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There has always been something about John Darnielle’s lyrics; even when you’re not exactly sure what he’s talking about, it always feels like he’s telling it like it is. Not that metaphor is a major player on The Sunset Tree, the latest album from the Mountain Goats (of which Darnielle is the founder, frontman, and once only member.) Songs like "This Year," "Dance Music," and "Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod?" are painfully honest about his traumatic childhood and abusive stepfather. You might think that an album about child abuse would be hard to listen to, but as always, hearing Darnielle's lyrics is an honor and a privilege. Trying experiences are captured with deceptively simple statements (is there any better expression of determination than "I will make it through this year if it kills me"?) On this CD, Darnielle also remembers revered (yet cocaine-addled) reggae star Dennis Brown. ("It took all the coke in town to bring down Dennis Brown. On the day my lung collapses, we’ll see just how much it takes.") Though the Mountain Goats have apparently done well enough for Darnielle to quit his day job as a nurse, they don't yet have all the fans they deserve. Don't wait to join the fold. --Leah Weathersby ... Read more

Reviews (10)

John Darnielle, where have you been all my life
I heard John Darnielle interviewed on NPR.Based on what he said and the performance of "Love, Love, Love", I bought the CD. When I arrived home, I listened to The Sunset Tree while I worked in the yard.Later that afternoon, I listened to this CD again, and was able to focus on the incredible lyrics.It's Tuesday, and I've been listening to this CD at least once a day since Friday. I can't get enough!!

simply perfect
I bought The Sunset Tree a week ago, sight unseen and note unheard.I listened to my other purchases first, since I was relatively familiar with them and knew what I was getting.Then I peeled off the celophane and popped in The Sunset Tree.No idea what to expect... I thought, upon the first notes of You or Your Memory, 'my god what an awful nasal voice'... then- 'oh.'Then lying on the floor watching the ceiling fan turn thinking, 'this is the most perfect album.There is no other way for this to be.'I am a self-employed artist and listen to music all day, and into the evening, as I work.This cd makes it hard to go to bed at night.It would almost be better to just sit still by the stereo and listen, over and over again, to this quiet steel masterpiece.I can't say enough, but it would be too much.Just buy this, and save yourself an afternoon or two or three, to really listen to it.

Indeed
I found the Mountain Goats about 3 years ago, becoming a huge fan in a short time.Only I couldn't put into words the reason why, until now.I read an article by Sasha Frere Jones (Yes, it's true, the Mountain Goats are now exposing themselves to the world in places the archetypal MG fan is expected to be - NPR, bookslut, the Times).In Jones' article (and for the following he is my new favorite person) he was explaining my taste in music to me, much to my delight.I'll just give the tagline: "For John Darnielle...the point of making music is to communicate."

She mentions Beck in point of contrast.John Darneille's greatest strength may be his need to be understood.Beck's lyrics, wonderful though they might be, don't allow you entrance into them.They're doors locked.You can't have an interaction with a Beck song, unless your idea of interaction is trying to talk to a robot who's been programmed full of non-sequitors, and spits them out for half an hour, with choruses, leaving the other end frustrated.Or a schizophrenic who has flashes of insight, but quickly follows them up with the most utterly senseless drivel, making you wonder if the flash was a mere fluke.

"You gotta drive all night just to feel like you're okay."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
"I just found me a bottle of blues."
"What's that?"
"I just found me a bottle of blues,"
"I'm sorry, I thought you said..."
"I am a paper tiger"
"Huh..?"
"Torn apart by idle hands."
"Yeah but...What?"
"We rock the salt, corroded to the bone"
"..."
"Stealing kisses from lepers faces"
You cross the street, thankful that the man in the crosswalk box lit up just then and there, as the hobo starts in on no one.

John Darnielle is Beck's inverse, and with a proper band, his equal pop-musically.

Jones also describes him as having less to do with rock in its present state and more to do with hip-hop m.c.s, "writing lyrics in complete sentences and delivering their songs emphatically"...a point I'm sure all MG fans and John Darnielle felt absolute joy in reading, as happens when hearing something that hits the nail directly on the head when you're searching for your misplaced hammer.

I just realized I haven't talked about The Sunset Tree.All I have to say is, The Mountain Goats are getting better, and it's kind of scary, in that really exciting way.

Darnielle, by the way, also has incredible stage presence, if you get a chance...just incredibly witty, and nice and interactive.He gives just the sort of enthralling performance you'd expect from someone who writes songs like these.

Rejoice!And we are on our way...

A Triumph
This record is a triumph in every sense of the word.IF THERE WERE EVER ANY "stops" in John Darnielle's works they have all been pulled in The Sunset Tree.Exquisite arrangements and musicians with passionateintensity and shared vision carry this story of an abusive relationship to heights unheard of in this day of musical fluff and flash.Darnielle's songwriting has never before been so consistently on-target and downright beautiful.The entire record is a revelation with my favorites being This Year, Up the Wolves, Hast Thou Considered The Tetrapod,Song For Dennis Brown, Love Love Love and the heartwrenching Pale Green Things. Perhaps this will be the record that gets Darnielle the recognition he so richly deserves.

Check out cellist Erik Friedlander + John Vanderslice too!
I'm a long long time Mountain Goats fans, from back in the day when he was putting out cassettes on Shrimper, and I have to say, this is a huge step up for John Darnielle -- very possibly the best record in his entire discography.

Just last night I saw him play at the Knitting Factory in New York, and part of me wants to say that one of the *reasons* he's stepped up his game so much is that he has finally found a team of musicians to truly capture the intensity of his always great lyrics. (The fact that he's finally singing about the child abuse that's surely the source for that holy fire also seems to help, too.)

Anyway, I'd suggest checking out not only the rest of John Darnielle's discography, but that of his contributors -- Erik Friedlander's solo record Maldoror, John Vanderslice's solo stuff (Erik plays on a new record coming in August), Shearwater, et. al.

Maybe people only listen to music for the vocals, but if you've been as impressed as I have by the MUSIC behind The Sunset Tree, you might enjoy all these discs. ... Read more

Album Description

"A showcase for new music that’s fallen under the mainstream radar." ("All Things Considered," NPR, April 24, 2004) Musically the hippest show on TV, "The O.C." spawns the edgiest album yet from the unprecedented Music From The O.C. series. Headlining Mix 4 is a new song from alt-rock superstar Beck, "Scarecrow," co-written and co-produced with The Dust Brothers, and "Decent Days And Nights" from post-punk pop’s The Futureheads. Two other tracks also debut—chamber-pop quintet Matt Pond PA unveils its cover of "Champagne Supernova," the mid-’90s #1 Modern Rocker from Oasis, and ethereal alt-rocker Imogen Heap (half of the band Frou Frou) offers "Goodnight And Go." Music From The O.C.: Mix 4 is as sharp as Marissa and as cool as Seth. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The perfect cure for the Obsessive Compulsive!
"Mix 4" is the latest soundtrack from the FOX television sensation "The OC". Once again, this great collection of songs blends soothing mellow rock, with pop, dance, rock and ballad to create a beautifully diverse and enjoyable listen.

The music of "The OC" has gained considorable respect over the short couple of years, acting as the main launching pad for great artists including Death Cab, Jem and The Killers. Because of this show, and its terrific soundtracks, Mellow Rock and Alternative have certainly become two of my favourite musical genres.

So once again, producer (and creator of the show) Josh Schwartz has intoduced more fantastic artists, along with their wonderful songs. I know everyone has their tastes, but for me, my Top 3 songs would have to be:

1) "Cartwheels" - by The Reindeer Section: This is a soothing mellow rock song. It has beautiful musical arrangement, as it includes string instruments, which add a great melodic stength to the song.

2) "Eve, the Apple of My Eye" - by Bell XY: this is a moving ballad which has gorgeous piano chords the whole way through. The lyrics are also very metaphorical.

3) "Champagne Supernova" - by Matt Pond PA: this is a cover song of Oasis' original rock classic. This version is very well done, with energetic electric guitar and a string arrangement at the end, which adds real depth to the song.

Other great songs include Sufjan Stevens' "To be alone with you" a calm, and relaxing mellow song. It's beautiful! To lighten things up, it features a "dancier" track, "Play" by Flunk.

So as you can see, there is terrific range in the songs, from very slow all the way to very up-tempo, "The OC: Mix 4" is yet another brilliant soundtrack from the equally fantastic show! This is the perfect cure for an "OC" Obsessive Compulsive, such as myself! I can't wait for the next installment!

Excellent
I am a large fan of The OC and every Thursday night I am watching the show. I used to think it was stupid until my girlfriend got me watching it and my friend let me borrow Season 1 on DVD and I was obsessed. The same friend also purchased this CD and let me borrow it and it is awesome! I love the music in The OC because I am into this type of music, like indie and emo, etc.

1. "Decent Days and Nights" by The Futureheads- 2.5/5
An alright start to the album, but nah, it's not the greatest song. Still decent though.
2. "Goodnight and Go" by Imogen Heap- 3.5/5
At first listen I thought it was too "pop" music sounding but now I like it a lot, it's catchy and nice to listen to.
3. "Fortress" by Pinback- 5/5
Probably my favourite on the album. It's an excellent song and I listen to it often, Pinback is a band worth looking at.
4. "On The Table" by A.C. Newman- 4/5
Good song, catchy, and one you can sing along to even on your first listen to it.
5. "To Be Alone With You" by Surfjan Stevens- 4/5
Soft, nice, and beautiful. A good OC song featured on a romance scene.
6. "Play" by Flunk- 3/5
Okay, the woman's voice is sort've drony, but worth a listen.
7. "Scarecrow" by Beck- 4.5/5
Excellent song, Beck is the man. I am a large fan of Beck and was happy to see a contribution by him on this album.
8. "The View" by Modest Mouse- 5/5
Another great song. Again, I am a large Modest Mouse fan and after seeing them live at the club on The OC, I was happy they received a spot on the album. A faster sort of a song.
9. "Hardcore Days and Softcore Nights" by Aqueduct- 3/5
A good song, but not a fan of the vocals on the song. Maybe after a few listens I might like this song more, because when it seems like a song that could take a few listens to enjoy.
10. "Cartwheels" by The Reindeer Section- 4/5
A happy, peaceful, relaxing song. Nice to sit back and listen to.
11. "Eve, The Apple of My Eye" by Bell X1- 5/5
Excellent song! At first I thought the vocals were that of Thom Yorke from Radiohead. Amazing job done on this song.
12. "Champagne Supernova" by matt pond PA- 4/5
An excellent cover of the Oasis masterpiece, although I like Oasis' version one million times better. matt pond PA did an excellent job.

All in all, a great album, it has it's ups and downs. If your a fan of indie/emo music, get this album. If your a g-unit rap-fan who likes The OC, don't get this album.

Seth would be proud.

Anyone For Angst?
The fourth installment in a great series of indie-flavoured soundtracks, the OC: Mix 4 strongly reflects the way the show itself has been lately - a bit more sombre and mellowed out, where the parties don't seem to be quite as frequent, and when they are - they're disasters.While there are a number of excellent tracks on this album, I found it didn't quite live up to the other soundtracks, but still, its a great buy.

What I mentioned about the mellowness is true.Very few of the tracks channel any sort of get up and party emotion - although Futureheads "Decent Days and Nights" gets the album off to a rocking start, and Modest Mouse's "The View" is a bit more on the upbeat side.

Truth be told, what really stands out on this album are the slower, angst-ridden songs - of which there are plenty."To Be Alone With You" is a very soft guitar number, "Cartwheels" is all about the dreamy harmonies, and "Eve, The Apple of My Eye" is a sweet Brit-pop esque rock ballad."Play" by Flunk ups the count of women vocalists on this album to two, in a sorta psychadelic style.Matt Pond PA lends a somewhat uninspired but altogether enjoyable cover of Oasis' "Champagne Supernova" as the closing track, which fans of the show will remember played as Summer & Seth reunited.

The rest of the album is mostly mid-tempo rock/emo/alternative/indie tracks - with two particular shiners.Imogen Heap's "Say Goodnight and Go" is a nice electronica turn that hasn't been explored much yet on the OC soundtracks - and rivals her excellent track on the Garden State album as part of Frou Frou."Fortress" by Pinback is also excellent, to the point where these guys have crossover options if they want.

All in all, this album is much more subdued, and doesn't offer quite as many 'gems' as the previous soundtracks - however, it is still a great addition to the OC collection, and even better, your music collection.

more indie gems from TV's coolest soap
I would have bought this CD just for the song by Imogen Heap (of Frou Frou, and by the way when the heck are they going to put out a new disc?). Fortunately, as with the rest of the "Music From the O.C." series, this one is filled with gems from popular as well as semi-obsucre indie artists, and will introduce fans of the show to musicians who deserve a wider audience.

I'm not entirely sure who's responsible for selecting the songs for this series, but whoever it is has an ear for talent, and the entire series of CDs has helped me discover artists such as Jem, the Doves, South, the Album Leaf, and now with this latest release Pinchback and a genius named Matt Pond PA, who delivers a sparkling cover of Oasis' "Champagne Supernova."

Whether you're a die-hard fan of the show or you can't tell the Coopers from the Cohens, do yourself a favor and buy this CD today. And then do yourself another favor and buy the CDs of the artists it features.

Nearly As Good As Mixes 1 & 2
Mix 4 offers much of the same terrific music as the first two OC mixes.The songs are great for listening to while doing just about anything (entertaining, driving, working out, relaxing, etc.).I gave this CD four stars -- as opposed to the five stars I gave Mixes 1 & 2 -- only because I didn't find as many "WOW" tracks on this disc as I found on previous albums.Still, it certainly beats most commercial pop/alternative music that is available these days, and it will fill out your "OC" iPod playlist quite nicely. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

The music is great! The message powerful.
I first heard this CD when my son brought it home from a Casting Crowns concert. I borrowed it and never gave it back. I put it in my car CD player, and it stayed there for over a month. I never got tired of it. The message is in your face, and the music ranges from somber and reflective to joyous. The female back up singers add a great compliment to Mark Halls lead vocals. The song "Praise you with the dance" has an awesome almost celtic violin solo that just lifts you up. The whole CD is fantastic and after seeing them live in concert, my wife and I bought 3 more copies to share with our friend and family for Christmas.

Mark Hall is the youth pastor at his church and still holds that position. For him and the band, its all about sharing the messege of faith. The band is actually the Youth praise band at his church. Music runs in Marks family. His father is our music minister at our Church and Mark even took time to sing in our choir at our Christmas concert at Church. He practices what he preaches. It doesn't get any more real. The power of the music can be awesome. When I saw them live I was so moved I had tears in my eyes. Thank You Casting Crowns.

Every song is a winner, you can't go wrong with this CD.

Casting Crowns Don't Dissapoint
I feel I must be honest here and admit that I was at first skeptical about buying this cd. But from the very first time I slipped this into my cd player and heard the first song, all skepticism washed away, and I was hooked.
Mark Hall, the lead vocalist, delivers some powerful vocals ("What If His People Prayed", "American Dream") and yet can also tone it down with more subdued vocals("Who Am I", "Your Love Is Extravagant")which give the album variety. Having a female vocalist also keeps the record jumping, however, I must agree with a previous reviewer who mentioned that the last four songs didn't have the quality of writing like the first six did. "Your Love is Extravagant" was a great way to end the album, but the three previous songs just don't really fit with the rest of the record. Having said that, although the album would have been better if the writing and songs had been more consistent and flowed better together, this is still a great first album. This is also one of the only cd's I've liked from the first listen. Usually it takes time for cd's to grow on me. All in all, I highly recommend Casting Crowns. I look forward to watching them grow as a band in the future.

Awesome!
I heard the song 'If we are the body' a while ago. I liked the song a lot, but I never got around to buying the cd. Yesterday I heard the song 'Who I am' on the radio. I loved it! Then my drama team at church, we were coming up with new ideas for dramas, and one of the songs that our leader had an idea for was 'What if his people prayed' I fell in love with that song instantly! I went and bought the cd and I haven't stopped listening to it! I totally agree with the song...what if God's people prayed? It would be amazing!

Amazing!
I got this CD after hearing Who Am I and If We Are The Body on the radio. I was a little dubious at first, this being the first CD they've put out and all, and it was the cheapest CD in the store I was at, so I figured that it wasn't moving well because it wasn't good. Boy, am I glad that I decided to buy it! Casting Crowns is an amazing album and an amazing band. What if His People Prayed is an eye-opener, and American Dream hits home all too well. Life of Praise and Here I go Again are amazing as well. The only real complaint I have is that Glory and Praise You With The Dance are way too similar. I originally thought that they were one ultra-long song, instead of two not-quite-so-long songs. All in all, more than the five stars I can give it. Worth every penny!

best cd ever!!!!
this is the best cd i have ever heard...casting crowns mixes a nice beat with some awesome lyrics...this is the one cd every person should have ... Read more

Album Description

The follow-up to their mega-successful debut is no less brooding and intense, but charged with flashes of color and romance. "Antics" infuses Interpol's dark musical landscapes with new optimism. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Revolver wouldn't remain the Beatles' most ambitious LP for long, but many fans--including this one--remember it as their best. An object lesson in fitting great songwriting into experimental production and genre play, this is also a record whose influence extends far beyond mere they-was-the-greatest cheerleading. Putting McCartney's more traditionally melodic "Here, There and Everywhere" and "For No One" alongside Lennon's direct-hit sneering ("Dr. Robert") and dreamscapes ("I'm Only Sleeping," "Tomorrow Never Knows") and Harrison's peaking wit ("Taxman") was as conceptually brilliant as anything Sgt. Pepper attempted, and more subtly fulfilling. A must. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (570)

Close to perfect
Of all the Beatles' albums, Revolver has probably aged best. 'Yellow Submarine' is a dud, pure and simple, but this set makes up the band's greatest achievement. Capitol's exploitative policy of subtracting a few tracks from one Beatles album to whack onto the next was never more despicable.

'Taxman' kicks off the set admirably, although Harrison's lament jars a bit - I mean, why is he complaining about paying his fair share of tax, anyway? Is this the same bloke who wrote 'Living in the Material World'? Still, this track, along with his other contributions (4 & 10), demonstrate how far Harrison had come as a songwriter.

Lennon and McCartney were at their top here. Macca's ballads (2,5 ,10), helped along by some fine Martin arrangements, are probably the best he ever wrote, stopping this side of schmalzy, while Lennon's major contributions (3, 7, 14) are quite brilliant. (Although it's probably the soundscape of 'Tomorrow Never Knows', mainly courtesy of spooky tape loops and a huge drum sound, that makes it such a standout.)

'And Your Bird Can Sing' and 'Doctor Robert' are often described as weak tracks, but I can't find too much wrong with them. If nothing else, the former boasts fine harmonised lead guitar parts.

The sounds which the Fabs, producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick were able to coax from ageing studio hardware are remarkable. Macca's close-miked bass is right up there in the mix, clear as a bell, Ringo's drums sound terrific even today, and there are interesting guitar sounds everywhere. As well, Revolver extended the experiment with backwards parts which had begun on 'Rain', and is used to great effect here. The musicianship, particularly McCartney's bass playing, is great throughout. Honourable mention to R. Starkey for 'She Said She Said'.

Bookended by two magnificent double-A side 45s ('Rain'/'Paperback Writer'; 'Strawberry Fields Forever'/'Penny Lane'), this album is demonstrably the Beatles' creative peak, and you can see why Brian Wilson was inspired to go one better with Pet Sounds. Essential.

Majestic and Groundbreaking
When I first bought REVOLVER, on vinyl in the 70's, I was astonished. A Beatles album with more songs by George Harrison than John Lennon??? I didn't realize then I was getting a truncated American version of what the band had assembled in England. Three of John's songs -- "I'm Only Sleeping", "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Dr Robert" -- were plucked from the album and put on a collection called YESTERDAY AND TODAY -- that's the album with the notorious butcher cover. The release of the Bealtes' library on CD finally gave us North American Beatlemaniacs the "real" REVOLVER -- and what a magnificent, groundbreaking achievement it was! George's music matured here, with "Taxman" being one of his best and "Love You Too" representing his first (and best) excursion into full Indian instrumentation (although he'd played sitar on John's "Norwegian Wood" on RUBBER SOUL). Paul McCartney offers some of his best-ever compositions on this album. "For No One" and "Here There and Everywhere" were exquisite -- and "Eleanor Rigby" remains a classic of its kind. The soul-tinged "Got To Get You Into My Life" was also first rate. But as usual, the best, and most groundbreaking, offerings were from John. "And Your Bird", "Dr Robert" and "She Said She Said" are further livened up by some great Harrison guitar work -- he shines throughout the album. And Lennon's closing track -- the mind-bending "Tomorrow Never Knows" -- is the summit to which the entire CD ascends. A great way to finish this album (and to hint at what would come next year -- SGT PEPPER). Maybe the best pop/rock album of all time.

VH1 says Revolver is the greatest album ever...Really
Oh,its true,thousands of music luminaries voted revolver the greatest album of all time,while it came in at number 3 of all time on the rolling stone poll. The results are cast in stone,Revolver is one of the all time greats,and all polls say that thats the truth!!!

Really?
"really tuneful...really whacky...really psychedelic...really social...really unusual..." yeah.

There are only a few songs on this album that reflect the greatness achieved by the Beatles pre-1965, which is sad. Nowhere near albums like Help or A Hard Day's Night.

Great album!
I loved this album from beginning to end. It's full of great music written by the greatest band of all time. Songs like "And your bird can sing" and "For No One" reminded me why I love this band so much. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Named in homage to Buddy Holly’s greatest rocker, Denmark’s Raveonettes have forged small, satisfying changes on twangy garage pop over three records. (Think somewhere between Chris Isaak and the Jesus and Mary Chain.) Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo’s second full-length, Pretty in Black, makes the duo’s influences even more explicit than before with a cover of the Angels’girl-group monster "My Boyfriend’s Back" (co-written by Raveonettes co-producer Richard Gottehrer) and "Here Comes Mary," a ballad that walks almost as closely in the melodic steps of the Everly Brothers "All I Have to Do is Dream" as "Surfin’ U.S.A." did those of "Sweet Little Sixteen." But it’s the new tricks they unpack--the shimmy of "Love in a Trashcan," the disco stomp of "Twilight"--that make this their own music. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Amazon.com

With songs equal to those on We Have the Facts and a lush, brilliant production that continues what The Photo Album started, Transatlanticism is easily Death Cab's best record to date. Much attention has duly been focused on doe-eyed singer/lyricist Ben Gibbard, co-star of the Postal Service phenomenon, and Ben's voice is as strange, beautiful, and as strong as ever on these songs, which deal with the difficulties of long-distance relationships. But guitarist/producer Chris Walla once again proves himself to be the band's secret weapon, layering subtle sonic touches throughout Transatlanticism, which is most definitely a "headphone record." This Seattle quartet is one of the only bands to really have picked up the intelligent, emotionally resonant, and guitar-driven indie-pop torch that Built to Spill briefly lit in the mid-1990s (before themselves heading off to the stoner-rock territory). DCFC themselves seem poised to finally break out to a wider audience, and they truly deserve it with this disc. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (98)

Great Album!
This album is certainly a little different than the previous DCFC albums. However, it is by no means worse. Ben Gibbard's lyrics have reached an all time best and the production quality is amazing. The guitar is very melodic. Here's my take on the songs:

New Year (9/10) This song is a great opener. The lyrics are catchy. You will be singing it.

Lightness (6/10) This song is OK. It doesn't strike me as anythign great, but after listening to it a few times, i started to like it. Still a good song.

Title and Registration (10/10) Probably my favorite track. Unique upbeat style and awesome lyrics.

Expo '86 (9/10) Another really catchy song. One of the best.

Sound of Settling (8/10) Another great song, very catchy (as with just about all the songs on this cd).

Tiny Vessels (8/10) VERY melodic guitar, you will love it.

Transatlanticism (7/10) title track. long and quite, but builds up. its a good song but may be an aquired taste for some.

Passenger Seat (10/10) this song gets a 10 for being the prettiest song ever made.

Death of an Interior Decorator (5/10) my least fav song on cd. its ok.

We Looked Like Giants (10/10) SICK song. enough said. my fav right off the bat

A Lack of Color (8/10) this song is a good end. its style is very similar to that of some of the older albums.

Overall, this album is great. I don't know how anyone could rate it so low as some have. My only gripe with it is that the lyrics are all pretty emotional and girl-related, moreso than in previous albums. You WILL be amazed at how awesome the lyrics are tho. Amazed.

Pure magic!
As a die-hard DCfC fan, I've heard all their albums and this one, to me, seems the most coherent and complete. The themes run through each song seamlessly and, despite my heseitation at making a comparison, I consider this their best work yet.

Here are the tracks:
1. The New Year
2. Lightness
3. Title and Registration
4. Expo '86
5. The Sound of Settling
6. Tiny Vessels
7. Transatlanticism
8. Passenger Seat
9. Death of an Interior Decorator
10. We Looked Like Giants
11. A Lack of Color

Now, this will come as a surprise to those of you who know me well, but while the lyrics are amazing, what first caught my ear with this album is the elegance of the sounds. It both starts and ends with what sounds like the noise a computer makes when it's running (the hum), giving it a sense of unity. I think that someone listening to a vocal-stripped version of this album could still tell it's DCfC, but there's a sense of greater freedom and distance from We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes or The Photo Album. When I listen to "The New Year," I get a sense of opening up, where much of We Have the Facts . . . appears closed-off. As suggested in "The Sound of Settling" (track 5), this album proclaims "if you've got an impulse, let it out," clearly and with joy.

On to individual songs. My favorites are "The New Year" (track 1), "Transatlanticism" (track 7), and "A Lack of Color" (track 11). "The New Year" and "Transatlanticism" present two different but convergent views of distance. "The New Year" suggests a solely physical difference, claiming if "the world was flat like the old days . . . there'd be no distance that could hold us back," while distance in "Transatlanticism" appears predominantly emotional. A rift--the Atlantic ocean--isolates the song's narrator from the rest of the world, "making islands where no island should go (oh no)." The point of "The New Year" is that distance can be overcome, while "Transatlanticism" bears the message that "the distance is quite simply much too far." The former has a progressive, moving beat, while the latter settles, resigned, into the simplicity of its percussive chords.

While the album is by no means "happy," its message is progressive. Though "there's a lack of color here," we are told not to worry, that "this is fact not fiction for the first time in years." All the album's elements converge in the final track--the unity, the "cycle [that] never ends" (as demonstrated by the identical sounds at the end of "A Lack of Color" and the beginning of "The New Year"), and "a reason to stay." We are, together with DCfC, facing reality, and part of facing reality is recognizing not only our failings, but our capabilities. Transatlanticism is capable of transcending great distances, and of driving beauty into the human heart.

Sucks
i have never been a fan of this band. they have no catchy songs AT ALL. they really do blow as a band that is "a not so popular band". thats my opinion so take it or leave it.

They aren't sell outs
I am so sick of hearing that Deatch Cab has sold out. They are still making the same music, it isn't any different. It's just that some of the indie kids (i am one myself) can't handle their bands beomcing popular in mainstream music. I am a huge fan of the bands that are suddenly emerging everywhere like Modest Mouse, Death Cab, The Shins, etc., but just because they are popular doesn't mean they have sold out. It is still good quality music, and, despite what you pessimistic indie kids out there think, they have yet to sell out.

yeah
i love death cab but these aren't their best songs. i'd recommend older albums above this. that said, i still really like this album - 'we looked like giants' and 'the new year' are the best songs on it in my opinion. ... Read more

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The infectious twang and pop hooks of Wilco's former efforts may be fading fast, but A Ghost Is Born is still a rewarding effort that demands repeated listening. The group's fifth album extends upon the experimentalism of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with angular, blues-soaked guitar riffs ("At Least That's What You Said," "Hell Is Chrome"), a handful of sparse, yet catchy tunes (smack dab in the middle of the disc) that will surely keep college radio stations smiling, and a lengthy track that descends into mere static ("Less Than You Think"). Frontman Jeff Tweedy's songwriting continues to evolve: "Hummingbird" is a dreamy Randy Newman-styled love song; "The Late Greats" is a sly ode to the world of pop tacked onto the end of the album (as if using such a fun song on this understated disc was an afterthought). Meanwhile, producer extraordinaire Jim O'Rourke manages to make the most complicated arrangements here sound minimalist and laid-back. All told, it's another great addition to the Wilco canon. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Reviews (142)

Been Waiting Too Long
I'd give it four stars in the LP era, where I'd have to listen through the 15 minute static noises of "Less Than You Think". This is a John Cage 4'33-esque commentary on what can be considered music. I won't get into that now, but it's good to listen to it at least once in context of the whole album. Especially since it contrasts very starkly with the straightforward track "The Late Greats," which is probably the closest thing you'll get to Alt-Country on this album. Anyway, luckily we have the skip track button for casual listening. The rest of the album is incredible.
If you like climaxes, this is your album. Several songs start off slow and progress into some pretty hard hitting rock and dissolve into distortion. There are less dings and pings on Ghost than YHF. Ghost is more minimalist, relying more on primal baselines and rythmic sequences that make you sort of lose time within the song, often before hitting you hard with a jam. "Spiders" is the eiptome of this, and probably is the musical version of Tweedy's well-publicized migraines.
Bottom line; the alt-country fans hoping for Another A&M, the pop fans hoping for another Summerteeth, those in between hoping for another Being There, and everyone else who came on board with YHF hoping for more of the same didn't get your wishes. But that's what I love about Wilco, each album is distinctively Tweedy, but there's always something new to keep you interested.

Don't Judge Too Soon
It's a classic mistake -- a big name band comes out with a new album, and critics and fans alike step in immediately to give their first impressions. If there's one band for which that approach is a consistent a mistake, it's Wilco. Like many, I'm frightened of albums that I instantly like; they invariably begin to fade away sooner than later.

"A Ghost is Born" will leave many bumfuzzled out of the starting gate. Similar in overall style and structure to its controversial predecessor "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", this record depends heavily on brooding atmospherics which envelope the rather conventional melodies. This is Jeff Tweedy's niche; the basic pop song format shadowed and subverted by dissonant, disquieting counter-themes. For those willing to submit to Wilco's own (admittedly wry) internal logic, the rewards will come; doubt will fade like Smarty Jones in the final leg of the Belmont, and the patient listener will be overtaken and surprised by a work of unexpected depth.

Among the better tracks are "Hell is Chrome", which sounds like Paul Simon backed by Dark Side-era Pink Floyd; the breezy yet bittersweet "Wishful Thinking"; and "Theologians," a blue-collar manifesto that supplies the album's thesis with cleverly employed Biblical analogies. But the song that stands out most is "Muzzle of Bees," and astonishingly schizoidal piece whose delicate acoustic elements are trampled by wailing electric histrionics. "Muzzle" best demonstrates Wilco's disparate musical interests while showing off their latently strong musicianship.

Give this one a chance. Odds are it will make regular rounds in your CD changer well into the future.

what are you people thinking?!
This is not going to be so much a cd review as it is a rebuttal to all those who write reviews for this site...including you, Amazon.com.

Okay, forget that Wilco is one of (if not the) most innovative rock (yes, rock) bands that exists today..."Ghost" is simply a very brave and very, very amazing album that any band would sell its soul to even have conceived of, let alone create. What Wilco accomplishes on this album, even more so than YHF, is emotion - hard, raw emotion without allowing the incredible success of said YHF to interfere. Wilco (Tweedy specifically, though not exclusively) is fast proving itself a creative force which relies not on jingles and soon-to-be-radio-slough to sell its albums...in fact, Wilco couldn't care less if it sells albums or not (research your YHF history to see what I mean). Wilco proves to all us earlier non-believers that there still are those artists out there who believe in their music as an extension of themselves, as a reflection of who they truly are, not who their so-called fans wish them to be. They are artists in every sense of the word, meaning they toss critisism to the wayside as the simple opinions of those who can't...or, in the very least, won't. Art does not demand critism to exist, only the critic. So, so-called fans, save all your critisms for the next J-Lo album or whatever piece of trash you're currently reviewing. Wilco is above you all.

Now, on to the achievements of "Ghost" - amazing, spectacular, artistic, and true. That is all.

Okay, this is the Wilco cd I've waited for
I came to Wilco as a fan of the 90's band, Son Volt (and if you haven't heard of them, you are in for treat). After falling in love with those records, I followed Farrar and Tweedy in their musical travels, but Tweedy's records just never quite made it for me. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was okay, but nothing special.

This cd is great. It takes a song or two really get going, but man, it's worth it. The songs are beautiful and dream-like. The lyrics are lovely. The long musical interludes are hypnotic. For me, this is the best Wilco cd by far. Get this one.

Great Music to Fall Asleep to
We have all heard the story before and you will hear it again, about a band that hit it big by being spurned by their record company over what was one of the better albums of the last decade. Problem is that if they had turned this album instead of YHF, I am not sure that anyone would really be complaining all that mcuh.

A Ghost is Born reminds me of the inferior B-Side Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album. While I am not one of those Alt-Country Snobs that wishes Wilco would do alt-country again or pine for the days of Uncle Tupelo, I do pine for the Jeff Tweedy/Jay Bennett songwriting and stage presence that is missing on this album. The best three albums by Wilco are Being There, Summerteeth and, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and its no coincidence on each of those albums, Jay plays a crucial role in the music writing process. The problem with this album is that it becomes Jeff Tweedy and the Wilcos. More Guitar strung out guitar solos and ridiculous droning that someone will argue as being some artistic masterpiece. Well Jeff Tweedy is trying to prove something, but you know I just want an album that I can listen to over and over again and not get tired of it.

There are some great songs on this album. Hummingbird is a great song and shows once again that they do still have it in them to write a great pop song. Handshake Drugs sounds like later Velvet Underground material. While I always loved the song it had already been released before (Albeit a different mix). Theologians has also grown on me.

There are a lot of forgettable songs on this album as well. Muzzle of Bees and Wishful thinking just don't really do much for me. Spiders was turned into a huge mistake by making it 10 minutes and do we really need endless nonstop sounds on Less than You think. Maybe you like to listen to bells and whistles nonstop but I surely do not. Im a Wheel is probably one of the worst songs that Wilco has ever written. I rolled my eyes the first time I heard this song live and I was just hoping that they would realize their mistake and make this some odd B-Side.

If you never have bought a wilco album this is not the one to start off with. This band has pretty much done no wrong coming into this album. Each one of their albums they have grown as a band but what we notice more on this album is maybe the dismantling of Wilco. The bands makeup is changing more than Menudo and that has to be worrysome. You cannot have any type of growth when you only have two original members and the others have either been kicked out, fired or just sick and tired of it. ... Read more

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So much has been said about disco-punk's King Midas, New York musician/producer James Murphy, that it's kind of hard to believe that we've had to wait until 2005 for the debut album from his dancefloor project, LCD Soundsystem. LCD's classic triumvirate of early singles--"Losing My Edge," "Give It Up," and "Yeah"--joined the dots between punk-rock, disco, and funk in a way that hadn't been seen since the New York downtown scene of the early '80s, but these are bravely relegated to a bonus disc in favor of a suite of new material that reworks the band's influences in new, often explicit ways: take "Movement," for instance--a homage to the Fall that finds Murphy barking "It's a fat guy/ In a T-shirt/ Doing all the singing!" over punchy analog synths, or the quietly majestic "Great Release," a doff of the cap to Brian Eno circa Taking Tiger Mountain. For all his encyclopedic musical knowledge, however, it's one of Murphy's strengths that he seldom seems uptight about the practice of music-making: it's how he can get away with penning a gonzo disco-punk number and naming it something as fantastically flippant as "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House"--and more importantly, it's why LCD Soundsystem succeeds as a splendid dance record as well as a smart intellectual exercise. --Louis Pattison ... Read more

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In a promising filmmaking debut, young BYU grad Jared Hess informs this indie tale of an aggressively nerdy backwater teen's foibles with the bittersweet dimensions of the director's own small-town upbringing, making it the dry comic hit of Sundance. Its soundtrack picks up on that earnest awkwardness via dollops of 80's new wave, both underexposed (Yaz' "Only You"; Alphaville's "Forever Young") and otherwise (Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy," a faithful cover of "Time After Time" by Sparklemotion), as well as moodier contemporary cuts by Rogue Wave (a live take on "Every Moment"), Figurine in full synth-pop revivalist mode and the nuvo-soul of Jamiroquai and Money Mark. Interspersed with a generous sampling of dialog snippets, John Swihart's shrewd, intimate underscore runs the gamut from "The A-Team Theme" to geek-friendly exotica and nervous cocktail jazz, stitching the score's disparate parts into a memorably quirky whole.--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

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Hot Hot Heat hail from Victoria, B.C., a town best known for imitating the queen's England in the service of tourism. But never fear: the high teas and manicured gardens are all well and good, this band knows that bad manners are what rock is all about. Case in point, the song "Goodnight Goodnight," in which a former girlfriend learns "you're embarrassing me, you're embarrassing you...this isn't goodnight, this is goodbye." There's nothing quite so much fun as a good dis song, and the Heat keeps the fun going on their newest album, Elevator. Virtually every track on the CD is short and sweet with plenty of energetic, poppy goodness. Standouts include "Ladies and Gentleman" (another semiburn: "everybody's got the same story--we never wanted him here, he showed up anyway."), "Middle of Nowhere," "Soldier in a Box"--well, I'll stop before I list them all. --Leah Weathersby ... Read more

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Posthumous releases fall into two categories: those which the artist was working on at the time of their death, and those which are gathered from every nook and cranny to keep fans enthused and cash registers ringing. Elliott Smith's from a basement on the hill is of the former variety. It was close to completion at the time of his untimely death. Over the course of the set's 15 songs, Smith's powerful songwriting and production skills are shown in their full breadth. From thickly interlocked chordal guitar riffs ("Coast to Coast") to shimmering melancholia ("A Fond Farewell"), the songs are each brought to their own particular focus by whatever means were most appropriate. There are lush background vocals, keyboard washes, pounding rhythms, and heart rending balladry. This disc is a sad goodbye to richly emotive artist. --David Greenberger ... Read more

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Finally, the world is treated to Mike Doughty's first "full-band" album since Soul Coughing disbanded in 1998. Doughty has clearly morphed from hyperactive ironic hipster to a world-class songwriter with lyrics that are funny ("I want to run away and join the office") and self-deprecating but never emo ("All my life I've been slow and senseless/Not struck dumb I'm just dumb that's all"). If you're looking for faults you can always find them, and to be sure some of the playing is overly "pro" and not as funky as M.D. live. The perfect pedal steel touches throughout are actually icing on this cake, and the drummer dude from N.E.R.D.'s metronomic bashing's hardly a bummer. The songs on the album will be familiar to fans who've seen him live, and thanks to Haughty being recorded over a long stretch of time (the songs themselves honed that way too) it has a "greatest hits" feel to it: all killer, no filler. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

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In the three years between this album and its epic-scaled predecessor, The Last Broadcast, Manchester trio Doves were obviously doing something more artistically rewarding than mere touring. It's not that their sense of ambitious scale has waned. It's that it has been refocused inward here toward personal matters and the state of their Northern UK homeland. The title track and thumping, soul-inflected single "Black and White Town" state as much early on. But much more than Doves' subject matter has evolved as well. The album's sonically intriguing mix of influences fuse singer Jimi Goodwin's unabashed hook jones with bottom-heavy club rhythms and the restless, expansive instincts of multi-instrumentalist twins Andy and Jez Williams. Then, all is channeled through the fuzzy aura of too many youthful 3am's at Manchester's famed Hacienda nightspot.

The gorgeous moodiness of "Snowden" and string-drenched, mouth-harp seasoned "The Storm" show how far the band has evolved from its early Sub Sub incarnation/Manchester heritage, even as the bigger-than-life "Walk in Fire" shows just how deep those roots go. It's a magnificent record, one whose sense of scale belies its innate efficiency, and arguably Doves' most wholly satisfying to date. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

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There's nothing particularly original about Kasabian. The hirsute Leicester band swaggers like the Stone Roses, plays dance-rock like Primal Scream, and mouths off like Oasis. Singer Tom Meighan even once famously derided Strokes singer Julian Casablancas in an interview with the NME as a "posh f---ing skier." But these are also the things that make Kasabian's debut so endearing. It's an album that spills over with personality and confidence, delivering massive club anthems in the form of songs like "Processed Beats," "Cutt Off" and "L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)," where the band finds just the right balance between primitive riffs and space-age grooves. -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Haven't quite purchased the CD yet, but....
I just wanted to let one of the reviewers know that the song, "Club Foot", was used in the trailer for "Serenity". I hope I could be of some help. I need to buy the CD now - I'm going to the concert on June 15th....

solid solid album, i want to hear more
It's funny how the amazon review states that "There's nothing original about Kasabian," and then finishes the review to say that the band finds "just the right balance between primitive riffs and space-age grooves."

Has any other band really done that? If so, please let me know!

The album is great... it reminds me of the Verve, but with more of an edge, and some DRIVING bass lines that really make you want to move.

A great combination of some cool electronic effects, some solid musicianship, some bangin rock out grooves, and easy to listen to yet powerful vocals.

Check it out!

Kasabia
Well the cd is awesome. My friend found it in STRANGEEEEEE MAINEEEEE, a store on Congress St. in Portland , ME.
And so it goes like this. He puts the cd in the cd player, theres no case to this cd by the way(yeah i know,strange maine guy),
and BAM!, its like damn!, we know this SONG! BUT from where?
SO, does anyone know what movie, commercial, show, that the song "club foot" was featured in?
PLEASE post after you see this if you know.




"club foot" is in....................vhat?

word

~Nate and Ruis

Pretty good, not great
It seems like I've heard a lot of this before. And the sounds get a little tedious within the disc itself. But it is about average overall, and given a lot of pure dreck out there, it's alright.

It might help, of course, that I'm not well versed in the sources copied/inspired/stolen from, so is a bit fresher than it might otherwise be.

Club Foot is good, as is Test Transmission. Most of the others have some catchy hooks will playing, but nothing very memorable afterward IMO.

And since the disc is now, fair use, on my ipod, it must not be that hard to get it there. Spend 5 minutes here and elsewhere and solutions present themselves pretty quickly.

WARNING: NOT PLAYABLE ON MP3s COPYWRITED
I liked the song club foot so I bought the CD.HUGE MISTAKE.The CD has some sort of copywrite protection such that it cannot be played on IPOD or other MP3 players (I use an iRiver and it didn't work).It is really annoying-you cannot make any copies even for legitimate reasons like keeping a copy in your car (and just trying to play the CD with a computer is a pain in the butt).I think Kasabian sucks for copping out and letting RCA dictate how I should use a CD that I own.It is like GM selling you a car and telling you that you cannot drive it in Canada!?! ... Read more

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Are they alternative-country rockers or alternative rock crooners? That was the conundrum following Rilo Kiley’s 2002 release, The Execution of Things, and with More Adventurous, the band’s first record with major label support, we have our answer. Jolted by the divinely pure vocals of Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett's howling guitar on prospective indie anthems like "Portions for Foxes," the Los Angeles foursome has two fists through the earth in their quest to depart the underground. It's obvious from the opening smack-talk sing-a-long "It's a Hit" that Lewis is the centerpiece of this 11-song pop consignment (leaving the capable Sennett to sing only the acoustic low-fi "Ripchord"), and the unabashed charisma that is her trademark infiltrates throughout—from rockers ("Love and War") to ballads ("Absence of God") to pop ("Accidntel Deth") to Dusty Springfield soul ("I Never"). And while the production is polished to radio-friendly, it fails to dull the charming accessibility of a band that wears progression as a badge. --Scott Holter ... Read more

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As charming as the McGarrigle Sisters and pulsating as a scaled-down Lucious Jackson, Los Angeles duo The Ditty Bops call upon a 20th century grab bag of musical trends for the dozensongs that make up their eccentric debut album. Abby DeWald (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Amanda Barrett (vocals, mandolin, dulcimer) employ their effortless harmonies as instruments as they sashay through an influential spectrum that spans Bix Beiderbecke’s swinging twenties, through the Hot Club Quintet of France by way of Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, and into the contemporary experimentation of producer Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Suzanne Vega). The lyrics may never garner a Walt Whitman prize ("Why does blood turn brown when it dries?" and "Why can’t white people play the blues?" the Bops wonder in "Wishful Thinking"), but they do offer the perfect, sing-a-long complement for the twosome’s intoxicating, foot-tapping melodies. Give the record three spins. You’ll know every song. --Scott Holter ... Read more

Album Description

One of the most innovative soundtrack album series ever created launches with Music From The O.C. Mix 1. Featuring hip, recent, largely indie rock tracks heard on the FOX runaway hit sensation "The O.C.," the album is the first of several (at least one each 2004 quarter) designed to appeal to the 9 million to 11 million mainly teen and young adult fans who watch the drama each Wednesday night. The hottest show on TV with the hottest music on TV now has its own album series. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Not A Fan Of The Show?
This is such a great compilation. Even if you are not a fan of the show, it's hard not to like the music from it. Seriously, the show is great, but I didn't watch every episode... but yet, the songs all mean something special. If you are a fan of one of the bands on this album I highly recomend getting this cd because the other bands and artists are just as good. Here is a basic review of each song:

1) Paint The Silence 9/10 - Great Song To start the album with and a beautiful musical composition.

2) Just A Ride 8/10 - Cool song. Her voice goes great with the beat of the song.

3) Honey And The Moon 10/10 - Awesome song with really really good vocals and a great sound.

4) The Way We Get By 10/10 - This is actually one of the main reasons I bought this cd, it's a really cool and catchy song. Spoon is a really great band.

5) Move On 8/10 - Great Jet Song to put on the soundtrack.

6) How Good Can It Be 8/10 - Cool and Catchy song, sometimes it can be skipped though.

7) Caught By The River 10/10 - Beautiful song by The Doves with really good lyrics and an awesome sound.

8) Rain City 10/10 - This is one of my favorite songs on the cd. It's slow, but it's so good.

9) We Used To Be Friends 10/10 - This song is great and it really conveys the thoughts of being annoyed with old girlfriends.

10) Dice 15/10 - This is such a great song and probably my favorite song on the cd. The lyrics and different sound make it a terrific song.

11) Orange Sky 9/10 - Great Mellow song, the lyrics make the song.

12) California 10/10 - Probably why most people will buy this cd.. You can't help but like this song, it's great. Check out Phantom Planet's "The Guest" - it's an awesome cd.

- Another reason to get this cd is it's cool to see the clips from the show when the songs were used by putting it in your computer.

Great, just like the show
After watching countless episodes of The O.C., I noticed that the music they picked for the show was always excellent and really added to the scene and the storyline. I was thrilled when I found out that soundtracks were going to be released. Music From the O.C. Mix 1 is the first of many soundtracks from the show. Most of the artists aren't very well known, which I like because I probably wouldn't have gotten to hear them if they weren't featured on the soundtrack. Usually I buy a soundtrack for one or two of the tracks, but this one has good songs on the entire CD instead of just a couple standouts. I would recommend it to any O.C. fan, or to anyone who simply wants to listen to good music.

Great CD!
I got this cd as a gift from a friend, cause they knew I was a big oc fan. It's one of best cd's i own! All my friends and family love it and we all have different tastes in music. This isn't just for Oc diehards!

The OC
The OC is a terrible show and is just not cool I am cool not these loosers even the WB version is better then this junk and the music may be worst 1 star territory as the one and only Das Efx would say Wiggity-Wiggity-Wack

Recomended-OC the rapper now he is tight

amazing soundtrack!
i love The OC and when i saw this cd i just had to buy it. and i am SO glad i did! this is not the kind of music i would normally like but this soundtrack is excellent.

the best songs are "california" by phantom planet (the theme tune) and "we used to be friends" by the dandy warhols. overall: great show, great cd! can't wait for the mix 2! ... Read more

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Jokingly referred to as the White Stripes' British album, Elephant is scattered with cultural references that give away the fact it was recorded far from home. Just listen to the lyrics on "Seven Nation Army" ("From the Queen of England to the hounds of Hell") or the album outro, in which someone chips in, "Jolly good, cup of tea?" But while there are new twists here, from Meg White discovering her voice to a tongue-in-cheek threesome with Holly Golightly, Elephant is no great departure for Jack and Meg White. They still push their creativity (and the boundaries of their eight-track) to new heights. Check out the startling, Queen-inspired "There's No Home for You Here," while the deep bass line on "Seven Nation Army" makes it a classic indie dance track. But while some songs fly off into new realms, there's plenty of their trademark straight-up bluesy rock, notably the overtly sexual "Ball and Biscuit." And there's Jack's plaintive, resolutely modest and yet theatrical voice. --Caroline Butler ... Read more

Reviews (619)

Stripes become the Anti-Radiohead, produce classic record
The liner notes to Elephant contain this gem:

"No computers were used during the writing, recording, mixing or mastering of this record." Please note this is a "record" and not a compact disc.

That buried nugget really sums up this album, the best recorded in the United Kingdom since 1980. The equipment Jack and Meg White used was as primitive as the technology that gave us that earlier classic, Pretenders I. The simplicity makes Elephant more intriguing than high tech sound devoid of all humanity. Rock and roll stripped of its blues and country roots can be interesting but completely soulless. Jack sings the blues on Elephant and the record ends with a country and western tune. The White Stripes have become the Anti-Radiohead, ironically in the same year that band has released its first decent CD (note: "CD") in five years.

No record is perfect, but this comes astonishingly close. There is no weak spot. You expect one halfway through after Jack sings the lovely melody "You've Got Her in Your Pocket." What immediately follows, though, are the best hard-driving songs on the album--the overtly sexual blues moan "Ball and Biscuit," and the amazing rockers "Hardest Button To Button," "Little Acorns," "Hypnotize," "The Air Near My Fingers," and the upbeat "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine." The three punk-influenced songs that open the album--"Seven Nation Army," "Black Math," and "There's No Room for You Here," already have marked this album as the best of the year before you even get to this point. Sometimes you hear the Animals, sometimes the Stones, sometimes Robert Johnson. Along the way is Meg's haunting vocal debut, "In the Cold, Cold Night," which marks a strong addition to the Stripes' arsenal.

Because it is so rare to be this effusive about anything, there is a temptation to fob off as silly the last song, "Well, It's True That We Love One Another." Yet on second listen, this playful country trio that features Holly Golightly with Jack and Meg measures up to the rest of the album.

This is more than the best album that has been released this decade. It is a record destined to be a classic.

Minty Fresh
The White Stripes saved a lot of money on their latest release by not falling into the trap of high production values and recording the entire album in a matter of days on aged equipment. At first glance, it may seem as if they paid off every single music critic in America with the extra cash. Honestly, Elephant is a fine piece of work but five stars from Rolling Stone is pushing it.

If you aren't familiar with the band, The White Stripes are a Detroit based duo comprised of Jack and Meg White(brother/sister). They scored their first mainstream hit with "Fell In Love With A Girl" last year. Ever since, loyal fans and critics have been waiting for a chance to officially dub them rock gods. Are they deserving of that kind of title? It depends.

Let me break it down for you the way I see it. Jack White is on his way to stardom and he's letting his sister come along for the ride. Elephant is at it's very best when Jack gets a chance to show off his very formidable guitar skills. The album hits bottom when Meg takes the mic. "In The Dark, Dark Night" is a well written song spoiled by her lack of vocal ability. Her drumming is extremely simplistic but luckily, fits well with the band's style. The only other crystal clear low point on Elephant is the closing track. "It's True That We Love One Another" is just plain cheesy and makes the album and its performers seem all the more odd.

If I had to sum up Elephant in one thought I'd say... It isn't for everyone. You're either going to love it for what it is or be let down by what it is not. But after all is said and done, a couple below average tracks don't stop The White Stripes from distinguishing themselves from the rest of the rock revival crowd that has been so popular lately. It grows on you, and one listen to "Ball and Biscuit" should convince anyone with a rock bone in their body that Elephant is worth the time.

they stink, just kidding!
oh, man. these guys are great. i just love 7 nation army. such a catchy song. their whole album is great and i recommend you go buy it right now if you like bleusy rock music. its hard to believe that its a two person band.... can you even call that a band? but it doesnt matter, cuz they play better than a lot of other bands out there. the only reason why i give it 4 stars is because Meg's drumming isnt as good as it should be on some songs. also, i think they should have someone else that could play bass guitar along with Jack. GO BUY THIS CD NOW, OR ELSE STOP READING THIS REVIEW! I SAID STOP READING! YOU'RE STILL READING! GO BUY IT!

ugh
Just because it doesn't sound like Britney or Puddle of Mudd doesn't mean it isn't uninspired generic garbage. This band is not talented nor original. Their songs were probably written by middle-aged record executives who are trying to appeal to teens who secretly watch MTV and shop at Urban Outfitters for vintage-looking t-shirts with "witty" phrases.

If the only reason you listen to this band is because someone told you it's cool (and that means you considering thats the only way anyone could possibly like this uninspired drivel) just realize that people who like music that is actually good are still laughing at you because you're still nothing more than a pseudo-pretentious loser who wants to seem alternative. Take my advice and drop the black hair dye and white belts because you'll never be anything more than a fake until you start thinking for yourself.

Much better than I had heard on MTV
Firts of all it is a two part band but that means almost nothing. Almost every song has more than one guitar part.