Don't want to read longwinded reviews? Want to get right to the point? Our reviewers do just that with these quick and dirty reviews.

Pearl Jam - rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003)
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Review by Scott Slapp

It was bound to happen. A Pearl Jam Greatest Hits album, a.k.a. 'let's meet our contractual obligation to the label'. If you don't own all of the albums (as you should) then you can get a peak at the genius of Pearl Jam with this 30+ song two-disc set. It's a good starter kit for new fans but you are much better off biting the bullet and buying all the CDs because PJ's best moments are usually found on the album cuts and not the singles.

On the negative side, I think anyone that remixes a PJ song should be shot, even if it is Brendan O'Brien. This may be a sucker move to draw in the diehard fans that already own the albums but the CD is cheap enough that diehard PJ fans will buy it anyway.

Soul Asylum - After Flood: Live at Grand Forks Prom June 28 1997
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Review by antiGUY

Just the idea of Soul Asylum playing a prom is worth the price of admission. This collection is a pretty solid representation of what makes this such a great band. They came together at a shelter that housed those displaced by a major flood and performed for two High Schools that combined their proms. The rawness of the delivery matched with the melodic and lyrical genius. But it is riotous covers that makes this a must have CD. How can you not love Soul Asylum rocking out " School's Out," "To Sir With Love", "I Can See Clearly Now," and the showstopper, Glen Campbell's " Rhinestone Cowboy". My only complaint is when the band performed their own music, they focused on their more commercial albums instead of their brilliant early ones. But over all this album is a bit tongue in cheek but still brilliant.

The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette: 25th Anniversary
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Review by antiGUY

If you do not already own this album, you are missing out on one of the keystone punk releases. The Damned sound even more brilliant in retrospect, 25 years later. Here is your chance to own one of great punk albums of all time! If you already know and love this album, then you'll get you yarbles off on the alt-versions and b-sides. The one thing that really impressed me about this version is the mastering almost captures the brilliance of the original vinyl release. If you are a vinylhead, you'll know what I am talking about. So drop everything you are doing and run, don't walk, to your nearest record store and buy this album. No record collection is complete without it. (The day this came out, I sat outside of the local indie record story for twenty minutes waiting for them to open so I could buy it.)

KISS � Gold
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Review by antiGUY

I have a soft spot in my heart for KISS. I don't care what anyone says, they have had some great music over the years and a lot of those songs are included here. The problem I have with this CD is it the latest in a long line of "hits" cds this band has flooded the market with over the past decade. This should have ended with the boxset, which is usually the crème de crème greatest hits release. Here is just a sampling of the repackaged hits albums this band has put out over the past ten years (according to All Music Guide). Very Best Of Kiss, Greatest Hits, Greatest Kiss, You Wanted The Best, You Got The Best!, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Kiss Vol. 1 & 2, The Box Set, KISS Box, The Originals 1974-1979, Dressed To KISS, First KISS Last Licks (box). Did we really need another compilation? Guess Gene needed the cash.

Go Like Hell - Hell Bent Rock �n Roll
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Review by Jeff Collins

Somewhere between Motorhead and Pink, you will find a band called Go Like Hell. This independent band combines punk rock sensibility with classic rock warmth to make an oddly enjoyable concoction.

From their mohawk sporting front-woman to their cross dressing (yet still mean looking) guitar player, this band has no shortage of character.

When it comes to originality, however, the band falls a bit short. You've probably heard the riffs on this album a hundred times before, but on the bright side, the band makes them worth listening to for the 101st.

While nobody will accuse them of reinventing the musical wheel, the band still comes through with a good energy and some darn catchy songs that make Go Like Hell worth checking out.

Slugnut - All the Splendor and Rot
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Review by Jeff Collins

Although their mullets are turning to "skull-ets," Slugnut is still trying to carve a slice from the heavy metal pie. The drums are tight, the guitars are heavy, but the vocals take what would be a 2 ½ star album and knock it down to a 2.

After a few songs, I got an undeniable urge to slug the lead singer in the nuts, which reminded me again of the band's name, Slugnut. Hmm�maybe that's where the name came from.

New Crash Position - Music To Rob Banks To
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Review by Dustin Hupe

Music To Rob Banks To is the debut album of four Florida natives that make up New Crash Position. It's a rock album with a uniqueness of not sounding like all the other rock albums out today. The are no influences by styles or trends. It's high energy keeps you moving while staying melodic. It makes you think that if you were robbing banks this would make a pretty good soundtrack. It's not really a heavy album but it has the potential to make New Crash Position a known name.

The album is being released by handout records and is available in major and indie stores in the southeastern parts of the U.S. So if you, like me, live in a more northern region you probably have no idea who New Crash Position is. If you go to www.newcrashposition.com you can hear how they sound, then if you feel so inclined you can get the CD while your there. It's well worth it.

Subcore - Room To Breathe
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Review by Dustin Hupe

Coming out of Austin, Texas is Subcore. The album is an EP called Room To Breathe. The sound is strong and could be described a nu metal, maybe. Whatever the you choose to label them, they are good. The have a strong base line, melodic riffs, good drums, and vocals that are easy to follow. The title track of the album should be proof enough, but if not there are five other songs right after it to check out.

In addition to the good tunes, the CD has alot of extra stuff for your computer. There is a link to the website, some desktop wallpapers to download, five different videos (live stuff mostly), and even a game about picking up girls at a show. Also included are mp3s of all the songs and a mail client (if you need one), the only thing is you need flah player to use it. So check it out, if the music alone doesn't win you over (and it will) then at least there is some cool extras to play with.

Something About Vampires And Sluts - We Break Our Own Hearts
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Review by Dustin Hupe

Something About Vampires And Sluts, contrary to the cool name, has nothing to do with neither vampires nor sluts. If your a fan of Depeche Mode or The Cure there's no doubt that you'll like this album. "We break our own hearts" is full of whiny vocals, synth, a drum machine, and female backup vocals. The backup vocals were pretty good so the album was not a total loss and there were some catchy songs (Track 11: Jet Black).

If nothing else it would make a decent gift for that one depressed pseudo-goth person in your family. And for the love of all things holy somebody get this band a drummer.

All Parallels - Formulate A Tragedy
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Review by Chris Stum

Put together one part Alter Bridge add some Alien Ant Farm and you have the trio hailing from New York City named All Parallels. The bands latest offering entitled "Formulate A Tragedy" (On The Rise) combines a range of melodic punk and progressive tunes and keeps them short, sweet and to the point. The band lets it all out on the first track entitled "Work". With great guitar harmonies and catchy melody lines, "Work" displays what All Parallels can achieve with just three people making music they believe in. The album covers a lot of ground musically but all within boundaries, each song relating to the next. The song "World We Be Livin In" demonstrates the bands ability to fuse different progressive and post-grunge styles taking from bands such as Alice In Chains and Kings X. "Such Fragile Things" keeps the album fresh by combining Weezer type melodies and guitar work but once again staying within the framework of the record. Guitarist Adam Kestler fills the album in with heavier riffs in many of the songs verses but provides enough guitar hooks in the choruses and breakdowns to avoid "Boneheaded Riff--e" territory. The vocals and lyrics of front man Larry Chiswick are truly a highlight of the album fitting right in between Kestler's guitar riffs. Drummer Anthony Amodeo lays down a percussive and aggressive foundation to each song by not over-playing but adding just enough fills so the album can breathe and stand on it's own. It's obvious that each member of All Parallels are able to showcase their musical abilities within the songs while staying within reason and not going overboard. All Parallels set a good standard for modern rock today by taking catchy choruses, melodies, great guitar work and putting them all together to create songs that are interesting and simply stated, not boring.

Call Me Alice - Against All F5ive
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Review by Joannie Foney

I am pleased to report that the collaboration between Brittany Spears & Madonna & their shameless, ridiculous attempt to weasel their way into the world of alternative music has just failed, I caught them red handed. Consider this both a CD review and exposé! Oh, wait! I'm sorry, this isn't a new Brittany Spears/ Madonna band, (I think), it's Call Me Alice, ooops! How embarrassing! I'm so busy blushing it's hard to type my contempt for this horrifying pop music calling itself alternative. Oh no, now I'm laughing so hard at that designation I keep falling on the floor urinating on myself!! All I can do is copy & paste a review from my MSN search results for info on Call Me Alice:

"It is a horror story for the ears..." Yup, no argument there, (thanx MSN search result description #1.)

"Call Me Alice is a very creative music project unlike anything else available at the moment ..." Whew, thank you God! (thanx MSN search result description #11)

"I was intrigued enough by Call Me Alice to sneak a listen before I packed it off to ..." Oooh! Ooooh! Let me finish that sentence! I know where I'd love to pack this album off to!! (Thanx MSN search result #15!)

Call Me Alice. "Against All F5ive". They should just recycle the title from their first album for every album they release. "Sweet New Disease" represents truth in labeling. This sticky pile of goo will have you hoping this style of music soon rots & dies a painful, screaming death. Excuse me, I have to go change my pants.