Live on Two Legs
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 November, 1998)
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Editorial Review

Seventy-one minutes of live Pearl Jam plus an unreleased song? It's aural nirvana for fans of the reclusive, integrity-driven Seattle quintet. Pearl Jam are nothing if not passionate and unabashedly rocking, and this 16-track offering, recorded during their Yield tour, illustrates why the mumbly voiced rock deity and his band of merry men inspire such ardor in their followers. Eddie Vedder's emotive vocals, Mike McCready and Stone Gossard's raw and raging fretwork and edgy, catchy, whisper-to-a-scream dynamics are deftly and inspiringly captured. Though a few staples (including "Jeremy") are missing, songs running the gamut of the band's seven-year career--from "Corduroy" to "Nothingman" to the Neil Young-penned "F*ckin' Up"--more than make up for any exclusions. The breadth and scope found on Live on Two Legs (a take on the Queen song, "Death on Two Legs"?)proves the once über-"alternative" Pearl Jam have struck a loud chord in the mainstream...and that's not a bad thing. --Katherine Turman ... Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (193)

Pearl Jam's 1st Live Album DELIVERS!!
Coming out in '98 in support of their "YIELD" tour, PJ's first live album is a truly fantastic collection of songs from their first five albums. When listening to it, it's hard to believe that it's live, because it sounds SO GOOD! I am usually not a real big fan of live albums, but when it comes to my all-time favorite band, I can make an exception. If you like the hard, rawer sound of Pearl Jam that they showcased from "VS" on, then you will love this album. With classics like "Daughter", "Even Flow", "Do The Evolution", "Better Man", and "Black", this awesome live album should be in any fans collection. Being that "Black" is one of my all-time favorite songs from PJ, I was interested to hear the live version, and once I heard it I was surprised that it holds up to the unbelievable studio version in every sense. Just listening to it for the first time in several months, it actually brought a tear to my eye- it's that powerful. You will also find "Untitled" right after "Daughter". I don't know if it's original PJ material or just a cover, but it sounds like the makings of a cool little song. Ending this fun set is a Neil Young cover of "F*ckin' Up". If there was ever a band who covers Young the best, it's PJ- it's right up their alley. Over all, I think this is one of the BEST Live albums of all time (I've heard a large amount) and a MUST HAVE for any PJ fan. However, one MIGHT argue that with the release of hundreds of live bootlegs from '00 to '03, this collection may seem unnessesary. But I on the other hand find it all the more enticing for the over-all better quality of the sound and packaging. Not to mention, with all the live bootlegs out there, this one sits by itself and is truly unique. An excellent showcase of PJ's early material. If you are like me and are not crazy over Live albums, give this one a try- you might be pleasantly surprised.

This Album is a Keeper!!!
How can I say it without sounding chiche? I can't. This album ROCKS!!!! I don't know what else to say but that this is one of the best albums I've ever discovered. I acutally found it really really difficult to get a hold of a copy of it. Of course, I discovered it at a gift store I used to work at, and again, I found another love - On Two Legs. I tried going through small CD stores and ordering it, and I got nothin, I tried going online, and for some reason, I found nothing (I had no idea Amazon sells it). And then one day, when I was brousing a CD store with my boyfriend in Simi Valley (hundreds of miles from where I live)there it was. The only copy. And it was only 13 bucks!! I was stoked. I'm telling you, this album is so kick ass. I am not excited about, maybe, 2 songs on the whole album. The rest get me pumped and give me chills because Eddie is such a passionate and original performer and singer. Never does this album get dull. In fact, I always liked Pearl Jam before I discovered this, but I became a fan for eternity because of it. It has alot of the great songs ( missing Yellow Ledbetter, damnit) and they are in a good order - it flows well. Alot of the songs have extra little endings because all the songs are from various live shows. I love his virson of that Neil Young song (I'm drawing a blank of its name) at the end of "Daughter". I could go on for hours, really. Eddie is just such an awesome inspirtation in so many ways. So if you like Pearl Jam's sound, you'll LOVE it after listening to this album all the way through. Oh yeah, AWESOME versons of "Black"and "Betterman" on here. Do your self a favor - pick it up!

This is Live?!
The sound on this album is probably the greatest of any life album I have ever heard.Except for the cheers of the crowd between songs, it genuinely sounds like Pearl Jam was performing in a studio.This CD is nice because it gives a good collection fo songs from various Pearl Jam albums.Yes, there are a few omissions but I am not complaining.The highlight of the album is the version of "Daughter" performed hear.The song is typically around 4 minutes, but in this it changes course after 4 minutes to and stretches on spectacularly.That song alone made the CD worth buying. ... Read more

Asin: B00000FC86
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Rock Spectacle
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 November, 1996)
list price: $17.97 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

The band's goofy charm and sure-footed melodic sense is in full flower here, and the singalongs on "Brian Wilson" and "If I Had $1000000" are proof of the bond between band and audience. A hidden rap tribute to Ed Robertson's "Uncle Elwyn" is vintage Bill Cosby. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (124)

can't download as mp3 for my i-pod!!!
I would have given this great cd 5 stars, since I really love it, but I bought it because I wanted to download it as an mp3 to listen to on i-tunes (my computer with itunes has made my old cd player obsolete) & i-pod.How frustrating to find out that Warner Brothers has done something to the cd to prevent me from being able to download it -- a completely legal act!Argh!
I have since heard that this practice is becoming more widespread.Guess I'll stop buying cd's and just order songs online.Too bad for Amazon.

Almost as good as a full show
While I would have prefered a full, unedited, double disc, release of an entire live show, Rock Spectacle is a great example of how BNL are even more compelling live than their studio efforts suggest. There isn't a dud track on this release and songs like "Brian Wilson" are the best way to convert a BNL doubter into a full blown fan.

Timeless...
Sounds just as fresh today as when I bought it years ago.They may not sell albums like they used to, but this album shows why they rule as a live act. ... Read more

Asin: B000002NB7
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Jangle Pop    4. Post-Grunge   

The Sounds of Science
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 November, 1999)
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Editorial Review

Between 1986's Licensed to Ill and 1999's hits package, The Sounds of Science, the Beastie Boys matured from attention-starved brats to insightful, funky, trendsetting brats with an ace record collection and top choice in collaborators. And by staying in tune with their inner children, the Beasties have also managed not to drop off in fervor as they've continued to push their boundaries. How many other hip-hop/rock groups would be able to put songs as different as the hard-core "Egg Raid on Mojo" and the jazzed-out instrumental "Sabrosa" on the same collection? As well as a slightly deranged take on Elton John's "Benny and the Jets"? At a hefty 42 tracks, this collection has something for everyone--and manages not to skimp on the hits or pad itself with filler. Though it would serve well as an introduction, The Sound of Science is even better as a companion. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (138)

An Excellent Anthology
First things first, I hate rap. Especially people like 50 cent, and a whole bunch of other rappers that I don't even bother to remember their names. (I also really dispise how most rappers have about a million almost naked women in their videos. And you can't even understand what the hell they're saying!) But I don't know what it is about the Beastie Boys...Almost all their songs are catchy as hell, and hilarious at times. I like how these guys can make songs that are all totally different, and always sounding new and fresh. That's what I like about the Beastie Boys. Such as "Twenty Questions" which is bossanova. 60's bossanova? That's not Beastie Boys! But I love that song! And "Something's Got to Give" which is a cool song, with the weird bass, and the funky high pitched noises. yea, that may sound just a bit odd, but it's another great song. And "Time for Livin'" Which is just some hardcore rock. Also, "Root Down" which is extrememly catchy. My point is, that all these songs are great, and they're all unique, and all really different! Great album!

Buy This
I borrowed this from my friend just to have a listen. All those hits are on there, "Sure Shot", "Body Movin'", "Remote Control", "Sabotage", and all the others.
I particularly enjoyed a song called "Twenty Questions", and also "Something's Got to Give." Also, I liked their old metal-punk songs such as "Time for Livin'" and "I Want Some."
If you're a fan of the Beastie Boys, of course you must buy this to make your collection complete.

Only Halfbad
These guys actually show off some real music skills on some tracks. I must say that i don't like their hip-hop style but the rock they put out is pretty solid. These fellows got the skills to pay their bills for sure, that song is the only rap song i ever heard that had any impact on me. These guys got exactly what all the other hip-hoppers miss, charisma and tuffness. I've checked out some "hip-hop" records lately, recommended by a friend, and i have to say that this is much, much better then those stupid ho' hunters snoopy dogg and the, so called, genius.

2,5/5 only halfbad, great for a hip-hop album, some real singing actually. ... Read more

Asin: B00002NDUA
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Rap    3. Golden Age    4. Hardcore Punk    5. Hip-Hop    6. Old School Rap    7. Pop    8. Rap & Hip-Hop    9. Underground Rap   

Mama Said [Clean]
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (29 June, 1992)
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Editorial Review

Sometimes it's fun to take the albums of latter-day rockers and play spot-the-influence, and on Mama Said, it's like shooting fish in a barrel. "Always on the Run," with its punchy horns and emphatic vocals, is cribbed from Sly Stone. "What Goes Around Comes Around," with its understated arrangement and Kravitz's falsetto, is straight out of Superfly-era Curtis Mayfield. "Stand By My Woman" and "All I Ever Wanted," meanwhile, are so directly copped from John Lennon--lyrically, sonically, attitudinally--that it ought to be actionable. Younger fans might not care about any of this, of course, because in and of themselves, Kravitz's songs are tuneful, and they do rock. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Better than Lenny's debut???????
Very little reviews for such a popular artist.

And all I ask is why? As far as I'm concerned, this was Lenny at his apex. His debut release quenched my thirst for music which wasn't being released at the time. Mama Said, in turn, was more complete and a much crisper sound.

Sure there are influences throughout this release.......but what record doesn't have them? When I saw the "It ain't over.." video. I for one was thinking The Doors "Touch Me" video.

Other favorites;

Stand By My Woman
All I Ever Wanted
Fields of Joy

Not a bad track on here and nothing corporate at all.

For those who know what I'm talking about.......this WAS Lenny at his best......just like REM...just like U2....they all drifted from what got them there, to just putting out music having a catchy riff to apparently satisfy the record co's. I will assume this comes with age???

A pure rock and roll classic in my book!

Sound Over Substance
Lenny Kravitz's affection for the '60s and '70s runs much deeper than mere matters of his retro attire, or even his songwriting; deeply involved in the production of his own albums, he is, for instance, militantly in favor of analog recording methods that use tubes rather than transistors. Many newcomer's have failed at this unorthodox technique. The mistake is foolishly assumed that the method is perfected by just turning the reverb off - goes from the microphone to the amplifiers to compressors into EQ units that have tubes and back to the tape machine. Lenny has simply perfected a lost art.

Mama Said contains elements of Curtis Mayfield and Jimi Hendrix and Lenny's obsessions of Prince and John Lennon. Treading away from the psychedelic fixations of his debut, Lenny orchestrates his influences flawlessly - Mama Said sounds like it was recorded in 1972. The production is so carefully done that from start to finish the entire record captivates listeners - sweet soul and fuzzy hard rock. Mama Said demands repeat and is certainly a aural treat.

The addictive Philly-Soul sound of "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" is simply spellbinding. Though the rhythm is based around Earth Wind & Fire's "Thats The Way Of The World," it seduces listeners with sweeping strings, seductive horns, and lush arrangements to the deep rhythms. The number is smoother - even slicker - than anything Lenny has ever recorded. Most listeners will be pressed to believe Lenny wrote it himself. He successfully duplicates Curtis Mayfield on the extremely catchy "What Goes Around Comes Around" - which is possessed by a deep, dark groove, trademarked wah-wah guitar, stinging brass, and silky falsetto.

Sly & The Family Stone collide with Jimi Hendrix on the rampaging "Always On The Run" and retro Lenny displays his Lennon obsession with perfection on the brilliant "All I Ever Wanted" - which Sean Ono Lennon co-wrote and plays piano on. "Stand by My Woman" also borrows Lennon's signature echo-delayed vocals/piano signature for its verses, but shifts into lush harmony soul for the chorus. Often billed as the "divorce album," Mama Said is the srongest set of Lenny songs to date, with little filler and a close ear to getting that perfect sound. Though some of the lyrics have been painfully outdated, it doesn't really matter. Mama Said is just that great to listen to - it's a near flawless sound.

My favorite of his.
As much as I really loved his debut, and really every album since, this is easily the one I like most. Front to back it's just excellent, and includes a good split between the hard rockers, and the soft ballads. The hits from this were "Always On The Run" and "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over", but I like some of the others just as much. "Difference Is Why" has a cool guitar effect, and "What The F*** Are We Saying" is completely sweet as well. I also like the last track "Butterfly", which is a short love song, and one that I've put on many mixed-tapes. Though I think Lenny could do it, I think this one will be hard for him to top. ... Read more

Asin: B000000WHP
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. American Trad Rock    3. Neo-Psychedelia    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Rock    7. Rock & Roll   

Led Zeppelin
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (07 September, 1990)
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Editorial Review

Here are the original monsters of rock in all their epic, bombastic glory. The Who may have had more decibels (a dubious distinction), but no band took hard rock higher into the stratosphere than the Zep did with their cosmic mixture of deep blues, gothic melodrama, and the supernatural chops of Page, Plant, Bonham, and Jones. For listeners new to the Zep canon, there's no better primer of the band's range and power than this 4 CD box set, compiled and remixed in 1990 by Page himself. All the obvious song choices are here. But even if you've already heard "Black Dog" once too often on the car radio, this set wisely spotlights several overlooked gems, including their ultimate blues lament "I'm Gonna Crawl." It's a blueprint that later generations of head-bangers tragically failed to follow. --Steve Appleford ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (144)

"Band-Aid"
Bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who have one major thing in common.....the sum of the parts were much greater than the individual pieces.Can a single Zeppelin fan honestly say that Jimmy Pages' "Outrider" or Robert Plants "Now and Zen" could be filed under Zep...I DON'T THINK SO.For anyone to say this box set is less than 4-5 stars brings me to 3 conclusions: A)you were born in the 80's or 90's B)your favorite band is Hoobastank, but J.Lo is a close second or C)your a "i listen to everything person" but have a tough time naming another Led Zep song other than "Stairway to Heaven".I agree with another review that indicated some of the songs on his set could have been cut.On the flipside, why bother?Zep's worst songs are better than most new music within the last 10 years.For an individual who admits they are musically inept, but are willing to reform their bad tastes for something resembling people playing real notes/original music...consider Zeppelins' box set as a book that answers THE MEANING TO LIFE.

awesome set
i've had this cd set for about 14 years and i still listen to it.its worth every penny, only if you love led zepplin.

This is the best of the best
For any fan, especially a fan like me who has all the Zep on albums/tapes, this is a must.Just having "Hey Hey What Can I Do" and "Traveling Riverside Blues" on cd finally is worth it, although you can get "Traveling Riverside Blues" on the BBC Sessions which is also highly recommended.Sound and quality is fine and the booklet containing pictures and bio is well done. ... Read more

Asin: B000002IQ1
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Arena Rock    3. Blues-Rock    4. Box Sets (Audio Only)    5. British Blues    6. British Folk-Rock    7. British Metal    8. Hard Rock    9. Heavy Metal    10. Pop    11. Rock   

The Best Of The Doors
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $23.99 -- our price: $23.99
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Editorial Review

The Best of The Doors delivers exactly what it promises. Rather than relying solely on the hits, this collection also mines the darker, and often richer, recesses of The Doors material resulting in a fairly representative statement. The hits are here: "Light My Fire" with Ray Manzarek's keyboards on a dizzy, psychedelic spree; "People Are Strange," with Morrison's tortured psyche barely being held in check; "L.A. Woman," with its bluesy sexuality. More important, favorites of fans are here, like the controversially (at the time) explicit "The End," which was one of the first of Morrison's forays into narrative poetry. In hits like "Break on Through," "Hello I Love You," "Roadhouse Blues," and others, The Doors melded psychedelia, blues, hard-edged rock, and poetry from the edge like no other band before. The Best of The Doors is a trip in every sense of the word. --Steve Gdula ... Read more

Features

• Import

Reviews (149)

the doors album
well what can i say? im 13 years old and my band has been doing doors cover songs for 3 weeks now.(i play the guitar and sing)
we have been copying off this album. we have played this stuff at a few school events(talent shows,assemblies,music club,battle of the bands etc...)and everyone loved it.This album is tops off to listen to also.great stuff.we do hendrix and the sex pistols and ramones and a few motley crue too, and this has done the best.simply,it can't be beat performed.ha ha!....,man,this album ....in' kicks ass!!!!!!!oh, and im ollie of the psycho snakes

the doors album
well what can i say? im 13 years old and my band has been doing doors cover songs for 3 weeks now.(i play the guitar and sing)
we have been copying off this album. we have played this stuff at a few school events(talent shows,assemblies,music club,battle of the bands etc...)and everyone loved it.This album is tops off to listen to also.great stuff.we do hendrix and the sex pistols and ramones and a few motley crue too, and this has done the best.simply,it can't be beat performed.ha ha!....,man,this album ....in' kicks ass!!!!!!!oh, and im ollie of the psycho snakes

18 Tracks Just Isn't Enough
As I stated in my review for "Legacy: The Absolute Best", no collection will truly ever encompass the best work of The Doors. However, there are still some that are definitely worth owning. "The Best Of The Doors", an imported two cd set, isn't.

The reason that this collection gets three stars is because it is The Doors, one of the greatest rock and roll bands ever and music pioneers. There's some true rock classics here, such as "Light My Fire", "Break On Through (To The Other Side)", "The End", "Hello, I Love You", "Touch Me", "Love Her Madly", "L.A. Woman" and the chilling "Riders On The Storm". These are just some of the highlights.

The fact is, 18 tracks just isn't enough to cover The Doors. And while all the stuff on here is brilliant, there's some excellent stuff left off. For example, their brilliant reworking of Willie Dixon's classic "Back Door Man", one of their best known album tracks, is strangely omitted. Similarly, classics like "Not To Touch The Earth", "My Eyes Have Seen You", "The Changeling" and "Twentieth Century Fox" have also been omitted, and judging by the small amount of tracks on both discs, probably could have all fit.

My suggestion is that instead of this, you pick up "Legacy: The Absolute Best". It is also a two disc collection, but it has 34 tracks on it including all of the songs on here as well as all the songs that I mentioned should have been on here. It even includes an unreleased track, the seventeen minute "Celebration Of The Lizard".

So, while I guess this okay, I recommend either "Legacy", the boxed sets or the whole albums. This really isn't needed. ... Read more

Asin: B000002H22
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Proto-Punk    6. Psychedelic    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll   

From the Cradle
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (13 September, 1994)
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Editorial Review

The full-tilt blues album that Clapton had been promising for years, From the Cradle proves the guitarist's enduring devotion to a form he had long relegated to merely a flavor in his music rather than the main ingredient. Clapton's singing on the album is somewhat mannered; he tries to compete with original versions of these songs by Muddy Waters, Charles Brown, and others, and there's no way he's going to win that battle. Still, you can feel the emotional connection Clapton has with these songs, and guitar aficionados will swoon over his fretwork on songs such as "Third Degree," "Someday After a While," and the incendiary "Groanin' the Blues." --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (119)

This is my favorite Clapton album!
Look, I'm not versed enough in blues to be able to give you a comparative analysis, but this is just my personal opinion. This IS the very best of Eric Clapton. Eric names influences such as Robert Johnson, yet his typical guitar work, the work that has earned him the title "Slowhand", just doesn't do his talent justice. Sometimes I think Eric is too humble. He doesn't really showcase what he can do- especially in his more popular albums. This release however, Eric just cuts loose.. especially the last track "Groaning the Blues"- he just lets you have it! Eric's guitar groans and moans and gives you some of the most raw emotion ever heard from him. The album IS the reason why Clapton is such a stellar guitarist. To me, nothing in Clapton's past, from Cream to John Mayalls Bluesbreakers to any of his other solo releases, can touch the guitar mastery of this album. It's an unequivocal testiment to this man's gift.

I rank this CD above all else, including his newest "Me and Mr. Johnson". Compared to the newer blues release, this is grittier and seems more real.. you really feel it in Clapton's voice when he sings these songs..it doesn't sound contrived like I think "Me and Mr Johnson" has a tendency of doing. Hope this helps.

WPCR-10120 - Japanese Import - A Musical Masterpiece!!
Are you lookin' for the blues? Than this is the album for you!!

This review is based upon Warner/Reprise catalogue number WPCR-10120 (Japanese import). This particular reissue is unique for 2 reasons: First, this is the only remastered version of the album currently available. Secondly, the outside packaging is made mini-LP style, with a gatefold layout that has all of the original liner notes and photos. I love the way they list the tracks on the back as "Side A" and "Side B". The cd, itself, comes housed in a protective, padded, platic sleeve, which slides into the side of the packaging, much as the old LPs did.

O.K., on to the actual album review...

This is absolutely, without a doubt, Eric Clapton's best album to date. Yes, indeed, this is a no-holds-barred, ..., down-home, bare-bones, blues-infused masterpiece of the highest caliber!! My favorite track is "Sinner's Prayer". ("If I done somebody wrong, have mercy, if you please" - Yeah, baby!, Yeah!.) Oh, yes, this album is chalk full of great tunes from beginning to end.

You'll note that EC wastes no time in getting to the good stuff... The opening track is a jammin' number, entitled "Blues Before Sunrise". Crank this one up, LOUD!! The studio version of "Five Long Years" presented here, is good, but the live one, from his "Hyde Park" dvd, is outta-sight! There is one really unique track on here, and that is "Standin' Around Cryin'". On this one, EC tries his hand at a completely diffrent style of singing and succeeds!! (I can't explain it. You've got to hear this one for yourself.) The radio hits are here too, "Motherless Child", "I'm Tore Down" and "It Hurts Me Too". Of course, this album wouldn't be complete without "Hoochie Coochie Man"; yet, another one, EC loves to play in concert.

Lastly, I would like to quote a brief statement in the liner notes, I think audiophiles, like myself, will find of particular interest: "THIS IS A LIVE RECORDING WITH NO OVERDUBS OR EDITS EXCEPT FOR DOBRO OVERDUB ON 'HOW LONG BLUES' AND DRUM OVERDUB ON 'MOTHERLESS CHILD'" - What this means is, you're not going to get an album produced by Phil Spector, who patented the now infamous, "Wall-of-Sound".

Probably not for everybody
If you like the type of thing Clapton does on a CD like Pilgrim then this is not the Clapton for you. However if you love the blues roots that Clapton draws his soul from then you'll love this. This is the Clapton that blues fans waited years for. He takes these old blues numbers and puts his own distinctive style on them.
For my money this is a better CD even than Me and Mr. Johnson. Although I too am a big Robert Johnson fan I would rather hear an artist put their own spin on a tune than to just try to sound like the original. ... Read more

Asin: B000002MTU
Subjects:  1. Blues    2. Pop    3. Rock   

Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 September, 1991)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

With valuable assistance from producer Rick Rubin, the Peppers find just the right blend of punk, funk, and hip-hop. Even with a running time of 74 minutes, this 1991 breakthrough has continuity and cohesion both within and across the 17 cuts. Riding Flea's surging bass, Anthony Kiedis delivers his explicit lyrics with a rapper's flair, extolling the virtues (and outlining the dangers) of sex and drugs. Plaintive ballads such as "Breaking the Girl," "I Could Have Lied," and the hit "Under the Bridge" give the album depth and provide contrast to the raw energy of "Mellowship Slinky in B Major," "Funky Monks," and "Give It Away." Rubin masterfully fuses John Frusciante's raunchy guitar with the irresistible grooves. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (295)

Jeremy Brackeen Is Correct - RHCP Rule!
I'm glad that Bozo faggot's account was deleted. The Red Hot Chili Peppers is one of the best funk rock bands to ever exist. This album suits as a fine example. "Give It Away" is the definite highlight to such a classic album, and you can never go wrong with Flea's unforgettable bass. "Under The Bridge" is my personal favorite, as it wants to make you cry. That song is so good that it will always be a favorite of mine, especially with Flea's bass. "Breaking The Girl" is another great song like "Under The Bridge", as it is less overrated and very touching as well, but not as memorable. "Suck My Kiss", "Sir Psycho Sexy" (a hilarious song) and "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" are also unforgettable classics on such a great album.

You may also know that this record is the only one to feature guitarist Erik, while John Fruscinate takes an absence after "Mother's Milk", which is also a classic. A staple to anyone's CD collection. This is rap rock done right. Screw Limp Bizkit, long live RHCP!

Get a life Bozo! RHCP rule!
How dare you insult this work of art. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the greatest rock bands ever, and Blood Sugar Sex Magik is a classic album. Every song on here is great especially Give It Away and Under The Bridge. Those are the two songs that got me into this album. Breaking The Girl is another great song. It brings tears to my eyes whenever I listen to it. Anthony Kiedis is a great singer, and he sure as hell can rap better than that whiny P.O.S Fred Durst. Flea is one of the best bassists in rock. He can do slaps, pops, I mean anything unlike that loser from Limp Bizkit who just reapeats the same lines all over and over. John Frusciante is a good guitarist who can lay down some cool funky riffs and rip some pretty good solos as well, and Chad Smith is a good drummer as well. Overall this is a great album and every rock fan should own it. RHCP rule!

One last word to Bozo: WE CAN LISTEN TO WHATEVER WE WANT, SO F*CK OFF LOSER!

From a former RHCP addict
I first got into the Chili Peppers when I heard Californication on my friends cd player when I was maybe 11 or 12. It was right when it came out. I thought, this is pretty cool.

About a year later, I owned all of their CDs, two shirts, and a sticker for my bass, which I had started after buying this album. My addiction to the Peppers flamed out about a year and a half ago, when I saw them live with three of my best friends, all of whom also loved these guys.

After I started listening to other types of music, I listened less and less to the Chili Peppers. I still have a giant amount of respect for them, and they are a great band, but from my standpoint, this albums a little long, and gets a little tiresome after the first 11 songs. You should definitely buy this album, it is true that it demonstrates the Chili Peppers at their most "unique" stage. I only wish it was a little shorter. ... Read more

Asin: B000002LQR
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative/Indie-Rock    3. Bass    4. Funk Metal    5. Pop    6. Rock   

Odelay
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (18 June, 1996)
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Editorial Review

Beck brags here that he's "got two turntables and a microphone." He also has a sweeping aesthetic that sees no reason why musical allusions to hip-hop, the Beatles, James Brown, punk, Gram Parsons, cool jazz, and Dylan can't coexist in the same song. Throughout, he rap-sings with sincere irony--I bet he laughs at the sight of a jump-suited Elvis, then cries when the King starts to sing--and Odelay's rich collage of sound may very well prove a prediction of the future. If he ever finds the courage to can the loopy metaphors and just tell a story, he could take over the world. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (162)

It Depends On What You're Looking For
If you are simply looking for something unique, this CD will probably tickle your fancy. Beck is pretty ambitious in combining as many genres as he can, using samples and many different musical styles to form interesting tracks from start to finish. The problem, however, is that he is not very good at any of the genres, and the result is a collection of pretty disjointed, below-average tunes. He usually begins with a solid idea---a good piano/guitar riff or a sample---and then changes course. Occasionally the songs are catchy ("Devil's Haircut", "Where It's At"), but the melodies are overly simplistic and repetitive, which tends to become annoying after a while. The final track, "Ramshackle", is the only effort on the album that maintains any kind of flow, but is marred by boring writing. On the whole, this is a pretty bad album if you care about complex melodies, fluent compositions and good vocals.If, however, your merit judgment is based solely on the uniqueness and far-reaching attempts of the composer, regardless of whether or not they are successful, then you will be pleased to hear Beck try to do things that nobody else is doing.

Beck's Best
When this album came out in 1994 it was groundbreaking in its merging of rock and electronic epherema.While it has been overrated and blown out of proportion in the last 10 years, this is indeed a great album and probably Beck's crowning moment.The opening salve of Devil's Haircut, Hot Wax, and Lord Only Knows stand along with Beck's masterpiece on this album, Where It's At, and go with his punkier numbers like High Five, the odd Derelict, Ramshackle, and Novocaine.From front to back this is just a great album and one that should be your starting point if you're just getting into Beck.

More gloss, stronger melodies on sophomore major label work
There are those who dislike melody in comparison with "experimentalism"..those who favour lyrical inscrutability as "depth"...those who see accessibility as a cardinal sin compared to more "authentic" lo-fi barebones production. They will see "Odelay" as a "step backwards". They will be wrong.

Beck hooks up with the Dust Brothers on this album and it has the immediate effect of making the hooks hookier, the melodies more indelible, and tracks that are admittedly filler sound better in comparison to the weaker tracks on "Mellow Gold". Beck's lyrics here also seem at times more personal and it enables me to "connect" more with the music.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Jazz drumming meets blues harmonica on smash single "Devil's Haircut". It features the great line "Stealing kisses from the leperous faces" in what seems to be a song about the rampant materialism in modern America. "Jackaxe" combines 60s Carole Kaye-style bass (listen to a Beach Boys record..) and the sound of alt-country into a song about finding yourself in a rut ("I've been drifting along in the same stale shoes/Loose ends tyin' a noose in the back of my mind". The song stampedes into hip-hop territory near the end. "Where It's At" may be the perfect party anthem and at the same time perfectly showcases Beck's "let's throw the record shop into a Cuisinart" sensibility combining jazz sax, turntable scratching, old school rap samples, shreaking feedback, and thrift shop kitsch into a truly artful way to shake your tuchas. "Sissyneck" is a snarky look at phonies who dress in cowboy chic as a way to fake machismo. The track is a shotgun wedding of country guitar and funk.(There's a good helping of irony here as Beck is apt to do this himself. For what it's worth, he cuts them slack as he's introduced this in concert as "a song about how it's OK to be whack".) "Ramshackle" is a tender acoustic tune that celebrates the community of the poor (It's semi-autobiographical as Beck was near homeless at various times before hitting the big time.) It ends the album on a low-key introspective note, though it's a bit out of place among the genre-stapling of the rest of the disc. "New Pollution" is, according to Beck, a song about information overload. The woman in the song is "alone in the new pollution" because she resists the tide. It's an intriguing image but I have to admit I like this more for the catchy musical appeal than any attraction to the message here.

LOWS:
"High 5" is where the pastiche officially runs amok. (As Beck said 'We spent weeks on that one. That's what I got for a lot-putting three or four songs into one.') It sounds like it..in a bad way. It's a messy collision of Schubert, hip hop samples, scratching, 70s funk, distorted vocals, and keyboard blips..a low-rent version of "Where It's At". "Minus" is a fairly confused fusion as well. I believe the song's about corporate exploitation of black rage via gangsta rap but the song's too slapdash musically to make an impression.

BOTTOM LINE:
Beck here gets a better budget and creative assistance from the Dust Brothers and finds a way to stay experimental but make it accessible. If you're new to Beck, this is probably the best starting point. ... Read more

Asin: B000003TBP
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Whatever & Ever Amen
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (18 March, 1997)
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Editorial Review

Think of Ben Folds as Billy Joel minus the Tin Pan Alley heritage and armed with a sweet, wry, slacker ethos. In a guitar-free trio setting, the Chapel Hill smart guy pounds the ivories with gusto while singing a tremendous batch of funny ("Kate"), poignant ("Brick," "Evaporated"), pissed-off ("Song for the Dumped"), and hugely refreshing (all 12 tunes here) songs. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (233)

A classic
One of the most endearing and frusterating things about Ben Folds (Five) is his (their) refusal to take things seriously. Ultimately, it resulted in a couple dreadful self-parodies (the title track of the otherwise excellent "Rockin' the Suburbs"), but on "Whatever and Ever Amen", there's a strong balance.

Thus, you have lighthearted pop ("Kate") mixed with heartbreaking ballads ("Brick"). Folds is a very talented piano player, and it's backed (on the rockier numbers) with Robert Sledge's amplified bass and Darren Jesse's solid drumming to give them a unique sound. It's like a giant blender full of Joe Jackson, Todd Rundgren, The Pixies, Beck, Weezer, XTC, Burt Bacharach, more.

On songs like "One Angry Dwarf.." and "Song For the Dumped", Folds' lyrics are spiked with bitterness and anger, yet he never feels *truly* pissed off when he sings lines such as "Give me my money back you bitch" (the chorus of the latter). Perhaps any anger is overshadowed by the delicious pop hooks.

Other highlights include the lush jazz of "Selfless, Cold and Composed", the New Orleans jazz-tinged playfulness of "Steven's Last Night in Town", the theatrical ballad "Missing the War", the insanely catchy pop of "Battle of Who Could Care Less", and the sophisticated-yet-silly "Fair".

In terms of writing catchy, engaging hooks, Folds is a master here. That's what makes "Whatever & Ever Amen" so memorable. Whether it's a humorous pop song or a melancholy ballad, everything is so hooky and infectious.

Great CD!
Nothing lacking... excellent songwriting, funny lyrics, great piano!One of the few CDs I can listen to start to finish.

an album to live to.
i started off with ben folds live, saw him live (and died of sheer amazement but was reincarnated just in time to write this review), and then i received this baby for christmas.

i don't need to make a detailed list of all the tracks on this album to describe how f'n excellent it is.each of them tells its own story of being a human today--you'll laugh, you'll think, and you'll maybe drive a little too fast when it's on the car stereo. ... Read more

Asin: B000002BOJ
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Core
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (29 September, 1992)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Reviews (178)

Greatest dubut album ever. Period.
STP should and will go down as one the greatest rock bands of the last twenty years, if not all time, and this album is the main reason why. Four songs (should be five with dead and bloated) off this album are on the greatest hits, more than of any of their four other albums. This album also has, what is in my opinion, the greatest rock song of all time in "Plush". The guitar riffs of Dean Deleo along with great bass lines by his brother Robert and the absolutely awesome drums by Eric Kretz mix together perfectly with Scott Weiland's vocals to create one the best bands ever. It's to bad they only lasted eleven years. So if you know what's good for you, you need this album. Anyone who knows what rock is (i.e. Metallica, Alice in Chains,and Pearl Jam, NOT Green Day, The Killers or Moroon 5 who can all BURN IN H**L!) needs to own this as well as all of STP's albums... even Tiny Music. You won't be sorry!

Great album lost in the shuffle
Of all the great music to come out of the early 90's that is. With Nirvana and Pearl Jam acheiving international success by 1992, a band from California by the name of Stone Temple Pilots released Core towards the end of 1992. Initally written off by critics as a Pearl Jam ripoff, i can assure you, this most definatley is not. Different lyrics, song structures and just how different Scott Weiland and Eddie Vedder are in concert. STP stood out on their own and made a brilliant debut album and it would only get better from there with 1994's Purple.

For the whole album
but what makes Core one of the best was the song entitled "Plush", a milestone for rock if there ever was one, easily one of my picks for best song of the 90's with Scott Weiland belting out the chorus "AND I FEEL IT, AND SHE FEELS IT", other awesome songs include, wicked garden, sex type thing, naked sunday, where the river goes...hell, they're all great. ... Read more

Asin: B000002IU3
Sales Rank: 1544
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Grunge    3. Hard Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock   

Jar of Flies
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 January, 1994)
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Editorial Review

While not their most definitive album (that honor belongs to 1992's Dirt), Jar of Flies represents an important step in Alice in Chains' recording career. Witness "I Stay Away," which is made up of equal portions of hummable guitar riffs and the spookier, scarier, more grinding elements that most fans associate with Alice in Chains. This song most clearly delineates the dichotomy that was a highlight of the band's sound--Jerry Cantrell's listenable tunes and often gorgeous arrangements (just listen to what he does with "Whale & Wasp"!) and Layne Staley's growling vocals, which are just the teeniest bit flat. The collection as a whole, brief as it is, has an elegance that's unusual for metal. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Features

Reviews (190)

A different kind of metal, Flies is short, but sweet!
Written and recorded in about a week, Jar of Flies solidified Alice in Chains' somewhat bizarre pattern of alternating full-length hard rock albums with mostly acoustic, ballad-oriented EPs. That quirk aside, Jar of Flies is a low-key stunner, achingly gorgeous and harrowingly sorrowful all at once. In a way, it's a logical sequel to Dirt - despite the veneer of calm, the songs' voices still blame only themselves.

Jar of Flies is about living with the consequences, full of deeply felt reflections on loneliness, self-imposed isolation, and lost human connections. The mood is still hopelessly bleak, but the poignant, introspective tone produces a sense of acceptance that's actually soothing, in a funereal sort of way. Jerry Cantrell's arrangements keep growing more detailed and layered; while there are a few noisy moments, most of Jar of Flies is bathed in a clean, shimmering ambience whose source is difficult to pin down, but is well served by Cantrell's varied guitar tones and even occasional string arrangements.

Perhaps Jar of Flies would have gotten more credit if it had been a full-length album.Even so, this is still a gem to treasure for any 90's rock fan!

1. Rotten Apple
2. Nutshell
3. I Stay Away
4. No Excuses
5. Whale & Wasp
6. Don't Follow
7. Swing on This

Mindblowingly amazing
Truly a testiment to Layne and Jerry's songwriting and playing abilites, Jar Of Flies was a huge step in AIC's career as they tune down the guitars and go all acoustic on this one, but that doesn't stop it from being any less awesome, Rotten Apple still sends chills down my spine to this day, the 6 other tracks are truly kick a$$ as well, including Nutshell, I Stay Away, No Excuses, Whale & Wasp, Don't Follow and the trippy Swing On This, maybe the best EP of all time.

Now this is what I call, "White Power"....
This whole album is absolutely unbelievable.I honestly mean this from my righteously intetional heart, truthfully perceived mind, and nourished soul.

This is exactly why I honest wish to forever remember for his philosophical thoughts, but never about his drug abuse.WE all do drugs, because we all have bad habits.It's just that only a very few are honest, and strong enough to confess their own f**k*n guilts!!!

These are my favorites words within this album:

Innocence is over! Ignorance is spoken!Confidence is broken!Sutenance is stolen!Arrogance is Potent!That is so very unreal!How coincidential is this, and I thought I was the only one who was supposedly living in "The Big Rotten Apple", NY.

Nutshells words are just perfect.But unfortunately, that's most likely the main reason why so many people are against honest explanations!

Why you act frightened, I am enlightened, your weakness builds me, so someday you'll see.According to my preferrence, I think I Stay Away is actually the best song on here, after Rotten Apple, and No Excuses.

No Excuses words are perfect, and this song is so damn fun when you really put your heart to it.

That's about it, though.Whale & Whasp, and Don't Follow is relaxing.Swing on this just sounds like a drunk, and wasted country dude, who just totally lost control.But anyway, swing on this is still enjoyable =^)

And oh yeah before I go.We are really supposedly living in "The United Illusions of America", because pathetically enough, In Money We Trust"...

Deceived We Stand!!! ... Read more

Asin: B0000029F8
Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Grunge    4. Hard Rock    5. Heavy Metal    6. Pop    7. Rock   

You've Come A Long Way, Baby
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 October, 1998)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Norman Cook's bubble-gum techno songs--put out under a variety of guises over the years, including Pizzaman and Freak Power--are essential staples on any international dance floor. Fatboy Slim, however, is the former Housemartin's most successful incarnation, launching a Top 40 crossover hit and popular advertising jingle with last year's "Going out of My Head." You've Come a Long Way, Baby picks up where the smash single left off, cheekily pairing acidic synthesizers and drum machines with big, dumb vocal samples. It takes considerable effort sitting through an entire album of these energized tunes, but taken in small doses, songs like "The Rockafeller Skank" and "Soul Surfing" are like rays of sunshine. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (280)

The big beat classic!
This is one of my favorite techno CDs, along with mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession" and the Chemical Brother's "Dig Your Own Hole".
Here it is, the big beat classic by which all others are judged. Fatboy's signature style of building up a song, tearing it down and quickly exploding it in the listeners face is present on serval of these tracks. "Praise You" and "T.R.S." will get the casual listeners attention, but tracks like "Acid 8000", "Soul Surfing" and "Gangster Tripping" will make them fans for life.
This CD came out in 98, so if it's not in your dance collection by now...you need to pick it up today!!!

I LOVE This!
I have to say, until recently, I'd only heard Fatboy Slim songs on TV commercials... not knowing who the artist was, but kind of liking the songs until they got annoying!

Then my friend played this album and I was hooked! I bought it right away. We actually used the song "Love Island" (best song on the album) as our Movement with Music project in our acting class and everyone loved it!

I probably like this CD more than non-dance/big beat/club music fans would, but I think in general most people would like it a lot. Every song is great and you can actually listen to this album from start to finish, which isn't true for most music out now. Fatboy Slim is an awesome artist!

PRAISE HIM LIKE YOU SHOULD!!!
Six years after it's initial release, I've finally gotten around to getting Fatboy Slim's "You've Come Along Way, Baby!"--although I'm ashamed to say from one of those used CD bins. HEY!One man's trash is another man's treasure! The reason for my tardiness is I'm usually turned off by artists, groups, CDs or songs that get too much attention or airplay!In fact, I usually stray away from them! Fatboy Slim was/is definitely one of those artists.All that said, I was thouroughly impressed with this guy's skills as a DJ/mixer, although at times some of FBS' music becomes repetitive, nerve-racking and down right noisy.That notwithstanding, songs like "Right Here, Right Now", "You're Not From Brighton" and "Acid 8000" are winners (IMO)!Is "You've Come A Long Way, Baby!" a classic?...depends on who you ask...but without a doubt it should be in every club heads's CD collection. ... Read more

Asin: B00000D9VL
Subjects:  1. Dance Music    2. Pop   

Crash
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (30 April, 1996)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
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Editorial Review

It's tempting to label the Dave Matthews Band as torchbearers of the Grateful Dead's moderate rock fusion and send them off on the next summer tour featuring either Blues Traveler or the Spin Doctors. But there is more at work here, particularly on the band's second major-label release. Crash pairs soothing sounds (flute, acoustic guitar, six-string bass) with a dark emotional undercurrent. The South African (by way of Virginia) frontman reveals a rare intensity on the title track and the free-form "41," while the group shows that it's not afraid to let loose on songs such as the stirring "Too Much." Producer Steve Lillywhite adds an impressive sheen to the recordings. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (375)

TheirBest?
This album is great from start to finish. Probably their best. Under the Table and Dreaming is also great. A lot of great songs here. PERIOD

Greatness
If you're a longtime DMB fan, you shouldn't have to look at other people's reviews.You know that you have unique favorites and some songs don't appeal at first to beginners.This review is for those who are new to DMB:

1. So Much To Say - 7/10 - Welcoming guitar rythm, catchybeat.I recommend downloading it for beginners.

2. Two Step - 10/10 - Incredible. The intro sets up the song beautifully for the famous "Celebrate we will" chorus.Many fans' all-time favorite song.

3. Crash Into Me - 8/10 - You've probably heard it. Radio friendly song.

4. Too Much - 7/10 - Jazzy uptempo song. Another good one.

5. #41 - 9/10 - One of my favorites along with Two Step.So smooth, so good.

6. Say Goodbye - 7/10 - Not for beginners. Although it is undoubtly a great song, it takes time to appreciate it.

7. Drive In Drive Out - 6/10 - For beginners. It will appeal for the first listen, but after a while it falls down the ranks as others move up. But there isn't a poor song on this cd anyways.

8. Let You Down - 6/10 - Not one of their most well acclaimed songs. Skip it.

9. Lie In Our Graves - 9/10 - I love it. Loved by everyone I know. Highly recommended. You can't go wrong.

10. Cry Freedom - 7/10 - Not great, but not bad.If you're a new fan, stick to other songs.

11. Tripping Billies - 9/10 - Another great song.Upbeat, and loved by everyone.

12. Proudest Monkey - 8/10 - A long mellow song. Not bad though.

In conclusion, this albums is a good place to start.So Much To Say, Two Step, Crash, Too Much, #41, Lie In Our Graves, and Trippin Billies are songs that should be listened to first.

Great stoner album.
This album is great to listen to in the evening, just as the sun is setting while being stoned and in love. ... Read more

Asin: B000002WYT
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Gordon
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (28 July, 1992)
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Editorial Review

On this, their debut recording for a major label, Canada's quirkiest musical troupe introduced the world to their unique blend of scathing humor, skillful musicianship, and flat-out fun. Packed with songs that have become anthems to their adoring fans, Gordon is practically a collection of Barenaked Ladies' greatest hits. This CD features "Brian Wilson," an homage to the biggest Beach Boy and an exploration of the relationship between art and neurosis; "Be My Yoko Ono," a musician's entreaty to his winsome muse; "Box Set," a relentless indictment of one-hit wonders and washed-up rockers; and the staple sing-along "If I Had $1,000,000," which you can walk around humming all day without getting bored. Literally every song on this disc features the intelligent lyrics, tight arrangements, and astonishing vocalizations that BNL have made their stock-in-trade. It's a winner all the way around. --L.A. Smith ... Read more

Reviews (144)

Roots and derivations
This very early Barenaked Ladies disc shows their background and their sourcing of ideas.Some of the songs are very well produced, others are not.What struck me first -- and other reviews haven't really addressed -- is the frequency with which the songs on this album are derived from particular other songs or song styles.

Sometimes these relationships are obvious -- for example, the vocal harmonies in "Brian Wilson" are Beach Boys style harmonies but without the high falsetto. (The harmony on "Be My Yoko Ono' on the other hand reminds me more of the Four Freshmen.)'Box Set' musically relates to bossa nova, but even more directly to Barry Manilow's Copacabana.The take-off is well done enough so it's not immediately audible, but if you listen to these two songs one after the other you can almost see the Barenakeds yukking it up in the background.

The most direct quotation, though, is the even less likely "I Love You" which is scored like, performed like, and features harmonies similar to several Manhattan Transfer songs.It even includes an excellent take off on Cheryl Bentyne in the verse that goes "You've given me a start, I ain't no doctor ..." that's sung really quickly, (just as C.B. often does).

For those who only know the Barenakeds from their recent radio outings, "Everything to Everyone" is probably a better choice --it has better production values and somewhat better songwriting, plus it's more consistently like itself -- there's fewer musical references to other things.

If you want to hear the Barenakeds from the early days, when they listened to lots of different music, and did takeoffs of it, and could have gone on to be what they are today -- or could have turned out to be another Weird Al Yankovic -- type band -- this record's really fine.

One of my 100 favourite CDs ever
I shy away from making pronouncements about "best ever" until I've had at least 5 years to live with a CD. Often a disc you thought brilliant in 1995, when you were looking for "something new" to listen to, seems just average when you look at it in the cold grey light of 2005. It's now 13 years later and I still find myself putting this disc in the player and singing along almost the whole way through.

The Canadian band, for those not initiated, plainly have a love for melody, often trade in strong harmonies, adore pop culture, and believe that a good sense of humour is a good thing, avoiding the pretentions of "serious" musicians. That's not to say they don't have anything to "say"....just that it's usually buried under the surface and you have to find it for yourself.

Their fascination with pop culture shows itself two ways...in frequent medleys of covers of current pop hits they're fond of throwing into concert sets (anything from Prince's "When Doves Cry" to Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious") and tossing in riffs and references. Here they namecheck Duran Duran, Star Trek, the Our Gang series, Michael Landon TV shows, Yoko Ono, the Elephant Man, Rush, Styx...and that's just a few of them.

Singling out the "best" songs is difficult, but the songwriter's lament in "Brian Wilson", geekdom ode "Grade 9", whimsical "If I Had $1,000,000" and obsessive long song "Be MY Yoko Ono" are criminally catchy.

Besides those, others that rate nearly as high include "Box Set" (which alternates between pity for the singer's fans buying it "Maybe it's a lack of inspiration that makes me stoop" and himself because he's not allowed to evolve by fans who want the 'hits' ad infinitum "Every time I try to do something new, all they want is 1973"), the juxtaposition of tender and creepy in "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" (it leaves you wondering if the song's main character is trying to renew a battered relationship..or if he's singing it to a lover he's killed in an effort to keep her with him forever), the on-again off-again lovers of "The Flag" and the boyband salute in "New Kid (On the Block)".

Perhaps the biggest tribute to the staying power of this disc is it that it's multilayered. I'm still hearing musical parts and countermelodies afresh...still pondering turns of phrase for new nuggets.

There are a few misses that keeps it out of the 5 star range. The sound effects laden "King of Bedside Manor" crosses the line from whimsy into inanity for me, "I Love You" is too slight to really connect and "Crazy" is why there's a 'skip button'. But out of 15 songs, 12 are good to great and that's rare. And the best ones are so superb that I keep coming back.

4 1/2 stars

The best band by a huge mile & great CD too
I first found out about the Ladies from the QuickTime samples of an old Mac OS 8 Install CD (There Apple Masters btw) & have been hooked ever since.

I have to say this is my favourite out of all there CD, I'm not saying it's there best or they have not done better or evolved musically since this CD as I believe they have. It's just one of my all time favourites.

The thing I love about the Ladies is there sense of fun, whimsy, heart, soul & mateship (listen to the commentaries on there DVD's there so funny!). Also the fact that musically there brilliant & Stephen Page has a voice that an angle would be envious of. Check out there live CD's cause when Steve sings 'Break Your Heart' live... well you know the reason I'm a huge fan & you should be too.

Just get this CD & the rest of them too & the DVD's, Inflatable dolls, T-Shirts, action figures, etc... I am sure the Ladies all need new kitchens or help putting there kids through school or retire to houses in the country. Also you will be doing yourself a huge musical favour too!

There music won't cure the common cold but my god it will make you happy your alive! ... Read more

Asin: B000002LU8
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Canada    3. College Rock    4. Jangle Pop    5. Pop    6. Post-Grunge    7. Rock