Why?: Part of a 5-albums-for-$20 set that I bought purely on the strength of "Cold As Ice".
Tell me more!:
I really enjoyed "4", the album so I expected to really enjoy this album, but I was wrong.
The mega-hit "I Want To Know What Love Is" surprised me with its Bruce Springsteen sounding verse, but the chorus is so syrupy it's unpleasant to revisit.
The rest of the album is forgettable, with none of the pop melodic fun of "4". None.
2/10
Sunday 18 May 2014
[2011] Chimaira, "The Age Of Hell"
Why?: Free on the cover of "Metal Hammer". I kept pronouncing their name wrong until someone finally corrected me. Thanks someone.
Tell me more!:
The kind of technically proficient but musically vacant metal that has flooded the market, and magazine-cover-CDs and caused me to cancel my subscription to Metal Hammer to dig deeper in the the doom/black/extreme metal genres, leaving this "pop" crap behind.
I'm being harsh, but that's the way it is. I really enjoyed Trivium when I first heard them, but when everything in mainstream metal sounds the same for over a decade (including Trivium), it's hard to stay enthusiastic.
"The Age Of Hell" has parts I enjoy, quite a few actually, but no parts are in the same song. I liked the Pantera groove-metal influences, the Thin-Lizzy double guitars, but the generic yelling vocals usually ruin the fun.
2/10
Tell me more!:
The kind of technically proficient but musically vacant metal that has flooded the market, and magazine-cover-CDs and caused me to cancel my subscription to Metal Hammer to dig deeper in the the doom/black/extreme metal genres, leaving this "pop" crap behind.
I'm being harsh, but that's the way it is. I really enjoyed Trivium when I first heard them, but when everything in mainstream metal sounds the same for over a decade (including Trivium), it's hard to stay enthusiastic.
"The Age Of Hell" has parts I enjoy, quite a few actually, but no parts are in the same song. I liked the Pantera groove-metal influences, the Thin-Lizzy double guitars, but the generic yelling vocals usually ruin the fun.
2/10
[1996] Tool, "Ænima"
Why?: Highly recommended by a friend (who also bought Korn's "Life Is Peachy" at the time I believe), played heavily at parties, it was one of the first CDs I bought once I got a job and disposable income.
Tell me more!:
This album is still incredible. The production is a bit tiny compared to modern production, but it's better for it. I listened to this album to death at the time, and I still heard something new this time around, with decent headphones.
There isn't a song I don't love, even the ridiculous German cake recipes, and lamely threatening phone-calls. Ænima is still one of my favourite songs: its crazy timing, confusing intro, dismissive-end-of-the-world lyrics, are all perfect.
Ænima pulls off an amazing trick of being both full of "single" songs that I'd happily listen to in isolation, but also being a full album artwork I love listening right through, over and over.
In almost twenty years of hindsight, I'd have to put this album in my "favourites" pile. I'm not calling Top 10, I suspect the favourites will be a big pile, but I'm scoring this the highest this blog as seen so far...
9/10
I never liked "Lateralus" but I hear good things about "10,000 Days". Pity Tool aren't on Spotify...
Tell me more!:
This album is still incredible. The production is a bit tiny compared to modern production, but it's better for it. I listened to this album to death at the time, and I still heard something new this time around, with decent headphones.
There isn't a song I don't love, even the ridiculous German cake recipes, and lamely threatening phone-calls. Ænima is still one of my favourite songs: its crazy timing, confusing intro, dismissive-end-of-the-world lyrics, are all perfect.
Ænima pulls off an amazing trick of being both full of "single" songs that I'd happily listen to in isolation, but also being a full album artwork I love listening right through, over and over.
In almost twenty years of hindsight, I'd have to put this album in my "favourites" pile. I'm not calling Top 10, I suspect the favourites will be a big pile, but I'm scoring this the highest this blog as seen so far...
9/10
I never liked "Lateralus" but I hear good things about "10,000 Days". Pity Tool aren't on Spotify...
[1995] Deftones, "Adrenaline"
Why?: I think I heard about the band via The Matrix and fell for some recommendation or other.
Tell me more!:
I didn't like this album at the time and nothing has changed.
The mix is thin as a 90s alternative album can possibly sound; the music is nu-metal; not completely obnoxious, but most of the way there. As someone brought up on the incredible production of Korn, it's a hard disc to listen to.
Having a quick look on Spotify I think I probably meant to buy White Pony but got confused by the white cover. Silly me.
It's gathered dust ever since...
2/10
Tell me more!:
I didn't like this album at the time and nothing has changed.
The mix is thin as a 90s alternative album can possibly sound; the music is nu-metal; not completely obnoxious, but most of the way there. As someone brought up on the incredible production of Korn, it's a hard disc to listen to.
Having a quick look on Spotify I think I probably meant to buy White Pony but got confused by the white cover. Silly me.
It's gathered dust ever since...
2/10
[1998] Smashing Pumpkins, "Adore"
Why?: It's impossible to describe just how huge a Smashing Pumpkins fan I was from 1995-1998. Enormous. Everything they did until that date was perfect in my mind. Adore killed it. I never bought it, I hated it so. My wife did though, and here it is in our collection...
Tell me more!:
I spent a lot of money collecting Smashing Pumpkins at the time... I'm surprised I never bought Adore. I don't think I even had it on tape. I collected SP bootlegs and had a few of the songs live, but it seems I really did draw a line and stop listening to the band after this album.
I've since grown to love the band again, the last album (Oceania) is great, so I came to listening to this again with fresh enthusiastic ears.
And it starts well. "To Shelia", "Ava Adore" and "Perfect" are all great songs. I know from listening to bootlegs that Ava Adore is much better live, with the electronic parts played on a distorted guitar, but the recorded version is pretty good.
Unfortunately the album just falls apart after this. Comparing it to recent albums, it's all so low impact, and much of it sounds like half-finished demos. But even that isn't fair as many Smashing Pumpkins half-finished demos from earlier years sound better.
The mix isn't great either. The instruments are mostly pushed to the background, with Billy's whine right up front. Buried in the mix with a wall of guitars, I like his voice, but right up front, singer-songwriter style, it grates quickly.
A 6-disc re-issue of this album is due. I've bought all the previous re-issues and enjoyed them to varying levels. A full remix (rather than remaster) of this might make me enjoy it more, but it's probably overall too mellow.
3/10
Tell me more!:
I spent a lot of money collecting Smashing Pumpkins at the time... I'm surprised I never bought Adore. I don't think I even had it on tape. I collected SP bootlegs and had a few of the songs live, but it seems I really did draw a line and stop listening to the band after this album.
I've since grown to love the band again, the last album (Oceania) is great, so I came to listening to this again with fresh enthusiastic ears.
And it starts well. "To Shelia", "Ava Adore" and "Perfect" are all great songs. I know from listening to bootlegs that Ava Adore is much better live, with the electronic parts played on a distorted guitar, but the recorded version is pretty good.
Unfortunately the album just falls apart after this. Comparing it to recent albums, it's all so low impact, and much of it sounds like half-finished demos. But even that isn't fair as many Smashing Pumpkins half-finished demos from earlier years sound better.
The mix isn't great either. The instruments are mostly pushed to the background, with Billy's whine right up front. Buried in the mix with a wall of guitars, I like his voice, but right up front, singer-songwriter style, it grates quickly.
A 6-disc re-issue of this album is due. I've bought all the previous re-issues and enjoyed them to varying levels. A full remix (rather than remaster) of this might make me enjoy it more, but it's probably overall too mellow.
3/10
[1990] Death Angel, "Act III"
Why?: I read somewhere (Metal Hammer?) this was one of those "must have" thrash albums. It's critically their "best" album.
Tell me more!:
I remember not thinking a lot of this when I finally got to play it and listening again now hasn't much changed my mind, despite my knowledge and enjoyment of metal being much more than it was at the time.
The music is OK, but not amazing, perhaps a little too ambitious. It leans more toward the Anthrax side of thrash, the punkier side. I don't enjoy the vocals much either... they remind me heavily of an Australian band I randomly got into in the 90s called "Against The Grain" who I guess must have been influenced by this band, or coincidently sounded the same.
Nothing really stuck much this time. I don't think I'd miss this CD if it went. I can hear all sorts of quality in it, I just don't enjoy it, at all.
I read that while touring this album the band had a bus crash and their drummer was badly hurt, effectively ending the band. They've since reformed and released numerous albums, I should have a listen.
4/10
Tell me more!:
I remember not thinking a lot of this when I finally got to play it and listening again now hasn't much changed my mind, despite my knowledge and enjoyment of metal being much more than it was at the time.
The music is OK, but not amazing, perhaps a little too ambitious. It leans more toward the Anthrax side of thrash, the punkier side. I don't enjoy the vocals much either... they remind me heavily of an Australian band I randomly got into in the 90s called "Against The Grain" who I guess must have been influenced by this band, or coincidently sounded the same.
Nothing really stuck much this time. I don't think I'd miss this CD if it went. I can hear all sorts of quality in it, I just don't enjoy it, at all.
I read that while touring this album the band had a bus crash and their drummer was badly hurt, effectively ending the band. They've since reformed and released numerous albums, I should have a listen.
4/10
[2005] Alarm Will Sound, "Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex Twin"
Why?: One of the many many things I love in music is acoustic instruments playing electronic songs. I think a lot of overly produced electronic songs have a lot of melodic merit, but they're ruined by their chosen "instruments". When I heard about this album I downloaded it... loved it, so bought the CD.
Tell me more!:
If you're even remotely a fan of incredible drumming, you should buy this album now. The performances are incredible. Aphex Twin's music is deceptively simple, until you try to play it with your hands. Alarm Will Sound do an amazing job playing these songs, and in doing so make them incredible jazz orchestra pieces that I defy anyone not to enjoy. They even randomly swear!
I'm completely unaware of the original tracks. I've heard some old Aphex Twin and didn't enjoy it at all. Perhaps the music itself isn't that great, I don't know... I'm simply floored by the musicianship.
If I had to choose a favourite I'd say "4", but I love listening to the whole album... except the two last tracks, which appear to be electronic remixes... not at all what I want.
7/10
Tell me more!:
If you're even remotely a fan of incredible drumming, you should buy this album now. The performances are incredible. Aphex Twin's music is deceptively simple, until you try to play it with your hands. Alarm Will Sound do an amazing job playing these songs, and in doing so make them incredible jazz orchestra pieces that I defy anyone not to enjoy. They even randomly swear!
I'm completely unaware of the original tracks. I've heard some old Aphex Twin and didn't enjoy it at all. Perhaps the music itself isn't that great, I don't know... I'm simply floored by the musicianship.
If I had to choose a favourite I'd say "4", but I love listening to the whole album... except the two last tracks, which appear to be electronic remixes... not at all what I want.
7/10
[2009] Absu, "Absu"
Why?: A very recent purchase. I love 2011's "Abzu" and I'm very much looking forward to the future"Apsu" album.
Tell me more!:
It's great. I can't say much more than I've already said in my Abzu review.
I'd have to be slightly negative and say "Absu" doesn't have a lot of what I enjoyed about "Abzu". It's less cohesive, has less of what I probably unkindly called "the humour" of the later album. It has more songs, and they're probably more varied than "Abzu", which I like, but I don't get as much of a "full album" feel as I get from "Abzu".
The new album is on the way, and weirdly, they've apparently released a single through Adult Swim.
Absu don't do happy endings.
Absu, "Hall Of The Masters"
6/10
Tell me more!:
It's great. I can't say much more than I've already said in my Abzu review.
I'd have to be slightly negative and say "Absu" doesn't have a lot of what I enjoyed about "Abzu". It's less cohesive, has less of what I probably unkindly called "the humour" of the later album. It has more songs, and they're probably more varied than "Abzu", which I like, but I don't get as much of a "full album" feel as I get from "Abzu".
The new album is on the way, and weirdly, they've apparently released a single through Adult Swim.
Absu don't do happy endings.
Absu, "Hall Of The Masters"
6/10
[2003] Muse, "Absolution"
What?: [I'm going to quit doing this bit, you've got Google]
Why?: Muse's back catalogue has always ended up in the $10 pile so they're easy to collect. I wouldn't have picked this up until after 2007 when I finally gave in and started enjoying this band.
Tell me more!:
Musically, Muse are everything I've ever asked for in a rock band. Their guitar riffs, repetitive, fast, melodic; their slightly electronic feel. I don't think they really kick it into gear and properly embrace the electronics until three years later when they release "Black Holes", but the hints are here.
I'm reminded of chip tunes, and perhaps this kind of guitar riffing (constant melodic runs with few gaps) was ingrained in my consciousness by years of playing Commodore 64 games, whose composers were heavily influenced by 70s prog.
I avoided Muse for so long because the vocals are hard to listen to for a full album. Bellamy can sing, but somehow there just isn't enough variety in his voice, at least not in these early albums.
And the same goes for the music. Song by song I like their stuff, but on a full album... maybe it's the production... but it all runs into each other.
5/10
Why?: Muse's back catalogue has always ended up in the $10 pile so they're easy to collect. I wouldn't have picked this up until after 2007 when I finally gave in and started enjoying this band.
Tell me more!:
Musically, Muse are everything I've ever asked for in a rock band. Their guitar riffs, repetitive, fast, melodic; their slightly electronic feel. I don't think they really kick it into gear and properly embrace the electronics until three years later when they release "Black Holes", but the hints are here.
I'm reminded of chip tunes, and perhaps this kind of guitar riffing (constant melodic runs with few gaps) was ingrained in my consciousness by years of playing Commodore 64 games, whose composers were heavily influenced by 70s prog.
I avoided Muse for so long because the vocals are hard to listen to for a full album. Bellamy can sing, but somehow there just isn't enough variety in his voice, at least not in these early albums.
And the same goes for the music. Song by song I like their stuff, but on a full album... maybe it's the production... but it all runs into each other.
5/10
Monday 5 May 2014
[2008] R.E.M., "Accelerate"
What?: Slightly popular R.E.M.'s 14th, and second to last, album.
Why?: I was late to the R.E.M. party, not joining until the singer of my band got me into "Reveal" in 2001. I slowly, and reluctantly, built up my collection until I had all their albums. I'd say "Accelerate" would be the first R.E.M. album I was actively excited about and bought on its release.
Tell me more!:
I really didn't think much of "Around the Sun" (the previous album) but I love "Accelerate".
The whole album is a rocking, aggressive version of R.E.M. that I'd really been missing. The songs are riffy, melodic, short and to the point.
The story goes that the band previewed many tracks from the album at a residency in Ireland. The whole album does have a strong live feel and I imagine them all working well in that context.
Unusually for me I like the turn-it-up-loud production, although I think it's been used to good effect on songs like "Houston" when the keys, acoustic, drums all deliberately distort, adding to their power, and live feel.
I'm not a big fan of "Man Sized Wreath", it's a bit of a mess, and I don't like the "just don't care" lyric. I like the held vocal note at the end though, and how it kicks into "Supernatural Superserious". The final track ("I'm Gonna DJ") is a bit rough too... although I like how the album ends so suddenly with a big final "yeah".
Listening now I just want to pick up a guitar and play along! It's a rare album that can make me do that, especially one that is mainly "chord riffs" as I call them (riffs made up of string picking within a chord strum, as opposed to say palm muted metal riffs). It's the kind of guitaring I used to do in my band, and I miss it. It almost tempts me to take up a friend's offer of starting an R.E.M. cover band... buy why add to the pile?
7/10
Why?: I was late to the R.E.M. party, not joining until the singer of my band got me into "Reveal" in 2001. I slowly, and reluctantly, built up my collection until I had all their albums. I'd say "Accelerate" would be the first R.E.M. album I was actively excited about and bought on its release.
Tell me more!:
I really didn't think much of "Around the Sun" (the previous album) but I love "Accelerate".
The whole album is a rocking, aggressive version of R.E.M. that I'd really been missing. The songs are riffy, melodic, short and to the point.
The story goes that the band previewed many tracks from the album at a residency in Ireland. The whole album does have a strong live feel and I imagine them all working well in that context.
Unusually for me I like the turn-it-up-loud production, although I think it's been used to good effect on songs like "Houston" when the keys, acoustic, drums all deliberately distort, adding to their power, and live feel.
I'm not a big fan of "Man Sized Wreath", it's a bit of a mess, and I don't like the "just don't care" lyric. I like the held vocal note at the end though, and how it kicks into "Supernatural Superserious". The final track ("I'm Gonna DJ") is a bit rough too... although I like how the album ends so suddenly with a big final "yeah".
Listening now I just want to pick up a guitar and play along! It's a rare album that can make me do that, especially one that is mainly "chord riffs" as I call them (riffs made up of string picking within a chord strum, as opposed to say palm muted metal riffs). It's the kind of guitaring I used to do in my band, and I miss it. It almost tempts me to take up a friend's offer of starting an R.E.M. cover band... buy why add to the pile?
7/10
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