Amazon.com

Guster's formula is quite simple: Take time-tested harmonies à la Simon and Garfunkel or the Hollies, pour them over pleasant acoustic guitars, and add a pinch of congas for toe-tapping made easier. Lost and Gone Forever all but screams "radio friendly!" (especially with hit-producing wunderkind Steve Lillywhite at the knobs), but luckily the final product is more palatable than that.The musical plan is occasionally augmented by an electric guitar or strings, but generally follows harmonious sounds over articulate voices. Some people will listen to Lost and Gone Forever and find it too slight and completely corny, but others will fall under the spell of Ryan Miller and Adam Gardner's full-bodied vocal blend. --Jason Josephes ... Read more

Reviews (158)

You Will Probably Love this CD...give it a try.
I am a 47 year-old curmudgeon, certainly not a member of Guster's target audience. I had seen the FA FA video on MTV and was intrigued, but the lyrics seemed so silly. Then my daughter's boyfriend, who understands my unusual musical taste better than I'd thought, let me have a listen to Guster. From day #1 I was hooked. I search for life songs, the kind of songs you can listen to over and over without getting tired. This CD has many. EITHER WAY will go down as one of my all-time favorites. Track 8, HAPPIER and Track 10, TWO POINTS FOR HONESTY are incredible. If you like Travis you will love this CD. Other bands I like, in case you are concerned I'm steering you the wrong direction: Dave Matthews, Richard Ashcroft, Tears For Fears, Peter Gabriel, Tori Amos, Bare Naked, Innocence Mission, October Project, Dido, Toad the Wet Sprocket... Now, be careful. I also bought PARACHUTE, Guster's first effort, and was not as happy.

excellent
although kind of overproduced at times, this album has to be a classic for any fan of music.. a friend of mine over the net got me hooked on these guys..I could have sworn i've seen reviews on here for this album, but it looks like im the first?

excellent band.. beautiful harmonies, extremely radio friendly, but sincere and honest at the same time.. this is what pop music should be folks! i'd have to reccomend "Barrel of a Gun", "Either way", and "Rainy Day" everything is beautifully done.. those are just my favorites. deffinetly if you are trying to get into this band, you should buy this album first.. then "Keep it Togeather".. i dont know what after that, because these are the only two albums i have.. for now

The Best Band Ever
This CD is probably my favorite guster cd. There is not one song I don't like. I also just love this band. You NEVER get tired of listening to their music. I have listened to Lost and Gone Forever probably a hundred times and I am not exaggerating. You never get tired of their music. Guster is just as good live as they are on their cds, so go visit guster.com and find out when they are comming to your town, you won't be disappointed!

whole cd play
This is one of those cds I love to chill to and I don't have to change songs. It keeps the flow and is a continuous mellow groove that rocks!

great music!
they have really great music. i had never heard of guster, until just this weekend. they were playing on a pbs show called Austin City Limits. They sounded great. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Doug Martsch is enough of a guitar god to fill Keep It Like a Secret, one of indie rock's strongest 1999 major-label releases, with blazing solos. He's also ambivalent about the whole thing, which allows him to highlight the album with "You Were Right," a despairing litany of classic-rock lyrical hooks. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (102)

music from the center of the universe
Anyone who doubts that Built To Spill's Doug Martsch is the best new songwriter/guitarist to come along since Neil Young, has obviously not listened to this album. On "Keep It Like A Secret," the band's second major-label outing, BTS sticks close to the pattern of concise indie-pop songwriting that made "There's Nothing Wrong With Love" such an irresistable gem of a record.

And "Secret" also has it's share of standout moments. The record starts with the heavy "The Plan," complete with jaw-dropping guitar strumming from Doug. Completing the opening trilogy of awe-inspiring songs, "Center Of The Universe" and "Carry The Zero" are beatiful, plaintive, emotional songs that defy easy categorization.

But the album doesn't come close to dropping off after this--even though the first three songs set an impossibly high bar for what comes next. The lyrically clever "You Were Right"--which picks apart old classic rock cliches--is sure to bring a smile to your face. And the grandiose, climactic closing number, "Broken Chairs," complete with roaring guitars and a lovely whistling section, is a fitting end to this album.

But in between are the driving, punky "Sidewalk," the downbeat "Bad Light," and the fragile, multi-layered "Time Trap." Each song is a gem, with multiple facets and hidden nooks that you'll discover over multiple listens. But mentioning individual tracks may even be counter-productive; the main attraction of this album is how well it all fits together and flows to create a cumulative mood. Let's all get together and hope Doug Martsch releases a dozen more albums this good.

Arguably their best to date
I, too, have discovered Built to Spill from hearing this, their most recent album, first. So arguably my attitude to their earlier work (still good, but not as solid or cohesive) may be a bit biased.

But this is inarguably a five-star album, regardless of their past. The sound ranges in its intensities from personal to somewhar manic. It's a must for any of those people who play rocking air guitar. From beginning to end, the disc is frankly fascinating, a noise that makes you remember why you like music.

The themes of the songs, though varied, also allow for much of the good times involved -- check out "You Were Wrong," where a dejected lover blames his radio for his woes, and perhaps the album's best track "Center of the Universe," a new take on the famous id v. ego battle.

If you're at all a fan of guitar rock or (dare I say it) college radio indie, then you probably already own this.

right there in the middle
what i said when i bought it: "keep it like a secret just didn't grab me; some of the songs were really great (and even the worst among them was better than the best on the new album, ancient melodies...), but the whole package felt too sterile, too i-wanna-write-songs-people-can-call-'gems'. i just don't like it all that much."

i still feel that way, more or less. i listen to it occasionally, which is more than i can say for anything that followed later. everything since there's nothing wrong with love, i've liked a little less than the one before it.

what cd's were meant to be
Honestly, this is one of those records that defines music in a larger format than traditionally concieved. While the individual tracks startilingly good they are even more impressive when strung into the nearly agressive, yet ambivilant format of Keep It Like A Secret. At times the band seems too cool to care but their arrangements are far too rich and betray a love of large indie-symphonic sensabilities.

Despite my love of this record on the whole it also includes on of the greatest songs ever written. "Else" is the best track 7 off any CD written in recent memory and represents of one of those songs that can truly define a period in your life. It is a song that seems to write itself into the soundtrack of your own personal movie. Other highlights include the wandering "Time Trap" and the thoughtfully biting "Center of the Universe".

Another great guitar record!
Major label status has improved BTS. Their indy work, to me, was a bit spotty and at times indulgent. Now the guitar majesty of Doug Martsch is focused, and the songwriting improved. A fine addition to anyone's catalog! ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Not that different from other offerings
From the opening notes of "It's Only Fear," you know exactly what you're going to get from Alexi Murdoch's debut EP, simply entitled Four Songs: simple acoustic (with some minor accompaniment) songs with oh-so-earnest lyrics of self-discovery. Exactly the kind of thing that I'm getting really burned out on--especially since I became a music reviewer and everybody that owns a guitar is releasing an album these days.

I'm sorry, but am I the only person that thinks that "Orange Sky" is getting way too overplayed on independent radio? Now, I don't mind the occasional long song (I am a fan of progressive rock, after all), but at least say something interesting or have some amazing music--either moody ambience or rocking solos. But "Orange Sky" takes over six minutes to get to its point, mostly because Murdoch continually repeats his one-line chorus over and over again--and that's not to mention how the verses all start with the same repetitious two lines. Unfortunately, in the end, all I get is out of it all is that he loves his siblings. Well, great, but he could have said that is one line in another song. An example of "show, don't tell," I guess.

"Blue Mind" is nice, especially that strumming and patting of the guitar rhythm. There is some banjo that peeks in occasionally, and Murdoch's Scottish lilt comes into play a little bit, even though I think he's trying to hide it most of the time. "Song for You" is probably the best song here. The genuineness that grates on the other tracks is delivered here with a smoothness that belies its origins. Also, the level of instrumentation increases throughout to make it more intense throughout its relatively short (for this record) running time. It's really a sweet song that I respond to emotionally.

Despite all the negativity, I do truly admire Murdoch for sticking to his guns of independence in the face of having loads of money flashed before his eyes in the form of studio record contracts. He has decided to his preferred method of distribution for Four Songs and is steadily at work on a full-length LP that, I'm sure, will satisfy everyone who loves this album so much.

Best "find" of 2003
Heard "Orange Sky" on KMTT (local Seattle Radio) and both times I heard it it stopped me in my tracks. Saw Alexi live twice and he was great. The songs are beautiful and quiet and simple. Alexi gives you time to listen and reflect on the music. It will take your breath away. I can't wait for the next songs! BUY THIS CD - you will like it.

PS: Some compare Alexi Murdoch to the late British singer-songwriter Nick Drake.

Hurry With Another CD!
This CD is just beautiful and I just can't get enough. I hope he is writing more songs even as I write this because I can barely wait for his next work. I have never written a TV show but I wrote "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." and told her she should get him on. That's how wonderful I think Alexi Murdock is.

Stick with Nick Drake
Don't waste your time with this. Yes, Murdoch bears a superficial resemblence to Nick Drake. But the mimicry rings false & hollow. Not to mention that the 4 songs in question aren't even close to the quality of Drake's leftovers.

Perfect EP
I first heard Orange Sky on the OC soundtrack and the song stopped me in my tracks. I had to have the ep and to say the least I was not let down. This is a tie for album of the year with Damien Rice's O. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Willie calls, Austin responds. Tragedy brings out the best in this music-minded community, as some of the city's finest artists showed by joining forces with Willie Nelson in a concert to benefit the victims of South Asia's tsunami. With Patty Griffin's "Love Be Heard" and Nelson's rendition of "Living in the Promiseland" setting the idealistic tone, the performances range from the go-for-broke rock of Joe Ely and Alejandro Escovedo to the folkish country of Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis and the arty, indie pop of Spoon. "Travelin' Soldier" provides the best example of the communal spirit of Austin music, as that hit for the Dixie Chicks finds Natalie Maines harmonizing here with the song's composer Robison and his wife Willis. Maines provides vocal support for Griffin on "Mary," and Griffin teams with Nelson on a set-closing duet of "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground." With a generous selection of 18 tracks, the last third of the album features Nelson in fine form, his conversational phrasing and distinctive guitar even jazzier than usual. Though he's plainly the headliner, all of the performers rise to the occasion, to the delight of the responsive hometown crowd. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (2)

What We Deserve- Willie Delivers

Willie Nelson is always ready to assist when there is someone in need. He gives back. When musician Michael Hall called "and when Willie said, `Count me in,' I knew we were off and running." The "Tsunami Relief Austin to South Asia" concert was held at the Austin Music Hall. Patty Griffin, Spoon, Joe Ely, Alejandro Escobedo, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis and the Geezinslaws were among those who performed.
All the acts donated their talents. Proceeds of ticket sales for the concert at the 3,000-capacity Music Hall went to the American Red Cross, UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders.
As Willie Nelson said "There are a lot of people who would like to do something. We are glad to offer those people opportunities to help out in different ways."

Willie Nelson's Tsunami Relief Concert was recorded and this CD is pure Willie. He asked several of his good friends to play with him in Austin and they came through.

The best of the songs are by Willie. "Living In the Promised Land" sung by Willie is the best- his sweet gravelly voice comes through. He goes on to duet with Patty Griffin in "Angles Flying Too Close To The Ground".

My favorite is the moving tribute, "Traveling Soldiers" sung by Kelly Willis and her husband, Bruce Robison and Natalie Maines.
Kelly Willis sings a solo in "What I Deserve', and she is so apt at bringing out the slow, singular notes of this song.Bruce Robison raps up the best of his with "What Would Willie Say?" Bruce Robison is one of the better country singers and writers and his part of this CD is a real tribute to Willie Nelson. 18 songs on this CD, and none of these disappoint.The real winners are the Tsunami relief victims and the rest of the public who are fortunate to hear this CD. Highly Recommended. prisrob

Excellent Music for an Excellent Cause
I was fortunate enough to be at this concert, and it was truly awesome.I've been waiting ever since for the cd and dvd to be released, and I was not disappointed.The album has that vibrant quality only live albums seem to pull off.It's a great mix of the best of the Austin music scene, and generally just a feel good, rocking album.If you're not familiar with some of the artists on this cd, namely the Joe Ely Band, Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, & Patty Griffith, and Alejandro Escovedo, this a good way to check them out, and help out a good cause. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The young Los Angeles band Rooney draws on some obvious influences--the Beach Boys, Weezer--to craft its own promising sound. This catchy debut makes a strong case for the group's smarts by updating its tales of teen life with knowing details (side-by-side references to cell phones and Shirley Temples, for instance, in "Sorry, Sorry"). "Daisy Duke" mirrors a night-before/morning-after scenario with its Rivers Cuomo-esque structure of vulnerable verse/mock-tough chorus, while "I’m Shakin'" almost matches the Dandy Warhols' obsession with the Cars as a next-big-source of retro sound. But singer-guitarist Robert Carmine protests readymade Britney and Justin types too much on the overdramatic change of pace "Popstars." After all, can there really "killers of rock & roll" as long as unassuming bands like Rooney are around? --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (249)

The best
I got this album for the birthday, and I'm afraid to let it out of my sight. I'm listening to it 24-7 and recommend it to fans of Weezer, Jet, Phantom Planet, The Strokes, and old 60's rock and roll. Rooney has an original sound with creative lyrics and outstanding harmonization. The song "I'm Shakin" which you may have heard or seen the music video, doesn't do the album any justice! My favorites are "Blueside" which is amazing song which shows off Rooney's beach-boys-esque harmonization with great guitar solos, "If It Were Up To Me" which reminds me of a 1950's prom night song with great hooks and lyrics, "I'm A Terrible Person" which is a funny song about a guys mistreatment towards his girl, "Daisy Duke" which is my absolute fave on the CD which is about the lead singers obsession with the Dukes of Hazard character, "Sorry, Sorry" which is a quirky song about a guys unusual pick-up line to a girl in a bar, instead of saying "hey baby what's your sign?" he basically apologizes for making her life a living hell, and it makes for an awesome pop/rock dance tune. "That girl has love" is sad song about a girl who changed the lead singer's life, and took her own life at the age of 17. The rest of the songs are unbelievably good as well, I definitely recommend it!! A+++!!!

Rooney=the next Weezer
1.blueside-10/10-great song, sounds like the beach boys
2.stay away-8/10-good song, but not as good as the rest
3.if it were up to me-8/10-good song, but not as good as the rest
4.i'm a terrible person-10/10-great song, love the chorus
5.popstars-10/10-truly describes popstars and why punk rock is better
6.i'm shakin'-10/10-the best song, first single, should make you want to buy the cd
7.daisy duke-10/10-my favorite, love the chorus
8.sorry sorry-8/10-good song, kind of punk rock-ish

9.that girl has love-10/10-great song, the story of a girl who has people who care about her but doesn't know it and kills herself
10.simply because-8/10-good song, not as good as the rest
11.losing all control-8/10-good song to end the cd
Rooney is a mixture of the beach boys and weezer. you may have heard them on the o.c. if you like weezer or the o.c. soundtrack, you will love this cd. i highly recommend buying it. you will love it.

derivative and bland
I've come to the conclusion that if a rock band is touring with Michelle Branch and their song is on the O.C., they must be either a parody or just plain garbage. This band has nothing original about them and I'm sorry if their song was catchy enough to make you buy this-I got it used even though I had never heard a single one of their songs: I thought it was a different band.
A band can have catchy songs and be original and good: look at the Beatles, sleater-kinney, the ramones, sonic youth, Dead Kennedys, I mean, the list goes on and on. If you like catchy, fun-loving rock songs, I mean you can't go wrong with this, but just know that they are in no way original or cool.

Rooney: Giving Mainstream Music a Kick in the Ass
Rooney's first album is remarkable, it is fresh and new, nothing like mainstream music today. The music has a sort of 60s rock feel with killer riffs and infectious beats. Its not quite rock-yet not quite pop thats what makes it different from mainstream music: its one-of-a-kind. Rooney's music has a sort of musical sophistication which makes it special from other bands their age, and older. The music is carefully put together and the lyrics are simple yet powerful too, there is more lyrical depth in songs such as: That Girl Has Love, Simply Because, and Losing All Control. Rooney is bringing back something that was missing from music for years: simplicity. Rooney is simple, raw, and real music. These guys are keeping music pure and good. I truly thank the guys in Rooney for this CD and I recommend the CD to anyone who wants to hear great music.

ONE OF THE BEST CDs IN MY COLLECTION
Okay, Rooney is one of my favorite bands ever. I was introduced to their music in 2001 by a friend who became obsessed with them from watching The Princess Diaries (for you new fans, Robert Carmine, the lead singer, was in this movie). After that, we went to a Weezer concert and Rooney was on the Second Stage so we got to see them perform live for the first time, and got a CD that had 4 songs on it. Then, last year, the big day came: THE CD CAME OUT!! About a month later, they came to town and we got to meet Robert and Taylor, took some pictures and got autographs. I was so happy to find out that they are down-to-earth guys.
The CD is so great, and doesn't disappoint. If you have heard some of their songs on MTV and liked those, you will like the entire CD. It is very California, and I listen to it whenever I'm getting ready for a night out. My favorite song is Daisy Duke, I think it is a very sexy song. Robert does a very good job, his vocals are very dramatic and enjoyable throughout the entire CD.
Rooney is a great addition and I'm sure it will fit in to anyone's CD collection.
A BIT OF TRIVIA: Robert Carmine is the brother of actor/musician Jason Schwartzman, who was in Phantom Planet up until the fall of last year. They are the sons of actress Talia Shire (Rocky). They are members of the Coppolla family (yes, as in Francis Ford Coppolla). ... Read more

Album Description

What's a budding musical genius to do in the pent-up lull between albums? Mercury Prize-winning singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy (nee Damon Gough), in his spare time between heralded debut THE HOUR OF BEWILDERBEEST, and a follow-up to be released later in 2002, approached the filmmakers adapting Nick Hornby's acclaimed novel ABOUT A BOY about the soundtrack for the film starring Hugh Grant. There's no question to the logic of the combination as Gough's sublimely literate, disaffected yet still charmingly breezy pop music fits the story of life's apparent losers at two stages of life, one an apathetic womanizer approaching his 40s, the other a bullied misfit boy passing into his teens, between whom an unlikely friendship ensues. A folky singer/songwriter scoring songs to help set the tone of a movie about unlikely friendship could stir up memories of Cat Stevens's unreleased soundtrack for "Harold & Maude," a fair enough assessment. In a similar fashion (but in its own way), Badly Drawn Boy's take on ABOUT A BOY weaves a mournful, yet upbeat tapestry drawing from its source material while managing to enrich the story itself. There are even some pop megahit hooks such as in the rolling "Silent Sigh" and in the head-bobbing, ostensible theme song "Something To Talk About." ... Read more

Amazon.com

They earned wide acclaim with the double-disc Southern Rock Opera, a sprawling concept album about Lynyrd Skynyrd. Their three-guitar lineup and greasy look signify big, dumb rock in the minds of many, but their songwriting is relentlessly whip-smart. And what may be their greatest song, "The Living Bubba," is an ode to a righteous, hard-rocking redneck felled by AIDS. No, the Drive-By Truckers never do anything by the book, so it's no surprise that with Decoration Day, the band's first release for indie New West Records, Patterson Hood and his mates take another rewarding left turn. The album boasts a handful of crowd-pleasing, party-starting cuts, like the brash, cranky rocker "Hell No, I Ain't Happy" and the Stones ringer "Marry Me." Yet more common are moments of startling beauty (the steel solos on "The Deeper In" and "Loaded Gun in the Closet" and the jangling guitars, rolling melodies, and soulful fiddle breaks of "Heathens" and "My Sweet Annette") and heavy doses of recrimination and regret, as in the back-to-back suicide tunes "When the Pin Hits the Shell" and "Do It Yourself." --Anders Smith Lindall ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A Great Follow-Up to an All-Time Classic
You can call Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley a lot of things, but insecure isn't one of them. Not since Lynyrd Skynyrd brought in a young Okie by the name of Stevie Gaines has a great rock band suppressed their egos and added a talented guitarist and songwriter of the caliber of Jason Isbell. Isbell, the new addition to the Drive-By Truckers' three-guitar attack, is absolutely spectacular, a fact to which anyone who has seen him shine on lead guitar duties during their current tour can attest. Based on the evidence from Decoration Day, the kid can write songs and sing 'em too.

Coming on the heels of the all-time classic, Southern Rock Opera, Decoration Day had a lot to live up to. The DBT did the smart thing and seemingly wrote Decoration Day to please only themselves. It initially comes across as less accessible than its predecessor, but repeated listens reveal it to be a richly rewarding album. More than any DBT record before it, Decoration Day feels utterly anachronistic, like it was recorded before the CD era and should ideally be listened to on LP with all the attendant hisses and pops.

The stark opening cut, "The Deeper In" recalls Springsteen's Nebraska album both in mood and lyrical content. "Sink Hole" is a rave-up focusing on an issue near and dear to the heart of Patterson Hood, the collapse of family farms. "Hell No, I Ain't Happy" is typical ornery DBT. Patterson finally relinquishes vocal duties to the Stroker Ace, Mike Cooley, for a classic Skynryd- and Stones-inflected romp on "Marry Me". Songs like "Marry Me" just leave you shaking your head as to how the DBT fail to get airplay on your local rock radio station. "My Sweet Annette" is a pretty little song, even with Patterson and his delightful gravel-throated vocals up front. Isbell makes his first appearance on vocals on the arresting "Outfit" - a few listens to that song and you'll realize that this kid is amazing.

"Sounds Better in the Song" is another of the many highlights on Decoration Day. Cooley referred to it as a "love song" at a recent concert in Pittsburgh, even though it is about a woman who once shared his goals in life but eventually outgrew him and moved on. It's a wonderfully depressing song and hope for Cooley's sake that it is not based on something that happened to him. "Your Daddy Hates Me" recalls those classic Skynyrd blues ballads like "Cheatin Woman" and "I Need You". "When the Pin Hits the Shell" is where Decoration Day peaks. Cooley's on vocals again and, surprise, he's singing about something depressing - this time it's suicide. There's an extraordinary earnestness to his voice and the simple guitar solo after the first verse is one of the most beautiful musical passages I've heard in a long time. "Do It Yourself" is another suicide-themed song, though more upbeat with Patterson on vocals. "Decoration Day" features Isbell's second turn on vocals and again hints at the staggering potential this guy has as a singer and songwriter. To close the album, Cooley obliterates any chance that you aren't depressed yet by turning in yet another suicide-related song, "Loaded Gun in the Closet". It is a very fine closing track and even leaves some hope that the suicide won't occur, which you'll definitely appreciate by this point.

Whereas Southern Rock Opera is the sort of album you can blast at parties, Decoration Day is far more introspective. The best I've ever heard Decoration Day sound was on a recent sweltering Sunday evening while I was relaxing on the couch with the ceiling fan circling overhead. I worry a bit that with the addition of Jason Isbell, there is now too much songwriting talent in the band for everyone to get their chance in the spotlight. Hopefully, the DBT are good enough friends to overcome any inherent tensions related to the number of songs each guitarist gets to write for future albums. I'm sure every DBT fan has his or her own opinion on the topic, but I think that Cooley is the premier songwriter in the band (by just a shade). However, if you sit down and listen to Patterson's "The Deeper In", Isbell's "Outfit", and Cooley's "When the Pit Hits the Shell", you'll immediately grasp why there are three reasonable opinions on this matter. I'm just thankful that there is a band out there as great as the DBT and urge you to support them and their uncompromising brand of rock music.

another gem
this band had me from the first note i ever heard them play. they're all about the rock show. decoration day creates a unique atmosphere alot like they're southern rock opera album did. the album is solid throughout, no real weak points, it just sounds damn good. if you know this band, you're gonna love this album. if you're not familiar with they're sound yet here's what i can say about it; if all of your stones, skynyrd, allman bros, aerosmith, alice cooper and ac/dc albums are more of a religion to you than just music then these guys are for you. i'm not saying they necessarily emulate any of these bands, it's more like the apple not falling too far from the tree. let it rock everyone. let it rock.

The Best ROCK Record in Ages
There have not been many great records of late that one could say are "roll down the windows and sing along at the top of your lungs". This one cetainly qualifies.

Many people cite Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Allman Bros., but what I hear is Steve Earle joining up with the Replacements. These guys don't shoot for the majesty of FREE BIRD, instead they create a grungy Southern-Fried Riff rock that draws as much from punk as classic rock. Great songs, supurb lyrics and a blue collar spirit that does not dumb itself down to the lowest common denominator. HELL NO I AIN'T HAPPY could be an anthem of epic proportions if ever anyone heard it on the radio. All in all, a modern (Southern) classic.

A Great Album From Start To Finish
This album was my first experience with the DBT and floored me from the start. Yes, this is definetly southern rock no less. Songs about incest, cheating, death, defeat, etc. There is variety yet a cohesiveness with three band members taking there turns with the songwriting and leads in songs. Overall, a great set of songs played with passion by a well seasoned band. And screw the moron who dissed this album, it rocks.

Patterson Hood in DENTON TEXAS 6-12-04
What can be said.. Patterson makes the world a better place, with the help of Brad Morgan, aka Easy B, he rocked north Dallas from 11pm until 1:30am at Dan's silver leaf. From the start he dropped songs on us like Heathens,Uncle Disney,Sink Hole,etc.. you go to a show wanting at least 1-2 of the songs you love. I got around 15 of my favorites. I hope anyone who can will go and see him or DBT. Buy there stuff. I can't figure out why they haven't blown up BIGTIME. They will hit it big or there is no justice on this planet.Congrats on your recent marriage. ... Read more

Album Description

Debut from The Used who have performed on the Warped andOzzfest Tours. Special Enhanced CD featuring a video of'A Box Full Of Sharp Objects' plus 12 tracks. Features thesingle 'The Taste Of Ink'. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (289)

I dont believe what I'm hearing.....
Is this heaven? This is quite possibly the best cd I've ever heard. I guess I should tell you now, if you dont like screaming, dont get this cd but if you do, feast your ears on this masterpiece. I cant get enough of this album. I've owned this cd for about a year now and the used has slowly but surely become my favorite band. So much emotion and intellect was put into this album and the result is a perfect hardcore screamo emo punk cd. My favs are Say Days Ago, Buried Myself Alive, Box Full of..., and Noise and Kisses. All the others are just as good but I gotta have favs so there. Please get this cd, put it in, and experience the sweetness. Only then may we be friends. Also check out Maybe Memories, their cd/dvd w/ unreleased stuff and live performances. If the s/t cd doesnt get you, Maybe Memories will. I promise. If you still dont like you may not talk to me ever again. PEACE!

Awesome
This Cd and Band are just simply awesome. The first time I heard The Used was when I listened to their pop-punk song "Taste of Ink," I liked it even though it poppy so I bought the CD. I expected the rest of the CD to be the catchy pop punk kind of tune that their single was. I was wrong. The rest of the CD doesnt even compare with "the taste of Ink." I goes deeper. The blend of screaming vocals, and beautiful guitar and symphany is what got me with this CD. The way Bert McCraken blends screams with background vocals in "Poetic Tragedy" really shows how talented these guys are. Not only is the music and tone in this CD great but the lyrics were incredible. This band isnt just another group of angry teenagers who hate their parents for no particular reason. They show a maturity comparalbe to bands that have been playing twice as long as them. I reccomend this CD to anyone who truly wants to be moved by great music, while rocking out at the same time.

they suck, BUTT AT LEEST THEY'RE HOTTT!!!!11OMG
so yeah, a band of mormons trying to play "hardcore"(since when did black flag and the cro-mags sound like this?) dude, you're a freakin mormon, the only thing you have to complain about is the fact that the stores all close at 8. oh oh oh and, Bert(oh, how cute is that name?!) is a supposed ex drug addict who "lived on the streets." please, everyone knows a mormon has no clue what a drug is and even if he did live on the streets(in Utah) he'd be living in the same enviroment as someone who lives in a middle-class family's house. another worthless generic band who wont matter in 3 years. glassjaw, i love you, but why did you have to help spawn this trash?

haha, mormons.

Unexpectedly awesome
I wasn't overly excited to listen to this CD, but my friend told me about them and borrowed me the CD. I think this is how The Used survives, they aren't a big band yet they sell out concerts because of word of mouth. When a band is this good, they don't even need to promote like other bands...the fans tell 10 people, who tell 10 people, who tell 10 people.

It's an awesome CD, worth a listen definately.

People are stupid
I think this is a great cd. I don't understand why the people that give it a bad rating think there is someomthing wrong with anyone who doesn't share their musical tastes. I wouldn't have even looked at this CD if it wasn't for the fact that the majority of hard rock music out right now is terrible and therefore has kept me searching. I don't get why someone else is a "retard" for liking any type of music. Is someone who likes hamburgers a "retard" to someone who doesn't? no. its all about personal preference. its what the people who are complaining about fabricated bands are complaining about - they want people to be "different" even though different means having the same opinion as them. anyways, great cd. box full of sharp objects is one of my favorites. I dont give it 5 because no album is absolutely perfect on every song. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

.............WOW!
I loved Dream to Make Believe and I've got to tell you I think this cd WAS BETTER! They tried something that bands these days wont even think about doing. And they did an amazing, fabulious job. They did something diffrent and pulled it off with an awsome sound. This has got to be one of the best if not the best cd I have ever owned and I have a LOT of diffrent cds of all sorts of bands.

Awesome cd
This cd is amaazing.from start to finish.its like going into another world. this one and their first one are both so good. GET 'EM!!

Impressive
I don't know whats with the one-star-happy people but I was very impressed with this CD. I do not own their first CD (Dream to Believe)yet so I can't compare. Maybe this is a good thing because I can't judge on past performance. These songs contained lots of emotional depth and conveyed their message to the listener with energy and grace coupled with an unpredictable edge. These guys did a kick ass job producing a great album with addicting songs that will keep you pressing the repeat button on more than a few occasions. Five stars is a must.

Casper's favorite cd!
Some of you may be considering the purchase of this album, that I would strongly caution you against.While you may be able to make a case for this album, I just couldn't allow myself to let you make this purchase without a fair warning, I feel morally obligated.As I was saying, this is one of the most boring albums I have ever heard in my life and trust me I've heard a LOT of crappy bands.I mean I thought this would be a little sweet cause it had a concept (well actually concept albums are usually lame), you know maybe the band was taking a bit of a creative turn on this album.Well... oh boy... I was strongly mistaken.Luckily I did not buy this album, for I was fortunate to get a copy onto my ipod, and if I did buy this album I'd probably cut up my debit card in disgust over such wanton wastefulness.Anyways this is the boringest album you can listen to, all the lyrics are the same (something about a dude commiting suicide... wow that hasn't been treated before) and the worst part is they try to play the album super slow and it JUST DOESN'T WORK.I mean the whole album is basically a bad movie about a ghost who follows an ex around wishing that he could be with her, oh and shes the reason he died... RIDICALOUS!If I was a ghost I'd be hanging out Alyssa Milano's shower, now that would be what my concept album would be about, not sayind "yeah girl you can hear me in your basement, I the biggest loser ghost in the world even Casper makes funny of me."This is probably what Casper 3 is about, wow LAME.AND HE NEVER TOLD ME THE TRUTH ABOUT HEAVEN!!!AGH!!!!You tried guys, but I think you could have done a much better job, I mean come on I was expecting a creative twist on the Divine Comedy not "My Boyfriends Back".If I was a ghost... forget it, skip this my friend there is much better listens out in this world of ours.

mediocre emo/rock? actually its even worse...
the aesthetics are so far gone on this album.

the first album was a coherent, decent batch of songs, but this album is like a bird with no wings, no matter how hard it tries to fly, it just can't.

none of the musical elements here work together, all of the instruments including the vocals seem to fight each other, causing something that sounds horrendous to the human ear. it really is that bad... i cant even call it mediocre, it just isnt listenable, one or two songs are listenable.... which is why i have the album on my ipod... but i havent even listened to the album on my ipod yet, everything else on there is better.

decide for yourself, but i am telling you, there is so much better out there. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Though R.E.M. titled a later album Monster, this 1991 smash was the true monster, with the little Athens, Georgia, quartet graduating once and for all from its jangling independent-rock roots. The confusion Michael Stipe communicates in the catchy "Losing My Religion" and the dark-and-dreamy "Low" hit the mainstream-rock audience when it was most primed for uneasy angst. (Nirvana's Nevermind was released a few months later.) There are also odd but successful experiments, like ceding the opening "Radio Song" to rapper KRS-One (with Stipe playing the moaning straight man) and going peppy for the surprisingly nonsarcastic "Shiny Happy People." --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (135)

Out Of Time,Just in Time
Out Of Time is the double edge sword for REM.It brought them to superstar status yet it brought the wrath of longtime fans who thought they'd sold out.In retrospect it seems a little extreme since at the time,there was nothing like it.In the time that hairbands were soon to become an endangered species,and Nevermind was just around the corner,REM released an album that took chances when most acts at the time(heck even today)ran a formula into the ground. Losing My Religion led the way with its delicatly picked mandolin and understated string arrangement.But for those who played only the aformentioned track 2(and sometimes track 7)were missing out on a great album.Near Wild Heaven,Shiny Happy People,and Radio Song are bouncy pop songs that improve on the peppy tracks on Green.But songs like Low,Half a World Away & Texarkana have an air of melencholy about them.Country Feedback build in intensity as Michael Stipe sing the most personal pre-AFTP song,and Honey In Me brings both sad & happy together on the final track.Old fans could yell sell out all the want,but OOT came out at the right time which also helped pave the way for more daring music to be embraced by the mainstream and make the 90's a memorable decade in music

Blessed Sounds
This was the first REM album I listened to and , although I have listened to all their subsequent albums and Document, Life's Rich Pageant and Green before it, it still remains the most pleasurable. Like most REM albums, it has multiple meanings but it has generally come to be regarded as their 'love' album. This effect is partly achieved by Kate Pierson's warm and lively presence on tracks like Shiny Happy People and Me in Honey. To me, this album sounds like a lost summer with the mandolins and baroque instrumentation Automatic for the People would wallow more blatantly in nostalgia on Man on the Moon and politics in Drive and Ignoreland and twisted the tunes even more than Country Feedback was threatening on OOT. Their ultimate 'twisted' album was Monster, that picked up where Monster's Star Me Kitten left off. >So Out of Time is a lot of things- KRS-One's funny, ironic rap that makes you think (Radio Song) a sunny surf/road album (Near Wild Heaven, Texarkana), a baroque meditation (Losing my religion, Endgame, Half the World Away), and something inbetween (Shiny Happy People). The likes of Low and Belong sound ancient and tribal, a perfect counter-evolution of the Beach Boy style harmonies. But there is nothing simple about the thought processes behind this album- it takes a lot of intelligence, a lot of avant-garde thinking, to sound this upbeat yet this sombre. Michael Stipe's warm, resonant voice is recorded in digital while the instruments are recorded by analogue. The cover art and inside sleeves are, for once, not just afterthoughts. The sound is crystal clear and it resonates with that sense of being revolutionary yet innocent that fully emerged, blinking in the summer of the very early nineties, from the likes of The La's, The Stone Roses and, in their own way, Nirvana. To any ordinary band, this would be, undisputedly, their finest moment. To me, it still is.

REM sells Out!
This is by far my least favorite album by the boys. I thought then and still do today, that it was a wannabe commercial, sell-out recording. It lacked the soul of their earlier albums and the innovation of their later albums. This is a great band, but they dropped the ball on this one. Too sappy!

Shiny, Happy Music (albeit rather insubstantial)
OUT OF TIME stands as something of a paradox in R.E.M.'s discography. Even though it's R.E.M.'s most inconsistent album, OUT OF TIME ushered in a new, radical phase in the band's career, moving them far and away from such groundbreaking recordings as MURMER or RECKONING. Because of the massive hit "Losing My Religion," R.E.M. came out from the underground and began their mainstream career. While all the subsequent records (AUTOMATIC, MONSTER, NEW ADVENTURES, UP, and REVEAL) have moved them further along the lines of reinventing their sound, this transformation started here.

Ironically enough, this is R.E.M.'s worst album, although this is the very record that broke them into mainstream and enabled them to make some of the greatest music of their career. While many purists despise this album, I personally feel that without this record which brought R.E.M. such massive success, we wouldn't have those great later day records. It may have turned off a lot of fans, but OUT OF TIME brought R.E.M. to national attention. Still, it can be hard to swallow some of this record.

Filled with sonic grooves and textures, bright, shinny production, and lots of outside collaboration, OUT OF TIME finds R.E.M. moving away from the more jangly pop and underground sound of their IRS years to a more mainstream, streamlined sound. ("Radio Song," one of the more bizaare collaborations with rapper KRS-1, is a fun, jaunty little song, but still sounds, after all these years, as a rather misguided and a largely failed experiment.) The biggest problem with OUT OF TIME is, after the record finishes, there's not a lot to return too. It's a shiny, happy record, without much substance.

Any record where the production is more noteworthy than the songwriting is in deep trouble, and that is exactly where OUT OF TIME suffers. I do admire the band's ambition to broaden and deepen their sound, bringing in mandolins, keyboards, and even string sections. It's just the songs on OUT OF TIME are so breezy and insubstantial that is plays like a 1970s Wings album. It gets in a mellow, sunny groove, more concentrated on making a pleasant summer record than making lasting music. Like "Shiny Happy People," OUT OF TIME is a great catchy album overall but when it comes down too it, stripping away all the bright production and concentrating on the album itself, there's not really that much to it. Even the title has that tossed off feel. The band laterally ran out of time to come up with a title, hence the name.

However, when the band does get the songwriting right, then OUT OF TIME strikes gold. The aforementioned "Losing My Religion" deserves all the acclaim it gets. (Who'd think a mandolin driven song would be such a huge hit???) "Half a World Away," "Texarkana," and "Near Wild Heaven" are essential songs. Also, the two outtakes on the bonus disc from IN TIME, R.E.M.'s recently released greatest hits compilation, would have greatly aided this record. "Fretless" and "It's a Free World Baby" are both more substantial than most of the material here and Buck even said to send in a resequenced setlsit to the band because they were thinking about reissuing this album with these two songs incorporated into it.

The real masterpiece, however, is the phenomenal song "Country Feedback." Capturing a general psychic unrest and a searching for meaning, "Country Feedback" is easily my favorite song on the album and one of my top ten R.E.M. songs. The lyrics reminds me "E Bow the Letter." Both "E Bow" and "Country Feedback" have a very distinctive, haunting style that never fails to capture my ear, with wonderful, free association lyrics wedded with R.E.M.'s great instrumental sensibilities. One of R.E.M.'s best. Great live version on IN TIME on the B-Side disc.

In the end, OUT OF TIME never really offends; it just never really makes you think other than the two aforementioned masterpieces. It's a pretty fun record to listen too, but not something to return too time and time again. It's ironic that this is the album that catapulted them into mainstream radio, given OUT OF TIME's spotty nature. R.E.M. made great records before this, and they made wonderful records after this. We can thank OUT OF TIME for coming at that critical juncture, that linchpin record that secured R.E.M. a place in 1990s mainstream rock. Just wish it was a more substantial record than what it is.

An essential classic for R.E.M. fans.
This is the first R.E.M. cd I have owned. I bought it when it first came out, and I'm still listening to it since. It is a great cd, full of classic, memorable songs, with surprising cameo appearances. Only a few flaws prevent it from getting the perfect 5 star rating...

Losing My Religion is the main song off this album, and it's brilliant, of course. It's a fantastic, catchy song that will have you hooked... that is, if you aren't already!

The brilliant Low and Half A World Away occupy this album, both great pieces of music that deserved more recognition. Country Feedback is another great song, and keen R.E.M. fans may tell you that it's one of their best.

This cd also contains the single... um, Shiny Happy People. This song has a mixed opinion about it; some love it, some can't stand it. I suppose the same can apply for Radio Song (which I, personally, can't stand.) With "Automatic", generally everyone can relate to, and love, the songs on it, but with these...

As for the others, well, they're a mixed bag, really. Near Wild Heaven is catchy, though perhaps a bit poppy. Endgame is a great instrumental, and the remaining Belong and Me In Honey are certainly good songs, though they are dwarfed by the more popular songs on the cd.

So what's the verdict? Well, despite 2 or 3 poppy songs that some people are bound to oppose to, this is still a great album that I recommend to anyone! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

finally, dischord extends...
When they first started making music, Rites of Spring and Fugazi were innovative and unique. After 15(ish) years, however, the imitators have multiplied. Fugazi turned quieter on their last record, 2001's The Argument, continuing to tread new ground.

Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina's new project, The Evens, strip down the Dischord brand of punk to its barest elements, and extend beyond the sound to boot. MacKaye shows that he can sing tunefully and then some. Farina's drumming shows how important and interesting drums can be in a rock setting. The only downside of this record is the occasional quiet, introspective tune, that doesn't quite hit the mark (see Sara Lee...). But, overall, this is well worth the ten dollar investment. Check out Around the Corner for a standout track...

a new step for dischord
i've read a few bad reviews of this album, and i cannot understand why.everyone who heard about this automatically expected a fugazi/warmers soundalike.if they had done that, i actually would have been dissapointed in it.i enjoy that they simply made the record they wanted to make.
the minimalist approach in the music is unique for dischord and the lyrics on this album are unbelievable.i really hope i get a chance to see this band live.

A triumph of minimalism
A lot of bands coming out now are big and bloated and doing the same thing.That is why its refreshing to hear something new: a powerful sound from a duo.The vocals are riveting, the guitar intricate in some parts, cutting in others and I never knew you could get so many different sounds from a drum.A great effort!

post- post-punk
I read a review for this album where it was described as post- post-punk, a label which very accurately describes this album.Don't buy this album expecting the frenzied attack of MacKaye's earlier projects, listen instead for the quiet tension.Fugazi's amazing strength came not through its intensity, but rather through its subtle, compelling melodies.This album is a logical extension of this approach beyond the limits of post-hardcore.Just listen to what can be done with the three notes of "On the Face of It."There is still intensity here, but it is more along the lines of Fugazi's Instrument Soundtrack.Mackaye's baratone gutair and Farina's druming clash in a near-perfect interplay as they share the burden of the album's melody.The vocal duties are split up fairly evenly, making certain that this is definately not an Ian Makaye solo project.Ian's voice is suprisingly melodic and effective, and Farina's has a suprising edge that is regrettably absent in many female vocalists. This album might effectively signal a new stage in the continuous development of punk that MacKaye has been at the forefront of for his entire career.And it is definately time for some change.

Unforgetable
I've been into Fugazi for years because of there dedication to punks DIY ethic as well as there remarkably singular sound, but the Evens are something that I never unexpected.MacKaye takes a break from Fugazi and makes an album that is just as heavy as any Fugazi album but this time its heavy without the volume.The album sounds like elliott smith meets the white stripes, but without the country edge and somewhat like some of the spacier tunes on The Aurgument.The fact of the matter is is that this record is mind blowing and intense, VERY intense.My favorite song is Mt. Pleasant Isn't but all the songs are great.I hadnt heard of the Warmers, but I like the girls voice and she lays down some stead beats.I think the album is great and MacKayes voice very different from his days in Minor Threat.Almost, dare I say it, fragile?! ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's an ocean of reasons Nickelodeon fans andmoviegoers will want to own the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie soundtrack, not least of which is its cover art. Even if such aesthetic considerations bore you--even if the movie itself bores you, you'll want to dive right in, because the packaging pales in comparison to the content. Skate-punk queen Avril Lavigne cranks up the guitars for a caffeinated cover of the cartoon theme; the Flaming Lips figure out what happens when "SpongeBob & Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy;" alt-rock heroes Wilco revisit music simpler than what's on their latest discs with "Just a Kid;" and indie rockers the Shins let it rip on "They'll Soon Discover." Lesser-known acts Ween and Electrocute also contribute, and they're matched in the keep-up-the-tempo challenge by characters including Patrick. His track, the barely listenable "Under My Rock," earns him the dubious distinction of the disc's biggest bellyflopper, but overall audiences will be squeezed to find a recent soundtrack as absorbing. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Album Description

Sophomore album from 1996 does, as promised, spring forth from the Rolling Stones' long-underrated 1967 masterpieceTheir Satanic Majesties Request, copping not only Mick andKeith's leering bad-boy attitude but also their theirrock-and-roll-circus spirit. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Okay, give me back my life.
While comparisons to the Stones are certainly applicable, it would be wrong to say this album is only a homage or copy. Nay, this album far surpasses anything those deadbeats (excluding Mr. Jones) ever could have done. The Stones had their heyday, but listening to this album one really understands that Anton and crew have their jazz together. I was driving through the desert and picked up an Indian hitchiker. He said he had chilled with Jimmy for a while. I said cool. Then I told him to listen to this and after one loop around of the cd that Indian was ready to jump into the soul of Anton. Whatever, Anton, he said he would bring the peyote, so its cool. Sniff you jerks later.

More Kool-Aid, Your Majesties?
At first listen, it is hard NOT to imagine that this is a collection of brillant out-takes from the Stones' sessions for Their Satanic Majesties Request. Everything is so perfect, so "spot on" but as you listen you begin to get sucked in to this whirling vortex of psychedelic layers of sound stroking the lining of your very spinal cord. "All Around You (Intro)" is the lead off track and a brillant one at that. Having always loved the Stones' Request, I found myself mighty impressed with what BJM accomplished here--a resonating echo of "Sing This All Together", with its own wonderful narration, making you feel very much at home. There are too many stand-out tracks to mention them all. "Donovan Said" is great, as is "Miss June '75," "Cause, I Lover," "No Come Down" and "Jesus"--but that doesn't mean that you can or should stop there. As a matter of fact, if you have a repeat function on your cd player, just let the whole damn thing keep repeating until you are sucked up into the clear white light to meet the Godhead yourself.... 'Nuff said. One of the best albums I have ever heard. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Wow...
This album is wonderful in so many different reasons, but I think what really sets Heartless Bastards apart from everyone else is Erika Wennerstrom's incredible voice. It is powerful and loud, yet not annoyinly so, deep, melodic, wailing, raw, and unlike anything I have ever heard. Not only is the singing wonderful, drums and guitar are also played superbly, producing a sound somewhat akin to the White Stripes.

I don't think that there is one weak song in the whole 43 minutes of music, but my personal favorites are Runnin, a powerful 5 minute ballad, Pass and Fail (irresistibly catchy and energetic) and Swamp Song.

Don't let yourself miss out on listening to this superb album and hearing the voice of the decade. If mainstream rock these days is pollution, Heartless Bastards are a breath of fresh air.

Unexpectedly knocked off my feet!
It's been years since I've been caught by surprise by the brilliance of music, but Heartless Bastards did just that.I knew I had to have the CD Mid-way through the first song "Gray".The band's name was enough to intrigue me into giving it a listen at the local record store, but they are so much more than a cool band name.

If their is any justice in this world, Erika Wennerstrom will be known as one of the great voices in Rock of all time.She, like Janis Joplin, was put on this world to wail like none before her, and her band mates generate a power garage sound rivaling the power of Cream, but closer to the White Stripes.

Wennerstrom's voice and lyrics are what sets these tracks on fire.I'm excited to listen to this album again tommorow, and even more excited at the possiblility of seeing these guys play.

The album is solid from start to finish, the songs are not repetitive clones of each other and there is no weak link to the album.The song "Gray" will not leave my head, but don't cheat yourself and only focus on it's 3 minutes of brilliance, buy the whole album and appreciate it.In a world of music dominated sucky FM Radio Rock their is hope....Heartless Bastards just might save us all.

Great Band - Great Album - But Better Live
Saw the Heartless Bastards opening for Drive-By Truckers in St. Louis, April 1, 2005.Outstanding!!!I was an instant fan before the first song had ended.So often you hear reviewers tout a band as the future of Rock n Roll, only to never hear from the band again.... so instead I will say The Heartless Bastards are what the future of Rock n Roll should be, and if they aren't it's the world's loss, I'm just glad I stumbled into them.

Their studio sound is quite diferent than their live sound, but in either case the songs are solid.Off the album, you get to enjoy the lyrics, but live you get the raw-edged, bleeding intensity, they take on more of a garage rock flavour (intended as a complement)

Don't miss them live, don't miss this disc.

Haunting and Amazing
I caught this band at a Split Lip Rayfield show as well and they were absolutely amazing.Erika's voice is incredible and the songs are written very well; bluesy and haunting. I really hope to see more of this band soon.

Erika Wennerstrom will be bigger than Elvis!
Allright! Erika Wennerstrom's voice is a national treasure! Her phrasing is amazing, the tone of her voice is haunting, you need to hear her!Beautiful! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The story of Elliott Smith is well known now: Shy and reclusive indie rocker soars to a Hollywood soundstage and major-label contract. His fans gasped in collective horror when he took a bow at the 1998 Oscars, his hand clasped by Celine Dion. He seemed far too fragile to survive among the sharks and vultures on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. But as his subsequent albums XO and now Figure 8 show, Smith has weathered the spotlight successfully and is moving ahead with self-assured grace. The beauty of Figure 8 is that it encompasses Smith's musical virtues, from the stark and wispy tunes of his lo-fi beginnings on Roman Candle to the orchestrated, Beatlesesque pomp and circumstance of later work to the intimate and sometimes painful nature of his live shows. Figure 8's opener, "Son of Sam," is as good as anything Smith has ever crafted, its soaring melody buoyed with lush instrumentation and a tin-pan-alley piano romp. "Happiness" is vintage Smith, its lyrics belying the title. But best of all are "Everything Reminds Me of Her" and "Everything Means Nothing to Me," which capture the dichotomies of Smith's music. The first is a lovely, delicate little tune--just Smith's wavering voice, a plucked guitar, and the plaintive lyrics of unabashed longing. The second is a layered soundscape, heavily produced, with washes of music covering a repeated lyrical line. One is direct, naked, and honest; the other is slippery, distant, and rational. These are the yin and yang of Smith's music, and it's the friction between the two--or, more accurately, the wreckage from one obdurate truth bashing up against the other--that makes Figure 8 resonate with such devastating power. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (125)

Giving Us Another Little Peek At His Growing Musical Arsenal
After a couple of listens, you get the feeling that Elliott Smith is still exploring the studio space, carefully mulling over his musical arsenal and pondering what he's going to spring on us next. FIGURE 8's sound is much fuller and much richer than on his previous efforts but before you read "fuller" as "overproduced" (which seems to be the growing complaint about FIGURE 8...), you'll be happy to know there's still plenty of quiet intimacy on FIGURE 8. After all, it's still what Elliott does best. Besides, Elliott's voice is so sweet sounding it gives even the more upbeat pop songs a delicate, fragile quality. And his lyrics are so introspective, you become convinced Smith became a musician solely for his own theraputic benefit. That is, until you realize everything he says applies to your life, too. It's a gift too many musicians THINK they have and few actually have.

Although I think a few songs here could have been trimmed ("Everything Means Nothing To Me," "Pretty Mary K," and the saloon-plinking piano of "In The Lost And Found" don't really grab me...), there's just a lot of great stuff here. Start with three genuinely great pop offerings: "Son Of Sam," "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?," and my personal favorite song on the album, "Junk Bond Trader." Then there's "Stupidity Tries," which builds with such melodrama, you'd think it's a sweeping epic twice its actual length. For those of you who prefer a more contemplative Elliott Smith, there's "Easy Way Out," "I Better Be Quiet Now," and (another one of my favorites from FIGURE 8) the simple yet beautiful "Everything Reminds Me Of Her." It's just a sweeping, beautiful album that'll have you tapping your foot one moment and crying the next. Fantastic.

Brilliant - Very Elliottesque...
Elliott does it again. But boy, the people who hated XO are gonna be bummed. This makes XO look like Either/Or. I have to admit, the first few spins were a little strange - this album is very produced. Son of Sam sounds nothing like either the one on the Happiness single nor the one he's been doing live with the band for the last couple of years. This is like a ragtime-shuffle version. It took a while to get used to some of these sounds, but ultimately these are all great songs. A great song is a great song. This album is loaded with instant classics. Apparently, Elliott's gone as far as wants to go with the solo acoustic thing (although a lot of these songs sounded great solo acoustic on his latest tour) but the embellishments don't ruin the songs. This is not your typical I-don't-have-any-real-songs-so-I'll-cover-it-up-with-heavy-production scams. And forget all the critics spouting about this being Beatlesque or Big Staresque. Listening to this album reminds me of listening to, well, Elliott Smith. The melodies and harmonies are very reminiscent of .. Elliott Smith. In fact, this album is very Elliottesque. And very excellent.

brilliant and beautiful
Figure 8 is a soundscape of its own. Lushly and crisply produced, each song resonates in its own way. Many Elliott Smith fans feel that the sound encompassed by Figure 8 is of a lower integrity or quality than Elliott's earlier music, such as the famously "lo-fi" Roman Candle. Figure 8 shows Elliott crafting rich arrangements eerily reminiscent of the Beatles--especially the soaring penultimate track, "Can't Make A Sound". Elliott's voice is lush and startling on this album; I do miss his certain qualities of it that were present on his earlier, starker albums. Figure 8 is addictive.

A Tortured Genius
Elliot Smith is a pure musical genius. His music is as pure and honest as music can be. This album is one to be treasured. You will not be disappointed.

Fine pop
An impressive suite of perfect gestures, 15 remarkably meticulous and dazzling aerian ballets of 3 minutes each. 15 songs straight from heaven. Elliott Smith was simply the best songwriter of his generation in the US. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts is the second album from French electronica duo M83 (Anthony Gonzalez and Nicolas Fromageau) who, thankfully, derive their name from a spiral galaxy in the constellation of Hydra and not from an interminably lackluster stretch of noxious British motorway. The name certainly nods to where their wide-eyed, spaced-out technicolor imaginations are fixed, but they also know how to sound ponderously intense--hence the cold, cello-aided sonority of "Gone," possibly the only track on the album that defies the lambent warmth of the purring analog synths and beguiling reveries that make the rest of the album as enticingly therapeutic as a thermal spa.

Humane post-rock is clearly M83's strongest attribute because both "Run into Flowers" and "On a White Lake, Near a Green Mountain" are curiously pretty cameos, far removed from the automatic anemia of other workmanlike button-pushers. The high point, though, is the symphonic sweetness and motherly female choral vocals of "Beauties Can Die," which is rather like being cradled in the arms of an angel, or at the very least the arms of Sigur Ros and Lesley Garrett. If one really has to die and go to heaven, one rather hopes the journey up there will sound like this. --Kevin Maidment ... Read more