Fire
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Audio CD (20 May, 2003)
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Editorial Review

Electric Six is the most exciting band to come tumbling out of Detroit since Kiss. Sporting grimy leisure suits and hilarious stage names (the guitarists are known only as Surge Joebot and the Rock and Roll Indian), the ragtag group comes up with a deliriously catchy disco trash sound on its smart, hyperactive debut. Studio 54 horns mingle anxiously with AC/DC-influenced garage riffs, while frontman Dick Valentine rants maniacally over jerky, suggestive punk-funk songs like "Gay Bar" and "I'm the Bomb." Plus, rumor suggests that single "Danger! High Voltage" features the White Stripes' Jack White on backing vocals and, less plausibly, Bill Clinton on saxophone. How cool is that? Very. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Very Random
This band is very random yet its hard not to like their music.

cool retro feel
Anyone interested in some over the top, cheezy synth rock will enjoy this disc. Is this a ground-breaking record? No. Is it fun to listen to and worth a few bucks? I think so. It won't change your life but you will shake your rump. And someone needs to tell the Amazon reviewer that Kiss is not from Detroit.

DANGER! HIGH VOLTAGE!!!
Hooo yeah.This album just kicks the crap out of everything.It's so stupid it's great.Here's the rundown:A weird mix of disco and heavy metal with a lead singer who looks like a young Kelsey Grammar.The lyrics to every song are about sex, fire, nuclear war, and dancing all rolled into one.This album is hilarious, but it also delivers some truly excellent riffs and really catchy songs.Plus, "Danger! High Voltage" has guest vocals from a certain John S. O'Leary, alter ego of The White Stripes' Jack White.This album breaks all the rules, and is a great kick in the ass for anyone who listens to hip hop or emo.The Electric Six are a strange bunch, but they have the ability to create excellent music. ... Read more

Asin: B00008VAJE
Subjects:  1. Garage Rock Revival    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. United States of America   

On Fire
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 October, 2002)
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Reviews (2)

Heavy 70's stuff
This latest Spiritual Beggars album again has the classic 70's style hardrock, complete with Hammond organ, and a very heavy modern sound and production.
This band is very different from Michael Amotts other band Arch Enemy, but has the same quality, and it's remarkable that you cannot hear any Arch Enemy influences.
The songs are very good and mature, with tasteful solo parts and good arrangements so you get the feel for the songs easily.
Sometimes they dive very low and deep (Young Man, Old Soul - intro... wow!) but the band can also be friendly and warm (Killing Time).
Spiritual Beggars new singer (JB) is the real bonus for me on this record, he has the heavy, raw hardrock voice that fits in so well here.
Deep purple with a much heavier sound, Black Sabbath with a much better singer, that's what you get if you buy this record.

High flames
Spiritual Beggars finally has the production they deserve, while I liked AD ASTRA, I found it very noisy and almost suffocating.
On "ON FIRE", the sound is much clearer but still very heavy.
The compositions are more mature, more open.The opening track-Street Fighting Saviours-is in the PURPLE mood, the second track-Young Man Old soul-sounds like a heavy SABBATH track, the whole album is filled with 70's sounds or riffs or keyboards-The return of the HAMMOND-but Spiritual Beggars has a sound of its own and its very own style.Check out the fabulous BLACK FEATHERS and its impressive middle part or the ambitious instrumental FEJEE MERMAID.
I still think they haven't found the right singer yet or that maybe the ex-GRAND MAGUS singer should ajust his voice and contrast it more along with the music.
A great album for Heavy metal fans,"stoner"freaks and 70's addicts. ... Read more

Asin: B00006JSD6
Sales Rank: 146233
Subjects:  1. Heavy Metal    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Stoner Metal   

By the Grace of God
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (18 September, 2002)
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• Import

Reviews (10)

Infectious as plague!!!
Man, this album is as infectious as the world kind of plague around! The tunes are all melodic and hard as hell, all of them with generically simple riffs. But it works, I assure you.

Hmmmmmmm...................
Great rock album. Gotta kind of wonder what happened in between Payin' The Dues and this album. This album is much more slick and restrained with a more clean sound. Definitely a lot of time spent on production. Kind of lost the harder more punk edge. Definitely has kind of a "classic rock" feel to it. Songs have more structure and are more radio friendly. Different from the stuff I've heard from them previously...but not "bad" different. Just different. Took me by surprise most definitely.

Good, But Tame & Commercial Compared To Previous Works...
This is a must have cd for any fan of the band.For the uninitiated, however, "ByThe Grace" is not the best place to start if you want to experience the harder rocking, MC5 inspired sound, which put the band on the map."Grace" contains more melodies, has better "production" and a tighter sound than previous albums, but personally that means commerical success (not quite a sell-out at this point).The twin guitar attack is mellowed in the mix in favor of song structure and overall restraint.At times the band comes off sounding more like the Romantics than MC5.But again, that's my personal opinion.I'm a metal head by trade and tend to view the albums from that perspective.
So if you like your "hard rock" a bit on the mellower side (even though that might be a contradiction in terms), this album might be for you.But if the intro to "Kick Out The Jams" is what moves you, opt for previous albums "Payin' The Dues" or "Grande Rock". ... Read more

Asin: B00006L82G
Sales Rank: 149587
Subjects:  1. Arena Rock    2. Garage Rock    3. Hard Rock    4. Heavy Metal    5. Pop    6. Rock/Pop   

Save Rock 'n' Roll
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 October, 2002)
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Reviews (7)

THIS IS IT
THIS CD AND THE HELLACOPTERSPAYIN THE DUES.. THIS IS ROCK AT ITS BEST THESE 2 CD`S ARE ROCK N ROLLS ZENITH, PINNACLE,THERE IS NOWWERE ELSE TO GO AFTER THESE CD`S.THIS IS ROCK AT IT`S FINEST HOUR.LOOK GOD`S EVEN NODDING HIS HEAD.FORGET EVERTHING U THOUGHT U KNEW ABOUT ROCK ,,,,,THIS,,IS,,,,IT...AND THE HELLACOPTERS,,,,PERIOD

The Best of the Swedish Invasion
The Flaming Sideburns US Debut sets out to save rock and roll,more specifically, it tries to save garage rock.Normally, garage rock albums tend to get boring after the first five songs because you hear ,literally, the same three chords over and over again.Such is the case with Englad's garage band, the Datsuns, and with New Zealand's own D4.The problem with most garage bands is that they are great to see live, but not that great on record.However, this Finlandish band know how to keep garage rock exciting, energetic and captivating on record, as well as on stage.If you are into garage rock, but think that the currrent garage rock bands are kinda boring, then definitly order this album because it willrestore your faith in garage rock bands.

The Flaming Sideburns From Finland
Guys.. One big mistake :)

The Flaming Sideburns is as finnish as a band can be. FS is Helsinki, Finland based band.

The Hives and The Hellacopters are from Sweden, The Flaming Sideburns from Helsinki, Finland..

Though this record is great, the new Flaming Sideburns album "Sky Pilots" (will be released outside Scandinavia autumn 2003?) is MUCH better. Personally, I think it's better than any Rolling Stones album. ... Read more

Asin: B00006L85W
Sales Rank: 37392
Subjects:  1. Finland    2. Garage Punk    3. Garage Rock    4. Pop    5. Punk Revival    6. Rock    7. Soul   

The Music
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 February, 2003)
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Editorial Review

Leeds, England’s much-touted the Music signal their intentions with the opening track of their debut. "The Dance"’s swirling psych-rock intro, Beatle-esque "yeah yeah yeah," crashing guitars, and dub effects, topped by Robert Harvey’s vocals, tell one and all that this bunch is not about subtlety. The Music gives a sideways nod to the Stone Roses' Second Coming, but it is mainly a wild mix of Led Zeppelin blues metal and the stadium end of 1980s alt-rock. The lyrics are little more than excuses for Harvey to howl and wail, but the constant twin-guitar work of Harvey and Adam Nutter keep you enthralled by its sheer recklessness. It's a breath of fresh air to hear a British indie band that’s unafraid to rock. --Garry Mulholland ... Read more

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Reviews (67)

Addition
If I was to compare it to anyone, I'd give it a comparison to Jane's Addiction.Not just because of the vocal stylings, they have that 'sonic' feel, for lack of a better term.Wish they got more respect than those flash in the pan pans too, but hey at least I get to see them in a small venue next month.Those into the indie scene or just looking for something a little different, give them a try.Oh yeah, and don't download it... buy it!!

Just Super
I can tell honestly, that i haven't heard, through some years, nothing better than this staff. This staff just rocks. Drums, vocals and guitars are sensational. Buy this CD and you don't have to regret.

The Music soothes the soul
I first saw this band as a warm up band for Incubus.It was a different style of music I never heard of before; it was pretty sweet. The lead singer has an interesting voice and bisarre dance moves. Not in a bad way, but in a way you can listen and watch over and over again. The Music soothes the soul. ... Read more

Asin: B00008A7PW
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Bass    3. Britpop    4. Drums    5. Guitar (Electric)    6. Indie Rock    7. Pop    8. Rock    9. Synthesizer    10. Vocals    11. Vocals (Background)   

The Real Thing
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (15 June, 1989)
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Editorial Review

Faith No More are virtually impossible to categorize; they blend metal and rap elements in a mix that becomes seamless on The Real Thing, whose hit single, "Epic," is a perfect combination of these disparate genres. Other high points are the thrashy "Surprise! You're Dead!," an excellent cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs," the funk-layered-with-keyboards "Falling to Pieces," and the soft but spooky "Zombie Eaters." With the addition of vocalist Mike Patton, the band secured a highly talented frontman and skilled lyricist. The Real Thing is one of those rare albums that is impossible to quantify but astoundingly good. More accessible than the follow-up Angel Dust, it's also the first album new Faith No More listeners should get. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (80)

BIGGEST, THE BEST!
This is a review, not only for "The Real Thing". This review is applicable to the entire FNM discography, one of the brightest discographies in R'N'R history.

Absolutelly the best BAND ever!!

This is Rufo, a spanish fan of FNM. I discovered them when I was a child (now I'm 28...), and, from the first moment, I became an inconditional fan of Mike Patton and his madness. They show me a new concept around rock music; they make me feel so high.

THANK YOU, GUYS FOR A DECADE OF TRANSGRESSION AND ART.

Peace!!

Some great material, some filler.
Faith No More's "The Real Thing" was in many ways, the band's real debut-- with vocalist Mike Patton joining during the recording sessions, replacing the departed Chuck Mosley.The music was evidentally written already, so Patton's contributions really were only in the vocal realm, but what a difference he'd make.At the age of 20, Patton shows remarkable confidence in his vocal, sliding between an almost r&besque croon, a rock shouted vocal, and a ferocious rap effortlessly.While this is somewhat limited compared to the diversity of vocal delivery he'd do in years to come, it certainly is a startling debut.

Musically, the material is of mixed quality-- the band seems to be best when they're a bit overblown, take the hit single "Epic" with its sweeping synth lines and funky rhythms, and Patton moving between rapped verses and a wailed chorus, the superb "Falling to Pieces", which probably best illustrates Patton's vocal diversity, the totally overwhelming "Zombie Eaters", featuring an acoustic introduction a remarkable range of styles from both the vocalist and the band, or the jazzy, piano driven ballad "Edge of the World", showing the band can tackle just about anything, even if its got a little bit of a pretentious feel to it.There is, however, an abundance of sort of straight and dull filler material, particularly in the middle of the record where the songs just don't stand out, culinating in a completely self-indulgent and dull instrumental, "Woodpecker from Mars", presaging the sort of prog-metal instrumentals that would become prevelent 10 years later and a faithful (and boring) cover of "War Pigs".

The band had higher heights to reach, creatively speaking, in the future, but this is their commercial peak.And certainly this is the album that allows Patton to pack clubs, regardless of how experimental his music gets.But I'd probably start with "Angel Dust" if you're a fan of his work.

Think you're original?
Faith No More, Being the first album featuring their amazing Singer Mike Patton (I think this is the first Album he was in).This Album Out does introduce yourself by leaps and bounds in styles, sounds, and over all funk.Event he cover of War Pigs had me blown away.Mike Patton influencing the others as it seems with a few off the wall songs and lines like "Look at me lady I'm just a little Baby."

simply amazing, get this album. ... Read more

Asin: B000002LHA
Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Funk Metal    4. Hard Rock    5. Heavy Metal    6. Pop    7. Rock   

Tender Is Savage
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (08 August, 2000)
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Reviews (3)

what a revelation......
Well, I bought this CD based on one MP3 on the net ie. "I Got A War". A strategy which sometimes works, but rarely does it pay off like this. Leading off with the abovementioned kick in the ribs, two things are immediately apparent. One, Biff Malibu actually sings! The vocal is definitely not your average punk/rock/Stooges type yell, it has more in common with some of the great blues rock singers of the past, in that it sounds well lived in. Secondly, the guitars are right on the money, and when the first riff comes crashing in, you know you are in the presence of greatness.
For mine, this is far better than anything the Hellacopters have done, in that it doesn't sound retro. It sounds as though Gluecifer are more concerned with the songs themselves, rather than the style in which they are delivered. And of course this strategy wouldn't work if the songs weren't there. This is not a problem. I could go through and list some highlights, but they would only be MY highlights, and yours will be entirely different, and mean as much to you. The only let down is the absence of the enhanced video for "I Got A War" on the bonus disc. Oh well, see? There you go, proof they are human......... P.S. it would be awesome to see them live, but as I live in Australia, I've got more chance of seeing Henry Rollins play live in a t-shirt and jeans. So go see them for me. Bastards.

Way Better Than You'd Expect....
...given the title which sounds straight out of Spinal Tap. Gluecifer sounds like the Stooges sometimes and early Cult a lot of times. Good by me!

High energy hard rock n roll is hard to come by. So what if the lyrics are dicey - the vocalist sings them with conviction and who really cares about the lyrics in this genre anyway?

Recommended.

bare bones rock and roll
this is the best band that i've been introduced to this year hands down. the vocals are similar to glenn danzig and the music is played hard loud and fast with so much passion. with band like this, backyard babies, turbonegro, and the hellacopters around, my faith in rock and roll is at last restored!!!!!!!. ... Read more

Asin: B00004W5LQ
Sales Rank: 117917
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Murder Ballads
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 February, 1996)
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Editorial Review

Nick Cave's been writing songs about killing and other evil things since he first surfaced in 1980 as the Birthday Party's pale, skinny, goth-punk Jim Morrison. But the murder ballads that provide this set's title are different, tantalizingly deliberate. Sure, there's plenty of trademark Cave here, but Murder Ballads is a fascinating concept album that uses the narrative ballad form of the English folk tradition to tell of murder: random deaths, passion crimes, and killing sprees, all in one package.Cave clearly thrives in this genre, and he produces some of his sharpest and most facile writing to date. "Song of Joy," a genuinely scary campfire mystery of a murdered family and an unnamed killer, chillingly weaves clues into the lyrics, while "Where the Wild Roses Grow" is a narrative duet in which killer (Cave) and victim (pop star Kylie Minogue) reveal parallel tales. Cave even shows his knack for adaptation on Bob Dylan's "Death Is Not the End": he recontextualizes a song of heavenly comfort into a sort of zombie "We Are the World" (featuring Minogue, PJ Harvey, Shane MacGowan, and others) in which "death is not the end" of pain and suffering.Above all, Murder Ballads should be heard as a work of pulp fiction--as sensationally funny as it is harrowing. The already violent traditional song "Stagger Lee" becomes gangsta folk, so ridiculously packed with obscenity and brutality it would make the Geto Boys cringe. And Cave's (unintentional?) point to would-be censors--that bad-ass songs existed long before rappers polluted the airways--should not be missed. --Roni Sarig ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Brilliant
1. Song of Joy."A story of a man and his family."Long ballad that simply builds like a majestic gothic murder story."Are you beckoning me in?"Against my better judgment, sir, yes I am.You sing good and you sure know how to start an album off strong.Draws upon, and quotes from, John Milton's Paradise Lost.
2. Stagger Lee. Nick Cave reworks the old folk song with an electric guitar and a pounding backbeat.Staggering.
3. Henry Lee.Another traditional ballad. "And with a little penknife held in her hand..." PJ Harvey duets with Cave on the third creepy, haunting ballad.
4. Lovely Creature. Written by Cave.Wind organ and Katharine Blake `la la la' background vocals give this an innocence violated feeling.
5. Where the Wild Roses Grow.Cave song, with Kylin Minogue.An eerie, melancholy song that gives voice to a murder victim.
6. The Curse of Millhaven.Swirling, fast, mad ballad."All God's children gotta die."Lottie serves as a self-therapist recounting a number of murders in the small town of Millhaven.Very black humor.
7. The Kindness of Strangers.Drum, guitar and Cave's vocals in a relatively quiet song about `poor Mary Bellows,' who forgot to `shun the company of strangers.'Not a good plan on this album.
8. O'Malley's Bar.Long (14 minute) stream-of-consciousness tale about a show-down in a bar.
9. Death Is Not the End.Cave delivers Dylan's ballad with a gospel feel.A disturbing end to a disturbing album.

Drawing on traditional and contemporary sources, as well as a couple of his own songs, I think Nick Cave's "Murder Ballads" is brilliant in both conception and execution. It's probably not to everyone's taste, but if it doesn't offend it will surely enthrall.

Scary as hell, and that's good!
My first Murder Ballads experience was the song "The Curse of Millhaven". Immediately I fell in love with it, and I had to have the CD. I realized that several of the other songs, too, are very good. "Stagger Lee" is a very sinister tune with a killer groove to back it up. "Where the Wild Roses Grow", even though it's Kylie Minogue, is a beautiful song. Nah, on second thought, Kylie doesn't bother me that much. The album, although very creepy, has a couple setbacks. I was having a testy day once, and I just happened to be listening to this. I was driving, it was raining, and I was cut off. The music actually made me angrier. So, don't listen to it when you're ready to kill, it will give you ideas. Plus, the album kind of moves slow. It is good, but it takes so long.

Great CD just a little slower than expected
I bought this cd before listening to the whole album. I actually bought this cd souly for Stagger Lee, but if your in the right mood, the whole cd is amazing. The lyrics are deffinetly not held back and are not for the weak at heart but are truly amazing and well thought. This cd is a little slow if your interested in heavier songs like Stagger Lee. But this is overall a great album. ... Read more

Asin: B000002N5S
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

An Innocent Man
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 October, 1998)
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Editorial Review

Fittingly for an album celebrating early- to mid-'60s pop and blue-eyed soul, An Innocent Man (1983) spun off six hit singles. Between the social concerns of The Nylon Curtain and this record's bopping tempos and blaring horns, Joel was at a peak of craftsmanship--the ultimate proof perhaps being the Chipmunks' rendition of "The Longest Time," which did absolutely nothing to diminish the song's winning charm. Much of America's enduring affection for Joel stems from this disc, and rightly so.--Rickey Wright ... Read more

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• Original recording remastered

Reviews (55)

Billy continues to Master New Horizons with a Retro Theme
By the time 1983 had rolled around, Billy Joel had amassed an amazing string of high quality albums.Billy's work starting with "Turnstiles" through 1982's "The Nylon Curtain" has to be considered the most creative of his career.During this time, he had achieved incredible commercial success with "The Stranger", "52nd Street", and "Glass Houses". The follow-up to "Glass Houses" was "The Nylon Curtain".Although this collection didn't sell as well as some of the previous albums, it was probably the most creative album of Billy's career.On this album Billy explored some socially conscious themes."The Nylon Curtain" also demonstrated just how much The Beatles had influenced him.But probably the most powerful statement is that Billy was able to create set of songs in which the instrumentation creates an image of the song. (i.e.as you listen to just the music of "Allentown", you can almost visualize the Allentown, Pennsylvania). No doubt, Billy had been dabbling in exploring new horizons following "52nd Street". His follow-up to "The Nylon Curtain" was his 10th studio album called "An Innocent Man". This would show Billy's most ambitious exploration to date - a tribute to those artists that pioneered the early days of Rock and Roll.In other words, it would be a late 50s/early 60s musical style - for each and every track on the collection..It would be a 180 degree turn from the "darker" "The Nylon Curtain".But perhaps the biggest surprise was that not only did he do a good job, but it marked a bounce back for him in terms of commercial sales.

I look at Billy Joel's career as having three phases.The first phase is what I call "Old Billy Joel".This basically includes all of his material from "Cold Spring Harbor" through "Turnstiles". These are perhaps the strongest days as the piano sound, but they also contain most of Joel's least heard material. The next phase is what I call "Middle Billy Joel".This was his most successful period and covers from "The Stranger" to "Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2".Joel would go through a transition during this phase - expanding his musical horizons and exploring different avenues.The final phase is the "Later Billy Joel" phase - this covers "The Bridge" to "River of Dreams".No doubt, "An Innocent Man" is a Phase 2 album as it explores the late 50s/early 60s theme.This includes a mix of Doo-Wop and Soul.As mentioned this album was a commercial bounce back for Billy - this was helped from some very creative music videos (namely "Uptown Girl" and "Tell Her About It").

On "The Nylon Curtain" one big change that Billy had made was a departure from a large amount of horns being used in his music.On "An Innocent Man", the horns are back in full force.The disappointment is that Billy's longtime Sax player, Richie Cannatta is not back to play the horns. This role is filled by a variety of horn players

The last four studio albums by Billy Joel had showed incredible depth in the music.While I applaud the effort of how Billy was able to pull off the 50s/60s theme, the songs aren't quite as deep as they were on the previous albums. Billy also incorporates areas of his personal life.This was the time when he was beginning his relationship with Christie Brinkley. There are two songs about her on this album. The most widely known song is "Uptown Girl" where Billy is a "downtown"/street-wise guy who falls for the "Uptown" (high society) girl - Christie Brinkley. Billy does a great job at masterfully integrating a 50s. "Grease" style of music to it. The lesser-known song is "Christie Lee".Although lyrically this may be a tribute to Christie - listen to the music of this song carefully.This is as close to a tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis as you can get - complete with his trademark piano and horns.

Billy's soulful "Tell Her About It" is the strongest song on the collection. It has a definite "Ed Sullivan" era feel for it.Although I am not a fan of videos because it spoils my vision of a song, this video was perfect for the song.Billy plays "BJ" the lead singer for "BJ and the Affordables" who get their big break to sing on Ed's show.The video highlights their performance as well as everyone getting into the song.This is a toe-tapping song and is a big contrast to some of the "darker" songs he did on "The Nylon Curtain".

Doo-Wop is alive and well on the tunes "The Longest Time" ,"This Time", "Careless Talk"."The Longest Time" features a very street-wise a cappella that once again demonstrates Billy's ability to conquer new horizons."This Time" almost has a feel for a late 1950s romance - complete with the doo-wop background vocals."Careless Talk" has a Doo-Wop feel that deals with gossiping.Although not a Doo-Wop song, "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" makes heavy use of the harmonica - combined with some great vocal ranges by Billy - the retro feel alive and well.The title track "An Innocent Man" is a nice ballad that will grow on you as you listen to it.

Although not my favorite track, "Keeping the Faith" is an interesting one.This track still maintains the retro sound.This is the collection's final track and it is one where Billy reflects back to the era (as well as justifies) he sings about.Just as the song closes, Billy sings "Now I told you my reasons; for this whole revival.... I'm going to listen to my 45's; Ain't it wonderful to be alive; When the Rock 'n' Roll plays".

The lyrics to all of the songs are included.All musician and production credits are listed.Although not his strongest effort, this is still a very good effort and proves that Billy is able to do something different.Highly recommended.

Billy goes back to his rock roots, and has fun doing so.
"An Innocent Man" was released in 1983 to the hunger of many fans. Joel received a lot of controversy from his last album, "Nylon Curtain", an album that featured many socially conscious messages. Joel threw the messages in the back, and went to work on an album where he could let it all hang out and just have some fun. The result ended up being his best selling album from the 80's, and also one of the best albums of the decade and of all time.

Joel was a musical version of a chameleon. He could go from piano ballads one moment to light hearted pop and rock the next to socially challenging music. "An Innocent Man" gives proof that one of Joels stronger music sides is light hearted pop-rock. This could be a reason to the wide success of the album. Another could be that the album has something for everyone, and even the pickest music critic could find something to love.

The album salutes the rock and doo-wop of the 50's and 60's, the music the Joel grew up listening to, and what would influence him to become a singer-songwritter himself. The album starts off with "Easy Money", the upbeat song from the movie soundtrack of the same name. Nothing too great about the song, just an upbeat song with not too much redeeming value. The next track, the title track, is the most deep and introspective number on the album (maybe a foreshadowing of the direction Joel was heading with his music in the future). It sets up the mood for the rest of the album. Joel is a man with a serious case of 'tiude, but he has found a new love, and though he has been burned once before, he tells himself he is ready to try again. The pulsing base in the background reminds people of the song "Under the Boardwalk" by the Drifters. Again, this album is a tribute by Joel to the music he loved as a child. The song would be one of the six charting singles that the album would launch!

Other songs on the album include the Frankie Valli inspired "Uptown Girl", the story of a rich girl falling for the down and out boy. The song, a Joel pinned classic for his then girlfriend (future wife, now ex-wife) Christie Brinkley, was a hit with it's happy tempo, it's colorful beat, and it's amazing music video, where Joel plays a garage grease monkey to the beautiful Christie. A classic tried and true. "The Longest Time" is a doo-woop classic, another tribute to new found love. "Keeping the Faith" is about Joel remaining positive about the future, regardless of how much he enjoyed his good ol' days and the past. "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" is a breezy song in the Otis Redding vein about the fears guys have when courting a girl that they are attracted to. The song in a way is pretty humerous and is truthfully honest about the fears guys have! "Tell Her About It" is in the vein of the Beatles (lyrically and musically, also the Fab Four were a HUGE influence to Joel), where Joel tells guys not to let go, to try for the girl and tell her how they feel. The song hit number one, and launched a very humerous video with Joel being the main act to an Ed Sullivan-like parody show (Again, referring to the Beatles). Some of the album tracks are strong as well, such as "Christie Lee", a song about manipulative girls, "Careless Talk", a song about the harmful effects of gossip, and "This Night", a ballad that goes to another Joel influence: classical music (an influence that would take over his rock/pop music career in the not too distant future...)

The album is great, but two things deter it. One, this would be the last lightweight pop-rock album from Joel. He would shift to more introspective albums, which meant for more complex numbers, but less consistancy in future works. Secondly, Joel and Brinkley eventually would call it quits, which I think hit at Joel and left a bad taste in his mouth, and today he rarely plays numbers from this album. Numbers from this album are rarely played on radio as well, hurting the overall value the album has. This also further testifies that one of the reasons Joel cut this album was as a testiment to his love to Brinkley. Now that their love is no more, the album probably doesn't hold much value in the eyes of Joel.

If you are looking for a Joel album, and one that could make you smile, "An Innocent Man" is a good album to pick up. Granted that Joel would change his musical direction after this album, and that compared to his other works it's pretty light pop, but it's still a lot of fun to listen to, and will definitely put a smile on your face.

The classic album from 1984
Billy is a classically trained pianist but he opted for a career in pop and rock music. He has proved to be a remarkably successful singer-songwriter. It is said that he has sold more albums within the USA than any other solo performer except Garth Brooks and Elton John. Neither Billy nor Garth ever achieved anything close to that level of success in Britain, but Billy has fared better than Garth (whose UK recognition level is quite modest) particularly due to this album, which yielded five UK hits including a number one (Uptown girl), a top five hit (Tell her about it) and a top ten hit (An innocent man). Given his American popularity, I'm sure he did even better in his homeland but I haven't checked. The success of this album means that many tracks from it are available on his hits compilations but the other songs here are well worth a listen.

Billy deserved all the success he had with this album as the songs are great - all of them, not just the hits - and the musicianship and production are also superb. The album opens with Easy money (a song about an optimistic gambler). Next comes the title track, which is not about a prisoner wrongly convicted - it is actually about a man protesting to his woman that he is innocent of the deeds she accuses him of, but she won't listen to him any more. Great stuff. In contrast, Billy sings about different aspects of new love in The longest time and This night.

Billy gives a great piece of advice in Tell her about it - if you love somebody, make sure they know how much you appreciate them. Billy wrote Uptown girl as a tribute to his wife, but something went amiss in the years that followed because she is no longer his wife. Careless talk is a cautionary tale about gossip. Another cautionary tale follows in Christie Lee, about a woman who wants a man's possessions but doesn't want the man.

Billy offers more advice in Leave a tender moment alone - however, it is clear that he has difficulty following his own advice. Billy closes the album with a song about his past, Keeping the faith.

So this is an album that can appeal on many different levels - the brilliant, rhythmic music makes this great to play as background music but the lyrics are very thoughtful and will offer much pleasure to those wanting to give this album undivided attention. ... Read more

Asin: B00000DCHG
Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Album Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Singer/Songwriter    7. Soft Rock   

Scandinavian Leather
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (06 May, 2003)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $11.98
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Editorial Review

Scandinavian Leather is rock & roll hedonism in its highest (i.e. lowest) form, combining the theatrics of Alice Cooper, the campiness of Queen, the degenerate glam of Motley Crue, and the urgent punk-rock spirit of the Ramones. Less punk than 1996’s Ass Cobra and more rock than 1998’s excellent Apocalypse Dudes, Scandinavian Leather is everything a proper rock album should be: there’s pomp (strings pop up on "Wipe It ‘Til It Bleeds" and again on "Fuck the World"), shout-along anthems (check out the driving, fists-in-the-air chorus of "Remain Untamed"), and even the occasional, self-indulgent guitar solo. Songs like "Sell Your Body (To the Night)" and "Train of Flesh" are dark and seedy, but the danger is cartoonish. Fortunately, this bunch doesn't make music to be taken seriously; they make music that rocks. --Robert Burrow ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The best of Turbo I've heard, hands down
I'm a Turbonegro fan ever since a friend a couple years ago sent me a tape of Apocalypse Dudes. (FYI - Rob Halford is the best Metal singer ever!) This is the 2nd album of TN that I have purchased. I must admit I have not heard any other TN albums besides this and Apocalypse, but I just want to say - yes, this was a huge departure from Apacalypse Dudes.When I first played it, I didn't know what to think. It has introduction music and it is just different in alot of ways. But it totally rocks.It is now my favorite TN album and I would highly reccomend it to anyone. I am purchasing this one, instead of Apocalypse, to give to my brother-in-law for his birthday. That is how much faith I have in this album. And while I am here, I am purchasing the other two TN albums that I do not own for myself.- Buy this with confidence.
- Michele Flipside
Flipside Fanzine

arrrrrr!
it might not be their best album but dont let that stop you from buying it. it is a good album and because of it i f@#kin love turbonegro, it was the first TN album that iactually bought but it was definitly not the last one.

United Turbonegro College Fund
This band has progressed from sloppy punk to punk to punk/rock to rock/punk. Every album has been better than it's predecessor including Scandinavian Leather. The quality of performance and songwriting as well as the recording quality has improved considerably.They seem to be taking the music more seriously while still not taking themselves too seriously despite what some heavy metal pussy reviewers might say. If you like real rock just buy it. ... Read more

Asin: B00008XEPO
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Garage Punk    3. Hard Rock    4. Indie Rock    5. Norway    6. Pop    7. Pop-Metal    8. Punk    9. Punk Revival    10. Rock    11. Rock/Pop