Amazon.com

Four CD's and nearly ten years into their career, System of a Down continue to be the Gilbert and Sullivan of this generation, delivering razor-sharp political commentary via beautiful, quirky melodies and discordant harmonies.

The group has mastered the ability to be both successful and subversive--with 2001's Toxicity selling over six million copies and debuting at number one on the Billboard charts, their success in indisputable. As far are their subversive-ness, the lyrical content on Mezmerize is a solid stream of anti-war, anti-corporate and anti-celebrity sentiment. The disc's first single proves as beautifully schizophrenic as anything the band has released. "B.Y.O.B." opens with guitarist Daron Malakian's rapid-fire riff, then frontman Serj Tankian's anti-war screams of "Why do they always send the poor?"; less than a minute later, a nearly-surreal jump to a facetiously perky, beach party chorus that could easily be found on a Britney or Justin record: "Everybody's going to the party/have a real good time." Guitarist/co-songwriter Malakian takes increased vocal time on the disc, including the hilarious, size-obsessed "Cigaro" and celeb-slapping "Radio/Video". Witticism aside, musical and lyrical intensity peaks with the operatic "Question!" and the emotional piledriver that is "Sad Statue", the group¹s unflinching statement on war and Lady Liberty.

The only shortcoming of Mezmerize is, quite simply, that it is short. Clocking in at a mere 38 minutes, the reason given is that this release is one-half of a two CD set--with part 2, Hypnotize, expected in late fall 2005. --Denise Sheppard ... Read more

Reviews (283)

A new breath freshair for rock
If your die hard S.O.A.D. and you haven't still bought this album you should. If your not still you should sample this ablum. All of these disappoinmtent groups out their that they get loads of air time and play time on m.t.v. or v.h.1. This album will diffently prove the fact that S.O.A.D. will remain strong for many more years to come. Majority of the album is fast paced and like their debut album back in 1998. Also it's refrefshing because it sounds different from thier previuos ablums. Their isn't one bad track on this album.

BEST YET
This is the best S-O-A-D CD, It will match or even top Toxicity's sucess. This CD brings out S-O-A-D's true Metal Roots
with lots of speed rifs and great singing by both Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian. Daron Has alot more air time in this CD than in the other ones. A MUST HAVE S-O-A-D CD~!

GET MEZMERIZED!
I picked up this CD to Listen to BYOB a few times then give it to My G/F I put it in My CD Player and let it run all the way Thru and found myself enjoying every track on this Rock Masterpiece
I Always liked SOAD But, I didn't realize how Great They are 'till after listening to this CD
Producer Rick Rubin once again does his magic
SOAD is alot like Rage Against The Machine, 2PAC & Public Enemy They make this sound which isAngry,Dark,Untrusting,makes you question things and at the same time the music is Beautiful and has some of Hope!
The Boys of Metallica could learn a Thing or Two from listeing to this CD maybe how to Play Super-Fast again!

My Fav. Tracks are:
2. B.Y.O.B.
7. Violent Pornography
8. Question!
9. Sad Statue
10. Old School Hollywood
11. Lost in Hollywood(This could be called to slow and melo by some But, it's a awesome way to end this Album)

If you are a Fan of Toby Keith and "His American Take on Living" you'll Ears will Bleed and you'll hate this Album......
For everyone else looking to Hear something Different and Very Special check out this must have CD
My only problem with this Album is it's Short

Open Your Eyes and Free Your Mind
Check it Out -10/10

"And we don't live in a fascist nation..."
Finally, System of a Down is back and this really is a mezmerizing album. Still political and strong. I'm glad they haven't changed their style trying to be like all the "new rockers" in the scene and they just stick to their own thing.

They also add some Armenian melodies in their songs which are very pretty. (And no, I'm not saying that only because I'm Armenian) It adds difference from what you normally hear in the Rock genre. I can't wait until Hypnotize hits stores!


And may I point out in a different review, this person quoted a line from B.Y.O.B. saying:

"And we live in a fascist nation"

And decided to define fascism. No thanks Webster, we don't need a definition. Get your lines straight...If you listen (and maybe read the lyrics) he says

"And we DON'T live in a fascist nation"


So use YOUR head, idiot.

5 stars for music, -3 for the politics
SOAD stands head and shoulders above the rest of the nu-metal tripe out there, fusing disparate elements and making it flow, instead a contrived jagginess that is packaged oh-so-often with experimentalish music. No one can deny this, even if you find them unlistenable. Facts are facts.

However, their ignorance of basic political theory (common to liberal talking heads and a few emotional, uneducated conservatives) absolutely kills it. I don't mind that they believe xyz, it's just that their so upfront about it. It increases their stupidity exponentially. It's the same old song and dance from celebrities who are completely out of touch with governments work.

In BYOB, Serj offers this gem repeatedly:

"Why don't presidents fight the war?"

Wow. Ignorance!

The other notably oblivious line is:
"We live in a fascist nation!"

No. USA IS NOT A FASCIST NATION, SIR. Here's the definition of "fascism":

"A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
Oppressive, dictatorial control."

This does not describe the US at all. Fascist nations do no have a codified freedom of speech. Past fascist leaders include: Mussolini, Stalin, Pol Pot, Hitler, and our favorite: Hussein. this is Poli Sci 101 and so obvious, I'm ashamed to even point it out. Where were their songs when Clinton ordered the disaster calld Bosnia? Were we fascist then or not? They don't know what they're talking about.

Use your heads, idiots! ... 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

Nick Oliveri may have departed, taking his naked bass playing skills with him, but Queens of the Stone Age remains in good hands with co-founder Josh Homme. Putting extracurricular projects like Eagles of Death Metal and the Desert Sessions briefly on hold, the restless front man keeps things dependably loud and sludgy on the group's third album. Monster riffs, choppy rhythms, explosive melodies, and, yes, even a generous serving of cowbell, propel standout songs like "Medication" and "Little Sister" on the follow-up to 2002's breakthrough Songs for the Deaf. Friends also lend a hand. ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons shreds through the reverberating "Burn The Witch," while Garbage's Shirley Manson and the Distillers' Brody Dalle join Homme for a tantalizing threesome on "You Got A Killer Scene." -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (121)

Great album
So far, this is probably my favorite album of 2005.I first got into Queens of the Stone Age with Songs for the Deaf, which is one of the best hard rock albums of the past few years.Of course, the biggest change since then has been departure of Nick Oliveri, which leaves Nick Homme as the sole center of the band.By and large, he does a good job of keeping the flame, even if there's nothing on Lullabies to Paralyze that quite matches the blistering energy of "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar" or "Six Shooter."Instead, songs like "Tangled Up in Plaid" and "In My Head" take their cues from "No One Knows" and "Go With the Flow," while Mark Lanegan contributes the haunting opener.Homme is less successful when he tries to recapture some of the more manic material Oliveri was known for; "Burn the Witch" is excellent, but "Someone's in the Wolf" seems to run on too long and the two tracks that follow it aren't particularly memorable.On the whole Homme's forays into pop ("I Never Came") and funk ("You've Got a Killer Scene") work very well, which should come as a relief to those concerned about the future of the Queens after Oliveri's departure.Highly recommended.

Their best yet
The first time I listened to "Lullabies" was on an 11-hour flight to London so I had plenty of time to relax and let the music sink in.After my first listen, I couldn't believe what I had heard.The album seemed so boring and slow.After so much excitement from hearing Little Sister, I was incredibly disappointed.Yet I wanted to give it another shot.So I did, and I ended up listening to the album at least 15 times during my one week stay in Oxford.

It's now my favorite QOTSA album.I used to think Rated R was their best, because it had the most diversity but I just think Lullabies is a more cohesive album, and a creepy one at that.It definitely has a grotesque, nightmarish quality to it.I really can't get enough of it.I was too quick to write it off, but it gets better with each listen.Favorite song: The Blood Is Love.

For the full experience, listen to it in the darkest room you can find with a good pair of headphones.Mind blowing.

Good, not great.
Josh is going it alone now. You can't compare it to "songs for the deaf." This cd doesn't blow your doors off right away, but after a couple of listens, it will grow on you. I like the mellow stuff. At least Josh keeps doing something alittle different but still rocks. It's a good listen.

HORRIBLE!!!!
I hate this album! I ended up giving it away it sucked so much! the only DECENT song is Little Sister, and that gets old fast!

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, KINGS OF THE ROCK AGE
This is easily one of the best CDs I've heard this year(possibly this millennium). Josh Homme creates a world of children's fairytails haunted by nightmares better than anyone since obvious influences Black Sabbath.Nick Oliveri may be Stone Age history, but this album comes across as the most consistant of all QOTSA.It is not as heavy as SONGS FOR THE DEAF without Dave Grohl's pounding drums, but the phsycadelic trip guides your emotions with great melodies, catchy riffs and tripped out sounds like cowbells and the annoying beeping of a phone left off the hook that blends perfectly.

(...) ... 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 (745)

Do you really want to think and stop?
Is the sophomore effort by SOAD as good as their eponymous debut? Absolutely! As a matter of fact, it bests the first album in just about every way. The songs are strong, melodic and fierce, and the instrumentation is much improved. Every song on this disc is good to great, with prison song, needles, chop suey, science, toxicity, psycho and the immense aerials leading the way. The songs are so good simply because they are a breath of fresh air at a time when conformity and sameness permeate the music business. From the alternating crunch/beauty of Chop suey, toxicity and aerials, to the sheer variety of sounds they ... coax out of their instruments (sounds like Daron Malakian is playing a mandolin on Chop Suey), these songs sound like no other. In addition, Serj's voice is an additional instrument as he seems to have several different styles (from deep-throated growl to pleading wail; the only other hard rock vocalist with a range like Serj is Glenn Danzig). Anyway, do yourself a favor a pick up a copy of this CD (the bonus CD stuff is cool too)and enjoy some flashlight reveries caught in the headlights of a truck.

Paul M

I WANT TO BUY AN ISLAND AND DICTATE IT
After hearing Chop Suey I had to get this cd. As soon as I heard the first song, Prison Song, I knew I would love this cd. (I could rant for hours and hours about the drug war and the current ridiculous drug policy but "Prison Song" pretty much sums it up). Other very good songs are Forest, ATWA, Deer Dance, and Toxicity, but those are just my personal favorites-all the songs are good. There's little filler on this cd, if any. System is kind of different and not everyone will like them, but people who decide to give them one star should at least have enough musical knoweledge and intelligence not to compare System and Drowning Pool. They have different styles, System's being far superior, much more unique, interesting, and talented than Drowning Pool's (who should be classified under unoriginal, untalented, headache-inducing, Korn clone *expletive*-(censored courtesy of Amazon.com). This is completely random, but speaking of censoring isn't it great when Mtv shows some video that has fairly explicit and graphic scenes and then they go and beep out the "s word". Well anyway, to sum up all the points in my random useless review I think the drug policy in the U.S. is idiotic, Drowning Pool sucks, I don't like censorship, and the System cd is awesome and everyone should go buy it.

corgancobainmalakian is a dipsh*t!!
corgancobrainmalakian, you make me want to vomit!! Zach De La Rocha is a much better singer than Serj Turkian (he's a stupid Turk) will ever be!! So what if RATM isn't around anymore, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath aren't together anymore. I'm glad RATM isn't in Hot Topic, its a sign that they're too good for that. Daron Malakian is a terrible song writer and guitarist. Soil's guitar solo was NOTHING to scream about. 99% of his songs don't make sense. RATM isn't one dimentional, each of their songs sound completely different from the rest. SOAD is a hypocritical no-talent new-metal (not nu) band, get that through your empty head you ass-raming chode!! If you're from England and if Amazon has a British website, go to that one you retard!! Stay in your own website!! I hate you and I hate any band who's main influences are Slayer and Cannibal Corpse. Go listen to the kids in my school, ha!! All the kids in my school are retarted, they listen to rap, or the rock kids listen to pop-punk emo crap like Simple Plan and Dashboard Confessional. The metal kids listen to Korn and SOAD. I hang around the classic rock kids. They can actually sort out good and bad music (something you can't do). Another reason SOAD sucks is because they're in favor of religion over science, why don't these guy might as well say creationism is more factual than evolution!! Face it corgancobrainblahblahblah, RATM was, is, and always will be better than SOAD. If you don't like the truth, suicide is your answer.

SOAD ROCKS THE ALL TIME MAX DUDE!!!
The System has been my favorite band since I first heard their music, Toxicity is the best of all 3 albums I love the songs Toxicity and Chop suey If you are a true rock fan you will listen to this Kick @$$ CD!!!

KarlMarxEmilioZapata is a retard!
Karl Marx you (...), how dare you slag off the legends that are System of a Down? And you say they rip off RATM? Don't make me laugh you goon, RATM had some cool guitar work but apart from that they were 1 dimensional, every song sounds the same and Zach De La Rocha's nasally rapping gets old. Serj Tankian on the other hand has the best voice in rock, I'd like to see Zack De La Blah Blah try & sing the harmonies to "Aerials", haha yeah right. I don't care if SOAD are in Hot Topic you nut licker, RATM aren't in Hot Topic because they split up 4 years ago you dork, otherwise they would be too.

Now on to Toxicity. The best tracks are: Aerials, Chop Suey!, ATWA & Needles. Daron Malakian is the best song writer in music, he is the most important figure in music since Kurt Cobain, SOAD are GODS!!! If you think Malakian can't play listen to the solos on "Soil" from their debut album.

Buy this album and Karl Marx, go listen to your New Kids on the Block CD's! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Considered the breakthrough album that delivered a more palatable version of industrial music to the commercial audience, Pretty Hate Machine left its dingy mark on pop culture. The abrasive "sonarchy" of the album was first churned by despondent club-goers who roiled with the rhythms and aligned with the angst-ridden convictions. Since its release, the album's tempered deviations came to signify an aesthetic reverie for machine-driven martyrdom. Permeated by hissing engines and dissonant strains, the tracks cascade outside channels of modern complacency. Hits like "Head Like a Hole" and "Down in It" are recognized by the acidic beats, piercing riffs, and lyrical hostilities which snare the listener with disparaging rhapsody. Not for the light-headed, Pretty Hate Machine afflicts the inner sanctum and strikes a nerve. --Lucas Hilbert ... Read more

Reviews (279)

Once upon a time, there was a man named Trent Reznor........
That's what I'll be saying to my grandkids in the future, when Nine Inch nails is firmly set as a music phenomenon and Trent Reznor is a legend everywhere you go. This album is the first of the group, and the album that really brought industrial music into the eyes of the world. It would definitely be safe to say that NIN is not only an industrial band, it is THE industrial band. Trent Reznor is a musical genius, and this album proves it. The songs are eerie and electronic, very powerful in a slow, forboding sort of way. The best song on this album is the first, Head Like a Hole. Terrible Lie follows, another masterpiece, and soon your mind is set that Nine Inch nails are no disposable trash. Alot of great, dark bands have come along recently. Marilyn Manson, KoRn, Cradle of Filth, but Trent Reznor will always hold a special place in my heart.

Black As Your Soul
Nine Inch Nails' incredible debut album Pretty Hate Machine is a personal favourite of mine and one of the most consistently good albums I have ever listened to. Each and every track is of a Grade-A standard and the album contains essential NIN tracks such as "Head Like A Hole", "Terrible Lie", "Down In It" and "Sin", but really, they're all essential. The opening track and alternative radio hit "Head Like A Hole" is a classic example of great industrial rock, with it's thrashy guitar and gloomy synthesizers, though it's not really indicative of the rest of the album. In fact, unlike subsequent releases, there is very little guitar at all on this album. Trent Reznor utilizes walls of synthesizers and electronic noise to generate a stark and bleak sound. Overall, the album is more accessable than other Nine Inch Nails albums but still dark and caustic, despite having catchy melodies. Lyrically Trent Reznor tackles such subject matter as betrayal, disillusionment and loss of identity. All the good stuff. Pretty Hate Machine is a marvel, and (dare I say it?) a work of genious. A true classic.

freekin excellent
by far the best nine inch nails album ever. I remember buying this from the local record store on vinyl back in 89. My mind spun watching the blue and pink decals twist on the turn table forming this wierd filament of psychodelic colors; WAY cool!. Despite this being an 80s album, this music would still be considered hot today. This record has so much variety in the techno/ industrial genres let alone Reznors other albums. This one is unique and a must have for all nine inch nail fans.

Yummy
Seems like I get to everything late in the game, but better late than never, eh? I thoroughly enjoyed the entire disc, finding nothing to skip over every time I listened. Favorite tracks were "Down in it" and "Kinda I want to." "Something I Can Never Have" struck a cord. PRETTY HATE MACHINE hit a good two weeks on my "sit-and-spin-in-my-player" ranking. Two weeks of good, solid listening. I found what little profanity there was appropriate and not enough to make me roll my eyes.

this cd never cools off!
Ok you know how when after you finish playing a CD, when you take it out, its warm? This CD has not cooled off since i got it 2 days ago. I probbally listend to it like 50 times in 2 days. I'm obsessed with it, as soon as it finishes playing, i hit play again. Most of the time, im not really listening to it, but it makes great back ground music. It's also awesome if your "actually paying attention" to the CD. I definatly recomend this CD. If you wana get to know nine inch nails, get this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Linkin Park’s second studio effort (not counting the 2002 remix album Reanimation) overflows with glossy production values and Big Rock oomph, fully embracing the pop instincts of their Hybrid Theory debut. For many, Theory sounded inexcusably corporate, from its too-timely rap-rock sound to the long list of product endorsements included in the liner notes. Meteora will only amplify those complaints, but this album is actually truer to the band’s nature. It’s still impossible not to hear strains of Limp Bizkit, Korn, Rage Against the Machine, and the like. None of those acts, howeve, would try something as blatantly anthemic as "Easier to Run," which would sound fine to a Def Leppard fan, or as borderline danceable as "Breaking the Habit" and "Session." Linkin Park is what Trent Reznor was always afraid of becoming, but if you ever wished he would drop the pretenses and just make a hair-metal record, you'll find Meteora to your liking. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (1215)

Excellent Job for Linkin Park!!!
This cd is AMAZING! Here, the rates to its tracks:

01.Foreword: A start where the members of the band express themselves and describes this perfect cd. (NO RATE)
02.Don't stay: A song which gives you a model of this cd in which Linkin Park features Rap, Heavy Metal & Rock. Very Good Song! 8/10
03.Somewhere I belong: This is their first single and once I heard to it I became a SUPERFAN of Linkin Park. Amazing song but not the best one. 9.5/10
04.Lying from you: Chirriuping screams! The sounds in this songs are fantastic! I like this song more than "Don't stay". 8.5/10
05.Hit the floor: Not so good as the rest of the songs in this album. I believe this is the least well-done song. 7/10
06.Easier to run: EXCELLENT song! It's similar to "Crawling" in Hybrid Theory, but with less screams. Well-done indeed! 10/10
07.Faint: Second single and OUTSTANDING! The bridge is something incredible! The chorus is amazing and the music, too! EXCELLENT SONG! THE BEST IN THIS ALBUM! 10+++/10
08.Figure.09: An excellent song, too. The intro is similar to "Don't stay", however this song is the second best one in this album. I adore it! 10/10
09.Breaking the habit: Rapid song, i particularly love the verse 3 where Chester sings with a variety of background sounds that give a mysterious climate to the song. Fantastic song! Very Good! 9.5/10
10.From the inside: Very Good song with a lot of screams in the bridge. Very well-done indeed! 9/10
11.Nobody's listening: This song is very different from the others 'cos it has a Rap style which in other songs it isn't very remarked as in this one. The tubes sounds give a tropical climate to the song. Excellent song!!! 10/10
12.Session: It's like a moment to relax. No vocals.... only music. 8/10
13.Numb: The third best song in this CD! EXCELLENT AS OUTSTANDING!!! It's the third single in this CD; the first is "Somewhere I belong", and the second one is "Faint". "Numb" is the third one. 10/10

Excellent work for Linkin Park. Congrats to all of U 'cause U surprised us once more with an outstanding album which is "METEORA".

Somebody's Listening...
You have to give Linkin Park due credit: their lyrics are exceptional, their creative talent easily makes up for their lack of technical music proficiency, and their sophomore album, Meteora, cleverly echoes their platinum debut Hybrid Theory without ever feeling like a cheap imitation.
After the brief and mildly interesting introduction, Meteora kicks off with 'Don't Stay,' which sounds like the harder, darker prodigy of Hybrid Theory's 'One Step Closer.' 'Somewhere I Belong' is distinctly similar to 'In The End,' 'Numb' follows suit with 'Pushing Me Away,' 'Session' is a far better instrumental number than 'Cure For The Itch,' and 'Easier To Run' sounds like a cross between 'Crawling' and 'My December.' This comparison in essence sums up Meteora, which is essentially HT, Reanimation and a little bit of Evanescence's Fallen sliced up and served on a turntable. The overall sound is slicker, darker, more complex and mature, and lends itself well to the fact that this is their second album. Linkin Park also branches out a bit more this time around, taking a page from Reanimation, which cleverly escapes HT's flaw of every song sounding almost exactly the same; 'Breaking The Habit' and 'Nobody's Listening' are quite different than anything on HT. A bit more variety would have been dangerous, but possibly would have made Meteora truly magnificent.
"In the end," (Sorry, I had to...) Meteora's tragic flaw is identical to that of Hybrid Theory: it's simply too short. At 36:35, it simply ends too quickly for a full-budget album. This is undoubtedly to make the CD radio friendly, but a bit less commercialization and a bit more music would have been nice. As it stands, Meteora is far from a dud, and is actually a great album. A bit more substance would have made it legendary, but it's moments of brilliance, though few and a bit too far in between, certainly make it worthy of the Linkin Park name and the status symbol that is Hybrid Theory.

Can't Get Enough!!
I absolutely love this CD. I listen to it over and over again whenever I get the opportunity-even at school! These songs are what get me through the day. My favorites are "Hit the Floor" and "Lying from You". Besides the great songs, the CD also has cool extras that you can get by putting it into your computer.

Awesome!!!!
This is an awesome cd! Hybrid Theory was good too, but LP brought it to the next level with Meteora. I won't go through the whole cd but some of my favorite songs were, Breaking the Habit, Faint, Numb, Easier to Run,and Nobody's Listening. There is definite hope for their next album. I think that it will be even better! LP rocks!!!

One of My favourite CDs
I love anything punk or alternative, and i live for this CD! It's on of my favourite CDs from any artist. The lyrics and music are amazing and its definatly, in my opinon, the best CD that they've put out. Even if you dont agree that it's their best, you have to admit that its a great CD and even tho its only like 35 minutes, for those 35 minutes you can lose yourself in some truly amazing music! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Seether's Seething Sophmore Album
Seether's second album, "Karma And Effect" has officially arrived, atfer being put off a bit too long. Around the time they probably should have released the follow-up to 2002's "Disclaimer," they received some late-blooming success, thanks to a re-working of the track "Broken" which featured Evanescence frontwoman (and Seether frontman Shaun Morgan's significant other) Amy Lee on background vocals. Instead of a new album, we got a remixed and repackaged version of "Dislaimer," simply titled "Disclaimer II." Sure, it featured some bonus tracks, but brand new material is what we all wanted, and finally, it has arrived.

Seether seem more than a little annoyed by their success, and as such, haven't altered their sound or style one bit, which unfortunately is a double-edged sword. Regardless, they must be commended for their efforts, as most hard-rock bands that receive success for showing a lighter side tend to soften up in time (we'll forgive Staind however, as their frontman actually found happiness). That's just not the case here. The same group that made "Disclaimer" re-appears on this new album. And yes, I do see the irony in that statement, as there are two new members in the band. All thirteen tracks on "Karma And Effect" sound like they were made just to please Seether's fanbase, and they definitely will. 3/4 of the album is made up of agressive, but infectious, rockers in the same vein as "Gasoline" or "Needles." Sure, there is the catchy radio-fare of "Remedy" and "I'm The One," but other songs, such as the album opener "Because Of Me" and "Burrito" (which apes lyrics from the aformentioned "Needles") will rip up your speakers. For fans of "Driven Under" and "Fine Again," songs like "The Gift," "Never Leave," "Tongue" and "Plastic Man" are perfect successors and are destined to become classics. The main problem, however, with this album is that is just feels too familiar. The stubborn attitude and resistance to change becomes a big problem, as it feels like we are just listening to the same album again. Hell, the album even begins heavy and ends soft, just like it's successor. Some of the riffs are a bit tired, and the lyrical content gets a little redundant as well, as Shaun seems too insistent on taking strikes at the music industry and their record label -- which reportedly instructed him not to swear, to tone down the album cover and change the name, which was originally "Catering To Cowards."

However, with all flaws aside, it's still a solid follow-up, and hopefully it should continue to ride the wave of success that got started last year. Fans of the band would be hard pressed to not find something on here they like, and each of the thirteen tracks could easily be a hit, which is hard to pull off. So the bottom line is, if you liked "Disclaimer" and are hungry for more, "Karma And Effect" will satisfy your appetite.

No sophomore jinx here!
Not to put a ki-bosh on the band, but this is just a superb follow-up effort to a great initial recording. Unlike DISCLAIMER, the band has cleaned up its vocabulary to meet modern right-wing corporate sensibilities, and the resulting effort is MUCH more focused as well. Seether breathes soul and meaning into modern adolescent (and otherwise!) angst.These guys are a breath of pure oxygen after listening to the daily grind of politics and business as usual, never mind the mindless pop-radio crap that passes for "music" coming from the mainstream, sycophant, conservative press.Seether too negative?Is that even be possible given the current state of world affairs?I assert that perhaps Seether is merely one of the more RATIONAL (nevermind lyrical) voices currently out there.Seethe me baby!These guys are pure rock (skip straight to #6 and put your amp and speakers on the line) as it was always meant to be!Not a bad track to be heard - a "Repeat All" CD for sure! Tell me #13 "Plastic Man" doesn't rival or exceed The Beatles' "Yesterday" in all respects (I'm 47, I heard the original "power ballad" originally). Buy it, warn the neighbors (better yet, invite them over), listen to it VERY LOUDLY!, and love it!

Good CD
Great follow up! This is an awsome CD. Its good to see a band that keeps rocking on thier sophmore album. unlike Audioslave's new album which went soft.

Awesome
I was afraid to buy this album because I didn't think it would measure up to their last Disclaimer album.Now that I've listened to it a few times, well, I think it's better than Disclaimer and that's saying a lot.Seether is truly a talented band.Buy this album if you liked Disclaimer!

Mediocre At Best
The original Disclaimer had roughly four good songs on the album.The alleged "Remedy" hit which I have never heard of until now is whiny at best.The album lacks a heart and soul, and the lyrics sound like something from the George Lucas love story vault.If you're a fan you'll learn to accept your fate that you've wasted $14.00. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

after one month
I feel you cant really judge an album to you have listened to it for at least a month so that is why im writing the review for this album over again. Some songs which i thought were just ok i think are great now and others still seem a little on the weak side. I have listed the songs again with a new rating for each one after a month of listening.<br /> 1.the clincher:9.5/10<br /> 2.get some:10/10<br /> 3.vitamin R:10/10<br /> 4.still running:9/10<br /> 5.breach birth:8.5/10<br /> 6.panic prone:8/10<br /> 7.another know it all:8.5/10<br /> 8.tug-o-war:7.5/10<br /> 9.to return:7/10<br /> 10.emotional drought:7/10<br /> 11.bend the bracket:5/10<br /> In my opinion the cd does real well during the first 1-7 songs but after that on 8-11 it just didn't seem to have as much energy and creativeness to it. I often find my self turning off the cd player at track #7 in fear of losing my taste of the cd. But i will say even thought the last tracks are downhill i still feel the first ones are so good that if you dont get this cd you are not a true rocker. <br />

good but not great
Well Chevelle is back for another one after Point#1 and Wonder whats next. The previous 2 albums had more solid based songs with catchy choruses, this one is based more on the music than on how the lyrics fit in the songs. Even though lyrics are creative they never really fit into the songs that well. The guiter riffs are awsome once again but the only problem is that the words in the lyrics are repeated too many times and many of them feel too stretched and in the wrong place as if they were a filler. Never the less Chevelle brings another amazing cd to the selves possibly even heavier then Wonder whats next. The songs keep you on the edge of your seat even if they tend to drag on for a while. I have rated the songs to show what i think of them 1.The Clincher:9/10:gives you a sense of the Family System,it starts a little slow but brings a nice finish by the end and displays a new touch of rock from them 2.Get Some:9/10:creepy but cool starting, reminds me of Dont Fake This which is a great song, has interesting break in the middle that has just enough flow to keep it apart of the song 3.Vitamin R:10/10:what can i say this song blew me away, it's a perfect example of a song well done and thought out, i think the rhythm fits it so well it makes it Chevelle's best song 4.Still Running:8/10:didnt need the starting message it just draws away from the song, the song is pretty good overall but seems just like another B class song 5.Breach Birth:9/10:nice beginning gives you momentum to keep interested in whats up next, catchy chorus but is repeated a little to much as if they ran out of lyrics to say 6.Panic Prone:8/10:smells like a follow up to Send The Pain Below except it never really goes anywhere making it half slow and half tempting song trying to amount to something that it cant 7.Another Know It All:8/10:has a nice rock beat to head bang to even though it seems a little dull at times it still has some rage in it 8.Tug-O-War:9/10:the first intro is a little weak but the rest of the song displays a good range of music swings that make you want to listen on 9.To Return:9/10:just listening to the beginning gives you a sense of something good is coming, this is another good example of a song that has a good sense of lyrics that fit well in the song, even though the intermission in the middle of the song is a little off the song is still a fine example of Chevelle 10.Emotional Drought:8/10:once again a nice chorus, if only the song could stay in tacked instead of wondering too far off from it self, besides getting to detoured at the end its perfect and it should do well on the cd 11.Bend The Bracket:2/10:i have no idea what happened here i guess they ran out of fillers and just put an extra track from the messing around files in here, this song sounds like a follow up to One Loney Vister but it has no real structure and and the music rhythm doesnt even go with the lyrics Even though this album slightly disappointed me i highly suggest you buy it, it has plenty of rock on it to keep you listening for hours. ... Read more

Reviews (136)

Ha ha
Limp Bizkit produced a new album. I forgot about them 4 a while then they suddenly came out with this. They got Wes back, which is good, and this album does not dissapoint. Only thing is that there are only 7 songs (??) but i guess the second part (i guess they're comin out with another one)will make up 4 that. I like Limp Bizkit a lot but a lot of people hate them. They're a "Hate 'em or Love 'em" type of band and i happen to be a love em person. Fred Durst does a pretty good job in this album (though he is definitly NOT the best part Wes Borland is). I like this rap-metal type of music though its pretty outdated now. I hope that they make a music video 4 any of their songs on here. No publicity either.
-Remember this is My opinionLil Slim

rubbish
Just more proof that a big chuck of modern rock is just
for nerds and teenage high school outcasts. It doesn't
get anymore patheic than Fred Durst. He is supposed to
be a rock star, but the loser can't even get any chick
he wants.

the unquestionable truth...limp bizcit sucks
Come on people, its time to quit kidding yourselves. The results are in; 37,000 copies sold the first week (ouch!). I respect you guys for being so loyal to these guys for so long, but its time to 'sober up'. Limp Bizkit was never good. In fact, they may be the worst band that ever lived. Their first hit song was a cover tune, that should tell you all you need to know. All of their 'original' songs are just old catch-phrases turned into cheesy, generic sing-along garbage. Seriously, even you die-hard Durst fans have to admit that his "rap" with Method Man was one of the most laughable moments in music history.

So now they have released a new record... and SUPRISE! It's a political statement record. Haven't seen that one before! I can see Fred Durst in a board room right now: "well, it got Green Day back on the map... maybe Limp should try it too".Nice try Fred, but you're the last person anyone's gonna seek for political guidance. You're the guy that is best known for lying about sleeping with famous women and leaking a sex tape & then going to every news outlet that will still listen to you & saying it was stolen. You should have asked around about the idea of releasing a cheesy political album, & maybe someone would have clued you in that the formula fails way more often than not. Madonna failed at it, Ministry failed at it, and now Limp Bizkit has failed miserably at it. I think even Justin Guarini's album sold more than yours.

So please, do the world a favor & take the hint. Please go away. Just enjoy your millions & leave us in peace.



by the way, to see fred's amazing guitarmanship, look for the "fred shred" video floating around the internet.it's an instant classic.

Much harder!
First off, for those people who keep comparing the new Limp Bizkit sound to Rage Against the Machine are off their rockers!Although this is one of Limp's harder albums, I just don't see them as having the same sound as Rage.This album is closer to metal than to anything that they, or Rage have done before.

I like this album for the sole reason that it is very un-Limp Bizkit like - it's much harder, and not as "poppy".For the price, it's a decent buy, and as a person who is not the biggest of Limp Bikit fans, I certainly enjoyed it!

Great but needs more
I think the new album is great but it needs more than just 7 songs.I am glad that Wes Boreland is back and they returned to their old form.Looking Forward for more. ... Read more

Album Description

Originally released in 1994, Trent Reznor created THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL as both a concept album and modern day classic. This influential 90’s classic is Trent Reznor’s industrial cum-tragic opera view of the world and the soul’s sonically detailed fall from grace. The Downward Spiral delves into despair and anger with hard guitars and brutal beats.

DUAL DISC VERSION (CD & DVD on one disc)

CD SIDE: Includes entire album in Re-Mastered CD Stereo

DVD SIDE: * Video in surround sound and Stereo of "Closer" * Videos of "March of the Pigs" and "Hurt" * Entire album in Stereo and Advanced Resolution Surround Sound * Entire album in Dolby Digital Surround Sound and Stereo * Image Gallery * Complete Discography * Random DVD menus * Surround Sound mixes by Trent Reznor ... Read more

Amazon.com

It may be too cynical to assume Hybrid Theory changed its name to Linkin Park in order to appear right next to Limp Bizkit in your local record bin. But rock-rap workouts like "One Step Closer" and "Papercut" do make Linkin Park a comfortable fit with Fred Durst and his ilk. Producer Don Gilmore (Pearl Jam, Lit, Eve 6) and twin vocal threats Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda serve up industrial-strength rap and rock melodicism with equal aplomb on this woulda-been-self-titled debut effort. "Points of Authority" aims to sound like Trent Reznor wanking it up with Lars and company, whereas guitarist Brad Delson's Edge-y harmonics help "In the End" and "Pushing Me Away" evoke a dark romanticism akin to A Perfect Circle. Curiously, the band gets by with no bass player, while sample-happy DJ Joseph Hahn's step into the spotlight on the instrumental "Cure for the Itch" suggests a potential for eclecticism that could help Linkin Park outlive its seemingly transient genre. --Bill Forman ... Read more

Reviews (1489)

Great producer doesn't mean great group...
Don Gillmore is the brain behind this group, having produced many albums for great and not so great groups, this guy has a lot of creativity and a great vision. Do you really think that the guys at Linkin Park create their own songs, music or style???, let's face it, this group is a perfect "creation" for the new teenagers for the NU-Rock (NU rock???, and I tought grunge was a stupid name...) generation. Mixing HIP-HOP, rap, metal and the angry style of start-stop grunge music (for those too young search the word "Nirvana", "Pixies" please) Linkin Park stands as the most commercial and succesful groups today, maybe just behind Fred Durst and Korn. I don't know why it's called "alternative" music, I mean, this is played everywhere so I assume it must be "POP"... Anyway Linking park is a no brain buy CD, if you are a teen below 21 that's it, the music it's catchy (well, only the song "In the end, the rest I will let you be the judge), it's well played, sometimes overproduced, it's angry, but what really hurts the band is the age of these guys. WHY??? well maybe because they are too good for their own good, while many guys take several years at dad's garage just to play some covers, Linkin park are experts (COME ON!!!). The Rap sections are sub-stardard, when Chester try to shout in pain he just can't deliver the same male-goat-in-agony sound that Cobain delivered, sounds like he's still changing his voice...
I can't say it's a bad band, but they are not great either, maybe time will tell, but for now they are like N'Sync gone metal for teen-males, not original and uninspired, product of a older mind who can manipulate teen groups just for money and fame. Avoid this CD if you are looking for real "alternative music" (because this is too mainstream for me...) and your age surpasses 23. I could give these guys 3 stars but then again, they are trying to pull my leg...

Perfection
Hybrid Theory is probably the only CD I've ever listened to that I fell in love with on the first try. It usually takes me three or four listens to adapt to the band's style before I can determine whether or not I like it. I guess Linkin Park and I were just meant to be. On to the song-by-song review.

1. Papercut (4.5/5) - Great way to start out a strong CD.
2. One Step Closer (4.5/5) - Violent and quick, like a passionate physical attack on your lover.
3. With You (4/5) - I've never been crazy about it, but it's a pretty good song.
4. Points of Authority (4.5./5) - A teen's typical relationship with his or her parent, I suppose.
5. Crawling (5/5) - Linkin Park turns to any and all sounds to make a unique intro, even draining water. Somehow, it seems to fit the tone of this beautiful, powerful song.
6. Runaway (4.5/5) - I like the flow of this song. It's very smooth and natural.
7. By Myself (4/5) - Strange buzzer sound annoyed me at first, but now I'm used to it and can enjoy the rest of the song.
8. In the End (5/5) - Welcome change of pace. Very relaxed, with loud singing but no actual screaming, and a wonderful use of piano that really captures a sense of betrayal.
9. A Place for my Head (4/5) - The beginning of the Forgotten Tracks (no pun intended). Good songs, but not great.
10. Forgotten (4/5) - Not bad, but not particularly memorable.
11. Cure for the Itch (4.5/5) - Nifty little song, this is. Very whimsical and catchy.
12. Pushing Me Away (4/5) - I always thought this sounded like the singer is a Muppet. Don't ask me why. Good song, though.

I wouldn't rate too many CDs a 5, but this easily makes the grade. Any weak tracks are made up for with the perfection of Crawling and In the End. No song here rates lower than a four, and that really is an incredible accomplishment.

Some of the best hybrid music
As some might know, the band was called Hybrid Theory before their commercial breakthrough, and that name gives you a hint of what this band is like.
No, this band is not Heavy Metal. A lot of people are busy complaining that the guys are a disgrace to Heavy Metal, but really, they are not a Heavy band. They use some metal elements (very well, I might add), along with rap and electronica, which is why some like to label them as Nu-metal. This label might be the most accurate, but their sound is unlike most other Nu-metal bands.
They have a knack of creating very catchy songs, which, of course, explains their commercial success.
More, they really are a bunch of talented artists. Chester sings really well, both aggressive and emotional, even though his voice is a bit untraditional and maybe boyish, but he does it well, and it adds to their distinctive sound.
Mike raps with routine, and complements Chester well, while Brad and Phoenix on guitar and bass does the groundwork in most songs, even if they don't give off any flashy solos. Rob is, in my opinion, one of the best drummers out there, and Joe Hahn - well he is on of the elements that adds to LP's distinctive sound. LP wouldn't be the same without his intelligent understanding of scratching and electronica.
The lyrics are well written and the band keep them universal, so they are easy for everyone to relate to.
Some are annoyed by their heavy use of angsty lyrics, and most of them are about alienation, and yes, they may not be very original, but still well written.
Hybrid Theory is one of the few albums in my personal collection where I can listen to all songs at all times without skipping any of them.

Well...
This is the very first album of music I ever bought so it always will have a special place in my heart. The music isn't as good as lets say Tool, Shadows Fall, or Iron Maiden but ehh its good for me for nostalgic purposes. Believe it or not, my fav song is actually number 10: forgotten. Some people are saying its bad but i actually like the rhymes.

Sucks
This sucks! Even if i thought they sounded good (which i don't) They still suck because they don't know how to sing (They yell and "rap", but never sing), they don't know how to play music any better than what i can and ive been playing guitar for only 6 months, and they are nothing special. My friend loves them so much, he thought i was stupid for liking ac/dc, he says "linkin park is WAY better than ac/dc", and im thinkin "does he seriously believe that a crappy "rap/rock" band can be better than one of the best true rock bands?" ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Papa Roach's CD ROCKS!
First of all I just wanna say that Jacoby's voice is awesome in every single song! Here's my ratings for each song: Blood- 10/10 An excellent start for the CD, one of my favorites. Guitar is great in it. Not Listening- 7/10 I personally don't like this song, its kinda annoying to me, but its a good song, but I hate the chorus. Stop Looking/Start Seeing- 10/10 An awesome song, great guitar, and I LOVE the chorus! Take Me- 9/10 Pretty good, it gets easily stuck in your head though, but its a good thing cause its a good song. Getting Away With Murder- 11/10 One of the bests on the CD, Jacoby's voice is great in it and same with the guitar Be Free- 8/10 No comment, just good. Done With You- 8/10 Good song. One of the slower ones.. Scars- 9/10 This song is awesome, one of my favorites. Sometimes- 10/10 A slower song, but rrreeally good! Blanket of Fear- 6/10 I personally did not like this song that much, the chorus just wasnt that catchy. Tyranny of Normality- 11/10 I love this song, good chorus, good beat. Do or Die- 9/10 Good ending to the CD. Great song, too.

GAWM rocks!
GAWM is awesome! Some songs are a little harder than before and some songs are a little slower than before, but they still did a great job. At first, with the slow songs, you might think "What the heck is this?" But once the song starts going, Jacoby doesn't disappoint. The band plays great too. GAWM (#4) the actual song, Scars (#8), Sometimes (#9), and Not Listening (#2) are some of the better songs. It's definately worth buying.

getting away with murder a good thing?
this is the 3rd papa roach album i have bought and it just doesnt get any better then this. GAWM has pure emotion and awsome guitar riffs, the lyrics are unbelievable. the song (Take Me) which is my favorite track had tears welling up in my eyes because i could relate to the song so well. Jacoby's voice has really evolved along with the music and its great to see that the band has really matured over the years. i just cant wait until the next album is released!

brand new
Papa roach has always put out good music all of it has a message that they want everyone to hear this album is by far their best it just shows how much talent the band really has every album just shows more and more talent musical evolution many bands strive for it but fall short Papa Roach pulls it off successfully with no questions asked this is a great cd lots of time was put it to it and it shows
peace
buy this album you wont regret it
"I tear my heart open i sow my self shut and my weakness is that i cant do much and my scars remind me that the past is real i tear my heart open just to feel"

By far the BEST!
Papa Roach's new album, "Getting Away With Murder" is one of the best this year. The beats are catchy, the lyrics are unbelievable. The songs are relatable. All the tracks are well worth listening to. Go and buy the cd today if you haven't purchased it yet! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This debut by the L.A.-based quartet is a hybrid of explosive rap-metal, politically incendiary lyrics, and wide-ranging cultural influences. The members are of Armenian descent, but their diverse stylistic background transcends easy cultural labeling. Singer Serj Tankian's throaty roar competes with any mosh-pit rocker around, but his real trademark is his emotional wail and refreshingly melodic singing, especially on songs such as "Spiders" and the condemnatory "P.L.U.C.K."Guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan lock in tight on the capricious arrangements of"Know," "Ddevil," and "CUBErt." Their musical diversity runs wonderfully wild on "Sugar" and "Suggestions" with dizzying shifts of style and intensity. The tracks "Peephole" and "War?" reveal the band at perhaps its eclectic best, with vaguely Eastern European-sounding guitar riffs, passionate battle cries, and samples provided by legendary hip-hop producer Rick Rubin. --Mark McCleerey ... Read more

Reviews (382)

worth every star...
When i first heard System of a Down i was blown away by their unique sound, heavy riffs and Serj Tankian's amazing singing voice, where he ranges from epic wails of emotion to quick maniacal singing to ear throbbing screams in one breath. The music features complex arrangements, and the trio of Shavo Odajin (bass), Daron Malakian (Guitars) and John Dalmayan (drums)are incredibly tight and focused and the added use of programming creates another element of surprise to one of metals most original sounding bands.

The first track Suite-pee is excellent as is Know, Sugar, War?, Peephole and Cubert but the tracks that stand out the most on this brilliant album are the explosive Soil (with awesome guitar solo), the beautiful ballad Spiders and the political album closer P.L.U.C.K. Also pick up Loud Rocks, Strait-Up and Nativity in Black 2 which feature more madness from this awesome quartet.

This cd rocks!
This is an awesome album. One of their best! Sugar and Suite-Pee are some of their best songs on the album.

1.Suite-Pee 10/10. Cool lyrics and pretty fasy. Nice opening song.My 2nd favorite on the album.

2.Know 9/10.Great song. Loud vocals. Cool song.

3.Sugar 10/10. My favorite song. I like playing this song on my guitar.It's really easy. I love this song! I don't know why a whole bunch of people don't like this song.

4.Suggestions 8/10. This song is f