Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Trent Reznor took five years to record this monstrous double-CD set, wielding a perfectionist's touch in the production and the subtlety of a chainsaw in the musicianship. The result is uncompromising, full of hysterical noise and yet utterly accessible. Somehow, someway, this is one of the best pop records of the year. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (963)

Did the music grow up with the fans?
I was 15 when The Downward Spiral was released, now I'm 21. When I first heard about the new album I wondered if Trent's rage would still be applicable to me six years later. Well, it isn't really - but Reznor's musical ability can make almost any statement applicable to me.

The first song on this CD absolutely blew my socks off. It sounded like a mixture of Korn and an angry Tom Waits. As I continued through the CD I noticed the mass amount of time and effort put in to each track. Some almost sounded influenced by PJ Harvey, while other tracks were straight up rock and roll out of NIN's history. Now I see why this is an album that took a long time to assemble. As much as I love this CD - already - it has its downfalls just like any other. The biggest being its overwhelming size. 1 CD of Trent can be a lot to take, 2 can just be mind boggling. Also, much like in the past, sometimes Trent can leave the impression of being overly whiney when most of the material deals with how other people constantly dissatisfy him. But, over all I think this is going to be one of the last "most important records of the 90's."

I just hope future installments are a little more timely.

Beautifully Crafted Soundscapes From Mastermind Reznor
It took Trent Reznor five years to craft and touch up the double disc THE FRAGILE. When you play the whole 2-CD set from start to finish, you can't help but appreciate the results with uncompromising validity.

There are angry rockers on here like the in-your-face scathing of "No, You Don't", the subdued tempest of "Into The Void" with it's hopeless theme, and the ferocious snap at NIN imitators that is "Starfucker's Inc.", with its easy-to-remember chorus. Contrasting these moments are pleasant interludes like the gorgeous piano instrumental "The Frail", the haunting but slow-charging title track, the love song thrash of first single "We're In This Together", and the atmospheric and hauntingly melodic and memorable rocker "The Day The World Went Away".

The instrumentals on this double disc treat range from the sinister apocalyptic "Pilgrimage", to the haunting and deadly "Ripe With Decay", the aforementioned beauty "The Frail", and the haunting "La Mer" with it's absolutely catchy beat.

There are also tracks reminiscent of earlier Reznor works, like the opening caustic "Somewhat Damaged" and the fragile anger of "The Wretched", which reminds me of the seething "Reptile".

All in all, THE FRAGILE only continues what THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL began, and Trent Reznor shows us over the course of 100 minutes and 23 songs why he remains an important figure in the realm of industrial rock music. He's a genius, and THE FRAGILE proves that even at wit's end, Reznor is here to stay.

a musical masterpeice
Trent Reznor is an extremely talented singer and song writer. His writing is perfect, music is mezmerizing and wonderfully crafted. He has a message that should be heard: the world is not all daisys and fairytales. In my opinion, his music is not intended for the mainstream pop culture. It is simply intended to tell a story that in in is mind. The music has an appeal to the deepest parts of the soul. In my opinion, this is the perfect album to sit back and reassess the thoughts and views of such a horrible time we live in.

The end of the nineties dream...
I was amazed at how many people didn't buy this album because they said it wasn't nine inch nails... This album was Trent showing how human he really was, as with evidence in the lyrics and song titles referring to a piece of fruit (ie opening with Somewhat Damaged and ending with Ripe (with Decay)). Experimental, heartfelt, and totally dreamy. Despite all the hype that predated this album, i think it stood up to it. In a musical world of mediocrity this album stands the test of time. Especially now in 2004 where everyone whines exactly the same about how great high school was and other emotional barren themes, people need to discover the truth and vitology that thrives within this album. Listen to it from beginning to end... It may speak to your heart as it did to mine.

A gem.
There is nothing wrong with The Fragile. The problem with the critics and fans is that they were expecting another, The Downward Spiral from Reznor. Every artist, upon each new release, no matter how great they are, mature a little more. Reznor is no exception. His music is more melodic rather than a bunch of noise clashed together, which is what they call industrial. I loved The Downward Spiral, but there's something about The Fragile that's just so great. It took Reznor five years to write, record, and produce this monsterous LP. Reznor is releasing another album in 2004, title pending as "Bleedthrough". I am anticipating this release because I know that it'll be yet another masterpiece from Reznor. ... Read more

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At a time when experimentation is taboo in most overground rap, that’s all Outkast seem intent on executing. Firstly, this double CD has no cohesive link, other than the fact that it sounds like a pair of solo albums stitched together to demo exactly how Andre’s yin works to augment Big Boi’s yang. Andre 3000’s Love Below disc rates as the more eclectic of the two, given that he’s turned in his emcee credentials to become a full-on funk-soul-jazz vocalist who mostly sings about items of love ("Happy Valentine's Day"), carnal lust ("Spread"), and female adoration ("Prototype"). Minus the big band schmaltz of "Love Hater" and cheesy cover jobs ("My Favorite Things"), Andre’s disc is sick (meaning great). As is to be expected, the Big Boi disc is less arty, more gangsta and worldly, and features the less-progressive guest raps of ATL crunk purveyors Lil’ Jon and The Eastside Boyz ("Last Call") and Jay-Z who rhymes the hook on "Flip Flop Rock". Unlike Big Boi, Andre keeps his collabos to a minimum, once crooning alongside Norah Jones on the cool yet sappy "Take Off Your Cool", and once with Kelis. Boi fulfills his Dungeon Family duty with flying colors by flipping some dirty southern up-tempo raps over electro beats on "GhettoMusick". By the time Cee-Lo sermonizes on "Reset", Speakerboxx and Love Below rate mostly as majestic and inspiring, with the remaining 23 per cent being just plain incredible --Dalton Higgins ... Read more

Reviews (722)

Thank You Andre!
This is by far the most refreshing cd, hip hop or whatever genre, I've heard since I can remember. I cannot stop playing "the love below" because it is simply a stroke of genius. Mainstream heads will sleep on it because like most people who bought the cd just for "way you move", they're looking for something mindless and dull. If that's the case, go cop DMX, Nelly or some other repetitive, boring, follow the leader type music.
Yeah we know what you want..."true"outkast fans want an album just like "ATLiens". But you know what? As much as I would like to see that too...it's not reality. Think about it. The reason outkast is so dope is because they're constantly pushing the hip hop boundaries. They're pushing the boundaries on speakerboxx/love below just like they did in 95. And some of you might not think so now, but this is a true classic, ahead of its time and one day you'll see.
Speakerboxx to me, is sort of half genius, half average. The more I listen to it though the more I like it, because it kind of combines all 4 albums together into one. My favorite on skrbxx is probably "reset" which has so much ATLiens feel I swear it was a last second cut from the actual album.
The Love Below is just genius. Only way to describe. I truly do feel for the people who don't feel this album, because what the h*** are they listening to??? You all are missing out on so much! And I really don't mind if people don't feel this album because everyone is entitled to their opinion, but don't say andre 3000 is being different just for the sake of being different. Because that is such BS. If you can't hear good music when you hear it, than sucks to be you.
It's hard to say which is my favorite song because I truly, DO like them all, but I really like "she lives in my lap", "love hater", "Roses", "dracula's wedding" and "take off your cool"(altough that was too short!).
Overall, 5 stars to love below, 4 stars to speakerboxx
and outkast: Keep doin your thang...

The odd couple
Not sure exactly how to react to this double-set quite yet. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below are two very diverse records from one another, simply put. First off, Big Boi presents Speakerboxxx, a collection of songs any fan of Outkast will recognize. The beats are reminiscent of old 'Kast material without the strange element Andre brings to the table. Big Boi also has his share of guest artists that help showcase the more gangsta half of the group. "Unhappy" is a smooth track that is sure to please any and all ear drums with an appearance by Sleepy Brown. "Tomb of the Boom" is a tight track with spots from Ludacris, Big Gipp, and KONKRETE. "Flip Flop Rock", another highlight which sounding reminiscent to Aquemini's "Chonkyfire", features Jay-Z and Big Boi's protege, Killer Mike. Also check out "War", "Ghettomusick", and "Church".
Ah, then there's Dre. The quirky, silly-dressed half of the legend of Outkast. Don't expect another Speakerboxxx. The Love Below is not necessarily what you want playin' in ur ride. Other than the lead-off single, "Hey Ya", this record is different from anything ever recorded. With jazzy-laced tracks in full control of this disc, Andre proves to be the more creative half of the duo, not just different. Not a sound for everyone, this disc should be left up to the listener to determine how it sounds, that's it. All in all, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is another appreciatable effort from Outkast in their attempt to be different from anything on the market. How they could possibly get any more diverse is unclear and mind-blowing in itself.

HOTT
ok. these CDs are both awesome and entertaining. and although i do love Andre (fav songs on his CD are Happy Valentines Day, Behold A Lady, and Pink&Blue) i wanna give more credit to Big Boi. Ok speakerboxxx most def has not gotten his fair cut out of the Outkast fame, i absolutely LOVE his CD, more than the Love Below. He's got some really great beats, and Number 4, Bowtie, should have definitly been a single. anyway yeah hope this helps!

The lyrics
Ok, the lyrics are pointless i must admit but its the music that counts to me! The way they play music is unbelievable!!!! They used to be this wierd band that just came out of nowhere and sang "Sorry Miss Jackson" and that was it!

A few years later, look how much they are proressing! It's like from Model T Ford to Porsche Carrera GT! The first thing was good, at the time!

Roses is a great track and i just love the style of music, piano towards trumpets! Classic!

playaz fall
stick together. afromanmusic.com. sign up for the street team. get your money's worth and buy the new disc ... Read more

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Dwight Yoakam occupies a singular position in contemporary country. No artist has better balanced mainstream commercial success with artistic, alt-country credibility, while somehow managing to embody both the music's most traditional and its most progressive impulses. Blame the Vain marks a milestone for Yoakam as his first self-produced effort since splitting with producer/guitarist/bandleader Pete Anderson. While the material seems to document the end of a relationship and the hope for romantic renewal, there's a freewheeling playfulness to the arrangements--the bongo-driven, rock & roll urgency of "International Heartache," the faux British accent and synthesizer intro on "She'll Remember," the shifting time signatures of "Watch Out." The tear-in-your-beer balladry of "Lucky That Way" and "Does It Show" should satisfy those who take their honky-tonk straight, no chaser, while the homage paid to timeless Roy Orbison ("Just Passin' Time"), earlyJohnny Cash ("I'll Pretend") and later Elvis Presley ("When I First Came Here") attests to the range and richness of Yoakam's artistry. He may no longer have the hits like he once did, but he hasn't lost the vision. --Don McLeese ... Read more

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Earle rushed The Revolution Starts ... Now to stores ahead of the 2004 presidential election, and given that timing and the songwriter's righteous lefty stance, the disc's topical content should surprise exactly no one. Even still, it's light on invective, allowing Earle's deftly drawn characters to make his points for him. Plainspoken people swept up by larger events, they include the truck-driving protagonist of rig-rocker "Home to Houston," who dodges rockets while running supplies in Iraq, the disaffected vet in "The Gringo's Tale," and the American soldiers and Palestinian boys whose lives run parallel in "Rich Man's War." At times, Earle is less artful, and the going gets patchy: the title cut is a guitars-blazing call to arms, but "Warrior" (a ponderous spoken-word piece that apes Shakespeare), "F the CC" (a ragged denunciation of culture cops), and "Condi, Condi" (a faux-reggae mash note to Condoleezza Rice) don't hold up as well. Interestingly, the less-pointed material finds the cantankerous crusader at his best, as on the aching Emmylou Harris duet "Comin' Around," a late-night barroom blues called "I Thought You Should Know," and the hopeful closer "The Seeker." There, Earle slips in one last, subtle message: "There's a new day tomorrow and maybe I'll hold, something brighter than gold to a seeker." --Anders Smith Lindall ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Awesome Rock Album
Very rarely do I like this kind of music. Yet 3 Doors Down do it so well, it's hard not to like it. They can manage to sound hard with a rock edge, yet manage to maintain a melodic pop quality to their songs. The lead singer may be in a rock band, but he has a great voice and doesn't have to resort to screaming.

"The Better Life" was good, but I think this album manages to top it. "When I'm Gone" has been the massive hit thus far and has become one of the biggest radio hits of the last year. It's been overplayed, but it's still listenable. The title track "Away From the Sun" is a definite stand-out track. It's slow, but I'd love to see it as a single...great chorus. "The Road I'm On" is one of the harder tracks and was the second single. "Ticket To Heaven" is another catchy rock/pop track that would make a good single. The star of this album is "Here Without You" definitely. Already proving to be a huge radio hit, it's a fantastic rock ballad and very relatable. "Changes" and "Dangerous Game" are ok too. "Sarah Yellin" definitely stands out from the other songs with a more serious vibe.

Overall, great album. "Away From the Sun", "When I'm Gone", "Ticket To Heaven", and "Here Without You" are the key tracks that make it wortha 5 star rating. The other songs are good and listenable, but these jump out at you. If you liked "The Better Life" there's a big chance that you'll like "Away From the Sun." Similar content and great music.

History has repeated itself!
Being new to this band, I bought the last album on a whim and never looked back. I was hooked. I wondered how a band could live up to putting out another great album when the first was so phenomenal. Well, history has repeated itself. This second album is ALSO stellar. I can't break it down into detail why exactly it is so good, it just works. Both CD's are ones you just have to listen to in order to understand. It is addicting and intoxicating. As many times as I've played this CD, I find myself anticipating the next great song. And when it's over....I replay it. Hold Me When I'm Gone is, inarguably, a great song. But as you listen to the rest of the album, you find that they are all nothing short of perfection. Song #10 is my personal favorite. The vocals are best demonstrated here. This band is modern in its nature---by that I mean the lyrics are relatable, the tunes are extremely catchy, and the angrier songs are appropriately integrated into this album. And like the first album, no two songs sound the same. This is head-bobbin' driving music and I am now confident that subsequent albums will be in the same calliber as the first two. With such mature songwriting and arrangement, I'll be first in line for the third 3 Doors Down album. No doubt these guys have a future. I am highly impressed.

Perfect album for anyone who likes good rock
This is an album that everyone should have if they like rock. Three Doors Down does this type of music great. "When I'm gone" is a great emotional edgy song, and "Away from the Sun" is without a question the best song on the album. It rocks enough but it also has a nice melodic element to it. "Dangerous game" has a great edge to it and it's alot of fun to listen to. "Sarah Yellin" is the most hardcore song on the album and will impress. The only low point on the album is the song "Changes". It tries too hard to be an anger-rock song and it just ends up being annoying. "This Road I'm on", "Feel You", and "Going down in Flames", took a while to grow on me, but after listening to them a few times, I really began to enjoy them. Three Doors Down always has great lyrics and edgy riffs and all-around good songs. Enjoy this album!

Incredible CD;must buy!!!!!!!!!!
This CD is awesome! Here's a song-by-song rating(1-5):

When I'm Gone:3.5
Away from the Sun:3
The Road I'm On:4
Ticket to Heaven:4
Running out of Days:3
Here Without You:2.5
I Feel You:3
Dangerous Game:4
Changes:4
Going Down In Flames:6(1 of my favorites!)
Sarah Yellin':6(another 1!)
untitled:1(they shoulda left this off)
In short, even though some songs kinda suck, this is still the best CD ever!You want good music,this has it!
BoB Ratt, signing off.

great cd!!
1. WHEN I'M GONE (A)
2. AWAY FROM THE SUN (A)
3. THE ROAD I'M ON (A+)
4. TICKET TO HEAVEN (A)
5. RUNNING OUT OF DAYS (A-)
6. HERE WITHOUT YOU (A)
7. I FEEL YOU (A)
8. DANGEROUS GAME (A-)
9. CHANGES (A)
10. GOING DOWN IN FLAMES (A)
11. SARAH YELLIN' (B)
12. untitled (C+) ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Nimrod came along two years after 1995's Insomniac and was the first indication of Green Day's willingness to stretch the boundaries of punk rock. The fullness of the record is first hinted at on "Hitchin' a Ride," which starts out chug-a-lugging and then breaks into a raging rocker."Redundant" is accented with some psyched-out guitar work and has Billie Joe Armstrong singing a good deal more than usual. The wonderful "Platypus (I Hate You)" speed-rocks with abandon and recalls the early days of L.A. punk (a little Dickies here, a little Descendents there). The biting "Take it Back" is a snarling throwback to hard punk, and "Prosthetic Head" is an infectious ditty that counts among the very best on the album. Most surprising is "Last Ride In," an instrumental nod to the sensual surf-and-sun life. Of course, the crown jewel of the collection is the sentimental, acoustic "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," which seemed nearly inescapable when it was released. Beyond these standouts, even the "usual" Green Day fare here has punch. --Lorry Fleming ... Read more

Reviews (371)

NIMROD IS THE BEST!
Very possibly the best album ever created, Nimrod is just another example of Green Day's talent and versatility. Billie Joe Armstrong's lyrics just keep getting better and better, Mike Dirnt's bass playing is just amazing, and of course, Tre Cool's drumming, ever changing, is a great part of the album.
Nimrod is a great cd that really led the transition from Insomniac to Warning well. It is so versatile, with ballads, a surf type song, hard metal type songs, typical Green Day music, and much more. Aside from different subgenres of the music, many different instruments are used such as harmonica, the bongos, and of course, the baseball bat. ^_^ Green Day has really matured with this album.
There is not a single bad song on this cd, each one gets a 10 from me.

Nice Guys Finish Last-a great song to start the cd out with, was one of the first songs that really got me into Green Day. Mike Dirnt does extremely well on the bass in this one.

Hitchin A Ride-incredible, excellent song, one of their best. Although it takes a while to get used to, it is really incredible. The drumming in this is very VERY good, I know from playing it on my drums that it takes a lot of skill to get it right.

The Grouch-hilarious lyrics, it's a really good, driven song, explicit, but humorous. Also has a very catchy tune.

Redundant-can't say anything about it except that it's a masterpiece. It's a really beautiful song with really beautiful lyrics. You can tell what a good songwriter and guitarist Billie Joe is, what a good bassist Mike Dirnt is, and what an INCREDIBLE drummer Tre Cool is from just this one song.

Scattered-just another one of Green Day's incredible songs. Possibly one of the best tunes, Billie Joe's voice really stands out in this song. One lyric that I really liked was "Story to tell and I am listening." You can tell they've grown up, because since when is Green Day listening?

All The Time-I know not many people really like this song, but I'm hooked on it. It's not as catchy a tune as some others, but when you get used to it, it's really great. It's one of those songs that you'll be singing for days and days after hearing it just once.

Worry Rock-Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL LYRICS! I love it, it's a really sweet song and it's incredible. Another song in which Billie Joe's voice really stands out.

Platypus (I hate you)--A very good song, it is very hard core and although you can barely understand a word of what Billie Joe is screaming out, it's worth it. You can really tell his emotions through the lyrics.

Uptight-Possibly one of the greatest songs on the cd, the ending is incredible. The beginning verses are also very good, but what really stands out is the ending choruses, the "Uptight, I'm a nag with a gun, All night...." part. It makes a very good transition from Uptight to Last Ride In.

Last Ride In-my favorite instrumental by any band. Sure, not many people are into it because it is sort of slow and instrumental, but it's the one instrumental I can listen to the whole thing through. The guitar and bass really shines, but the main thing to me (thenagain, being a drummer, it would be the main thing) that shines through is Tre Cool's drumming. He strays from the normal "punk rock boundaries" in drumming and really goes to the extra by using more latin drumming. I've heard tons of that drumming in Latin music, believe me.

Jinx-an awesome tune, awesome guitar, awesome song in general. I really like the lyrics in this one, and once more, the vocals are incredible in this song. The tune is very different than many other songs you would find, and it makes a nice transition to Haushinka.

Haushinka-not such a liked song by many people, but after listening to it for a while it can really grow on you and you can see what a great song it is. It is more old style Green Day, as it was written during the time of 1039 Slappy Hours, yet not placed on the Kerplunk cd. Very good song.

Walking Alone-this could very well be one of my favorites, it's got an incredible tune, very relatable lyrics, and harmonica! well, the harmonica is very fun and it is always great to see bands going the extra mile to use different things rather than the normal, set instruments. Green Day makes their own rules.

Reject-this song was written about a person who wrote a hate letter to Green Day, you can really see the emotion in it and the anger through the lyrics. Another harder song on the cd, it's a good one.

Take Back-not really one of my favorite Green Day songs, yet it is pretty good to. A nice job on the harder, metallic rock that's very enjoyable.

King For A Day-even if the song isn't as catchy as others, the lyrics and the horns really make up for it. A hilarious song, a sort of ska song, even if it is about drag queens, it's just way too funny to pass up!

Time Of Your Life-well, everyone knows this one. The classic Green Day song that led them into even being played in soft music radio stations like Warm 106.9 (I've heard them on it), it's a masterpiece. It's very very pretty, I also like the violin in the back.

Prosthetic Head-a wonderful closing song, Prosthetic Head's tune is very good and very catchy. It's a song I got stuck in my head the whole day and ended up writing the chorus lyrics on every paper and wall I could find in a craft store I was dragged into.....

Anyway, in closing, this is an EXCELLENT cd, and passing it up would be...a crime.

An incredible album that shows all sides of Green Day.
This truly is a great CD, not only becuase every single song on it is strong and original in its own sense, but also that it features such a wide variety of alternative music! Green Day's other albums (Dookie, Insomniac, etc.) are all great, but the variation of the musical content on them is not nearly as wide as on Nimrod. There are great punk and rock songs, fast, furious, and to-the-point, such as "Nice Guys Finish Last," "The Grouch" (an extremely funny song), "Platypus (I Hate You)," and "Reject," to name a few. If you like slower stuff, then there are several slower tracks, like "Redundant," "Worry Rock," "Uptight" and "Prosthetic Head." Other notable songs include the hilarious, hord-driven song "King For A Day," the moody instrumental "Last Ride In," and the widely popular acoustic ballad "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)." For both music lovers and Green Day fans alike, this album is a must-own.

A Refined Green Day
I owned this album, but it got stolen, and I have regretted that ever since. I'll probably get it again some day, when I have spare cash. I remember I really liked it, and it spent a lot of time in my CD player. I liked every song on the album, some more than others, obviously, but I don't ermember skipping any tracks. My favorites were:

2. Hitchin' a Ride
3. Grouch
4. Redundant
7. Worry Rock
8. Platypus (I Hate You)
9. Uptight
12. Haushinka
13. Walking Alone
14. Reject
16. King for a Day
17. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
18. Prosthetic Head

Now I know why it got stolen! LOL

Not bad, but could have been better
As Green Day progresses, their mean sound improves, though their really good ones are no better or worse than they always have been. A big difference on this CD from the norm, is that their popular songs are not always good. Their skippable songs have decreased in number from the beginning, and they have the same number of really good ones, so I'd say this CD is overall better than one like Dookie.

The only songs that I skip regularly are "Walking Alone," "Take Back," and "Last Ride In." Walking Alone just doesn't excite me much, it's not really bad or anything, just not anything special. Last Ride In is boring the first few times you hear it, but it's so freakin catchy, now I listen to it almost every time I get to it. Take back is probably the worst song on the CD. Green Day isn't all that great at screaming songs.

The songs from the CD that most people will recognize easily are "Good Riddance," "Nice Guys Finish Last," "Hitchin' A Ride," and "Redundant." The first two are good; Good Riddance isn't as great as the first time I heard it, but when you hear a song 6 billion times, that happens. Nice Guys Finish Last is one of the best songs on the CD. Check out the video on their website, it's almost as good as the song is. As for the other two, they really aren't anything special. I don't know why they're so popular. Redundant is catchy, but its only real redeaming quality is a good video. Hitchin A Ride isn't as catchy, maybe a little better song though. Neither are anything worth talking about. However, as I said earlier, their "not worth talking about" songs are still not half bad, not as skippable as their subpar efforts on Dookie were. Other mediocre songs are "Scattered," Uptight," and "King for a Day" (which is a bit ska).

The songs worth talking about, other than the two mentioned earlier, are these. "The Grouch," is easily one of the top songs on the CD, I don't really like the language, but it makes it pretty funny. "Life's a bitch and so am I. The world owes me so f*** you." Not sure why I like "All the Time," and it isn't awesome, but it is a cut above the other mediocre songs. "Worry Rock" I think is the best song on the CD. A bit slow, though not as slow as Good Riddance, and short, but completely awesome. Another great one is "Platypus." The only problem with that one is the language. Incredibly speedy, hard to understand lyrics, punk at its finest. "Jinx" is another fast punk song, though not as much as Playtpus, and is another favorite of mine. "Haushinka" flows from Jinx, as Jaded does from Brain Stew, but is not nearly as good. The only good part is the bridge, the rest of it is pretty mediocre. "Reject" is typical Green Day pop-punk, but is a pretty good song nonetheless. "prosthetic Head" I originally thought was the worst song; actually, I treated it as filler, not even as a real song. However, the more you listen to it, the catchier it gets, and I love the lyrics; not one of the greats, but not bad.

By the way, why are Green Day's hateful songs always some of the best, from "Playtpus" to "FOD" to "Ha Ha, You're Dead."

The Best CD of all time!!!!
Nimrod is my favorite Green day album.It is a great record which everyone oughtta have. ... Read more

Album Description

Formed in NYC in the mid-'70s by David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth, and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison, the Talking Heads evolved out of their now-legendary humble beginnings at CBGB's to become one of the most adventurous and influential bands ever. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the Heads' visionary, polyrhythmic sound daringly combined funk and punk, African beats, avant-garde minimalism, and pure pop. From their 1977 debut through their Brian Eno-produced classics to their '88 farewell, Naked, they both pushed artistic boundaries and delivered indelible radio hits like "Once In A Lifetime" and "Burning Down The House." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ska music has been deeply ingrained in the punk rock culture since the Clash adopted their rude boy stance near the end of the British punk invasion and the 2-Tone label put ska on the map. Suddenly, punks stopped kicking the crap out of each other long enough to dance. The debut release by Orange County, California's Sublime is a positively infectious record that marries varied styles of dub, reggae, rap, sampling, scratching, and badass dancehall ska with old-school punk overtones. Musicianship on this record is exceptionally tight, featuring Brad Nowell's innovative guitar work and bright, soulful voice.Packed with 40 oz. of rock (21 tracks) including the ultimate pot-smoking anthem "Smoke Two Joints" and the novelty hit "Date Rape." --Gail Worley ... Read more

Reviews (234)

The Genius of Sublime esp. Brad Nowell
40oz is without a doubt one of the best albums I have heard to date. The brilliant Nowell and company incorporates several genres of music - punk, ska, reggae, hip-hop (and even a bit of folk in the bonus track rivers of babylon.)to put him in genre all of his own. You can not define what Sublime is, it simply is what it is- incredible music. The fact that they can't be categorized is what you have to respect, they transcend barriers. Beyond the rhythm there are the lyrics which prove Brad's adeptness as a modern day poet. In my opinion Sublime is one of the best if not the best band to come out of this decade.Bradley Nowell's life was a beautifully gifted one cut tragically short. I urge all newcomers to Sublime to buy this cd (their debut) first here you get the truly ecclectic mix and you know what Brad was about in the end where he thanks everyone he can possibly think of at the end of the album -he was always about his music and that is what makes this album the best it has the raw intensity, drive, and most importantly passion that a lot of artists seem to lose later on in their careers. I can not think of an album that even compares to this one. However being the devoted Sublime fan I am their self titled and robbin' the hood are also must haves for any cd collection. I hope the spirit and genius of bradley lives on for a long time to come. Rest in peace Bradley.

Boodha-Bai!
As most people have said, this is quite possibly the best rock album ever. In my collection of around 100 cd's ranging from The Beatles to Jimi Hendrix to Led Zeppelin to Dave Matthews, Sublime blows them all out of the water (not that they aren't amazing bands themselves). 40 oz may not have the pop singles like the self titled so it doesn't get the radio play but as an entire album to listen to straight through it's abosulte perfection. The diversity of music, from rap to punk to funk all in one song. It blows me away every time. This cd has not left my 6 disc changer in years. I've listened to it probably 1000 times or more and it doesn't get old. I can't say enough good things about this album. If you're a Sublime addict and especially if you like to get irie, I suggest you buy Stand By Your Van. It's a live cd and gives you the feeling of what it was like to watch them play and listen to Brad innovate off the top of his head. It's a close 2nd to 40 oz. as my favorite album. The only thing I don't like about listening to Sublime is when I realize Brad's been dead for 4 years now and their musical magic will never be seen again. The rhythm, the lyrics, the bass, the drums, the guitar just all fit together so perfectly I can't even stand it sometimes. The only band that can consistently make me shudder in pleasure from such amazing music. crank up the song, and let Sublime take you to heaven.

hot damn
You already know I'm rocking this and copping this album, why the hell wouldn't I? Think about it friend, this is a great album that just solidly encapsulates the whole mood and sound of Sublime. Sublime is a great band it really has a sort of sound that just touches on everything, but has such a solid consistancy that you would be damned to say that these guys suffer an identity crisis. Unlike many of the numerous (NUMEROUS) bands to bite sublimes style (Authority Zero I point my finger squarely at you!) there is a solid consistancy that comes from Sublime. I wish death on bands that bite their style, no there will never EVER be another band like Sublime so imatators... please stop! Anyways I'm feeling like talking about every song on this album... aight 1 2 3 here I go!

Waiting For My Ruca- what a great song! I just love the dum dum sort of beat on this. It is slow and it is dreamy, a quality song indeed.
40 Oz. To Freedom- mmmmmm good. The begining just kicks and you get into the hook as soon as you hear. Then comes the bangin' chorus with the charged guitar, oh it makes my body sweat.
Smoke Two Joints- is the worst song Sublime ever sang. I hate this song I think it is so annoying, I don't even have the faintest idea why all you pot heads think it's such a great song. Way too gimmicky.
We Are Only Going to Die For Our Own Ignorance- this song rocks em real tight boy. I likes it, it just has a punkish feeling to yet it stays with that sort of ska riff that... oh it just sounds good. This was when Bad Religion didn't suck.
Don't Push- a great reggae soundin' song. I like it much you can just chill back and rock ya head back and fourth, maybe even do something that involves ummmm well you know what I'm talking about.
5447/ball and chain- awfullly enjoyable I think this is the best song on the album... just about my friends
Badfish- a great song with just a kickin' chorus, the lyrics are tottally boss.
Let's Get Stoned- I enjoy the ending of this song with the jam atmosphere, though I usually don't like hearing bands "jam" this sort of hits the spot.
New Thrash- hell yeah! I love thrash, punk rawk!
Scarlet Begonias- yawn, kind of a weak song. I love Sublime but I just can't get into this song.
Live at E's- this is a really really good song. It has such a dreamy quality to it, you can just sit back and enjoy. One of the best things about Sublime is that you can just chill back and enjoy, they aren't trying to shake you and say "ENJOY THIS" like many bands try to do. They just let thier natural flava hit ya.
D.Js- I like this song, a little bit of a hip hop flava that is just right, oh don't forget dance hall!
Chipa Me Tipo- suck my tip, ha funny. Anyways yeah Brad speaks spanish, I don't know if I'm too hot on that but I kinda like it.
Right Back- I love this song. It just has that same chill back flava that I just savor. Oh this song has great lyrics, I can't ever write anything when I tweak (which is much at all, I've only done it like five times) so I'm glad Brad was able to.
What Happened- humorous and rockin', me like.
New Song- good, enough said my friends.
Ebin- this song is enjoyable, the tales of a friend who chose to go the wrong way. In fact this song rocks.
Date Rape- the single off this album. I dug this song a lot back in 7th grade. I still like it, though it makes me reminensce way too much.
Hope- I like this song a lot. It just captures that sort of skate punk that was around back in the day, it even has a sort of Descendants flavor to it. I really like this song.
KRS-One- tribute to a dope MC. Good song
Rivers of Babylon- it's aight, it is live so a good flava.
Thanx- I like this song cuz' they can fit more lyrics and stuff into the linear notes instead of annoying thank you's.

R.I.P. Brad thanks for the music!

and there he wept when he remembered Zion...
Ever wanted to know where 311 got most of their inspiration in their revolutionary sound, then look no further then Sublime. Sublime is the epitomy of the music movement apptly titled "ska," in which they combined their many influences which included reggae, hip hop, rock, and good old punk and dancehall fused together to form what we all know as ska. But Sublime really can't be holed into a catagory like ska because they really were just too original to be of a small part of a whole. They were the voice of the LBC and the voice of everyone that loves to party and have a good time. They had a couragous singer in Bradley Knowell, with his smooth and haunting voice, and guitar skills to boot there was no way of doubting this bands sucess and well, some saw the untimely end come sooner then we all expected (RIP).

40 oz's is by far their masterpiece, and if you're new to the ska scene, it would be a shame for you not to buy this album first and foremost before any others. Every song is a definate listen and though it takes time for some people to hook onto them, it will be definately worth the time and effort to listen to this whole cd. Even the shoutout track at the end is great! This album is the soul of Bradley and it shows the struggles he dealt with, and the heart and soul he poured into getting his band off the ground and into history.

Best Sublime Album
This Sublime album started it all! It has some cool old school stuff with ska/reggae and actually not obnoxious punk rock on it. Two thumbs up,i love it ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Riot on an Empty Street
Okay, let us get real people, the only similiarities between Simon and Garfunkle and the Kings of Convenience are that they both use acoustic guitars and sing in triads. Honestly, that's about it. Moving on to the album...it's good, quite good in fact. That's all I have to say, and it should be enough considering the fact that this comment came from me, a rather fickle pickle.

Music for a lazy afternoon
It must be tough to follow up a success such as "Quiet is the New Loud", and many people feared that Kings of Convenience would be a one-off as the band members each got stuck into other projects - Erlend Øye went solo with an ambient project, and Eirik Glambæk Bøe concentrated on his studies (in psychology, I think). But here it is: The long awaited follow up. And it's a very pleasant listen.

This sort of subtle, acoustic music never really goes out of style. You could just as easily give this album to your mother or even grandmother and they'd probably enjoy it just as much as you do (yikes!). That doesn't much sound like a good recommendation for a pop record ... but it is. The crisp clean production and first-rate musicianship makes this a treat to listen to, even though the harmonies are the oldest in the book, but also probably the most immediately pleasing for exactly that reason. This time the duo invite a French female guest writer and vocalist Feist for some variation - which works really well.

Take Simon and Garfunkel - add a bit of jazzy stuff here and there and a bit more melancholy in some places, and you have a pretty good general idea of what this record has to offer. I don't understand, though, why some reviewers find this only mopey - but then again I am familiar with Erlend and Eiriks home town where the weather is always rainy. We do nothing but stare out of rainsplashed windows all year (well, almost). And I know that this is when you want something as soothing as this on your stereo: While you make a cup of hot tea and read the paper, or invite some close friends around for a quiet, home-cooked meal. But it's equally good to rest your sleepy head to on a sunny, lazy summer afternoon: "Gold in the air of summer", indeed.

I'm also already waiting in anticipation for the Röyksopp dance remix of "I'd rather dance" - probably the catchiest uptempo tune on this record. (Röyksopp, can you hear me??)

soulful, sensitive, Scandinavian
The Kings Of Convenience: soulful, sensitive, Scandinavian (tick all that apply).

Norwegian duo Erlend Øye (the earnest, bespectacled one) and Eirik Glambek Bøe (the enigmatic, hunky one) channel Simon and Garfunkel in Riot On An Empty Street, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut Quiet Is The New Loud.

In fact, Homesick and Gold In The Air Of Summer capture the melodic spirit of the folk duo so uncannily and so beautifully, that for a moment I thought I was listening to the wrong CD. Either that, or to a Simon and Garfunkel covers band.

The gentle strumming of the acoustic, nylon and steel string guitars set the offbeat, folksy mood as the duo sing together, one 'high voice', the other 'low voice', of the usual melancholy and suffering for love and art, with cut-out-and-stick-on-your-fridge axioms like "a song for someone who needs somewhere to long for" (Homesick), "love is no big truth, driven by our genes, we are selfish human beings" (Love Is No Big Truth), and the "summer child that sits by the water, weaving sunlight threads in his hands" (Live Long).

Interspersed between the occasionally austere folk songs are fleet-footed melodies and whimsical words, but the messages remain consistent: gentle advice ("A friend is not a means you utilize to get somewhere", Misread) and sepia-tinted, idealised memories ("These canals, it seems, they all go in circles, places look the same, and we're the only difference", Cayman Islands). A guest appearance by the current-toast-of-Paris/Jane Birkin-look-a-like Feist on Know-How only cements the album's chic-ness.

The Kings Of Convenience have an undeniable appeal to those who adore fruit-infused tea, minimalist furniture and staring out through blurred windowpanes on dreary rainy days. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

Six years in the making, Car Wheels somehow lives up to its lofty expectations because of Williams's direct songwriting and her wonderfully unaffected vocals. With assistance from cohorts such as Steve Earle, Williams uses the acoustic accents of Dobros, mandolins, slide guitars, and accordions to add color to her grooves, whispers, and rumbles. Her lyrics are undisguised as she presents to us the travelogue of her memory. We can't wait for 2004! --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (247)

Two great songs, lots of lousy filler
This album contains perhaps the broadest range in music in recent memory, ranging from fantastic to unbearable slop. "Can't let go" and "Joy" are excellent songs and since this is not a one-hit wonder cd, you probably won't go too wrong buying it just for those two songs, which are great hard driving blues songs with nifty slide guitar work. However, the bulk of the rest of the album is incomprehensibly boring, slow, dreary country pop. This album is a prime example of why so many women musicians fail to live up to their real potential: instead of devoting a whole album to her strengths - as a blues guitarist and singer with the ability to really belt some tunes - Lucinda Williams spends most of the album playing silly folk-country-pop like dozens of other currently trendy female artists, essentially sounding like a Jewel single played at 33 rpm instead of 45. If Williams had the guts to try to rock, instead of settling for pop mediocrity, she would be one of the best acts around.

Superb--soulful with an understanding of human frailities.
This is truly a very good CD by a great artist. Her voice and her music are both unique, but with roots in well recognized folk, rock and blues genres. She sings a Louiana version of folk and blues with a voice that sometimes has to stretch and strain. Her music doesn't fit easliy into predescribed categories. Sometimes it's quiet, sometimes its loud. Sometimes its blusy and sometimes it's just plain "folk". Usually its a blend. If you want sharp crisp Madison Avenue packaged lyrics that fit perfectly into tight little melodies, this is NOT your CD. Her music and lyrics are often rough around the edges. But if you've ever left or lost a lover, ever felt "lost" or even "found", and like --or hate-- the emotions those memories recall, or if you have a soul that understands the human journey through life, you'll like this CD. For example, the lyrics in "Lake Charles" don't rhyme, don't alwys fit exacly into the music, and are sung by Lucinda in a voice that sounds like Janis Joplin in a quiet mood. But this haunting and tender song about a dead lover/friend also invokes the feeling that the singer has come to grips with the loss as well, and teaches more about remembering your loss and letting it go than any other song I've ever heard. The chorus of "Did an angel whisper in your ear? Hold you close, and take away your fear, in that long last moment?"still affects me, in a way I don't understand, whenever I hear it. Maybe it reminds me that someday I'll face a "long, last moment", too. This is the first Lucinda Williams CD I've listened to. I gave the CD 4 stars simply because the CD tells me that this is an artist capable of even greater heights. If you want to know my tastes in music, they're probably not much help. I was raised on rock n' roll with an emphasis on the Grateful Dead and Bruce Springsteen--but I always had a collection of quieter folk music lying around, too --Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Bob Dylan. Springsteen's quieter releases--"The Ballad of Tom Joad" and "Nebraska" remain my 2 favorites of his CD's. Today I listen to just about anything--Frank Sinatra, Garth Brooks, Patsy Cline, Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen being my mainstays. These singers and their music have very little in common--except that each can evoke some facet of the human condition and put it into words and music. Lucina Williams is the same.

Lucinda's Got It All
Trying to find the words to praise this album is difficult. It is without a doubt one of my top 5 albums. Her lyrics show her soul and sometimes my own. One has to wonder about the life she's lead when one listens to her music. Much pain and much happiness! Contradiction...I think if you had to describe her music...that would be the word. She is bar none one of the greatest songwriters of our time...and her concerts are not to be missed!

Lucinda Wms
Awsome Vocals Catchy Tunes The Female Bob Dylan In A
Singer/Songwriter Kinda Way She Jams

One of the best albums ever
I had a few Lucinda Williams albums, including "World Without Tears", before I finally bought "Car Wheels".

I was totally unprepared for the perfection of this work.

If these lyrics don't move you, if the music doesn't get your foot tapping, then you must be dead. I guarantee that three listens to this collection and you'll have at least one of the songs stuck looping in your head, but it is impossible to say which song, because all are nearly perfect. And the title track may just be as close to a perfect transference of a feeling from a song that I've ever experienced. This isn't country, folk, rock or blues, this is m-u-s-i-c at its finest.

The listener and critical reviews for "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road", here or on any other site or forum, show this to be perhaps the most consistently well-loved album in history. To the few who gave it two or three stars, I'll communicate with you at your level: Duh. ... Read more

Album Details

24bit Digtally Remastered Double Disc Comprehensive Set of their Best from the 60's to the 80's. This Collection Offers the Most Varied Set Ever Offered by the Acknowledged True Originators of What Has Evolved Today as Heavy Metal Rock and Roll. Tracks Are Culled from the Early Pye/Warner Bros. Recordings and the RCA/ARISTA Years. The Package Includes Sleevenotes by Ray Davies and Many Photos and Many Previously Unseen Shots. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Beatles, Stones & the Kinks
Pete Townshend said he never understood why the Big 3 bands of British rock were always listed as the Beatles, Stones, and Who. He said he always thought they were the Beatles, Stones, and Kinks. He admitted that the early Who used to blatantly rip off the early Kinks. And it's common knowledge that the opening riff of 1964's "You Really Got Me" created the template for heavy metal, which emerged about 4 - 6 years later with Blue Cheer (1968), Led Zeppelin (1969), and Black Sabbath (1970). Anyway, after ripping themselves off with their next single, 1965's "All Day & All the Night," Ray Davies evolved into a songwriter of greater depth with "A Well Respected Man," "Sunny Afternoon," "Waterloo Sunset," "Days," and "Victoria." They're all here, as well as the "Lola"/"Apeman" period tracks. A good album with most (but not all) of the best tracks from the unappreciated Kinks. Get it.

Great big chunk of Kinks!
Lots of great Kinks tunes...no clinkers.Can't beat the price if you shop on Amazon marketplace.CD#1 has the better known tunes while CD#2 the lesser.Each CD is arranged chronologically from the earliest times to the latter...making each representative of their whole output rather than splitting up the material and risking the atypical 2cd "strong/weak" anthology common when music groups cover a large span of years.

Everybody's Gonna Be Happy With This Collection!!!
What a great idea!!! Collect ALL the Kinks great songs in one place on one album! How fabulous is it? Well, pretty fabulous, but let's talk reality for a moment. In order to have a complete set of ALL the Kinks great songs, a minimum of six discs would be necessary, and Ultimate Collection only has two. Disappointed? Yes, but only a little. Because these two discs are chock-full of more Kinks classics than you can shake a stick at, and most of the collection centers on their most creative period, the sixties and early seventies. Trendsetters? How about "You Really Got Me," which drew the blueprint for every hard rock/heavy metal band for the next 30 years? What about "See My Friends," which was one of the first "Eastern" songs in rock, predating the Yardbirds by six months and George Harrison by three years? What about "Lola," probably the first hit ever about an encounter with a transvestite? What about " Victoria", one of the first and only hit songs written about an English monarch? Or, how about such great songs as "All Day and All Night," "Autumn Almanac," the music hall treatment of "Dead End Street," the shimmering poetry of "Waterloo Sunset," "Celluloid Heroes," the best song about Hollywood ever written? Or "Superman," and "Come Dancing," two songs which proved conclusively that the Kinks could and did change with the times? Or what about a body of work so staggering that the Kinks were one of the first British Invasion bands voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame WITHOUT a number one single? What about.......well, I could go on and on. Yes, there are a few clunkers here, yes, there are some great songs missing ("Destroyer," "Catch Me Now I'm Falling," "Gallon of Gas," and most of the good songs from The Village Green Preservation Society), but there are so many tasty tunes here that this collection must be obtained without hesitation. So, get the Kinks Ultimate Collection today! Short of a few frenzied diehard fans, everybody's gonna be happy with this one!!!

Definitely the Ultimate Collection
This is definitely the Kinks collection to get. It's the most comprehensive collection yet, with all of their early and later hits, including You Really Got Me, All Day And All Of The Night, Tired Of Waiting, Sunny Afternoon, Waterloo Sunset (in stereo), Days, Stop Your Sobbing (in stereo), A Well Respected Man, Come Dancing, Better Things, Celluloid Heroes, and much more (a total of 44 songs). And the songs have never sounded better, especially the remastered selections from the 60s (including Lola in stereo). My only regret is that they left off Catch Me Now I'm Falling. Even so, this is the best collection out there. You won't regret buying it.

Tons of Fun
After all this time, it is amazing the number of sublime songs that were put out by the Kinks. This is not a "greatest hits" collection, as there are a few b-side clinkers in the bunch, but even these display the splendid combination of melody and chaos that made this band so interesting. The audio quality is wonderful (yes, you can listen to the quality of the studio recordings improve over time), and it is a revelation to re-listen to songs only known through 45's decades ago. OK, I'm reliving my childhood. It's great.

The texture of both the words and music displayed by this band at its best is remarkable. And they only got better. The last recordings, songs like "Better Days," "Superman" and "Come Dancing" are superb. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though one of rock's most influential figures, David Bowie's accomplishments are pocked by some distinct ironies. His willful efforts at being a musical and visual chameleon spurred triumphs in genres as diverse as folk, glam, new wave, and electronica. Given the dizzying range and success of his '70s incarnations--from Ziggy to the Thin White Duke to the gaunt, goth-cypher of Low and Heroes--he seemed the artist most well-equipped to weather the changing tides of taste and trend, yet saw his career essentially shrink to cult status after scoring his biggest triumphs when he reshaped the soulless, dance-oriented club music of the early '80s into his own image. This 20-track compilation does little to address the Chinese puzzle that has been Bowie's post-'85 career, but it does deliver an artistically dizzying slate of hits as it skips from one early peak to the next, from evocative cabaret ("Space Oddity," "Changes") through muscular glam-rock ("Suffragette City," "The Jean Genie") to R&B ("Young Americans," "Fame") and post-punk flirtations ("Ashes to Ashes," "Fashion") to the dance-club hits ("Let's Dance," "China Girl," "Modern Love") and '80s one-off duets ("Under Pressure" with Queen, "Dancing in the Streets" with Mick Jagger) that essentially marked the end of his superstar reign. Whole eras and at least one classic '70s album (Low) go completely unaddressed, but all of Bowie's signature hits are here, as well as Earthling's powerful, underappreciated "I'm Afraid of Americans." --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Excellent compilation for an excellent musical artist
For over three decades now, David Bowie has been releasing music. And his music is nothing short of excellent. A number of popular artists have named him as one of their major influences, and with good reason. Classic/Alternative rock artists don't get a whole lot better than this. In late 2002, a retrospective of Bowie's career was released, in both one disc and two disc form. Read on for more information.

First of all, here's the tracklist for the two disc version:

Disc: 1
1. Space Oddity
2. The Man Who Sold The World
3. Changes
4. Life On Mars?
5. Moonage Daydream
6. Suffragette City
7. Ziggy Stardust
8. All The Young Dudes
9. The Jean Genie
10. Panic In Detroit
11. Rebel, Rebel
12. Diamond Dogs
13. Young Americans
14. Fame
15. Golden Years
16. TVC15
17. Sound and Vision
18. Heroes
19. D.J.

Disc: 2
1. Ashes To Ashes
2. Fashion
3. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
4. Under Pressure
5. Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
6. Let's Dance
7. China Girl
8. Modern Love
9. Blue Jean
10. This is Not America
11. Dancing In The Streets
12. Absolute Beginners
13. Time Will Crawl
14. Under The God
15. Jump They Say
16. The Heart's Filthy Lesson
17. I'm Afraid Of Americans
18. Thursday's Child
19. Slow Burn

As you can see, you'll get all of Bowie's biggest hits on here. (Space Oddity, Changes, Under Pressure, Let's Dance, China Girl, Fame, and the fairly recent hit I'm Afraid Of Americans.) Perhaps one of the finest things about these songs is the musicians who co-wrote or made guest appearances on them. Under Pressure was a collaboration with Queen, Let's Dance and China Girl feature the late Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar, Fame was co-written by the late John Lennon, and the cover of Dancing In The Street is a duet with Rolling Stones vocalist Mick Jagger. Twenty tracks of pure excellence. Just about every excellent track that was omitted from the one disc version of this compilation can be found here. These include Cat People, The Man Who Sold The World (later covered by Nirvana) and All The Young Dudes (later covered by Bruce Dickinson.) But even though this is many times better than its one disc counterpart, I have a major complaint - NO TRACKS FROM PINUPS! Bowie's covers of the Who's I Can't Explain and the Easy Beats Friday On My Mind must be heard to be appreciated, and sadly, they aren't here. This makes me mad, because I Can't Explain WILL fit on the first disc.

David Bowie is an excellent musician, but as I stressed above, make extra sure you are buying this two disc version so you can get everything the one disc version omits. The two versions have identical covers, so be sure to check the tracklist on the back to be sure you're getting this one.

Bowie for Absolute Beginners? And everyone else!
I find it very depressing that Amazon still hasn't put up the tracklisting for this album (the double CD version "Best Of Bowie" for America) so I guess I'm gonna have to do it.

Disc 1
1. Space Oddity 2. The Man Who Sold The World 3. Changes 4. Life On Mars? 5. Moonage Daydream 6. Suffragette City 7. Ziggy Stardust 8. All The Young Dudes 9, The Jean Genie 10. Panic In Detroit 11. Rebel, Rebel 12. Diamond Dogs 13. Young Americans 14. Fame 15. Golden Years 16. TVC15 17. Sound and Vision 18. "Heroes" 19. D.J.
Disc 2
1.Ashes To Ashes 2. Fashion 3. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) 4. Under Pressure 5. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) 6. Let's Dance 7. China Girl 8. Modern Love 9. Blue Jean 10. This is Not America 11. Dancing In The Streets 12. Absolute Beginners 13. Time Will Crawl 14. Under The God 15. Jump They Say 16. The Heart's Filthy Lesson 17. I'm Afraid Of Americans 18. Thursday's Child 19. Slow Burn

This listing is very unique because it includes the big pop hits (the poppy R&B meets rock guitar "Let's Dance"), culturally significant songs (revolutionary singer-songwriter moments like "Changes" and "All The Young Dudes") and excellent singles that didn't get the attention they deserved the first time (the industrial rocker "Heart's Filthy Lesson"). The fact that "Best Of Bowie" takes songs form nearly every Bowie studio album (except for the cover packed "Pin Ups" and "Buddha Of Suburbia", which in all fairness was a soundtrack) shows all the levels that the man works on musically. The seventies are where Bowie shines with everything from the edgy alien hard rock of "Ziggy Stardust" to the glam rock perfection of "Rebel, Rebel". "Diamond Dogs" (only live track and the longest in length at over 6 minutes) should have been a shorter track, especially since they cut down the stellar cynical lyric with an R&B beat of "Young Americans" to a single edit. The Berlin tracks are a great way to end the first disc. "Low" is represented well by the dancy "Sound And Vision" while "Heroes" is tragic and wonderful. Then there is the eighties heyday from disco flavored new wave of "Fashion" to horn blasting "Modern Love" (which I viewed as a sardonic joke about yuppie culture, right?) to that poppy Motown cover "Dancing In The Streets" (with Mick Jagger adding his swagger). Then there was the nineties peak of creativity of the bleeping drum machine pop "Jump They Say" to the moody introspective AC of "Thursday's Child" to the techno rock dance of "I'm Afraid Of Americans" (the Trent mix) and closing with the passionate soul rock of "Soul Burn".

The unfortunate thing is that it misses with some track placement. I don't understand why "Time Will Crawl" represents "Never Let Me Down" and the obvious not "Day In, Day Out". Also, some tracks take getting used to like the collaboration with the Pat Methany Group with the world music with a dance groove "This is Not America". And now I understand why people dislike Tin Machine with the c-rocker blah bombast of "Under The God", but it shows an interesting side of Bowie. These very few questionable tracks (which I can live with) don't change my overall impression of the set being very strong. Slight omissions (why not "Rock And Roll Suicide" from "Ziggy Stardust..."?) and edits (or non-edits in some cases) doesn't change the fact that this album is filled with some of the greatest transformations from the rock chameleon that Bowie is. He has rocked us in a variety of ways and this album is needed for those who have adored him for years and is superb for those just starting out. Keep in mind that there are about 22 verisons of this CD, most single discs. This is the American double CD verison.

Skip this one... and go to the good records instead...
Bowie probably just had three our four phases in his carrer. The first was up to Stardust and Diamond Dogs (Hunky, The Man Who Sold Space Oddity, can be included into that phase), made up of nice songs and catchy ballads, interspersed with some elegantyl rocking tunes. Then what?... some kind of re-orientation release, Young Americans, doesn't sound or taste like anything in particular, and you wouldn't be worse off if you just forgot all about this record.

And then came an interesting phases in his career, in my view the most interesting one, where he consecutively released a stack of good records, starting with Station To Station, followed by Low and Heroes. Lodger is patchy at most, and doesn't taste like anything peculiar. He then somehow finishes off this great phase of his career with Scary Monsters, a nice reverence and look-back at his past years and early career. And what of Let's Dance, you may ask? Mhh... trendy but a bit in-between... you could well place it in this phase, although it already has a definitively different look-out on things. Let's Dance is definitively already an eighties album, but offers a rather good transition to the preceding decade's collection of works.

What then came, the third and last phase, is altogether different, some good things, and some things not that good. David definitively became an artistic Lodger, but who cares, he had already delivered his best (the first or second phases of his career, depending on your taste.)

All in all, if you want to know the man, I'd recommend you just skip this Best of collection and just get the Station, Low, Heroes albums, and maybe also the Monsters and Let's Dance releases. These were definitely his best and most mature albums. The rest is at times interesting but, in the end, just fills up space...

Mesmerizing Bowie
This is a great album. David Bowie himself might be a little odd. However, I've all ways liked his taste of music.
From Space Oddity to Ziggy Stardust. You'll get allot of good use from this set.
I have several of his CD's. However, this is one of my favorites. It has allot of his good songs on it.
There are just a tun of great choices hear.

Disc: 1

1. Space Oddity
2. The Man Who Sold The World
3. Changes
4. Life On Mars?
5. Moonage Daydream
6. Suffragette City    

7. Ziggy Stardust    
8. All The Young Dudes    
9. The Jean Genie    

10. Panic In Detroit    
11. Rebel, Rebel    
12. Diamond Dogs    
13. Young Americans    
14. Fame    
15. Golden Years    
16. TVC15    
17. Sound and Vision    
18. Heroes    
19. D.J.    
Disc: 2

1. Ashes To Ashes    
2. Fashion    
3. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)    
4. Under Pressure    
5. Cat People (Putting Out Fire)    
6. Let's Dance    
7. China Girl    
8. Modern Love    

great!
i bought this cd not know many songs from bowie, just wantin a cd that had some good songs. i never knew he did t hat "lets dance" song, which is now constantly stuck in my head. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gillian Welch has captured the ethos of mountain music in a way that few lowlanders have managed, and that's just a little disconcerting. Outsiders aren't supposed to be able to infiltrate tight-knit clans. Producer T-Bone Burnett creates intimacy by recording Welch live with a small cast of supporting players, including Welch's partner, David Rawlings. While many of the songs are built around duo acoustic guitars and two-part harmonies, Burnett spices up a few of them up with some neat tricks, mixing an upright bass above the vocals on "Pass You By" and getting a fat, dirty sound out of three instruments. Welch's vocals, meanwhile, are stoical and matter-of-fact as her songs, which are infused with a repressed dread and contrition that's utterly convincing. White gospel tunes like "Orphan Girl" and "By the Mark" feel as if they were culled from hymnals, yet they were written when Clinton, not Coolidge, was president. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Gillian Welch; powerful artist
Thanks to Amazon, I found Gillian Welch via their "customers also bought" information bar while purchasing an Emmylou Harris recording. Ms Welch posesses a sincere and refreshing approach to "country" music. Her soul searching lyrics are brought together with her haunting voice as a Hermann Hesse novel. They both express the human life experience. Ms Welch's diversity is far reaching with "Paper Wings" (Billy Holliday would love this song) to "Acony Bell" (a sweet and precious song). I used to write and play similiar songs to my daughter Amber Faith. If you desire an experience with soul searching music, purchase this recording.

One I can't live without...
I walked into a record store one day and heard the first few songs off of Revival over the store speakers and they stopped me in my tracks. I immediately bought it (and I'm not the impulsive type) and my husband and I played it just about every morning for the first month we owned it. Gillian and David have somehow managed to channel the ghosts of Appalachian oldtimers through their souls and onto this disc. This music is as real and haunting as it gets. I can't say enough about it, it just gets under your skin and stays there. If you ever get a chance to see them live, you'll understand how incredibly gifted they are. If you like alt country or twangy folk, this is a must have!

Essential Gillian Welch
Forget the hype of 'O Brother Where Art Thou'. Forget about "alt-country". Forget about "mountain music". This is the debut album from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. And its an experience.

How can you NOT mention Rawlings every time you talk about Welch? It is only together, that they've created some of the most beautiful, haunting, melancholic songs I have ever heard. I've been fortunate enough to see them play on two occasions, they're also outstanding live musicians and they had the audience spellbound for the entire length of the concert. This is the perfect record to start your GW/DR collection with...

Beautiful alt-country debut album.
It's hard to believe this is Welch's first album: the songwriting is unbelievably solid, and the music is hauntingly reminiscent of early bluegrass and country music. She came from a musical family (her parents scored the music for "The Carol Burnett Show"), and she attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston, where she met her musical partner David Rawlings.

Welch's and Rawlings's voice and instrumentations blend beautifully, and one of the standout songs on the album is "By The Mark", where you can hear Rawlings clearly echoing and harmonizing with Welch's voice. Other songs worth mentioning are the mournful "Annabelle" and "Tear My Stillhouse Down".

It should be noted also that Emmylou Harris was so impressed with Welch and with this album that she later covered "Orphan Girl".

Disappointing
If this is her best (as indicated by many others here), I'm incredibly disappointed. I bought this CD because I heard one song (from "Soul Journey") that I liked on the radio. After reading the reviews, I chose this CD because it was the most raved about.

Three of the songs on this CD sound just like her tune on "Oh Brother..." The rest of the CD is, well... mediocre. There's absolutely nothing original or touching here. I don't care about Gillian's background, I just want to listen to great music. This is not great music. She sounds like any other mediocre country-folk artist.

... ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's not that Garbage is doing anything particularly new. At times, singer Shirley Manson borrows Chrissie Hynde's phrasing, Patti Smith's rock beat poetry, and Brian Wilson's chorus from "Don't Worry Baby." But producer Butch Vig provides a modern sheen to Version 2.0 that makes it sound fresh and distinctly modern. Purists may blanch--the album is a hybrid of rock guitars, dance rhythms, and pop choruses--but songs such as "I Think I'm Paranoid" (a rip of Elastica) and "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" (Depeche Mode, without the chill) sound great no matter what they're called. --Keith Moerer ... Read more

Reviews (504)

What a pleasant addiction...
Having recieved my first Garbage album from a friend, I fell in love with an album who's name evaded me as did the formal song titles. I did some research to find out that I had been passed on Version 2.0, Garbage's wildly electric and delectably addictive second album. Shirley Manson's sultry vocals joined with the heart pumping rock-techno-dance fusion make this a must have CD. A well-rounded and commendable second album, Version 2.0 harbors a wide range of edgy styles, from the upbeat, catchy Temptation Waits, Special and When I Grow Up, which give us a more pop look at the album, we also find songs like Hammering In My Head, and Sleep Together which show us a provocative, sexy flash of sty