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with antiGUY
Don't want to read longwinded reviews? Want to get right to the point? antiGUY does just that with these quick and dirty reviews.
3 Doors
Down - Another 700 miles
I make no apologies, I really like 3DD's debut album. Their second CD however, sounded like they were trying to become Matchbox Twenty. All of the balls were gone and replaced with radio friendly little numbers. Sad but true. I managed to catch them live a couple of times on their never ending tour to support their debut and was impressed with their performance. I wasn't blown away, mind you, but they pack a nice punch live and deliver the songs with power and conviction. For the most part that was captured on this CD. "Duck and Run", a cool cover of Skynyrd's classic "That Smell" and the megahit "Kryptonite" come across as great live rockers. The rest of the CD focuses on the band's ballads and though I wasn't bowled over by "When I'm Gone" on the studio album, I do like this version. It has a bit less polish and more emotion. The other ballads could have been replaced with rockers and I wouldn't have complained but that's a personal preference. Arms
of Kismet � Eponymous
I love artists that say screw it; let's go out on a limb. That's Arms of Kismit, a singer / songwriter / mult-instrumentalist by the name of Mark Doyon, who put together this album with a host of special guests. Doyon draws a captivating musical picture with a mixture of alternative, electronica, new wave and dance beats that are painted on a canvas of melodic pop that easily catches the ears. This is definitely an album you should check out if you are a fan of any of the above mentioned genres or are just curious to hear something a bit left of center. Eden
Row � Dizzy
Boston power-popster's Eden Row offer up a little edgier take on the pop punk we have come to expect from TRL. The vocals are a little rougher around the edges but the melodies really harkens back to the 70's era guitar driven power-pop, except given a modern make over. I'm not a big fan of pop-punk but I found myself really enjoying this one, could really be part of a soundtrack to a fun filled summer. Falconer
- The Sceptre Of Deception
The first thought that came into my mind when I put this one on, it reminds me of Riot circa their late 80's comeback album "Thundersteel". When I say this is metal, I mean metal, they don't let any of that nu-metal crap creep in. If you love the old school epic power metal, then Falconer should please you. They mix in a few metal sub-genres and it flows smoothly. Those that love concept albums will also love this one. If you want the story, you'll have to pick up the CD, I won't spoil it for you. Tr00 Vikings should love this one. Guns
N' Roses - Greatest Hits
Considering I already have GNR's greatest hits, it's called "Appetite for Destruction" this was not an essential CD to add to my collection, especially since I have Use Your Illusion I & II, and Lies ('The Spaghetti Incident' met with a tragic gardening accident). But for those that never picked up all the GNR catalog this is a good primer of highlights, but by no means their best work. Where is "Mr. Brownstone", "Think About You", "Estranged", "Nightrain", "One in a Million" or "Coma"? Well they weren't hits, so we get a package of mostly the MTV stuff (except "Estranged" and "Dead Horse".) But the good thing is if someone that hasn't been turned on to GNR in the past happens upon this CD it should expose them enough to go pick up the albums and listen to the band the way they should be listened to. With only four CDs (TSI doesn't count) you have no excuse not to own all of them, unless of course Axl isn't the rose of your ear. Hayes
- Eleven
This indie release reminded me a lot of the more commercial side of Incubus. It's a good solid indie effort that puts some of its major label competition to shame. Great production and some excellent songwriting can be found among the eleven tracks. It has a nice progressive feel and the band doesn't seem to be afraid to mix things up between tracks. In other words, it would be easy for a band in this genre to pretty much reproduce the same song over and over, but Hayes will never be accused of that. When you fast forward to the next track you get an entirely new track. William
Hung � Inspiration
This is supposed to suck by definition and it does but what sucks even more is poor William only landed this novelty record deal for 25K, he should have held out for more because people are just stupid enough to buy this thing for a good laugh. Nice guy, but bad singer and he doesn't realize what a joke that is being made of him. I would say he would have the last laugh all the way to the bank but it looks like the last laugh is reserved for Koch. The
Hurt Process - Drive By Monologue
I was ready to write off The Hurt Process as yet another emo pretender just a few seconds into listening to this disc but I kept listening and was actually surprised at what I found�a good solid alt rock band that uses emo as a framework but goes beyond it with more dynamics. Jackass
- Plastic Jesus
I hate country but really got a "kick" out of this CD. How could you not love a band with lyrics like "you put the ---- in country". While obviously there is a lot of humor with this band, you can't fault their playing, musicianship or songwriting. Good dirty fun for the whole dysfunctional family. BYO Records scores again! Janet
Jackson - Damita Jo
I have just one question. This is what took three years to produce? It's a rather uninspired by the numbers album from Janet and in no way lives up to the heights of her career with "Control" and "Rhythm Nation 1814". She used to take real chances but now the chances have given way to trying to create controversy as a song like "Sexhibition" demonstrates. However, that song is actually one of the strongest tracks on the album and shows her trying to creep into the realm of Prince circa "Parade". But for the most part this is not a very inspiring collection of music. Janet die hards might be pleased to finally have new material, but this one will have a hard time making the same kind of impact as her late 80s releases. Murdocks
- Murdocks
Punky, garage rock good times are to be had with this self-titled EP from the Murdocks. Fuzzy guitars, rough vocals over addictive melodies. This isn't the Strokes doing Iggy but more like The Melvins doing Iggy. My only complaint-- why only four songs? PTHALO
PTHALO's post grunge sound skates the edges of numetal and modern rock and offer up a strong effort for fans of both genres, a tad bit more progressive then your usual numetal and while the vocals are well executed they don't standout as original, leading this band to easily be confused with any number of modern rock bands trying to sound like a new take on Soundgarden or Pearl Jam. What is cool about this band is their subtle diversity. The songs flow together nicely but don't run together like most bands in this genre. Recommend for fans of Nickleback, Creed, or similar groups, but they have been a few years late to the party to really make a big impact. The
Pale - Gravity Gets Things Done
If your taste for power-pop leans towards the "emo" variety then The Pale should be just the ticket for you. With a sound very similar to Death Cab For Cutie and Weezer, the Pale offer up an album's worth of polished pop with lamenting lyrics. "Gravity Gets Things Done" is a fun CD and should open doors for the band with emo-centered fans. Nothing is earth shatteringly original here, but again it's a fun CD and well worth the price of admission if this kind of music that gets you going. The
Paperbacks - The Paperbacks
Let's set the record straight-- Courtney Love is not the queen of punk that her PR people would love you believe. Singing out of key does not a punker make. Chicago's The Paperbacks on the other hand wear their punk rock on their sleeves and there is no confusing their credentials, especially frontwoman L Hotshot. Packing plenty of attitude with real punk rock bite, not that cheesy pop crap, The Paperbacks offer up six reasons to spit in the face of conformity with this self-titled EP. Telsa
- Into the Now
When Telsa first came out they did standout from the cock-rock all over MTV and gave us some kickass hard rock. Unfortunately, this cd does live up to it's title "In the Now" as the band seemed to have traded their hard rock in for nu metal and modern rock styling. That being said if this CD had come out under a different band name, I would have given it a higher rating because despite the nu metal pandering, it is a lot more solid in songwriting and musicianship than most of the kids they are trying to compete with. But this is definitely not Tesla picking up where they left off. Various
Artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 15
This CD simply reminded me of why I no longer listen to commercial radio. Vice
Dolls - Die Trying
We had female fronted punk with The Paperbacks
but what about hardcore? If you like your punk on the hardcore side then
Vice Dolls just might be it for you. The driving music should get you moving
but the vocals on the other hand might turn some off as they come across
more as Japanese cartoon then smash the s*** out everyone in the pit. But
in the end, it comes to personal taste and others may take the vocals a
bit more seriously. After all people do buy Kittie albums.
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