Reviews (93)

its time for you to choose, the bullet or the chapstick
Wow!
i saw Brand New a couple days ago in concert (with authority zero, maroon 5, and okgo,,,, all of whom i would also recommend) and could honestly say they were the best there. their cd is incredible!!! i think its hilarious how they sound all catchy and with spunky guitar riffs, when jesse is singing about how he hopes his ex-girlfriend will die. "have another drink and drive yourself home. i hope theres ice on the roads. and you can think of me when you forget your seltbeat and again when your head goes through the windshield." -seventy times 7.
but really, the most beautiful song i've ever heard is "mixtape".. its one of my favorite songs ever. the one they play on the radio, "jude law and a semester abroad" is also really greeat.
actually..
all the songs are really great. so what are you waiting for, go out and buy this cd!!!!!

best...cd...ever........
ok...im redoing this review. words really cannot describe this cd, but a lot of them can compensate. so, ill go track by track:

1. shower scene - 3/5 - i dont really like this song as much as the others for some reason. its got a nice, fast pace, but something is just missing.

2. jude law and a semester abroad - 5/5 - one of the best songs on the cd...i love the darkly humorous lyrics.

3. sudden death in carolina - 4/5 - good song, nice lyrics, but once more, something just feels missing to me.

4. mix tape - 4/5 - i love the lyrics and how simple the guitar part really is. one of the better songs on the album.

5. failure by design - 5/5 - the guitar in this song is the greatest, so is the chorus. this should really be brand new's next single.

6. last chance to lose your keys - 4/5 - great lyrics, great pace, great song.

7. logan to government center - 5/5 - definitely an older song, but good nonetheless.

8. no seatbelt song - 4/5 - nice quiet acoustic song, but the drum part at the end really ruins it for me.

9. seventy times seven - 5/5 - the lyrics are awesome! if you really hate your girlfriend or one of your friends, this is the song for you.

10. secondary - 5/5 - another older song. the ending is probably the best part.

11. magazines - 4/5 - i dont know what to say about this one. its not the greatest, but its not the worst. you kinda have to listen to it.

12. soco amaretto lime - 5/5 - one of my favorites on the album. great for dashboard confessional/acoustic song lovers.

so, there it is. i highly, highly, recommend this cd. it will become almost glued to your player from day 1. so please, do yourself a favor and buy this album!

Very fun CD
This album is enjoyable from start to finish. They sing with so much energy and the music is very fast and catchy. The lyrics are amazing and the acoustic songs are great. This CD lifts me up when I'm down.

thiS iS thE firsT sonG foR youR miX tapE~
Brand New has a variety of songs that talk about things we can all relate to. The lead singer has a increddible voice that you never get sick of. This Cd leads off with a great song "The Shower Scene" very upbeat and makes you excited to listen to the rest of the Cd. The next song on the album "Jude Law And Semister Abroad" is one of my favorites it has a great chorus talking about a girlfriend thats moving. The best line is "even if her plane crashes tonite she'll find someway to disapoint me" "Sudden Death in Carolina" is the next song, this is yet another upbeat song that you will play all the time. After that, the Cd slows up a bit with the amazing song "Mix Tape" this song talks about this girl that he broke up with that was "to cool" for him. best line- "this is the first song for your mix tape and its short just liek your temper, somewhat golden like afternoons we used to spend before you were too cool." Next up is "Failure By Design", my favorite song on the Cd. So catchy, great chorus, and like he says "just another late night basemant song" but its is aweasome. "Last Chance to Lose Your Keys" is a great follow up song, it tells that he got all ready for a date and the girl dosn't show up , this is also one of my favs. "Logan to Government Center" is next, starts off slow but then turns it up and gets off. Great vocals in this one. "The No Seatbelt Song" follows. All i got to say about this song is that it is OK, not great like the others. But who cares bout that song when ou have "Seventy Times Seven" coming up next. The lyrics are really fast. It has like 3 choruses, its crazy. "Secondary" is next and has a tough lead to follow. After hearing all the good songs you don't think much of this song but it is accully a pretty good song. "Magazines" is after that and it is really fun to listen to. Telling about that how he wants this girl to stop by his house late at night. For the last song "Soco Amaretto Line" is a good song to leave off with. Makes you wanna listen to the Cd all over again.

Every song on this Cd is cool and fun to listen to but theese are my top 5..

1)) Failure By Design
2)) Seventy Times Seven
3)) Jude Law and Semister Abroad
4)) Mix Tape
5)) Last Chance To Lose Your Keys

Go out and buy this Cd and I promise you won't be dissapinted

simply superb
one of the best punk rock albums you will ever hear. contains some of the best eloquent all round song writing i have ever heard. check out seventy times seven and sudden death carolina. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Just as Green Day aped the Ramones, their contemporaries in this Southern California punk quartet aspired to be the Clash. But also like Green Day, Rancid's fresh approach and excellent songs (including the ska-punk MTV hit "Time Bomb" and the anthemic "Roots Radicals") rose far above tribute-band level. And poet Jim Carroll (The Basketball Diaries) adds spoken-word stream-of-consciousness to the dour "Junkyman." While 19 songs makes this 1995 CD drag on a bit too long, Wolves is evidence of punk rock's relevance a full two decades after the Sex Pistols. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (214)

A VERY , VERY GOOD PUNK ALBUM
Until the first 12 songs , this one was headed for a full 5 stars. But the last pieces somewhat lack the consistency of the first two thirds of the album .

Nevertheless , I will highly recommend this one , particularly for those interested in punk rock , and most particularly those interested in knowing what is punk rock NOW , twenty-some years after the Sex Pistols , Clash , Damned and Ramones first stormed into the musical scene , creating a musical and social earthquake of unimagined and gigantic proportions .

Rancid is , no doubt , a rightful heir to those bands , as a matter of fact their Clash influences show everywhere throughout the album , but this is not something to be ashamed of , on the contrary they pick where the Clash left and follow the same line , but they sound fresh , not just a replica .

Probably most people will only know "Time bomb" since MTV aired the video somewhat frequently a few years ago . A good song indeed , but a few others match this one : particularly "Olympia , WA" , "Junkie man" ,"The 11th. hour" , "Ruby Soho" and the hidden gem "Journey to the end of the East Bay" .

All in all , a good CD , highly recommendable . Rancid is a honest , down-to-earth band with their feet standing firmly in the punk rock foundations , but not limited to nostalgia .

This was my first Rancid experience . I plan to buy one or more CDÂ's from them , since I believe itÂ's well worth it .

Would've been 3 if it wasn't rancid
I give this CD 3.5 stars. I didn't know whether to put 3 or 4, but seeing as it was my beloved Rancid, I decided on 4. I love Rancid, and I love all of their albums, except this one, which I just LIKE. Don't get me wrong . . . I have played this album repeatedly since I got it, but there are a few songs I always skip (particularly the HORRIBLE Maxwell Murder, which doesn't even sound like Rancid), whereas with the other albums, there is not a single bad track. The album in general though, is good - quite fast paced, REAL punk, with some good ska thrown in too. As Wicked, The War's End, and Roots Radicals are probably the best tracks. I can also appreciate Ruby Soho, although it sounds a little bit more commercial (but not poppy) than the usual Rancid. So, you should buy Out Come The Wolves, but buy Rancid's other albums first.

i wont get sick of this for a long time
this is a good album for youger people just getting into rancid.
when i got this album i listened to it so many times and i didnt get sick of it like i normally would. It is melodic and has good choruses.there is some great bass playing also. best songs are junkie man back to olympia and journey to the end.

joe-bob
this cd is so awsome i almost crap my pants i think about listening to it!!!!!!1 when listen to it i feel more sex than before. i want rancid to make 4 or 5 more cds that sound just like it!!!!!11

good but as punk as they can be
rancid is a cool band but this album made them seem like there fading away but we can still listen 2 10 or 11 good songs on this album ... Read more

Amazon.com

Akron, Ohio's Black Keys offer crunchy, riff-heavy blues-rock that is remarkably rich and textured, particularly when one considers that they are merely a duo. Continuing in the vein of their 2002 debut, The Big Come Up, this sophomore CD leavens their garage blues with enough innovation to keep things interesting, taking full advantage of Dan Auerbach’s full-throated growl. Particularly appealing are "Hard Row," which lurks somewhere between Cream and punk rock, the strong stomp of "Everywhere I Go," and the irresistible guitar riff that graces "If You See Me." The Black Keys might be covering familiar territory, but they do it so well--and with so much invention--that one is inclined to yield it to them and see what they do with it. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Something Different.
After seeing The Black Keys live, I was impressed. They have soul, I'll admit they sound a little like the White Stripes but if you look past that there is more of a blues influence. To call them punk is probably not the right word, it's more like indie if anything. A great band though, if you like the White Stripes you might be in to these guys. See them live with Beck this summer if you get a chance, they are a wonderful opener.

Great but unoriginal
I really could grade this album using 2 sets of criteria:

1. If you're looking a fun, mindless, hard-rocking disc, this is the one for you. These guys, despite being a guitar/drum two piece, sound nothing like the White Stripes. This is old-school traditional blues played by a couple young white kids. Auerbach is a genuinely good guitarist (something Jack White really isn't) and has a voice built for the blues: raw and soulful. Again, unlike the Stripes, Patrick Carney is a VERY good drummer - one can hear hip-hop and funk in his beats. The production here is VERY lo-fi - raw and scratchy.

2. If you're looking for an original, inspired album, look elsewhere. All this has been done before, and frankly, it's been done better.

As another reviewer said, if you're a big fan of 60's era British Blues, this is a good CD to pick up - it continues the trend started by bands like Cream, Fleetwood Mac, and the Faces.

Yeah!
This album is Great. I don't know how these two guys managed to get such a soulful sound while using so few resources, but I'm glad they did. Both of their albums (see also: The Big Come Up)are the kind that I never get tired of. But I should say, that I think Thickfreakness is the stronger of the two because it has a less retro sound. Check this album out, there's never a dull moment.

RAAAWW
Yeah. Im just randomly writing reviews of albums i own. I live like 50 minutes from Akron, the home of these dudes. I love the raw dirty sound here (called Medium Fi or something and produced by the drummer) and also the sound of Dans voice. He has a way with pronunciating that makes it seeem like he's saying things in a weird way when he really isnt. Anyhoo, its the music that gets to you- Blues Punk, not like the White Stripes (who i love) but dirtier grittier and RAW

i like this music
i like this music. i know it's good because i like it alot. and i know what's good to like. i know what i like because it's what's good. i like this music. i like the black keys. they're good. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Louis XIV rules, ok?
Believe me when I tell you that Louis XIV is all that. It took just a few bars of "Finding Out True Love is Blind" to catch my ear and I was hooked by the time the lead singer started crooning. In fact, I decided just now that "Finding Out True Love is Blind" is my favorite song of the moment. It's stripped down and raw and there's this refreshingly spontaneous energy that I liken to a live performance of musicians comfortable with each other and confident in their abilities.

It's not overwrought, over thought intellectual mind-meld-with-the-artist kind of stuff, haters. Like it's namesake, Louis XIV is decadent, if not entirely full of cheeky self-absorption and excess. I've had this EP for a full month. I'm kind of embarrassed and a little ashamed that I haven't listened to it until yesterday. And now I'm going into that weirdly obsessive state where I've listened to it over and over for the last 2 days. Perhaps I'm hearing things that aren't really there and giving them more props that I actually should...

For those haters out there who may doubt my word, perhaps you'll be dazzled by this most trivial piece of utterly useless fluff: Louis XIV have toured with The Killers. Frankly, the Killers really don't do much for me and I find Louis XIV immensely more original, though I won't go so far as to say I don't like the Killers because, well, a statement that scandalous could threaten the sanctity of my marriage. Uh, but this review is about Louis XIV... They rule!

Glam Bam Thank You Ma'am
Louis XIV is single-handedly going to bring back the pompous sexy glorious sounds of 70s glam rock.This EP is a shining star among the otherwise dull sky of modern rock.Complete with glitter eye makeup and lyrics that make a girl's (and possibly guy's) thighs tense, this dirty little album is the best thing since Ziggy Stardust.The track Illegal Tender is by far and away the best but that is a hard call to make.Front man Jason Hill has a speciality for cheeky yet sultry lyrics and a great mix of glam and almost AC/DC like riffs.This is an absolute must have!

Amazing
To me this band is reminiscent of Nick Cave and Bauhaus, both of whom I love.It's really terrific to hear something different and mind-blowing for once.I hope they keep it up.

This is the start of something great
I saw these guys play when they toured with The Killers last summer. They had released a few EPs but were not even signed to a label. At the same time they were getting known in the UK. Six months later they are being played on the radio all the time, and are this season's hot new band from nowhere. Louis XIV is named after the sun king who liked a bit of luxury. They are from San Diego and started about two years ago in 2003. They sound a little like The Fall and some early British New Wave groups but they carry it off like their own. Their song "Finding Out True Love Is Blind" is a massive single. It has great interplay between male and female vocals. All the songs on this EP are brilliant. The 1950s pinups shots are fun too. As Albert Einstein has said: "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." This is a band to check out.

Me me me me!!!!
rpatton - Ditto brother!!!If you are in CA and don't know these guys, well you're just not alive!A new century version of Stones meets Rocky Horror.Turn up the decadence, but don't stand too close - you'll get burned! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Released in 1969 to an almost total lack of critical acclaim or consumer interest, the Velvet Underground's third album may well be the finest record of the band's career. Without the sonic terrorism of The Velvet Underground & Nico and White Light/White Heat or the ill-conceived commercial concessions that marred Loaded, the album's songs are free to stand on their own merit. And stand they do: "What Goes On" and "Beginning to See the Light" may be the finest flat-out rockers in the band's catalog, while "Pale Blue Eyes," "Jesus," and "Candy Says" are some of the most delicately gorgeous songs Lou Reed has ever penned. There's no evidence here of any of the psychedelic effects and hippie sloganeering that marked most late-1960s rock releases, which is probably why the record still holds up today. --Dan Epstein ... Read more

Reviews (86)

Five Stars Are Not Enough: This Deserves a Galaxy
For their third album, the self-titled THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, Lou Reed got rid of both producer Andy Warhol and art-rocker John Cale. And the result is a surprisingly melodic collection of soft ballads, thoughtful lyrics, and flashes of flat-out fun rock and roll that echos the sound of the band's previous recordings without actually repeating it in any discernable way.

This is the Velvet Underground's most accessible album, the one that most people first experience and find easiest to enjoy. After opening with the meloncholy "Candy Says," a song suggested by the musings of transexual Candy Darling, the band ramps up into a go-go beat with slightly mid-eastern guitar twists for my personal favorite on the album, "What Goes On"--and then settles into a series of equally memorable cuts that range from the soft beauty of "Pale Blue Eyes" to the mantra-like "Jesus" to the good time "Beginning to See the Light." Whether upbeat or meloncholy, Lou Reed's unique style of talk-singing imparts a chant-like quality to the entire album, and although he has sometimes equaled these vocals in later work, he has never really bested them. Of course, the Velvets wouldn't be the Velvets without out at least one truly far-out-down-right-weird selection, and they offer it with "The Murder Mystery," a collage of conversation-like speech and lanquid singing that changes rhythms from moment to moment and which challenges the listener to sort out the individual voices and words. And then the album wraps up with an unlikely 1930-ish tune, "Afterhours," sung by drummer Maureen Tucker--and her completely unaffected, non-singer and off-key voice has surprising unstudied charm, rather like that of a school girl unaware that she is being recorded.

Even straight-laced pop fans will likely enjoy this particular album--and as such it is the perfect place for the uninitiated to begin a journey into The Velvet Underground. Everything about it is beautifully done, and it is a welcome twist to the band's earlier, much edgier sound. Strongly recommended, especially for first-timers.

Linger On
This is one of my favorite all time albums. This compares with great albums like Let It Bleed by the Stones and Tommy by the Who.

Candy Says: This slow enchanting song that opens the album really is a beautiful piece of music. The guitar melody is very kind on the ears and they lyrics really stand out. Lou Reed was at the top of his game here.

What Goes On: This track I don't particularly love or hate. Its got a nice guitar solo but I just never took to it like many other VU fans.

Some Kinda Love: Really good groove tune here. Almost a country twang to it but of course in Velvet Underground fashion. That's a thing I've always loved about the VU is their knack for getting great tone out of their guitars. Nice job by Reed and Morrison.

Pale Blue Eyes: Greatest song ever written. Wonderful melody and some really deep lyrics. It's too beautiful for words. The line "Down for you is up." really hits home to the self destructive tendency in relationships.

Jesus: For a follow up to Pale Blue Eyes this track is pretty outstanding. Not even about Jesus really. Even an atheist like me can dig this VU gem.

Beginning To See The Light: I've loved this song from the first guitar notes. Everyone in the band is probably at their peak here. Kinda like a better What Goes On.

I'm Set Free: Just gets better and better. A lot of slow ones on here. This is a song that skipping it is not an option. Again, great guitar melodies all throughout.

That's The Story Of My Life: For a song thats a minute fifty-six seconds I think its pretty decent. Not really a deep ballad or up beat track its just sorta its own thing. Just adds to the color of the album.

The Murder Mystery: If you can pick out every line spoken in this song my hats off to you. Doesn't seem to make sense at first but towards the end when the piano kicks in it pulls the whole thing together. A truely original song that no other group has created before or since.

After Hours: Mo Tucker's somewhat child like voice makes this track. An oddity on the album but nonetheless it just seems to fit. You may hate it at first but it will grow on you.

That wraps up this review but I'd like to say again this is a damn good album, its just too band nobody really understood the band its first go-around. I've always loved the VU's guitar sound and particularly Reeds lyrics that only someone who went through the kind of stuff he did as a young man can write (Good thing electro-shock therapy has since been put away with).

4.5 stars - severely underrated gem
Velvet Underground (1969.) Velvet Underground's third album.

The Velvet Underground released their first album in the mid-late sixties, and disbanded in the early seventies. Their days as a band were extremely short, but in that limited time that they were together, they managed to be extremely influential and diverse. The band only released four original studio albums, but NO TWO OF THEM SOUND ALIKE. They went through more transitions in their short career than most artists do in long careers! Their second album, White Light/White Heat, was a complete hundred and eighty degree turn from what they did on their debut, Velvet Underground And Nico, and with the third release the band does another complete turn with their sound. Also, for this album, John Cale was replaced with Doug Yule. Read on for my review of the Velvet Underground's self-titled third album.

When I heard that the Velvets had decided to go on without John Cale, I was a bit shocked. He had been such an important part of the band. But, the band's chosen replacement for Cale, Doug Yule, was a worthy individual nonetheless. Sure, Cale's viola would be missed, but this was a new beginning for the band (actually, all of their albums were like new beginnings!) Because of Cale's absence from the band, Lou Reed became more involved in the songwriting process, and this ended up paying off. The songwriting is much more mature than on earlier albums. This album was released to a fairly large lack of interest, which is a real shame, because it's one of their finest efforts. From the beautiful ballad Candy Says, right up to the closer After Hours (sang by female drummer Mo Tucker), this album serves up some damn fine music. It's not quite as good as their debut (in my eyes), but it's definitely close to being the VU's finest recording.

Like with the previous album, White Light/White Heat, the only version of this album readily available in America is the remastered standard version. I was hoping these remasters would contain some bonus tracks, but oh well. We can't have it all, I guess. There IS a version of the album that contains bonus tracks, but it's only available in the band's box set. So, if you're just a casual or mid-level fan of the band, the standard version will do just fine.

The Velvet Underground is a damn fine classic pop-rock act, and they demonstrate it beautifully on their self-titled third album. If you're a fan of the band, I strongly recommend adding it to your collection. If you're new to the band, though, start with their debut, 1967's Velvet Underground And Nico. Lou Reed and his VU cohorts were all musical geniuses, and you can see why on these recordings.

Greatest Album of the 60's
Seroiously. Sit down in your room and listen. The Rolling Stones and the Beatles got NOTHING after the Velvets made this masterpiece of pop & rock & roll. It's lucky that the Velvets got to release this one album in the final year of the 1960's (it happened to be the greatest period in music history). An easy runner up is the first Stooges record. It's a surprise that the Velvets made their best music surprisingly soon after losing their core member John Cale (of course he was busy producing a record I just mentioned earlier). The first two Velvet albums are essentials as well, but this album just has so much powerful song writing and the very rare moment in music history can you hear pain and pleasure draped in black & white. Can anyone not tear up upon hearing Moe Tucker sing "Afterhours?".

Another classic.
This is a must own for classic rock fans. It is, in my opinion, one of the five greatest albums from the sixties. This is in no particular order, they are all five equally essential 1) Let It Bleed---The Rolling Stones 2) Bringing It All Back Home---Bob Dylan 3) Revolver---The Beatles 4) Highway 61 Revisited---Bob Dylan 5) The Velvet Underground---The Velvet Underground ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Best known for their alumni (Rod Stewart, the Stones' Ron Wood, the Who's Kenny Jones), the Faces' brief early '70s run was as musically rewarding as it was boozy and sideshow spectacular. A revamped, bluesier edition of '60s English pop notables the Small Faces, the Faces established a rollicking musical identity that threatened to overshadow the Stones at their own game. Though the group dissolved under the pressures of Stewart's burgeoning solo career and Wood's recruitment into comfortable career Stonedom, the Faces were about much more than just individual talents. The folksy vulnerability of the late bassist, songwriter, and vocalist Ronnie Lane (well-represented here by "Debris" and "Ooh La La") kept the lads close to roots both geographical and class, while keyboardist Ian McLagen alternated between barrelhouse-boogie and Hammond B-3 soulfulness and Jones loosely locked into irresistible grooves. They could pillage Motown ("Three Button Hand Me Down") and Chuck Berry ("Cindy Incidentally") for riffs, and turn from countrified blues ("Sweet Lady Mary") to the breakneck boogie of "Too Bad" in a heartbeat. They may have been cheated of hits, but the Faces' music remains warm, heartfelt, and enthusiastic--a legacy that's aged much better than the cheap hootch they once drowned themselves in. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The World¿s Greatest Bar Band
What great talent! Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLaglin, and Kenny Jones, all talented performers, who created for a short while, the world's greatest bar band. Rocking hard and playing loosely this band just seemed to throw things together and hope for the best. Not just a back up band for Stewart, Faces created music for a Saturday night, out on the town, hitting the clubs, and having a real good time doing it. Listening to songs like "Cindy Incidentally," "Pool Hall Richard" and "Borstal Boys," you can hear the skill of the band, but Faces always seemed to be more about having fun. This collection is more complete than Snakes and Ladders and you will be hard pressed to find a band that better epitomizes the swagger of good old-fashioned rock and roll. There are many bands that have created more memorable music, but few that sound like they are having more fun doing it.

When Rod & Woody ROCKED...a must have
Rod Stewart should have retired years ago...today he wouldn't know a good rock & roll song if it bit him. But back in the day, Rod was one of the best. This disc is the testement to Rod when he was the Mod.

But the Faces were far more than just Rod's backing band. Ron Wood slathered some mean guitar licks, the like he hasn't played since joining that other band. Ronnie Lane penned some sweet songs and (gasp) actually stole the mic from Rod a few times. The music is raw, edgy & loose; so loose it almost feels like it could fall apart at any second like 5 drunkards walking into a wall. But it holds together, and it rocks.

If you're a fan of the old Stones, Black Crowes, early Aerosmith, the Replacements or the like, you should own this. If you think Rod's heyday was the 80's, you should be beaten about the head & shoulders, given a bottle of bad whiskey & forced to listen to this. Sadly Rod hasn't sung like this in years, nor will he ever again. Your eyes will be opened.

All rock & roll should be this good.

best they could do
I always loved bands like the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Zeppelin, or the Who, but avoided Rod Stewart because he kind of sucks nowadays. Then, I randomly picked up Jeff Beck's "Truth" and was introduced to early Rod Stewart and the Faces.

While I think the Faces rocked just as hard as the Stones or Who (except they sound like they are having much more fun), the early Rod Stewart lyrics are so honest and full of substance, I think if he had not sold out, he could have rivaled Bob Dylan as rock's greatest poet.

Thus, the best songs are those that combine Rod Stewart's honest lyrical side with straight forward rock -- Bad N' Ruin, Sweet Lady Mary, Three Button Hand Me Down. The drunker, philandering, almost sexist, blusy side seen in Too Bad, Stay with Me, Borstal Boys, and Had Me a Real Good Time are fun and exciting rock, but unfortunately foreshadow the Rod Stewart of the late 1970's (thank god Silicone Grown is left off this compilation).

A Faces compilation presents a problem. One CD (80 minutes) is not enough time to showcase all of the highlights, yet 2 CDs would make the collection more expensive (and less accessable) and may have made a "best of" rambling and directionless.

With that said, this CD is excellent and the best they could do. While some omissions are regrettable (espicially Maybe I'm Amazed and Memphis), others are forgiveable (like My Fault or Richmond).

This CD is a rarity in compliations. It includes the Faces most obviously best songs (Too Bad, Bad N' Ruin, Stay with Me, etc.) with others that showcase the range of talents for the band; others that will hopefully introduce this wonderful band and early Rod Stewart CDs to a new generation. If I had to put together a Faces greatest hits CD, this is, with one or two exceptions, *exactly* how I would have done it. Well done, Rhino!

PS -- As a side note, the Faces performed as a band on several Rod Stewart solo albums; I wish the songs could be on a Faces compilation.

high times rock and roll
The Faces were one of rock and rolls better groups. This greatest hits justifies that. But, they could have been considered THE best if they had a full commitment from Stewart. While this is a good CD it does not approach the greatness of Stewart first 3 or 4 solo discs. Those are straight up classics. I guess this is why the faces were always considered a great live act cuz they had all of that Stewart material to play. Nonetheless, this album comes highly recommened, good solid stuff from what could have been "the greatest rock and roll band in the world"

Definitive compilation of Faces career
I really wanted to love this record. The good news; it is pretty definitive. Despite what others might say, this is the only Faces cd you need. The bad news; the overall quality of songs doesn't do anything to enhance the legacy of this band. The playing is always a highlight. Its easy to see why the Stones wanted Ron Wood. Its also easy to see why Stay With Me was their only hit. The rest is decent, never bad, but just not anything that elevates this band to the top. In retrospect, the impact of Rod Stewart saving his best songs for his solo records is more clear than ever. None of his songs here approach the quality of the best songs he wrote for his first 4 solo records. That fact is basically indisputable. Makes you wonder what could have been if there was a stronger committment level from Rod. There is no doubt Faces made some enjoyable music, but I can't help but think about what they could have been. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Of course the Stooges were stupid, that was the whole point. Three chords were okay, two were even better, one or none (the cacophonous "L.A. Blues") was best of all. Drunk on their own testosterone, Iggy Pop and Co. kept things simple, loud, and brutal--and he's been coasting on the band's rep ever since. Slow and thuddy as it sounds now, almost nobody had ever made rock as primal as this second album. Iggy howled like a psycho, the band sounded like they could barely play the elementary riffs, and occasionally a moment of bone-headed poetry made it through the glorious muck. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (100)

The Most Intense Album Ever
How can you describe music like this? It's like James Brown on acid or a pissed off John Lee Hooker on a death trip. This second album from The Stooges is simply a masterpiece. In comparison, Funhouse makes ALL modern-day "heavy music" sound like a weak forgery. From the opening riff of "Down Of The Street" to the pure chaos of "L.A. Blues", this album MOVES from beginning to end. The rhythms drive relentlessly in a tight, but loose way, like the greatest jazz musicians. And they say that The Stooges didn't know how to play! Ron Ashton's guitar tone is as bright, orange and fiery as the cover art and Iggy's voice is as equally raw, inspired and real. Funhouse is PURE attitude and soul, and totally original, which is rare in heavy rock music. This album will either make you dance like Iggy or make you wanna break something, or both. WARNING playing this album in the car while driving can be hazardous to your health.

minimalist garage genius
this is truly a masterpiece of sleaze. it's what the stones' "exile on main street" wishes it could be. the songs don't so much distinguish themselves that much from eachother as they mesh together (as all good albums should) into one full groove of (proto-)punk mastery. the sounds of "fun house" are so expressive of the stooges because the band was simply to drunk and too drugged out to articulate past iggy's yelps and growls and the unrelenting power that the stooges produce out of their instruments. iggy's lyrical street-junkie brilliance shines through, just barely fitting through the tiny cracks of the music. the musical arrangements are not terribly complex, but not once do they seem monotonous. in true stooges fashion, they only played the absolutely essential notes in the songs; they let the distortion do the rest of the talking (iggy's howling wasn't really talking, as it is purging and reaching for something from the drug bed). from the indespensable garage-punk of "loose" to the chaos of "l.a. blues." i finally understand why the stooges, along with the velvets, the beatles, and nirvana, are the most influential band in the history of rock and roll. this album is a simply the epitome of rock and roll murk. genius. volume required.

This Rock and roll hauls a**
Some people may find raw power to be the stooges' best work. I find it to be pretty much a tie between Raw Power and Fun House. When I first bought Fun House I thought, "Oh no..I should have gotten Raw Power. This Sucks." It really was an acquired taste. I had to give it a few listens before I realized that there was a lot more there. The energy and intensity in this album is amazing. From the opening scream in the incredible rocker "T.V. Eye" to the horns in the loose "Fun House" this is a good buy. (I am a heterosexual male but I must say- ) This has to be one of the sexiest album's I've ever purchased. The 36-37 minutes taken to listen to this album are minutes well spent. "Down On The Street" "Loose" and "T.V. Eye" are three songs that go incredibly well together, full of raw and unadulterated....something. Would chaos be the right word? "1970" is one of my favorite songs at this point in time. The lyrics aren't genius and are sometimes kind of confusing but the music itself is....well you really just have to hear it.

The deserted island CD
I got the vinyl in 1971. It was the best then, and the CD is the best now. When asked what CD you would want to have if deserted on an island, this is it. Let's face it, it's not as artistic or polished as the Who, or Led Zep, but it flat out rocks. Loose and TV Eye are the two best back to back songs I know of on any album or CD (Black Dog and Rock and Roll a close second). I'll admit LA Blues is a waste, but the other six tracks are primo. I don't think anything Iggy's done since measures up. His concert at the Harvard Square theater in 1977 (with Bowie on keyboards!) was the best I ever saw, and I saw Hendrix.

Up Close and Personal
As a native Michigander who saw the Stooges perform this, and the rest of their albums live on many occasions, I can attest to the fact this is the album that best represents the chaos of a live show. From the live shows featuring this music at the Factory Ballroom, Silverbell and the Eastown Theater, the Stooges went beyond their basic cord simplicity on eponymously titled, first album to an experimental sound that landed Ron Ashton a position in Rolling Stone's top 100 guitarist of all time list. This recording convinced a lot of people that the Stooges were much more than a novelty act. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Only months after his initial conquest with My Aim Is True, Elvis Costello delivered an even fiercer diatribe. His first record with the long-running Attractions, 1978's This Year's Model remains one of that blistering rock year's most indelible albums. Orwellian even when not directly alluding to the great man (a sly nod to 1984 on "Living in Paradise"), the 22-year-old and band crashed through the raging anti-party of "Pump It Up" ("When you don't really need it"), the perverted Spectorisms of "Hand in Hand," the punk manifesto "Radio, Radio," and the stylishly anti-fashion "This Year's Girl" (in the season of Suzanne Somers, no less) with no less force than the Clash. Probably his greatest, most elegantly imagined and rendered long-player. The bonus tracks on Rhino's 2002 edition include an "Alison"-style take on Costello's country ballad "Stranger in the House" and a cover of the Damned's "Neat Neat Neat," both early proof of the new king's adeptness at outfitting his sets with conceptually brilliant surprises.--Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Fall in to submission, hit and run transmission.
If "My Aim Is True" landed on the music scene like a stick of dynamite with the fuse lit, "This Year's Model" was the explosion that came after. Elvis' first album with the Attractions more than lived up to its predecessor, in that having a working band behind him matched the music to the blunt force of the songs.

Once again, it is the stark voice of EC that opened the album as he ominously intones "I don't wannna kiss you, I don't wanna touch." When the players kick in, it's a whole 'nother world from "My Aim Is True," and for the first time, "new wave" had a front man. Before this album had been released, one of the central songs had made headlines. Elvis' broadside at narrow-format broadcasting, "Radio Radio," was performed in such a bizarre fashion on Saturday Night Live that he was effectively banned from the show for almost a decade and made this (then) seventeen year-old a fan for life. That performance sealed a decision for me to get into radio and make artists like Elvis accessible to listeners. When I was fortunate enough to tell him this many years later, Elvis kindly autographed a ragged poster of "Armed Forces" "Don't blame me."

Personal nostalgia aside, this double disc version "This Year's Model" contains all the songs that comprised the original US and UK versions and the original UK artwork. These are some of the songs by which EC is measured, like "Radio Radio," "Pump it Up" and "The Beat." The Attractions' playing was melody driven in addition to frenetic, a perfect compliment to Elvis' brilliant lyrics. And it was already becoming apparent that keyboardist Steve Nieve was becoming an architect of what American ears would identify as "punk rock."

The bonus disc contains two finished cuts with "Big Tears" and "Crawling To The USA." "Big Tears" is noteworthy in that Elvis has often said he wanted Dusty Springfield to record it and it was written in the style of Bacharach...and we all know where that ambition eventually led. The liner notes, as Elvis describes the whirlwind of forming The Attractions and heading for the US, are fun as well as the pictures. (I do wish the US album cover shot of Elvis with his face partially obscured by the camera had been included somewhere.) The remainder of the bonus CD provides some hot live recordings that proved what this band of raving 20 somethings were capable in their rock and roll youth.

Any Year's Model
This Year's Model was Elvis Costello's second album and his first with the Attractions. Mr. Costello embodied the angry attitude of punk rock, but unlike most punk bands that were unskilled musicians that thrived on energy, he has an unbelievable sharp pen and a great ear for melody. The album opens with the fierce "No Action" that in fine punk form clocks in at less than two minutes. "This Year's Girl" is wry take on the fame machine. "The Beat" has a catchy organ riff and is Mr. Costello's look at self-gratification. "Pump It Up" is a fiery track as is "Lip Service". "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" has a manic verve while "Little Triggers" slows things down. "Radio Radio" is the most famous off the album, but the album's best track is "Lipstick Vogue". The song has a thumping bass line that shuffles along until a frenzied close. This Year's Model gave further proof that Elvis Costello may well be the king.

Phenomenal, essential to any music fan
Everything about this album screams perfection. From the catchy yet complex lyrics about love and lust to the tight musicianship by the Attractions. Mr. Costello wears his heart on his sleeve with every note that he sings.

There is not one weak track here, in fact they are all perfect in every way. I kid you not. I suppose that if I had to pick highlights they would be "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" "Hand in Hand" and "Radio, Radio." With this record alone, Mr. Costello proves that he deserves to be hailed by some critics as one of the best recording artists of all time. And the fact that it only took him a matter of months to do this? Mind-boggling indeed.

Fall in to submission, hit and run transmission
If "My Aim Is True" landed on the music scene like a stick of dynamite with the fuse lit, "This Year's Model" was the explosion that came after. Elvis' first album with the Attractions more than lived up to its predecessor, in that having a working band behind him matched the music to the blunt force of the songs.

Once again, it is the stark voice of EC that opened the album as he ominously intones "I don't wannna kiss you, I don't wanna touch." When the players kick in, it's a whole 'nother world from "My Aim Is True," and for the first time, "new wave" had a front man. Before this album had even been released, one of the central songs had made headlines. Elvis' broadside at narrow-format broadcasting, "Radio Radio," was performed in such a bizarre fashion on Saturday Night Live that he was effectively banned from the show for almost a decade and made this (then) seventeen year-old a fan for life. That performance sealed a decision for me to get into radio and make artists like Elvis accessible to listeners. When I was fortunate enough to tell him this many years later, Elvis kindly autographed a ragged poster of "Armed Forces," "Don't blame me."

Personal nostalgia aside, this double disc version "This Year's Model" contains all the songs that comprised the original US and UK versions and the original UK artwork. These are some of the songs by which EC is measured, like "Radio Radio," "Pump it Up" and "The Beat." The Attractions' playing was melody driven in addition to frenetic, a perfect compliment to Elvis' brilliant lyrics. And it was already becoming apparent that keyboardist Steve Nieve was becoming an architect of what American ears would identify as "punk rock."

The bonus disc contains two finished cuts with "Big Tears" and "Crawling To The USA." "Big Tears" is noteworthy in that Elvis has often said he wanted Dusty Springfield to record it and it was written in the style of Bacharach...and we all know where that ambition eventually led. The historical notes from Elvis are great fun, as well the pictures. (I do wish the US "This Year's Model" cover shot of Elvis with his face partially obscured behind the camera had been included somewhere.) The remainder of the bonus CD provides some hot live recordings that proved what this band of raving 20 somethings were capable in their rock and roll youth.

10 out of 10 for the first two albums...
While I absolutely LOVE "My Aim Is True," I honestly think this album is a bit more than an iota better. While in modern days, his light may have been dimmed quite a bit, back in the day Elvis Costello was an immense luminary, a visionary. He saw what he liked; he wrote about it. He saw what he disliked; he wrote about it. He even took on corporate music and the radio with "Radio, Radio," playing it on Saturday Night Live in protest of his record company's indefatigable requests to play "Less Than Zero" (a solid good song, mind you, but overplayed).

Then there's the opener, "No Action" covers a relationship that is more like a game, where at least one person is not sure what the real terms of the relationship are, and the other just wants the unsure member to go away. Meanwhile, on a completely different note, "Pump It Up" (with its powerful, repetitive guitar and organ chords) takes a stand against doing things in excess. "Pump it up until you can feel it, pump it up when you don't really need it."

If you're a real music fan, you'll own this and "My Aim Is True." ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Somewhere between Amazing and Awesome!
I bought this album after hearing their self-titled effort two years earlier. I was hooked, to say the least. Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell is SOLID: it is difficult to skip a single song. "Making Believe," "Sometimes I Do," and "This Time Darlin'" rank right up there with "Story of My Life" and "Ball and Chain." You even get the bonus track of "Ghost Town Blues," which combines serious harmonica playing with some cool sound/vocal effects. This CD elaborates on the sound of the first album and ends up defining Social Distortion as a talented, appealing band. This is definitely one of my favorite CDs, and I recommend it to anyone looking for an original and worthwhile listening experience.

Packs a Solid Punch
Social Distortion's "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell" is the band's best and most consistent album. The songwriting is nearly uniformly excellent and their Delta Bluesman-meets-Johnny Rotten style has never been more fully realized. The two singles were "Bad Luck," and "Born to Lose," which are typical of the whole album, hard luck bluesy lyrics sung over high energy guitar fury. Other standout cuts include the prison lament "99 to Life," the (almost) tender "Making Believe," and the burning rockers "Cold Feelings" and "Sometimes I Do." The rest of the material is nearly as good and this is one of those rare albums that really doesn't contain any clunkers.

Overall, the best example of blues-punk you're ever liable to run across.

Cold Feelings in the Night!
Highly Recommended This is as pure and driven a rock combo as you're likely to find on either side of the punk/rock fence. The songs are a hail of rough-edged but well-constructed originals. The band's sound is reminiscent of "London Calling" era Clash. "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell" offers rock-steady tempos, grungy guitars mashing through meat-and-potatoes chord changes, the gravelly musings of lead singer Mike Ness. This is probably my favorite Social Distortion album, and the one that made me a fan for life.

Awesome
Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell is not only the best Social D record, it is one of the best records of all time period. This is the only CD I have ever had to replace because I wore it out from listening to it too much. I was a music fan before I heard this record, but I became a musician after listening to it. After hearing the guitar tracks on Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, I went out and bought a used Les Paul and a beat up amp that could crank really loud and tried like hell to learn how to play like Mike. If you put this CD in your car stereo and don't have the volume cranked to 10 by halfway through the first song, you're either dead or out of your mind.

Top to Bottom Classic
I bought this album after owning Social D's self-titled CD; I now own all their music and consider this Ness & Company's best effort.

Social D is often lampooned by hard core punks as a country and western band, and Mike Ness's two solo albums, and his overt worship of Johnny Cash provides support for that comparison. That said, this is not an album for fans of The Dixie Chicks; it is an explosion of sound with just enough rhythm to make fans of more traditional rock really enjoy it. Favorites include "Born to Lose," "When She Begins to Rock," "Sometimes I Do," and the dark classic "99 to Life" - in the tradition of Prison Bound, a jailhouse lament of the first order. Hard to call a band that does songs about withdrawing from heroin, murdering your girlfriend ("my baby's lyin, in a puddle of blood") and living on the edge of society anything but punk. Mike Ness doesn't give a f---, he's happy to tell you about it, and if you don't like it, well f--- you. ... Read more

Reviews (156)

Near Perfection
Currently covering the billboard charts with their radiofriendly hit, "The Middle", Jimmy Eat World's true brilliance was obviously in the past. The harder sounds of Static (although lacking maturity) still beats their now self-titled album, focused on pop and well...more pop. I love Bleed American/Jimmy Eat World, don't get me wrong. The entire CD is amazing. But after cultivating myself to the stunning emotion and beauty of Clarity...things were just not the same.

Their lyrics are emotional, deep, and the melodic soothing or the faster rhythmic songs evoke paralled emotion in me. I'm pretty apathetic usually, but when I listen to Clarity I'm as impressionable as a pre-teen girl. My personal favorites of the album are Table for Glasses, A Sunday, For me this is heaven, Just Watch the Fireworks, Clarity, and yes, the 16 minute Goodbye Sky Harbor. (I'd list more but I feel stupid writing down all of the songs).

If you want to get a Jimmy Eat World album, I suggest starting with Bleed American/self-titled (especially if you're a big fan of sweetness, bleed american, and the middle). Then buy Clarity and don't give up! It's difficult to get into, to understand or to even like, but like all masterpieces it's worth the wait. Clarity is breathtaking, smart, and just simply amazing. It's pretty much perfect...my only qualm...where did the demo/original version of your new aesthetic go? oh well...I can't complain. Plainly, just get the Cd, it's really really good, you're not gonna regret it.

One of my all time favorites...
I won't lie and say I've been a Jimmy fan from the beginning, but after hearing so many good things about them over the years, I decided to try their self titled (Bleed American). I don't think it left my cd player in my car for about 6 months, and all my friends will attest that they started to get a little tired of it. From my experience, whenever a (good)band breaks it big with an album, their previous album usually [is good]. And this album without a doubt [is good]. There are honestly no weak tracks anywhere to be seen, and at least eight songs that would be just as big hits as the stuff they play on radio now.

I could list every great song on this cd, but...well, i'm going to, just to give an idea of how ... good it is. Lucky Denver Mint, Your New Aesthetic, Believe in What You Want, A Sunday, Crush, For Me This is Heaven, Blister, Clarity, and even the 16 minute long Goodbye Sky Harbor. And unlike many bands, the songs are switched up nicely, going from straight out catchy rock songs, to soft melodies, to hard(well kinda) and back again.

Seriously, I can't imagine how anyone could not love this cd, unless you have absolutely no soul in your body.

their best album
I'm not really a Jimmy Eat World fan, but I have always loved this album. Easily one of my top 10 favorite albums.

Greatest over-looked CD in the 90s
Jimmy Eat World started their career with capitol records with their dirty edged, heart scraping Static Prevails. S.P was a great CD and still is today, but Jimmy Eat Worlds greatness is in Clarity.

Clarity has a varity of tones that ranges in the mood the songwritter suggests. The overall quality of this CD is off the charts its lyrics are witty and spunky which expresses the feelings of the songs perfectly. The guitars, bass, and drums are blended too well in this CD its almost too overwellming. This is by far the greatest overlooked CD of the 90s. The Songs Are rated as followed.

Table For Glasses- 8/10
Lucky Denver Mint- 9/10
Your New Aesthetic-10/10
Believe In What You Want- 8/10
A Sunday-9/10
Crush-10/10
12.23.95.-7/10
Ten-8.5/10
Just Watch The Fireworks-7/10
For Me This Is Heaven-9/10
Blister-10/10
Clarity-10/10
Goodbye Sky Harbor-8/10

Spend the money, BUY IT
Found amongst the utter crap of the rap-rock fad, was this gem. It is great how JEW went from a emo/punk sound to this melodic masterpiece. This was the first JEW album i bought due to a recommendation. At first it was not really my thing, but pretty soon i found myself listening to it quite a bit. I would definitely say this is the best of their full-length albums. This album is not the best introduction to JEW. This would be worth buying if you already own one or two of their full-length albums. By then you will really appreciate them and therefore appreciate this album.

It is hard to find any standout tracks on this album. They are all really good songs. But i'd recommend listening to Table for Glasses, Lucky Denver Mint, A Sunday, Crush, Blister, and Goodbye Sky Harbor. Goodbye Sky Harbor was a great way to end this album. The instrumental lasts for about 12 minutes or so. Just play it, turn up the sound and relax. I'd say get into JEW then buy this album. You will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even after all of the musical trends, fads, waves, genres, and sub-genres, Devo still sound fresh. There was a certain zeal and enthusiasm that went into works like "Satisfaction," "Through Being Cool," and "Gates of Steel" that belied all of their cynicism. "Greatest Hits plays exactly like its title suggests--Devo's radio hits at their finest. While they may never have succeeded in completely de- evolutionizing man, music, or machine, Devo brought an urgency--as well as a new way of looking at the pop craft--to "Peek-A-Boo!" "Beautiful World," and yes, even "Whip It." Thankfully, "Jocko Homo" and "Gut Feeling" are included, as is the spastic "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA." Other fine moments can be found on Greatest Misses. --Steve Gdula ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The fan will be better served by "Greatest Misses"
I enjoyed this reliving of my childhood (long ago, I had vinyl copies of "Are We Not Men?", "Duty Now For the Future" and "Freedom of Choice"; ah, the foolishness of youth to let these gems get away!), but I wasn't blown away by this collection. I would like to have seen more early Devo ("Praying Hands" didn't make the cut on either album!), and less of the tame (some would say poor) new material ("Working on the Coal Mine"? Gimme a break!). "Satisfaction" is here in its unadulterated glory, and I can still remember getting chewed out by my parents for singing the lyrics to "Smart Patrol/ Mr. DNA" (I was eight at the time!). Still, this album seems more suited for the "Whip It" crowd (nothing wrong with that, but not my cup of tea); there is an abundance of "Freedom..." material here. Still, it's not too bad!

The Best of the Devo Collections
Sixteen great songs at a budget price. Can't go wrong here. This collection represents DEVO at their most enthusiastic, pop smart best. It also shows how slickly they pioneered the synth heavy dance sound that so many imitated through the eighties. The classics are all here ("Whip It," "Jocko Homo," "Satisfaction,") as well as a bunch of should have beens, like "That's Good" and "Here To Go." These were the songs that powered a lot of college new wave dance nights, pogo ready with sing-a-long chorus/slogans like "Through Being Cool" and "Jerking Back and Forth."

The only way to get more is to move up to "Pioneers That Got Scalped" for the post "Shout" material, but then you have to wade through that double CD's overkill of irrelevant extras. It's a safe bet to have this and the "Greatest Misses," which shows off more of DEVO's wild musical side. As for subversive pop in the MTV age, this was the best there was.

HIGHLY recommended.

Great content-poor sound
I loved these guys in the 80's. Went to one of their concerts and almost had a riot (Devo thought it would be cute to see how many of their music videos they could play before the concert started, thought I was gonna get thrown off the balcony) anyway Devo's keyboards are often in the upper ranges of notes and this production sounds like someone cut off the treble. Wait for the remaster!

My first DEVO cd
I had been long familiar with the spud boys, but had never bothered to buy any cd's as a buddy of mine was a completist in this area. Like many other greatest hits sort of packaging, DEVO's does a good job of collecting much of their best stuff into one nice package.

Most of the lean is towards their earlier years than later, which makes sense as that is when they had more commercial and influential successes. Combine Greatest Hits with Greatest Misses and you have a solid packaging of spuds to tide you over till you crave more.

Buy This now for the Future
I grew up aware of Devo, but had only bought New Traditionalists. I can wholeheartedly recommend this collection. Forget the other reviewers who claim this album is monotonous, there is a lot of variety here, from the dance remix of "Go" to the anthemic Jocko Homo. Cunningly, the songs are mainly arranged from most recent to oldest - a true example of devolution. And a change from the usual greatest hits collection.

And would someone please "fix" the Rt 202 sign? ... Read more

Album Details

Packaged in a Paper Sleeve. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Decoder song
In case you didn't know, the song Frances the mute isn't on the album that bears it's name. It is the fabled decoder track that allows you to figure out what the album meant. Also, the song kicks ass. Buy it. The widow I can take or leave. I've heard it about 800 times since the wiltern 6 show. Just buy the cd and thank me later.

The lost track from Frances the Mute.
"The Widow" is the first single that The Mars Volta chose to promote Frances the Mute, their second full-length album. This CD contains it in its radio edit form, which some prefer to the double-length version on Frances the Mute (the last half of which consists of cycling samples played over and over again as a drawn out cool down). Either way, this CD is something you'll want to own as a true The Mars Volta fan, because not only does it contain "The Widow", it also comes with "Frances the Mute", the title track that was missing from the CD for lack of room. The massive track plays for 14:39. If I could compare to any of the other songs from Frances the Mute, it would have to be "Cassandra Gemini", but of a mood more like "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore" in the way this song has to both warm up and cool down. How "Frances the Mute" should have fit into the track list of the album is arguable, but many prefer it in the first position, serving as an ominous prologue. No matter what, the song is definitely worth getting your hands on if you're a big fan of The Mars Volta. If you aren't and you don't own any of their full-length CD's, you should pass this up and buy De-loused in the Comatorium or Frances the Mute instead.

What are you waiting for?
Fantastic!!! I had to have the song Frances the Mute after getting the CD, so I bought one of these...it was well worth the 7 bucks it cost---i would have paid twice that at least---and it does really tie the FTM album together. Two thumbs up for the Volta!!!!!!! What are you waiting for? Buy this now!!! ....(...)(Be on the lookout for (the)Eschaton Fiasco--taking the world by storm in summer 2005)

But it for 'Frances the Mute'
Like Pete said, Frances the Mute is supposed to be the first song of the album by the same title.I wondered whether getting a cd single would be worth it just for the one song (since I already had the Widow from FTM the album), and after hearing it, I don't think I could listen to the full album again without starting off with the FTM song.It seems that critical to the album.It starts off with about 4 and a half minutes of what sounds like metal clanging, like prison bars or something, then picks up with the main part of the song, simple but powerful.When that ends after a few minutes, you get a few minutes of very slow, quiet beautifully depressing and haunting section and then builds for the grand finale to the song and drifts into the opening FTM the album where "the ocean floor is hidden from your viewing lens" picks up.Trust me, for hardcore fans, this IS essential.If anything, download. You need this.

The Key
The song "Francis The Mute" is the key to the album, also titled "Frances The Mute."It is a fifteen minute title track that couldn't fit on the album because the album itself barely fits onto a CD.You can hear that this song is really supposed to be the first song of the album... it leads directly into the "Sarcophagi" section of the album's first track.
Plus, you get the edited version of "The Widow" (which is what you're probably buying it for in the first place...).It doesn't have all that ambient noise the album version is bogged down by.Perfect for mix CDs (if you're into doing that sort of thing).I only gave it 5 out of Five because I couldn't give it an 11.Awesome. ... Read more

Reviews (97)

Best ska album ever, and one of the best punk albums ever
I know punk. I'm not a clueless poser who listens to Blink and Good Charolette and all that other crap. I'm into true punk, like Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, and Black Flag. I considor Operation Ivy to be punk, and "Energy" is one of the last true punk albums.

1. Knowledge - 10/10
2. Sound System - 10/10
3. Jaded - 10/10
4. Take Warning - 9/10
5. The Crowd - 10/10
6. Bombshell - 9/10
7. Unity - 10/10
8. Vulnerability - 10/10
9. Bankshot - 10/10
10. One of These Days - 8/10
11. Gonna Find You - 10/10
12. Bad Town - 8/10
13. Smiling - 10/10
14. Caution - 10/10
15. Freeze Up - 10/10
16. Artificial Life - 10/10
17. Room Without a Window - 10/10
18. Big City - 8/10
19. Missionary - 10/10
20. Junkie's Runnin' Dry - 10/10
21. Here We Go Again - 10/10
22. Hoboken - 8/10

23. Yellin' in My Ear - 10/10
24. Sleep Long - 10/10
25. Healthy Body - 8/10
26. Officer - 10/10
27. I Got No - 10/10

As you can see there are really no bad songs on this album. As much as I like Rancid, I have to admit Operation Ivy is better and certainly less poppier. There are several albums that every punk rocker needs to own. This is one of them.

Possibly the finest ska/punk out there.
1. Knowledge 5/5
2. Sound System 5/5
3. Jaded 5/5
4. Take Warning 5/5
5. The Crowd 5/5
6. Bombshell 5/5
7. Unity 5/5
8. Vulnerability 5/5
9. Bankshot 5/5
10. One of These Days 5/5
11. Gonna Find You 5/5
12. Bad Town 5/5
13. Smiling 5/5
14. Caution 5/5
15. Freeze Up 5/5
16. Artificial Life 5/5
17. Room Without a Window 5/5
18. Big City 5/5
19. Missionary 5/5
20. Junkie's Runnin' Dry 5/5
21. Here We Go Again 5/5
22. Hoboken 5/5
23. Yellin' in My Ear 5/5
24. Sleep Long 5/5
25. Healthy Body 5/5
26. Officer 5/5
27. I Got No 5/5
You see a perfect CD. Better than Rancid (if that's possible) I just love this CD. The recording quality is okay, could be better, but that's the only draw back. Other than that, there's nothing wrong, so why are you still reading this. If not my review, then previous should have convinced you that this album rocks! Get it now!

Real music, not overproduced crap
This is a great album from one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time. It is bursting with energy and is filled with catchy riffs and politically charged lyrics. This album is real music. You can tell the band had a true passion for the music they played. It is not overproduced, but instead has energy and life that is rarely found in today's lifeless music. This cd is one of the best cds you could ever buy. Every song on the cd is good and you can listen through several times through without ever getting tired of it. Buy this cd now.

3/4 Punk. 1/4 Ska. 100% GREAT.
Operation Ivy takes a lot of heat for spawning Rancid (a pale imitation of The Clash) and a huge crapfest of awful bands who played pop-punk with horns. However, the "ska" label was somewhat overstated for this band, especially since only one or two songs on Energy actually feature horns (Bad Town is the only one I can recall). And these guys were miles ahead of their imitators in every conceivable way.

What Op Ivy really did back in 1988-89 was combine punk, ska, and reggae (with a little hardcore edge thrown in), and record the whole mess nice and lo-fi--original and totally excellent stuff. Blink-182 and Sum41 fans will cringe at the DIY-level sound quality and Jesse Michaels' untrained voice, but I wouldn't trade Energy for any of their Pro Tools-smothered junk. THIS is punk. Overproduction need not apply.

With 27 tracks, each averaging about 2 minutes, Energy has the punk energy down pat. Tim Armstrong ("Lint") lays down great speedy hyper-ska guitar lines all over the place, and Matt McCall is probably one of the few punk bassists who isn't totally incompetent (am I hearing some slap bass?). The album is chock full of melodies, catchy choruses, surprisingly sophisticated lyrics (especially considering that these guys were merely teenagers at the time), and plenty of groove. At least half of these songs are worthy of becoming standards--the opener Knowledge (Green Day covered it early on, but the original is superior), Sound System, Take Warning (my favorite), The Crowd, Bad Town, Freeze Up..I could go on and on.

Forget the "ska-punk" label--ultimately this is excellent non-hyphenated punk rock, and it should be in your collection.

awesome punk album
It's somewhat misleading to call this "ska", as only one song features horns... This is some excellent punk rock with reggae influences. It you're a fan of the Clash or Rancid (which this band eventually became) this is worth checking out. ... Read more

Reviews (141)

Not as good as Leaving Through the Window but still great.
I would give this album a 5 out of 5 if I had never heard Something Corporate's first album Leaving Through the Window. The band left themselves a nearly impossible task trying to make an album better than Leaving Through the Window. I'll come right out and say it, North isn't as good as Leaving Through the Window, which happens to be the best collection of songs I've ever heard on one album. North has it's great songs and a couple of songs that don't live up to the Something Corporate standard that has been set.

The best song on the album in my opinion is "Ruthless". If you like Something Corporate you'll like this song, although it is a bit harder sound than any songs on Leaving Through the Window. "Space", "21 and Invincible", and "The Runaway" are also great songs.

Having listened to Leaving Through the Window, the album fails in comparison, yet it is still great. North has a more mature sound which I can respect. If you like the band, buy the album, you won't regret it. Continue to support Something Corporate so they get the respect and attention that they deserve. Call your local radio station and request "Space" and get their name out there.

Are you guys insane?
I'm getting so sick of reading "Oh, well, Leaving Through The Window was better, but this CD is okay, too." North is an AMAZING album, definitely better than LTTW. I disagree that the songs are less catchy; I get them stuck in my head all the time. It is very different from LTTW, but only because it's not so kiddy-punk-pop. Personally, I