Amazon.com

It's common knowledge that solo albums are simply an excuse for a frustrated band member to indulge their experimental sides and Rob Thomas, singer for decidedly M.O.R. multi-platinum rockers Matchbox Twenty is not one to pass on the opportunity. Having already explored the classic rock thing through his collaborations with Mick Jagger and Santana, Thomas goes the other way here with results that are unexpected and, sometimes, totally unbelievable. He veers from modern R&B on the Justin Timberlake aping "Lonely No More" to vintage prog-rock in "All That I Am," touching on all points in between. There are a few nods to the Matchbox canon with "Ever The Same" and "This Is How A Heart Breaks" but, as the title suggests, this is an album about finding himself. For the moment, Thomas is still searching. The DualDisc portion features 5.1 surround sound, a 20-minute documentary on the making of the album by filmmaker Gillian Grisman, plus the holiday tune, "Christmas in New York."--Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (107)

Rob Rob Rob....
Rob Thomas I am Very Dissapointed in you I Expected So much From your solo debut esp with your single lonley no more..people Rob Thomas is app trying Something new here so and its obvious its pretty bad most of his songs are just a bunch of blah blah blah really boring and bad songs with horrible beats and poor Ballad's this cd is not worth the price i paid for it in fact its so bad i woulden't even give it away..the only upside is lonley no more,when the heartache ends and ever the same but other then that its just Junk and the slow songs are just so boring and hard to listen to because they just suck Sorry Rob But maybe you should stick to what you were doing before...good try though dont buy this unless you really i mean really love rob thomas a big dissapointment you can do better rob.

Something to Be
I was introduced to Matchbox 20 at 50 with a live concert! My kids (20 somethings) thought Matchbox 20 was old news! I am a hard core music lover and they were unbelievable in Concert and I have been totally impressed by their musicality.

Something to Be is excellent. There is a terrific range of cuts - everything from fast edgy to soft, hymn-like ballads. Even my wife who was cool on MB20 is raving about this CD - and the DVD is great - makes you realize the art of song writing and creation is truly a gift!

You won't be disappointed if you really listen to the talent!

AWESOME!!
Any fan of Matchbox 20 knows how AWESOME Rob Thomas is. He is so talented. This CD is amazing. I look forward to more great music from Rob AND Matchbox 20.

I really loved this
I listen to all sorts of music,so I was looking for something interesting.I will admit that I like pop music but I don't like the average pop crap that has been out lately.I've been listening to a lot of indie music..and associate with a lot of indie musicians.Every one of them that I have encountered so far have been like,"Eww,you bought the Rob Thomas CD?" because they think of themselves as music elitists when they're really just folk who refuse to buy anything that really sells.

Well,I gave the CD a chance and I really loved it.The song has a few beats like "Lonely No More" and some slower songs that really move me.The entire CD has the ability to get me awake,get me to sleep,get me to smile and get me to cry at once.Rob Thomas manages to cut through emotions that run deep and show them to you.

My favorite song of all is "Here Comes the Night",which I can relate to on the deepest level.The rest of the song are excellent as well.I always play the CD from beginning to end.:)

3 1/2 Stars
Overall, SOMETHING TO BE [DUAL DISC] is a refreshing release that appeals not only to one's rock sensibilities but also their pop sensibilities.Production is solid and as always, Thomas is on top with his songwriting capabilities.He made a very smart move crafting his solo affair with catchy hooks and choruses.

The main flaw of SOMETHING TO BE is that you can pick the songs that are standouts very easily while the other songs of which the album is composed is more filler material.For example, "LONELY NO MORE" is much better than say "ALL THAT I AM".Top listens on this album are at the front part and include "THIS IS HOW A HEART BREAKS", first single "LONELY NO MORE", "I AM AN ILLUSION", and "SOMETHING TO BE".Also OK listens, yet not top hits are "EVER THE SAME" and "WHEN THE HEARTACE ENDS". Definitely, this should be a Grammy Nominee at the 2006 Grammys.This is overall a good album that could have been better in some ways, but nonetheless, Thomas is an awesome songwriter and vocalist.3 1/2 stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Irish troubadour Damien Rice doesn't so much reinvent the folk genre on this lush, impossibly mature debut album as push its boundaries in several compelling musical directions at once--all the more remarkable considering the album was largely self-produced and home-recorded. His songs revolve around familiar, bittersweet concerns of life, love and their attendant frustrations, but delivered with conspiratorial intimacy on melodic wings that (like on the graceful "Cannonball") Rice seems almost embarrassed to share. If there's anything like a template here, it's "The Blower's Daughter," the song that first attracted the interest/stewardship of film composer David Arnold (whose guest production provides "Amie" with expansive cinematic elegance) and became a massive Irish hit. His plaintive vocal, embroidered by the mournful solo cello of Vyvienne Long, is suddenly brightened by an instrumental flourish and Lisa Hannigan's vocals--before just as quickly wafting on the breeze. With touches that range from "Day in the Life"-styled string collages to the dizzy, exhilarating neo-operatic excesses of the 16-minute "Eskimo," Rice's musical palate here is as adventurous as his songs are grounded in emotional intimacy. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (154)

Haunting and Beautiful
Damien Rice has a beautiful Irish tenor voice. And it works wonderfully in his folk aranged album. He also has a female companion who harmonizes with him, and she is a fantastic vocalist. This album is composed of guitar, the two vocalists, some percussion, and generally a cello or small strings arrangement. That makes for a wonderful album to listen and relax to.
The song-writing on the album is amazing. Rice writes songs like conversations and uses the wonderful (and beautiful if you've seen the video) female to sing the response. Many songs are about lost love or bad love or just love, but they are not just simple, stupid, pop love songs. They are incredibly crafted lyrics that can stand alone without music, which says a lot about Rice's songwriting skills.
Buy this album if you enjoy folk/pop music. James Taylor, Angie Aparo, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Gark Jules and David Gray are a few musicians I would say if you like you'll enjoy Damien Rice.

The most beautiful album I have ever heard...
Searching for words to describe this album are like trying to count the stars in the sky. (I know it's cliche, but it works). This album is amazingly beautiful.

Back in May I picked up a friend of mine in Chicago after she spent the semester in Ireland and the whole way home (a 3+ hour drive) all we listened to was O. After we arrived home, I decided I had to have the album. I ordered the import off amazon and before it arrived, I got to see Damien back in Chicago at Schubas. If the album itself doesn't amaze you, go see him live and you'll fall in love. Just a few more weeks until he plays Chicago again.

This album ranges from soft ballads (The Blower's Daughter) to heart-wrenching rock (the second half of I Remember). Unlike many albums from folk singers, I think this one is best listened through all the way at once. While there are great standout tracks (Amie, I Remember, Delicate), the whole album tells a story. There is a gradual almost epic-like progression throughout that sends the listener on a roller-coaster of emotions.

One of the greatest things about this album is the fact that Damien recorded this (mostly) in his basement over the course of a year. Instead of being thrown into a studio for a month to record the album using manufactured emotion (having to record on days you don't feel like it), Damien recorded each of the songs when he was "feeling it". That's why all of the emotion in these songs are SO real, so genuine. There is nothing manufactured about its sound. Another magnificant thing about it is the range of instrumentation and musical genre used. As I said, there are the slow, soft ballads, and rocking songs as well as Operatic elements (Eskimo)and beautiful orchestration in "Amie" and "Cold Water".

From listening to the album and several live shows I have, I can tell that Damien does not have a powerful, controlling, confident voice. Rather his voice sounds strong at times, but is usually more reserved and cautious. This cautious tone makes the album all the more believable, showing it is true emotion that has not been overproduced or forced.

I really can not say enough good things about this album and if I could give 10 stars, I would. As I said, my favorite tracks are #1 Delicate, #6 Amie and #9 I Remember, but there is not a bad song on the album.

As one other reviewer already said, my only complaint is that the last song (Eskimo) has 2 "hidden tracks" [Prague, and Silent Night (a song set to the tune of the traditional Silent Night Christmas song, but with different lyrics)] that should have been seperate tracks finishing off the album with 12 instead of 10. But as my only complaint, I must still recommend this album.

E-mail me if you have any questions whatsoever.

Loved it!
Damien Rice is such a talented musician. His music never gets old, you can listen to it over and over again. His soultry voice is always nice to listen to. I highly recommend it!!

Fearless
This is my first review of anything on Amazon, though I am a constant reader. I simply had to talk about this album.

The best way to describe this album is fearless. He takes the road less traveled by other up-and-coming singer-songwriters. While the new batch has had some very good singers, nothing compares to this album. They seem more interested in making a "clean" album, while this album seems like he is alone in a room baring his soul.

Though the strange thing is about the album s that you know he could not have been alone in a room. There is so much going on, so many chances taken that it is hard to descibe. Simply saying that it is an acoustic album is wrong. The album brings in much more.

Fearless in his atempts to expand beyond just him and his guitar. Consider how at the end of Amie, out of nowhere comes what sounds like an entire orchestra. It sounds beautiful and it becomes almost impossible to imagine the song without it. Then the gorgarian (sp?) chants that enter into Cold Water. By the end of the album it seems only appropriate to have an opera singer at the end of Eskimo.

But the wonderful things about the album is that it doesn't rely on these tricks. They are simply used to enchance the songs. Cannonball is simply him and his guitar, and it is one of the best songs on the album (a song friends of mine have confessed crying to when they heard it).

Another huge difference between him and others is the feeling involved. I have yet to hear another singer coming out now who you can feel their pain so clearly and identify with it(Howie Day is close). The only line in the chorus of The Blower's Daughter is "I can't take my eyes off you..." The way he sings it and the passion in his voice make the line more romantic and meaningful than an entire boy-band album.

Just the other night I went outside with my CD Player to sit on the front porch and listen to music while I smoked a cigarette. I started at track one, and became so engrossed in the songs, I just sat there until the album finished. It is THAT good. And it is that feeling that is put into every song that gives me the impression this album will age very well.

I agree with others that he brings back memories of when Jeff Buckley was around. They invoke the same spirit. And that is nothing but a compliment, because if there is anything music needs now, it is someone who can do to people what Jeff did. Even though Jeff died too soon, people are still listening to his music because it means so much to them. I have the feeling that this album will do the same. It is Damien Rice's "Grace".

My only concern is the same as others. How in the hell is he going to follow this up? But here is the fun part, imagine if he somehow makes a better album?

Finally...
When I first heard Damien Rice I immediatley felt pleasantly confused and relieved, thinking to myself, "Finally someone new with passion and true emotion".

I highly recommend this CD and hope more people discover this wonderful collection of songs. A true music fan will appreciate this one. Damien Rice's music is honest and full of heart. His backing vocalist, Lisa, is a purely gorgeous angelic voice that compliments Rice perfectly. The comibation of acoustic guitar and cello is simply beautiful. This CD has a refreshing classical feel that is delicate but full of power. The album was made to be heard loud from the first track all the way to the end. The songs are ordered to perfection and have a lot to give out to its audience. Don't miss out.

We need more artists like Damien Rice and it's wonderful to know true artists are actually creating good sound somewhere. It's difficult to believe this is Damien Rice's debut CD, the possibilites are endless for a follow-up. ... Read more

Reviews (122)

Which song is which?
Lifehouse made a big name for themselves in the late 90s with their album, No Name Face.

I actually wasn't even aware they released a second one.The third one was released recently at my record store, and I decided to pick it up.

The vocals are nice, the guitar is nice...but overall this disc is a little boring.The tracks, whether played as numbered or randomly, run into eachother creating a musical blur that is somewhat mind-numbing and a little sleep-inducing.

I cannot name specific songs which jump out at me, either.Perhaps if I listened to them solitarily, they might have a greater impact but all I can think of right now is taking a nice big nap until another CD comes on.

Excellent Band
Lifehouse never ceases to amaze me. I have every single one of their albums, and there is not one song on each of them I don't like.

Simply Amazing & Marvelous
I am probably one of the biggest Lifehouse fan's that there is. This album is simply amazing and I love listening to it as much as I can. Jason Wade has exceeded with his voice and actions in this sojourn through a softer melodic path in their career as a group. 'You And Me' and 'Into The Sun' are the hits of this beautiful album. This album is for a bona-fide Lifehouse fan and any fan of romantic moody music. There is songs in this album that are for romantic evenings, wedding dance songs, candlelit dinners as well as just sitting back and relaxing.

This is Lifehouse at their best. This album isn't as good as 'No Name Face' but it sure comes close. My two all time favourite Lifehouse songs are 'Simon' and 'Everything' followed by 'Storm' and 'You And Me'. This album continues the great work of the past albums and continues the evolution of this great group. The video of You And Me is beautiful to watch.

I hope Lifehouse brings out a DVD of many of their songs, it would be fitting for this group of talented young men who are well on their ways to achieving some great accolades and fame. Thankyou Lifehouse for your music that is some of the best I have ever heard as well as inspiring, joyful and retrospective.

This is a good stuff!
My first impression for this album was actually not that good. Perhaps I would give it 3 stars, but definitely this album wouldn't be as good as their previous releases. But after listening to this album 2 or 3 more times, I've become addicted to it!

Lifehouse has smoothen their path a bit, with fabolous result! "You And Me", with its beautiful lyrics and melody, will surely be a favorite love song in no time. "Blind", "Better Luck Next Time", and "We'll Never Know" offers rather hard guitar riffs and infectious chorus. You'll find yourself humming through these songs. "Come Back Down" and "Days Go By" are both warm soft-rock songs; nice tracks to listen to when you get stressed out. One of the highlights is "Into The Sun"; this song is very Lifehouse and it sounds a bit mysterious, which is good! However, The three last tracks are the best ones. Track 10, "Walking Away" starts off with sharp but slow-tempo drum rolls, then the guitars ride in and the song turn so melancholic. I really like the part when Jason sings, "Hey, remember me/ I remember you/ Walking Away...". Talking about a touching song. Then "Chapter One" begins. The intro is soft and sounds a bit unusual for a Lifehouse track. The melody is nice, the lyrics great, what else could you ask for? Then the closing track, "The End Has Only Begun". At first I didn't like it, but when it comes to the bridge, it turns to be a very promising tune. Perhaps this should be their next single. This track leaves you wanting for more songs from the band! Luckily, I bought the Asian version, and there is a bonus track, "Today". This track rocks! Literally. The drum rolls are heavier than any other songs on this album. I think it should be in the album, replacing "Come Undone" or "All In All" (the two tracks I consider rather weak).

Many claims that this album is not their best, but I disagree. I think this album is as good as their previous albums. They do choose the smoother track, and their music sounds lighter than usual. But then, Jason Wade has always had a smooth voice, and it works best on this album. I say if this album doesn't sell well, it's just a matter of luck.

Great album...gets even better each time you listen to it!
I have been listening to this album for two weeks now, and it is better every time. Some people who have written reviews of this are full of hot air.
Songs 1-9 are near perfect and the best yet from Lifehouse.
It makes you glad to be alive.
BUY THIS NOW!!!
... Read more

Amazon.com

Coldplay required a lifetime to make their wonderfully assured debut,Parachutes. But it tookless than two years for the moody British quartet to deliver a masterful follow-up. As a band Coldplay have advanced to a stage where they outshine nearly every oneof their rivals in terms of imagination and emotional pull. A Rush of Bloodto the Head is a soulful, exhilarating journey, moving from the catharticrock of "Politik" to the hushed tones of "Green Eyes" without once breaking itsmesmerizing spell. Singer Chris Martin takes his voice on soaring flights,reaching places only JeffBuckley previously dared to go. And the music is nearly flawless, apersuasive cross between PinkFloyd and the Verve.Even if they haven't come up with another "Yellow," you would be hard-pressed tocare. This is exquisite stuff. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (854)

What more can you say?
This sophomore effort by Coldplay shows the music development of the band. They still talk about heartache and hope. These lyrics are complimented with infectious bass hooks and guitar riffs, interspersed with soft or loud piano and drum harmonies. "Parachutes" gave a glimpse of what the band can do, much like "Pablo Honey" did with Radiohead. And like Radiohead's "The Bends," "A Rush of Blood to the Head" shows Will, Gerry, Jon and Chris, with their different music stylings and influences, come together as four strong individuals with much to say while proving they have amazing talent.

From the loud and somewhat dischorded harmony of "Politik" progressing to the quiet and subtle "Amsterdam," "A Rush of Blood to the Head" shows Coldplay's musical range--we see the eastern influence in "Daylight" and the folk-country inspired "Green Eyes"--all the while maintaing their signature lyric ballad ("Scientist," "In My Place," "Warning Sign").

Why 4 stars? Even with the strength of all of the songs, the album still gives a hint of their potential. I'll leave the five stars until then.

A Rush of Blood to My Head
After winning one Grammy award (Best Alternative Music Album), two Brit awards (Best Group and Best Album), two VH1 awards (Best Kept Secret and "Big in Japan") and selling 1.2 million copies of their debut album Parachutes, Coldplay would have to do something miraculous to overcome the sophomore slump. With their newest release A Rush of Blood to the Head, they show the world that they aren't going down without a fight. When the album opens, with the heavy and resounding drums and guitars of "Politik", you notice the change that has occurred between albums. Coldplay abandons much of the love and loss theme that was prevalent in their early work and its place is a slightly more joyful and upbeat sound. The radio single "In My Place" follows this with equal strength, as does the entire album. Not one ounce of energy is lost as the album takes you on its spiraling journey through the mind of a musical genius. In a pop-culture music scene that is dominated by artists like Nelly, Eminem, and Linkin Park, a rock record emerges that gives hope to those of us who long for more. The standout track is definitely "Scientist", where Chris sings in earnest, "Nobody said it was easy, No one ever said it would be this hard." The raw emotion that he puts into his music gives Coldplay that unique edge over most musicians in the genre. My only complaint about this album is the tendency of some songs to sound similar. However, with the caliber of songs that are on this record, monotony can sometimes be welcome and even intensify the musical power. Finally the CD closes with "Amsterdam", where you are confuident that Chris Martin's vocals and energy have retained their strength and that Coldplay has once again delivered a near-masterpiece.

They are still kicking it!
The sophomore effort from Coldplay is in no way a "sophomore jynx". It is not an extension from Parachutes either. It is totally different; not so much as a radiohead record but never-the-less different. Instead of coming off as indieish and a complete band effort, it sounds more mature and like a showcase for Chris Martin. This is due to the seemingly more emphasis put on the lyrics and vocals. Both of which are improved from their last outting. Also, their seems to be more keyboard used here especially on the two hit singles "clocks" and "scientist". It is difernet also in that it is much longer than thier debut; by over twelve minutes.

This record excels on many levels along with the aforementioned. It works more as a pop record and therefore seems more appealing to the casual listener. It also contains the groups strongest songs to date. However, despite its brillience, it is not perfect by any means. Among its flaws lie within lyrics. The greater emphasis draws people in. And on a couple songs, like the title track, the lyrics try to be way too philisophical and fail to accomplish their goal. Also, the record contains a couple straight forward rock songs. They are not bad but not what Coldplay excels at.

All of the flaws seem to make this record feel less complete, inviting track skipping and quick boredom. These are not qualities that Parachutes had and therefore AROBTTH is a slightly inferior record. I must urge people to pick this up though since it is still very very good. Don't expect the utter brillience from the first album to carry over however.

TRACK RUN-THREW
Politik- good opener despite werey lyrics.
In my place- pure pop
God put a smile upon my face- best rock song on the record
The scientist- sweet piano and lyrics
Clocks- captivatingly brilliant piano play
Daylight- worst track but listenable
Green eyes- good range of vocals and lyrics
Warning sign- beautiful
A wisper- driving guitar
A rush of blood to the head- too philisophical but still good/great
Amsterdam- best track

Hmmm...
I bought this album after it won a Grammy for record of the year for "Clocks," a song that I loved. I was hoping that the Cd would measure up as well, as I had heard "The Scientist" and liked that too, but I was a little disappointed. I thought a few of the songs were dull and mediocre, but maybe because this isn't my favorite style of music?
Overall, its an alright CD... I wish I had borrowed it from a friend before I bought it though, not sure I would have bought it.

alright you got me...
this band is pretty awesome. Ordinarily you'll find me listening to music genres like grunge, punk, metal and all that but this is the one band I cross into the mainstream/emo vibe. I first heard the song Yellow and was hooked, then after I heard clocks thats when I really started liking the band more and more and now as much as I hate mainstream stuff usually I find myself a fan of coldplay, the guys are great musicians and have a simplistic vibe about them that makes this just calm, sorta chill out music. So to finish; good album, worth picking up. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Blinking Lights and Other Revelations is a big, important record that's also devastatingly somber. Which, depending on how serious an Eels fan you are and the sturdiness of your psyche, can be taken as an endorsement or a warning. Shades of the band's superb sophomore effort, Electro-Shock Blues, recorded after the suicide of Everett's sister and the death of his father, show up here on such wounded tracks as "Checkout Blues," "If You See Natalie," and "I'm Going to Stop Pretending I Didn't Break Your Heart." Permeating those are instrumental snippets, some sad and ponderous ("Theme from Blinking Lights"), others bordering on bright ("Theme for a Pretty Girl that Makes You Believe God Exists"), and a handful of ironic exercises in straight-up pop (the winking "Going Fetal" and the cynical but upbeat "Hey Man [Now You're Really Living]"). Spread over two discs, the mood of Blinking Lights burns in fast and builds in its ferocity, so that when lighter moments like the funny "Whatever Happened to Soy Bomb" surface, they seem like ominous breaks in the storm. Though these songs make it easy to forget that Everett's gruff, fuzzed-over vocals have also graced fare breezy enough to be included on the Shrek soundtrack, their beauty delivers a thoughtful listener from caring. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Excellent!
I saw the Eels perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno the day the album was released.I had to have the album after hearing "Railroad Man".Once you put the CD's in, you can just sit back and listen to it again and again.This album should win album of the year.

perpetual motion machine
E is Velocity Boy and he's invented the perpetual motion machine. Well he hasn't really invented the perpetual motion machine. He's just made sure that his poorly crafted wagon is on an endless downward slope. And it's gaining reckless speed. In perpetuity.

Eels peaked at Daisies of the Galaxy, started to junk out on Souljacker--which at least had a few great songs. Then Shootenanny? Are you kidding me? (Okay, Fashion Awards was funny.) And now Blinking Lights...?

Bland, forgettable songs. Tired, entirely guessable rhyming couplets and the same old four riffs he's been dry humping since Electro-Shock Blues--which, incidently, was a great album. Buy it. But don't buy Blinking Lights.

(...)

A glorious return to form ****1/2
I'm one of these nutters that truly believes in the healing power of music, and if I'm right in my theory then Eels frontman E must surely be one of the artforms foremost practitioners. Electro-Shock Blues broke my heart then put itback together all within the 40 or so minutes of the album, which is why I can barely articulate the crushing disappointment I felt when listening to the Eels last couple of albums - the uneven Souljacker and the downright dismal Shootenanny.

While those albums must have been some kind of retreat from fame, if not out and out career suicide, E's new album Blinking Lights And Other Revelations is a reawakening of the inner genius inside of himself. Blinking Lights is... quite simply a masterpiece, long - yes, but not a moment is wasted and everything just seems to fit perfectly to my ear, oh yeah... it's also his most personal, honest and beautiful record since Electro-Shock Blues.

E bares his soul to striking effect on songs such as 'Son Of A Bitch', 'The Other Shoe' and 'Dust Of Ages', in his hands a simple lyric or a string of notes can be devastatingly poignant, and this album is full of those sort of moments - an embarassment of riches really.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and this album mightn't be for everyone, but frankly it beggars belief that anyone with a working pair of ears could possibly give it one star (as the odd reviewer has done). Blinking Lights is nothing short of a triumph from this reclusive, insightful and above all talented man.

The Eels are back
I've bene through this album about 10 times since purchasing it, and it has emerged as one of my favorites of the Eels albums. The album does have its share of slower songs utilizing spare arrangements that have more in common with Levity than prior Eels albums. However, give these songs a chance - the majority of them, including the variations on the Blinking Lights themes, are terrific.

And that is not to say that there aren't a collection of upbeat songs such as Magic World, Trouble with Dreams, The Other Shoe, Railroad Man, Old Sh**, Hey Man, Losing Streak . . .You can get 33 songs for the price of a single album, and there are enough good rock songs to fill one full album, with another album of slower material that grows on you quickly. This album is a deal, and I can't stop listening to it.

I personally was disappointed with Souljacker and Shootenany, and my personal favorites are Electro-Shock Blues and Daisies. This album is a return to form, and is one of the best albums of the year. Buy it, enjoy it, and don't get hung up on the fact that its a double album. That fact seems to have derailed a lot of other rational reviewers. You're getting more than twice the music for free, people! Relax! Enjoy!

Major Disappointment
I don't know what some of you people are listening to, but this was awful.There are about 4 songs that I could actually listen to.Let's face facts, Souljacker is FAR and AWAY the best EEL'S album.The best part about this one is that they only forced us to pay once instead of splitting this garbage into 2 releases.
They put WAY too much garbage on this. I HIGHLY recommend against it unless you like to torture yourself. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Daredevil soundtrack provided a nice boost for this previously unknown quartet from Little Rock, Arkansas. Evanescence’s songs "My Immortal" and the imposing "Bring Me to Life" are clear standouts in the film, mainly because they work so well with the dramatic, eerie undertones of the storyline. They reappear here on the band’s debut, alongside a selection of similarly brooding tracks that evoke pensive artists like Tori Amos and the Cranberries. Vocalist Amy Lee has the kind of voice that can cause weeks of insomnia, but on songs like "Tourniquet" and "Haunted" she belies the music’s sinister mood with evenhanded spirituality, thoughtfully letting some light shine through the tempest. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (2018)

Something for Everyone...I guess. (4.5 Stars)
I'm bad at headers, please forgive me.

Evanescence was arguably the biggest breakout band of 2003. Now they're sold-out hitmakers that are loved by gothic teenagers, middle-aged women and music critics alike. (I'm naming these from personal experiences) ..now how does Evanescence measure up?

You've already heard the most worthy songs on the CD. "Bring Me To Life" "Going Under" and "My Immortal" are the three best songs on the CD, so if you expect a CD full of beautiful "My Immortals" please search elsewhere.

The rest of the CD is woven with pretty much alternating faster and slower songs. As far as standouts go? Aside from the singles, we also have "Everybody's Fool" which is lacking in lyrics but makes up for that in melody, and "Torniquet" which is full circle above-average but nothing spectacular. For lyrical depth, try "Hello" ..

Amy Lee's voice is tolerable at worst. Her fashion sense may be a bit off-key, but her voice remains lovely and distinctive, and always matches the background (or vice versa, who knows where manufacturing may be lurking..?)

If no one you know is buying this CD, you A) Live in a Ghost Town or B) Know nobody!..
This album remains in the top 5 on the album charts after a year of being on it, selling upwards of 100,000 a week. Nice, right? One of those customers includes my lovely mother. Way to go Mom, you saved me fifteen bucks.

I enjoyed it. It's worthy of removing forty minutes of your life.

BOTTOM LINE: Good. Something everyone would enjoy.
GRADE: A-

Blew me away....
I just recently discovered Evanescence by mistake after visiting a friend's web site and clicking a link for Evanescence - Hello. I absolutely LOVED the track and, having friends who were obsessed with the album and the band, naturally decided to borrow/buy the album. A friend lent it to me, and here I am, listening, several days after becoming obsessed with it myself. I just cannot stop listening to it... Amy Lee's voice is so much more polished and mature than anyone else in her age group of singers, such as Avril Lavigne, Brittany Spears, etc. It's like an angel from heaven has come down to bless us with her talent, and it's no wonder why the song "Bring Me To Life" attracted so many fans to this small Arkansas band and singer! And, without further ado, onto the ratings... Going Under - This song is not my favorite, but nonetheless, it is a great song. The rock beat really strikes my fancy, and the lyrics are well-polished. 9.5/10 Bring Me To Life - The song that inspired Evanescence's fan base, and it's really easy to see why! The lyrics are great, the tune is wonderful, and it's really easy to pick up. It's haunting and rocking at the same time, and overall a great song. It has its shortcomings, however, as it will become really repetetive after a while of listening to it because it is so awesome! 9.5/10 Everybody's Fool - A great song, but it's basically repeating the same thing, merely in different words, through the entire song. 9.5/10 My Immortal - After listening to all of the album and Hello before it, this was my new favorite song. As another reviewer put it, it may be what heaven really sounds like. This is one of the band's songs that you hear everywhere, like Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi, and you just instantly love it, but you just never know who the artist is... then you find out, get the album, listen to the song and the rest of it, and become obsessesed instantaneously! Its haunting lyrics and beautiful piano make this an instant classic, not to be missed. 10/10 Haunted - Amy Lee sang the heck out of this one, and because of it, it's great. It's not quite at bloody as Tourniquet, but creepy all the same, and in this reviewer's eyes, creepy = good. 10/10 Touniquet- This song really makes you brood over death. Amy really convinces you that she's in serious pain when she sings so soulfully, and it makes you so sorry for her, that you just can't help but like the song. However, I'm not really one for the morbid-type, so marks down for the gruesome details. Don't get me wrong though; this song is still great. 9/10 Imaginary - Amy describes how she retreats into her own world to escape the horrors of this one, but she can't decide which one she likes better. Very soulful, just like all of the other songs on the album, and one of my personal favorites. 10/10 Taking Over Me - It seems like Amy is willing to drop everything and find her true love, who has taken over her soul and now is morunful for him because he left. The lyrics are great, and the entire song has a very catchy beat. 9.5/10 Hello - This is the song that got me hooked on Evanescence. Haunting and beautiful lyrics, Amy's beautiful voice that will keep you awake (and slightly insane because of sadness and other factors) for weeks to come, and absolutely haunting melody on the piano, this is my personal favorite song on this album. It maintains the sad note of Haunted and Tourniquet, but with much less violence. She doesn't know if she's sleeping or not, and then she realizes that death really does exist, and that nothing will ever be the same. Let me scream for a moment: I LOVE THIS SONG!! 10/10 My Last Breath - When I listened to this, the first time, I got the lyrics stuck in my head because Amy sung them so beautifully! The beat is catchy and fun, and the lyrics are great. Overall, a great song. 9.5/10 Whisper - This song is probably the worst one on the CD, though don't get me wrong; I still love it, but it just isn't up to par with the others. I do, however, love the Latin at the end; Amy translated it roughly to "Save us from danger, save us from evil," and it really fits the mood of the song. It gets pretty slow at the end, so that turned me off of it a little bit. Still a good song nonetheless. 8.5/10 Overall, this album is one of the most polished I've ever heard in years, and it really got me hooked on the goth/rocky genre. I simply can't wait for the next one! Keep up the good work guys!

Blew me away...
I just recently discovered Evanescence by mistake after visiting a friend's web site and clicking a link for Evanescence - Hello. I absolutely LOVED the track and, having friends who were obsessed with the album and the band, naturally decided to borrow/buy the album. A friend lent it to me, and here I am, listening, several days after becoming obsessed with it myself. I just cannot stop listening to it... Amy Lee's voice is so much more polished and mature than anyone else in her age group of singers, such as Avril Lavigne, Brittany Spears, etc. It's like an angel from heaven has come down to bless us with her talent, and it's no wonder why the song "Bring Me To Life" attracted so many fans to this small Arkansas band and singer! And, without further ado, onto the ratings... Going Under - This song is not my favorite, but nonetheless, it is a great song. The rock beat really strikes my fancy, and the lyrics are well-polished. 9.5/10 Bring Me To Life - The song that inspired Evanescence's fan base, and it's really easy to see why! The lyrics are great, the tune is wonderful, and it's really easy to pick up. It's haunting and rocking at the same time, and overall a great song. It has its shortcomings, however, as it will become really repetetive after a while of listening to it because it is so awesome! 9.5/10 Everybody's Fool - A great song, but it's basically repeating the same thing, merely in different words, through the entire song. 9.5/10 My Immortal - After listening to all of the album and Hello before it, this was my new favorite song. As another reviewer put it, it may be what heaven really sounds like. This is one of the band's songs that you hear everywhere, like Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi, and you just instantly love it, but you just never know who the artist is... then you find out, get the album, listen to the song and the rest of it, and become obsessesed instantaneously! Its haunting lyrics and beautiful piano make this an instant classic, not to be missed. 10/10 Haunted - Amy Lee sang the heck out of this one, and because of it, it's great. It's not quite at bloody as Tourniquet, but creepy all the same, and in this reviewer's eyes, creepy = good. 9/10 Touniquet- This song really makes you brood over death. Amy really convinces you that she's in serious pain when she sings so soulfully, and it makes you so sorry for her, that you just can't help but like the song. However, I'm not really one for the morbid-type, so marks down for the gruesome details. Don't get me wrong though; this song is still great. 9/10 Imaginary - Amy describes how she retreats into her own world to escape the horrors of this one, but she can't decide which one she likes better. Very soulful, just like all of the other songs on the album. 9/10 Taking Over Me - It seems like Amy is willing to drop everything and find her true love, who has taken over her soul and now is morunful for him because he left. The lyrics are great, and the entire song has a very catchy beat. 9.5/10 Hello - This is the song that got me hooked on Evanescence. Haunting and beautiful lyrics, Amy's beautiful voice that will keep you awake (and slightly insane because of sadness and other factors) for weeks to come, and absolutely haunting melody on the piano, this is my personal favorite song on this album. It maintains the sad note of Haunted and Tourniquet, but with much less violence. She doesn't know if she's sleeping or not, and then she realizes that death really does exist, and that nothing will ever be the same. Let me scream for a moment: I LOVE THIS SONG!! 10/10 My Last Breath - When I listened to this, the first time, I got the lyrics stuck in my head because Amy sung them so beautifully! The beat is catchy and fun, and the lyrics are great. Overall, a great song. 9.5/10 Whisper - This song is probably the worst one on the CD, though don't get me wrong; I still love it, but it just isn't up to par with the others. I do, however, love the Latin at the end; Amy translated it roughly to "Save us from danger, save us from evil," and it really fits the mood of the song. It gets pretty slow at the end, so that turned me off of it a little bit. Still a good song nonetheless. Overall, this album is one of the most polished I've ever heard in years, and it really got me hooked on the goth/rocky genre. I simply can't wait for the next one! Keep up the good work guys!

Hmm
a music fan from hawaii must of been singing along to the songs again. I only got it for the first 3 songs and I ended up listening to the rest of it later. all of the songs except for track 10 or 11 I think are good. My copy was stolen earlier this year so I'm going to pick up another. Amy Lee's voice is very smooth and very high, which is why the music fan from hawaii must of heard something dying..he/she/it couldnt reach the high notes. Anyways This CD owns.

Cool band with a cool cd
The best song on the album is "My Immortal" and Amy Lee sings the hell outta every song on the cd. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The debut of thundering supergroup Audioslave--featuring members of Rage Against the Machine post-Zack de la Rocha with ex-Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell--is as much curio as fascinating blend of visions. Cornell might be outnumbered, but his unmistakable holler and nihilistic imagery ensure that Audioslave, the album, recalls early Soundgarden. That's especially true since de la Rocha took Rage's signature rap and politicking with him. Still, if this is Soundgarden, it's Soundgarden set to stun. Rage guitarist Tom Morello is more of a mauler than Kim Thayil ever was--witness "Shadow on the Sun," which moves from bruising thud to psychedelic freak-out and back again--while the Rage rhythm section of Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk anchor the bottom end with pure instrumental cement. Intentionally or not, "Gasoline" bears passing resemblance to "Rusty Cage," while the sweeping "I Am the Highway" and slow-burning "The Last Remaining Light" best showcase Cornell's surprisingly New Age-y lyrical bent. Cover art by Storm Thorgerson, who gave Pink Floyd records their distinctive stamp, underscores the set's inherent celebrity. Fans of Rage and Soundgarden can raise clenched fists in unison, for Audioslave is win-win. --Kim Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (836)

Audioslave
Five years after the breakup of Soundgarden and three years after the release of Euphoria Morning, Chris Cornell is back. But now he is backed by one of the strongest groove bands in rock music today, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford, who were formerly in the band Rage Against The Machine. This unexpected collaboration has formed an extremely strong, new style. Their sound ranges from atmospheric, with Cornell singing resplendant melodies(of haunting themes), backed by a Morello's trippy, delay soaked guitar, to bone-crushingly heavy. Cornell and Morello have a sonic connection in which the vocals and guitar seem to be one entity, moving together, soaring and decending, screaming and whispering. All the time, Tim and Brad never fail to lay down a rock solid groove. In my opinion, this is the best album of the year. If you don't own it yet, buy it! It is the essential rock album of 2002.

Quite good-but sounds like a supergroup, not a polished band
Audioslave, the collaboration of surviving RATM members and former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, brings lots of sound and fury. Unfortunately, the record as a whole doesn't signify anything greater than its parts. This is not to say it's not a good record. At moments, it is spectacular, easily some of the best rock 2002 offered. The opening 1-2-3 punch of "Cochise", "Show Me How to Live", and "Gasoline" are hard to match, as are the more classic rock sounding standouts, "Like a Stone" and "I Am the Highway". The rest of the album, unfortunately is not quite on par; they're all solid songs, but they often sound unfinished and more like a side-project and not a band that plays comfortably together.

Some critics have described Audioslave as RATM with Chris Cornell singing, or Tom Morello playing guitar with Soundgarden. Both such descriptions fit. On their debut, they sound like a supergroup, not a polished band. Even Morello himself seems to have lost some creativity. His guitar riffs still resonate, but even they seem to flow too closely to Sabbath's riff catalog. In the end, the guitar virtuoso seems to have somewhat run out of ideas. The glue here in this collaboration surprisingly is Cornell, whose emotive singing breathes life into the dirgy, thick material.

Taken against other modern rock, Audioslave is amongst the elite. Juxtaposed against either of their former bands, both Soundgarden and Rage packed more punch and left a greater impression. Still, any and all from either band or their respective band members is worthwhile. Recommended.

Good for Rage fans, awesome for Soundgarden fans
This is the collaboration of the recently disbanded Rage Against The Machine and Chris Cornell, the incredible voice of the also broken up Soundgarden. So, you would think they might make a record that's got a heavy funk rhythm section(RATM), with a powerful rock vocal(Cornell), wouldn't you? Well, no surprises here. That is exactly what you get, and I like it.
For those of you who were fans of Rage, it all depends on why you were a fan whether you appreciate this record or not. If the real appeal for you was Zach De La Rocha's rap-style vocal more than the bombastic groove of the band, then you may not enjoy this release as much as I did(and still do). With Cornell on the mic you get Soundgarden-like song structure, but you still have the perfect groove of Rage. These songs are MUCH less political, and more radio friendly.
This is usually a bad thing when it comes to hard rock. So many bands lose their edge when they try to appeal to a more mainstream audience, but I don't believe that's the case here. The edge is still there, just not in every track. These songs aren't experimental in an instrumental sense, or a lyrical sense. They are just typical, serious, well-crafted, straight forward rock songs. We even get quirky guitar wiz Tom Morello playing a straight forward acoustic-like track (see "I Am The
Highway"). His experimental playing takes a backseat to Cornell's haunting vocals on many of these songs. I think that Rage realizes what they have in Chris Cornell, and they want to showcase it. All lyrics were written by Cornell, and this is very obvious. In one of the best tracks on the release("Show Me How To Live"), Cornell rants "Nail in my hand, from my creator, you gave me a life, now show me how to live." An incredibly powerful lyric, but very different than the Rage lyrics.

All in all, I think the Soundgarden fan will enjoy this much more than the Rage fan. And, fans of just plain good music should enjoy most of this release. Your getting an extremely talented band doing what comes naturally with the situation they have. It's not all good, but for the most part it has a lot to offer.

Check out these best tracks: "Cochise","Show Me How To
Live","Gasoline","What You Are","Set It Off", "I Am The Highway", and "Like A Stone".

OVERALL RATING (1-10;10 being superior): 6
For more Dr. Music reviews, visit www.new-sounds.com/DrMusic

Everything sounds the same on here
The three hits from this album, "Cochise", "Like a Stone" and "I am the Highway" are all good, but not great. Chris Cornell's voice has clearly gotten better since Soundgarden, but he doesn't do his signature yell nearly enough. The instrumentals just seem lazy to me, and don't live up to Rage standards. Also the eleven other songs seem to be trying to imitate one of the three songs I have listed already.
I give the CD three stars because it still is quality rock music, and sadly better than 95% of the other Rock music out there today.

How could something that looks so great on paper go so bad?
Rage Against the Machine and Sound Garden were both awesome bands apart from one another, they had completely different styles and sounds and thats how it should have been, after the demise of these 2 bands when I heard about Audioslave I was all for it, it would be like the coming of 2 amazing bands molded into 1, but alas it wasn't to be. After hearing the minor hit Cocheise I lost some of my faith for the band but I still had hope that it was first single jitters...then I heard like a stone. This song sucked abysmally, it pissed me off more then anything, it lead me to champion for the return of rage and garden, because this song was nothing of what these bands used to be, long drawn out moody songs COMING FROM FORMER RAGE PLAYERS?! THIS IS WRONG!! And with that song it signaled my now hatred of Audioslave, personnally if Sound Garden doesn't get back togeather oh well thats a shame, but if Rage doesn't get back togeather then its a crime because they are needed, because now more then ever political bands are need to help sway the mind of a country needing a regime change. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

It's quite good.
Breaking Benjamin's new album is solid, no two songs sound the same on here. They keep a really varied style through this one, and it makes for one of the best albums I've bought this year.

The good stuff- The first 4 songs are excellent. "So Cold" is a great opener and first single. It's the best song on here in my opinion. From listening to the beginning of "Firefly", you'd think it was just a continuation of "Follow", but when the verse starts it changes pace and becomes completely different. It's also one of the best on here. Ben's singing is good all around here, it's always good when somebody can go from melodic singing to a harsh scream in a couple seconds (as in "Believe"). The songs are all well-written, and musicianship is good here too (The bass playing stands out on a few songs).

The bad stuff- Well, it's short. It's under 40 minutes, and not that there's anything wrong with short CD's, but I think there's more potential here that hasn't been shown. "So Cold" is a very progressive song, and the rest of the CD doesn't seem to quite break the same ground. Not every song on here is memorable. Other than that, it's good.

Conclusions- It's a good solid hard rock album. They have changed their sound a bit from "Saturate", which is a good thing that they've expanded on. There's some (softer) experimental stuff on here in "Forget It" and "Rain", which aids in the variation on the album. Overall, I'd recommend it to anybody who likes hard rock (stuff like Finger Eleven, Default, Nickelback, and too many other bands to list).

Benjamin Is Far From Busted
I firmly believe that Breaking Benjamin will rise above the cluster of other great rock bands of the new millenium (i.e. - Stereomud, Earshot, Seether, Three Days Grace, Ra, Saliva, etc). Not quite sure what it is, but the sound the band emits is uniquely their own. The guitars are hard. The vocals are crisp and audible. The drumming is steady and the bass is the backbone... sometimes just thumping along, other times thunderous. Ben (the 'broken' one) Burnley has his hand in writing all the songs along with the help of his bandmates, Markus James (bass), Jeremy Hummel (drums) and Aaron Fink (lead guitar). "So Cold" is their first hit of 2004. Other hits should follow. CD liner notes include the lyrics. My picks for other groovy tunes are "Simple Design", "Firefly" and "Break My Fall". I like this 2nd release of Ben's much more than last year's raw "Saturate". It's a bit more mature (dare I say 'commercial') and much more polished. This disc was supervised and mastered by the master himself, George Marino. Also - if you can , search for the 'limited edition' package containing 4 bonus 'live' songs not found on this album. Great buy at the low-low price. Pick up "We Are Not Alone" and be the first to spread the rumor to your hard rocking friends. Absolutely no filler to be found - every track is good. No rap, hip-hop, unabated screaming, death metal growling, or Linkon Park nu-metal wanna-be's.... this is ROCK in it's purest (not including the last track - mellow & acoustic), most simplistic form. Excellent disc and one of my favorites in 2004.

absolutely amazing
I have quite a sizable music catalog, probably more than 60 cd's and i have heard some great albums in my 16 years, but after owning this record for less than a week i am convinced this is the greatest cd i have ever heard, this thing is absolutely phenomenal. i mean it is beyond belief. from the opener "so cold" to the last song, the amazing ballad "rain" each of these songs will amaze you. They rock out in some songs and in others have ballads that could be on mainstream radio right now. i paid $12 for this cd, i would pay $100 for it. You have to go buy this thing.

This Cd Rock's
I just got it today for so cold and follow and the rest of this cd is great, the person that said breaking benjamin is under rated is right, This band is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing...Underrated
Breaking Benjamin is one of those bands that comes along every so often, which is not very often, that takes the music and tears it up. They are SOOOO underrated that it makes me sick. Their music is unreal, their lyrics are straight to the point, they are not fake, and they are an amazing band. These guys need to be made heard by the public. Yeah, Polyamorous was on the radio a few times, and had a video on MTV, but in my opinion, thats the 5th or 6th best song on that CD...LETS SPREAD THE WORD OF THESE AMAZING ARTISTS... ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Definitely Worth a Listen
Bought this CD after hearing their single "Cold" trusting the rest of the songs would be good and I was more than right. Some tracks can get you really hooked. Song Review:
1. Starless (6/10) Good opener..shows what they can do
2. Cold (10/10) Awesome song..also sounds like their most original song
3. So Far Away (8/10)Another good song...I really like the bridge
4. Colors (6/10)Labeled a hit on their album cover...not exactly but it's alright
5. Death Trend Setta (4/10)Sounds a lot like Rage Against The Machine
6. The Deep End (8/10)Very good song
7. No Giving Up (10/10)Best song on the CD next to Cold...definitely give this one a listen.
8. Dead Skin (4/10) Alright song...nothing special compared to the others
9. Disco (2/10) Not the best
10. The Unkown (7/10) Great closer..a more mellow song

Nickelback + Saliva = Crossfade (with traces of sevendust)
I finally went out and bought this CD yesterday, because I live in the same city that the band is based in, Columbia, SC. The funny thing is, I've never heard of them untill one of my friends told me he was the drummer's cusin. After buying the record I listened to it, and all I have to say is, WHERE IS THE ORIGINALLITY. I know Nickelback is pissed. The music is good, I give the effort 5 Stars, but as far as being original i have to keep the 3 1/2 Stars.

Songs:

COLD - ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL SONGS ON THE CD (good song)

COLORS - SOUNDS LIKE NICKELBACK & SALIVA WROTE THIS ONE TOGETHER (good song though)

DEAD SKIN - SOUNDS LIKE SALIVA & SEVENDUST MIXED TOGETHER IN A STIFF ASS DRINK.

DEATH TREND SETTA - SEVENDUST ALL THE WAY (I KNOW THEY'RE PISSED)

DISCO - DISTURBED MIXED WITH NICKELBACK, IT SOUNDS THE SINGER FROM DISTURBED SET IN FOR THE SESSION IN THE STUDIO (well you heard it first, only in SOUTH CAROLINA)

NO GIVING UP - P.O.D. Satelite Style mixed with NICKELBACK

SO FAR AWAY - SALIVA & NICKELBACK AGAIN

STARLESS - SEVENDUST, NICKELBACK, AND SALIVA ALL IN ONE (WOW..not)

THE DEEP END - POD, LIMP BIZKIT, NICKELBACK, SEVENDUST, SALIVA, AND SOME HINTS OF KORN.

THE UNKNOWN - Exactly that, its unknown.

THIS IS A GOOD RECORD AND TOTALLY WORTH 13 BUCKS AND I HIGHLY PRAISE IT FOR WHAT IT IS. I JUST THOUGHT MUSIC LIKE THIS ONLY CAME OUT OF CANADA, WELL WHATEVER SELLS, GO LUCK TO THEM, AND TO PUTTING THE SOUTH ON THE MAP.

I HAVE TO REPRESENT FOR MY HOME TOWN, & MY STATE.

Love it
1.Starless- Great song to open with, its crazy weird but I love it. 5/5
2.Cold- Love this song its what got me to listen to the band in the first place. 5/5
3.So Far Away- Its a good song, I like how it opens, just a good song to listen too. 4.5/5
4.Colors- They have it as a hit on the Cd cover? Well really its good but I happen to Think starless and So Far Away are better. 4.3/5
5.Death Trend Setta- Well its ok, little rap sound sometimes, when hes singing, I happen to like it a little. 3.5/5 Weakess song, Little different.
6.The Deep End- Now I happen to think this a great song, like the song of the insturments and the overall voice of the band.. 4.4/5
7.No GIving Up- Reminds me of Pod when they did satellite-start of it, Good song. 4/5
8.Dead Skin- Like the over all song, love the lyrics kind of hint of dark... 4.8/5
9.Disco- This is another song that was like what the?? Kind of speed, like hes raping but notreally trying. Its ok but not what I thought would have been on this cd... 4/5
10.The Unknown- This is one of the best songs on the cd, great way to end the cd with this song, I listen to it every time i need to get past the disco song, haha which is why i like this song, Its slow and Cool sounding, with a taste of dark... 5/5

Great cd...for a re-release...
This cd was ACTUALLY created 3 or 4 years ago. Crossfade used to be a different band and had to change their name when they signed to a record deal. Columbia decided to bring them into the studio and have them do all the tracks on their self-produced cd. So in actuality these songs were all done when some of the bands mentioned in the previous reviews were just blowing up...so give it some slack. The songs are well written and I love every song on the cd. They left some good songs off the re-release, but hey...maybe we'll see them next cd. Crossfade is an energetic and hard working band and deserve EVERY penny they get. Don't think these guys sit around. They tour and play as much as they can and I'm sure the year and a half it took to get signed and throw out a cd for us was stressful. AMAZING cd.

One Killer Song To Be Remembered
"Cold" off of this new albumn is the absolute epitome of greatness. The lyrics are the best and the song itself just takes the listener to another world. To Chase-maybe you should listen to see if this reminds you of yourself...
Crossfade may not be the highest ranked group yet, but with more hits like this they are sure to kick ass!!
Before long they will contend with Staind, Cold, Nickelback, and Shinedown. Great CD!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Take one part Ramones, one part Buzzcocks, and one part Husker Du, and you've got the basic foundation of Green Day, a punky, witty, melodic San Francisco Bay area trio who became overnight stars in 1994 when this album, their third overall release and major label debut, catapulted them to the top of the pop charts. Led by guitarist/vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong and their secret weapon, powerhouse drummer Tre Cool, Green Day put '70s and '80s punk in a compact '90s package with songs like "Longview," "Basket Case," "Pulling Teeth," and the hit semi-ballad, "When I Come Around." One the few modern alternative rock bands with a bona fide sense of humor. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (376)

A review of the brilliant Dookie (Green Day) by Daniel Bland
The album starts with the wonderful 'Burnout', which has a certain energy about it which makes you want to play it over and over again. 'Having a blast', has an addictive drum beat, and Billie Joe's punky voice adds that special touch. Billie Joe's lyrics are very modest in the 3rd song, 'chump', and towards the end there is a wonderful piece of music, without singing, which I love. 'Longview' has a lovely variety, with the majority of it being slow, and a great heavier chorus. 'Welcome to paradise's'brilliant chord structure possibly makes it the best track on the album. 'Pulling teeth', a slower song, but still, a superb song. Then, 'Basket case' and 'She', two similar songs - slow,fast,slow,fast. Theses songs will leave you speechless, at least until you come to 'Sassafras Roots'. Although, slightly repetitive, the parts which are repeated are excellent. On to 'When I come aroun', maybe their most famous song, maybe my favourite. Again, a slower song, ! but still, it will stick in your mind. Number 11, 'Coming clean'. A song which I found rather boring. After listening to the album a couple of times, you will skip this song and move straight on to 'Emenius sleepus'. Billie Joe, again his voice is brilliant, he's feeling sick and he wants to go home. But he'll have to wait, 2 songs left. 'In the end'. Another great song, with a supreme drum beat near the end. The last song, 'F.O.D.' The first 1 and a half minutes are very slow, and light, and then, an explosion. The music errupts. Something which has to be played at full volume. A bonus track, at the end of 'F.O.D' is 'All by myself'. Funny 6the first time, but something which is not worth waitng for. All in all a great album, and something which should not be missed

"Possibly the most influential album of its time"
In the start of a decade that looked to be filled with dance and rap as the dominating genres of that era, there was a shining glimmer of hope for fan of rock. The now legendary band from Berkeley, Green Day, released quite possibly the most influential album of its time, as it has triggered the start of many other bands in the area (Blink 182, No Use For A Name, etc.). In their release of this cd, they began their journey in the rock world, and in effective fashion:

ANALYSIS OF TRACK LISTING:
1. Burnout: 4.5/5-a fast paced, distorted guitar-blaring anthem that showed how people didn't grow up, but rather just burnout out.... A great start to the album with a great drum part in the bridge

2. Having a Blast: 4/5-possibly one of their most controversial songs (next to Platypus, on nimrod), it is a song about a person who is going to kill everyone in their path.... a very catchy song

3. Chump: 4.5/5-One of the un-appreciated tracks of this cd, Chump is about hating a specific person, though you've never even see them.... the instrumental in this is very good

4. Longview: 4/5-The original and only tribute to masturbation to date (at least to my knowledge).... despite it's widespread appeal, you may grow tired of this song, due to its excessive air time on the radio.... the bass part in this song is quite good as well

5. Welcome to Paradise: 4.5/5-A re-release track from their Lookout! Records release, kerplunk!, this track is about a young man who ventures away from home and eventually finds himself in paradise.... one of the best bass solo's i have ever heard

6. Pulling Teeth: 3.5/5-A slower-paced song, highlighting a true event of being busted up by the one you love (Mike Dirnt had both of his elbows broken while having a pillow fight with his wife Anastacia).... good, but a little bit too slow for my taste

7. Basket Case: 5/5-Quite possibly one of the best songs of all time, this song focuses on the mental instability of a single person and his ventures to find sanity.... A MUST LISTEN!!

8. She: 4.5/5-another great song, following up Basket Case.... it is mainly a reflective song giving advice to a girl that the person loves.... to stop yelling at them before they go insane..... Dirnt shows his talent with another great bass intro

9. Sassafras Roots: 4/5-a repetitive song that ventures the question "May I waste your time too....?" the lyrics will catch on, and don't be surprised if you end up singing it after hearing it a few times

10. When I Come Around: 4/5-a solid song, possibly their most well-known song on this album.... it is about getting somewhere that you need to be, and the one that matters knowing where to find you.... has a good guitar solo, and a solid bass and drum line

11. Coming Clean: 4.5/5-a better song than When I Come Around, it is a great increase of the pace that was held back by the previous track.... it is mainly about a person "coming clean" about being of an alternate sexual orientation.... a fun, quick and to the point song

12. Emenius Sleepus: 4.5/5-A continuation from the previous song, Billie Joe now sings how he's sick and wants to go home, since he doesn't know his friend at all anymore.... a VERY good song, as it keeps the pace of the album up as it comes begins to come to a close.....

13. In The End: 4/5-the second to last song, it provides a clear message: not liking what you see in the future and hoping that you're not dead when somethin important comes around.... it has a solid bridge yet again, and brings us into the final "official" track of the disc......

14. F.O.D. 4.5/5-the final track of the CD, it is a mellow beginning, but then a loud and very clear anthem.... it mainly just says how the person wants everyone to F.O.D., which if you listen to the song, you will figure out what it means.....

Hidden Track: All By Myself 3.5/5-a very funny track that the guys recorded while they were high in one of their friends basements.... funny, but it won't be worth the wait for much more than two times

really cool; good for any fan
Really awsome for any Green Day fan, but if you're not, step away. I, being a HUGE Green Day fan, think that you'll LOVE most of these songs, I recomend "Pulling Teeth","Basket Case", "Longveiw" and "Welcome to Paradise". The only song on this CD I don't LOVE is "Coming Clean", not really interesting. All really strict parents who hate cuss words as small as "crap", this is a bad CD for your kids.

The one that started it all...
the downfall of real/street punk, that is. This is when Green Day "sold out", but they were never realy punk, they and their friends at clubs had a skewed version of what punk is. They think it is about spreading peace or some sissy stuff like that, and it is not, Anarchy is the opposite of peace, it is unadulterated freedom, real, true, freedom to do whatever you want. And punk music should be noisey and aggressive. This is one of those bands(the leader, in fact) that made people think this poppy crap is punk, and almost completely killed real punk rock. If it wasn't for bands like the Casualties, punk would truely be dead, but it isn't dead, and won't die. Punk is back and it's here to stay! I HATE GREEN DAY, BUT AT LEAST THAT SISSY SONG ISN'T ON THIS!

Not Bad
Fun lightweight pop-punk. Nothing terribly interesting or in any way groundbreaking, but not horrible either. I'd burn a copy, no way would I pay for it. To call these guys punk is ridiculous. They're very mainstream in terms of attitude and desire for acceptance. If these guys had showed up at a Black Flag concert back in the day they would have had their arms and legs ripped off and thrown in a pile. This is safe enough for your 13 year old daughter and makes for a pleasant listen when driving your kids to and from soccer practice. ... 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

Amazon.com

Her intensely personal lyrics grabbed the headlines, but the bravest departure here is the way Morissette's unique vocals stand naked in the mix--a technique that drives home the painful honesty of tracks like "Right Through You," "Forgiven," and "All I Really Want."Sheryl Crow or an earthier Tori Amos are fair analogies, but Morissette is a genuine original with a rare ability to make listeners care, think, and question.--Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (403)

Amazing truth and variety of emotions bring Morissette alive
A few months ago I had never really heard mush of Alanis, except for 'Head Over Feet,''Ironic,' and I danced the Rumba to 'Thank U.' The songs were okay, but when asked to speak of great music artist, she was not even in my top twenty. Then my friend Ali gave me 'Jagged Little Pill' as a gift. I have never been so surprised by an album, nor have listened to it as much in so short a time. The power of her lyrics and the variety of beats seem to speak right to a person, and aren't at all superficial.

'Perfect,' my all-time favorite, is heart-wrenching the the fact that it is true in so many places, but is then followed by 'Hand in My Pocket,' showing that though seh will go through things it doesn't seem she can handle, she can come out on top. 'Forgiven' is a torn and tattered ballad that seems to sear you within with it's pathetic cries, and 'Mary Jane' will be one that thousands of people can understand, either in 1st or 3rd person.

Her sassy and angry music are great at times, and show that she isn't all whiny ballads and 'hurting,' that she can kick someone's butt if need be. But the one that shows the most soul is the hidden track at the end, which she does acapella. If you want to know Morisette, listen to that.

With feeling
The '90s was a decade marked by good CDs from many female rockers, such as Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant, and Sarah McLachlan, but Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill is clearly one of the stickouts. Moreover, among well-known '90s CDs, only Nirvana's Nevermind and Pearl Jam's Ten compare to "Pill" in intensity. But Alanis's songwriting is more consistent track for track than Kurt Cobain's or Eddie Vedder's. On this album, her introspective lyrics and riveting vocals are complemente