after the pure beginnings of rock & roll had become boardroom contrivances and generic pastiches, Nic Armstrong has tapped into the real deal and made it his own. This young Brit fell under the spell of the Americans who inspired the first wave of English rockers, as well as those lauded countrymen (Beatles, Kinks, Stones, etc.). A sharp sense of melody informs both the uptempo numbers and the ballads. "Too Long For Her" sounds like a long lost sixties nugget without being cloying or nostalgic. The arrangement and production sensibilities throughout are perfectly in sync with the songs and singing (the bass tone on "She Changes Like the Weather" is a joy in and of itself). A terrific take on Chuck Berry's "I Want To Be Your Driver" chauffeurs this brilliant and perfectly rendered rock debut on home. --David Greenberger ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Whitest Great Buyer
The current vintage craze is already tediously infiltrating even the most remote recesses of society- seen any fourth graders with homemade holes in their jeans recently? The term vintage even is suspect. What qualifies? The look alike old t-shirt you got from Old Navy? The argyle sweater from that fancy second hand store? The windbreaker you got last year? In a society where even the most immediate moments seem so last second, the week that was becomes historically relevant, at least until next weeks show. If everything old is new again, what about everything new but made to seem old? Is that twice as good or twice as bad? Or simply twice as irrelevant? In the musical world, fads come and go like aromas in a fast food restaurant, but one fad that's always in style is musical mining. No decade is safe, no style too obscure to cop or to make a vague reference. What if, hypothetically, there was a new record that didn't simply give a polite nod, but rather embodied a whole decade and genre's worth of music in every way, shape, and form?
The Greatest White Liar is one such record, one of the more peculiar and intriguing releases of the year. It is at best a facsimile of all the hits of pre-hippie-hair-era Beatles, and at worst the same. These are all the songs you've heard on that oldies station that goes way back to the black and white decades, only you'll be stuck trying to sing the lyrics. Or hum the melody perfectly the first time through. Or remember exactly where it was you first heard that song. This is also the perfect album to play a trick on your parents. Simply turn it on, ever so innocently, with some vague remarks about a "greatest hits record" and see if they "remember" the songs. Odds are they will.
The problem is that these songs are all so gosh darn catchy and down right rockin. Armstrong holds no punches and feigns no mixed feelings about where his love lies. Melodies, chords, lyrics, even harmonica solos all help to transfer you back to a time nobody younger than 40 remembers.
The most interesting part of the equation is what the music media will do with such a piece. Being British, the UK press is probably drooling over themselves for a new idol to build up and tear down, tiring of all those dance dance retreads (see Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, etc) and name dropping Gang of Four and The Wire. Whatever way the future is headed, it most surely is going through the past to get there.

Next best thing to a vintage Kinks or Beatles record
Wow!Where did this guy come from?Based on the title, at first I thought it was a George W. Bush tribute record.The sound is vintage British invasion, with lots of white boy blues.The whole thing is solid, with some White Stripes-style rockers and even a few love songs reminiscent of the Zombies.Really, really, really, really good.

Buy this pop masterpiece NOW!
This is no phoney retro throwback.Nic Armstrong is the real deal.Sure, it hearkens back to the fab 60s when British rockers would fill their songs with hooks galore.But it sounds fresh and new.Each song is a little treasure - fantastic melodies, little twists in the arrangements and an absolute sense of POP joy.And I mean pop like the Beatles.Or the Kinks. But the album also rocks.The edges remain a little rough and raw.There is a fine line between knowing what 60s rock from Britain should sound like (paging Noel Gallagher) and making a really grand, rocking record for those who love great pop songs.Some folks carry the torch and others are content to merely try to warm their hands on the flame.Nic Armstrong is absolutely running, torch in hand. ... Read more

Reviews (136)

Ha ha
Limp Bizkit produced a new album. I forgot about them 4 a while then they suddenly came out with this. They got Wes back, which is good, and this album does not dissapoint. Only thing is that there are only 7 songs (??) but i guess the second part (i guess they're comin out with another one)will make up 4 that. I like Limp Bizkit a lot but a lot of people hate them. They're a "Hate 'em or Love 'em" type of band and i happen to be a love em person. Fred Durst does a pretty good job in this album (though he is definitly NOT the best part Wes Borland is). I like this rap-metal type of music though its pretty outdated now. I hope that they make a music video 4 any of their songs on here. No publicity either.
-Remember this is My opinionLil Slim

rubbish
Just more proof that a big chuck of modern rock is just
for nerds and teenage high school outcasts. It doesn't
get anymore patheic than Fred Durst. He is supposed to
be a rock star, but the loser can't even get any chick
he wants.

the unquestionable truth...limp bizcit sucks
Come on people, its time to quit kidding yourselves. The results are in; 37,000 copies sold the first week (ouch!). I respect you guys for being so loyal to these guys for so long, but its time to 'sober up'. Limp Bizkit was never good. In fact, they may be the worst band that ever lived. Their first hit song was a cover tune, that should tell you all you need to know. All of their 'original' songs are just old catch-phrases turned into cheesy, generic sing-along garbage. Seriously, even you die-hard Durst fans have to admit that his "rap" with Method Man was one of the most laughable moments in music history.

So now they have released a new record... and SUPRISE! It's a political statement record. Haven't seen that one before! I can see Fred Durst in a board room right now: "well, it got Green Day back on the map... maybe Limp should try it too".Nice try Fred, but you're the last person anyone's gonna seek for political guidance. You're the guy that is best known for lying about sleeping with famous women and leaking a sex tape & then going to every news outlet that will still listen to you & saying it was stolen. You should have asked around about the idea of releasing a cheesy political album, & maybe someone would have clued you in that the formula fails way more often than not. Madonna failed at it, Ministry failed at it, and now Limp Bizkit has failed miserably at it. I think even Justin Guarini's album sold more than yours.

So please, do the world a favor & take the hint. Please go away. Just enjoy your millions & leave us in peace.



by the way, to see fred's amazing guitarmanship, look for the "fred shred" video floating around the internet.it's an instant classic.

Much harder!
First off, for those people who keep comparing the new Limp Bizkit sound to Rage Against the Machine are off their rockers!Although this is one of Limp's harder albums, I just don't see them as having the same sound as Rage.This album is closer to metal than to anything that they, or Rage have done before.

I like this album for the sole reason that it is very un-Limp Bizkit like - it's much harder, and not as "poppy".For the price, it's a decent buy, and as a person who is not the biggest of Limp Bikit fans, I certainly enjoyed it!

Great but needs more
I think the new album is great but it needs more than just 7 songs.I am glad that Wes Boreland is back and they returned to their old form.Looking Forward for more. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The Gorillaz claim to have found their motley crew of cartoon characters sleeping in Leicester Square, but Blur's Damon Albarn (a.k.a. 2-D) and cult cartoonist Jamie Hewlett (Murdoc) aren't fooling anyone. As the ultimate experiment in manufactured image, the Gorillaz are a virtual cartoon-character-based hip-hop band who bring together witty, silly lyrics and talented musicians. Infectious old-school hip-hop rhythms, rhymes, and effects courtesy of Deltron 3030's Kid Koala and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien (Russel) are combined with Albarn's passion for chugging lo-fi and edgy melodies to create a seemingly raw but ultimately slick blend of styles. This is nowhere more evident than on the hit single "Clint Eastwood," which is carried along by the sound of 2-D's slurred voice and a bluesy harmonica melody interrupted by Russel's punching rhymes. But the surprises don't stop there: Ibrahim Ferrer's appearance on "Latin Simone" could have come straight from Buena Vista Social Club but for the obvious Blur-influenced piano style, while the spooky intro to "M1 A1" wouldn't sound out of place on Michael Jackson's Thriller. Backed by Jamie Hewlett's death-wish character on bass, Cibo Matto's Miho Hatori (Noodle) on guitar and occasional hyperactive vocals, and produced by Dan "the Automator" Nakamura, it's hardly surprising that Gorillaz is marked both by a sense of playfulness and a passion for experimentation. --Caroline Butler ... Read more

Reviews (289)

It's About Time for the Pendulum to Swing Back
Hip-hop's getting boring. Rock's getting boring. Everything's getting boring a la 1989 with Milli Vanilli and C+C Dance Factory being replayed by Nsync and all that other crap out there. THIS ALBUM IS NOT BORING. It's the first new band I've tried that I sat and listened to the entire CD the night I put it in. I saw the video (Clint Eastwood) and being a Flash designer, graphic artist and Clint Eastwood fan, I dug the it! (Although, there is no cartoon Clint in the video). The animation rocks. But, being a musician, I also heard the groovy beat and reverbed harmonica and thought, wow, this is great. I picked up on the Blur connection when I heard the first song - good acoustic guitar. The second half of the album gets a little weak, but it ends strong. Think "It's a Wonderful Life" (Buffalo girl won't you come out tonight) for the tune of track 17 - Left Hand Suzuki Method. I hope this doesn't get overplayed 'cause my friends think I've found the score of the summer. Shh - don't tell anyone! :)

Gorillaz rule! (PLEASE READ MY REVIEW)
If anyone thought Gorillaz, the first animated band, would be bad, YOU THOUGHT WRONG! Let me show you why:

Re-hash(10/10)A great easy-listening song. Should be a single.

5/4(10/10)A great song and one of my favorites!

Tomorrow Comes Today(9/10)This is an OK song. Not good enough for a single, though.

New Genious(Brother)(8/10)I don't see the purpose for this song.

Clint Eastwood(10/10)Not quite the best on the allbum, but good enough for a 12" single.

Man Research(Clapper)(10/10)A perfect song!

Punk(10/10)The best song off of the album!(well, 1 of 'em, at least).

Sound Check(Gravity)(8/10)OK.

Double Bass(10/10)Read what I said for "Punk."

Rock The House(10/10)Read what I said for "Punk."

19-2000(10/10)Great beat and great lyrics. Better than "Clint Eastwood."

Latin Simone(4/10)BAD!

Starshine(6/10)BAD!(well, the lyrics and voice are both bad, but, hey, nice beat!)

Slow Country(100/10)Better than "Punk," "Double Bass," and "Rock The House!" VERY best off of the album!

M1 A1(10/10)Great song and fit for a single. I even like the "HELLO?!" part.

Dracula(9/10)OK.

Left Hand Suzuki Method(7/10)Most of the lyrics(XCGRHGGGBNBGBHFGHGGHGGGFF...)I don't understand, but awesome beat(...)

Unidentified, excellent, music.
Before Gorillaz I had never heard of Damon Albarn, or Blur, or anything like that. But I had heard of Del Tha Funky Homosapien who raps on Clint Eastwood and Rock The House. I also knew Dan the Automator who produced the Gorillaz Self-titled debut. I'm a pretty big rap fan but I like rock as well. So being a big Del fan I heard he was going to be involved in a brand-new, experimental rock band. It sounded cool so I awaited the album. Then I started hearing Clint Eastwood on the radio. What an excellent song. A dark sounding hip-hop beat with an incredible piano loop. I loved the sleepy vocals on the chorus and Del's rhymes were tighter than ever.

After that I had to pick up the album. I went out that day and got it. And to tell you the truth I didn't like it that much. I was expecting an album of "clint eastwood" thinking Gorillaz was a hip-hop band. But after getting over that and listening to the album more it grew on me and I fell in love with it. This is truly one of the most creative and abstract albums i've heard. I like all kinds of music and that's one of the reasons why I love this album. So many sounds come together in this album. Hip-hop, blues, jazz, rock, reggae it's all there. Even the idea behind the band and image is great. The idea of a cartoon band with each member being represented by a crazy cartoon is excellent. This also makes their videos pretty awesome.

So if you're looking for something new, and are open minded I would suggest this album. Over anything else. It's got the best from so many different kinds of music it's hard not to love it. One problem though, I need the second album!!

the best hip hop rock dub cartoon band ever!
I have never heard Damon Albarn before, i found about this album from a combination of play on mtv and knowledge of past projects including Dan the Automator and Del, a unique halfway underground rapper who pops up in the strangest places. Anyone coming from my perspective will be surprised by this album - hell, anyone will be surprised by this album. It is an utterly effortless fusion of delicious lo fi hip hop, relaxed dub, and energetic punk rock. The combination of such bold and surefooted experimentation and the catchy hooks that got it on mtv in the first place is unprecedented.
The album is varied and it has a few slow points (Man Research, Sound Check), but they don't really get in the way, they just give breathing room between the joyful and dark whirlwind of culture. As for good tracks, there is the rhythmic gimmick of rock joint 5/4, the impenetrable lyrics and the pure punk power of Punk. Clint Eastwood (why is it called clint eastwood?) is a perfect single, with its catchy hook and Del's paced lyricism, and Rock the House and Double Bass are excellent bits of rhythmically infections production. Latin Simone is a great song, and the whole Cuban thing comes out of nowhere, and M1 A1 - well, I don't get it, but I can't help singing along with what I think Albarn is saying.
All in all, this Gorillaz project is a total success of an experiment. The persona of the band is fascinating and adds to the fun and humorous but kind of dark atmosphere of the most delightfully weird pop cd ever made.

gorillaz are simply the best ever ever ever ever ever!
Okey, let me start off by saying this, if you love great music then you will positivly LOVE gorillaz.
Gorillaz have made some of the best music in the world.It is unique, catchy, amazing, and fresh.All the songs on the album are great!Dan the Automater is possibly a better producer than the Neptunes AND Kanye West put together( because he is better than each one of them alone ).The band is also interesting because they aren't actually really alive.What I mean is this, the people behind the scenes are real but the characters they play are not.Another thing about this is that there are more than just four members of the band( as the fake cartoon versions would have you know ).There are acually many more including the likes of:Kid Koala, Dan the Automater, Damon Albarn, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Miho Hatori, Jamie Hewlett, Phi Life Cypher, and Ibrahim Ferrer.There are more like Tina Weymouth and U Brown but the list would go on forever.Lots of DJs have worked with gorillaz including:Kid Koala, The Spacemonkeys, Soulchild, and The Wiseguys House Of Wisdom.The really cool thing about gorillaz is that no one else sounds exactly like them, there are a few that are close( Deltron 3030, and Dr. Octogon )but no one ever actually can ever copy exactly the kind of magical feeling you get from listoning the gorillaz.

Here is a list of the songs and my ratings on them:

1.Re-Hash-***** Great, but repetitive intro to a great album.

2.5/4-***** Old school ska mixed with new age DJing. Unusual mix but still flies very high, in fact, this song was the fifth hit off the album.

3.Tomorrow Comes Today-***** It's a hit and you can tell! It's got kind of a trip-hop feel but Damon Albarn's lo-fi singing makes it something else.

4.New Genious(brother)-***** Sounds like Bruce Lee movie opening mixed with Dr. Frankenstein's lab. One of my favorites.

5.Clint Eastwood-***** Del's rap is great, Damon's chorus is great. Overall a great song( a bit over played on MTV and the radio though ).

6.Man Research(clapper)-***** It's dub reggae at its best!

7.Punk-***** It's old school punk at its best!

8.Sound Check(gravity)-***** Kid Koala really shines on this song, it has amazing DJ work on it as well as kick-@$$ voice samples. One of my favorites.

9.Double Bass-*** A miner flaw on the album but not TOO bad.

10.Rock the House-***** Del raps again with flying colours. Superb.

11.19-2000-**** Great song with awesome vocals but it kinda gets annoying after a few listons.

12.Latin Simone-*** Great music but I don't like Ibrahim Ferrer's vocals. The English version on the gorillaz album "G-Sides"is much better.

13.Starshine-***** Great, but repetetive.

14.Slow Country-***** I just love the piano part on this song and the lyrics are funny. Damon"s vocals again make this song perfect even apointless chorus is brought to life by him.

15.M1-A1-**** This song could possibly have the worst intro ever made. but once you get by it( if you can bear it )the song is good. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In an era when pop nihilism fulfilled its dark promise all too regularly, Pearl Jam not only survived, but thrived to become one of rock's greatest bands. This 33-track double-disc career retrospective documents the arc of a career that went from arena and radio triumphs in the early 90's (while Nirvana's promise imploded in the wake of hype, Pearl Jam's crowd-pleasing fame only burgeoned) to the uncompromising, core audience-focused tack that carried the band into the 21st century. Shrewdly compiled by the band into an "Up" disc that chronicles the band's driving, Stone Gossard-Mike McReady fueled hard rock dramatics (including such early career landmarks as "Jeremy," "Alive" and "Even Flow" alongside more aggressive fare like "I Got the Shit Down" and "Spin the Black Circle") and a "Down" side that focuses more on Eddie Vedder's brooding, often darkballads ("Old Woman..," "Yellow Ledbetter," their unlikely hit cover of the oldie "Last Kiss"), it's a collection that underscores both the band's range and musical integrity. Though centered on the band's pre-Vitalogy studio era and containing no new material, longtime producer/collaborator Brendan O'Brien contributes remixes of "Once," "Alive" and "Black" that offer new insights on the familiar, while non-album tracks like "Man of the Hour" and "State of Love and Trust" considerably enhance the overall listening perspective here.--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Album Description

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS : The Modern Rock #1s are "Give It Away," "Soul To Squeeze," "My Friends," "Californication," "Otherside" and "By The Way" (also Top 40 Pop). The Top 20s are "Higher Ground" and "Suck My Kiss." ... Read more

Reviews (106)

Good...but they should have done something different
Most of the songs on this CD are excellent and the Peppers put their huge hits on this CD. There are clearly some great songs missing on this CD. However I believe that the Chili Peppers should have instead of this CD made a CD entitled:
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Greatest Hits 1991-2003, since they already have What Hits out that covers their 80s stuff (and Under The Bridge).
I would include 18 songs on this CD, including the 2 new ones.
It would go something like this:
1. Under The Bridge
2. Give It Away
3. Scar Tissue
4. By The Way
5. Aeroplane
6. Soul To Squeeze
7. Otherside
8. Can't Stop
9. Suck My Kiss
10. Love Rollercoaster
11. Californication
12. My Friends
13. Around The World
14. The Zephyr Song
15. Breaking The Girl
16. Parallel Universe
17. Fortune Faded
18. Save The Population

I believe these are the Greatest Hits from 1991-2003 for RHCP. Of course, they have so many amazing songs it's hard to create the perfect greatest hits album.
As for the one they have out, it's missing some but it does cover their best.

great compilation but missing a few songs
this set is awesome but its missing a few songs and it also has a few songs that shouldn't be on here like road trippin and universally speaking. this is what the track listing should have been.
1. give it away
2. under the bridge
3. suck my kiss
4. breaking the girl
5. soul to squeeze
6. warped
7. my friends
8. aeroplane
9. love rollercoaster
10. scar tissue
11. around the world
12. otherside
13. californication
14. parallel universe
15. by the way
16. zepher song (sorry if i spelled it wrong)
17. can't stop
18. dosed
19. fortune faded
20. save the population
if this is too many for one disc kick out parallel universe since it was only barely made the modern rock chart. anyway if this would have been the track listing this would have been the only chili peppers disc most casual fans would need. nevertheless this is a great greatest hits album and is a perfect introduction to the band. (actually anything from blood sugar sex magik on is a great introduction to the band with the exception of one hot minute, depending on your view of the album)

Addictive
This CD is one of the best compilations ive ever heard. EVERY track on the cd is awesome. I never get tired of listening to this masterpeace. The two new songs are also very worth being put on the greatest hits cd, my favorite being Save the Population. The ending of the song is very well done. If you are a fan of the Peppers or simply a fan of good music, you owe it to yourself to buy this cd.

Beware - This is the Best of the Warner Bros. Years
I don't know why everyone's complaining about this Greatest Hits compilation not having any material, other than Higher Ground, from the pre-BloodSugarSexMagik Chilis. Has anyone taken into account the fact that all of that material is still owned by EMI, the Chilis label from 1984 (Red Hot Chili Peppers) to 1989 (Mother's Milk)? I think that this is a pretty good history of the Chilis from BloodSugarSexMagik to the present, with the exception of a Rick Rubin-remixed "Higher Ground". (Really, listen to it - it's not the same version that appeared on "Mother's Milk" or "What Hits?!".) Granted, there is some stuff missing - for instance, I own the Greatest Hit and Videos version of this album, and I can't help but wondering why "Aeroplane" is on the Greatest Videos DVD, but not on the Greatest Hits album itself. All in all, this is a pretty solid Greatest Hits album. If you want any Chilis material from pre-1991, then check out thier "What Hits ?!" album, released under EMI records - THAT'S the album with classic songs such as "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes", "Backwoods", "Johnny Kick a Hole in the Sky", and "Behind the Sun".

Curious, but solid
I do not own this cd and don't plan on it since I already own the majority of these songs on Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Californication. However, for a beginner to the band, this would be all you need. Sure, with any greatest hits collection, there's going to be a couple of songs missing (Can't Stop, Aeroplane, Around the World) but those weren't my very favorites so it isn't a big deal to me personally. What I can't understand though is why their 80's catalog is almost completely ignored (only Higher Ground is listed). Granted, this was their only big hit at that time.. but there are several "non-hits" on this cd from the 90s and current. Sure, their previous compilation "What Hits?" contained mostly 80's material, but why did that include Under the Bridge? So, RHCP now has 3 cds with Under the Bridge on it... not that that's a bad thing!

Anyway, enough of the petty stuff. All in all, a good overview of one of the better bands of the past 15 years. If you already have all their albums though, it is a bit of a waste being that the 2 new songs aren't anything special. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Smashing Pumpkins' greatest-hits album, Rotten Apples, tracesthe band's evolution (or devolution, depending on your feelings about the band'sradical sonic shift in the mid-'90s) from its early days to its status among thekings of alt rock. For fans of the Pumpkins' beginnings as a tripped-outindie/art rock act, Apples opens with some of the band's strongestmaterial. "Siva" and "Rhinoceros" (from Gish, the Pumpkin's first--andarguably best--album) seamlessly mixed dream pop with noisy goth-rock as primeexamples of the Pumpkins' early '90s sound. Apples also showcases threestellar tracks ("Cherub Rock," "Today," and "Disarm") from Siamese Dream, the Pumpkins'breakout album. This disc makes the band's mid-'90s directional swing obvious,though, starting with "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," the aggressive alt rock/altmetal concoction released on Mellon Collie and the InfiniteSadness. Fans of songs like "Zero," "Tonight, Tonight," and "TheEverlasting Gaze" will be happy to know that pretty much every cage-rattling hitmade it to this disc, along with the previously unreleased dream pop track "RealLove" and an untitled new track (that sounds a lot like the SiameseDream-era Pumpkins) to round out the mix.--Jennifer Maerz ...