Amazon.com

There are few things more depressing than a goofy punk rock band that suddenly decides it needs to be taken seriously. Sum 41 did a brilliant job parodying corporate rock, pop and a large chunk of the '80s with breakthrough hit "Fat Lip." But over three albums, the Canadian band has unwittingly gravitated in that very direction. On Chuck, its hard to tell whether the quartet is poking fun at the platinum class or merely paying tribute by copping entire melodies and verses from some of MTV's biggest stars--Metallica's "Battery" on "The Bitter End" and Linkin Park's "One Step Closer" on "No Reason," respectively. More troubling, however, its formerly tongue-in-cheek awe for cheap metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest seems to have turned into a full-on admiration. That's clearly no laughing matter. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Album Description

The debut full-length album from Poughkeepsie, New York'snext wave hardcore emo princess. Twelve searing tracks ofpowerful and passionate punk for those who wear theirhearts on their sleeves, and dig the sounds of bands likeTaking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, and The Used. Enhanced with interviews and live footage. Digipak. Epitaph. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Amazing
You are never going to hear a better overall cd than this one. If you liked the EP then you need this cd. it's not a matter of money cause the thing is cheap (compared to interpunk and smartpunk). If you need more convincing go check out the full album which is being streamed on their site.

1) Your stories, my alibis --> starts with an amazing guitar riff and mix of vocals, typical matchbook romance. excellent first song.
2) Playing for Keeps --> jumps right into the singing. awesome melody and hard guitar.
3) Promise --> i think this is probably my favorite song. sounds like some of the stuff from the ep. starts slow, builds up to an awesome chorus.
4) Lovers and Liars --> overall goodness
5) Tiger Lily --> slow song. pretty good
6) Shadows Like Statues --> catches you off guard. heavy begining, awesome vocals
7) My Eyes Burn --> sounds like something off the ep. overall excellence
8) She'll Never Understand --> pretty fast in some parts. pop punk sound
9) If All Else Fails --> interesting start, slow. good stuff
10) Stay Tonight --> awesome song all around
11) The Greatest Fall (of all time) --> you know it and love it. same as the ep as far as i can tell.

An Outstanding Album
This album is excellent. It's full of catchy tunes with well constructed lyrics. There's not a bad song on it and every one has its own unique sound, which provides some variety to the mix. Don't make the mistake of passing this off as just another punk-emo CD. Matchbook Romance has distinguished itself at the top of the genre with its performance on this album. Bravo.

this band is unreal!
stories and alibies is an awesome debut album from matchbook romance. really good for being on epitaph. besides motion city soundtrack and matchbook romance, epitaph doesn't really have any other standout bands on the label. epitaph doesn't deserve these guys. i can't really classify this band with a style. i guess maybe screamo, emo, punk, indie, emocore? there somewhere in between all those. every song on this album is awesome. it's one of those cd's where you can go beginning to end without skipping a track. if you have relationship problems, no matter what it is, this cd talks about it and you can relate. every song is special in its own way. perfect album for fans of taking back sunday, brandnew, early november, etc. just trust me on this one. i'm a huge emo/punk fan and this cd falls in my top five favorites. there are no standout tracks on this cd because every one is a standout. no kidding. highly recommended.

uh...
hmmm... my personal favorite song on this cd is playing for keeps. your stories my alibis + lovers & liars. if you like matchbook romance check out a second chance [[ www.purevolume.com/asecondchance ]] they're kinda like them but localized

Amazing, simply amazing.
You may also know Matchbook Romance, by their former name The Getaway. They had to change their name due to legal complications. Though they changed their name, they did not stop making amazing music.
While not screamo, they definitely have a louder sound than the average emo band. And they have developed a harder sound since The Getaway days.
There are very few cd's that I listen through completely, without skipping a single track. This is one of them. The others in the list include: ATDI, Daphne Loves Derby, and The Early November. As you can see, it's a very small list. This cd is a must have for any emo kid. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Recognizing that there's no such thing as bad publicity, manager-Svengali Malcolm McLaren molded the Pistols into the most confrontational, nihilistic band rock & roll had ever seen. Propelled by Johnny Rotten's maniacal vocals, Steve Jones's buzz-saw guitar, and (most importantly) bass player Glen Matlock's hook-filled compositional skills, the Pistols' early singles "Anarchy in the U.K." and "God Save the Queen" defined the raging style of British punk. By the time they recorded their lone 1977 album, Matlock had been bounced, replaced by the image-correct but utterly untalented (and ultimately group-dooming) Sid Vicious. Not a 10th as good as the singles, the album nontheless remains a bile-filled emblem of the times. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (279)

Never mind the hype... good, but not great.
More words have probably been written about the Sex Pistols (and about this album in particular) than any other punk act from that era. Thus, when I first started listening to punk, this was my launching pad. Fortunately, I have moved on and have since found much better, better punk to listen to. Is it a bad album? no, it has some genuinely catchy tunes (Holiday in the Sun, Anarchy in the U.K., God Save the Queen... you know). But, is it a great album? In my opinion, no. The Ramones wrote catchier tunes, the Clash had more substance, Talking Heads were more creative, the Damned were first(in the U.K., anyways). Never Mind the Bollocks now stands mainly as a historical artifact... it got more media attention at the time, and continues to muster up attention now. The Pistols were masterful media manipulators... but, let's face it, their musical skills and innovation was lacking (listen to the intro riff to this album... it was stolen straight off of the Jam's "In the City"). Again, this album is not a bad album by any means... heck, I still listen to it from time to time. But, I think it's place in punk's Partheon is highly exaggerated. Listen to some other stuff from the same era... maybe you'll come to the same conclusion.

THE ESSENTIAL PUNK ALBUM: IT CHANGED EVERYTHING!!
This is where it all started. Sure, the Ramones and Talking Heads came first, and sure, Cock Sparrer was around in England by this time, but which of them spawned a great musical revolution that would change the shape of music? None of 'em. But with NEVERMIND THE BOLLOKS, HERES THE SEX PISTOLS, everything changed.

All you so called "punks" who think the Pistols were just puppets, pay attention. Do you really think someone with an ego like Johnny Rotten would have let himself be controled by Malcolm McClaren? When you say he created the bad boy image, and that the Pistols were nothing but a media show, guess again. When you think that, all you're doing is falling vicitm to the media machine that is Malcolm McClaren. Movies like "Sid and Nancy" and "The Great Rock n Roll Swindle" don't even come close to telling the truth. All Malcolm did was create havoc in the band by getting them bad gigs at places taht just ended up cancelling their shows. The Sex Pistols were real. They started it for you all. Jonny, Glen Matlock, Steve Jones, and Paul Cook WERE the Sex Pistols. Sid was nothing but a face. These boys were acting punk before it was called punk. They had a style all their own that bands like The Clash and the Buzzcocks tried to mimic. (Even those bands themselves have admitted that the Pistols they wanted to be like the Pistols).

This is a wonderfully horrifying album. One of the essential punk classics. Its such a pretty mess and should be heard by everyone. Nevermind the modern punks, nevermind the meadia frenzy, nevermind the fact that every music historian and punk from the '70s credits the Sex Pistols for changing everything about music, never mind the bolloks of it all...here's punk rock at its finest.

THE BEST
It is very hard to believe that this came out in 1977. This cd sound harder and more angry than today's punk. But anyway, this is a loud, fast album from the most outrageous band ever, the Sex Pistols. The standout songs are Holiday in the Sun, God Save the Queen, and Anarchy in the U.K. Get it if you like punk.

A Good listen
Well, the pistols were a bunch of untalented Showoffs. They had no musical Talent whatsoever, Thats why i love and hate this album all at the same time. A great rocking Album.Also very boring at the same time.Sid vicious Was an idiot, Pure and simple.He got what he deserved anyway.But apart from all the political shenanigans associated with The pistols, This album is a rocker, and definitely worth a listen , i can only handle 6 tracks In the album, Then is starts to bore me.Make your own decision

Overrated?
Pay what little it costs to buy this, play it loud, and enjoy.
If it doesn't make you feel charged and asking yourself what you've been missing, there might be something wrong with your stereo. If you fall asleep, have someone check your vital signs, you might actually be dead.
Pete Townshend, an original punk, dedicated his album Empty Glass (1980) to his daughters and the Sex Pistols. Had the Sex Pistols stayed together, they may have opened for the Who when they toured in '82 instead of the Clash.
This music is more defiant than any display (clothing, haircut, accesory) considered punk, and is the yard stick by which all of that genres music is to be measured. The Pistols never branched out musically, changed their outfits, etc. They were so punk that they disbanded after having played thier biggest show (Winterland, San Francisco), just a couple years after forming, and like real punk, burned out instead of rusting.
Every song on this is a gas. Holidays in the Sun, God Save the Queen, Bodies, Anarchy in the U.K., EMI, No Feelings, Problems, and New York are pure brilliance. What the Pistols did, and when they did it, showed more balls than someone burning an inverted crucifix on stage, or burning a flag or a picture of the pope. God SAve the Queen, in response to the silver jubilee couldn't have been more unpopular a statement at the time, and is a good reminder for anyone jumping on a band wagon for something so pointless.
Beat on the brat that thinks this is overrated, cuz they got rocks in their head.
The only thing the Pistols did wrong was not fire Malcom McLaren after he brougt Sid Vicious on board, instead of someone not a junkie that could play their instrument, and maybe they'd have made another record, although not likely as good as this. This is the best punk record ever made, as an original of something generally is. Good punk is not deep, like the Clash (and I've worn out their first 3 records) and not monotonous (like the Ramones). God bless the Ramones, but the Gabba Gabba hey and holes in the jeans got old, and Johnny Ramone is an ultra republican (not very punk that)While your ordering this, see if you can get "the great rock and roll swindle" on dvd or whatever format available. You'll see there was a sense of humor to all this as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After taking five leisurely years to follow up on 1996's Pinkerton, Weezer are apparently on a roll. Arriving just over 12 months after The Green Album, Maladroit finds the Los Angeles power-pop band in the midst of a particularly fertile creative period. "Dope Nose," which is easily stronger than anything on the last album, flexes a sinister shout-along chorus and vintage Van Halen riffs, while the potent garage-punk blast of "Fall Together" wipes out any lingering discomfort over the thoroughly Sugar Ray-sounding "Island in the Sun." In a sense The Green Album was just a taster for this, the blissfully thunderous main dish. Sure, there are some deadpan emo moments ("Death and Destruction") littering the course, but mostly Maladroit is Weezer doing what they do best--inverting and embracing dumb rock stereotypes and somehow making them sound smart. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (351)

Honestly, 4 and 1/2, but close enough...
I've come to the conclusion that there are two types of Weezer fans. There's those that enjoy the unbelievably poppy side of things from the band (Blue and Green album), and then there's those who enjoy it when River Cuomo, the bands singer/songwriter, poors his soul out on record (Pinkerton).

Maladroit...EASILY satifies both of these tastes. One could argue that this album was rushed, in the shere fact that it's been released a whole leap year (366 days) after the Green Album was, but to be honest, I believe this was their smartest move to make, and in doing so, Weezer have created easily one of the best of the 4 CD's they have in their cateloge.

The Green Album was plagued with songs that sounded too much like eachother... the pure poppiness of everything struck a nerve with me, and was generally left out of my CD player. To be honest with you, I don't think I can sing along to all the songs (GASP!)... but in the mere 2 days I've owned Maladroit, I'm in love.

Every song from "American Gigalo" to "December" (with the exception of the rather useless track "possibilities") is flawless, and has Rivers and the band embracing both sides of Weezer that everyone knows and loves. The highlights are Dope Nose, Keep Fishin, Take Control, Death and Drustruction, Slave, Slob, December... I mean.. you get the picture. The album is a GEM, and word is that Weezer is already working on a 5th album..... Write away Rivers.... write away...

C'est un bon maladroit.
Weezer are, at the moment, the greatest rock band on the planet. It's a mathematical fact, and this album clinches it. They are intelligent and accessible, hard-working, hard-touring, rocking and sweet. Rock snobs and FM radio listeners can appreciate this music equally. If they keep pumping out the emo-kid summer soundtracks with this much quality, their fanbase will only grow exponentially.

'Maladroit' is a more commercial 'Pinkerton' at core, but Rivers Cuomo is at work on something here that is very subtle and worth noting. His lyrics here and on 'green', rather than being explicitly confessional, are beguiling riddles, which is what helps the album hold up on multiple listens more than anything. He subverts the traditional pop song structure left-right-and-center on this album.

'Slave', 'Keep Fishin'' and breezy goth-girl love letter 'Burndt Jamb' are my favourite tracks here, besides the masterpiece 'Dope Nose'. 'Slob' is one of the most brutal self-lacerations ever committed to record and 'American Gigolo' is a worthy response to both the cult followers of 'Pinkerton' and its failure commericially.

Rivers stated in Rolling Stone that he studied Nirvana, Oasis and Green Day during his hiatus, but promised that this album would sound like Kiss and Yes. And he promises the next album will reflect his new obsessions with hip-hop and goth. Know what? I'm not worried a bit. Weezer can do no wrong, as far as I'm concerned.

a new weezer
With 2001's "The Green Album", Weezer re-invented themselves,as a straight-foward rock band. Their songs became shorter in length,and packed less of the emotional punch of their two previous efforts (see "The Blue Album (1994), and "Pinkerton" (1996), what remained were the extremely catchy melodies that have propelled songwriter Rivers Cuomo to stardom. With "Maladroit", Cuomo once again seeks to re-invent himself, and has for the most part succeeded. "Maladroit" is infinitely "heavier" than it's predecessor, both lyrically, and musically. The songwriting is also far darker and often delves back into the rocky emotional terrain, Cuomo previously explored in "Pinkerton". While the work is not entirely strong as a whole, contained here are some of the best Weezer songs to date. There are several standout tracks including, "Slob", "Slave", "Death and Destruction",and "Take Control". These tracks showcase blistering rock riffs, as well as intelligent and personal songwriting. The rest is more fun-time rock n' roll, and I mean that in the best way. Simply put, Weezer has made an album that rocks, and that was all they set out to do.

More Like Maladorque
OMG Weezer rawk so hard on this album. Rivers Cuomo is a rawk god, have you seen the guy? Well I have, and if Rivers Cuomo is a rock god than I am the second cousin of the lovechild of Jon Bon Jovi and Meryl Streep. One reviewer commented that this album will probably 'appeal more to real fans, than the general public. He's right it probably does appeal more to the real fans (i.e Japanese anime nerds) then the general public (i.e pimps). People might try to say something to refute this like, "Oh this is the least nerdy album they've ever made". While Weezer may not be flaunting their geeky lifestyle they are still just as nerdy only in a different, worse way. Now they're like that lanky red hair kid you see at school that is dressing like a gangster to fit in with the cool kids even though just last year he was a member of the audio visual club. Yes Weezer are trying to be accepted with all the cool kids, and they end up looking like complete and utter fools. Like the idea of 'Cheap Trick in the new millenium', yeah me neither. The whole album reeks of rawkin, loud tunes that your grandma would say is 'hardcore' to the max. And everyone knows that the coolest music in the world is the kind that your grandma likes. Right. I really wish I could say there was a good tune on this album but I can't seem to think of one, well the video for Go Fishin' makes the song ten times better because the muppets are on it. Yeah, that's about it. I hate this one song that's called Space Rock more than the others though because it was misleading as hell. I was expecting a song about space and got nothing. Kind of like how I was expecting a decent album and got this flop.

A Nice Mix
This album is a good mix of Weezer songs with familiar sounds. Dope Nose sounds like a song you would hear off of the Green Album, except much more powerful. Keep Fishin' is a track that could fit on Pinkerton well, and is one of the best tracks on the album, if not THE best. The song Love Explosion caught my attention, and it is definately a song that could fit on the Blue album. Most of these songs are catchy and unique, like most Weezer songs are. Basically, if you enjoyed all of the previous Weezer albums, then you will like this one. I can't help but be biased and give Maladroit 5 stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rock may have been born in America, but a national obsession with the trendy has often begat cultural amnesia when it comes to musical roots. Hence offshore bands like the Vines and Hives recycle '90s grunge/punk and '80s new wave with newfound energy, sometimes finding themselves ironically hailed as rock saviors. Sweden's Caesars don't have salvation on their minds. In fact their '60s garage rock shtick seems doubly recycled, seven of the dozen songs here hailing from a previous 1998 incarnation. Which isn't to say they don't do spiritual forebears like the Swingin' Medallions and ? & the Mysteriansproud. Powered by pumping Farfisa-clone organ, trashy guitars, and a suitably snotty vocal attitude, they careen amiably through a sharp cover of the Endd's "Out of My Hands" and originals that range from spunky ("Jerk It Out," "Sort It Out," "You're My Favorite") to spooky ("Suzy Creamcheese"). If there's irony at work here (other than a contemporary Swedish band evoking the spirit of '60s American garage punk and '80s UK new wave, that is) the Caesar's have largely buried it in an avalanche of infectious spirit. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The Caesars "39 Minutes Of Bliss"
"Sort It Out" (3/5): An ok opening track.
"I'm Gonna Kick You Out" (3/5): An average garage rock song.
"Let's Go Parking Baby" (3/5): Not a bad song, just not great.
"Jerk It Out" (4/5): The first standout track on the album.
"Out Of My Hands" (2/5): First song i just flat out dislike.
"Only You" (4/5): A great tune.
"Since You've Been Gone" (1/5): Horrible...i have nothing else to say.
"Crackin' Up" (2/5): Slightly better than the last song, this one's only terrible, not horrible.
"You're My Favorite" (3/5): A decent song.
"Fun And Games" (2/5): Could the lyrics to this song be any more stupid. "You're a young girl and you shouldn't be allowed to roam." I dont wanna listen to my parents, i wanna listen to music.
"Suzy Creamcheese" (1/5): A boring song.
"You Don't Mean A Thing To Me" (3/5): A suprisingly good closing track.

I had heard great things about the Caesars' album before i checked it out. I was, however, greatly dissapointed. This album is boring, and there's only about 2 or 3 songs worth listening to more than once. Aside from "Jerk It Out" "Only You" and "You Don't Mean A Thing To Me," the album is much less than stellar.

Rating: Two and a half stars.

3 minutes and 3 days of 39 minutes...
3 minutes: Immediately liked the distinct, playful, varying sounds across the spread of the CD. I listened through scores of similar artists, but even their 15 sec previews got monotonous. So instead I decided to give "39 minutes" a spin.

Day 1 & 2: The lyrics struck me as everything from corny, to downright odd, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. A few tracks (Jerk it out, I'm Gonna Kick You Out, Crackin' Up) seemed to carry an otherwise mediocre CD.

Day 3: I found myself no longer impulsively reaching for the track fwd button in-between favourite tracks... with just a few lyrics making me feel trapped in poetry class for dyslexics. But quirky lyrics aside, this refreshing sound is perfect for a sunny day in an AudiTT along an ocean drive... or your equivalent perfect place to turn-up the volume!

Summary: With summer here I'm going to put pedal to the metal and find loads of destinations that take... 39 minutes. I recommend this CD as a complement to White Stripes or Strokes.

Not knowing what to do about these bunyons
Alright, not sure where to start here with this album. There are so many things that this band could have done better. First off, its overly produced for its style. Second off, far too much compression for my liking. Thirdly, its tiring for the ears to listen to. Now for the good stuff... This album has some very catchy moments, the lyrics however are a bit hammy. So all in all an interesting album, with interesting ideas/concepts...just not pulled off that great.

The Title Says It All
The Caesars, hailing from Sweden where rock bands seem to be around every corner, are pure garage rock and roll from the beginning to the end. However, if you aren't into this type of music, start with something more mainstream like the Strokes, or the White Stripes. From there check this band out, it keeps the same sounds and keyboards that you're used to, and sounds vaguely familiar. This will cause you to either love or hate this album. Each song is bursting with energy, from Sort it Out to You Don't Mean a Thing to Me and will keep you on your toes and on the verge of dancing. Still skeptic? Download Jerk It Out and then tell me you were able to keep a smile off your face.

a hidden gem!
While browsing for cd's at my local record store I couldn't help but notice the music playing in the background. I couldn't make out who it was, but I knew I liked it. Song after song, I became more and more impressed to the point where I did something I have never done before. I walked up to the sales clerk and asked who was playing this infectious sound and how much it would be for me to take it home. Without knowing who the were, what they were about or where they were even from I bought 39 minutes of Bliss. When I got home I was not disappointed, their upbeat anthems cascaded with organs and harding hitting guitar were a breath of fresh air to the so-called garage rock revival of the past two years. I implore those of you out there to take a chance on this swedish diamond in the rough, you will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Album Description

The Academy Is...a five-piece melodic rock band from Chicago who has toured with Fall Out Boy, Less Than Jake, Midtown, Matchbook Romance, Armor For Sleep, Motion City Soundtrack, and others, building a strong fan base. They plan to tour throughout 2005, including a month long stint with Something Corporate. Expect big things with this debut . ... Read more

Reviews (24)

wavers amongst the middlegrounds
the academy is... hmm, will the next trend be band names that end in linking verbs? haha. anyway, this album rides a rollercoaster from great to mediocre and back, there really isnt a bad song on the album, but not all of the songs are great either. the vocals arent the best, the hint of vibrato, in my opinion doesnt fit the music well, which is the best part of the academy is... the music keeps this album from totally sinking in the mud, but the vocals leave more to be desired.

so....so
this cd is not bad. but it is not that pleasingly great either. its one of those cd's that you'll listen to for a while and forget they ever excisted.

thisis only there first so ill give them credit for how goos this is for theve not not been around that long.

I'm not saying that i'm not breaking some hearts tonight
the first song i heard from this band was the song The Season, and i fell in love instantly, the grooving, solid pop drumbeats, the intricate and catchy as hell guitar lines, and some of the most infectious melodies i've heard in a long time, this cd is a must have for anyone that digs catchy, fun music, if you buy this cd and like what you hear, you'd also probably like Fallout Boy, Spitalfield, and My Former Self.

"We're shaping up to be all you wish you could have been"
That is definitely a valid statement.Most debut albums show a band being very excited about being signed and making music that is fun but basically sounds like everything else.Typically the debut album is something that people who become fans later on don't have and probably don't ever want to have.The Academy Is... isn't typical in any aspect of what they do.This debut album is better than most best efforts put forth by veteran bands (I won't mention any names).William Beckett's lyrics are unlike anyone else's, they're witty, clever, and self-assured.He's not writing these lyrics to catch the ears of as many people as he can, he's writing them for himself and anyone who feels they can relate.The music is a display of superior talent without going overboard.These guys are going places.

Best Cd in a LONG time.
Academy is one of the best bands I have ever heard. Their lyrics are freakin amazing and Almost Here is one of those cd's that you can listen to without flipping through any songs. I cant pick a favorite because all the songs are so good. The best part about this band is that live they ripe the stage. William the singer is the best frontman in forever and the whole group seems like they have played for years. I wouldnt ask for anything different. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

On their 1967 debut album, the Doors more than fulfilled the promise of their infamously challenging gigs around Los Angeles throughout the previous year. Whether belting out a standard like "Back Door Man" or talk-singing such originals as "The Crystal Ship" and "I Looked at You," leather-clad vocalist Jim Morrison exuded both sensuality and menace. The mixture, on the outsize album finale, "The End," helped rewrite the rules on rock song composition. None of this would have worked, though, were it not for the highly visual instrumental work of keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robbie Krieger, and drummer John Densmore, whose work on tracks such as "Take It As It Comes" and the lengthy hit "Light My Fire" virtually defined the rock-blues-jazz-classical amalgam that was acid-rock. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (197)

Eclectic, and Important
Unfortunately, too much has been said about Jim Morrison, only one of many talented people in this world. He was quite a lyricist and singer, and showed considerable ability on this release, however, the listener should not get too carried away in worship. Few knew then, or know now how difficult of a person he was. In my opinion, drugs and alcohol destroyed him, and made him overly belligerent (that's an understatement.) That aside, his personality in the Doors music has remained interesting. I feel that this album is the group's finest. Robby Kreiger was one of the most underrated guitarists in rock history, and he showed that with an excellent chord selection for songs, and the ability to play many styles. Ray Manzarek exhibits an unparalleled soloing ability in the faster songs and in Light My Fire. Like the other Doors albums, there are many tracks less than 3 minutes that are obscure gems and do not play on the radio, such as the ballads Crystal Ship, and End of the Night, and Take It As It Comes. The End may be somewhat bombastic, but it shows a very hypnotic side to the band, and was one of the first combinations of rock and poetry, and one of the more successful, as the band provides a mysterious and climactic backdrop for Morrison's surreal poetry, and intense vocals. The album is a must buy for fans of rock music. Elements of blues, jazz, folk, and classical, all played convincingly by the musicians, along with interesting lyrics, and a good voice should be enough for even the biggest detractors of Morrison to buy the album.

Doors debut - Classic rock masterpiece
The Doors 1977 self-titled debut is, in one word, great. This is how classic rock is supposed to sound. You get a little bit of everything with The Doors - hard stuff, soft stuff, heavy stuff, melodic stuff, psychedelic stuff, bluesy stuff, and pretty much everything else. Read on for brief descriptions of each track with letter grades:

1. Break on Through (To the Other Side): Hard classic rocker which has gone down as a classic, and with good reason. A

2. Soul Kitchen: Here the organ is the main instrument, and Ray Manzarek does a damn good job playing it. A+

3. Crystal Ship: Three words describe this track: Psychedelic, melodic, and slow. Enough said. A+

4. Twentieth Century Fox: Yes, this is the name of a song on the album, not the record label's name. This is a lighter rocker with a short but memorable chorus. A+

5. Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar): The first cover. This one has a sound much more blues-oriented than the other tracks. It's something totally different, but also a great track. A+

6. Light My Fire: Once again the organ is the main instrument, and a solo with it is the vast majority of the entire track. Some radio stations cut the solo, surprisingly, but you won't have to worry about that here on the album. A

7. Back Door Man: The second cover. This time the sound is a bit more like the rest of the band's material. The organ before the vocals is certainly something to be appreciated. A

8. I Looked at You: Melodic rocker. Not too memorable, but definitely not a must-skip. A-

9. End of the Night: Slow and melodic, this is a gloomier track than the others, but still good overall. A

10. Take It as It Comes: Another rocker that fails to do anything special, but is still far from bad. A-

11. End: The lengthy epic. A great track combining several styles, but it's just too long. A

This is by all means an excellent album, and no classic rock collection is complete without it.

Take Me On A Trip
Let me tell you how great this album is. I found every song so great, I grew up thinking this was a greatest hits album. Until I realized I was an idiot...and wrong, I always never considered this one of their greatest albums because I never thought it was a regular album. That being said, you can already understand the power this has. Either that or how much of an idiot I am.

The Doors is my all time favorite band. Morrison, Manzarek, Densmore, and Krieger...the finest in each of their professions. From Morrison's swagger and unintelligible poetry at times, to Manzarek's blues and soul organ, then forth to Densmore's eccentric jazz drumming, and finishing up with the inane flamenco aspects of Krieger's finger picking guitar work...The Doors in retrospect, own. Their debut is such a powerhouse and makes you scream, explode, and reach for the air, that you really just can't get enough of it.

The singles, the hits, and the golden ones are obvious. Who in their right mind HASN'T heard 'Break on Through' or 'Light My Fire'? Or even 'Whiskey Bar'? It's apparent that this album has highlights. But, look further and you can see just where the Doors progressed. From the opening rawhide thunder opener, 'Break on Through' we slowly diminish into this psychological warp that is, 'The End.' Surprisingly, that's exactly where the Doors left off and began with their follow up, 'Strange Days.'

While this is their debut, it is almost a greatest hits album. It culminates everything the damn Doors are. It has psychological, psychedelic rock with that jazz, that blues, and even that thrill. You watch sneak previews at the theaters today and it's not too different than this. Their self titled debut is a demo to what was to come, the ride they were to take us on.

While it's certainly not their best, I rate all of their albums five stars, even the distant 'Soft Parade.' Why? Simply, The Doors were one of those bands that you rarely ever see. Much like 'The Beatles' or 'Led Zeppelin', they were perfect. They matured and they thrived and they never looked back...they just increased upon. It's obvious 'LA Woman', their last album, had hints of this self titled debut, but even then...that was different too.

Forget all that, this isn't about the history of the Doors, but this album almost depicts that. If you want to know what the experience of the Doors is like, I more than highly recommend this to you. You can start from here and keep on going, never look back...that's what they did. This is easily one of the most influential and greater albums from the past. You will not be disappointed. Buy this, then buy Strange Days!

That...or rent 'The Doors.'

Welcome to the dark side
1966 was showing a loosening of the boundaries of everything, but 1967 it was throughly, and completely undone. The Doors were one of the parties responsible. With thier 1967 debut it was probably the 3rd biggest album to be released that year after Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?", and "Sgt.Pepper" of course. I honestly feel that the group made a big mistake here though. Yes they wanted to be remembered as a group that made it big, but even with the first single "Break On Through" only making it to 106 on billboard they shouldn't have compromised on "Light My Fire". That became the next single, and while it went to #1 it was Morrison's masterpiece, and it should've been left in it's almost 7 minute version. People were starting to want the music to be longer than the usual 2-3 minute single it still would've been a monster hit Look at Zepplin's "Stairway To Heaven" still at 8:00 long, and it's the #1 most requested song today. Well anyway "Light My Fire" is such a masterpiece I even consider Jose Feliciano's version a year later to be equal to the Door's version. "Soul Kitchen" could've been the next single as it was about 3 minutes long, and it has a punk agnst in it too. I found the "Alabama Song" strictly novelty material as it sounds like something out of Russia. "Back Door Man" was very unbridled, and was also the song done at a Conneticuit concert where Morrison faced his first arrest. I feel that there was even one more masterpiece on this album, and that was "The End". This was one that broke all the chains of morality in music underscored in Satanism, and the Odepus Complex. Not even the Fugs, the Beatles, the MC5, or the Velvet Underground would touch this one. It was rumored that Morrison had all the lights in the recording studio turned off, and lit a bunch of candles, and when they finished recording this song he poured blood all over the console. This was rock and roll in it's graphic, and psychological raw. This from a man who's father was a Admiral in the U.S. Navy, and after the success of "Light My Fire" his family wanted him to come home, cut his hair, and be close to them again as mentioned in his biography "No One Here Gets Out Alive". Apparently Morrison didn't find what he was looking for within his family, so he did his thing, and what is left is some of the most interesting if not blatant material ever to embrace a rock album, and some of the most classical music from a decade of liberation and chaos.

A MUST for any Doors Fan
The year's 1967. Music is being processed within an inch of life and musicians are coming out onto the scene. Gotta admit it though- none like Jim, John, Ray and Robby. "The Doors" is an essential for anybody who's looking for a first or second Doors album to purchase. Although this isn't my favorite Doors album, the songs on here are memoriable ones. "Light My Fire", obviously one of the most famous Doors song, for one thing gives you 7 minutes of enjoyment and vocals that'd make even the dullest person want to dance. "Break On Through", another Doors favorite, is a song everyone has grown familiar with. "Backdoor Man", "End Of The Night", "End" and "I Looked at You" are among my favorites on the album.

So ditch modern music and stick with artists like The Doors, and go out and by this CD. It'll be one you'll love to have in your CD collection! If you're looking for another Doors album to experience, try "L.A Woman" or "Morrison Hotel". ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Call them the Nine Inch Nails of punk. Like NIN, the Offspring preserve the essential ingredients of their chosen genre--guitars grinding out three chords, shouted vocals, and plenty of vitriol--and layer them over a melodic base that packs considerable popular appeal. The singles from Smash, the Offspring's breakthrough album, still receive considerable radio airplay: "Gotta Get Away," "Come Out and Play," and "Self Esteem."With these and Smash's 11 other tracks, the band chronicles the adolescent experience with clarity and surprisingly incisive wit. That pretty much describes all of their albums, but this is the one to get. It's got more shape than their earlier material and isn't as disturbingly poppy as their more recent recordings; it's the perfect blend of riffs and rage. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (316)

I would recommend it
Hard to believe that it's been almost a decade since the Offspring released what was to become their best work, "Smash". Brewing with Dexter Holland's so-cal voice, clever lyrics, and nice all-around punk energy, Smash represents the prime of one of the Epitaph labels best bands.

But to label the Offspring as just another Epitaph band would be wrong. This is a punk album, make no mistake about it, but if you're looking for something along the lines of noFX, Randcid, or Pennywise, you might be in the wrong place.

Not to say that "Smash" isn't up to par with "Punk In Drublic", "...And Out Come The Wolves", and "About Time", but it definetly has a sound of it's own when compared to those three.

If I could, I'd rather give this 4 1/2 stars, but unfortunatly, Amazon.com only allows me a 4 or a 5 so I'll go with the latter, because though it's not exactly a 5 star CD, it's definetly not a 4 star. Here's a quick track by track listing.

1. Time To Relax: Simple introduction. Kind of pointless, but it's not bad as far as introductions go.

2. Nitro: Very fast and energetic track. It sets the tone for the rest of the album very well. As the chorus states, it's about "living like there's no tomorrow".

3. Bad Habit: Like many other Offspring songs about serious subjects, Bad Habit's take on road rage is surprisingly up tempo (save the first 50 seconds or so, and somewhat comical.

4. Gotta Get Away: Arguably the best track on the CD. Very nice, but somewhat slow and monotonous. Still manages to have one of the best choruses ever. It's about a person suffering from paranoia.

5. Genocide: Fast song. One of several on here dealing with political issues. As the title suggests, it's about genocide. "Dog Eat Dog, every day, on our fellow men we pray".

6. Something To Believe In: Self explanatory. One of the more pointless songs on the album. It sounds almost exactly like all the songs around it.

7. Come Out And Play: The unreleased single turned hit. For a song about gang-violence, it's surprisingly up tone and seems better suited for a party than such a serious issue.

8. Self Esteem: At this point you reach the peak of the CD (although Smash helps bring it back to that level near the end). Come Out And Play and Self Esteem might be the two best songs on the CD and they come right after each other. It's about a guy being abused in a relation ship.

9. It'll Be a Long Time: Yet another political song. Deals with how world leaders may never set aside their differences for the greater benefit of all.

10. Killboy Powerhead: About as significant as the title leads you to believe.

11. What Happened To You: Poppiest song on the album. Deals with a guy's best friend turning into a druggy before his eyes and him not being able to help him. Once again however, very uptone for a serious subject.

12. So Alone: Quick fast, swearing. It wasn't meant to be anything deeply meaningful, and it doesn't have to. It's great just the way it is.

13. Not The One: Voice of a generation. Scoffs at youth being labeled as causing the problems in society while so many of the worlds problems were caused by past generations.

14. Smash: As good as any of the other songs on this album. In my opinion the best. An anthem for all of those who don't fit in and don't care what the "mall-ratts" think about them. I'm sure that if it wasn't for the constant swearing, this would've been their first single.

So there you have it. The Offsprings Smash. Very good, but not Great. But still, good enough that I'd recommend it to you. Check it out. You won't regret it.

An absolutely amazing cd.
It's hard to say which Offspring cd is the best, many people say this one. Although I'm not sure I agree (too much competition for me) those people have good reason to call this the best Offspring album.

Time to Relax, a good intro, a little bit worse then disclaimer and Neocon. No rating

2. Nitro, a good opening track, the guitar sticks in your head badly. The lyrics dont make much sense but they sound cool. 9.5/10

3. Bad Habit, a fun song about road rage, this is the one I heard first off this album. One of the songs that shows what the Offspring are like. 9.5/10

4. Gotta Get Away, an awesome song with a great chorus. Has some cool lyrics and a weird music video. 10/10

5. Genocide, a song with an awesome guitar riff (used at the end of the album and in the Ixnay song Change the World). A fun song to sing aloud because of the dog eat dog line. 10/10

6. Something to Believe in, I don't know why people dont like this, it has an AWESOME chorus and a great interlude. 10/10

7. Come out and Play, a really fun song that I still hear on the radio all the time. The lyrics are hard to figure out but they are good. 10/10

8. Self Esteem, another single, a cool song that I heard awhile before I bought this album. A little slow but has good guitar. 9.5/10

9. It'll be a Long Time, the only song on the album I don't love. It's ok but not spectacular. 7/10

10. Killboy Powerhead, The 2nd worst song on the album, but
that dosent mean its bad, 7.5/10

11. What Happened to You, pretty good and funny 8.5/10

12. So Alone, I get it confused with All Along from CO1, I'm not sure which is better. 9/10

13. Not the One, awesome awesome lyrics with cool guitar, I love this one 10/10

14. Smash, aaaaaaaaah the best song on the album. Awesome lyrics and cool guitar. The bridge is AWESOME AND COOL. Wow this is good. 11/10

Offspring's Finest
Smash is the album that made the offspring famous and its deffinatly their best work. Sure, this CD might be from 1994, but it's still awesome

1)Time to Relax- an intro, so nothing to worry about. no rating
2)Nitro (Youth Energy)- a catchy drum line at the beginning and powerful sound. the song has great lyrics that will fill you with energy. the song is basically a song about teens doing what they want. 10/10
3)Bad Habit- a very funny song that starts out w/ just slow bass, then turns into a really rocking song. the lyrics are amusing and shows the humor that these guys posess. the song is about someone w/ road rage 10/10
4)Gotta Get Away- 1 of the hits, it's got a great sounding intro and a catchy sounding chorus. the song is about someone who is paranoid and can't stand himself 9/10
5)Genocide- its got a very catchy punk sound w/ good but not great lyrics. the song is about how people fend for themselves and walk all over the little guy 10/10
6)Something to Believe In- 1 of their political songs, its about society falling apart. the song starts out slow, but gets faster and has a good sound 9/10
7)Come Out And Play- 1 of the hits, its the song that made them famous. the song has kind of a strange, but catchy middle eastern sound to it. it also has a great sounding chorus. the song is a sarcastic look on teenage gang violence 9/10
8)Self Esteem- 1 of the hits, the song has a more mid-tempo sound and is organized strangely, but has awesome lyrics. you can just visualize the situation going on- the guy trys so hard to look for love, but all hit gets is abuse. but that's all made up for when he gets sex(...) 10/10
9)It'll Be a Long Time- 1 of their political songs, it gets faster and has a more punk sound as it goes a long. the song is about how the the superpowers (ie usa and brits) do what they want, but in turn harm the rest of the world 9/10
10)Killyboy Powerhead- a dijets cover, the song has rather pointless and repetitive lyrics, but an ok sound with good guitar 7/10
11)What Happened To You?- a very fast paced song w/ high energy and almost a ska sound. the song has some good lyrics that move fast. it is about a good person who fried their brains on drugs 9/10
12)So Alone- the hardest sounding song on the CD, it is about loneliness and depression. however, the song is so short (a minute 15 seconds) that its hard too enjoy 7/10
13)Not The One- 1 of their political songs, it is about how society's problems are passed on to the next generation even though they didnt cause them. the song has a good punk bass and drum beat 9/10
14)Smash- the best song on the CD! it has an awesome sound and a great solo. it also has the perfect lyrics for a punk song and it is about doing what you want and not conforming. the song is actually 3 minutes long, but if you keep listening, there are about 5 minutes or so of instrumental pieces, after it 10/10

this is why everybody likes offspring
this album rocks. the singles for this are the kinda songs you dont mind hearing over and over on the radio. the rest of the songs in this are good and is the best offspring cd out there. they may not be the most hardcore punk band out, but who cares?

Their best. Perioud.
This is the best independent CD sold to date. And that says enough. If you like any of the other albums, you'll love this. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Wow! A Blast!
I snagged "Drunken Lullabies" on some good word-of-mouth, and I was amazed. Many bands brag that they are an Irish punk act, but they can't pull it off. If there is a dictionary of musical styles, under "Irish Punk" it should read, "See Flogging Molly."

The title track, "What's Left of the Flag," and "The Kilburn High Road," are thrashing, crazed guitar rants perfect for a rugby team's pre-game locker room scene. If anything, "FM" gets a bit carried away during their tunes -- "Death Valley Queen," "Rebels of the Sacred Heart," and "Another Bag of Bricks" made me check the liner notes to see if the band has a cardiologist or ER doc to thank! "The Rare Old Times" and "The Sun Never Shines (on Closed Doors)" prove that "FM" is not a one-trick pony, but you wish that there was a little more such diversity on the album.

Check these guys out -- if we're lucky, they'll be around for a long time.

One of the BEST BANDS EVER!
Flogging Molly is the band that got me interested in punk. I wasn't really into it, and my friend was having me listen to a Warped Tour Cd that had "What's Left of the Flag" on it. After I heard that I made him play it again I think 10 or 11 times. I instantly went out and bought this album, and eventually got all three albums and went to a live concert. If you ever get a chance to, these guys are a must live. Best Concert I have ever been to. This album is my personal favorite, and almost every song is fantastic, it's an album that you have no need to push "shuffle" on, just sit back and listen. That is, if you can sit still, it's almost impossible. The music just makes you want to grab a Guiness and pick a fight. If you have an open mind, or enjoy punk or celtic music, this is a must. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED!!

Drunken Lullabies.
This is such an amazing album. I first heard of these guys on the 'Warped Tour' record absolutly love thier blend of celtic and punk. This is such a refreshing twist. I have never heard (expect Dropkick Murphys but who i feel arent as celtic as FM) such a unique, yet simply amazing way of punk. This is cd is solid through out. My favorite tracks are:

1. 'Drunken Lullabies' - The title track is an amazing fast paced song, which dives right into their celtic influence. It will leaving you singing and dancing. My favorite track. Amazing lyrics.
2. 'What's Left Of The Flag' - This is another stand out. It starts off acousticly, but then jumps right into the punk feel. Their first real single of this record.
4. 'If I Ever Leave this World Alive' - This song is a slighty slower paced, but good as ever.
5. 'The Kilburn High Road' - A fast song, with a tearing guitar solo.
6. 'Rebels of the Sacred Heart' - Fast paced and brilliant.
9. 'Death Valley Queen' - This song's chorus is catchy. I feel tracks 8-10 are really dark, and this i one of the darkest.
11. 'The Rare Ould Times' - This is a cover song of a very old Irish song. I absolutly love the FM cover of it.
12. 'The Son Never Shines (on Closed Doors) - I really like this song a lot. I just love how the album ends with such a beautiful slow song.

Overall, a very good sophmore album, and i can't wait for their next album which they are currently wrapping up. This album is very solid through out, and Dave King voice is full of emotion. Every song through is filled with amazing lyrics. Flogging Molly's Drunken Lullabies is sure to leave you singing and dancing with one of the best, unique bands out there.

Not quite 5 stars, but almost there.
This is an over-all enjoyable album. There aren't that many different styles on here, unless you call "ballads" a style ("Sun Never Shines"), but it's still good. Maybe you shouldn't listen to me, because I'm more of a punk fan, but either way you won't regret buying this, even though the tracks are fairly similar, and there isn't a great amount of emotional depth.

Perfect
Flogging molly blends just the right amount of punk rock with just the right amount of celtic to create one of the most unique styles of music youll ever hear. This CD is will be a great addition to your collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Ramones' April 1976 debut, recorded for little more than $6,000, long ago passed into legend. Its exalted status as the inspiration for thousands of punk bands worldwide, though, hasn't overshadowed its monolithic roar, the knowing hilarity of its lyrics ("Judy Is a Punk" crams the SLA, the Ice Capades, and a salute to Herman's Hermits into a 90-second frame), and the impulse to blast it for everyone within earshot: Hey, listen to this. Embracing and rewriting rock & roll history at once, Ramones speeded up heavy music, adding a pop patina to songs inspired by horror movies and glue sniffing, and claiming a great Chris Montez tune ("Let's Dance") from the supposedly fallow period that had fallen between Elvis and the Beatles. Absurdist, yeah (how could anything with Joey's super-affected Liverpool-via-Queens accent be otherwise?) and also smart: "Havana Affair" is the greatest song about the cold war this side of Dylan. This remastered edition complements the original LP with a slew of demos, including a Spectoresque "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," and the single version of "Blitzkrieg Bop," that, equally prophetically, puts Joey's vocal through a mixing trick that makes him sound like he's on the mic at a football game. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (58)

A true piece of Americana
If the United States were to bury a time capsule, the music representative should be this record. Not only is it great to listen to on an induvidual basis, but it's importance to popular music today is incredible. Johnny's roaring guitar fuzz, Dee's Dee's heart stomping bass, and Tommy's pulsating drumming capped off by Joey's vocals kickstarted an entire new musical genre. At a time when popular music was dominated by bands like Led Zeppelin and Rush playing eight and nine minute songs with four minute pointless guitar solos, as well as that thing called disco, the Ramones took rock and roll back to what it was in the first place, a simple and fun song. That is what this album is, a collection of real rock and roll songs. These sound quite simply like Beatles-esque songs played very loud and very fast. This record is essential for any comprehensive collection.

The shot heard 'round the world
In retrospect, it's easy to overlook how revolutionary and different this album was when it hit the streets in the second half of the '70s. Just play a Yes album, a Styx album, or an Emerson, Lake & Palmer album beside it to try to get an understanding.

Recorded for barely over $6,000, The Ramones' debut album broke all the rules of pompous '70s rock and a new type of music was "invented" in the process: punk rock. Not very different from '50s and '60s rock, just a lot louder and faster. No solos, just a bunch of power chords and catchy melodies.

Not counting the bonus songs, there are 14 songs on this album. None of them are longer than 2:32, and many of them come in at under two minutes. It's all over in less than half an hour. But there's more packed into those 30 minutes than many bands pack into an entire career.

The sound quality is very raw. However, the remastering has made the lows a bit lower and everything a bit crisper, making everything seem even more powerful than before. Dee Dee's bass is shoved into the left speaker, Johnny's guitar screams from the right, and Tommy's drums thud relentlessly in the background. On top of this, Joey spits out his lyrics with his unique accent and equally unique delivery.

And even though this album would have been a landmark just for the aforementioned qualities, the songwriting is strong as well. Everyone knows "Blitzkrieg Bop (Hey Ho Let's Go)," but every one of these tracks is fantastic. "Judy is a Punk" is my personal favorite, with three verses, three choruses and an instrumental break all packed into 90 seconds.

After this album was released, a whole new batch of bands started up. Suddenly, it didn't matter if you couldn't play like Keith Emerson or Steve Howe, all that mattered was how much you believed in yourself and your music. The Ramones were probably the first somewhat popular band to use its limitations in a positive way, and many other soon followed: The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Blondie, Talking Heads, U2, etc. Had it not been for The Ramones, these bands might not have formed, let alone have been signed to a major record label.

Quite simply, one of the most important - and fun - albums ever made.

REAL PUNK!!!!
I don't know what the HELL Infedel is talkin about!! The Ramones INVENTED punk!! Avril isn't punk, she is pop (IMO she is crap). The Ramones rule, best damn band ever!

Don't Listen to the Infidel
The Infidel, I pray to God you were kidding. This music is incredible. Avril Lavigne is not punk, she's pop. blink-182 is not punk, it's pop. Good Charlotte is not punk, it's pop. The Ramones are punk. They invented punk. If it weren't for The Ramones, Avril Lavigne wouldn't be able to call herself punk. But anyways, onto the cd. This cd is incredible. Has some of the best Ramones songs on it, and the one song that when you think of the Ramones you think of, Bliztrkieg Bop. This might be a bit corny, but go get one of your friends and say to them: "Hey Ho! Let's Go!(buy The Ramones)!"

The 6 Thousand Dollar Album
Gentlemen (chuckle), we can rebuild the seventies. We can make the world's first Junk Rock Record. The RAMONES will be that record! It will bet better than it was before: simpler, LOUDER, FASTER. We will use Marshall amps and turn it up to 11. We will abandon guitar solos and over the top jamming, as well as replacing every drum solo and fill with screwed up 4/4 signatures and cymbal crashes. We will boil syrupy 70's schmaltz ballads in the battery acid of our amplifiers and make the record sound like the whole decade is being ground up in a garbage disposal. We will pay tounge-in-your-girlfriend's- cheek homage to horror movies (Chainsaw), child abuse (Beat on the Brat), drug abuse (I Wanna Sniff Some Glue), political abuse (Havana Affair), dope fiend street hustlers (53rd and 3rd), romance (I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend), and the inevitable bust ups (Loudmouth). We will also bookend this plate of punk with the ultimate gameplan (Today Your Love, Tommorow The World), and the epitome of glorious calls to trashing good fun in Blitzkrieg Bop. We will crush everything the 70's has smeared on us or we will scare the record buyer right out of the friggin store..oops, we scared the friggin record buyers right out of the store and developed a rabid cult following instead. Oh well, who needs those pinheads anyway! Count it Dee Dee! "1234." Belt it out in your best Mersey-meets-Queens accent Joey, "Hey ho! Let's go!" ... Read more

Amazon.com

Playing Rock's Greatest Chameleon was a great gig while it lasted, but by the mid-80's, David Bowie found his "Changes" led to an ironic dead-end. Yet this 1974 live album managed to distill his quicksilver nature as few others. Ostensibly mounted in support of Diamond Dogs, but sans Guy Peellaert's Ziggy-as-Great Dane imagery (a trick even the notorious pop changeling couldn't turn onstage), Bowie's image and music quickly evolved on the tour, taking on an American r&b-fueled edge that would seep into very corner its career-retrospective set. Indeed, the musician would pause mid-tour to record Young Americans with the core of the live band here, setting up his Thin White Duke incarnation in the bargain. Culled from shows at Philadelphia's Tower Theatre, this edition has been both remastered and expanded by the inclusion of "Panic in Detroit" and "Space Oddity," marking the first time the complete show has been available. Also includes insightful notes by producer/longtime Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti.--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The best live rock recording ever made -- and Michael Kamen!
I can only assume that those reviewers who take exception to the sound recording prefer their music plastic and two-dimensional, like most rock studio recordings. Inspired by this amazing album I rebought on CD favourite Bowie studio albums from my youth, such as Hunky Dory, Young Americans and Station to Station: sadly they are flat and airless recordings, even in their "remastered" versions. David Live, in contrast, gives the full "picture" in all its warmth and resonance, comparable to the sound on, for example, Colossal Head by Los Lobos or Real Gone by Tom Waits. This kind of living, breathing recording is standard in the jazz and classical worlds. What really makes the difference, however, is Michael Kamen's arrangements, which lift the music onto another plane -- compare the far less interesting versions on the original albums and the Ziggy live album. This applies particularly to the songs from the Ziggy studio album and Aladdin Sane, the originals of which are rather juvenile: in Michael Kamen's hands the atom is split and we are witness to a glorious explosion of musical potential, showing Bowie's true greatness (as does his magnificent singing). The incomparable band, too, really allows this music to take flight. I first bought this album when I was 12 years old, and I can see that it had a lasting influence, exposing me at an early age to music's unlimited possibilities: a typical day's listening today (I work at home) is likely to include Mahalia Jackson, Miles Davis, Bach, Weill, Haydn, Funkadelic, Ray Charles, Tom Waits, Ali Farka Toure and Bang on a Can. I feel I owe this freeing of perspectives partly to David Bowie and Michael Kamen. This album was the gateway.

'74. Bowie. Drugs. Good Music.
1974. Bowie had just finished his brillant "Diamond Dogs" album. He was coked out of his mind almost daily. Then, decides to do a world tour. Somehow it worked.

This album, recorded from live shows at Philly's Tower Theater, is completely underrated. Brillant musicians (Mike Garson, Herbie Flowers, Earl Slick, David Sanborn), soon-to-be famous backup singers (Luther Vandross) and of course, Bowie.

The songs are great versions of the then new "Diamond Dogs" material, some R&B covers, Bowie singing "On Broadway" at the end of "Aladdin Sane" plus jazzy recreations of Bowie's classics. This album has plenty of sax but don't let that scare you. The band still plays hard which works great as a comparison to the jazz pianos and saxes.

Bowie, as I said, was lost in a white powdered daze at the time. As Bowie himself said about the album, "it should be called David is Live but only in theory." He was about 100 pounds at the time and pale as anything but somehow his voice still sounds great. Not as good as it could be but still very powerful. His voice, at his worst, he's still one of the best singers out there.

To put it best, if you're a hardcore Bowie fan you'll love it. If you're just a casual fan, you still want to check this out.

P.S. I resent the review on CDNOW saying that "By the mid-80's Bowie's "Changes" came to an ironic dead end." Alright, I'll admit his mid-80's stuff wasn't the best but his career DOES NOT end there. And his "Changes" (a very old and tired cliche pun when talking about Bowie) don't end there. Check out Tin Machine, his 90's experiments or his back to basics rock stuff from this decade.

Ziggy Soul-Dust!
When I first bought this collection on 8-track in '74 I was shocked: gone were the glam trappings and slick production of his studio efforts. Kudos to Bowie then and now for pushing the envelope with regard to his image and musical direction. Sure there are a few missteps, but what you gain in return is a sweaty, live, r & b fueled gig with jazz overtones. Worth the price of admission just to hear David Sanborn's sax riffing and session legend Herbie Flower's amazing bass-lines which evoke aural visions of Jamerson and Jemmott.

Sadly, not an improvement
I purchased "David Live" and "Stage" on the same day, and was really hoping that my earlier general distaste for "Live" would be sweetened by the remastering and expansion. Sadly, this is not the case. Despite the interesting notes from Tony Visconti, the sound of "David Live" was crappy in the original album. Digital remastering did nothing to clear up old flaws, if anything, it forces the album's shortcomings into sharp relief.

David's singing is lackluster. Only on a handful of songs here ("Sweet Thing" and, oddly enough, "Knock On Wood") does he sound like he was paying attention to his performance. Equipment hum makes frequent, distracting appearances, and the instruments themselves are often distorted to an embarrassing level.

Frankly, get this ONLY if you feel you must own all things La Bowie. The reissues of "Diamond Dogs" and "Ziggy Stardust" made me think this might be worth adding, but I was wrong. As David Bowie's live work goes, both the "A Reality Tour" DVD and newly re-issued "Stage" CD are far superior to this.

Unbelievably Bad
I am stunned that this album receives ANY favorable reviews.I am a Bowie fanatic, having taken in a dozen of his shows stretching back to 1978, and have owned every album of his.This is not just his worst album....it is THE worst live album EVER by ANY performer.The arrangements are sloppily played/plastic soul cum art rock and I am sure his whole band is embarassed at how they sounded on record.As bootleg aficionados know, there ARE good shows from the 1974 tour.This album somehow manages to give them a complete miss.As for David himself, he is in the nadir of his cocaine addiction and simply can NOT sing here.His voice is Awful throughout, making even this hardcore Bowie fan cringe!!Buy "Stage" instead--when he was not coked to the gills croaking out plastic soul in front of a band that could not care less--what a difference a few years makes. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Mediocre? I think not.
I was actually introduced to this band through a friend on one of their street teams.And let me tell you, I saw them play the Norva last summer - what a blast!The CD gets stuck in my CD player for weeks at a time even a year later, and if my friends are lucky enough, I can wrench it out for long enough to throw in some of our beloved 80s tunes.Admittedly, the comparisons to Sublime are unavoidable, but they have their own vibe and I strongly encourage anyone to take in a show of theirs if you have the opp.

Sweet...
This CD is awesome... regardless of some of the other reviews.I highly recommend buying this CD if you truly enjoy reggae tunes, as I do.: )*I love this band & Slightly Stoopid*

reggae, but too sublime like
I do like thier sound, but maybe because it reminds me so much of sublime. They use the same slow bass line and the lead singer seems to try to emulate Bradly Nowell too much. It's a shame because they could have developed a more independent style. I mean I like the music, but their distinct similarity to a band that came out 12 years ago takes away from their musical credibility.

A Great CD worth checking out
With the use of a heavy bass guitar, Pepper blends punk, reggae, ska, and some hip-hop into their music that gives them a "Sublime like" sound; however it should be noted that there are major differences and the comparison to Sublime is used rather carelessly. Pepper has a softer island sound to their music, lacking Sublime's musical creativity and Long Beach influences (e.g. hip-hop samples, etc.).

They are a very talented group and it was inevitable that Pepper would blow up. "Give it Up" is now the #1 requested song this week on KROQ (Los Angeles). Normally, the rest of the country will follow KROQ's lead, so you will probably hear "Give It Up" being played 50 times a day on your local radio station sometime soon.

What is ironic is that this album has been out for over 3 years and "Give It Up" in my opinion probably the worst song on the album. The song has a pop/upbeat tempo that really sounds like nothing else on the record. The rest of the songs on this CD are consistent with Pepper's unique style so don't expect the CD to sound like what you hear on the radio.

The bottom line is that I recommend buying this CD and think that you will be impressed. - 4 Stars!

reggae for the 'ambercrombie hat-flipped back' crowd
i have to admit, i was biased towards this disc even before it arrived at my house. i have been to kona on two different occasions and overall, i have spent nearly a month in this beautiful town on the big island of Hawai'i. also, the music of sublime is some of the most interesting and enjoyable music on the planet. so when i heard the pepper song 'stone love' on a reggae sampler, it sounded alot like a sublime groove, so i figured i would check out the disc, and after listening to it a few times, here's what i have come up with:
musically, 'kona town' has a great sound. it was well recorded and well produced. the reggae grooves are tight and make you bob your head. the singer's voice has a sound that is very reminiscent of the late (and legendary) bradley nowell, and the songs do borrow from sublime, sometimes heavily. (the band photo inside pepper's c.d. booklet looks an awful lot like the band photo inside the booklet of sublime's self titled album) but if you are a fan of sublime's music, (ALL of sublime's music) you would know that the comparison between these two bands pretty much ends here.
what seperates sublime from pepper was the sheer unpredictability of bradley, bud, eric and miguel's musical melding, and bradley's even less predictable lyrical configurations. nearly all of pepper's lyrics are on the up-and-up, whereas bradley would be spitting some snatch from a classic reggae track, and all of the sudden he was talking about shooting his girlfreind or hitting the bong too hard. this type of unpredictablity is nowhere to be found in pepper's music, and most of their lyrics range from being a bit immature to downright boring. pepper tends to mix mostly hard rock (not metal, hard rock) with thier reggae, and come off a bit more like 311 than sublime, who had a much more punk influenced sound. there is a bit of punk mixed in there, but it is simply not on the same level as sublime.
because of the solid reggae sound on the album, all of pepper's songs could have been great. 'stone love' is probably what i would consider the best song on the album. 'tradewinds' is also a good song, it sounds a bit like jack johnson (another fellow hawai'ian). some of the other tracks are fair, like 'ho's', "dryspell", and 'stormtrooper', which has a guest vocal appearance by josh fischel of bargain music. (incidentally, fischel also produced sublime's 'stories, tales, lies and exaggerations' documentary, a dvd that i would highly recommend to any fans who have not yet seen it) most of the other songs are rehashes of these songs, with very little change in attitiude or intensity. even the parts of the songs that are supposed to rock hard sound somewhat tame and uninspired. i do like the picture drawn on the c.d. booklet though, a water color of the center of the kona coastline, looking in at the bridge on ali'i drive, right near lulu's and huggo's (if you have been to kona, you know what i mean), or at least i think that's what it is, it looks very similar, and that made me smile and remember hanging out by that bridge back in '01, hooking up with the best doja i ever did puff on.
overall, pepper's 'kona town' is a fair effort, made for those who are into the sound of reggae without needing to be inspired or entertained by lyrical style or messages. i am not sure what kind of following they have in the 'high school jock/college frat boy' and 'cheerleader/sorrority girl' circles, but i would imagine that they sell alot of discs to those groups of fans. for fans of sublime looking at possibly buying this disc (if you are reading this, i would imagine that you are at the very least a casual sublime fan), you will appreciate the attempt at the sound, but you will be dissapointed when there is no mention of a "g.i. joe kung-fu grip on your mushroom-tip" or "the answer always waiting at the liquor store" or "a fifteen pack of old milwaukee, a dalmatian and a girlfriend but i ain't got no money". if you don't mind the lack of humor in the lyrics and lack of intensity in the music (and you can get the disc used for 7 bucks like i did), go ahead and pick it up.

pepper is a fair band, but that aren't key!



... Read more

Amazon.com

On their 1997 release, Dude Ranch, juvenile hardcore-pop band Blink 182 tickled the funny bone with an assortment of dumb sex jokes, off-color artwork, and between-song skits, including one of a dog drinking from a freshly peed in toilet. So, two years down the road, have the band matured at all? One look at the cover of Enema of the State, which features cover art of a tarted-up blonde nurse donning a rubber glove, provides the easy answer. Fortunately, Enema supports the humor with strong musicianship. The songs are more dynamic and multitempoed than those on Dude Ranch, sounding like a cross between the Descendents and Fountains of Wayne. And unlike the glut of alt-rock releases that offer one or two memorable songs, Enema is flush with instantly memorable melodies and ear-pleasing harmonies. Good, dirty fun--no more, no less. --Jon Wiederhorn ... Read more

Reviews (1096)

Good, not great
The greatest thing about blink 182 has always been their sense of humor (they are hilarious live). On this cd they still hold onto that. Many people seem to think they've sold out, or that there now uncool (in other words that they've become a pop band). That couldn't be further from the truth. No pop band writes lyrics like "F--- this place, I lost the war, I hate you all, Your mom's a whore" (Dysentery Gary), or "Forgive our neighbor Bob, I think he humped the dog" (Anthem), or how bout "Her volume of makeup her fake tits were tasteless" (The Party Song), or what about... well you get the idea. The point is blink 182 hasn't softened up, or matured or anything like that. Their still as good and as funny as ever. Plus on this cd we also get to see a more emotional side of them as well in Adam's Song (one of my favorite tracks). Anyway this is a good cd, however its missing those funny between song gags (the type of which we heard in dude ranch). Therefor I only give it 4 stars (plus a few of the songs are kinda average and not really worthy of 5 stars).

The best CD in the punk rock catagory
This is by far the best CD that I have ever owned. Blink