Reviews (51)

Quite Good
RBF comes back after three years or so of touring and releases a rock-solid, infectious, bitter, pissy, angry album.There are usually two or three pissed off songs on an RBF album, "We're Not Happy 'til You're Not Happy" has about eight.

'THE FIRE' 4/5- This song starts in a funky, half time beat and is moderately entertaining, then kicks into a full skank and is awesome.Chorus is especially fun.

'Drinkin'' 5/5- A companion of sorts to the song 'Beer' this song has a fun little riff at the beginning and equal amounts of rock and ska throughout.

'Don't Start A Band' 5/5- I wanted to give them all a hug after this song.It amazes me how RBF can take the most depressing lyrics and set them to the happiest music.

'A-W-E-S-O-M-E' 4/5- I laughed my ass off at the beginning of this song.The song itself is ok.The chorus is the best.

'We Hate it When Our Friends Become Successful' 5/5- A Morrissey cover that fits the band quite well lyrically, and I like RBF's version better

'Turn the Radio Off' 5/5- Very angry, very good.The bridge is the best part.

'Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution' 4/5- awesome reggae version of a Tracy Chapman song.It shouldn't have been the first single, but it kicks ass.

'The Bad Guy' 3/5- My least favorite song on the album.It is saved by the brass section in the bridge.

'Story of My Life' 5/5- RBF has made a Social Distortion song sound almost cute, and has gotten away with it quite well.

'The Joke's On Me' 4/5- Starts out kind of new-wavey, is quite sad throughout, and the "never were any good old days" part is downright depressing.

'One Hit Wonderful' 5/5- incredible 3/4 time examination of the success of 'sell out'.the mandolin in the bridge is fun. after the song finishes, you can hear a high school marching band playing an arrangement of 'sell out'.

'The Last Show' 5/5- Makes it sound like RBF is breaking up, but they're not.The lyrics could be seen as Aaron talking to Scott, but i don't know.

'Say Goodbye' 4/5- End of a relationship song.At least it says "feels so good to say goodbye".almost not sad.

'Your Guts (I Hate Em)'10/5- My Favorite song on the album.SO damn funny.

Well, I'm Happy
This cd is honestly, one of my most favorite CDs that I own. They kept the same RBF sound, but somewhat matured a little bit. This is by far better than Cheer Up (mainly because the songs on Cheer Up bring back bad memories), and is my favorite RBF album. With Turn the Radio off in second.

My favorite tracks on this cd are: "Don't start a band", "A-W-E-S-O-M-E", and "Last Show."

Buy this album if you love RBF and want a good CD!

A bit more poppy than the others, but still my RBF
Reel Big Fish seems to be getting more and more pop oriented (melody and tone) as time goes on.Not that this is a negative thing, per se, but it's a step in an unexpected direction.

The opening track starts with a song that reminds me very much of my first listen to "Cheer Up".The song progresses from a lone guitar into a big buildup into more distorted guitar, then the repeating choruses into the big ending.It seems most of the tracks follow this format, though there is some variation.Looking back at "Turn the Radio Off" and "Why Do They Rock So Hard?", I miss the chill groovy tracks that dominated those albums.Most of the songs have a "hit on every beat" feel during choruses.I'm not sure how to describe it, but it feels sort of punk.

They make fun of themselves a bit with "One Hit Wonderful" and throw in their signature hypocricy with "Don't Start a Band".Theme-wise, the album is fairly negative but only lyrically.RBF has a unique talent; they can make the most lyrically negative song into a happy-go-lucky "make me want to skank" smile-fest.Still, I miss the good old days of "Beer" and "Alternative Baby".Maybe they just need more horn melodies, less distorted lead guitar.

All in all, this is about the best I can hope from from this awesome band.I was not disappointed at all, and I can see the songs growing on me.Keep churning it out guys, I look forward to what's ahead.

It was time for this band to grow musically!
While still full of the tongue in cheek, often curt but undoubtedly negative lyrics RBF have become known for, this CD returns the band to its ska roots and mixes in some new production style.The end result is incredible.Every album this band records seems to reflect their state of mind in the industry at any given time.In particular Turn The Radio Off and Why Do They Rock So Hard?This album is no exception. Turn The Radio Off told the story of a small time band that wanted to make it so bad it hurt.Why Do They Rock So Hard dealt with the inevitable backlash from some fans when the band "sold out," though they did nothing of the sort.We're Not Happy Til You're Not Happy has its own theme too, but this is a VERY angry, bitter album.It deals with the competitive and backstabbing industry every signed band finds itself in.That state of the band where the music becomes it's own stress, when playing feels like a job. If you can't deal with that anger, however, I'm not so sure you ever really listened to the lyrics of other Reel Big Fish albums, much less been in a band of your own.One of the reasons I like RBF so much is I empathize with a great number of their songs,.. they capture the experience of being in a band so perfectly, particularly the negative aspects which hardly any other group seems to acknowledge (most bands just want to tell you how much they rock).This album is a welcome addition to my record collection.Easily the best CD I've bought so far this year.

RBF Is back Baby!!!
This CD is so good!I've loved Reel Big Fish since I was a littler kid than I am now.That's like ten years or something, and really, this CD is absolutely amazing.I don't know what all you people lambasting this CD are thinking.Obviously somebody ripped the fun out of your ear drums because you suck if you think CD is not a 5 star worthy purchase!

This CD is awesome."Drinkin" is easily one of the top RBF songs ever.So is "Don't Start A Band,""Say Goodbye," "Your Guts (I Hate 'em)" and, well, basically every song on this CD.This is classic rocking awesome funny rad Reel Big Fish and everyone should buy this CD.It's so much better than Cheer Up, which was still a 5 star CD.So maybe, this is really like a 6 or 7 star CD (on a five star scale) because this CD is just so freakin' sweet.Basically this CD rocks harder than when unicorn's have their horns stuck in the rock that was holding excalibur until King Arthur pulled excalibur out.That's how hard this CD rocks!!!

This CD will not stop rocking until King Arthur comes back and rides that unicorn straight into Heaven to the tunes of "Your Guts (I hate 'em)" which will be playing when everyone who dissed this momentous CD is tossed into firey brimstone for their lack of faith, which I find disturbing. ... Read more

Album Description

Creed's Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips, and Brian Marshall re-emerge as ALTER BRIDGE with new singer Myles Kennedy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Open Your Eyes
Most of you probably know that Alter Bridge consists of 3 of the former Creed members. This is true. But what else is true is that Alter Bridge is about 500 times better than creed. The new vocalist (Myles Kennedy) is right up there with the greats, and Mark Trementi (lead guitar) is amazing. He is one of the most underated guitarists of all time and deserves to finally be recognized. Alter Bridge is also about 500 times harder than their days as creed. There certainly are still the occasional slow ballads, but most of the songs are in your face metal with great guitar riffs. This album is great, and I recomend it for all rock fans. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Emotionally over-the-top pop extravaganzas like the string-swelling "Tonight Tonight," the Metallica-influenced alternative rock of "Zero," the techno via new wave of "1979"--the 28 songs on this swell two-disc album are as eclectic as their themes are epic and ambitious. Billy Corgan's thin whine isn't much of an instrument, but he makes the most of it by writing smart songs that take emotional chances that more-typical alt rockers would deem uncool. Pessimistic and feeling trapped but still wanting to believe in love, in a future, in something--this is the sound of Gen X at the millennium, with all the self-indulgence and power that would suggest. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (495)

2nd best S.P. album
I'd give it 5 stars, but the production isn't as taut or as grand as Butch Vigs and there are some filler tracks here. Anyway, this is still one of my personal favorites, and it is certainly worth owning, no matter what taste of style you are into. Flood produced this record with Billy Corgan and there are certain elements of Flood's work with Erasure (on songs like "Love" and "1979") as well as some U2 like moments ("In the arms of sleep" AND "Thirty-Three). If I could spilt the disc into one solid 5 star record, the tracklisting would go as follows. Ready? Get out your pens, music lovers:
1. Tonight, Tonight
2. Zero
3. Here is no why
4. Bullet with Butterfly Wings
5. To Forgive
6. An ode to no one
7. Galopogos
8. Muzzle
9. Where Boys fear to tread
10. Bodies
11. In the arms of sleep
12. 1979
13. Thru the eys of Ruby
14. Stumbeline
15. X.Y.U.
16. Thirty-Three
I think that "Porcelina of the vast oceans" is a great epic crooner, and I like every song on here, but for sheer brilliance and compact cinergi, I'd have narrowed it down a bit. By the way, "Thru the eyes of Ruby" is one of the best S.P. songs of all time, and it is certainly one of the best rock songs, period(even though it was never released as a single). Anyway, I am still glad that Billy made this record the way he did. "Siamese Dream" is their best effort, but this is certanily their undisputed epic masterpeice...just wish it had been slimmed down a bit!

A Masterpiece Of Big Hits And Also Experimentation
This double disc has to be considered the greatest effort from the Smashing Pumpkins. It was a bold and risky move for them to release a more expensive album for consumers when they could've just released a single LP with bascially the hits at a cheaper price. Thankfully, they didn't do this. The songs here are very different from one another, but each holds immense emotion, and this makes it a success without question. The experimental, somewhat techno-vibe of "1979" became one of the band's biggest hits, while other rock epics like "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" and "Tonight, Tonight" became radio and music television staples. I find some of the best moments though come from the songs not heard on the radio or always played at concerts. "Muzzle" and "We Only Come Out At Night" should've been hits because of the honesty Corgan exerts as he reflects on childhood and thinks of the meaning his life has. Two other solid tracks are the light and beautiful "In The Arms Of Sleep" and the positive mid-tempo rocker "Here Is No Why," which has a great chorus speaking of optimism. Some of the songs also have a true, roaring hard rock vibe that continues from start to end, and the best of these are probably "Bodies," "Tales Of A Scorched Earth," and "F-ck You (An Ode To No One)." Corgan's softer and even more experimental side comes out in both discs on the many love epics like "Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans," "Lily (My One And Only)," and "Beautiful." The love songs are very mushy and remind me of soft rock, but they do show how much variety exists on MELLON COLLIE AND THE INFINITE SADNESS. No matter what happens with the cloudy future of this band, this epic double release will be one of the 90's best pieces of rock music, and it also may bring new fans who can hear the many sides of the Pumpkins just through this album.

Quite Simply the Greatest Album ever created.
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the greatest combination of musical genius ever created. I feel that Billy Corgan achieved Musical Immortality with the earth shattering collection that is these two CDs. A huge collection of all types of rock, so no matter what your flavor, you will find it all in this stunning variety. It's the only album I have ever listened to that I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of the songs. Galapogos, Tonight, Tonight, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, Stumbleine, and Zero rank among my all time favorite songs. I completely recommend the collection of B-Sides from this album found in the "Aeroplane Flies High" box set. If you have never heard of the Smashing Pumpkins (Shame, if you haven't) or simply have never picked up this album, do now, as you will enjoy it till the end of time. It's just too bad the greatest band ever formed is no longer around, but their music will live on forever

Indescribable in every imaginable sense
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the best release by the Pumpkins, and one of the best collection of music ever. The arrangement and layout of the music is flawless and the tempo manages to remain unpredictable yet somehow correct through the entire album. There are just too many songs to talk about, but my favorites are definitely "Tonight, Tonight", "Jellybelly", "Here Is No Why", "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" (with what is arguably Jimmy Chamberlain's greatest drum performance), "To Forgive", "Galapagos" (great lyrics "If we died right now/This fool you loved/Somehow is here with you), album epic "Porcelina of the Vast Oceans" (plays out like a Shakespearan play), "Bodies" (which reminds us "Love is suicide"), "1979" (modern rock hit, the events mirror what probably happened to the youth in 1969, 89, 99, and probably 09 as well, brilliant song, hopeful lyrics), and megaunderrated "Thru the Eyes of Ruby" (another album epic with the line "The night has come to hold us young", which gives ultimate hope to a generation that is somehow managing to lose its way).

Ten tracks listed above, these are the ones that truly stand head and shoulders above the remaining. Not to take anything away from the others as they are role players and role players are also important in every great album. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is what the 90's were all about, and it makes me proud to have been getting into good modern music (nothing beats classics) when this album, along with efforts such as (What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis, The Bends by Radiohead were the great albums, and major breakthroughs not only in musicianship, but also in terms of a band having the substance, the guts, the mojo.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is brilliant in every sense, and Billy Corgan in his prime as a frontman. Highly recommended.

I hate writing titles to reviews
"Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" by the Smashing Pumpkins was easily the biggest (in every sense of the word) album to hit in the post-grunge alternative rock heyday that was my adolescence. In fact, I would say that this was the early peak of the movement - a seemingly bloated double album by a band that had a slew of hits off their major label debut just a few years earlier. Soon enough, everyone had a "Zero" shirt and listened to this album day and night, or at least the half-dozen or so singles that were played on modern rock radio.

The best thing I can say about this release is that I have no problem sitting down and listening to the whole thing (that's two hours, kids), even 9 years after its initial release. And it's solid. The whole double-disc affair holds up well for those entire two hours. The reason that it doesn't get the coveted five-star rating is that the bulk of the songs are good, with a few occassional forays into "great." Fortunately, there are no duds on this album. "Muzzle," "Tales of a Scorched Earth," "1979," "X.Y.U.," and "An Ode to No One" are the cream of the crop, but like I said, the rest of the album deserves repeated listenings.

Anyone that grew up around this time and listened to alternative rock either owned this at one point, knew someone that did, or still does own it. It really is an essential release for its time and place, and it holds up very well into the 21st century. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

chillin' out with Jolie Holland
Jolie Holland is an interesting character. Her last album delved into haunting old-country territory. "Escondida," however, pulls in elements of several different genres to create a uniquely "Jolie" sound.

To put the album's aura into musical terms, imagine a voice that lies somewhere between Cat Power and Billie Holliday, and a lyrical setting just off the back porch. There are several songs that break out of this description; "Sascha" reminds me of New York, reminiscent of the narrative stylings of a Dean Martin song. "Old-fashioned Morphine" absolutely effuses the back streets of 1920's Chicago, and "Mad Tom Bedlam" is a scat-inspired, interesting interpretation of an old English folk song.

Definitely worth picking up, it's like buying five or six different albums, as Jolie Holland runs up and down the musical spectrum leaving trails of southern charm behind her.

Good enough for Billy Burroughs, good enough for me
Jolie was a founding (now ex-) member of the Be-Good Tanyas, an all-female collective that made old-time country earn the alt. prefix. In her solo work, Jolie fieldtrips the listener even further back into history, slipping well past the Carter Family to conjure up a depressed Billie Holiday baring her soul for a disinterested crowd in a gloomy 1930s dinner club. Jolie's voice is wonderful, warm and emotionally charged, and her songs effortlessly mix subdued jazz with gothic country and folk. The production is so perfectly natural that it places Ms. Holland right smack dab in my living room - by the end of "Old Fashioned Morphine" I almost expect her to bum some smokes. There's other albums from this year that are more hip, more cutting edge, or more experimental - but greatness doesn't always have to be a cannon shot across the bow of tradition. This is the one album I already know I'll still be listening to in ten - or twenty - years time.

Phrases like a young Louis Armstrong...very cool vocalist!
Sure, the comparisons to Billie Holiday are accurate, but if you go back and listen to the Louis Armstrong of the 20's and 30's, you'll hear a musical style so beautifully mined and refined by both Holiday and Holland. I'll be listening to this one again and again.

Gimme that Old Fashioned Holland
This is a terrific CD, definately one of the best that I have bought in a long time. The style is evocative of Billy Holiday, Norah Jones and...dare I say- Ani DiFranco, all rolled into one package. Jolie Holland has her own ideas about music and how it should sound, though those ideas are clearly influenced by old sources...this is not a complaint. As G Love and Special Sauce takes old school jazz/R&B and reprocesses it for a new generation, so too does Jolie Holland. It comes as it should too, natural and easy, something that you can listen to over and over again, with the songs getting stuck in your head in an amiable, smooth way. From the jazzy 'Old Fashioned Morphine' to the more Patsy Cline-ish 'Amen', this CD has something that almost any fan of old-school jazz and blues music will appreciate.

Bottom Line: a must have for jazz/blues lovers.

Old Soul
From the alluringly grainy photograph on the cover (we'll guess that's Ms. Holland in the picture, but we may be way off), one pegs this young artist as an 'old soul'. The music here confirms it. With songs that seem to emanate from another time and place; from New Orleans, from the Mississippi Delta, from Chicago, they, at first, sound vaguely familiar and then they begin to creep up on you and nestle into your consciousness. But it's that voice-that muted trumpet of a voice-delivered with sensuous, scat-like, hypnotic phrasing, which captures the listener and elevates Holland's music to artistry. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Emo-rock band Jimmy Eat World exemplify all that is the modern radio rock sound. Singing and playing with a conviction and sincerity that will melt the heart of even the most stoic of listeners, they produce rousing, well-crafted anthems along the lines of Third Eye Blind at their roughest or a more polished Green Day. These guys appear to be able to write ready-made singles at the drop of a hat, as evidenced by "Your House" as well as the title track. In fact, there is a rather shocking maturity to their material that belies the band members' ages (all in their 20s). While they sometimes veer into cringe-worthy power-ballad territory, overall Jimmy Eat World give the people what they want with Bleed American. --Ike Bolton ... Read more

Reviews (291)

One of the great albums of last year.
Like some people, my first taste of Jimmy Eat World was through The Middle. Although at first it wasn't my thing, I found myself liking it. So I went uptown and bought it cause I'm need of liking some new bands so I bought it uptown(it still has Bleed American on the cover). Overall, this is such a great album. It seems a lot more poppier than Clarity(which I also bought).

Bleed American: very guitar driven. good riff too. 9/10
A Praise Chorus: I love the "crimson and clover" part. 8/10
The Middle: the couple times 9/10 after a LOT of repeated listens 7/10
Your House: mainly acoustic with some added elements. good song. 8/10
Sweetness: mixed bag- it's a awesome song but the original that started with the guitar(this one starts with vocals) was much better. 7.5/10
Hear You Me: slower number. It's such a melancholy and great track. 9/10
If You Don't, Don't: rock edged song. It's pretty good. 8/10
Get It Faster: this one is actually pretty catchy. 9/10
Cautioners: slow song. it's good but not the better of the slow ones. 7.5/10
The Authority Song: good song to blast in your car. 9/10
My Sundown: another melancholy song but my favorite of them. The song seems to be about suicide so the song cuts off right at the end. (Dream Theater's Pull Me Under had this too.)

It's a great album. It's a good song to blast while you're driving or playing sports. Not as good as Clarity but it's a great album.

Jimmy Eat World rocks!!
Alright I'm going to be honest I'm a #1 J.E.W fan,I love em' and I love their music!They're the hardest band out there going from state to state,and they're all over the place these days and that's because they work hard to get where they are!And some bands these days don't even sound like they do on their cd but J.E.W does and I know that for a fact because I've been to 2 of their concerts unfortunately I didn't get to see them at the Edge Fest,sadly.Jim Adkins(vocals and guitar),Tom Linton(guitar and vocals),Rick Burch(bass),Zach Lind(drums) make up Jimmy Eat World and without them we wouldn't have the emotion not material artistic expression from this Mesa,Arizona based band.From "Bleed American" with that describes a feeling that is missing to songs like "Sweetness","If you don't,don't" and "Your House" harbour a romantic sensibility and the somber "Get it Faster" or the expansive "Cautioners" leave much room for the listener's own experiences and emotions as anything on Static Prevails and Clarity.So give it a listen!!

Another JEW masterpiece
I'm sorry, but there are only a few bands out there who can claim my absolute devotion. Jimmy Eat World just happens to be one of them. There just doesn't seem to be an end their musical prowess. For those who have just recently heard of them via the radio and are contemplating buying the CD, wait no longer. Buy the thing. It is worth every dang penny. For those old school fans, you should buy it, too. Yeah, it is very different from the likes of Static Prevails, but so was Clarity, and you liked it. It took some time, but you cottoned to it. Same thing with Bleed American. Once it grew on me it didn't leave my CD player for three weeks. Honestly, folks, one of the best discs ever by one of the best groups ever.

The Bottom Line
It's really easy to get into this album right from the start. Bleed American (as it was originally titled) touts the right combination of melodic rock and slower ballads for a terrific rock and roll record. The album has a very poppy feel pretty much the whole way through, and Jimmy Eat World proves that this doesn't necessarily have to be a negative aspect. This translates into an album which could theoretically find its way on a movie or television soundtrack because of the type of easily digested superbly written songs that exist throughout. (Tell me that "The Middle" wouldn't fit perfectly into an 1980's John Cusak flick about overcoming the high school odds and getting the girl!) Anyway, if you're looking for something completely new in uncharted territory; you might need to pick up one of their earlier records. If your looking for a simply great rock and roll record, pick this one up.

yes
i love this album! theres not one song i don't like on it. my friends and i sang/played 'the middle' and 'my sundown' for our school graduation mass and converted people to the church of jimmy in the process ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Amazing
I personally dont have the re-release of the CD because I had bought the original. I actually had the pleasure along with the rest of the Massachusetts residents of hearing 'Simple Man' before it even came out. This was no accident, Shinedown came in to MA local rock radio station WAAF and did an acoustic of it and it basically has been one of the most requested songs on the station. Go to their website www.waaf.com to hear the acoustic version of simple man and 45 by going to the in-studio tunes part of the website. Shinedown is my most favorite band of the 2000's. As Nirvana was the best of the 90's

Full tuned-down, radio friendly hard rock
What's good about it?

Unless you don't have a TV or a radio it's hard to ignore Shinedown's first single "Fly From the Inside." The twangy, dark guitar tones and sturdy vocals command this song about conquering all doubt despite others holding you back. It's refreshing to hear the vocal harmonies in the chorus. The tone becomes slightly darker on "Left Out." You'll start to make comparisons to Staind or Alice in Chains here. Somber acoustic guitars and soft vocals kick off "Lost in the Crowd," but are soon engulfed by a flurry of cranking guitars in the chorus. Jasin Todd's soloing isn't so much bombastic as it is effective and to the point. "Better Vision" is impelled by a repetitive guitar lick, while "Lacerated" is dominated by a tribal drumbeat. There's plenty of meaty riffs on "In Memory" and "No More Love." Two ballads really stand out on Leave a Whisper. "45" is a dark ballad about a man on the edge, and "Burning Bright" is an acoustic ballad that builds slowly to an emotional chorus.

Anything bad?

Nope.

Bottom Line

If you consider their name and the song titles, it's easy to dismiss Shinedown as another Christian metal band. However, their tone and lyrical content is too dark and deep to fall into that category. Leave a Whisper is a strong debut that's full tuned-down, radio friendly hard rock. It has recently been re-released with three bonus tracks and a video.

good CD
This CD is good. Vocals are great. And I love the song 45. My only complaint is, I buy this freakin' album, and what do they do? They re-release it with three more songs. What about us poor idiots who already bought it? It's just wrong. So now I'm supposed to re-buy an album I already have? Don't think so. Studio is just out for more money. (kind of like DVD's that have the regular edition as a first release, then the special edition a few months later, then the super, extra, platinum edition) Drives me CRAZY!!!!

Amazing!
For those that don't know this is the re-release of Shinedown's major label debut 'Leave A Whisper'...this album includes the new single 'Simple Man', a remix of 'Burning Bright', and an acoustic version of '45'...that being said, Shinedown's debut was amazing enough and the three added tracks here only further show how incredible these musicians truly are...'Simple Man' and the acoustic version of '45' totally justify the price of this disc as both songs perfectly capture singer Brent Smith's soaring vocals...as for the remix of 'Burning Bright', it's not too different from the original, just seems a little more bass-heavy and a tad more dramatic if you will, but still an amazing song nonetheless...i highly recommend this cd to anyone looking for a breath of fresh air in the current hard rock genre, give Shinedown a listen, you will not be disappointed!

The Underdogs
The First Song i heard from them was 45. It was good but nothing special. It wasnt Until Their concert with soil in corpus christi that i thought they were awesome. Their good in concert and the singer can sing his ass off!!! Buy the cd its worth it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The orchestral-pop hit "Iris" (from the soundtrack to City of Angels) proved the Goo Goo Dolls were no one-hit wonder with 1995's "Name." One listen to "Slide," the crafty, yearning second track off their sixth release, suggests the streak continues for Buffalo's finest. Not surprisingly, aspects that make the aforementioned songs memorable--warm, acoustic stylings; strings; heartrending hooks--also make Dizzy come alive elsewhere. Ultimately, the effort documents the band's continued migration from indie rock toward the mainstream. Thus, while "Slide" and the reprise of the wondrous "Iris" might shine for weeks (or even years) of repeated listens, attempts to keep alive the group's power-trio past often have a been-there/done-that feel. --Neal Weiss ... Read more

Reviews (593)

A New Goo Listener
I first heard of The Goo Goo Dolls on the radio with their songs "Name", "Iris", "Slide" and "Black Balloon". I am not one to run out and buy the latest and greatest CD's. I pick my collection out very carefully. The week before Christmas 99, I saw John Rzeznik host VH1's "The List" and he seemed really cool. So the Sunday before Christmas, I bought "Dizzy Up The Girl". I couldn't wait to hear it. The first song, "Dizzy", played and I thought, oh know, what did I buy, but then I listened and heard the lyrics to all of the songs. Nothing else has been in my CD player since. I don't even listen to the radio while in my car, just this CD for three weeks straight. I haven't listened to a band like this since the Eagles back in the early 80's.

John Rzeznik, your songs inspire me in ways that words can't describe. You write from your heart and soul and that's what writing should be all about. My favorite is "Acoustic #3". This is my only CD where I don't skip one song. I love them all.

Thank you, Johnny, Robby and Mike for making such great music and for sharing it with the rest of the world.

I definitely recommend this CD for any music lover.

Long On Energy Short On Depth
The Goo Goo Dolls certainly put forth a great deal of energy on Dizzy Up The Girl. The guys sure play their instruments fairly well even if its in an understated way. The drums sure drive many fo the songs. John and Robbie's vocal styles compliment each other well.

However, diversity is not a strong point for this band. Most of the songs are mid-tempo rockers. By about the midpoint of the CD, you get the impression,"Gee didn't they just play that song already?" Even the singles Dizzy and Slide are pretty identical although both are good. I tend to prefer the lesser known tracks, Bullet Proof, Broadway and Amigone as they rock along quite steadilly. Acoustic 3 and Iris are both a nice and needed change of pace for these guys.

If you just want some good alternative rock n roll that does not need to be analyzed too much, this could be the disc for you.

They're from buffalo
I think that i would have liked this record better if the Goo Goo Dolls got electructed playing that free concert for the 4th of July in Buffalo.

The Goo at their finest!
The Goo Goo Dolls may not sound the same on their later CDs as on the old 1s, but it's still great music. Yes, some songs are a little to poppy, but most of the songs have a good solid softer rock beat.
My Ratings
1)Dizzy- it has a good beat, and a nice sounding, but too short chorus. good intro track 9/10
2)Slide- 1 of the hits, it has a really nice intro and ending. The song is great cause it sounds like some happy teenage love song, but if you listen, you will find out it is about a deeper issue- teen pregnancy. My favorite! 10/10
3)Broadway- 1 of the hits, it has a very nice rocking sound to it and very deep lyrics. They don't make sense until you realize broadway was the street that rzeznik grew up on in buffalo. the song is about how screwed the city of buffalo is. 10/10
4)January Friend- i think its rather a boring sounding song and the lyrics aren't up to rzeznik standards. the worst song on the cd sandwitched between some of the best 1s 6/10
5)Black Balloon- 1 of the hits, its got that well known, very eerie sounding tune. the song also captures its message- a girl who OD'd on heroine right after her child was born- with impressive lyrics 10/10
6)Bullet Proof- a song w/ a harder sound at the intro and ending and decent lyrics. a pretty solid song. 8/10
7)Amigone- a few of the remnents of the old punkish sound of the '80s Goo is on this track. the lyrics are well written...for a robbie song. i do think its great though 10/10
8)All Eyes On Me- an ok beat and some pretty good lyrics, but an all around average song 7/10
9)Full Forever- now onto the 'horny' (ie love song)part of the album. thats what it sound like. a love song w/ goo type sounds. just ok 7/10
10)Acoustic #3- hmmm...a happy sounding song thats not meant to be happy played w/ just an acoustic guitar and violin...where could someone get that idea in the late '90s (cough cough, green day's time of your life cough cough). however, it is a well written, but way too short song. 9/10

11)Iris- the biggest hit that the Goo's have ever had, its a nice hard love ballad about misunderstood lovers w/ great lyrics. good song to play to a gf 10/10
12)Extra Pale- another robbie song w/ an old Goo sound. however, the chorus gets repetative which makes an otherwise good song a little annoying 8/10
13)Hate This Place- a song w/ some good lyrics an ok drum beat and a good way to close the CD out 9/10

A Classic.
There not many albums i know that i can still listen to after months and not be bored so it says a lot of this album that its still getting rotation after six years. This album is as brillant as it was then, and will go down in mine and many people collection as one of the best.

The whole album is just amazingly solid, and the lyrics are amazing. You can tell the Goo really poured out there hearts into every song. There was a point before they wrote this album that the Goo might just break up, with John Rzenik going through a lot including a writers block. Then he wrote the amazing 'Iris', which to this day is still one of my favorties songs of all time. This record proves the Goo Goo Dolls arent one hit wonders. From the ballads such as Acoustic #3, All Eyes on Me and Black Ballon, to the classic Goo such as Slide, January Friend, Amigone, and Broadway. Its no surprise they released four singles from this record, they could have released each song as a single.

In short, this is one of the best records put out, and it should be already an addition in your records collection. Its a classic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While her debut's been promoted through a glitzy high-fashion photo package and items in trendy magazines, South Carolina native Roberts, who has the looks for such hype, also delivers the goods. Her smoky, beguiling voice echoes Bonnie Raitt and a young Tanya Tucker. She and producer/guitarist Brent Rowan shun the blaring arena rock or folk-flavored pretense that plagues many debuts. This one emphasizes solid, quality commercial fare in an Americana-based setting heavy on acoustic guitars and rhythm. Roberts sets the tone with Jamie O'Hara's fetchingly acerbic "You Ain't Down Home." The winsome "Unlove Me" and let-it-rip "Just 'Cause We Can" each pack a wallop; so does the witty morning-after chronicle "Wake Up Older" and the dark, evocative "No Way Out." No overdone power ballads here. Understatement drives her elegant, heartbreaking interpretation of Julie Miller's "I Can't Get Over You." In the end, Roberts remembers an axiom many on Music Row long ago forgot: a powerful voice, simple, honest storytelling, and no-frills music are still what country's about. --Rich Kienzle ... Read more

Reviews (35)

julie roberts
the first cd from julie roberts is certainly one every country fan will want to add to their collection.it contains 11 songs and every one could be a single.julie is the best new artist to come out since CDJ.break down here is my favorite but every song julie sings is with emotion and she sings from her heart.she will go far and in the future will win many awards.you will not be disapointed with this cd,it is a must have for every country music fan.

She's great!
Julie Roberts is a wonderful singer with her deep voice and great looks! She makes country hip cool and interesting. Every song on the cd is great, I especially like "Rain on a tin roof", I think thats a very pretty song. She is so soulful and she puts her heart into every song. I hope she's around for many years to come, so go out and buy Julie Roberts new cd today. YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!
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Awesome
By far the best cd I have ever bought. Every song is awesome. Beautiful album. A must have.

Enjoyed it!
After seeing a CMT special on Roberts recently, I had to buy the CD and am not at all disappointed. She's beautiful but also has the voice to go along with it. The music/lyrics I enjoyed very much. I found that I was playing the CD on repeat quite a bit. I think she'll go a long way.

Beautiful Voice...
I first heard Julie's song "Break Down Here", and I couldn't get it out of my head. Then I saw her perform on CMT's "Greatest Love Songs" concert. She sang "Sweet Dreams" by Patsy Cline. Her voice was amazing. I immediately decided to buy the cd to hear more of her. I listened to the whole thing from beginning to end in one sitting. Her voice sounds wonderful but some of the songs just didn't work for me. And most of the songs seemed so short. "Break Down Here", "Unlove Me", "If You Had Called Yesterday", "I Can't Get Over You", and "Rain on a Tin Roof" are all wonderful. The rest are all okay, just nothing that stayed with me. The only song that I could not stand to listen to was "No Way Out". Overall, a wonderful REAL country cd by a young woman that should have a long career ahead of her. ... Read more

Reviews (695)

Surprisingly good for its genre
I'm usually a person that's more a fan of edgier music, the type of band that doesn't receive much play on your local "music at work" station. At first I did not like Third Eye Blind. I thought "Semi-Charmed Life", with it's "doo-doo-doo" hook line, was irrelevant alt-pop. However, I eventually heard "Graduate" and "Losing A Whole Year", and though they might be a band worth checking out. At a bowling alley one night, I heard the whole album, and was quite impressed. This band, with its radio songs that crossed over to Top 40, received a bad reputation as a middle-of-the-road alterna-schlock band, but they don't deserve that label. Frontman Stephen Jenkins writes some very poetic lyrics, and the band can rock out with a style that's like a more streamlined Jane's Addiction. You don't realize when you hear it on the radio, but SCL is not the cheery love song that it sounds like on the surface. There are slower songs that don't drown the listener in schmaltz, like "God Of Wine" and "Motorcycle Drive-By", but even better are the crunchy rockers like "Narcolepsy" and "London". The band's strength lies in these dark, moody rock tunes, which there are more of on this album than on the follow-ups "Blue" and "Out Of The Vein". If you are like me and are not a fan of most Top 40 music, give this one a chance - it contains more depth and isn't nearly as insipid as most pop acts. Aside from the hits like the aforementioned SCL, "Jumper", and "How's It Going To Be", the rest of the songs are in more of an modern rock vein and not as played out if you are sick of the above songs. 3EB are one of a select few bands in this genre that deserves its success.

Best Album Ever?
I remember the first time i heard of 3eb(Third Eye Blind). I was driving in my car listening to the radio and this song comes on called semi-charmed life. It was a fun song and i loved it immediatly. The next day i drove to the music store and bought the cd. Most people who buy a new cd skip to the tracks they've heard before. Not me. I listen to a new cd from begining to end. If only somone took a picture of my face. Not only did the songs have great rythm but deep meaningful words too. One song makes u feel like dancing like "Semi-Charmed Life", then the next just takes u away to another world "God of Wine". Then they bust out with harder songs like "London". I am not jus some guy who likes one and ONLY one genra, I like everything from rap to metal. But this album and this band jus grabs me and doesnt let me go 'till the cd finishes. I don't care what music you like, or if you don't like the songs by 3eb they play on the radio. The rest of the cd owns. My personal fav's don't even include popular ones. If you're still not sure d/l these songs and i promise you will change your mind. "God of Wine", "Narcolepsy", "Losing a whole Year", "The Backround". I have never liked any band as much as i like 3eb. Give them a try, you wont regret it.

One of the best albums of our times
I'm generally not a huge fan of this genre of music...what I guess I want to call "medium pop-rock" or something like that, but this debut album from Third Eye Blind (3EB for short) is absolutely positively one of the best albums EVER, regardless of genre. For those who only remember the bouncy sounds and fast lyrics of Semi-Charmed Life coming over the radio, you are missing out on one of the most coherent pieces of musical work ever made.

Although each song is well-written, with good hooks and deep and poetic lyrics, what makes this album five stars is the way in which all the albums weave together and tell an intricate story when played beginning to end. Now, the story it tells is up for interpretation, but I've always imagined it as the story of a man who is watching his life crumble away before his eyes...he is abandoned by his girlfriend and his loved ones, he grows to feel empty and shallow, and he is torn emotionally as a series of difficult situations arise...for instance, the girlfriend, who was only exploiting him but he still holds love for, is caught in a horrific accident in "The Background" and he has to decide to put his heart on the line again or walk away from the girl he loves.

There are so many other examples that I could go on for pages, but to summarize, this album is so ripe with a coherent and intricate love story that you could write a novel based on this album. That puts Third Eye Blind's debut album near the top of a short list of the best albums ever made, period.

3EB, "Thanks A Lot".
Unfortunately, these guys have suffered the same fate as many others, like "Sugar Ray". They got huge right away with their debut, then with each release people kind of lost interest. Well, regardless of all that, this is a great disc. I've heard a few make comparisons to "Pink Floyd" and "Jane's Addiction", and while 3EB is nowhere near the caliber of those bands, they're much better than say "Matchbox Twenty", or similar VH1 bands. Most all of these tracks are good, but the hits are "How It's Going To Be", "Jumper", "Losing A Whole Year", and the way overplayed to the point of being annoying "Semi-Charmed Life". Their next album had some good tracks like "Never Let You Go", but this is the disc to own. You should be able to find numerous copies at your local used cd store.

what are you guys smoking?
I don't know whats up... you guys are all saying that 3eb went downhill after their first album. I think all of the albums are kickass. every cd they have i can listen to over and over again without getting sick of it. Even if the first cd was teh best, the next 2 were still great albums that deserve to be recognized. Anyway, for those of you who are glue to the first cd, get the other two, and listen to Wounded (Blue), and Crystal Baller (out of the vein). Third eye blind is a sweet ass sweet band in general ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Anti-Christ of Christian Pop
While it be too early to call Sufjan Stevens 'the next Nick Drake', 'Seven Swans', his stripped down follow-up to 2003's excellent 'Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State', makes such a declaration awfully tempting. Of course, there are significant differences between the two. Whereas it's difficult to separate Drake's music from the thought of his eventual suicide, Sufjan Stevens balances his whispered nostalgia with an underlying hopefulness. Billed largely as a collection of b-sides from the Michigan sessions, 'Seven Swans' arrived without much fanfare, aiming to serve as a musical appetitizer to Stevens' next entry into his ambitious '50 States' project. Yet, despite the humility with which it arrived, 'Seven Swans' finds Stevens surpassing his prior work with stronger songwriting and a more intimate, banjo-driven approach. For much of the album, Sufjan Stevens reflects on spirituality and his faith, exploring Christianity with honesty and love. Whereas most Christian pop condescends to its listeners with melodramatic 'shalls' and 'thous', Stevens sings about his faith without preaching. While the 'switch baby with Jesus' strategy of Christian pop is at work here at times, Sufjan pulls this off in a good way, capturing the intimacy of a great love song to integrate into his pious musings. In a sense, it's the Anti-Christ of Christian pop: a thoughtful, delicate album that evokes the quiet joy of the faithful. On 'In The Devil's Territory', Sufjan softly sings 'I'm not afraid to die, to see you... at last' as if he were singing to a lover, leaving out the self-righteousness that characterizes the megalomaniacal zealots of most Christian music. The best tracks, however, are saved for last. 'Seven Swans' is a haunting, metaphorical depiction of the coming of the apocalypse, in which Sufjan gives his only warning to the unfaithful, crying out: 'He will take you. If you run, he will chase you. Because he is the Lord.' The last track, 'The Transfiguration', is probably his best song to date. The perfect fusion of folk, faith, and pop, it brings a flawless conclusion to a truly blessed work.

Another great album from Sufjan!
Wow - I was really happy upon listening to this album - I of course had high expectations after "Michigan" - and though I would not say this album surpasses that one, it is certainly quite good - very good indeed. The instrumentation is lovely - acoustic almost exclusively with banjo and guitar - the songs are great and Sufjan's singing is very hushed and sweet - like he's whispering us secrets - reminding sometimes of Iron and Wine...highlights include "the dress looks nice on you", "to be alone with you" - which a had hoped would be a Dylan cover, but it wasn't - but it was a very well, maybe superior song with the same title...also, "he woke me up again" is excellent. Highly recomended - as well as "Michigan". "A sun came" is good too, but Sufjan has certainly honed his skills and become more consistently good since that debut...sorry for rambling, enjoy!

Wonderfully fragile
The strong presence of Christian imagery on this album shouldn't really surprise anyone familiar with 'Michigan' (close attention to the lyrics of 'Vito's Ordination Song', in particular, reveals an allegorical undercurrent). Stevens' lyrics are more overtly Biblical on this record, but no less affecting, because he never grandstands or resorts to proselytizing. These are simply snapshots of a personal faith. His delivery of lines such as 'Take instead the ram/Until Jesus comes' is wisely low-key where lesser singers would try to imbue them with stilted drama.

Appropriately, since the scale of the subject matter has moved further inward from the Everyman scope of 'Michigan', the music itself has become more sparse and minimal, in terms of both instrumentation and songwriting. The backing vocals on the first track, All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands, repeat the same wordless melody ad nauseum in a way that is reminiscent of Philip Glass. (Incidentally, the title of the song is a reference from Isaiah 55:12 that may be lost on some: 'For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands.') The banjo and guitar on 'In The Devil's Territory' repeat polyphonic fragments of melody, slowly shifting and letting the song breathe. In fact, the entire affair has a cool, airy feeling to it, like Stevens is playing in a field on a mild afternoon. He coaxes some gorgeous sounds out of fairly standard folk instruments.

The only flaw this album has is its slightly below-par middle third: it's still gorgeous music, but the material preceding it is so good that the slightly more rote folk songs pale in comparison. This is a minor quibble, though; think of that 5-star rating as a 4 1/2, rounded up.

Breathtaking
I too had high expectations of this anticipated follow-up to "Greetings From Michigan." Seven Swans is softer. It also deals more heavily with Biblical references (ex. Abraham, Transfiguration) but isn't overbearing or preachy. Seven Swans is filled with lush soundscapes and thoughtful lyrics. This one's not to be missed.

Kickass
At one of our power meetings at Free Williamsburg at the beginning of this year we were throwing around names of people who might be good people to interview or review. Sufjan Stevens came up. I had never heard of him let alone spell his name. It is detailed folk music. He is famous for the banjo work. Songs like "In The Devil's Territory" evokes the past and looks to the future. Sufjan worked with Daniel Smith of Danielson Famile to get this multi-layered sound. It's good that someone is obsessed with beauty in music. This record is strong and complex. It is not easy reading. The religious themes are an interesting shade. It is a vision of death and despair. It comes off sounding like something Badly Drawn Boy or Elliot Smith cooked up. Stevens may be the heir to Elliot Smith's legacy. ... Read more

Album Description

"Awake, The Best of LIVE", a deluxe 19-song compilation CD spanning the entire 13-year recording history of the acclaimed rock band from York, Pennsylvania. The package also includes a DVD containing 22 music videos going back to the band's 1991 debut.

The CD compilation includes, "We Deal in Dreams," a previously-unreleased track from LIVE's 1994 Throwing Copper sessions.Also, includes a spirited cover of the Johnny Cash classic " I Walk The Line."

The lavish packaging includes a 14-panel four-color fold-out booklet of photos spanning the band’s career, as well as extensive liner notes and commentary on each album by LIVE lead singer Ed Kowalczyk.

The BONUS DVD boasts a comprehensive representation of LIVE's history on video. It includes 22 videos along with a 30 minute interview commentary from Kowalczyk. Videos included are:"Pain Lies on the Riverside""Pain Lies On The Riverside (live performance)""Operation Spirit""Operation Spirit" (live performance) "Selling the Drama" "I Alone""Lightning Crashes""White, Discussion""Lakini's Juice""Freaks""Turn My Head" (from director Jake Scott) "Turn My Head" (from director Mary Lambert) "The Dolphin's Cry""Run to the Water" "They Stood Up For Love""Overcome""Simple Creed""Like a Soldier""Heaven""Heaven" (concept version)

The DVD also contains two never-before-seen videos: "Ghost," and "Run Away" (with Shelby Lynne). ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

After laboring in Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Neil Young finally hit perfect pitch--if his endearing off-center whine can be called "perfect"--with his third album. He's equally passionate with trippy riddles (has anybody figured out what "We've got mother nature on the run" means in the title track?) and pointed protest (after 30 years of rock-radio overplay, "Southern Man" still rings with truth about redneck racism). His creaky ensemble, including pianist Jack Nitzsche and rotating members of Crazy Horse, transforms ramshackle country and folk songs into soulful hippie hymns. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (78)

A PERIOD PIECE BUT ALSO A GREAT SINGER SONGWRITER ALBUM!
I'm gonna get this off my chest first. To be honest I have never been a huge Neil Young fan. Don't get wrong he has done some great stuff throughout his musical career but so have his peers like Stephen Stills and Graham Nash etc; (sometimes they've done better things) and for whatever reason they do not get as much recognition. However I felt I hadn't really given Neil a chance. So I decided to pick up two of Neil's most critically acclaimed albums: 'Harvest' and of course 'After The Gold Rush'.

Fresh of the success of Deja Vu, Neil Young decide to conquer more ground in 1970 on his own. 'After The Goldrush' was recorded and released to a 'any type of material from CSN&Y' hungry public. The album was a monster sky rocketing Neil into new levels of super stardom.

It wasn't just hype either. 'After The Goldrush' has some great music on it.The first four tracks are truly gold. Opening with TELL ME WHY; a nice charming acoustic piece. The title track AFTER THE GOLDRUSH has some awesome lyrics. ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART is beautiful and of course everyone knows the classic rocker SOUTHERN MAN which rocketed up the charts that year. TILL THE MORNING COMES is a short ditty that is pleasing but could have made way for an actual song. OH, LONESOME ME is a slow paced country piece. It's beautful but a tad depressing for me. DON'T LET IT BRING YOU DOWN is another classic here. BIRDS is another beautiful piano piece with excellent vocals. WHEN YOU DANCE YOU CAN REALLY LOVE is another great rocker. While I BELIEVE IN YOU is a laid back country rocker with some good guitar and lyrics. The final track CRIPPLE CREEK FERRY is another short yet pleasing ditty. However like I said with TILL THE MORNING COMES, it could have made way for actual songs.

Overall 'After The Goldrush' is a classic. If you want to go back to 1970 this is a good CD to take you there. At first I didn't really like this album. However after a few more listens I realized the excellence this album possessed. The lyrics are wonderful. Neil Young could really write some good music! He knew how to do a beautiful country ballad and he defiently knew how to rock! Highly recommend!

Striking Gold
Neil Young had recently had scored a number one hit as part of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with Deja Vu when he released After The Gold Rush. The album is a brilliant collection of songs that have a strong sense of social commentary as well of heartbreak. "Southern Man" is a strong condemnation of the redneck ideals of the South. The song has a stinging guitar that perfectly complements the angry lyrics that are dripping with venom. Songs like "Tell Me Why", "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", the sprightly "Til The Morning Comes" and the Don Gibson cover "Oh, Lonesome Me" deal with longing, loss and heartache. The title track is a hauntingly, beautiful yet cautionary tale. Mr. Young, singing over just a piano, lays out a song that turned out to eerily prophetic in the wake of what would occur in the 1970's. The album was a triumph on every level and became his first solo top ten hit peaking at number 8 in late 1970.

Truly one of Neil Young's classics
I don't exactly consider myself a big Neil Young fan, I'm not the kind of person who would buy every album with his name on it (especially many of the albums he done in the 1980s, such as Landing on Water), but After the Gold Rush, his third album (second with Crazy Horse) is truly deserving of classic status. This album has been with me most of my life, thanks to my parents owning a copy. This album also premiered a certain 17 year old by the name of Nils Lofgren, on piano. This album has many different styles from acoustic ballads, to rockers, to short singalongs. The album starts off with "Tell Me Why", which is a truly great acoustic piece. The title track is a piano-oriented ballad with an enviromental theme concerning the new decade (the 1970s, that is). "Only Love Can Break Your Heat" is not a cover of the Gene Pitney song, but another Neil Young original, in this case, a piano-oriented ballad. I don't think I need to mention the epic "Southern Man" as it's the song that receives plenty of FM radio airplay. The song obviously gave Lynyrd Skynyrd their response song four years later (1974) with "Sweet Home Alabama". Side one of the old vinyl ends with a nice, short, singalong cut called "Till the Morning Comes". Side two (of the LP) features a cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me", plus another nice ballad with "Don't Let It Bring You Down", plus a totally overlooked, but great rocker with "When You Dance You Can Really Love". There are two songs that don't seem to do a lot for me, that is "Birds" and "I Believe in You". The album closes off with another great singalong with "Cripple Creek Ferry", which is very much in the vein of "Till the Morning Comes". This album really takes me back to that bygone era of 1970 (even though I wasn't alive then). This album is a no brainer, if you're a Neil Young fan, get this album.

neil's best album
This is one of the best albums in the rock history.
It contains some "normal" songs and some masterworks
"Southern man" is among the ten best songs of rock and contains one of the five best riffs, such as "fire" of Hendrix or "brown sugar" of the stones.

Nothing tops this
The song "After the Goldrush" was 1st introduced to my ears while listening to the radio in my dad's pickup truck when I was 9 years old. Twelve years later my feelings for that album have not wavered. I have seen reviews by Rolling Stone magazine that say that this album was released prematurely. Upon reading Neil Young's biography and listening to many of his other albums, you will discover that whatever Neil releases is EXACTLY what he wants people to hear.
After the Goldrush is an album with mixed emotions. I am not a professional reviewer, but I know that the album brings out emotions of both reflection and love. It's an album of great contrast as well. Some songs like "Tell Me Why" and "Cripple Creek Ferry" are sort of light hearted and uplifting while the songs "Don't Let It Bring You Down" and "Oh Lonesome Me"...I think the names speak for themselves.
Do yourself a favor and get this album. You will never forget it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Electrifying performers and pure-pop songwriters of the highest order, Toronto's Barenaked Ladies have emerged over a decade as that strangest of beasts. They'll never land a dishy cover story in Mojo Magazine, but as they reflect on those ribald years between 1991 and 2001, the five can allow themselves wry smiles, knowing that sometimes, just sometimes, the cream rises to the top. In addition to familiar radio staples such as "Pinch Me," "The Old Apartment," "Jane," "Alternative Girlfriend," and the ubiquitous "One Week," there's a trump card on All Their Greatest Hits that will prove irresistible to completists: the Ladies' buttery, acoustic version of Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time." Recorded eons ago for a Cockburn tribute disc that almost immediately went out of print, the song has until now been a rare and highly coveted collector's item. Two news songs--"Thanks That Was Fun" and "It's Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland)"--were recorded specifically for this collection, while two others ("Brian Wilson" and "What a Good Boy") are captured live. But what really brings this album home is, ironically, "If I Had $1,000,000." One of their very first hits cut as the Ladies were learning to dovetail their so-called "acoustic hip-hop" into slicker pop sensibilities, "$1,000,000"--a simple knock-kneed love song with harmonies so tight they're practically braided--is a snapshot of a band with all the pieces in place just as the planets were about to align. --Kim Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (74)

BNL comes full circle...
...from fringe-dwellers mocking 'Greatest Hits' collections on their first album ('Disc One, it's where we've begun/It's all our greatest hits/And if you are a fan then you know that you've already got 'em' from 'Box Set') to Big Stars putting out a collection of their own. As the title indicates, they're well aware of the irony; what this traditional-style CD really celebrates is success for a band that has never sold out.
The lush (19-song!) selection is excellent, covering the obvious highlights ('Brian Wilson', 'If I Had $1 000 000', and, yep, 'One Week' - be prepared to be driven crazy all over again) as well as less successful or harder-to-find treats ('Call and Answer', 'Shoe Box', 'Lovers in a Dangerous Time'). The only track I'd disagree with is a live version of 'What a Good Boy', an essentially intimate ballad that isn't at it's best with several thousand people singing along.
The two new tracks are a toss-up; 'It's Only Me' is frenetic New Wave stuff, funny but maybe a bit too busy, and 'Thanks That Was Fun' is the gentle, nicely rueful story of a break-up that (in patented BNL fashion) isn't proving nearly as satisfying as the narrator had hoped.
The liner notes include two admiring (but thankfully not gushy) 'how-they-dunnit' essays and track-by-track annotations from Steven Page. In other words, everything you wanted to know and some stuff you maybe could have lived without but will enjoy anyway.
All told, a hugely satisfying Barenaked Ladies experience. (Although they'll hopefully drop the 'Box Set' references while they're ahead. Otherwise...'Disc Three/Well this is really me/In a grade school play' and 'Disc Six/A dance remix/to catch the latest trend...')

Disc one...it's where we've begun...
I am probably one of the biggest BNL fans out there. I've seen them live too many times to count and I have all of their earlier CDs, yet I still had to have this Greatest Hits compilation. For older fans, it's totally worth it for the amazing version of the previously rare cover of Lovers. *This* is the song that should have Steve Page writing Jim is a bass god on random walls. Wizard (or It's Only Me) is an excellent upbeat, fun song, particularly once you realize what it's all about. Great fun to sing along to. Thanks That Was Fun is quite possibly the greatest Ed song ever. This song owns me. The bridge is fantastic, and his voice on this song gives me chills every single time. I can't get enough. And if that's not enough to sell an older fan of the band, it's worth it just to have Steve's commentary in the liner notes.

For the rest of you, this is an excellent introduction to the wonder that is Barenaked Ladies. Be warned, however, because once you hear the gems What a Good Boy, Brian Wilson, and Too Little, Too Late, just to name a few, you will be hooked.

A Great Introduction/Compilation To A Great Group
When I heard this for the first time, I noticed there's something both modern and Beatlesque about the music. For me, it's refreshing to buy something I can listen to all the way through and enjoy every song. It's now one of a handful of albums I play regularly.

To all BNL fans who haven't bought this yet: You already know great these songs are. It's worth buying because Lovers In A Dangerous Time, It's Only Me, and Thanks That Was Fun don't appear on any of the other albums. This Old Apartment and Shoe Box sound remarkably better than the versions on Born On A Pirate Ship.

To everyone who doesn't listen to top40 radio: If there's one modern group to buy music from, it's BNL. Start with this album and then check out their studio albums. You will discover, as I did, that this album is a brilliant introduction and will have you wanting more.

Great Introduction to Barenaked Ladies for newcomers
If you do not own a Barenaked Ladies CD this is a good selection for you. I suspect those new to the Ladies will find tracks on thsi CD they are familiar with but did not know the artist.

My favorites on this disc include, "Jane", "Lovers in a dangerous Time", and a very nice live recording of "What a good boy".

vintage Barenaked Ladies
This is easy-listening rock that does not suck. Barenaked Ladies basically sound like the Beach Boys but better, more depth and talent. This is a great collection of their best songs, new and old. they also have the best name of any band

David Rehak
author of "A Young Girl's Crimes" ... Read more

Album Description

Their first-ever hits compilation! Founded in New Orleans, this pop-flavored alt-rock outfit migrated to L.A. in the early '90s and rocketed to stardom with the 1995 Top 40 album Deluxe and the smash single "Good." It's featured herein along with 15 other definitive tracks, including "In the Blood," "King of New Orleans," and a trio of previously unissued recordings, among them the French Radio Version of "This Time of Year" and the VooDoo Mix of "Porcelain". ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Ezralites (An Honest opinion on best of's)
The problems I have with best of's is that each fan will disagree with what bands put out.

Choosing a favourite Ezra song is also not easy though I do feel the band did make some mistakes if they want to follow the AC/DC formula.

Problem number 1: I have not seen AC/DC perform their studio work differently live so why the need to change "This Time Of Year." Maybe if you guys wanted to do anything with that song, you should have re-recorded it the same only used Travis on drums as he does bring out that sound better.

My goodness, did Kevin Griffin take one out of an ACDC page with "Laid" if the lyrics can be sexually referenced but the upside is he makes it work like the rock legends. I think there isn't enough credit given in the quotatoin for the influences in Kevin's music, just refer to Extra Ordinary "just like that AC/DC song come on baby shake me all night long" - It's good but sounds weird in the context.

However enough about that, they do give us some new treats, Tremble being the best I've heard from these guys since "Friction Baby" (probably their best work to date, as it had variety).This & Wallflower are great.

I am a little puzzled as to on Before Robots why another song titled "Lifetime" haven't you guys alread done this on "closer?".

I am looking forward to a new album, whilst this is a good best of it is not a best of. A lot of it is kind of commerical & I think you could have focused on more gems. As I said earlier the problem with best of's is that each fan will want something different, to me with all your present material BTE, my best of would probably go something like this:

1.Laid
2.Tremble
3.Wallflower
4.Roselia (probably would have used the orignal recording & maybe got Travis to do drums on it, if you really felt a need to re-record).
5.In The Blood (Good single remix)
6.Porcelain (Original was way better).
7.This Time Of Year (only thing this has going for it is the interesting guitar but the metallica type of yeah at the end is un-necessary).
8.At The Stars (thank god you guys left this in tact).
9.Extra Oridanry
10. Misunderstood
11. Normal Town
12. WWOZ
13. Rolling (this is beautiful so why did you leave it out & please don't do anything different with this song).
14. A Lifetime
15. Good
16. Under You
17. Everything In 2's
18. Get You In
19. Scared Are You?
20. Happy Endings

With this said, you guys are selling yourself short, all your songs are pretty good so why a Best of? Anyway at least you guys are hard-working musicans & are giving us a new album in quite some time so that's something to look forward to as you can't go wrong with an Ezra album.

Also I would suggest to the lads to try something new, like try living in New York & write from that perspective, why: because I feel you guys could do justice to a great city.

Cheers.
Look forward to the new material.

A nice collection
Since the early 90's Better Than Ezra has been around and making good music that, for the most part, has flown under a lot of people's radar. They have definitely gathered a cult following that has allowed them four terrific albums (excluding artifakt), a live album and now finally a Greatest Hits package.

On this release fans can find many of the favourite songs the band is "known" for. Such songs include the mega-hit "Good", along with other crowd pleasers "Desperately Wanting", "At The Stars" and the song some people know due to a McDonald's commercial, "Extra Ordinary". Included are also some of the more rare releases that could formerly only be found on web-site-avalible "artifakt" album; "Tremble" and "Wallflower".

This Greatest Hits package couldn't be complete if it weren't for some revamped songs and a new release. On this note, the band has re-recorded two songs from the debut album "Deluxe" for the listeners enjoyment. Here, they have included the version, that could previously only be found live that has been dubbed by BTE fans as the "Voodoo Remix" of "Porcelain", which is much more savvy and blues driven. Also they have updated a concert favourite in "This Time of Year", which here is also including part of the song "Get You In". A cover of the James song "Laid" is the newest offering on the album, which starts off sounding like they have fused together that song with AC/DC's "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)".

This Greatest Hits package goes from start to finish with some of the best songs Better Than Ezra have recorded over the span of their careers. Instead of just taking the songs off of the original albums, they have also included several "single versions" of songs that mix things up a bit. The only draw backs to the album, however, are that the songs don't flow as well as they could due to the order they are put in. Also being redundant is small problem; most of these songs are also included in the recent release of the "Live at House of Blues" album. Those, along with an aparent technical problem on the song "Rosealia" that leaves a terrible scratch sounding noise in the right track, are the only problems with this album.

If a person remembers the wonder years where "Good" was played time and time again on the radio and wonders what happened to the band, this is for you. Also, if someone has told you about BTE and you're wondering what they're all about, this is also for you. Or, if you're simply a huge fan and want to own anything by the band that you can get your hands on, this is undoubtably for you. ... Read more

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One of the many Nashville-based singer-songwriters whose respected stature among critics and fellow artists stands in stark contrast to his rather meager commercial acclaim, Greg Trooper has quietly built a catalog of superbly crafted albums. On his second release for the Sugar Hill label (his eighth overall), Trooper teams up with legendary songwriter/producer Dan Penn for a collaboration so natural, it's a wonder it hadn't happened before.

Trooper's music already combines strains of R&B, country, and folk, which Penn acknowledges by infusing a subtle yet palpable tenderness into these songs. Sung in a honeyed, gritty voice that combines the tough, yet resigned style of Guy Clark and longtime friend Buddy Miller with the vulnerability of Paul Simon, Trooper's songs straddle the dusty roads between Austin soul and Nashville twang--both of which cities he has called home. The lyrically provocative "When I Think of You My Friends" is one example of a typical Trooper setup where the protagonists are "out of luck, out of work, never out of dreams." Yet he won't settle for weepy sentimentality in either his words or stirring melodies. These twelve tracks flaunt the soul in the singer's emotionally rousing tunes and show him as one of the most talented contemporary acts on the roots scene. Credit also goes to Penn, whose warm, sympathetic production allows Trooper the room he needs to shine. --Hal Horowitz ... Read more

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Whether recording under his own name, collaborating with wife Julie, or contributing guitar work for a range of other artists, Buddy Miller has always put forth a resonant, earthy, even spiritual bearing. So it seems only natural that Miller would turn his focus to the gospel tradition. The songs here celebrate the innate goodness in even the most lost and perplexed among us, keeping sights on the unblinking light of hope at the end of the tunnel. This is still a rootsy affair, though the set is imbued with the social concerns that unite us all. Nondenominational in terms of religious affiliation, this album uses our common language of honest singing and playing, soulful grooves, and top-flight songs to make its points. --David Greenberger ... Read more

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Most artists who appeal to adult listeners tend to settle into a comfortable niche, but Lucinda Williams refuses to play it safe. Instead, her music stings like an open wound, as she continues to strip away the protective layers from her art's emotional core. Though Williams has long been prized for the naked honesty of her music, this collection is even rawer than its predecessors. From the down-and-dirty bar-band blues of "Atonement" to the Rolling Stones-style swagger of "Bleeding Fingers" to the tricky balance of debasement and transcendence in "Ventura," Williams leaves the nerve endings of her music exposed. With the band opting for first-take immediacy rather than polish, some of the most powerful material is also the neediest, as the singer addresses lovers who have disrespected her ("Righteously") or abandoned her ("Those Three Days," "Minneapolis"). Though her attempts at rap on "Sweet Side" and "American Dream" might cause diehard fans to wince, her willingness to take creative chances reaffirms her position at the vanguard of a rootsy progressivism that transcends musical category. Simply put, there's more Patti Smith in her than there is Patsy Cline. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (130)

Maybe a bit too honest for some¿
Yikes! Lucinda really split herself wide open on this one. As a huge fan of her self-titled and "Car Wheels..." releases, I struggled with the nakedness of "Essence" and grew to love it. Again, with this release, I had a hard time getting through it the first time, but it gets easier with each listen. The lyrics are sheer poetry, albeit dark, painful, poetry. And Lucinda's delivery makes them darker and even more painful. I think a first-time listener might be turned off if this were their first Lucinda Williams experience.

My favorite song on this release is "Righteously". As I've played it, several people have stopped by my cubicle and asked, "What are you listening to? That song rocks!" Almost stripped down musically, it has a wailing guitar and strong bass line that moves the song along. The last line is my favorite - - "Be my lover don't play no game, Just play me John Coltrane".

"Ventura" has a beautiful steel-guitar, wavy-feeling kind of sound. "Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings" (great title!) sounds very Neil Young-ish to me. "Overtime" is classic heartbreak, almost Patsy Cline-ish...the simple drum work and the verby guitar along with the simple lyrics work beautifully well together.

In most of her songs, Lucinda doesn't subscribe to the pop structure of songwriting - - stanza, chorus, stanza, repeat chorus, etc. Instead the songs are more like poems with wonderful music accentuating them. I can never decide if Lucinda's vocals are a strength or a weakness...they are often rough and "hick-ish", but they do add a substantial amount of depth to the words. While I can imagine a "better" singer singing them, I realize the song would lose so much of its impact if it were slick and smooth.

I think Lucinda has come to terms with never hearing her music played on commercial radio stations across the country. Still, and admirably so, she refuses to sell out her themes and her musical style for the spoon-fed masses, and instead brings out a different kind of honesty, a different kind of love, a different kind of relationship, those not usually revealed or acknowledged in the mainstream. We're talking about abusive and drug-addicted, twisted and unhealthy relationships here. There's not very much warm and fuzzy going on. Proof that angst is a wonderful catalyst for art.

Damn Baby! - A True Cajun Angel
There's a reason why Time Magazine called Lucinda "America's Best Songwriter". She's honest,tortured and their is something sexy and dark about her voice and song writing. She's the girl your mom warned you about - but you couldn't help but following her down the road to ruin (then she'd write a song about you!). This album is not filled with the sugarcoated things on a Phil Collins or Micheal Bolton record. She talks about herion addiction, poverty, child abuse and love lost.

After the first cut, "Fruits of my Labor", I thought this is pretty good. Then, when Rightously kicked in, I said "Damn Baby!!". It's an incredible song, you feel jealous for the person it's written to! You gotta love a song that talks about John Coltrane. Real live Bleeding Fingers is another great track - the guitar work is very reminisant of Kieth Richards on "Exile on Mainstreet". "Those Three Days" is perfectly phrased. One of my favorite cuts is "Minneapolis", you can hear her pain. Lucinda maybe an acquired taste, like scotch, but pour me a glass - straight - and leave me the bottle. She's a poet, writing about real life. Like Dylan or Springsteen, just more honest and a sweet Lake Charles drawl. Buy the albums and don't miss her live!

Another TOP notch CD
Lucinda can do no wrong. With each album, Lucinda gets better and better. It makes my heart warm to see how wide Lucinda's following continues to grow. I miss you Lucy :) Remember B.Dalton in L.A.? LOL

Lucinda's great style mixed with a new sound
Everyone like to try new things, explore new interests and get out of the rut sometimes. Lucinda does that a bit on this CD. There are some Williams fans who may enjoy hearing her explore a new sound. I did not think it was "her". Like Johnny Cash singing Rap or Gene Simmons trying Gospel.

This music deals with anger, disallusionment, heartbreak and disappointment. I like that, oddly enough. What did not appeal to me was the style change for four songs - Righteously, Atonement , Sweet Side, American Dream. Just not the Lucinda Williams I have come to enjoy.

Still, she is free to try new things. If you want to see Lucinda explore new areas, you may like this work. I have always liked her more for her twangy blues sound and wish she had put forth her songs in that style.

I did enjoy the remaining songs.

This is still a good CD, just not her best.

Not her best
When they collect Lucinda's best work, there will be a few songs from this album. "Righteously," "Those Three Days," and "Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings" all belong on a compilation. But Williams overreaches, and it can be painful at times. "Atonement" can be kindly called ill-advised, and many other tracks aren't up to her very high Car Wheels on a Gravel Road and self-titled standards. Maybe she really does need six years to make an album. ... Read more

Album Description

From their arrival in 1992 with the 8x-platinum "CORE," Stone Temple Pilots have consistently been among the forefront of modern rock ‘n’ roll artists. With each album, the California-based quartet - Scott Weiland, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo, and Eric Kretz - has pursued their own unique musical vision, an inspired sonic approach merging metallic riffs and baroque pop melodies with a punk-fuelled energy and a gift for psychedelic experimentation.As a result, Stone Temple Pilots have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, and they rank among the top three most successful bands to emerge in the 1990s (along with Nirvana and Pearl Jam). Among their many accolades, Stone Temple Pilots received a "Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal" Grammy Award for their #1 rock smash, "Plush."Other honors bestowed upon the band over the years include two American Music Awards, one Billboard Music Award, two Billboard Video Awards, and an MTV Video Music Award.In 2001, the band received a Grammy Award nomination in the "Best Hard Rock Performance" category for "Down" (from "No. 4"). ... Read more

Reviews (42)

A great wrap up of the band's last five albums
In the early 90s the grunge-rock scene was alive with bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Sound Garden. Among these great bands included the Stone Temples Pilots. Although they may have been called Nirvana poseurs, they developed a truly great sound. From their debut allbum Core to the 2001 release of Shangri-la-di-da, Thank You collects all the hits singles and includes the new song "All in the suit that you where." A great buy for new time listeners who are getting their first taste of the band. If you already have all the other STP albums it probably isn't worth it for only 1 new song which isn't even up too classic STP quality. Its a shame that lead singer Scott Weiland has so many drug problems. Hopefully we'll hear some new stuff from them soon.

Excellent Compliation for Casual Fans
This new greatest hits collection from the Stone Temple Pilots is excellent. You get all of their biggest songs (Big Bang Baby, Plush, Creep, Interstate Love Song etc.) plus a new track (All in the Suit That You Wear) and an Acoustic version of Plush (which is excellent). If you are just a casual fan of STP, then I urge you to buy this album right now. I can assure you that you will not be disapointed. For hardcore STP fans who have all of STP's albums, you might want to pick this up for the Acoustic Plush and the new track. All in All, an excellent hits collection that really shows how great STP is.

Note: If you can pick up the version with the DVD, then I would get that. For 12 bucks more you get a lot of their great music videos and some other footage.

Best STP Album
The reason that I first bought Thank You is because I had heard "All in the Suit That You Wear" on the radio. I had never been a fan of Stone Temple Pilots before and I was not familiar with any of their songs. I knew that Core had sold over 8 million copies and thought this would be a good place to start. STP made many good songs over their career and they are all included here. "Vasoline" is short but great and "Plush" is the song that put them in the spotlight (and fortunately this includes the unedited version). "Interstate Love Song" is possibly the best single released by any band formed in the 90's and shows how amazing Weiland is (Don't forget "Sex Type Thing" and "Down"). After this I bought each of the rest of their albums over a span of four months and found that, apart from the songs that were included on Thank You, it was all weak material. Stone Temple Pilots is best described as a singles band, which is what makes Thank You so great. The album is not perfect, however. "All in the Suit that You Wear" is a good song but doesn't rank in their top five of all time. Songs like "Days of the Week" are terrible and have no place on a disc that also has "Big Empty" on it. An acoustic "Plush" seems unneccessary to all but acoustic fans and diehards.

Weiland is an amazing vocalist and songwriter and has been an easy target for critics who call him a rip-off of Eddie from Pearl Jam or make fun of him for his drug problems. It is terrible that they do this for drug addiction is a disease and all those stupid people who ask him to his face pointless and (in some cases) hypocritical questions like "What is it like to ride in the back of a policecar?" should beat themselves, because Weiland is now refusing to speak to the media. I want everyone who listens to Weiland sing to not judge him nor his songs as no good just because of his drug past.

I would strongly recommend people to just buy Thank You and save their money. If you have bought and enjoyed STP albums then I would recommend Contraband by Velvet Revolver because, like Stevem Tyler of Aerosmith, Weiland is at his peak when he is off of the drugs.

Not the best, but not bad
I had already had Core about a year before Thank You came out, but I didn't really give it any time. I had downloaded "All In the Suit that You Wear" and thought it was pretty cool. And being anal like I am, I had to have the CD because it's more 'official' to me. After I got Thank You, I slowly got the other 4 STP CDs I didn't have. After hearing those other CDs, I can say that Thank You left out a lot of good songs. Some of them are probably just favorites of mine, but I was really suprised "Dead & Bloated" was omitted. Some of these songs are really good, like "Down", "Wicked Garden", "Plush", "Creep", "Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart", "Sex Type Thing", and "Sour Girl", but like I said, it's not perfect. Greatest Hits albums are always risky because it's impossible to please everyone. Songs I would liked to have seen were "Dead & Bloated", "Still Remains", "Kitchenware & Candybars", "No Way Out", "Atlanta", "Coma", and "Wonderful". That's how it goes though, so in short, if you're new to STP, this is a good introduction, if you've got all of their CDs, it's a matter of liking all of these songs on one CD enough to buy it.

stp rocks
The selection is almost too predictable for any fan, b/c it puts almost every single they had on it. Some loyal fans might wanted a few of the lesser known songs on the album, but then would it really be a "greatest hits" album?? Personally, I wish they could have added another song, if not two, from Shangri-la Dee Da. Even though most agree its the weakest album, I absolutely love it. It's cool to show everyone that they wearn't just some washed up band who only had 2 good albums.

4 from Core, 3 from Purple, 3 from Tiny Music..., 2 from No. 4, and 1 from Shangri-la, plus a new song and the acoustic plush. I'd have added Hollywood Bitch or Wonderful, and Heaven and Hot Rods to the album to give it a better career spanning hit list. However, they put the appropriate songs for fan base.

What pains me more than anything is that they needed to release another album to end their contract w/ Atlantic. All in the Suit That You Wear is a kick ass song, and just disappoints me to see that it might be the last song by the group w/ Scott going to Velvet Revolver. Hopefully they can get back together and make some music. No offense to VR, b/c I own that album and it rocks, but w/o the DeLeos and Kretz, it just isn't the same. If Maynard Keenan can have two bands w/ Tool and A Perfect Circle, then maybe Scott can. Unfortunately Scott is probably the most unpredictable frontman of any great rock band.

If the last ever STP album is Thank You, then it should go as one of the best greatest hits album of all time. STP may fade, but the music will be here forever. Thank you STP for making music that didn't suck! ... Read more

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Collection of Blondie Hits that Accompanies the Band on their Winter 2002 Tour. This Disc Updates the Collection and Adds their Comeback #1 in the UK "Maria" to Make this the Most Up-to-date Blondie Set Ever Released. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Crystal clear hit sounds
This is the best Blondie hits compilation by far and the sound is crystal clear; the hits are not arranged chronologically however, which makes it impossible to chart the development of the band. But that doesn't matter - this collection demonstrates the band's versatility - compare their early punk-pop Rip Her To Shreds or X Offender with the hypnotic synthpop-disco of Heart Of Glass or Atomic! My favorites include the wistful I'm Always Touched and the bilingual Denis (a classic slice of sixties pop), as well as Tide Is High with its percolating reggae rhythm, plus Sunday Girl (more lovely 60's pop). In my opinion, their best albums are Parallel Lines and Plastic Letters, and these are well represented with 6 of these gorgeous 19 tracks. I wouldn't call this a "Best Of" since there are some album tracks that I like more than some of these hit songs. These include Fan Mail and Bermuda Triangle Blues from Plastic Letters and Fade Away And Radiate from Parallel Lines. But this was never intended to be anything else but a greatest hits collection and serves it purpose very well. It just goes to show that classy pop music is timeless, and Blondie always had that special something, whatever the style they chose to do it in.

For Blondie's Hits, This is the Place to Go
Over the past twenty years, there have been at least a couple dozen collections of Blondie's hits put on the market. However, only two of those compilations have given an effective overview of the group's career- THE BEST OF BLONDIE from 1981 and PLATINUM COLLECTION from 1994. But fortunately, this GREATEST HITS edition can also stand alongside those two retrospectives, rather than be buried among the other budget collections that have probably picked up plenty of dust over the years.

To put it bluntly, the title says it all- GREATEST HITS collects nineteen of the biggest hits Blondie has scored from 1976 to 1999. Besides including their biggest hits on both sides of the Atlantic- "Heart of Glass"; "Call Me"; "The Tide Is High"; "Rapture"- this collection also includes lesser-known US hits ("Dreaming," "One Way or Another," "Atomic"); songs that only became hits in the UK ("Sunday Girl," "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear," "Maria") and standout album tracks ("X Offender," "Rip Her to Shreds", "In the Flesh"). So basically, every essential hit and album track that Blondie scored during their career is here (with the exception of the UK hit "War Child," which is barely a loss at all). Hardcore fans will likely have a personal favorite or two missing, but GREATEST HITS pretty much tells everything a casual fan needs to know about one of the greatest new wave bands.

If there is any complaint about this collection, it's that upon listening, it may seem that more than one group is being represented, for GREATEST HITS does not sum up all of Blondie's styles into one effective mix. That may actually be nitpicking, but casual fans should still consider purchasing THE BEST OF BLONDIE instead, for not only does it focus on the very best of Blondie (and for the record, everything from BEST OF BLONDIE is on GREATEST HITS), but its nonchronological sequencing actually works so that it showcases only one group- a group that was seemingly consistent. But if you want to get virtually every essential Blondie hit and album track on one collection, then you should purchase GREATEST HITS.

BLONDIE IS BLONDIE
It's undeniable that Blondie has to be one of the best band out there(diggin' many musical styles and territories a fine example to groups like NO DOUBT), her last single GOOD BOYS represents the band at their best if you haven't heard it. So without a question this new compilation includes all their charted hits and some exclusive favorites, it would be out of place to describe each song because the titles of the songs speak for themselves, HEART OF GLASS, ATOMIC, CALL ME, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER all classic songs of the late 70's early 80's, this is one of the best compilations of Blondie around today, + include here is their hit MARIA, not available in another GH package...so delightful Blondie will always be Blondie...a must have.

The Price of Admission
"Dreaming" is one of the best pop songs ever written and makes this CD worth purchasing. The rest is great, too.

A TRUE GEM!!!
There is no doubt about it, Blondie is the band that has redefined music in a whole other way! They have gone from pop to rock, from disco to jazz, from rap to punk, and they have even done country! Every song on this compilation deserves to be here!

THE SONGS
Dreaming- A mix of pop and Debbie Harry's voice can really make some sweet music!

Call Me- One of my favorites!!! Also the theme from American Gigolo. (which happened to be a great movie)

One Way Or Another- Truly a great ROCK N' ROLL SONG!

Heart Of Glass- A true gem!!! One of Debbie's finest songs.

The Tide Is High- A happy summertime beach song! FUN!!!

X Offender- Classic as always!!!

Hanging On The Telephone- A great punk-rock tune!

Rip Her To Shreds- Reminds me of some of the girls at my school.

Rapture- I think Debbie can rap!!!

Atomic- You can really dance to this one!!! Or at least I think so!!!

Picture This- A nice sweet song thats likeable.

In The Flesh- Sounds like something out of the 50s. But its a great song!!!

Denis- Gotta Love Denis!

(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear- Not my favorite, but I like it.

Union City Blue- A great vocal performance!!!

The Hardest Part- Loved It!!! She Can Sing!!!

Island Of Lost Souls- Catchy tune!

Sunday Girl- Love the French!

Maria- Another true pop gem!!!

Blondie is a band! (A great one I might add) And I am so glad they made such enjoyable music! Thanks!!! Peace Out!!!

Blondie Is: Debbie Harry
Chris Stein
Clem Burke
Jimmy Destri ... Read more

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If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Nirvana should've been quite flattered by Sixteen Stone. The English quartet perfectly mimics the early '90s grunge sound with this '94 release. As for Kurt Cobain comparisons, singer Gavin Rossdale has a captivating voice, but lyrics are not his forte, as the splintered ramblings of "Everything Zen" indicates. (Gotta do better than "There's no sex in your violence.") The players meanwhile produce a perfectly competent approximation of their Northwestern heroes. "Little Things" is a successful rewrite of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" while "Machinehead" crunches like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. In fact, the whole album feels like a throwback to 1992. Sixteen Stone may be derivative, but it's catchy as hell, too. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (189)

Original And Ear-Catching.
Many have pointed out Bush as a Nirvana rip-off. To be honest, they don't really sound much like Nirvana and the only comparison is that they're both in the grunge genre. But grunge is dead and Bush feels more like a rich European group with some catchy licks, weird but interesting lyrics and overall just a band that delivers some good rock songs. "Everything Zen" is the best song in the album, the most enthralling song and it calls you back for repetitive listens. The slide guitar is mind-blowing and the lyrics which at first sound strange do have some meaning to them, if you're one for interesting words you'll get the brilliant phrase "everything zen, everything zen, I don't think so." "Swim" has a rich, almost Eastern feel to it in the instrumentals. Frontman Gavin Rossdale is one of those singers who has a voice for this kind of edgy, strangely elegant rock. "Sixteen Stone" is Bush's best album, probably always will be if they can surpass this or deliver something better than "Golden State" (although "Superman" was a great song). What we have here is a band that knows how to play. Some may complain about the lack of clear meaning in the lyrics, but you have to admit, listening to Bush and the lyrics is a guilty pleasure as was Rossdale's duet with girlfriend Gwen Stefani in "Spacetravel" from "The Science Of Things." Compare "Sixteen Stone" with Nirvana's "Nevermind" and you'll see that if Bush is grunge, they're more the European taste of it than a Nirvana knock-off. Lately they don't even sound grunge mind you. "Sixteen Stone" is an enjoyable album and maybe even, contains one or two timeless pieces.

Absolutely Awesome
This is an absolutely awesome CD by an awesome band. Probably one of the best bands to come out of England in the past 10 years. It's very hard to understand why this album wasn't an instant hit when it came out. I remember it became a huge success when the Machinehead video started to get airplay on MTV in 1996.

1. Everything Zen: Very good song, one of my favorites, and a good way to start off the CD. Very contagious chorus. It also has a very cool guitar intro. (5/5)

2. Swim: A much darker song, it maintains a slow pace throughout the whole song. Similar in some ways to Greedy Fly. It blows up at the ending. (4.5/5)

3. Bomb: It begins pretty much like a Nirvana song, I see some resemblance to Something in the Way in the slow parts. (4/5)

4. Little Things: Very good and very catchy song. Probably my favorite song on this CD. Can't get tired of listening to it. There is some strong resemblance to Smells Like Teen Spirit. A homage perhaps. You can notice it more in the beginning (just when he starts to sing) and at the chorus. (5/5)

5. Comedown: A very, very good song. It's slow but it rocks. It's one of the best songs on the CD. (5/5)

6. Body: Another great song. The guitar intro is very cool. The chorus is really cool as well. Another one of my favorites.

7. Machinehead: Everybody knows this one, so I don't think I need to say anything. Kick ass song. (5/5)

8. Testosterone: Probably not a bad song, but after listening to Machinehead, it sends it to a lower level. "Got a big old gun" (4/5)

9. Monkey: Another one of those Bush songs that starts slow and gains pace as the song develops. (4/5)

10. Glycerine: Another one of the singles and big hits. I absolutely love this one for it's simplicity. The guitar sounds perfect and the string arrangements make it a real masterpiece. (5/5)

11. Alien: Yet another progressive song. It starts really slow, almost acoustic, and at parts it rocks, and then mellow again. Then it rocks, and gets mellow again. The acoustic guitar that sounds during the slow parts is really cool. (5/5)

12. X-Girlfriend: This song is nothing like the rest of the songs on the CD. It feels like Green Day. It only lasts 45 seconds.

Boycott Bush (take that anyway you want)!
Why did a band with so any decent singles yet so many pathetic non-singles have to name itself after such an incompetent president? Maybe because Gavin is such an incopetent guitarist. Boycott Bush (take that anyway you want to)!

Great CD from a good band
Great CD! Everything Zen, Comedown, Machinehead, and Glycerine are all great songs..

lots of singles
Let's see, there's "Glycerine", "Everything Zen", "Machinehead", "Little Things", and "Comedown" all which still have rotation spots in many rock stations today. Something you don't see very often. Without a doubt, the best commercial album Bush made. I'm still partial to Science of Things as a better overall record, but there's no doubt to anyone this is a rock classic.

Those five songs automattically give the album 4 stars, but it's the rest that leaves room to argue.

"Swim" although, a nice start eventually turns into repeating cycle of generic lyrics. It's not a bad song, just not a good Bush song.

Now, "Bomb" does show promise of not being a filler. I'd have picked this to be a single rather than Machinehead, b/c I think it's better. But yeah, "Bomb" is a great song, an excuse from the other fillers.

There's just something I dont really see in "Body." Reminds me of "Swim" for which both do sound similar in some parts. I think this could be better if more guitars were used to de-silence the awkwardness of each verse. However, there is a good solo somewhere in there.

"Testosterone" is just yapping how a gun makes someone a badass. Not bad if you like songs like that.

"Monkey" is a fast hard hitting song, but again, the lyrics don't really grab your attention. A monkey? Could have used something more scarier.

The last song, "Alien" follows up "Glycerine" nicely. It's the only other slow song. Somewhat sappy, but can't really expect perfection from a debut.

"X-girlfriend" finishes the album off w/ a short 40 second "You are coming down" repeat fest of a pretty good guitar tune. Maybe could have been made in a good song, but we'll never know.

Great rock anthems and great hard pounding music, but only four stars for the weak lyrics. Gavin gets better later on, which is a good thing. However, this album is a must have. A perfect fit for the 90's grunge movement. ... Read more