Album Description

Formed in NYC in the mid-'70s by David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth, and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads soared out of their humble CBGB's beginnings to become Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and one of the most adventurous and influential bands ever. The onstage energy that propelled their rise to fame was documented in the 1982 double-LP set THE NAME OF THIS BAND IS TALKING HEADS, now available on CD for the first time. Following them through several early evolutions from '77-'81, this live gem - a 1982 Top 40 Billboard Album- is a riveting portrait of a stellar band on the rise. For its CD debut it's been expanded with over 30 minutes of rare and mostly previously unreleased bonus material. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The Foo Fighters at their peak
Probably the best album to ever be released by the Foo Fighters, "The Colour & The Shape" further solidified Dave Grohl stepping out of grunge's shadow and making peace with the ghost of Kurt Cobain. Just about all the songs here on this album are catchy and seem made for radio friendly, but underneath that surface is a demonically comical feel combined with a lot of emotion. On songs like the short opener "Doll", "February Stars", and the classic single "Everlong" you can hear the raw emotion in Grohl's voice, and that is something that no one can fake. "Monkey Wrench" is still a great song, no matter how much it got overplayed, although another session of "My Hero" may prove nerve wracking considering it can be heard just about anywhere. Other great songs like "Hey! Johnny Park", "My Poor Brain", "See You", and "Walking After You" (featured on the X-Files film soundtrack) are all great songs as well, and the band's tight musicianship rounds out this excellent package. All in all, "The Colour & The Shape" is in my opinion the best Foo Fighters album yet, and is undoubtadly one of the finest albums of the 90's.

I HAVE MADE THE CONCLUSION THAT THE FOO FIGHTERS ARE AWESOME
This CD Is Awesome! I borrowed this CD from my guitar teacher.And I must say it's the best alternative rock album i've heard in my entire life.the best songs are "Doll" "Monkey Wrench" "Hey Johnny Park" "Up In Arms" "My Hero" "See You" And "Everlong".May i also add the video for "Everlong" is absolutely hilarious! Here's what i think!

1.Doll-GREAT START! A soft mellow guitar with Dave's soft whispering voice..but don't get to used to that voice
2.Monkey Wrench-WONDERFUL!I Knew it'd be good when i seen the name of the song
3.Hey Johnny Park-Awesome followup to "Monkey Wrench"
4.My Poor Brain-Good After The Intro
5.Wind Up-Disturbing Intro but then gets good,kinda like #4
6.Up In Arms-I LOVE THIS SONG! It's sorta like "doll" only better
7.My Hero-Another Single,GREAT SONG
8.See You-GREAT! Listening to it makes you think of them performing by a warm fireplace in a cozy cottage (?!)
9.Enough Space-NOT GOOD AT ALL I HATE IT! I HATE IT!
10.Febuary Stars-too slow to even get me into it
11.Everlong-The Best Foo Fighters Song Ever! HILARIOUS VIDEO
12.Walking After You-Stupid
13.New Way Home-AWESOME SONG! Sorta Like "Hey Johnny Park" Only Longer

SO I HIGHLY RECCOMEND YOU BUY THIS CD.IT'S A MUST BUY FOR ANY FOO FIGHTERS FAN. I'M ALSO THINKING OF PICKING UP "THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE" IF THE AMAZON.COM REVIEWS SAY GOOD ABOUT IT.

This is the best Foo Fighters of them all
"The Colour and the Shape" is the best Foo Fighters album, and that's saying a lot as they're all pretty good.

What sets it apart and above the rest is the depth of the album. For instance, while "There is Nothing Left to Lose" begins with three great songs it sort of tapers off as the album progresses. Not so with "The Colour and the Shape."

Songs like "Monkey Wrench", "My Hero", "Everlong", and "Walking After You" are well-known (and maybe slighly overplayed when it comes to the first two) but all 13 songs are quality listens. Moreover, the album grows on you with each spin -- I remember liking some songs but not others at first but now really like the whole thing. I really doubt this is an album you would grow tired of or only hear a lot at first and then let collect dust.

I think the Foo Fighters are one of the coolest bands around and this represents the coolest of their work. Each song is pretty good; the guitar on this album is rugged and hard-charging without ever devolving into headache-inducing noise.

Awsome, one of their best
This cd's for sure one of the Foo Fighter's best albums. All the songs are really original and a breath of fresh air. Lyrics are great, sound is great, I can't say anything bad about this album, all the songs are awsome.

This is a given
How can anyone out there claim to be a rock fan without owning or experiencing this album. Everlong is one of the best written and produced songs, just listen to it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Disintegration is a pop album realized on an epic scale. Most of its 12 songs are long mood pieces that develop slowly around the listener. Anchored by complex drum patterns, the layered guitars, soaring bass lines, and rich keyboards blend to create a lush, evocative soundscape that captures the ear immediately; and for all its length, the album is never boring. The lyrical focus is intensely personal throughout, and, with the exception of "Love Song," the mood is overwhelmingly dark and brooding. Here are songs of remembrance that, through their deep candor, transcend the individual level to explore universal longings and fears. Robert Smith, his vocals plaintive or angry or despairing, unfolds a tapestry of loss. Broken bonds, old lies, missed opportunities, belated realizations. Anyone who has experienced the joy and sorrow--especially the sorrow--of love will find his or her deepest sentiments, noble and petty alike, echoed poetically here. --Al Massa ... Read more

Reviews (208)

Disintegration is the best album ever¿.
Disintegration is the best album ever....

God bless the boys from South Park. Kyle may have gotten it right. This album is epic. Before this record The Cure's music was underground club type music, and fit very nicely in the "post-punk" label. The music on this record has an incredibly beautiful melancholy to it. Most of the songs have a slow tempo and just ooze with a dark moodiness that makes you feel. I don't know that it can make everyone feel the same, but it will definitely make you feel.

The songs are a bit long, but that is not a bad thing as each is beautifully orchestrated. There is no filler in this record, and actually some of The Cure's best work is on this album. "Pictures Of You", "Love Song", "Lullaby", "Fascination Street", and "Prayers For Rain" are probably the best songs, but every song is incredible. Overall it's as bleak as any album I've ever heard, and it is painfully intimate. It's one I simply can't stop listening to, despite the dark melancholy of the music.

This is The Cure album for people that aren't even Cure fans. You don't have to be into moody, gothic, synthpop to appreciate just how great this record is. The album is nearly 12 years old, and doesn't sound dated at all. The material is still fresh, timeless. Enjoying this record is simply a beautiful experience.

My favorite album of all time
At the time of the recording of Disintegration, the Cure were just beginning to be noticed in the U.S. as a result of several minor hits off of their "Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me" album in the late 80s. 1989, the year Disintegration was recorded and released, was not a particularly good year in Robert Smith's life, so he naturally wasn't going to be making music akin to the poppy, upbeat, Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me sound. When he first played the new album in front of a test audience, it was met with some mild applause, but mostly disappointing silence. Smith thought he'd committed career suicide and had chosen the worst possible way to follow Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me. Little did he realize at the time that he and his band had created a masterpiece, which would go on to be the Cure's best-selling album as well as my favorite album of all time.

From the majestic opening of "Plainsong" to the closing chords of "Untitled", Disintegration is a beautiful, very cohesive masterpiece. Lush keyboards, soothing bass lines, complex drum patterns, and absolutely amazing guitar lines create a beautiful, melancholic atmosphere that totally envelops the listener. Backing it all up are Robert Smith's reedy, plaintive vocals, which are phenomenally emotional, passionate, and sincere. With few exceptions, the songs on Disintegration hover for gorgeously extended lengths of time, taking their time to unravel and inspire awe. Every single one of them is wondrous work of art, and their consistency in quality and theme is amazing. The album is 72 minutes long, and there is not one minute of filler. That statement, plus the fact that this album has only received three negative reviews out of 197, should speak volumes about the quality of Disintegration.

This album is simply the best thing I've ever heard. If you have patience, an open mind, and the desire to experience something simply and utterly beautiful, Disintegration is for you.

Wonderful
I purchased a copy of this album on vinyl in 1990 and used it to soothe my soul after a particularly difficult breakup with a girlfriend of mine. For a year I did nothing but listen to this album (along with Joy Division) and it really helped me get through some tough times. "Pictures of You" has got to be one of the most powerful and sad songs ever.

I hadn't listened to it in over 12 years when I bought a used copy of the CD recently - and to my surprise I found that it was as moody, beautiful and wonderful as ever. It hasn't aged at all. This is one of those CDs you can put on in your player and just hit replay forever. It really took me back to a time in my life where I was going through a lot of hurt - and it still has a restorative and theraputic power that amazes me.

Haunting Perfection
As novelists and poets may know, if your aim is to write something that will cause tears well up in the eyes of readers, you must be crying as you write every word. The emotional power and pain in this album may very well cause a tightening in the back of an attentive listener's throat. Easily respected as a great album in the popular musical canon, this album is, quite easily, my favourite album released by a popular musical artist.
The album opens within a windswept tunnel of heartache and love, with, "Plainsong" musing about the morbid beauty in a girl whose candle of life has been blown out, and who embraces with love and smiles at the thought of her death and emotional drowning. This beggining track segues into the single, "Pictures of You," of equally depressing substance, as we are reminded memories are the only permanence with the passing of time. "Closedown" is a poignant track in which Robert Smith wails in painful desire to feel love that isn't frought with human vice. "Lovesong" needs no formal introduction, being one of the most successful Cure singles worldwide. I attribute the success of this eerily touching, and appropriately named track, to its simplicity. It is Robert Smith's way of simply and directly saying, "I love you". "Last Dance" is a track about the waning enchantment in life as it progresses and we grow older. "Lullaby" is a haunting proto-Gothic classic, singing of the infamous "candy-striped leg" spiderman coming and eating dear Robert, who feels like a fly caught in a sticky web of gloom. "Fascination Street" offers a second-to-none baseline, and some of the catchiest guitar music on the album. "Prayers for Rain" is a song of the bleakest perfection one can achieve, Robert buries you alive in a catacomb of doom and gloom with this track. "The Same Deep Water as You" has a title that is quite self-explaining; despair, love, drowning in tears, with wails loudly and sonorously echoing in a dark cave of hope. "Disintegration" is a beautiful track, poetically splattering Robert's tears of insatiable desire onto canvass of lost hope. He beautifully sings, "I miss the kiss of teachery, the shameless kiss of vanity, the soft and the black and the velvety, tight up against the side of me/ and mouth and eyes and heart all bleed and run in thickening streams of greed..." This track segues into, "Homesick," an interconnected meditation on drugs fulfilling an emptiness and subduing the heartbreaking "home"sickness: or an allusion to those things, desires, needs, we put off in our lives... opting instead to never face them with the aid of emotional dillution. The depressingly beautiful album ends in a way that feels and sounds like an upbeat, bittersweet sort of death, completing the feeling of sinking, as though in a warm dark sea, gradually embracing it, and smiling as you accept your emotional drowning.

Ethereal & Haunting, A True Classic.........
Disintegration is by far the most haunting and evocative album ever released by The Cure, and is probably the most haunting and evocative album ever released, period.

Disintegration is also the greatest work in The Cure's long and distinguished career. The album is a masterpiece of melancholy lyrics and music woven seamlessly into a sonic journey into darkness and forlorn hope.

"Plainsong" is the first track on the album, and is a promise of what's to come. Incredible synthetic sounds mix with a haunting guitar riff and ethereal vocals to make an unforgettable opening track.

"Pictures of You" has to be one of the greatest songs written by any band, let alone The Cure. The track is a seamless integration of the traditional Cure sonic "loop", where each instrument begins separately leading to a unified trademark sound. Smith's lyrics top the track, and lead us into welcome territory.

"Closedown" continues the melancholy theme of the album, and serves as a nice to segue into "Love Song", a track that is a throwback to "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me", and breaks the dark structure of the album, albeit briefly, with it's upbeat sound and lyrics. A good track that does at times seem very out of place when compared to the much more darker theme of the album as a whole. A great track nonetheless that provides a refreshing change in tempo.

"Last Dance" is a dark track that evokes the last goodbye, and the accompanying feelings of pain and desperation that come with it.

"Lullaby" combines that trademark Cure quirkiness with an interesting musical arrangement and quite dark & gothic lyrics. There is a definite feeling of morose humor popping up in this track, and does not have the same forlorn feeling of the majority of the album.

"Fascination Street" is by far the heaviest track on the album, masterfully layered with a throbbing base riff, chaotic guitars, and superb vocals by Smith. One of the best tracks on an album filled with more than its share of memorable ones.

We now come to the heart of darkness on the album. The next to tracks provide a sonic journey into a hopeless landscape, haunting beyond anything The Cure has done previously. "Prayers for Rain", a very raw and dark track, sets up what I truly believe is one of the greatest pieces of music ever written....

"Same Deep Water As You" for some reason gripped me the first moment I heard it, and in the 15 years since Disintegration has been released, has never let go. One of the most beautiful and haunting tracks that you could ever hear, yet it weaves sadness, love & loss into a seamless whole. A true masterpiece.

"Disintegration" picks up the tempo. In a way, quite welcome given the last few tracks. A very good track, if not outstanding.

"Homesick" is probably the weakest track on the album. Not memorable, but ok.

We end with "Untitled", which is probably my fourth favorite track on the album. A nice arrangement accompanied by very good songwriting. "Happy Melancholy" is the only way to describe this track, and is a perfect way to close the album, as it's not too dark, yet not upbeat either, giving quite a neutral ending to a truly great album.

Disintegration is one of those gems that in so many ways will stay timeless for years to come. By far The Cure's most popular album, it however does not a have a commercial sound in any way, with one off tracks that do not fit the structure (except maybe for "Love Song"). A masterpiece that should be in any music collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Torrential creativity has fast-forwarded the artistic evolution of former Whiskeytown frontman Ryan Adams from country-rock boy wonder (see Faithless Street) to despondent troubadour with a 1960s fixation (his solo debut Heartbreaker), but it may also explain why listeners often need to wade through some pedestrian material just to find a few pearls of poetic excellence. Gold is no exception to that trend, a sometimes engaging middle-of-the-road roots-pop album that's both overlong (70 minutes) and at times overindulgent. There are high spots--such as the bouncy, breezy opener "New York, New York" and the plaintive ballad "When the Stars Go Blue" (which features a vocal turn reminiscent of Morrissey)--but much of the disc gets lost in forests of indistinct guitars and plodding percussion that never nudges Adams into actually rocking. Gold is the work of a notoriously prolific songwriter who hasn't yet learned to play to his strengths, one whose execution doesn't yet match his vision. --Anders Smith Lindall ... Read more

Reviews (116)

Small town boy makes gold
Its hard to believe that Jacksonville, NC born Ryan Adams would become a staple video for the healing of the September 11th tragedies. Some would even look at the patriotic album cover and title track, "New York, New York" and believe that the album is simply meant to aid the healing process.
Actually, Adams sings of a love he spent some time with in the famous Big Apple city, and despite the music industry's desire to make his ballad a tribute to the injured city, Adams simply is an example of coincidence at just the right time.
The album is filled with Adam's most familiar works. His sweet sing-song alt-country voice blankets the album with musical genius. The wonderfully written tunes, from beginning to end, are laden with guitar, sax, and only a sound the frontman from Whiskeytown could acheive. The album is calm and soothing, but certainly has its pick-me-up tracks as well. As for the appearance of patriotic support, its mere coincidence, but comes at a time when the people of New York are welcoming to a healing hand.

Truly a masterpiece
This is one of the best albums to be released over the past few years. Ryan really struck gold(excuse the pun) with this album, the album he was always capable of making. There is a constant fresh and timeless sound to this album and will be looked back on in years to come as a classic- it will never lose its freshness.
Ryan brilliantly combines his amazing talents as both a country and rock(NOT 'country rock') singer songwriter. Of the mellow acoustic tracks, 'La cienage smile' is amazing, moody and sad, firecracker is nothing short of genius with Ryan showing brilliant flexibility in his vocals. 'Somehow Someday' is lovely and original.
Of the Rock Tracks, 'Enemy Fire' stands out with Ryan using his Kurt Cobain scratched vocals to brilliant effect. 'Nobody Girl' is an emotional nine minute epic and is hard to come down after. 'Tino Toledo's street walkin blues' has a brilliant electric riff and smells of US street life- incredible.
In conclusion this is as a fine album you are going to hear in your life with its honesty, heartbreak, Lou Reed style street commentary, Springsteen styled rockin and patriotism and mysterious Adams' own recipes. Buy now and enjoy.

-
i never thought i could love a cd so much in all my life. his music is creative, sexy, honest, thoughtful, unique...this is an excellent cd and even better than his first solo work. out of all of his solo albums (heartbreaker, gold, demolition, rock and roll and love is hell parts 1 & 2) i rate this as the best. those who have heard the corrs' cheap rip off of 'where the stars go blue' will be surprised to hear the original version written by ryan adams. he shines on tracks 1, 4, 5, and 7. track 8 is the longest and best on the entire cd because it contains so many moods and styles. his creativity is astounding.

Rate This CD On The Quality of the Music
I was reading the reviews people wrote for this album and there was this one that caught my eye: Reviewer: A music fan from Houston, Texas United States
We have men dying for their country and ryan adams turns the flag upside down. One more of the useless socialist elite. When clinton was bombing Serbia for 80 days straight, where were the elite complaining about the "evil America" then. The silence was deafening!

Are you an absolute idoit, you dont like this cd because the cover of it. Give me a break. Please listen to the music on the CD and rate that not the CD cover. Well for the people who like true music and dont rate CDs on the front cover's picture, but listen to the music and you will like it for what it is. This is one of the best true rock n roll albums to come out in years.
GO BUY ALL RYAN ADAMS' CDS.

When you're young, you get sad...
I would have to agree with Michael Elliot about that one blindly "patriotic" guy, A Music Fan, who wrote a negative review, probably without even hearing the album, just because there's an upside-down american flag. What an pathetically ignorant bandwagoner. I bet he's the type that never gave the flag a second look or thought if ever he once glanced up to look at it before 9/11, yet now stubbornly defends it from any perceived offence, regardless of logic or foundation. Stuff like that simply pisses me off. Bet he was one of those ethnocentric jackasses who had, like, twelve flags on his truck too.

Anyway, on to that album. This one is my personal favorite from Ryan Adams' rather prolific career. "New York, New York" was the first Ryan Adams song I ever heard, and it's the reason I bought this record. Kind of a big risk for a college student with access to both iTunes and MyTunes (which I have since deleted), but I believe a very few musicians actually deserve this money.

Adams' music could be called rather loosely constructed one-take alt-country. It's like lo-fi, if lo-fi albums were recorded with decent equipment. You almost can't tell if there's a group of professional musicians in a multi-million dollar studio, or if it's some guy in his basement with a tape loop jammin' out. The musical spectrum Ryan Adams has recorded here is quite broad; soft crooners like "La Cienega Just Smiled" and mid-tempo sing-alongs like "Answering Bell" are placed next to each other. Yet at no point does this album feel disjointed or meandering. As a whole the album rises and falls like waves until it hits its high-water mark at "Gonna Make You Love Me" and slides slowly back into the sea with "Goodnight, Sunset Blvd." The lyrics, however, are the highlight. Adams said in an interview that he views the actual song as the lyrics, that the music is only a vehicle for the lyrics. What are the lyrics like? Depressed, mostly, but at all times poetic and graceful. Great album, you really ought to check it out if you're into Wilco or MMJ. The burgeoning alt-country scene is picking up right now, following Wilco's lead, and I hope Ryan Adams gets his due for this incredible work.

Also, I wonder if that idiot realizes that the reason we have soldiers dying in Iraq is because there are too many people who, like him, believe the crap the president is trying to sell us. Sadly, he is a part of the problem, and is too blind to realize it. Oh, the irony. I have never flaunted my nationality, even when in Europe, where they're used to guys like him, the ugly american. But I've never been ashamed to be American until people like him came about. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

When the Velvets recorded this debut, they were best known as the protégés of Andy Warhol (who designed the sleeve), and as a grating, combustive live band. Fueled by drummer Moe Tucker's no-nonsense wham and John Cale's howling viola, some of the straight-up rock & roll and arty noise extravaganzas here bear that out. But before Lou Reed was singing about sadomasochism and drug deals and writing lyrics inspired by his favorite poets, he was a pop songwriter, and this album has some of his prettiest tunes, mostly sung by Nico, the German dark angel who left the band after this disc. Even the sordid rockers are underscored by graceful pop tricks, like the two-chord flutter at the center of the classic "Heroin." --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (175)

wonderful rock music
I recently got into Lou Reed and decided to check the original band out. I've heard The Velvet Underground on "The Royal Tenenbaums," and loved the way it was used in the movie.

This album is really good, I have to say. Currently my favorites are "Heroin," "There She Goes Again," "The Black Angel's Death Song," and "All Tomorrow's Parties." This is subject to change upon my next hearing, which will be in probably ten minutes.

I can't get enough of this album. I really dislike the ones who claim this CD is no big deal; nearly all the albums I like are called "overrated" and such. R.E.M.'s "Murmur," for instance. (Coincidentally R.E.M. covered three Velvet Underground songs and released them.)

These songs are perfect, entertaining and enjoyable. I'm not one to look at it from an "artsy-fartsy" viewpoint; as I was and am no great admirer of Andy Warhol. For me, "Velvet Underground & Nico" is a great rock/early-alternative record. It surprised me that it was possible to enjoy it from my view, as it was produced by Andy Warhol. I'm just guessing he had good taste in music.

"Overrated," my [behind]. This album truly deserves all the respect it gets.

Life-changing, mind-expanding
The Velvet Underground and Nico is an incredible, amazing album. It really will change your life, after hearing it, you can't help but look at music differently (White Light / White Heat is perhaps even more so). Every song on the album is great, and some of them are some of the best rock music ever made.

"Sunday Morning" is a twinkling, light pop song which leads into the bluesy rocker "I'm Waiting for the Man." "Femme Fatale" is one of those classic rock songs, but it is nothing compared to the majestic "Venus in Furs." When people were saying all you need is love, Lou Reed wrote this magnificent song about bondage. It is melodic and beautiful but also dark and eery. "Run Run Run" is another rocking, bluesy song.

The next two songs will leave you stunned. "All Tomorrow's Parties" is a superb song, with Nico lending some of the most beautiful vocals you'll ever hear. "Heroin" is not only the best song about a drug ever made, but also one of the best rock songs ever written. Reed's writing talents really shine, even this early in his career.

"There She Goes Again" is a sweet, poppy song. "I'll Be Your Mirror" is another great song with great vocals by Nico. "The Black Angel's Death Song" is quite dark and very, very good. "European Son" is instrumental chaos that was sort of a prelude to White Light / White Heat and the truly apocalyptic "Sister Ray."

In short - The Velvet Underground and Nico is an album that everyone, no matter what they like, should own. So buy it.

all myth...little music
most supporters of the VU seem impressed that this record has songs about bondage and drugs on it with a cover by Andy Warhol. so what? the question is, are the songs any good? not really. Sunday Morning is a sweet pop song. Waiting for the Man is repetitious with a threadbare tune and is only notable for being about a heroin dealer. who cares...the song isn't any good regardless what it's about. All Tomorrow's Parties has an intersting atmosphere bouyed by a strange piano phrase but it just plays that figure over and over. that song really needs a bridge. it gets very tedious. the last two songs are just a bunch of noise. this record is wildly overrated. any CCR lp of the time has better written songs without the pretentious Warhol/drug/pop art connection. bands like REM and U2 cite this album as a major influence on them which isn't surprising because those bands have basically been making the same records musically for the last 20 years with only changes in production, not improvement or variation in songwriting. take away all the sordid drug and bondage ideas and VU is just an album of so-so tunes.

This album beat the crap out of me. And I love it.
This didn't take long to grow on me. Beginning with the paranoically sugary track "Sunday Morning" and eerie malayse of malevolence begins to beset and dog the listener, and starts to percolate instantly with the jarring, driving "Waiting For The Man", which of course, is about the seedy dealings of the drug market. The dead-on cleverness with which the more sinister elements of the human condition are rendered in this album, makes me shake with glee whenever I listen to it. It is an unusual mix of the solemn mysticality of Nico's magnificent voice, and the daunting nasality of Lou Reed's nightmarish balladry, telling tales of drug dealings, sadomasochism, and abstract descriptions in "Black Angel's Death Song" that are so menacing, one begins to cringe somewhat.
But that's the beauty of it.
It bounces from one scenario to the next, with Nico's three songs like hazy oases to cling to, and eventually dissolves into the gloriously maddening cacophany of "European Son".

The perverse passion that makes up this album has branded it into my soul forever. It in no way sounds dated. Songs like "Venus in Furs" and "All Tomorrow's Parties", and of course the infamous description of the prison of "Heroin" addiction should engrain themselves in anyone.

In addition to this album, by the way, do check out Nico's work. She is so often overlooked as some kind of bane to this album, when in truth her brilliance was such that it had to overflow into a solo career.

Just start here, and let it engulf you with atmosphere.

Undeniable Art Rock Genius Album!
Totally an incredible listen every time. From the first sunny sounds of "Sunday Morning" to the crashing intro to "I'm Waiting For the Man, " the songs are arranged in a way that lulls you in subtle pop splendor, and then thrills you with a chunk of ferocious rock. There is no room to get bored, only total intense satisfaction.

"Femme Fatale" is one of my favorite songs ever. The great Nico coyly identifying "here she comes...you better watch your step. She's going to break your heart in two...it's true." She's just a little tease, indeed. Her vocal work on this album is just amazing. The contrast between her and Lou Reed is genius. "I'll Be Your Mirror" is one of the sweetest love songs I have ever heard. It has a such an original and sweet perspective, and is so melancholy in the hands of Nico, whose voice really is so distinctive, warm and charmingly amateur all at once. It really is a pitty that her work with the Velvet Underground pretty much ended with this album. I can only imagine how the Velvet's history may have been different had she stuck around for subsequent releases.

"I'm Waiting For My Man" is probably my favorite singular song on the album. The low-key guitar approach is pure Lou Reed, and I love the imagery he brings to life about New York, and trying to meet up with his dealer. "He's never early...he's always late. First thing you learn is that you always gotta wait..." Amazing stuff, and Mo Tucker keeps it all together with her electrifying drum assault. The song that most people identify as one of the most important contributions to rock history would have to be "Heroin," Reed's droning anthemic ode to the gift's and perils of the drug he so treasured. It is frightening, pretty, soft and loud, and totally poignant.

The beginning of "Euroean Son" is one of my favorite openings to a song ever, with its thick rhythmic bass line, and then the double guitar assault of Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison, which thrusts the song into a riotous noise-piece.

The one song I wish was included in the original album, which was recorded in the same sessions is "It Was A Pleasure Then," sung by Nico and written by Reed, Cale and Nico. It is one of my favorite songs. It is so beautiful, with the main elements being Nico's amazing voice (which has more range in this song than any other), Cale's plugged in viola, and a quietly strumming guitar that slowly builds throughout, filling the song with amazing bits of feedback in parts. It is one of those songs that gives you goosebumps with every listen. Genius!

I only wish I had been born 20 years earlier, so I could have experienced their live performances around the time of this release. I am sure it was like witnessing something from another planet!

Anyway, this album has payed for itself millions of times-over in my collection. Just a truly amazing album, full of some of the most original music in rock. And more relevant today than ever... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Worth every penny for I Say I Say I Say-esque Piney Gir mix
Erasure's "I Say I Say I Say" album from 1994(that featured the smash hit "Always") is my 2nd favorite album ever. I would like to thank Piney Gir for remixing DSYLM into something that would have fit right on that magnificent album over 10 years ago.

"DSYLM-Piney Gir Mix" is a very powerful song and improves upon the original like no other. The backing choir voices and layered vocals reminds me of ISISIS's songs of the same fashion("So The Story Goes" and "Miracle").

However this, the 2nd of Erasure's singles from their heartfelt and romantic "Nightbird", is not as amazing as their first single release "Breathe".

The b-side "Lie To Me" is IMO their worst song from the Nightbird era. While "Breathe's" B-Sides were stellar(especially "Gone Crazy"). Not horrendous enough where I won't listen to it, just not up to par with the other "Nightbird" songs.

Likewise, the video for "DSYLM" isn't anywhere close as being as good as "Breathe's" dramatic and serious video. Instead the boys went for a cartoony outer-space video which I don't really think captures the essence of the song whatsoever. Cutting edge in technology but not something I have bothered to watch over and over and over again like I did with the "Breathe" vid.

The other remixes of "DSYLM" are pretty good too. The "Single Mix" sounds a lot like the original version but with a slightly different bass, more varied drum sounds and a bit faster song. While the "Radio Mix" adds in a lot of bass.
The "Mark Moore & Eon Vox Mix" has a really nice beat to it but the soulful vocals are lost in the process. "ATOC's mix" is the better of the two dance remixes IMO...really quirky, although that powerful synth almost ruins the song.

This is a definite pick-up for fans of Erasure and anyone who loves I Say I Say I Say for the Piney Gir Mix.

And for Mike: I LOVE EM ;)

Say You Love Them
Erasure really came back as a surprise recently with the well-received Nightbird record. That really was showcased as a great record. Their latest single is quite interesting as well. Don't Say You Love Me, the second single from Nightbird is a great song, and just has a good mix of electronica within a Phil Collins-like atmosphere all in one. It is just recognized as a surpring little diddy that just comes as a surprise. Yet, there is no doubt that it happens to be just a shame that people and radio might overlook this song completely. Still, I suggest you hear this, and see if you want the single, and the well-received Nightbird album.

Song: B 1/2+ ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Sludgefest Sounding Greatness
This is where Dinosaur Jr. shined!It is back in print, thanksJ, and Merge.Yes.It was trouble to find this before this reissue and this is an essential to Dinosaur fans or 80s Psychedelic Post-Punk fans of SST bands(what label do we file these wonderful bands under?)Check out the other reissues also.

Little Fury Things opens the album beautifully with the wah pedal and screams...yet it turns out to a great pop tune with nice sounding vocals backing up J.The album sound is loud and guitar-driven obviously by Mascis!He plays the guitar with passion and lots of energy and great solos.He's probably one of the most original, passionate guitarist to come along.He mumbles the vocals though. Murph is a good drummer and he's back with tour with Dinosaur Jr. Lou is an interesting bassist and there's something different about his bass playing, but it rings good on all of the early Dinosaur Jr. albums.He also takes lead on two Dinosaur songs on here.One of them is "Poledo", which is completely lo-fi and kind of interesting.It runs a little long though and tends to be just weird noise in some parts, but it's all done on his own and there may be ukulele in the song.

The best songs are the intense "The Lung"(played on the Late Late Show" recently), the ultra heavy "Sludgefest",the single "Little Fury Things", the poppier "In a Jar", the downcast "Tarpit", the bonus track Cure cover "Just Like Heaven", and "Poledo" stands out.

Show Me The Way
J Mascis has said that he didn't include Show Me The Way because he doesn't like it. It was him, not Merge. BUY THIS RECORD AT ALL COSTS!

Still Sounds Great
YLAOM still stands out as one of the best underground/alternative/progressive/college-music/whatever albums from the mid-late 1980's. My taste in music has changed considerably since that time, but, unlike many other--well, loud--recordings from the period, I always gravitate back towards YLAOM and the follow-up BUG, both of which are awash in crazed screeching feedback but somehow sustain a sense of melody at times.As for the remastering, it's excellent.The levels were so low on the old SST CD version that you had to bump the volume all the way up when listening.Merge has cleaned up and amplified everything, although it still keeps that low-fi sound that's part of the production.

It melted my face
I'll never be the same after rediscovering Dino.After listening to this reissue, I took all my other cds out of my truck, and re-filed them in my basement.They all appeared totally irrelevant and meaningless compared to Living All Over Me.Then I went and ordered all the other Dinosaur re-releases.

Legendary Album Back In Print!
In 1987, Dinosaur Jr. realeased their seminal masterpeice, 'You're Living All Over Me'. This is an album that sounded like nothing being recorded at the time, except The Jesus & Mary Chain and Sonic Youth, the latter of which Dinosaur Jr. have quite alot in common with. This album is part of a trilogy of albums they made with their original lineup in the mid 80's which included 'Dinosaur' and 'Bug', respectively. For sheer intensity and noise, not much can touch this album. 'Little Furry Things' may be the best song in Dinosaur Jr. catalog, while 'The Lung' and 'Raisins' are some of the most melodic. Then comes 'Tarpit', a song that doesn't seem like it can get any louder, and then....IT DOES, moving eerily into My Bloody Valentine territory. This song epitomizes what Dinosaur Jr.'s sound is all about, loud guitars and etheral vocals that float aimlessly atop the feedback blasts.

But now for the bad news...or in other words, the re-issue. Unfortuanetly Merge removed the cover of Peter Frampton's 'Show Me the Way' and replaced it with the equally brilliant but unnessary (at least on this album) Cure cover 'Just Like Heaven'. On the other side of the coin though, there are two music videos, one for 'Little Furry Things' and 'Just Like Heaven'. So if you don't have this album, then buy it ASAP because the original CD's have been OOP for quite some time and are difficult to find for a resonable price. But do whatever you have to do to get this landmark album; one of the 10 best of the 1980's and one that defined a genre. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

Good music, good project, some bad choices
Collective Soul's greatest hits effort marks a major point in their career: it is evidence that they have had enough hits to warrant such a project. Just because Collective Soul doesn't get the airplay they deserve on Top-40 stations or because the band isn't always placing singles in the Hot 100 doesn't mean that they aren't popular or deserving of a greatest-hits disk. In fact, Collective Soul continues to "Shine" above other contemporary acts based on sales alone. The two new songs "Energy" and "Next Homecoming" are typical guitar-laden and guitar-driven songs, and if I had to choose one of them, I would say that I prefer "Energy." However, I was disappointed in the track selection for this CD. I did not expect "Heavy" to make this CD, especially considering that I never have heard it on the radio except on stations that play album tracks; I would have preferred (and expected) either or both of "Needs" and "No More, No Less," partly based on the fact that these DID get airplay on mainstream radio. I also was disappointed in the selection of "Forgiveness"; to me it is not a particular good song, at least not compared to other Collective Soul tracks. I think that "Maybe" or "Link" would have been a better choice if they wanted a third track from Disciplined Breakdown. However, I think that an overall better choice for inclusion is Perfect Day, even if it had been the version without Elton John.
I commend Collective Soul, their recording company, and their agency for embarking on a greatest hits project. It must have been difficult to decide which songs to include given the groups tremendous success; however, as a devoted fan, I feel that some bad choices were made. In the end, that is the reason why I rate this CD only at 4 stars.

Collective Soul does it again
There is no way that I could ever rate a CS cd any less than 5 stars. However, putting unreleased tracks on a 'greatest hits' album did seem a little odd. I'm over it, because within a week the songs have already grown on me and I love them. I have been a devoted CS fan forever, and to see effort to put a greatest hits album out meant a lot to me, and I hope that it gets their name out a little bit, because they have been overlooked in many ways. I have seen them two times in concert, and they have played all of the songs off the CD, except the unreleased one. I was extremely pleased with the track selection, however I was hoping that "Where the River Flows" would have been on the CD. The "7even year itch" CD is an absolute must have for all fans of early to mid 90s rock, and this CD is excellent. I didn't go a day from it's release date without it. It is a must buy.

Impressive for a Greatest Hits record
I, originally, had no intention in buying this album. I'm not a big fan of "Greatest Hits" records. I mean, why buy 1 CD when you could buy a whole[]load of them, right? I got this CD because I owned only 1 Collective Soul CD(Blender) and I was going to see them in concert. I decided it would be nice if I knew at least most of the songs they preformed. I was considering the fact that I had only heard 3 of their songs apart from "Why Pt 2", which I only knew from Blender. These included "Shine", "December", and "The World I Know".
I fell in love with this album almost instantaneously . My favorite tracks became "Heavy", "Energy", and "Forgiveness". Other honorable mentions were "Run", "Gel", and "Precious Declaration". Eventually I would have ended up naming all of them without hesitation, so basically each song would at least recieve 41/5 stars. You HAVE to see these guys in concert! It's amazing! After I saw them, they flew from my list of great bands to my list of favorites and soared to the top. I can't speak less of these guys. See(or at least hear) for yourself. Definately going to buy the rest of their albums once I can afford them! Woo-Hoo!

Collective Soul - Simplicity of Alternative Rock
Hearing from many of my friends about the great things Collective Soul has in the music world (and because I was looking for an extra addition to my dwindling CD collection), I decided to check out this CD.

Kids, adults, ladies and gents? I was completely amazed at what a group such as this could give: simple, yet trendy rock that someone like me can appreciate. I enjoy every single track on all of their CDs, and the fact that one came out giving the band's greatest hits is a must have.

After seeing the band in concert and seeing their unique yet fresh rock style, I just had to get my hands on some of their music, namely their Dosage and self-titled CD from their popular songs "December", "Run", and "The World I Know," all of which are on this CD.

Recently I saw this CD on Amazon.com and decided to buy it from the great tracks given on it plus a couple of extras called "Energy."

For those of you like me who just enjoy simplistic music without the techy information or warped music, this is definitely one of many CDs worth looking into. It's all about simplicity and fresh music with this group; get this CD! You'll see what I mean :)

Who decides what to put on a greatest hits cd?
This is not the first time that the music industry has put out a cd of "greatest hits" and had no real clue of what they were doing. I'm not sure who's in charge of deciding what to put on a greatest hits cd, but they really should poll the fans for a better idea of what to put on there.

Good songs that were included on this cd are:
Heavy
Shine
Energy (new one)
Run
Gel
Precious Declaration
Why Pt. 2
The World I Know
Listen
December

Songs that were completely left off for reasons unknown to any Collective Soul fan:
Blame
Where The River Flows
Maybe
Simple
Perfect Day
Vent
Boast
Generate

If you're looking for a greatest hits of Collective Soul I would suggest that you purchase individual songs from Napster or iTunes or whatever and create your own compilation. The price will be about the same and the quality of the compilation will be much better. The only reason it gets a 3 star vote is that it's Collective Soul and I can't give them anything less. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On their first studio album in nearly four years, the Frames have opted for a fuller, more adventurous sound than on 2001’s Steve Albini-produced For the Birds, although this placid, smoky-bar ambiance owes more to 'Birds than to 1999’s Dance The Devil. From the opening acoustic strums and lingering background vocals of "Happy" through "Locusts" and its Donovan-does-"Atlantis" vibe, this record teeters on the dark side, rescued by the stirring John Cale inspired string arrangements of violinist Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Most of the Dublin based foursome’s dozen tracks have muted beginnings that swell to intoxicating volumes, as is the band’s trademark, with Glen Hansard’s uninhibited vocals uniformly at ease with the turbulent "Underglass" and the dreamy, windblown "Ship Caught in the Bay" (seemingly written with Astrud Gilberto in mind). It’s an unpredictably bipolar record with plenty of mood swings and emotional shifts that will ultimately leave listeners with feelings of euphoria. --Scott Holter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Burn The Maps
Recently voted Best Irish Band in the Meteor Awards, expectations rest heavily on The Frames.Four years after the platinum-selling, For the Birds, Burn The Maps could be the album that propels The Frames to the zenith of their career. It could also mark the site of what might have been.

Every band has a strong point; be it the gravel of Johnny Cash, the intricacies of Lambchop, or the poetry of Dylan. For the Frames, it's the ability to be aggressively brash one moment and violently quiet the next. Some songs need canyons to breathe, but some sit quietly in the corner of the room. Burn the Maps doesn't start by kicking the door down. Opener, Happy, begins with solitary, gloomy acoustic followed by simple bass and drums. Glen Hansard's boy soprano melody glides over the top. It's very restrained, but with intimations of something more abandoned. The martial rhythms and brutal guitar enter next with single, Finally. Full of conviction and doubt, the vocals break into an anguished cry with the violin circling overhead like a vulture eyeing its prey. This is the Frames we know doing what they do best. In typical fashion, they pull the volume right down for the next track before bursting forth once more.
The whole record speaks with the melancholy bitterness of a disappointed lover, ricocheting between resentment and regret, love and hate, art and blood. Full of big songs but sung with the conviction they need, the album's centrepiece is Fake, The Frames' answer to Smashing Pumpkins' Today. Soaring riffs merge with infectious melodies to disguise the honest lyrics. The `A' side builds up to this crescendo, with the `B' side coming back down, finishing how it started. Underglass is worth mention for its driving bassline, towering chorus and haunting verse. It's their darkest album to date, but the openness brings a feel of authenticity. If it gets the recognition it deserves, the Frames will be huge.

Andrew Williamson

The Frames Are The Best
I have not been so excited about a group since 1971. And never have listened to a CD more times than I've listened to The Frames' Fitzcarraldo.....but then I got that before Burn The Maps.
There's not a moment of instrumental superflash a la Hendrix, rarely a lyric that astonishes a la Dylan........but no one on the planet sings with more heart than Glen Hansard.....many songs are like an entire play with soft, lulling passages opening into scenes of stormy yelling drama......

And there's a tightness to this group, whose absolute center is Hansard.......and which has been going in various incarnations since 1990...............and a uniqueness (I loosely think of it as Irish alt-rock-folk)
to the sound, the tone, the lyric........the blend of it all.........
I guess the one proviso is that you have to like moody and romantic and rock and lyrical all together. I can't stand overly sentimental stuff, so
the fact that The Frames can put so much emotion, longing, sorrow,anger, memory into a song without ever being cloying is miraculous.
Ihave never seen a better concert than The Frames in Portland, Oregon in 2005.........and of perhaps 10,000 CDs I've listened to in my life...........would place Fitzcarraldo and Burn The Maps in the top 1%.........listen to Burn The Maps without expecting anything in particular..........and be ready to go somewhere both strange yet wonderfully familiar
With most groups, I know where I stand on their music within a few notes of each song, certainly by the time I get thru a CD. The Frames start out with me thinking they're really good, and by the third time thru.......I am sent back decades to the excitement (though quite a different style of music) of being a teen-age fan listening to the Kinks, or Dylan, or Cream.

Give it a chance
On a first listen, this album may not grab you by the little fella's, but after 3 rotations you just can't stop listening to it. Every other review told you everything you already need to know-buy it, enjoy it and catch them live! I've been watching them live for 6/7 years, at least 3 times a year and have not become bored yet!

simply beautiful
The thing about The Frames is that their live performances are so dynamic and engaging that their past recordings have only illustrated a portion of what makes this band so great.Conversely, the band's ethereal melodies and signature shifts in tempo, intensity, and octave lend themselves to the rich layers of a masterfully produced studio recording such as "For The Birds."

FTB was my introduction to The Frames, and after listening to it regularly for about a month, I found it very appealing but it wasn't quite hooking me.Then I saw them live, and I immediately got it!The Frames' mostly unfamiliar music engaged me live in a way that only my favorites usually can, and the songs I'd come to know off FTB finally came to life in concert.As a result, the music quickly became very familiar with the help of "Set List," the live CD from Dublin.As much as I enjoy listening to this energetic live recording, it admittedly lacks the rich production value of the Frames' studio sound, and it always feels a bit 'thin' to me.

I continue to see The Frames perform whenever possible, and the live introductions to their newest songs made them familiar by my first listen to "Burn The Maps."I am so happy to say that this CD just hits the nail right on the head!This beautiful collection of songs is about as cathartic as a live Frames show, while offering the moody ambience that we've come to expect from the band's finest studio efforts.This CD is a beautiful adventure, and one worth taking over and over again.

Can You Trust What i Say?
If there's a Frames' album that deserves to be recognised, it's "Burn the Maps."This album has everything that's current.If you're an indie fan, you should enjoy the grand basslines and the sometimes-soft-somtimes-abrassive vocals of Glen Hansard, that are presented on this album.They sound much more ambisious and sound as though they've expanded their musical vision.

Check it out; i've learned that no matter how well-written a review, the music must speak for itself to your naked ears. ... Read more

Album Description

UK exclusive reissue includes new artwork, 13 of the 15tracks which appear on the 1997 domestic & five moretracks, 'Seven Days', 'De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da', 'BrandNew Day', 'Desert Rose' & 'So Lonely'. 18 tracks. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

"one of the most popular bands ever ~ Sting & the Police"
UTV Records brings to the table an all-star line up of songs ~ "The Very Best of Sting & the Police", featuring some landmark performances by a group that was born twenty-five years ago back in 1978. The Police were always a talented trio, with a one-of-a-kind style of Sting's bass, falsetto vocals creating a rhythmic interplay between this trio was exciting. This is the CD to own, if you don't feel like buying their entire collection.

Would like to mention some of the stand outs ~ "FRAGILE", just remember how fragile you are, and Sting we can really relate to those tender words ~ "DESERT ROSE", this is a non-stop arrangement of Araic blends give the listener a taste of the Middle East ~ "IF I EVER LOSE MY FAITH IN YOU", a message that we need to take to our heart ~ "WHEN WE DANCE", my soul salvation with the angels gathered, is so touching.

The sound is a wonderful improvement over their original greatest hits release from the 80's and the inclusion of the original "DON' STAND SO CLOSE TO ME", makes this a complete package of a must have for all fans of Sting & the Police. Each one of the songs on this CD is excellent and covers the best of all their albums. One of the finest "Very Best of" packages ever, from one of rock's most intelligent and creative forces.

Total Time 78:33 on 18 Tracks ~ UTV Records 069-493-252-2 ~ (2002)

Deserted Rose
For the musicians that came out since the 1970's, nobody remained as strong, or a determined, or even as a brotherly love-hate relationed game, better than The Police. Since 1978, The Police captivated millions with their Punk edge, and skilled tales and songs. For Sting, it has been 25 years ago, since The Police broke out of Newcastle, England. Although The Police have had a great legacy, this collection lacks the focus of Sting.

The 2002, revised collection of The Very Best Of Sting And The Police, reflects upon 18 of Sting's biggest recordings from his smash solo career, and with The Police. Although the album has huge hits like Every Breath You Take, Desert Rose, and Can't Stand Losing You, the record lacks some of their best songs including, Invisible Sun, and Don't Stand So Close To Me '86. The album also drags down, with a shame of few of Sting's solo recordings, without putting up a little more to the table. There were a lot of good songs missing including, You Still Touch Me from Mecury Falling, The Soul Cages, and even After The Rain Has Fallen, even his Oscar-nominated song My Funny Friend And Me wasn't even displayed.

Let's face it, when it comes to record labels making good Greatest Hits collections, they always seem to fall flat on their faces. For Sting, I truly do not recommend this collection. Instead, I suggest that you get two seperate Greatest Hits albums, Every Breath You Take: The Classics, and Fields Of Gold: The Very Best Of Sting 1984-1994. You'll be a little happier if you have both of those as a die hard Sting fan, than the newer collection.

Not Sure If This Will Let Me Give It No Stars...
But simply put this compilation is pointless. It sucks ass to put it bluntly. If you were going to repackage a greatest hits cd and then jumble Sting's solo crap with the Police material you could have come up with a hell of a lot better selection than this. "Russians"? Dated and melodramatic. Don't waste your money.

STING THE GREAT COMPOSER
This isn a brief compilation of the POWER TRIO in the 80s.Although the selection is uneven,STING's voice stands out brilliantly.The focus is on his SOLO WORK period.Therefore,Many police fan will be disappointed to hear this.The main point is
that STING is very proficient in making big hits and beautiful,romantic songs.This is a nice introduction to the casual fans of STING.If you like STING,try this one without hesitation.

a BIG con
Come on guys!!! How many times can you repackage this!!! Is this because Sting sold the rights to the songs, now they're being milked? Wake up everyone - this is a big con. There are NUMEROUS Police greatest hits collections AND there has been a Sting Greatest Hits prior to this - both Police and Sting fans have been well serviced already.

They were and still are great songs (The Police songs I'm talking about here - Sting's solo stuff I can take or leave it without much heartache) - leave them alone and let them live in their original packaging.

There should be a law against artists putting out more than 1 of the same greatest hits. Disgraceful! ... Read more

Amazon.com

After two years off following the release of the genre-expanding Nimrod, the usually insouciant trio Green Day are open to some weighty self-analysis. Gone are the raging rants, cartoonish antics, and anthropological musings about the punk scene, replaced by an introspection that brings to mind Michael Stipe and Bono. Like the U2 frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong still hasn't found what he's looking for, but he knows where he's been and is eager to move past the days when Green Day were considered the clown princes of rock. Witness "Jackass," which cautions, "Everybody loves a joke, but no one likes a fool." Proving that they aren't fools, Green Day take a substantial step forward, exploring new rhythms, sonics, and subjects. While many of the tracks are still cheeky and infectious, the deceptively simple melodies belie a quest for meaning, faith, and fulfillment. There's a tentative optimism here that's tempered by irony and flashes of self-loathing. Still, Warning transcends the darkness that clouded 1995's Insomniac. No longer so under the sway of the Buzzcocks and the Ramones, this time Armstrong and company dip into the early rock canon--the Beatles and Bob Dylan, among them. As a result, their first self-produced album is more "Nowhere Man" than "Blitzkrieg Bop." --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (423)

Sellouts? I think not. Can you say "growing up"?
Green Day does it again, like they do every single time. Every time they are met by a skeptical crowd. No one wants to accept the growth, and the fact that things change. People change and grow. Little BJ isn't 18 anymore. Is a 27 still gonna write songs about leaving home, or about that girl he likes? Nope, unless theres a serious problem. He'll write about problems he faces with his wife, relationships, things he's learned. Things such as that. The first thing you need to know before listening to this wonderful band is that they are Green Day. They are not pop, they are not punk, they are not anything... but Green Day. They're in a group of their own. Lets get down to the music, shall we? The lyrics are the deepest I've seen. Witty, catchy... they really make you think. Also, the actual music is really great too. Theres a lot of variety. Some songs are slower (Warning), some are faster and more energetic (Jackass), and some are catchy and fun (Blood, Sex, and Booze).

What else can I really say? I could take up pages talking about Green Day and their music. I must cut this short, though. If any of you would like to talk, get in touch with me. Green Day fans are the best people in the world!

Warning is hopefully, only a test
It might be possible(I hope) that "this is only a test" (-lyric from the first song) to see whether or not fans will like this music. I'm a big fan of Green Day and have all their cds minus their imports 'cause their expensive. I went and got the new Green Day album this morning and I'm a little confused. This album is definitely more layed back than previous albums. It seems to be more thought out but I find it to be boring at times. I've gotten into an alarming appreciation for Green Day's music in that I can just plop the cd into the player and not worry about not liking any of the songs because I like all of them. The new cd changed all that. About half the songs off "Warning" are dull and irritating. I read the review for the "warning" album off of Amazon.com and I was upset at how a band can change so much because of a little name calling and a search for some sort of self identity. I don't think they're the clown princes of rock and it was because of those early albums that Green Day has become as well known as they are today. I waited 3 years for this CD people! I hope that future albums aren't like this. It gets 3 stars 'cause it's Green Day and I liked about half the songs.

'Cause I'm thinkin' 'bout a brand new hope.....
Green Day is a good band but they just like Metallica, eventually slowed things down. Nevertheless this is a good album with some highlights like Blood, Sex and Booze and the incredible beautiful and fantastic Macy's Day Parade. This song is really great, and definetly their best ballad.
NI!

Different in a really good way
Green Day was already my favorite band and this cd ranks right up there with all the rest of their cds and maybe even exceeds them. It's different than their other cds, but you still get the same good vibe. My favorite songs are Warning, Minority, Deadbeat Holiday, and Waiting. I think more than half the songs on this cd should be on "International Superhits." In closing, I recommend it to any fan of the band.

great cd...not my favorite
green day is my favorite band...i dont know what cd is my favorite but not this one. but i still really like this. its got a lot of different sounds on it.

1. Warning - one of my favorites...you might have heard this on the radio or something. its funny. 5/5
2. Blood, Sex And Booze - this song is good. 4/5
3. Church On Sunday - its funny...goes from Blood sex and booze to Church on sunday....sex and booze to church....ooo bad. okay i'm weird....this is one of my favorites..dont know why. i like it. 5/5
4. Fashion Victim - this song annoys me 3/5
5. Castaway - i like this song. 4/5
6. Misery - oh man this song....way to funny. 5/5
7. Deadbeat Holiday - wake up the house is on fire...and the cats caught in the dryer....yay the best lyric. 5/5
8. Hold On - this song is cool with the harmonica....4/5
9. Jackass - this song annoys me...its got a saxiphone guy in it....3/5
10. Waiting - oh you've all heard this....4/5
11. Minority - yeah this song is good. 5/5
12. Macy's Day Parade - this is my favorite song on the whole cd. its slow and just really good. 5/5

yeah that was no help but i'm bored. ... Read more

Album Description

Subtitled - Their Toughest Hits. 2002 collection, compiledby Joey Ramone, stuffed with the band's 30 loudest punkhits spanning from 1976 to 1995. Sire/Rhino. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

RAMONES...LEGENDS
This is a pretty well done compilation. I think Johnny Ramone picked alot of the Ramones greatest hits here. Except for a few others that needed to be included. I think "Poison Heart" would have been a better choice than "The Crusher". But overall, this album is great. I really like the bonus 'Smash You: Live '85' disc. It has some great live songs such as "Too Tough To Die", "Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La" & "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?".I have been a Ramones fan for about 3 years now. Each year I get closer & closer to the greatest band ever, The Ramones!

A GOOD COLLECTION OF SONGS FOR OLD OR NEW RAMONES FANS
Johnny Ramone personally selected the songs that appear on this album, and he did a good job of picking a variety of songs that give a retrospective of the band's entire career. There aren't many songs from the band's final years, but that's OK - their best songs were recorded in earlier years. As for the song selection, some are obvious ("Blitzkrieg Bop," "I Wanna Be Sedated," and "Rock N Roll High School"), while others are less well known ("Glad To See You Go," "I Wanted Everything," "Outsider," and "Highest Trails Above"). I would have probably selected some different songs to appear on the album, but I'm not about to question Johnny's choices. With his punk rock icon status and unwavering devotion to keeping the Ramones real, he's earned the right to do whatever he darn well pleases. What really makes this album worth having is the limited-edition bonus disc containing eight live songs recorded in 1985. Most notable is "Smash You," a B-side that was performed in concert very few times. This alone makes the album a must-have for the serious Ramones fan.

THE original
THE original punk band.If you like the Ramones,this is THE cd to buy.If you're just starting to get into the Ramones,or don't have any of their cds,this is the one.With some of their most popular hits, "I wanna be sedated","Blitzbkrieg Bop","Judy is a punk" and "The KKK took my baby away" this is a must for any lover of punk music.

FIRST RULE IS - Buy this cd.
The Ramones are possibly the greatest punk band ever. Every song on this cd is a gem. This greatest hits album rivals his colections such as The Beatles Red and Blue albums combined! Plus its half the price of either one. This is what punk truely is, not Charlet, NFG, of Avril

Coolest of the Ramones Compilations
Like so many groups whose appeal surfs through multiple generations, The Ramones have had a bunch of compilation albums, and we will probably see more in the future. I have yet to come across a lame Ramones collection, but this particular compilation gives you the greatest adrenalin rush for your buck.

The first three tunes are identical to their debut album, but instead of easing into the sweet "I Want To Be Your Boyfriend," they follow up with more high-energy ear fuel with "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment," and "Commando." No Lagardian pauses here, folks! In fact, if you want a wide variety of Ramones songs that include their semi-mellow side, you are best off buying each individual album instead of any compilations, since most of these collections focus on their high-octane classics (which, I admit, is what they did best!)

If you are one of those Ramones fans who preferred their earlier years, "Loud, Fast" delivers more of their classics, but gives their later years a decent backseat. A nice addition to these memorable cuts are several solo tunes by Dee Dee Ramones, including "The Crusher." Very trippy,as Dee Dee's material strayed from the traditional Ramones aura; he had a unique vision!

The only reason I would discourage anybody from buying this CD has nothing to do with flaws. I believe The Ramones are one of those rare groups who put out so much great material, so much which didn't wind up in any "Greatest Hits" collections, that buying each and every one of their releases is worth every penny. But--- to each his or her own, so if you want to buy just one Ramones CD, and get a great sampling of their work, this is the album to buy. ... Read more

Album Description

From the multi-platinum selling Collective Soul comes a unique collection of hits and rarities performed acoustically. "From The Ground Up" will be the perfect piece to accompany the band's current release, "Youth". SoundScan on "Youth" has exceeded 120,000 units in the US, the record has consistently charted on the Top 20 Independent Album Chart, and it has fostered two Top 5 Rock singles ("Counting The Days" and "Better Now"). Initial pressings of "From The Ground Up" will include a Collective Soul guitar pick. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

intimate acoustic genious
Don't let the number of tracks fool you - From the Ground Up is a wonderful collection of Collective Soul A and B sides with the cords pulled out of the amps. The biggest plus for the album has to be its production quality. Each guitar strum, percussive strike, and vocal tone can be heard loud and clear. The tonal qualities are produced wonderfully and each sound compliments one another magnificently. I believe that She Said and Satellite are the stand-out tracks on the album, but From the Ground Up is a great Cd to just pop into the player and listen from beginning straight to the end. Grab it for the summer!

A+++
I think this is such a great cd. I'm liking all the Youth songs much better now, and I love the bonus!! I'm so happy they put "Youth" on there, it's an amazing song and CSoul is truely the greatest band in the world.

"From the Ground Up" by Collective Soul
Collective Soul does it AGAIN...another great album!
I bought this album and played it immediately.Their acoustic set is good, although I am not entirely pleased with a couple of the songs.They seem to have changed them just a little."Acoustic" does not mean that you have to slow it down which they seem to have done on "Counting the Days".I do like the fact that they added a song to the end of "Satellite"... you have to keep listening to catch it.I just wish I knew the name of it or if it is just a continuation of the original song not on Youth.All in all... a great album!

Great Acoustic Album
Another great album put out by Collective Soul.I recently became a fan of CS and now I can't get enough of them.This cd captures their true, raw talent.It is a great cd.Definitely five out of five stars.

Great Acoustic Album
This album is just plain amazing. If your looking for songs off the greatest hits they have two here "December" and "She Said" but done acoustically. Only one song on this album is completely new and that is "Youth". One of the songs is off an old album called "Compliment" and the rest of the songs are off there new album entitle "Youth." The band's biggest song on here being "December" is a very slow version of the original. The lead singer's voice shines throughout the CD. This is an essential CD for any CS fan. ... Read more

Album Description

Although it may seem like gentle pop music at first, the brilliance of "Summer In Abaddon" is slowly revealed over repeated listenings. The songs are buoyant and lively at times, melancholy and dark at others, and always resonate with an underlying intensity. Pinback lays out beautiful melodies that are deceptively complex, layering sounds and instruments upon one another and trading contrasting vocal parts with ease ... Read more