Album Description

55 tracks on 4 CDs, featuring 34 tracks on CD for the first time, including The Thorn EP. 76-page booklet with an introduction by Siouxsie and full track annotation by all 3 band members plus full lyrics for all B-sides, printed for the first time. Sleevenotes by Mark Paytress. 2004. ... Read more

Album Description

2003 reissue of 2001 album includes four bonus tracks,'Restless', 'The Dance' (Live at Utrecht 1998), 'Enter'(live at Utrecht 1998) & 'Bittersweet'. A landmark releasethat set new standards for creativity, musicianship, &taste. BMG. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A MASTERPIECE...Some of the best music ever recorded!!
If you take the best, most pure sounding female vocalist since Renaissance's Annie Haslam, the orchestrated power of "Live at Carnegie Hall", or Metallica's S&M, the most spectacular performances of keyboard, Pink Floyd type guitar, and drums, you may come close to imagining the sheer beauty, brilliance and epic dimension of this disc. This is a gothic/doom band on their previous releases "Enter" and "The Dance", but the complete absence of male death growl vocals, takes the band in a more progressive, not commercial direction. Their previous releases are also quite spectacular, but this moving symphony is almost beyond description. Anyone who's into Theatre of Tragedy, Sins of Thy Beloved, Lacuna Coil, or Nightwish, and that style of epic doom with female vocals, will love this album. Any fan of symphonic/prgressive rock will have also found your Mecca. (The singer, Sharon den Adele, can be found on Ayreon's "Into the Electric Castle") BUY THIS DISC...you will be amazed and affected by its message and its content. Favorites are the title track, "Mother Earth", "Ice Queen", and "Dark Wings", but there is not a weak spot on any of the 10 songs. This has quickly become the absolute best, and my absolute favorite, of the 750+ CD's I own.

An album for everybody
Whether you're a metalhead, a fan of new age music, or just someone who enjoys good music in general, Within Temptation's Mother Earth is the album for you. Although their first album, Enter, was heavy and featured male growling, Mother Earth leans in a more melodic direction, focusing more on Sharon Den Adel's angelic voice (gone are the growls). The album was originally released in 2000, but this version, available exclusively for the UK and America, was just released this past December with 4 bonus tracks.

Mother Earth begins with the title track, which was released as a single, and is one of the stronger points of the album. Most of the songs on the album revolve around the theme of nature, and this is no exception. "Ice Queen" follows, and literally takes your breath away. Give it a few listens, and the beautiful chorus will give you chills. Speaking of chills, let's talk about the next track "Our Farewell". Being the album's first (of 3) ballads, as well as my personal favorite song, "Our Farewell" delivers a somewhat sad and depressing environment, but is still triumphant. Few bands can create so many emotions in one song, but Within Temptation is one of them. "Caged", on the other hand, is a very bitter song, offering lyrics such as "He told me he loved me then he laughed in my face" - this is one of the heavier moments of the album. Then there are songs like "The Promise" and "Deceiver of Fools" that have an epic feel to them, and "Never-Ending Story" which sounds almost Celtic. Another favorite of mine is "Dark Wings" because Sharon's voice is at its best, especially in the chorus, where her voice soars over the instruments in the background. "In Perfect Harmony" is also a favorite, it is different from the rest of the album in that it is a happy, laid-back song. It is about a boy who grows up in the shelter of nature and his peaceful life there. There's nothing metal about this song, but WT pulls it off perfectly. The bonus tracks are also great, featuring a new version of Enter's "Restless" as well as the forgotten "Bittersweet" and the two live favorites, "Enter" and "The Dance".

All in all, a spectacular experience. Whether you're a fan of Nightwish, A Perfect Circle, or Tori Amos, you will enjoy the wonderful music that Within Temptation creates, and I can only cross my fingers and hope that one day they'll come to the US.

Simply beautiful.
After hearing the music of Within Temptation, I have not been able to appreciate any other music as much as I previously had.

Powerful vocals and the contrasting clash between the male and female voices provide a backdrop for the incredible fusion of melodic and metallic that is Within Temptation.

From the songs of heavier Goth/metal to the almost classical beauty of the lighter songs, the natural sounds will leave you breathless.

I'm spreading word of their music to everyone I know, and I haven't met a single person yet, whether they primarily listen to oldies, classical, punk, or anything, who hasn't loved it.

Somewhere beyond Enya, Evanesence, and Rancid lies Within Temptation, and this album is their grand masterpiece.

excellent music
If you like Evanescence, you will love Mother Earth. It is a wonderful album that can carry you away.

Must have
First it was Nightwish...and my eyes were opened. Then Lacuna Coil. And then I found Sharon. This album is sooooooooooooo good. You just have to hear it. I am STILL listening to it on at least a weekly basis after 2 years! I don't know what they're waiting for, but they HAVE to put out a new album. And soon. ... Read more

Reviews (192)

visual audio sensory theater for the mind body & soul
Just as the acronym of the name implies VAST is Visual Audio Sensory Theater in the literal meaning of the words. Visually stimulating presence (in the subconscience) through the audio acrobatics that attack all five senses with an acrobatic theatric ordeal is the ultimate goal of this ambitious musical excursion. Swirling aural textures built out of an array of samples and instrumentation sets the tone for creator/ master-mind Jon Crosby's journey into religious and musical experimentation. The pathway to inner enlightenment begins with the creative layering of synthesized noise and continues onward with a focused, and yet curiously avant garde ideal. Overall, the debut is a powerfully impressionistic work filled with hauntingly beautiful melodies and atmospheric passages of near musical bliss. To attempt pegging VAST as progressive rock meets pop-industrial might be an understatement of the creative nature of the experience. The orchestral passages and chants add to the gothic nature of the sound, while the driving rhythms edge on tribal when added to the fold. Crosby's voice exhudes pain and power simultaneously with hints of commercial rock overshadowed by the emotional outbreak of his cries. The ethereal ambiance displayed through the self-titled release is a testament to musical creativity when one considers the strength of the songwriting overall. Each piece flows with a deliberate force and a driving personality, yet is spiritually encompassing and almost amebic. The entire album is bi-polar, undulating from flighty highs to dreary lows. It's schizophrenic, encompassing opposite extremes simultaneously without a hint of inhibition. It embraces entirely the full range of emotions with musical integrity so strong it could be dissected by college professors and still not be comprehended completely. Enter into the Vast range of musical ideas evoked on the self-titled debut and become Touched by the Flames of Crosby's world.

VAST: the best band no one has heard of..
The debut of Vast, "Visual Audio Sensory Theator", is just what it describes. Twelve tracks that will stimulate your senses and emotions in every which way. Jon Crosby goes through an emotional roller coaster in this album, from pain to ambience, sadness to elation, sin and regret to hope and redemption, and he brings you along for the ride. Vast's music, particulary on this their debut album, is nothing that radio or MTV could ever appreciate in my opinion. It is intelligent, thought-provoking, edgy and genuinely emotional.. here is a list of the songs and a short description of each:
1. "Here", the album starts with a driving dark industrial song 8/10
2. "Touched", An amazing array of ambient rock and industrial,
Crosby's vocals and composure shine brightly 10/10
3. "Dirty Hole", Eerie sampling and strong vocals; haunting 8/10
4. "Pretty When You Cry", A haunting bliss of gothic/industrial; an ecclectic video for this song 9/10
5. "I'm Dying", A delve into spiritual comfort and confusion; a slow, heavy, melodic song 10/10
6. "Flames", A love song on another level; beautifully composed, vocals by Crosby again are amazing 10/10
7. "Temptation", A driving, emotional song about lust and heavy temptations 10/10
8. "Three Doors", A very rhythmic and even catchy song
9/10
9. "Niles Edge", Somber and surreal; brilliant vocals and sampling 10/10
10. "Somewhere else to be", Song of soul searching; again Crosby delivers with thought-provoking, melodic, and versatile vocal talent 9/10
11. untitled, an instrumental masterpiece of progressive rock with choir vocals from Catholic monks 10/10
12. "You", A beautiful ambient song, Crosby's vocals set the tone of hope and love 10/10 total, 113/120
All in all just an amazing album from Vast that will keep you listening, thinking, and feeling.

Sampling????
I found out about this musician (VAST) from the soundtrack of "Step Into Liquid". I instantly recognized the vocals on the song "Touched" as those of Le Mystere de Voix Bulgares. The song being sampled is "Polegnala E Pschenitza". The CD is also named Le Mystere de Voix Bulgares. The entire collection is really beautiful. I saw them live in Brooklyn in '94 and was deeply moved by it.
I don't think that VAST's sampling of Le Mystere's vocals generates an entirely original song even given it's "rock" context.

Brilliant
Fantastic, well produced album, I still listen to it often (purchased almost 4 years ago)

One of the greatest albums ever.
This is an essential to every collection. I definatly recomend this album to anyone who studies music, is a musician in training or is just a huge music lover. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

I love NIN, but this is trash!!!!
I *love* NIN, so don't get me wrong, but this album is a terrible bunch of remixes of Trent Reznor's music by people who are not Reznor. There is maybe one track that he actually worked on. Overall, this is mostly a remix album of some of the weaker songs on "The Downward Spiral". I mean, it does have a remix of "hurt" and "tds", but honestly, does anbody consider "piggy" and "mr. self destruct" to be at the level of "closer," "march of the pigs," and "heresy"? A sorry attempt to cash in on a great alum, and I can't believe Reznor allowed his name to be put on this.

Good, But Too Much Eraser and Self Destruction
This album(and the European counterpart) compliment the Downward Spiral well, but I wish Trent would have remixed all the songs instead of doing 3 remixes of Mr. Self Destruct and 3 of Eraser. I think he should have left off at least one of the Self Destructions, the remix of Hurt(which doesn't sound any different), and the Eraser remixes besides Polite. Instead, he should have remixed the Becoming, I Do Not Want This, A Warm Place, and Big Man with a Gun. They don't have remixes anywhere. If those songs had been remixed and Hurt had a real remix, this would have 5 stars for sure. He also should've included all of the remixes from both versions of FDtS on one disc. I know I've criticised it a lot, but I really do like this album. I like what he's done on the remixes of Piggy and The Downward Spiral. At the Heart of It All feels like A Warm Place Part 2. The Polite remix of Eraser has a clasical vibe to it. The Beauty of Being Numb starts off weird, but gets to be beautiful later into it. Also, if their had only been one part to the Art of Self Destruction I might have liked it better. If you like Nine Inch Nails then you should get this. If not, then why are you reading this?

IF U DONT LIKE IT, U JUST DONT UNDERSTAND IT.
THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM EVER. I HAVE 2,000 CDS, INDUSTRIAL ONES, GOTHIC ONES, ROCK, POP, CLASSICAL, EVERYHTING. AND, AMONG THEM, THIS IS THE BEST CD EVER.
U JUST HAVE TU LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO THIS CD, U MUST UNDERSTAND IT.

The Definition of NIN
I own all the halos (other than 1 and 3...but those aren't exactly the most significant works of Trent); and I honestly feel that halo 10: Further Down The Spiral defines the Nine Inch Nail sound and ideology. I remember buying it when it first came out, and years later today I can still listen to it over and over...it never gets old. It's hard to find an album with that kind of replay-ability (other than all the albums by Puerto Rican Power, of course). "At The Heart of it All" is an incredible track, especially driving alone at night. And all three parts of "The Art of Self-Destruction" combine to create a masterpiece in the Industrial genre. Get this album if you're looking for something that defines the Reznor-experience.

very good remix CD
This was a very good remix cd of NINs. i am a big fan of NIN and i have most of the cds, vhs, and dvds. buts this is probably one of my most listened to remix cds b/c of the Mr. Self Destruct remixs. the whole cd is great to listen to but those 3 songs make this cd worth its money. there are other very good songs one this cd. dont expect much from the eraser remixs though. they arent bad to listen to when you are talking online or driving and not really paying attention too them but they are hard to sit through with nothing else to do. all the other songs are good (piggy,downward spiral,hurt) hurt is also a very good "remix." you have to listen to it back to back with the really song to understand. there is one noise taken out of the song and it makes it sound alot better. but the best song on this cd is "at the heart of it all" by the aphex twin. great song. takes a while to get into it though. ... Read more

Album Description

After their last album 'Empires', the future poppredecessors present their latest effort, an exquisiteelectronic accomplisment with intellectual lyrics fusedwith lively synth lines, throbbing beats, and intricatesequences. 12 tracks. Metropolis ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Futureperfect is a great album, but it doesn't top Empires
VNV Nation's new album Futureperfect is a bit of a departure in sound from Empires, unfortunately. Futureperfect is a very listenable album, but many of the songs just don't have the impact that the ones on Empires had. Genesis and Beloved are the only songs that hit me right away as outstanding. I guess I had high expectations since every track on Empires was a masterpiece. Some of the tracks on here could have been better if only they had the high bpm, energizing feel of Genesis. It's a shame because all of the lyrics on Futureperfect are ingenius, some of VNV's best yet. Hopefully VNV Nation will release a remix album that will pump new life into some of the slower songs. Despite that fault, I highly recommend this album to VNV Nation fans or anyone who likes industrial/EBM. Futureperfect is still a great album that overshadows all of the foolishness found in much of today's music.

Disappointing
I love VNV Nation, but Futureperfect is totally inferior to Empires in almost every respect.

Musically, it sounds almost forceless, bassless and flimsy. This is probably due to the fact that most of the album was made with soft-synths. Previous albums like Praise The Fallen and Empires had music that was far more emotive, made you want to raise your fists in defiance, or cry.

Lyrically, however, it shows a more melancholic side to VNV Nation, however, this is the only respect in which it shines.

You may ask as to why I gave this CD 3 stars instead of two or one. The reason is that VNV is still far better than any form of pop music, and the lyrics are wonderful, and there are two songs that are good (Epicentre and Fearless (Beloved is overrated and far to candy-coated).

Overall, it is not an important purchase except for VNV Fans. If you are just getting into VNV Nation, buy "Empires" instead!

Absolutely Perfect
If I could I wouldn't change a thing about this album! Although I'm quite a fanatic now 'Futureperfect' was my introduction to any kind of Industrial music. I downloaded "Beloved" from the Internet and the first time I heard that song I was positively floored! The words are somewhat melancholy but the bittersweet lyrics are interlaced with melodic EBM and passionate vocals by Ronan Harris and it is the best ballad I have yet to hear by any Industrial band. I tend to gravitate more toward female voxes but he's quickly become a preference of mine. In fact, just behind Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode he is my favorite male singer.

A lot of people associate Industrial music as being repetitious with no emotion but I can assure you that not all groups in this genre sound remotely close to that description. There are many feelings to be felt in VNV Nation's music. 'Futureperfect' doesn't even start with any type of dance beat. Lush string orchestrations open on "Foreword" with a powerful message spoken in English, German and then French (or at least I think) before diving into a pounding rhythm. There are plenty of hits here destined for the Gothic club scene but they truly shine their brightest on their slower numbers. "Holding On", for example, is a moving song and one of their strongest deliveries with gorgeous synth lines and piano chords mingling in with the ever-changing cadence (tempo). Many beautiful instruments can actually be heard throughout the elaborate sequences of this album but whatever your inclination there's enough here to keep any Industrial fan entranced.

From start to finish this record is a glorious triumph... There's no need for skipping tracks, that's for certain.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS!

{FYI: VNV stands for "Victory Not Vengeance"}

It is strong where it is strong
I was overjoyed when I heard that a new VNV CD was being released, but felt let down initally after hearing it. With tracks like Beloved and Hold On I was very happy, but I feel that Fearless and Epicentre are weak where they should be much stronger. The words to fearless just seem king of weak or cheesy would be a better way of describing it.

Stunning, amazing, ridiculously good
This album gives me shivers down my spine every time I listen to it. If you like any music that's vaguely related to VNV Nation, you need to own this album immediately. Please buy it and make your world a better place. ... Read more

Album Description

2002 edition compiled by resident DJ Bruno Lepetre. 14tracks, Jo Manji 'Beyond The Sunset', Lovers Lane 'IslandMemories', Blank & Jones 'Desire' (Ambient Mix) Kalliope'Lunar Landings', So Fine 'A Day In The Sun', Miro 'TheCure' (Sunshine Mix), Rue Du Soleil 'Troya', Soft Wave'Plenitude Part 2', CDM 'Many Rivers To Cross', Time Is The Enemy 'Quantic', Trio Mafua 'Quente', Lazybatusu '8.00 AM', Mr. Swen G. feat. Inusa 'Morning Light' (Coffee Shop Remix) & Digitano & CDM 'Rajamanta'. This CD includes oneinteractive track, where you will see pictures from Ibiza,Cafe Del Mar & his famous sunset sessions. Digipak. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Sublime
This is chill music for the soul, music to live by. One beautiful track after another. It has played non-stop on my various CD players since I got it 5 months ago...and I am not even close to growing tired of it. Rather, it has become like oxygen. I can't live without.

Every CD in the del Mar series is worth its weight in gold, but this one can be weighted with a far more precious metal. I would need to be a poet to say more about this wonderful compilation. But I must mention track 5: it is a highlight among bright stars. Never have I heard such smooth and darkly elegant guitar work, all of course backed by a first-class chill groove.

Plug your soul into this CD...you will be transported to a lovely place.

A New Refreshing Album With A New DJ
Well, I first heard their music from their album VOLUMEN OCHO. Though I really hate the cover, still, the music is wonderful. Then, when this new album arrives, I wonder whether I can buy it or not ( NB : See the prize and you'll know what I mean ). Finally I buy it and I really enjoy it. Everything is nice, the music, the booklet, and mostly, the video they put on this CD. But very unfortunately, the track that is perhaps the best one, Rajamanta ( i.e. last track ), can't play except you turn the video. I really wonder why such an unfortunate thing can happen.
But don't be so dissapointed, the tracks are wonderful. My favorites are :
- Jo Manji : Beyond The Sunset
- Kalioppe : Lunar Landings
- ? : Desire
The others are nice but, for me, not the best. If you are a CAFE DEL MAR's fan, better buy this one.

At last
Finally, a Cafe Del Mar release that measures up to the first few CDs. Very relaxing, excellent chill. The tracks by Lovers Lane, CDM, and Mr. Swen G* are very good. Quantic's "Time Is The Enemy" is my favorite - a good, solid groove surrounded by pretty light and happy tracks. And I think I know what the last few volumes have been missing - a bossa nova track. Lazybatusu fits the bill here. Well done.

-back to the early days of Café Del Mar...
Bruno's best yet- this time with the organic melting-sunset feeling which (until now) only Padilla was able to capture in the earlier volumes.

includes a low budget film (MAC/WIN compatible) separately on the disc.
Café Del Mar fans can alas see what the club looks like.

my faves are:
#3 Desire (dripping with Ibiza calmness)
#5 A Day In The Sun (just right, with no sunburn)
#6 The Cure (the heavenly female-voice kind)
#9 Many Rivers To Cross (play in the desert at sunrise, woah)

This compilation is the slowest of all the Volumes, in my opinion.
(More sun, less sprinkles) But that just means- sit back, relax, let it all go and enjoy...

Bruno's Blissful Magnum Opus
This is maximum chill-out at its unparalleled best. Remember Mantovani?

Every generation has music that allows one to come home at the end of the harsh, mean, travails of the day and 'chill'. Have a Frap. Have an Espresso. Mingle with friends with lively banter. This is music meant to melt the minutia or monstrous maelstroms of the moments of the day magnificently.

These tunes are original to this compilation...my favorite tracks are number 2, "Island Memories (original mix)" by Lovers Lane (listen to this track on a great set of headphones), and cut number 6 "A Day In The Sun" by So Fine (don't get sun burned!), and "8:00 AM" (the signification moniker of the time you'll be heading in to catch some sleep after a night of partying and sun rise gazing after the Baleraic experience).

I own Cafe Del Mar's 1 through 9, and after #5 I was going to stop buying this series because of the same, worn-out, perputual tired formula. This compilation has left me wanting more. Enjoy! ... Read more

Album Description

In his notes for this passionately compiled box, producer Gary Stewart writes, "the diversity from the late-70s punk/new wave scene turned into a full-blown, variety-fueled, genre-busting orgy in the '80s...The music became, in the best sense of the words, more complex, more literate, a bit more serious, and as a result, made astrong impact on mainsteam rock culture." From funk punk to revisionist roots rock to hard-core to smart-ass clever pop-and every musical nook and cranny in-between-Left of the Dial presents many of the '80s' most important tracks. Savor the far more influential flip side of the "Where's the Beef?" decade's musical output! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Love metal? What a Killing Joke!
Love Metal was a great joke in 80's but nobody probably ever thought that someone would took it seriously...man these guys make me laugh! And the music is poor!

Heavy Metal HeadBangers
This CD is a great buy! It's a lot heavier then their other albums, but if you're into metal like my self then I highly recommend you buy this cd...only if your a true H.I.M. fan that is. If you just like them cause their popular, or because BAM said so, or even if your reason is "Well Hot Topic says their cool" then I think you should go back to your Good Charlotte emo crap and stay away from good music all together.The best songs on this album are Fotress of Tears and Sweet Pandemonium. All the songs are great, but those are just my favorites. Anyways, their a great band and if your willing to take a chance and spend the money then I highly suggest you do.

Sheer class.....Sheer Love Metal
I would love to be able to admit to adoring HIM for years and to have discovered their genius by chance but sadly I can't as they were recommended to me by a friend. I asked her if I could borrow "Love Metal"-as she hadn't stopped talking about it for weeks- and she seemed particularly reluctant to part with it. Now I understand why.

Love Metal is a combined work of art and genius. Ville's song writing is brilliant as seen on track such as "Funeral of Hearts", "The Path" or "Circle of Fear". His lyrics are thought provoking, emotional and stir emotion in even the coldest of hearts. He can move you to tears with a verse, or provoke memories of lost love and lust.He has an amazing voice which is equally good live. The musicianship from Gas, Linde, Burton and Migé is brilliant.

For example on "Funeral Of Hearts" the lyrics are timeless and I challenge you to find more poetic and unforgettable lyrics than these "She was the wind, carrying in/All the troubles and fears here for years tried to forget/He was the fire, restless and wild/And you were a moth to that flame".

It is impossible on this album to pick out stand out tracks as each track is brilliant, my personal favorites are "Circle of Fear" and the epic closing track "The Path"

Please do not buy this album because the heartagram looks cool (which admittedly it does) or because Bam Margera is an obsessed fan (not too dissimilar to me in that respect). Buy it because it is brilliant.

Something different??
I love H.I.M., they are my favorite band, Razorblade Romance is my favorite CD of all time, and Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights was great too... so with 2 amazing cds, I bought this one real exited, but when I put it in I heard something way different, They are alot heavier, and they just dont sound the same, Im real disapointed... You guys need to start making 5 star albums again, not this 2 1/2 star crap... any way its ok, if your gonna get it get the other 2 first....

Very Good
I am very happy that my friend told me about HIM about a year ago.HIM is a very different band that is "Love Metal", which is also the title of this CD.Anyways about this CD...To me, it succeeds way more than it doesn't.There are some ballady like songs (Funeral of Hearts, Fortress of Tears) rockish songs (Buried Alive By Love, Beyond Redemption) and some others I don't know how to classify.Well overall this CD is super catchy.A few of the songs took a while to grow on me but now i luv em. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The biggest difference between a kick-ass studio album and a kick-ass live album? Intensity. Live: And All That Could Have Been, recorded on Nine Inch Nails' 2000 "Fragility 2.0" U.S. tour, provides that trait in abundance. It helps that Trent Reznor has a band, instead of just a battery of keyboards, to help him work through 16 tracks of the raging yet surprisingly listenable musical vitriol that made him a star. The live musicians, who allow him some freedom to play with tempo, help kick "Closer" up a notch and lend some atmospheric weight to a slow version of "The Frail." The band rips into older material with gusto; Reznor sounds just as pissed off performing "Head Like a Hole" as he did in 1989. The CD closes with "Hurt," which might seem like an odd choice, but somehow, after everything that's come before, it's like the denouement of a tragedy. While a CD can only capture a piece of NIN's onstage energy, their first live album is an intense, sometimes overwhelming recording, further vindication of NIN's continuing popularity and influence. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (59)

A Live Album That delivers Like No other
Coming off from the "Fragility 2.0" U.S.Tour, Trent Reznor decided to make a 16 track live album that would commemorate the memories of "The Fragile" era. However, what he did was create a complimentary of a "best hits" album that would satisfy any die hard NIN fan old or new.
This was the CD that started my love for Nine Inch Nails or Industrail as a whole. After hearing "Starf*ckers.Inc" on MTV, i liked it immediately. So being the stubborn idiot i was when i borrowed this from a friend, i kept "Starf*ckers" on repeat for 2 days. Then, on the third day i decided to give the other songs a chance, and soon enough, it changed my life.
"And All That Could Have Been" starts off explosively with the loud thundering beats of "Terrible Lie", and ends with the quiet emotional whisperings of "Hurt". Reznor's onstage energy is unmatched elsewhere because it is so raw and pure, the sound itself is original rather than a live version of his studio albums. Theres a wide range of variations in between the 16 songs from the powerful angst of "Head Like A Hole" to a soft moving ballad like "The Great Below". This is even excluding the mysterious instrumentals such as "The Mark Has Been Made" and "The Frail". Although the sounds of the audience are in the mix, they do not interfere with the recording at all. This is the great feature seperating this CD from the live albums of other bands. Reznor incorporates every detail distinctively including his famous ... replacements in between lyrics. Overall, this is a MUST buy for any old NIN fans, but also an outstanding introduction to new NIN fans like me.

One of the best live albums you'll ever buy.
I always wanted Trent to release a live album, after all, you can only fill up on remixes for so long. "And All That Could Have Been" delivers everything a NIN fan would want. The live tracks are of extremely high quality, performed very well and the audience is into every minute of it. All of the usual suspects are included on this 16-track disc (Closer, Hurt, Head Like a Hole, Terrible Lie, Sin, March of the Pigs, Starf***ers Inc., The Day The World Went Away, etc.). There are a few tracks I would have liked to have seen included, such as Something I Can Never Have and Ruiner, but I'm not complaining. The best live versions on here would definetly have to be Hurt and The Day The World Went Away. I've had this CD for two weeks and I've been listening to it all the way through at least twice a day. If you call yourself a NIN fan, you must, I repeat MUST own this album!

Nine Inch Nails-'And All That Could Have Been Live'(Nothing)
Perhaps not the best live CD release in existence,but STILL a fine disc at that.Not sure what is missing,but 'And All That...' does seem to leave something to be desired.Notice that the used stores seem to have a fair share of used copies,but I most certainly plan to hang onto my copy for years to come.The sixteen track CD serves as an audio document of NIN's 2000 U.S. tour,of which I saw and I remember the gig being no less than top rate.Trent Reznor and his four touring musicians appear to draw the listener in with tunes that(more or less)had managed to make NIN a household name.You know,their gems like "March Of The Pigs","The Frail","Wish","Suck","Closer","Head Like A Hole","The Day The World Went Away" and "Hurt".Must admit though,the disc sounds very close to the studio versions of the songs on there of.Overall,I wasn't really disappointed with this disc,but I've heard of a few other fans that somewhat were.

Very good live Nails
The mega-hyped live NIN album seems to get widely mixed critical responses, but I believe it's a fine record and a nice compliment to the excellent DVD. Some of the older tracks such as "Head Like A Hole" and "Gave Up" actually surpass their studio versions. Especially "Sin", the album's highlight, which has even more menace than the original. Many tracks from the Fragile, particularly "The Wretched"" are superior to the album versions. However, many of The Fragile's more forgettable tunes take up time, and a few songs like "Wish" are ruined by a lack of clarity. The setlist has some nice touches with "Suck", and classics like "Piggy", "March of the Pigs", "Closer", "Terrible Lie" and Hurt" are presented with a fresh energy. A damn good live outing.

very well done, as compared to the dvd version
compared to the dvd version, its cd counterpart in a sense does live up to what the dvd did accomplish. overall, the sound on the cd is alot better then on the dvd. for intstance, during a guitar solo in the middle of "gave up", the guitar fades out of its solo and can barely be heard on the dvd version. the cd version cleans that up nicely tho. also, i think the cd was mixed a bit better then the dvd. the backing guitars and vocals were somewhat underpowered as compared to the cd version. i did not totally agree with there decision to cut out complication from the cd version. that instrumental is incredible and would have been nice to hear it on the cd. the day the whole world went away is a bit lame played live. the album version is alot better. i guess they tryed compensating for this by adding a slow, brooding drum beat to the middle of the song to act as a solo/bridge section. the only other gripe i have is the song selection. i thought that songs like perfect drug, mr.self destruct, the fragile, were in this together and other non-commericial songs be included but no dice. i am happy with the version of the fragile that was released on the still cd tho. all in all, i would recommend this to anyone who has even heard 1 nine inch nails song and is willing to give them a listen. you cant really go wrong with this live cd ... Read more

Reviews (150)

not that good
nine inch nails have supplied the listen with great music over the past years, but if these songs are any clue to what the fragile will be, then it doesn't look good for trent. TDTWWA really isn't a good song, unlike what you have heard, it has one of those "standard" rock riffs (listen to local h's "cha!" said the kitty and you'll see. it even sounds like they got it from somewhere else too) and not enough melodicism to keep you interested. starf**kers inc. is definately better, except for what they scream during the chorus, not because of their use of profanity, but because the simple fact that it sounds stupid. the rest of the lyrics of that song are pretty good though. but, unfortuantly, TDTWWA (quiet), like its predecessor, isn't good. it starts off with na na na's VERY similar to the vocals in the chorus of another brick in the wall by pink floyd. now, the guitar riff of the original TDTWWA is forgivable, since there might be a chance trent hasn't heard that particular chord change before, but the na na na's are too similar to ABITW to be ignored. i hope the fragile contains better material than this . . . . .

Decent single, tremendous b-side.
"The Day the World Went Away" isn't the best choice for a single off of the Fragile, at least not the first. Launching with the epic "We're in This Together" or The Fragile's most immediately moving song, "The Great Below", would have probably been better for sales. "World" is a song that doesn't grab you immediately, but will gain your appreciation over time. It's really more of a third or fourth single, as I've heard it rules the show when played live.

As for the extra tracks: "Star*uckers" is a good example of the angry, caustic wit that Trent maintains on the Right disc of The Fragile. It also provides a fair example of the bass-heavy sounds that are common on Right. However, the real gem here is the quiet version of "World", which replaces the thick guitars of the original song with a beefed-up version of the underlying "nah nah nah" chants. Frankly, it's creepy as hell, and it's one of the best b-sides NIN has ever released.

The verdict? A must-have for the devoted Haloists out there, and definitely worth a look for the potential fans who get deterred by Trent's more bombastic tracks. "World" and its Quiet mix might yet make converts.

easily overshadowed but good
Most people would say that this CD is for hardcore halo collectors, and I don't disagree with this. There are three tracks on this single in which two of them can be found on the double-LP the Fragile. The songs are as followed

The Day the World Went Away: this is a great song, that most people say should have more singing. I fully disagree with this thinking that TDTWWA is a well ballanced song, with great lyrics, and all around perfect. It's easy to get stuck in your head, but isn't pop-ish either. Give this track a listen, it usually hooks you from the first listen.

Starf***ers Inc.: I completely hate this song, but I know a lot of people that love it. It's harder then any of the other songs on the Fragile, and most definitly on this cd. For the type of song it has great lyrics, and great music. It just never struck a cord with me. All around alright song, though.

The Day the World Went Away (quiet): The highlight on this cd, this track is far better then the two in which it follows. It lives up to the name, being quiet, and painting a much softer, yet just as powerful, picture in which the original TDTWWA song.This can also be found on one of Halo 15 (either pt. 1 or 2) but, I strongly advise purching Halo 13 (TDTWWA) instead because of the price difference.

I purchased this CD for 1 penny and haven't looked back. It is worth the dollar you'd have to spend to get it here Used though, and I stongly advise it. I hope this has convinced you to purchase this cd, but if it hasn't, that's cool, you'd know if you'd like it better then me.

A number 17 Hit
This was actually a Top 20 hit by Tool I am not actually a big NIN fan but I need that Joe Dirt review to stand
Lyrics 7/10 Production 10/10 Overall 8.5/10

Getting a Taste of The Musical Genius that Would Soon Follow
Released as a teaser single before the greatest album in the world (The Fragile) came out, The Day the World Went Away single doesn't offer much, but here's what you will get.

1. The Day The World Went Away - An excellent song in it's original version as found on The Fragile.

2. Starf**kers Inc. - Pretty much the same version as found on The Fragile. This is my least favorite song on The Fragile, and therefore I could have done without it on the single.

3. The Day The World Went Away (Quite) - An amazing re-working of The Day the World Went Away. The title tells you what you're getting, and it's a great song.

Get this INSTEAD of the We're In This Together Now Pt. 2 single.

I insist everyone who proclaims they enjoy Nine Inch Nails own this, simply because it's associated with the best record in the history of man; The Fragile. ... Read more

Album Description

Dubbed the most complex Assemblage 23 release to date, "Storm" remains true to the upbeat and danceable vibe that A23 is synonymous with. The group's three previous albums quickly made them the most successful American EBM act ever and "Storm" will again propel them above the rest. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

if only all music were like this...
Topping their previous album Praise The Fallen, would normally be quite the task. There was very little room for improvement. I know that a lot of people were worried that Empires would just be a rehash of PTF. I'm happy to say that Empires more than lives up to the task, even surpasing their previous albums in emotion and skill.

All the classic VNV elements are here: harsh electronic beats, sweeping synths and strings, and Ronan's unique vocals. The songs are in the same vein as PTF, about the beauty and darkness of strife and struggle. The first and last tracks, "firstlight" and "arclight" blend together seemlessly (being nearly the same song), creating a cycle of sound and structure unifying the work. It's art. "Darkangel" and "Standing" have already become singles in Europe and are both excellent tracks, VNV's best to date, but other appealing songs include "rubicon" and "distant(rubicon II)." Distant has a slow, drifting sound, free of the assembly-line industrial backbeat so common to VNV. A welcome change of pace.

The duo of Empires and Praise The Fallen will become classics in the EBM world, if they haven't already. stop reading and listen to them already!

A great album...period.
I've been steadily getting more and more into EBM music, and while some of it does tend to get repetitive, there is no denying the intense melodicism and energy that is present in much of it. VNV Nation have certainly mastered the balance between melodic songwriting, harsh arpeggiated dance rhythms, orchestral symphonic ambience, and intelligent lyrics. Having only heard a few tracks from "Praise the Fallen," "Empires," and "Futureperfect" (haven't heard anything off "Advance and Follow" yet), I decided to get the album with the songs most familiar to me, "Empires."

After listening to it from beginning to end, I was impressed with the feeling it gave me. The music fills me with the urge to dance until my legs would fall off, but the vocals made me want to wave my fists in defiance (of what?...anything), and the lyrics made me sad. Ronan Harris' vocal style is rather unique in that he sings as most people deliver speeches...and his lyrics reinforce that sense. His vocabulary and his style of writing is unmatched; nobody writes words in music the way he does. Some people deliver their message through poetry and innuendo...Ronan gets right to the heart of the matter, addressing all the problems with the failed utopian ideals we once held for ourselves, and forcing us to look at the ashes of a fallen metropolis. "Watching Empires Burn" indeed. Granted all of VNV's music seem to possess this message, but only VNV could say it and make it mean something.

"Firstlight" and "Arclight" open and close the album with a mournful tone, giving the impression that all empires end as they began...in ashes. "Kingdom" is my favorite song on the album, with its powerful rhythms and a great chorus. "Rubicon" is my favorite vocal performance on the album. Ronan's voice is heavenly on this song, sad-sounding, but pushing on to continue. "Saviour" is a great instrumental (before now, I only heard the vocal version on "Burning Empires," but now I actually like the instrumental version more). "Fragments" is the harshest song on the album, with Ronan's voice taking an angry turn, while "Distant (Rubicon II)" is a wonderful complement to "Rubicon," taking the more orchestral ambient approach. "Standing" is the big hit from the album, and is just a beautiful song. It's great to dance to and it's great to sing with. "Legion" and "Darkangel" are high-energy, and a great way to close out the album before "Arclight" comes in to finish things off.

After hearing "Empires," I'm eager to check out "Advance and Follow," "Praise the Fallen," and 'Futureperfect" in their entirety. VNV's music is just that good. It's simple, but so powerful, and "Empires" is the perfect example of music's ability to induce feelings not normally felt through EBM. It makes you want to dance, yes...but it also makes you want to fight...not with violence, but with ideas. Futurepop never sounded so good.

Dark, Beautiful, Harsh, Melodic, Euphoric
This CD is quite simply VNV Nation's masterpiece. A brooding, agressive CD filled with anger, angst, hatred and death.

Empires is a concept album, based upon the axiom that all empires end in the same way as they begin: The ashes of destruction and the fires of war. As the CD makes its way through the explosive idealism of Kingdom, the ecstatic machinations of Saviour, the solemn tension of Standing and Legion, and eventually the horrific destruction of Darkangel, the reader is subjected to emotional assaults such as feelings of power, helplessness, horror, triumph and anguish.

These emotional assaults are due to two factors, these being the music, and the lyrics. The lyrics are dark, highly intelligent, poetic, and genuinely deep, with a feeling of a blend between Hitler speeches and Joy Division.

However, it is the outstanding music that has to be given credit for the majority of the CD. VNV Nation sound like a mixture between Industrial, Synthpop and Classical music and, for some reason, go well with all three kinds. The Industrial element is the percussion and basslines, which are (for EBM) harsh, arpeggiated, distorted and raw. Such a savagery requires a heavy element of melody to balance it, and this is done perfectly with the Synthpop and Classical elements. This is very similar to Wolfsheim, Iris and the less minimalist synth groups, with a very thick sound, heavily exploiting its artificiality. However, with the mechanical sounds are a large amount of Strings and orchestral instruments, giving a usually mechanical style of music a very human and organic feel. Furthermore, the structure of the music is very Orchestral, bestowing upon it the epic nature that makes this CD so unutterably breathtaking.

Empires sounds like the Berlin Symphony Orchestra at a Bauhaus Concert being massacred by chainsaw-wielding Nazis. This is a compliment of the highest order.

Whatever deficiencies that Praise The Fallen had are completely remedied here. The percussion is far less basic on this album, and many more songs manage to sound balanced, as opposed to overly synthy or overly industrial.

I cannot express my adoration for this album enough. This album is the perfect example of modern EBM. Less minimalist than the original style, and far more complex. This is the Front By Front of the new millenium.

< Rubicon >
Empires is without any doubt an electro/industrial masterpiece. The entire album is full of extremely catchy beats, brilliant song structures, and Ronan Harris's memorable vocals. Empires is distined to remain a genre-defining classic in the forthcoming decades. I have had this album in constant play since I purchased it a few years ago, and still don't seem to get tired of it. What some people may not know about is that there is a sister release, called "Burning Empires" (also released in 2000) which includes several remixes, a couple of great new songs and the excellent vocal version of Saviour. Unfortunately though Burning Empires has been out of print for some time now, and quite difficult to find.

The best album for anyone
The lyrics, the vocals, the melodies, the soundscapes, the songwriting. It's all here. It's all neatly packaged into this compact disc for you and the rest of the world to enjoy. If you don't want to cry for the sake of other artists that just aren't up to this material, you need to be shot. I mean that. Just tell your friends to shoot you.

Second, arclight is the greatest song ever. No, really, it is. People who hate long introductions to songs skip over this song, and that makes me sad. I hate those people. I want to cry now. Look at what you people have done.

Just buy this album. You will question you past after you listen to it. You will love these songs. P.S. if you don't think that "standing" is a good song, let your friends put another bullet in your head. ... Read more

Album Description

European edition of single for this smash from Trent's hit debut from 1989. Contains different cover art than the U.S. release & three mixes of 'Head Like A Hole': Slate, Copper &Opal, the last of which is not on the American release. 1990TVT release. Slimline jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Opalicious
Just leave the 'Opal' mix of Head Like A Hole on repeat and you will never tire of it. Definitely worth the extra bucks.

The people giving this 5 stars are liars
Pretty Hate Machine era remixes aren't good. This has basically the same junk that you're going to find on the 10 song Head Like A Hole remix album. This is really unnecessary even if you are a collector. I've been a NIN-fanatic for about 3-4 years and at one point in time I had everything they released because I felt the need to complete the whole set of Halo's. I was a NIN-sheep, what can I say. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Don't buy this.

Opal = Credibility
Can you believe that this came out in 1989???

Anyway, this single has a special place in my heart as I picked it up very early and it was on constant rotation before my performances as an actor. Yes, I could have put on the other Maxi-single version with like, 10 Head Like A Hole versions, but the Opal version, available only here, is really fantastic.

A credible, simply brilliant song and single, worth the dough even for medium-level NIN fans...

Yes, it is that good
I hate to say the exact same as everyone else... but I will anyway. Get this CD just for the "Opal Mix" - it is that good. Completely different - awesome.

Besides, look at the cover, isn't that just friggin' wild?!?!

Opal yourself!
True NIN fans would get this for their collection, mainly because the first two songs are on the US version of it. Thankfully, he chose the best two to put on the import version, along with a all new, awesome, dark remix of HLAH. This may remind you even of a Meat Beat Manifesto song, but without a doubt, it's a excellent cd for a NINie to own. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Front Line Assembly enlists Kirsty Thirsk of the Rose Chronicles for a heavenly ambient house project. Trance that bounces with beauty and energy. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (45)

An incredible, complete album
Delerium completely changed their sound with this record. Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber combined pure synth hooks, slow moving basslines, and great chant samples to create amazingly sensual, trancey ethereal music. Two songs have lyric vocals, Flowers Become Screens and Incantation. Flowers Become Screens is arguably one of the best dance-pop songs of the 90's. Unfortunately, when the album was released, Nettwerk Records was short on cash and didn't have the resources to promote the album as much as its follow-up, the equally good, but more vocal, Karma. The song has simple drum and bass lines, and amazing vocals from the wide-ranged Kristy Thirsk, formerly of Rose Chronicles. Incantation is more of the same. Both are great tracks. The non-vocal songs are pure sonic ectasy. VERY complex layered tracks with a lot going on - multi-dimensional, for sure.

The Gregorian Chants in THIS album were sampled. Enigma was NOT sampled on this record, contrary to the claims of a previous reviewer. There are some similar hooks and feels, but Enigma somewhat defined this genre, but Delerium CLEARLY one-ups the entire field with this record. Enigma, by comparison (even MCMXC a.d.), is too poppy, too commercial, too forced. This is a purely good record based on the talents of the authors.

(BTW: Karma has fewer samples; they rented out a church in Vancouver and had real authentic monks sing their chants!)

If you'd like an in-depth song-by-song review, please check out the official web page at http://www.delerium.com - I have my full review posted in the discography.

But, in summary, if you like Enigma or Deep Forest, you will LOVE this album.

PS: If you like this album and/or Karma, I HIGHLY recommend Intermix's Future Primitives, which is a side-project of Leeb/Fulber (the same guys as Delerium) and recorded at the same time as Semantic Spaces, and basically could've been another Delerium album. I also highly recommend the upcoming Conjure One album, the new project by Rhys Fulber solo.

Rick

Incredibly marvellous.
No one compares to Delerium. And if they have to "steal" some samples from other artists to create such achingly beautiful_dreamy landscapes, let them do it. It's such a rare thing, nowadays, to have top notch quality music in the music market. In short, this is one of the best album of all time, and I really mean it. As I first heard "Incantation" i thought:"This is the finest piece of dance music ever made". Three years have passed and still this album represents the peak of my music collection. Listen. Dream. Feel.

Out With the Old; In With the New
So said Bill Leeb and his co-hort Rhys Fulber when they sat down in the studio to record this album. Banishing their Front Line Assembly meets Clock DVA sound from previous Delerium efforts, Bill and Rhys put on their Enigma hats and made a trance/dance/electro album that tries to please everyone. And they almost did, too. Though this effort turned off some fans of FLA and Delerium of old, it also made some new ones. The club hit "Flowers Become Screens" made this album a must buy for many a college clubber. The rest of the album is all well and good, with Billa and Rhys using precision programming skills and piracy to create an ethereal landscape of marvelous electronica. Though some of the songs run a little long (clocking in at 10 minutes or so), the music is just good, complex, and full enough to pull it off. Their next album Karam further capitalizes off this Enigma sound, employing the beautiful voice of Sarah McLachlan to make an insta-hit (Silence) that have Delerium an even bigger fan base. Karma is truly their masterpiece, while Semantic Spaces was their epiphany. Delerium would continue to make more poppier sounds with Poem and Chimera, two albums this reviewer can hardly listen to, especially when I can just listen to the much superior Karma or Semantic Spaces.

One last thought: As a longtime fan of Front Line Assembly (which is how I learned of Delerium), the popularity of the recent Delerium albums is astounding. If you are curious about what Bill and Rhys were known for back in the 80s, check out their re-released FLA ablums State of Mind or Corrorded Disorder. And if you just love the newer Delerium ablums, you might also like the newer FLA material like Epitaph. It's more agressive, and the lyrics are pretty silly at times, but it can be a fun ride.

good but can be better
Semantic Spaces is a good album and at best, really enjoyable.
Some really enjoyable tracks in the album are "Incantation" and "Flowers become screens". I wish though Delerium could've put in more of a gothish and creepier sound to the album.

Great CD but track 9 doesn't work well!!
I love Delerium. I love this CD. But track 9 skips. I returned the CD and recieved a new one, and it still skips. Buy the CD, it's great, just don't get too attatched to track #9. That is the reason this CD hasn't recieved 5 stars. Tracks 1-8 are terrific. (Tracks 1 (Flowers become screens),5 (Consensual worlds) and 8(Sensorium) being my favorite. Delerium's music is soothing and fun to listen to. I love to listen to it as I fall asleep and when i'm in the car.(Also, everywhere else!)
Buy this album if you like Delerium or enchanting music! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is the Cure album to start with. Robert Smith and company's best and most coherent statement, The Head on the Door is a successful, if schizophrenic, synthesis of the best of '80s rock, boasting danceable Eurobeat anthems ("In Between Days"), world-music-flavored exotica ("Kyoto Song," the Latin-tinged "The Blood"), and more sullen statements of post-modern angst from the band that gave you such downer epics as Faith and Pornography. More than any other Cure album, Head rewards those who don't subscribe to the darker side of the group's ethos. The use of Spanish guitar and other colorful arrangement touches help to create a rich dynamic. The softer, more introspective cuts (like the claustrophobic "Close to Me," Smith's confessional classic) are also far more effective for them. --Don Harrison ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Pure Cure...at its finest!
Whenever I hear the first drum beats of this album, I get a smile on my face. Since listening to this album for the first time in the winter of '86, I've savored every note, every word, every emotion, every second. It is truly one of the finest releases of the '80's, yet the music really is timeless. It's a happier Cure than found on "Faith", "Pornography", or "Seventeen Seconds". Don't get me wrong, those albums are excellent, but "Head On The Door" was a new direction for Robert Smith and company. The lyrics on this album are still dark, twisted, and thought provoking like earlier albums, but they are matched with a lighter, happier sounding music. Even on tracks like "Sinking", and "A Night Like This" where the images are dark and brooding, the music is unlike any they've done before. I love this album. It always seems fresh and vibrant...even after all these years (15 to be exact) "The Head On The Door" still makes me happy to be a Cure fan.

Track highlights from "The Head On The Door"? Hmm, they're all great but if I had to pick..."InBetween Days", "Six Different Ways", "A Night Like This", "Push", and "Kyoto Song". Some of the Cure classics by far.

Although the Cure has come to the end of the road in what has been an amazing musical career, I thank the musical gods that looked upon Robert Smith, Laurence Tolhurst, Porl Thompson, Simon Gallup and Boris Williams during the making of this excellent album. Five stars? Nah, I give it six.

Idiot pop at it's best!
Simple, honest, passionless but worth-while all the same. This was the first Cure record I purchased. I was 10, the year was 1985. When you hear this CD you will know that it was made in the 80's. Still, it IS a Cure classic and for the most part I still love it. Now that I bought the CD version from Amazon it sounds even better than the record ever did. You'll instantly fall in love will "Inbetween Days" and the longest intro ever to a song "Push". It's got a cool version of "Close to me" on it. This version doesn't have the horns at the end like the single version that you always hear does. "When a baby screams" and "Screw" will also grow on you as will "Six different ways". The finale is "Sinking" which seems to be either a throwback to Faith or a stepping stone for Disintegration. Anyway, if you buy it, and listen to it, you WILL love it. Let the keyboards and over-toned guitars take you away.

almost 20 years gone by...
Wow, hard to believe. I grew up with this album.

The new album "The Cure" has me breaking out my Cure collection. This album is a masterpiece of pop songcraft, and still has enough of an edge to keep it intriguing all these years. The production sounds a bit dated and tinny, but that should be fixed real soon as The Cure get ready to release the re-masters later in 2004.

There's not a bad song on this album. It's a great place to start if you are interested in getting into The Cure. This is the album that they splashed big with in the US. Then you could work your way backwards and forwards to fill in the gaps. I would give it 5 stars, if not for what was to come in the future...

Solid from start to finish.
An upbeat solid work, all the songs are memorable, if you only want one CD from The Cure, this is it.

Can't get tired of it!
This isn't the best Cure album by any means, but boy is it good. It's one of those RARE albums where every track is listenable (and re-listenable). I disagree with those who say THOTD is incoherent, part of it's charm is the fact that it takes you to different places. However, this is an exceptionally short affair, and when the final track "Sinking" closes out, it leaves you wanting more. Just listen to "Push", "The Blood", or "The Baby Screams" and realize that you will never be that creative. Best songs are all of them, end of story. If you don't own THOTD, you should! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

All should love, love metal
Hi, I'm a 17 year old from australia. I believe that HIM could be bigger in this country if they came to Australia for a tour, but thats beside the point.
First HIM graced the world with "greatest love songs, Vol. 666", then with "razorblade romance", then "deep shadows and brilliant highlights" (which contained 'heartache every moment'- undoubtedly HIM's best song),next was "love metal" and just when the world thought that no more could be done...they were right, so HIM came out with "and the love said no" an album full of their greatest hits... I would recommend this CD to annyone who loves music and meaningful lyrics...

old and new HIM fans alike...
...will get something out of this album. a couple of barely different mixes of songs for those who pay too much attention to detail, like myself, two new songs including neil diamond's "solitary man", whose presence negates the need to buy the solitary man single, unless you're a package freak like myself, and a six song live dvd, all from the "love metal" album spark enough interest in us, the long time fans to spend around $35.
new listeners will get all the basics it takes to have a make-out-and-die-crying party.
to really get the best though, you NEED the singles collection, to which the only downside is the lack of enhanced cds, and the albums. make sure "razorblade romance" has "sigillum diaboli" and "one last time", and "love metal" must be the imported enhanced limited version.
HIM are being teases and they need to release everything in america, and a dvd. i know they have videos. they need to share them with the metal fans in america. in finland it's the pop kids that like HIM. i don't get it either.
in short, buy this. if you like HIM or gothic music at all, it'll be worth it.

Great band, Great CD
Being as this band is my favorite band im gonna love all their songs. This cd is unique yet not unique. it comes with 14 previously released tracks and comes with two unrealeased tracks, and they are: Solitary Man which they covered from another band, but they made it better>haha<, And also: And Love Said NO, The title track. The dvd is what makes this CD so appealling. Ville Valos voice is Beatiful in studio tracks but wait until you hear his live tracks ON DVD they are great. Buy this cd if you are a HIM fan, Buy this cd if you like Daniel Lioneye And especially if you like The 69 Eyes. Valo IS AWESOME. BUY THIS AMAZING COLLECTION!!!!. Dont forget to buy these other titles: HIMs amazing first CD Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666, HIMs second CD Razorblade Romance, HIMs third CD Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights And of course HIMs fourth and best Love Metal. GREAT BAND, Great Cd

BEST CD EVER!!
I bought this CD and even though I already had every song on it, it was like hearing the songs for the first time. It's All Tears is great on this cd. The DVD has awesome footage from Semifinal. A must have for anyone thats either been listening to HIM for a while or is brand new to them. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Another brilliant set of obsessive musings pried from Robert Smith's fuzzy navel. Epic elegies ("From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea") and tuneful romps ("Friday I'm In Love") are classic Cure cuts--Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (59)

The last, good Cure album
Hard to believe it's been 10+ years since this album was released. I first purchased it on cassette in 1992 and later on CD when the cassette literally wore itself out. To me "Wish" is the last, really good album by this group, with later efforts like "Wild Mood Swings" badly missing the mark. Often mis-classified as a Goth band, I rather think Robert Smith and The Cure simply tap into the quiet veins of sorrow and tragedy that run through every human life. It's not a bad thing, it's not a Goth thing, it just is. And while "Wish" is punctuated with occasional uppy songs like "Friday I'm in Love", the pieces that really soar are (of course) the sad ones: "Apart", "Letter to Elise" and the epic "To Wish Impossible Things". I once told someone that The Cure is the greatest break-up band of all time, and I stand by that assertion. "Wish" is a grand demonstration of everything that makes The Cure great, right before things started to go downhill. I've since heard rumors that The Cure are no more, that "Bloodflowers" is their last hurrah. If so, I choose to remember "Wish" as their last, best effort.

One Of The Best Cure Albums........................
This is one of my favorite Cure albums. Just as I thought that The Cure had matured greatly with "Disintegration", I was hit with "Wish". I have always loved Robert Smith's slow, sad, dark, passionate songs and this album delivers my very favorites. "Apart" is song that if you have experienced a broken heart, you are guaranteed to cry. "Trust" is song that will make you thinking about THE ONE. It is a perfect wedding song. "To Wish Impossible Things" is a song that makes you think about the LOVE that we are looking for that may not exist. I have my moments with all three songs and they have always made me cry, especially at low times. Robert Smith sings out of passion and with every song, it seems that he is truly feeling what he is singing about. There are not many groups with such passion. "Open", "From The Edge Of the Deep Green Sea", "Cut", and "End" are both very dark and powerful. "High" and "Friday I am In Love" need no introduction since they are singles of the album. "Wendy Time", "A letter to Elise" and "Doing The Unstuck" are fantastic to relax and listen to. THis is a must have for all and not just the die hard fans like my self.

Dark meets Pop
I think this is the CD where the band reaches the pop frontier.
Songs are great from the first to last one. Here they show that they can make really up and happy songs as they can go down the hill with ultra dark and heavy tunes like Apart or End. It's really weird if you realise that tracks like "End" and "Friday i'm in love" are part of the same disc. This was the cd that really made me like Cure, because I wasn't used to their prior works. After this I started liking all of them, but this one is special for me.

I WISH all music could be like this
The only reason this CD gets 4 stars and not 5 is b/c of the exclusion of This Twilight Garden. I'm a believer that all Cure albums are good/great in some way, and Wish is great. From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea will knock you on your a*s every time you hear it, it's that good. Open, Apart, End, Cut (yea!), and To Wish the Impossible Things are all classic Cure tracks. This is the best "starter" CD for new Cure fans - not as depressing as Disintegration, and not as frightening as [adult relations]. If you don't this, what are you thinking?

BEST OF BOB
ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT MOST CURE FANS WILL DISAGREE, "WISH" IS PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE CURE CDs. OK, SO "FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE" IS A LITTLE TOO COMMERCIAL FOR MY TASTE; IT IS FUNNY! AND I, FOR ONE, CAN USE THE COMIC RELIEF WITHIN THIS STRANGE AND DARK JOURNEY THROUGH ROBERT SMITH'S MANIC-DEPRESSIVE MIND.

THIS IS MOSTLY A VERY DARK CD (BUT AREN'T THEY ALL, REALLY?)--LONLINESS, LOSS, DESPAIR, "FORCED" DRUNKENNESS, HATRED.... SMITH EXPRESSES DESPAIR AT WHAT HIS LIFE (AS AN MUSICICAN/POET) HAS BECOME, REMORISE AT HOW HE MUST BEHAVE IN ORDER TO MAKE OTHERS HAPPY (LOVERS, MANAGERS, FANS, ETC.).

BUT MY FAVORITE SONG ON THE ALBUM IS "LETTER TO ELISE." IT IS SO SAD, SWEET AND DELICATE, LIKE A VICTORIAN-ROMANTIC POEM OF LOST/UNREQUITED LOVE. IN FACT, IT REMINDS ME, UNCANNILY, OF MY FAVORITE POET, CHARLES ALGERNON SWINBURNE'S POEM "FELISE?" COINCIDENCE? I DON'T THINK SO...EITHER WAY, "LETTER TO ELISE" IS BITTER-SWEET, TEAR-INSPIRING, SADLY PERMENANT....

I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED ROBERT SMITH TO BE A MUSICAL AND POETIC GENIUS, AND THIS ALBUM PROVES IT, ONE MORE TIME, AS SURELY AS "DISINTEGRATION" AND "FAITH." ... Read more

Amazon.com

A testament to the Cure’s explosive creativity, Join the Dots is also an ode to the band’s remarkable consistency. Spanning the group’s entire career, it’ll keep fans happily burrowing away for hours; days, even. Disc 1 concentrates on Robert Smith’s early growth spurts, when his jerky goth-pop blossomed with depth and savvy. Disc 2 recycles some of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’s motifs (there’s a touch of "A Thousand Hours" in "Breath," for instance), and pays tribute to their early-90s Mixed Up Madchester phase with "Harold and Joe." Elsewhere, there are covers of "Young Americans," Depeche Mode’s "World in My Eyes," "Purple Haze," and three versions of the Doors’ "Hello I Love You," as well as more recent material like an acoustic version of "Maybe Someday" from 2000’s Bloodflowers. The handsome packaging features a complete career retrospective partially narrated by Smith himself. As a capstone to a brilliant career, Dots is a sublime walk down memory lane for tortured hearts and melancholy moods. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (64)

the cure's b-sides and other rareties
When I heard that the cure was going to release their b-sides I was excited about the box set.CD one is probably the least favorite of mine. CDs three and four are probably the best of the 4 cds. Japanese Dream the radio edit is the not as good as the 12"inch mix. It would have been nice if they would have included the remix instead of the edit. Hello I love you, the world in my eyes, purple haze were great covers with the cures psychedelic feel too them. Out of this world, maybe someday, just like heaven were all great remixes. One of my favorite songs is "burn" from the crow soundtrack. There are a lot of good songs on this box set. Overall, this is a great collection of songs from the cure which I know everyone will enjoy.

An Excellent Set
Robert Smith (and all the Cures - past and present - with whom he has collaborated) offers a gem of a collection with this release.

Unless you were lucky enough to find some of these songs on the cassette version of the "Standing On A Beach" collection or on import vinyl 12" singles, many will be brand new to you. But whether you have heard bits and pieces or not, this collection is truly amazing in its scope and sound quality. Hearing the early songs "cleaned up" for compact disc makes this set well worth the price of admission.

Also, some Cure fans will no doubt remember a handful of these songs as the "in-between bits" from the VHS "Staring at the Sea -The Images" (especially "Throw Your Foot" which showed Robert walking around in what appeared to be a drug-induced state) and having them all in one place really is a treat.

Standout tracks are "I'm Cold", "Throw Your Foot", and "2 Late." Disc four gets a bit indulgent: the Depeche Mode re-make is interesting and signifies well on the original, but it's a bit severe. I do not, however, feel that this detracts from the set as a whole. After all, isn't The Cure rather severe?

All in all, there is plenty by which to be impressed. This will be a welcome addition to any Cure fan's collection (and even to collections of neophyte Cure fans).

Definitely worth buying. No doubt. Order it today.

Get it for the remastering alone!!!!!!!
I have never, ever rated anything on Amazon, but I couldn't wait to review this. If you are a Cure fan, you simply MUST buy this box set! The remastered B-sides alone are worth the money. I can't remember how many times over the years I've longed for a better quality sound than the analog--now you have it. You can finally hear what the undertones are on some songs. Amazing...what a wonderful collection and high quality, I just can't recommend it enough. Get it for yourself or your favorite Cure fan. I PROMISE you you will not regret it!!!!!!!!!!!

You can't go wrong with this box set!
If you are a lover of The Cure you need this! It has some songs you might not have heard before, and some remixes of familiar favorites like A Forest, Just Like Heaven, etc. This will keep me occupied until their new CD comes out this month :)
It comes in a lovely hard cover book format. It has 2 CD's in front, 2 in back, and 76 pages of various photos, as well as notes and stories on the songs included.

It's Awesome! I only have two complaints :)
Where is "Cult Hero" and "I Dig You". Those songs rock and there now where to be found. I see some people don't like the review, but I was just curious as to why those two songs were not included that's all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're going to pitch a movie about cyber-revolutionaries to plugged-in audiences, you'd best mind your MP3s and BPMs when choosing soundtrack selections. The cynical wireheads who flock to such high-tech conspiracy flicks as Brazil and Hackers are thrillseekers of the highest caliber, and The Matrix soundtrack meets this challenge faster than a speeding cyborg. The opener, Marilyn Manson's anti-consumerism rant "Rock Is Dead," paints an aural portrait of urban decay. Ominous sirens permeate the Propellerheads' drum 'n' bass track "Spybreak!"; mournful piano alternates with hard shiny beats on Rob D's "Clubbed to Death"; and Meat Beat Manifesto fills "Prime Audio Soup" with enough bleeps to make one imagine being trapped inside a motherboard in Hell. It may sound dismal, but the friction permeating this compilation of techno, grindcore, and heavy metal is energizing enough to make fans of these genres feel the same unity as a clandestine community of hackers. --Kristy Ojala ... Read more

Reviews (294)

Sounds great, even to a techno-newbie...
I don't have too much experience with electronica/techno music, but after seeing the movie, I decided I had to have this soundtrack. Though many of the songs can be found on other albums, this is perfect as a compilation of several excellent artists. I bought it for the Propellerheads' "Spybreak!" and Rob D's "Clubbed to Death" (the combination of the piano and the dance beat works very well), and found such gems as the tracks by Marilyn Manson, Prodigy, Deftones, and Lunatic Calm. All in all, this fits the movie perfectly and is great for those days when you just need to get a lot of power and rage out of your system... Comments to above reviews: Massive Attack doesn't usually allow their music to be added to soundtracks (very unfortunate, I know), and "Wake Up" can be found on Rage Against The Machine's self-titled album.

Deconstructing 'The Matrix'
I almost enjoyed this soundtrack more than the film, which was also entertaining despite the fact that I was expecting the typical Hollywood-violence. The soundtrack defies the current "grab-bag" mentality labels seem to be using to assemble soundtracks. I think the selection of songs and artists was a logical and brilliant one.

I believe that the "rock-meets-electronica" combination is effective here where it has failed so many other times. The remix of Rob Zombie's "Dragula" is a hyper-kinetic anthem washed in a blood bath of synthesizer effects that is both intoxicating and danceable. While "Du Hast" by Rammstein propels itself along with its razor-edged guitar riffs and computerized blips (in case anyone does not speak German, the song is about renouncing wedding vows). But the most pleasant surprise to me was the instrumental "Clubbed to Death" with its nimble piano, dark strings, and propulsive bass beats. This song is the "diamond in the rough."

Other highlights include older tunes from the Deftones (who I may now have to purchase - their song "My Own Summer" kicks hard) and the Prodigy's "Mindfields" from their TECHNOlogical breakthrough THE FAT OF THE LAND.

I recommend this soundtrack HIGHLY.

Kinetic. Aggressive. Dark.

Sorry about the confusion
yipeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! this was good. I espesially liked that one song by Rammstein. I also liked that one by Rage. the others are crap exept Club to death which has kind of a morbid title but it rocks your socks. oooooooooooooooooooo mayralin manson is a he/she. when i was listning to Club to death I tried to do t. the matrix sound track was good. i thought the matrix soundtrak was totally rad. just kidding. but not really.

Almost perfect
I dont hate ANY song on this album. In fact I love just about every single song, most of my favorite bands from the electronica/metal scene are on this album. From Ministry's "Bad Blood" (which will wake you up, I can assure you) to Rob Dougan's modern masterpiece "Clubbed to Death" this soundtrack will give you engery!

1. Rock Is Dead, Marilyn Manson- (metal) Not his best song by far, still not bad, we know what he sounds like... 8/10
2. Spybreak, Propellerheads- (electronica) the music from the goverment lobby scene, very upbeat with a bit of spy thrown in... 9/10
3. Bad Blood - Ministry (metal) takes some getting used to, but once you get used to the noise its good... 8/10
4. Clubbed to Death [Kurayamino Mix], Rob Dougan- (classical, electronica) Beautiful, a masterpiece, i have never tired of this song, one of my favorite songs of all time, Rob Dougan is a god, check out his CD and you can hear him sing! also known as 'The woman in the read dress song'... 11/10
5. Prime Audio Soup, Meat Beat Manifesto- (elcetronica) just the name of the band rocks, good example of early 90's dance scene... 10/10
6. Leave You Far Behind, Lunatic Calm- (electronica/ techno) this song is used in many soundtracks, energizing and fast... 10/10
7. Mindfields, The Prodigy- (electronica) awesome song, awesome band to be sure to check out there CD, The Fat of the Land, perfect example of late 90's British dance music... 10/10
8. Dragula [Hot Rod Herman Remix], Rob Zombie- (metal/ industrial electronica) PURE ENERGY, this song packs quite a punch, insanly good... 10/10
9. My Own Summer (Shove It), Deftones- (electronica i guess) I never really liked Deftones, the song sorta drags, with no real structure, not my favorite... 7/10
10. Ultrasonic Sound, Hive- (industrial electronica) another song with bite, can really lose yourself in this song... 9/10
11. Look to Your Orb for the Warning, Monster Magnet- (electronica (?)) strange song, very dark, grundgy, me like! 8.5/10
12. Du Hast, Rammstein- (Metal/Elecetronica) wow, another one of my all time favorite songs, its in German of course, first time i heard it the voice made me jump, this will really get the heart pumping!... 10/10
13. Wake Up, Rage Against the Machine- (metal) not a big fan of rage, but I do like this song, the guitar of this band is amazing, but i dont like the singer very much, its a great ending to the movie and soundtrack! ... 8/10

all in all it gets alot of my favorite artists, but it's a shame bands like Crystal Method (who really deseveres to be on this album (if u like this album be sure to check out Vegas)) and Chemical Brothers arent on here...and of course a dozen metal bands...

its worth the money, almost every song is worth the price of the album!

I work on PC, and the best music to make best work is this!
I work on PC, and the best music to make best work is this! ... Read more

Album Description

The anxiety and long wait are over at last: Skinny Puppy have kept their promise, returning with vengeance with The Greater Wrong Of The Right, a comeback that could hardly have turned out more consistent or more convincing!

The Greater Wrong Of The Right is a breathtaking continuation down the path that Skinny Puppy had embarked with1996’s The Process. The experiments of the past few years have not been forgotten or faded out: in their condensed, highly energetic form they influence an album that impresses first and foremost with its energy, power and stringency.

Although all the elements of the Skinny Puppy history have been integrated into the ten new tracks, their complexity and divergence develop little by little, in typical Skinny Puppy style:Demanding up-tempo tracks like I’mmortal or Pro-test with its brilliant rap elements face spread-out, intricate little masterpieces like Ghostman, which continue to put the band’s imitators in their place.

Still, The Greater Wrong Of The Right is an album that fortunately lacks any kind of anachronism or supposed nostalgic flair: with the support of a new generation of musicians, like Tool’s Danny Carey (acoustic drum on Use Less) or Wayne Static of Static-X (vocals on Use Less) it is, with all its dark brilliance, already one of the most outstanding albums of the year - and another milestone in the history of an exceptional band.

There can be no doubt that Skinny Puppy with their complex soundscapes, which have influenced whole generations of bands, count among the spearheading representatives of the so-called ‘electronic body music’ movement of the mid-Eighties.

The Greater Wrong Of The Right proves that Skinny Puppy remain one of the most innovative new electro act of this or any decade! ... Read more

Reviews (129)

Another incarnation of Puppy
That I enjoyed this album so much on my initial listen gave me some concern. It is, I believe, the most accessible music Puppy has ever released. The sound is cleaner and contains little that I would call truly abrasive. While most Puppy albums end with a track of barely structured noise, TGWOTR ends with a fairly normal song, replete with melodies, vocals, and beats. The lyrics are softer, more intelligible, and more melodic. Even the rhythms border on danceable. Previous Skinny Puppy albums have always been challenging and required a few listens before I could appreciate them, so hearing an album this polished was cause for disconcertion.

However, I believe the Puppy is still in there. The elaborate textures of noises, pops, whirs, clicks and screes characteristic of cEvin Key; the mixture of animalistic screams and bizarrely syncopated, stream-of-consciousness singing characteristic of Nivek Ogre; the slow synths, punching drums and noisy motifs; they're all in there. However, rather than any one element or even collection of elements, I think it's the intricate dynamics with which the layers of sounds intermix that results in a listening experience that I can still uniquely identify as Skinny Puppy.

Like The Process, I know that many old Puppy fans have been and will be disappointed by this album. I will go out on a limb and guess that much of the disappointment is caused by the change of their overall sound rather than any atrophy of their musical abilities. TGWOTR is dark, but it doesn't have that horror movie, gee-my-mind-is-a-scary-place-and-OH-MY-GOD-SOME-DUDE-IS-RIFLING-THROUGH-MY-VISCERA-WITH-A-HACKSAW atmosphere that permeates Puppy albums up until Last Rights. Admittedly, the deeply disturbing atmosphere is something I sorely miss and I can scarcely fault those fans that have lost interest now that it's gone.

The change in direction Puppy has taken with TGWOTR is hardly surprising, especially when taking their last album into consideration. Mark Walk has jumped on board. Walk's work in Ruby and Ohgr has always had an impeccably polished, electronic sound. Walk, along with Key's increasing involvement with minimalist electronica, have imparted a far more Pop-ish, clean, electronic feel to TGWOTR than earlier Puppy. Ogre has replaced much of the distortion on his voice with rapid edits, thick layering, and actual melodies. His style of vocals is roughly consistent with his last four albums; at least, more so than it is consistent with his work before The Process. Of course, I would be remiss not to mention that this is the first Skinny Puppy album since Bites not to feature the late, great, Dwayne Goettel. Having heard only a tiny bit of Goettel's work that doesn't also include Key, I can only speculate the affect his absence has had on TGWOTR.

All that being said, as much as I like Mark Walk, I would be interested in hearing a Puppy album with Mark Spybey instead. I don't believe Skinny Puppy will ever sound as dark as they did, but anyone with a copy of QuBASE can make something that sounds tidy and electronic; I think Key and Ogre are capable of producing something that sounds far more distinct and interesting.

It may be too early to say, but so far, I have found the album deeply satisfying. I'm probably not the most unbiased reviewer since I would probably give it five stars out of nostalgia alone, but I think Key and Ogre have managed to put out a CD with its own style, substance, and a level of technical mastery that exceedingly few bands ever achieve. TGWOTR is a dense album, but it combines so many elements so effortlessly that I expect most people with any interest in industrial, EBM, synth-pop, noise, music, or whatever, should be able to find something in it they like.

Get over it
after reading the countless 1 star reviews harassing this album and the newly reunited skinny puppy, I felt it was necessary to write this review.

yes, skinny puppy were perhaps the best/are the best industrial band ever. complex, layered, thoughtful, dark, deep songs made them become famous in the 80s as that cool dark goth/industrial band. with such AWESOME albums (which u hav to check out) such as "TOO DARK PARK", "vIVISECT Vi", and "LAST RITES" and many more, it's obvious why they have such a solid fan base. however, by the 90s things werent working out, including a fatal heroin overdoes of a band member, and the band split out with the not all that bad, but not the best, THE PROCESS. the remianing big members, ogre(ohgr) and cevin key split up to form solo careers of oHGr and cevin key/download.

now its 2004. the two masterminds are back together. now, after waiting these 12 years for them reunite, the hardcore fans (reviewers) have undoubtedly built high expectations from such anticipation of the new album. SO, finally i guess I'll get to it now, WHAT IS THE NEW ALBUM LIKE? different from skinny puppy-but not too different. it seems a lot like ohgr influenced work of very computer/synth programmed, and less like the complex(and weirder) download stuff. its still industrial, that killer booming snare is not lost, and the freaky sounds are still there. its still quite dark, but it is missing a lot of the snippets of other people talking (clips from speeches/movies etc) which has kind of gone out of style. it is overall more techno/electronica/drum and bass, which is good and bad. the voice is not as distorted or messed around with as such songs as "assimilate" or something. again i stress VERY COMPUTERIZED! ok now the songs...
1.I'MMORTAL (8/10)- got that good old industrial feeling/sound, dark, and an extreme pulsating drum and cool effects and guitar loops. sounds a lot like ohgr with more added effects.
2.PRO-TEST (7/10)- great opening, thought it was gonna be great song. music is great, awesome use of guitar and synth. then... rapping? yes there is some rapping *sigh*, oh well still cool...
3.EMPTE (9/10)- you can tell skinny puppy is more digitalized/computerized... but its still good. one of the best on the album, this song dramatically gets better as it climaxes from a minimalistic snare marching kind of beat to a complex almost techno chaos.
4.NEUWERLD (7.5/10) more of a typical skinny puppy song, brought to 2004. quite layered and lots of cool songs. vocals can get annoying.
5.GHOSTMAN (8.5/10) same as above, minus the annoying vocals. scary, especially with the ?different language? in the middle.
6.DOWNSIZER (7/10) again going for the new age industrial computerized stuff. not bad, nothing amazing.
7.PAST PRESENT (8/10) most people might disagree with me... why? extremely dance oriented, heavy bass drum throughout with a bit of gothy added.
8.USELESS (10/10) best track on, as of now. awesome drumming by Tool's Danny Carey during chorus, and alright Wayne Static's background vocals (right?). gets stuck in my head, a bit more of a mainstream rock with the chorus.
9.GONEJA (9/10) a long fest of weird souds harmonized togehter without sounding TOO messed up and crappy. very computerized.
10.DADDYUWARBASH (8/10) clip of weird voice talking in intro, the brutally takes you by suprise with preaching lyrics and heavy drums.

overall..... not as bad as its made to be. will grow on you. more like an ohgr album, but hey.. i like ohgr. cant wait to see them live!

Another anti-pop album, just like Remission.
Skinny Puppy have admitted that this is a different album. It was written differently. It was collaborative and co-operative. They weren't strung out on heroin. They aren't all suicidal.

Some people won't like it, but that's fine with me. Just because they made this album doesn't make the previous albums cease to exist.

Not their best, Too Dark Park is still my favorite, but this is possibly my second favorite of their albums, with Remission coming in 3rd.

good as what it is- but not really Puppy.
Just because the 'age of industrial' has 'come to a close' doesn't mean that fans of the earlier Puppy releases have to like it.

As much as I appreciate the thought that went into this album, and the idea that 'branching out' into new genres is good for the band, the sound seems to have lost much of what made it so attractive to many in the first place. Even the trademarked vocals are subdued, and the music is trance-y and poppish in many places.

GWotR is a decent, well-composed album of what it is- not industrial. For the sake of those who enjoy that kind of thing, I hope that Puppy continues making albums of the same vein for a few more years.

As for me, however? I'll stick with VIVIsectVI and Too Dark Park.

Back again...!!...??
I am a SP-Fan from the 2nd time ;-)
So i was very glad to see..theres a new CD !

First i thought its not Skinny Puppy at all...
But i give them a chance, hear it one time..two times....and...
I have to say....i love them ...as a "NEW" Skinny Puppy.
At the end of SP-era there was no chance to follow them,
no chance to recognize the "picture" they want to show us..
No we have a new chance to follow them,
hopefully SP show me new ways...NOW..i realy would see/hear more of them...

For older SP-Fans:
Is there any alternative outside ? ... Read more