Inhale 420: The Stoner Rock Compilation
Label: Spitfire Records

Tracks:
Crowbar - Dream Weaver
Natas - Alohawaii
Supafuzz - Mr. Policeman
Sixty Watt Shaman - Southern Gentleman
Murder 1 - Whole Lotta Rosie
Gunfighter - Anti-Hero
Mammoth Volume - Seagull
Herbert - Devil's Garden
Bakerton Group - Mainstream
Sunride - Straightliner
Terra Firma - High Horses
Mystick Krewe of Clearlite - Railhead
Rotors To Rust - Canaan

This CD is really disappointing. Basically what Spitfire did is toss together a few bands from their label and a bunch of unknown bands, and made a compilation CD. In order to generate more buzz toward the disc, they called it "Stoner Rock." But really they could have called it anything they want, because virtually no song on this disc is even drug related. I decided to do a track by track, since this CD features 13 different bands all wanting exposure.

Note: Ratings are out of 10

Inhale 420 - The Stoner Rock Compilation
CD Look: 6

The cover looks like a pot leaf that's been all distorted. I think they went for a blown-glass effect like a bong, but I'm not sure. A more traditional pot leaf would have been more effective. The booket's in full color and shows pictures for each band.

Compilation Rating: 3.5
As a "stoner rock" compilation, this really fails. I only remember listening to one "stoner rock" compilation before this, but it was from High Times and was really well done. Those songs were about weed, and had the Black Crowes as the opener, these songs aren't and has Crowbar singing "Dream Weaver" as an opener.

Crowbar - Dream Weaver
Band Look: 3 
Of all the bands on this CD, Crowbar is the one that will be most recognized. They look like a bunch of fat redneck skin heads, but don't tell them I said that because they could easily beat my ass.

Song Review: 4.5
They do a super heavy version of the Gary Wright "classic" (I used quotations because I've always hated the song) 80's love song "Dream Weaver." However, the song just seems to be covered out of novelty, as in they all were hanging out thinking of a cheesy song to remake ala Limp Bizkit (Faith) / Marilyn Manson (Sweet Dreams), and settled on "Dream Weaver." Plus, this is a pretty crappy way to start out a "Stoner Rock" CD, since "Dream Weaver" is not drug related and this version is far too intense for someone who's high. When you're stoned, you want Pink Floyd, not this heavy, almost violent junk.

Natas - Alohawaii
Band Look: 2
You can hardly tell what this band looks like from the booklet, they sent in this incredibly blurry live shot that has a bunch of writing
surrounding it. They look very unprofessional.

Song Review: 6.5
The song is mostly instrumental, and fits in with the "stoner rock" theme. The vocalist, who plays only a minor role in the song, sounds a lot like Ozzy Osbourne, and you can tell that they are influenced by early Black Sabbath. 

Supafuzz - Mr. Policeman
Band Look: 6.5
I assume the guy in the middle is the frontman, who has his hair standing straight up. He just comes off as a copy cat to that guy in
Static-X. The 3 members are dressed in black, some tattoos. They look pretty rock n' roll.

Song Review: 7.5
Fits the stoner rock theme, a song about being hassled by the police. Crunchy guitars and good vocals, it's one of the only strong
songs on the CD. Catchy.

Sixty Watt Shaman - Southern Gentleman
Band Look: 5
None of them would stand out in a crowd, doesn't impress or look stupid. Just average.

Song Review: 6.5
This song is demo-quality, it seems to be in mono (not stereo sound). It's fast tempo, and has a cool riff during the middle of the song. All in all, it's enjoyable, but not fantastic.

Murder 1 - Whole Lotta Rosie
Band Look: -1
I don't know what the f*** they were thinking, they're dressed like the Fantastic 4 comic book characters and look completely retarded. If you're not familiar with the Fantastic Four, one of them is always on fire, one is a chick who can make herself invisible, there's a guy who looks like he's made of stoned, and a guy who can stretch his limbs like a rubberband. Anyway, one guy has red face paint representing fire but it looks like a bad rash, the rock guy is in a badly made skin suit, and one guy is in a blond wig, and looks a little too comfortable in it.

Song Review: 7
A cover of "Whole Lotta Rosie" by AC/DC. It's a classic rock song and they do a faithful cover. I'd like it a lot more if they didn't look like such morons on the band pic.

Gunfighter - Anti-Hero
Band Look: 9
They're dressed in suits, and have their hair cut short. They look cool.

Song Review: 8
Starts out really mellow, and suddenly becomes very hard, with extremely distorted guitars and insane drums. They sound like they would have been pretty popular in the mid-90's, the lead singer has a good "alternative" voice. 

Mammoth Volume - Seagull
Band Look: 6
Not much to comment on. Nice promo photo.

Song Review: 6
The song doesn't work on me, but that might be due to the fact that it's not really my style. The guitar sounds pretty classic rock, but there's nothing in the song to hook me.

Herbert - Devil's Garden
Band Look: 9
They look modern, young, and spent time on their image.

Song Review: 7
Catchy, and although I never paid attention to the lyrics, the title suggests that it might well be related to pot. Good vocals, the guy
sounds familiar but can't pick out who he sounds like.

Bakerton Group - Mainstream
Band Look: 2
It's a crappy pic of them in the woods, with the guy on the left holding a beer bottle. Obviously not even a promo pic.

Song Review: 9
An awesome instrumental track. Work on your image guys, you have talent!

Sunride - Straightliner
Band Look: 7
The promo picture has live shots spliced together they look cool.

Song Review: 9
Very cool riffs, a high tempo, energenic song. Good vocalist and guitarwork. Sounds a little rough like it was recorded on a light budget, hopefully the band gets some exposure.

Terra Firma - High Horses
Band Look: 4
The first time I looked at the pic I thought the band was one guy. But actually the other band members are just crammed so far in the distance that it looks like they don't matter. Maybe the guy in the foreground has a massive ego, that's what it looks like from the photo.

Song Review: 4
The song is not recorded very well, must be a tight budget in a bad studio? The song doesn't stick out at all, it's not bad but is easily forgetable.

Mystick Krewe of Clearlite - Railhead
Band Look: 5
Decent enough pic, but some members are making goofy faces. Makes me not want to take them seriously.

Song Review: 7.5
Another instrumental, and this one is pretty cool too. Good guitarwork that isn't flashy, and has a sort of 70's-funk sounding organ. 

Rotors to Rust - Canaan
Band Look: 5
Pretty decent promo pic, but the guy in the right looks trapped in the '80s when the music is trying to sound 90s...

Song Review: 6
I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to the song. I guess it's all right, but if their promo song sounds like filler, what does the rest of their music sound like?
 

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