Editorial Review

Chronicling The Replacements' gloriously tempestuous decade on a single disc ostensibly seems akin to reading Cliff's Notes for the New Testament: No sooner do you grow fond of the protagonist than they've nailed him up. And if that comparison sounds a tad sacrilegious, perhaps you underestimate the Mats' hallowed place in modern rock history--and the hearts of their ardent fans. Yet somehow even this condensed format focuses the songs of Paul Westerberg and playing of bandmates Bob and Tommy Stinson and drummer Chris Mars into a dramatic arc that can't be denied. The initial tracks of this 20-track collection display a band joyously besotted by nascent punk thrash, yet one not so different from the scores of similar bands tearing up local clubs in the '80s. Read more

Reviews (16)

Unreplaceable?
Ahh the Replacements. That band you've heard about for so many years but have no idea what they sing. Well as intended, here's the new first choice for the casual fan. This is better than their past collection because it draws from more than just 4 albums, sounds great, and is 20 tracks. The last 2 are "new" songs by the way, both decent. The first half of this disc is awesome. Song after song of primo 80's alternative. The later songs I still dig too, so they're a bit more polished and pop. "Alex Chilton" and "Can't Hardly Wait" might be the biggest hits here, but "Bastards Of The Young", "Achin' To Be", and "Merry Go Round" are great as well. I actually wish "Talent Show" was here too, but that's just me. Anyway, new fans or old, don't fuss over what's missing, just love what's here. I'd say this would go well with Paul's "Besterberg" disc.

Welcome to the (anti) legend
Normally when you browse amazon for replacements or westerberg/stinson related material, all of the "customers who bought this item also bought" entries are similar replacements/westerberg/stinson/etc. albums.Look at the list now... not another Minneapolis rocker to be found at all.
Not quite everything, but pretty close
Listening to this album brought me back to my teenage years growing up in the burbs, but made it seem like I actually had fun.Starting with the early punkier stuff to go with my early adolesent rage and wanting to get drunk to the later more mature songs of heartbrake and relationships, and wanting to get drunk.It's a good trip down blurry memory lane. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Underground    3. College Rock    4. Hard Rock    5. Jangle Pop    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. United States of America   

Reviews (207)

Whether you like it or not, this is a classic.
The CliffsNotes version - ragtag Seattle band Nirvana unleash an album with a naked baby on the cover to the public, a video does well on MTV and suddenly there's a new style of mainstream music to exploit. Before you can say "I'm gonna break my rusty cage," a slew of imitators immediately came in the wake of the initial hoopla. The biggest band of this first wave of the newly-coined "grunge" movement was Stone Temple Pilots.
The "Core" of this band
Amidst a sea of grunge and alternative music, STP rocked.Some of the best known-hits were "Wicked Garden" "Plush" and "Sex Type Thing."On the lighter side of things, "Creep" got it's share of well-deserved air-play too."Sin" "Naked Sunday" & "Crackerman" were some others with a driving rock sound.
One of the great albums of the grunge era (4.5 stars)
The Stone Temple Pilots released their debut album, Core, in 1992. At the time, the grunge movement was in full swing as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains had become superstars. Some fans and critics were taking a lot of shots at Stone Temple Pilots, claiming that the band had jumped on the grunge bandwagon. However, many more music fans ignored these accusations and concentrated on the music. Although the band's sound certainly resembled their grunge counterparts, Stone Temple Pilots' songs had more hooks and were catchier. The fact that many of the songs still get regular airplay on modern rock stations is a testament to the strength of their music. Although future albums such as Purple and Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop respectively would show the band expanding their musical horizons, Core remains their most enduring and consistent album with a few songs becoming staples of the grunge genre.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Grunge    3. Hard Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

If Nirvana's Read more

Reviews (109)

Remembering Creed
After three albums...it's a shame, but Creed decided to call it quits.
Where is Scott Stapp
I liked creed's music ever since I was in high school, however I just think creed is just not the same without Scott Stapp

um
wat i dont get is why creed came out with this greatest hits, after only 3 cds. thats not enough for greatest in my opinion. i think you have to have more than like 5 or something and actually have greatest hits. the only song i like is 'Higher', otherwise they're not my favorite.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Post-Grunge    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Two years and a pair of band members have passed since My Morning Jacket's Read more

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Reviews (140)

An amazing listen
I bought this album at the same time I bought Yoshimi by the Flaming Lips at a time when I was becoming very discouraged by modern bands and modern music in general. Jaded by those bands that sounded great upon first listen but lose their appeal after only a few spins (The Strokes being the most obvious), I decided to take a chance on these two albums I heard about from Paste Magazine (a great music mag!) and was absolutely blown away. Yoshimi was the favorite, right off the bat, but Z by MMJ just stayed with me. I would plug it in every week, listen, and hear something amazing I didn't hear before. Some new guitar solo, or subtle drum break. And so I started listening twice a week and now I listen to MMJ (not just Z, but other albums as well) at least once a day! Their music is something that has affected me on a deeper level, something that has not happened for almost 16 years (since Primal Scream's Screamadelica in 1991). Start here, then do yourself a favor and delve deeper into their back catalog and buy them all. Including their early version compilation albums which are worth the price due to the inclusion of their cover version of EJ's "Rocket Man", among others.
Great Album, it's one of their best!
I love this album and still listen to it frequently, MMJ is a great band because their music is always changing and every new album from them is like opening a new gift for Christmas.
The Best Album of 2005!
Not much to say about this except it is the best album released in 2005! While different from previous MMJ releases, this album proves to contain the most well-crafted songs and shows the band matured, but still weird. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Dream Pop    4. Neo-Psychedelia    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. United States of America   

Reviews (32)

Take a risk and check them out
I first heard Kill Hannah on a tour with Clear Static and Shiny Toy Guns earlier this year. I was hooked with the first set I heard from them. (I went on to hear them twice more in the next 3 days.)
Buy this cd.
If you are unfamilar with Kill Hannah, then buy either of their albums available here on amazon.
Glam rock that shifts gears often enough to cause engine damage.
As elegant as it is over the top, as sophisticated as it is bombastic, Chicago based Kill Hannah's second major label offering balances between excess and subtlety while never letting one outweigh the other. High energy glam rock anthems like 'Love You to Death' and album's first single 'Lips Like Morphine' hold nothing back while slower and decidedly mellower selections like 'Black Poison Blood' and 'The Collapse' recall the pleasant, drawn out melodies of Smashing Pumpkins' later days. While this balance of polarized song styles makes for a varied and enjoyable record, sometimes the group delves a bit too far into each side. Some tracks go beyond being subtle, becoming dull and tedious ('Statues Without Eyes') while others are almost too over the top to be taken seriously (see the 80's synth pop excess of 'Crazy Angel'). Overall, Until There's Nothing Left of Us is a solid and enjoyable effort and the album's excellent last three songs more than compensate for its few steps in the wrong direction. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dream Pop    2. Emo    3. Glam Rock    4. Indie Rock    5. Neo-Glam    6. Pop    7. Post-Grunge    8. Post-Hardcore    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop    11. Shoegaze   

Reviews (35)

A Rare Derivative Band That Actually Rocks
Despite the dumb name (and it is dumb) this band is unique in that you can hear their influences as clear as a bell, but you don't care because the music is so good. They cycle through the influences on nearly every song: Stone Temple Pilots, Ozzy Osbourne, Tool, Alice In Chains, Pantera, etc... But in the end, the band rocks. The lyrics are perhaps the only weak point, but these guys seem very young, giving them plenty of time to mature. The songs are fast and quick and the lead singer, who sounds like an odd cross bewteen Scott Weiland (STP) and John Popper (Blues Traveler), runs through a range of screams and shouts with a variety of emotions. He's not a great singer, but he gets the job done. The powerful drumming and endless onslaught of growling guitar riffs is what ultimately propels this band along. They sound like what Kid Rock would sound like if he had a real band. Comparisons to Chevelle, Nickelback, and Stone Temple Pilots are fair, but this is a good band in its own right.

Not as good as these reviews lead you to believe
I heard Lonely Train and was intrigued.Then I read all the 5 star reviews and comparisons to Led Zeppelin and all the other greats so I thought this was a can't miss. This does not live up to all that hype.These guys are like Nickelback with better guitars.Granted there are some nice riffs on here and it's good to hear a guitar solo now and then but this band is nothing special.They are just typical radio rock.Don't buy all the comparisons to Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Sabbath or any of that.These guys are more like a southern rock version of Nickelback or Creed or Saliva ... something like that.But if that's what you're into you'll probably love it.

Best straight rock of 2006
Now, this isn't really my prefered type of music. But I know good when I hear it. As for it sounds like Skynard? Nope. I'll say this: take Nickelback, add balls, add a splash of Black Crowes and another dash of Southern Rock, and finally a huge helping of your favorite 80s metal band (Priest/Sabbath). For a debut CD, this thing is fantastic. I hope they're around for a long time. This CD could use another slow song or at least a change of tempo mid-CD. I love it starting out with Rain Wizard which will really take you back and then end the CD with Rollin On which will evoke modern day hard rock. Great CD and they'll only get better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Bass (Electric)    3. Drums    4. Guitar (Electric)    5. Hard Rock    6. Heavy Metal    7. Organ    8. Pop    9. Post-Grunge    10. Rock    11. Rock/Pop    12. Southern Rock    13. Vocals   

Editorial Review

Neko Case's third solo effort is a moody, atmospheric affair that both satisfies and mystifies. Recorded in Tucson with a stellar band that includes Calexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino, Read more

Reviews (79)

So Original
This is quintessential Neko Case. This cd says it all. The singing is so sensual. The songs have a deep sense of longing burried deep within. The whole cd really is over the top. "I Wish I Was the Moon" is deffinately a must have. This cd either stays at the top of my case or in my player at all times. What more can I say except if you don't buy this album you aren't truly living.

Who Could Blacklist This Backlist?
Although I've read her work typified as "alt-country," a better way to describe Neko Case on BLACKLISTED is "country noir." Her beautiful voice drifts over rootsy, poignant, and even desolate arrangements with a haunting quality. And those lyrics... she is just a very talented woman.
I'll crash my boat happily on the rocks for her siren song
To limit Neko Case to the category of country or alt-country would, I think, miss the point.Her work with New Pornographers should indicate that her musical interests and influences are more wide-ranging and, consequently, deserving of broader attention.Which is not to diminish the quality of the country-inflections of this album, for they are country in mood and timbre, not in artifice or image.The result is one of authenticity--personal authenticity, that is, not an "authentic" recasting of something someone else has done before.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Americana    4. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    5. Indie Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Platinum sales. Palatial homes. Fred Durst's cell-phone number. Is nothing enough to lift the heavy air of angst that hangs over Staind? "I've mastered feeling nothing/ I'm dead inside/ Why don't I care?" sings frontman and walking existential crisis Aaron Lewis by way of response on "Run Away," the opening track of the group's fifth album. And so the mood is set--again. The rest of the band offers its agreement through brooding torrents of noise and dense minor-key melodies, maintaining its allegiance to 1990s metal heroes Alice In Chains and Pantera. With the exception of the tantalizingly melodic "Devil" and tender love song "Everything Changes," the acoustic guitars have largely been set aside on Read more

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Reviews (158)

And the hits just keep on coming...
While some may argue that Staind is becoming too soft compared to their earlier albums like Tormented and Dysfunction, that sentiment hasn't stopped them from putting out another great album packed with hits.This album blends their "hard core" metal beginnings with their greatly developed musical talents and abilities and the result is friggin brilliance.Aaron's vocals and Mike's guitar make this album worth buying.

Stop Hatin'
Poor Staind. No one ever seems to understand them. Their first two albums, "tormented" and "dysfunction" were hits, showcasing staind's heavy blend of hard rock, and frontman Aaron Lewis's screwed up family angst. But after "dysfunction" staind started to play down the heaviness, and focus on their musical abilities. Lewis dropped the screaming for the most part, but his angst stayed the same. Still, all the wimps hiding behind their message boards talked crap.
Five stars - but deserves ten
Pure f**king brilliance.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Heavy Metal    3. Pop    4. Post-Grunge    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

One of the finest composers of rootsy Americana since his years with the Blasters, Dave Alvin here celebrates the quintessential songs (and songwriters) of his native California. Some of his choices--Merle Haggard, John Fogerty, and Alvin's occasional collaborator Tom Russell--are artists who have obviously influenced his own writing, but he extends the selection to include some surprise choices, such as Jackson Browne, the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia, and the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson. As revelatory as the songs he selects is what Alvin does with them, turning Browne's "Redneck Friend" into a shuffle worthy of Big Joe Turner and giving an equally bluesy twist to Fogerty's "Don't Look Now," while removing the blues that had characterized Los Lobos' original version of "Down on the Riverbed" in favor of a banjo-driven folk arrangement. The opening rendition of John Stewart's "California Bloodlines" establishes the album's theme; the closing "Surfer Girl" is a stunner, Alvin's most tender vocal to date, giving the Beach Boys ballad a warmth that borders on reverence. Whatever Alvin may lack in vocal range, there's no doubting his Read more

Reviews (9)

Phenomenal
Rather than spout and blather, I'll just say that Dave Alvin is an unbelievably terrific artist who truly, truly knows and practices great songwriting.He is a fantastic guitarist, and I love the hell out of this album."I Am Bewildered" is raucous, sexy, perfect, and "Here In California" is touching an beautiful."Surfer Girl" is over the top.

The Industry Reviewer Says It Best
My introduction to the music of Dave Alvin came several years ago when an old friend in Carlsbad turned me on to him. I already knew of him from the Blasters, but at the time I had no idea he was doing solo work. Since that time, I have heard Alvin grow musically with each successive album.
Not Alvin's best
Covers of old songs that is now way over done. And these are average at best versions. (I really dislike his California Bloodlines) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. United States of America   

Editorial Review

An introductory drum roll drops out and is replaced by a single suspended electric guitar, which is then paralleled by a snare, filled in with the bass, and--crash!--"Cherub Rock," the opening track, is enveloped in an explosion of metal guitar. So the journey begins. This album is pre-experimentation vintage Pumpkins. Produced by Butch Vig (Garbage, Sonic Youth, Nirvana's Read more

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Reviews (438)

Wow, withstood time so far
For me a classic is an album you can listen to 10 years later and still be interested and challenged by it.Siamese Dream passes that test for me.It's a rollicking rock album with such a distinctive Pumpkins sound.I appreciate Billy Corgan's artistic integrity and demand to change and grow their sound, but, IMHO, it never got better than this album.Mellon Collie was excellent as well, but this is the epitome of the pumpkins' sound.
PERFECT FROM START TO FINISH
I don't think this album could have been any better. Heavy distortion, crazy high-pitched solos, and loud pounding drums all come together perfectly for 13 amazing songs. There is not one song on this cd that I can skip over, it's just incredible.
Is it a dream?
It is a dream? It almost seems like it is.How can a rock album be this good?
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Grunge    3. Indie Rock    4. Noise Pop    5. Pop    6. Post-Grunge    7. Punk    8. Rock    9. United States of America   

Editorial Review

We always suspected they had it in them, but who knew Yo La Tengo would finally craft a record as wholeheartedly terrific as this? Fourteen years into their career as indie rock's low-key mainstays, the Hoboken, New Jersey, trio have arrived--and it's about time. It's as though simply by sticking around long enough and doing the same thing over and over while constantly refining and focusing Yo La have evolved from scattered, record-collecting eccentrics into the true classicists of '90s indie rock. Blending elements of what has illuminated Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Pavement, and My Bloody Valentine, they've long had a clear voice but never sounded so comfortable using it. Willfully eclectic husband-and-wife multi-instrumentalists Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley--with third member James McNew never sounding more permanent--have previously tended to alternate between their instincts to be a pop rock band and to serve as artsy noisemakers. On Read more

Reviews (88)

masterwork?
this album is exceptional for YLT.I often flounder between this one and 'and then nothing' being my favorites, but they are different.the variety of the songs is great but they all work together as a cohesive album, skipping tracks on this CD is completely unneccessary.there are still some great love songs and a post-punk tunes but this album is more lyrically and instrumentally mature then some of thier earlier works, such as 'Painful' or 'Electropura'.I honestly couldnt say enough about this cd, but i dont like writing long reviews... this is a personal favorite of mine

Ranks among those obligatory 90s hipster discs
There is a certain amount of unanimity amongst critics as to what discs from the 1990s should be heralded as great, and "Heart" is generally granted propitious accolades. My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" is traditionally regarded as a superior recording, and for the most part it is. "Loveless" is an incomparable example of committed artistry, and it should garner adulations by its sheer density alone. However, I've always felt that "Heart", which for the most part exists in "Loveless"' vein of ethereal ambience, was the more immediately human and inviting record. "Heart"'s emotion exists on a unique artistic plane that few artists dare to tread, and the record's often convoluted lyrical musings are viscerally penetrating, more so than most modern pop records. Upon first blush, the band seems to rely on a relatively limited musical vocabulary throughout the album, but extended listens reveal a fairly rich tapestry of styles, sounds and impressive articulations. "Spec Bebop" is consistenly unnerving, but in at least one sense it seems like one of the most integral and necessary tracks on the record. YLT's Jesus and Mary Chain fetishism had to be illuminated at some point on "Heart", and "Spec Bebops" unrestrained entropy is a great testament to the band's willingness to explore the ether. Conversely, the apparent convention of "Little Honda", "Sugarcube" and "Deeper Into Movies" display another facet of YLT's artistic maturity, as well as the band's penchant for sheer histrionic onslaught. The solo midway through "Sugarcube" is the one of most vexing and hilariously apropos moments on any modern rock song, and it becomes apparnet that the band approaches such passages with an equal concern for irony and viability. "Autumn Sweater", perhaps due to its name alone, has become synonymous with stifled hipster love balladry, and by most accounts it stands as one of the most honest and telling rock narratives of the last fifteen years. YLT's ability to oscillate between Beach Boys sentimentality, Can experimentation and Sonic Youth flamboyance, all the while harboring a kind of self-assured ambivalence, is a sometimes startling testament to the band's musical prowess.
Get in the right mood.....
The first time I listened to this disc - it felt like nails going straight into my eardrums.We were on a road trip - not the right 'vibe' for the cd.Since I've listened to it quite a few times - and in the correct mood - feels like a really good rest!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Noise Pop    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Watch out, mom and dad. If you don't treat your kids right, they're gonna up and start an alt-metal band to share the angst you've brought on them with the world. After all, who needs therapy when you've got a million kids hearing your pain on MTV? Staind has never been a band to gloss over personal issues. They've given their albums names like Read more

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Reviews (616)

Soft, lame, sissy..
Who in the world called this ''Hard Rock''?!???????????!!? This is a bunch of self-pitying, mainstream jibberish..nothing interesting at all. I shall dub this as ''Alternative Whine''.

in all fairness...
I generally write bad reviews for the latest nu metal releases, but, in all fairness, this record is one of the ones that I feel is really effective and well-produced radio fluff, as evidenced by "outside"'s surpising longevity as a simple anthem for teenaged tunnel vision and angst, perhaps the kind that isn't meant to be expressed through flowery language. I complain a lot about crass efficiency in music and auto-tuned vocals, and although both of those things are lurking just beneath the surface here, the simple fact of the matter is that this guy aaron lewis really does have one heck of a voice, and it can be very emotive, although it might be better utilized handling significant subject matter like chris cornell and ed vedder did in "hunger strike". the most obvious production flaw here is a slightly late entry by the drums on "for you"; other than that, it's about as listenable as any nu metal record I've ever heard. I did listen to it a lot in high school and I don't know if it would resonate at all now that I have a few years behind me, but back then it just kind of seemed to do the trick
Incredible Album
This is the first album I listened to when my friends introduced me to the band. At first listen I wasn't insanely impressed, but as I picked up "It's Been Awhile" on the radio more and more, I began toreally get into the style of the band, a style that I find is truly unique. As it has been stated over and over, Staind (particularly Aaron Lewis) packs a punch with emotion and very interesting music writing. One thing I have noticed about this band is it's ability to capture my attention without ever having to throw in a guitar solo that so many mainstream rock bands these days seem to rely on.Of course this is not true of Chapter V, but specifically Break the Cycle is pretty much solo-less...and I'm impressed. The thing that really sold me on this album is the emotional power that I feel from Epiphany, Outside, Waste, It's Been Awhile and Fade, and Lewis' openness and honesty. There are few bands out there today that I can truly identify with...the pain, the grief, yet the willingness to try and overcome these things. As far as musicianship, being that I'm not a musician, I can't exactly judge them on technical ability, but each song has a very unique quality about them, and each one stands out in my mind every time I think about the album. To put it short, this is the album that seems to find it's way into my CD player more often than any other album. An incredible collection of heart-felt lyrics and music, Break the Cycle is a great addition to any avid fan's Staind catalogue. Staind, you f***ing rock. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Heavy Metal    3. Pop    4. Post-Grunge    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

As these dimpled moptops from Oklahoma grow pepper-bearded and transform into wizened elder statesmen of sonic adventuring, the heartfelt candy of their loving bubblegum stretches ever longer into echoing soundscapes. If Radiohead are halfway to becoming U2, the Flaming Lips are nine-tenths of the way to pop nirvana. Hardly a song on Yoshimi isn't resonated, echoed, and reverberated--floating the listener higher until they have the ultimate bird's-eye view of what makes a great band tick. As with any album by the band, it's hard not to imagine parades and a sky filled with helium balloons while you listen to any of it--in this case, the party is enhanced brilliantly by digital filters and silver shimmering asides. The most immediate songs, like "One More Robot (3000-21)," are digital (almost trip-hop) dance numbers that lift the band out of the cornfields and into the loopy land of Björk. Little surprise, then, that the band are already following up this majestic splash of gummy bear brilliance by recording a CD with kids' TV show host Steve from Read more

Reviews (342)

Not about Karate.
Incase you haven't figured it out.Pink Robots = Cancer.This is the reason she's taking "lots of vitamins".Keeping this in mind, The Narrative becomes clear.
love
i absolutely love this album. it's quite essential to any flaming lips fan. please buy it now and start smiling immediately. and go see the lips live if you need an affirmation. wayne coyne is easily the most ridiculous and brilliant person in america.

own with pride.
this is something you should be proud to own. when people come over you should stand very near this cd. you should point at it and say, "Look, i have this cd." do that, and all your friends will think that you're cool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

The twisted cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" is a statement of intent, while the cool jazz riffs from the band's trumpet player are part of what makes tracks like "Daria," "It's Coming Down," and "Frank Sinatra" so original. "The Distance" is a funked-up jam with a Chili Peppers chorus.Read more

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Reviews (190)

What a wonderful band
Read the other reviews. I'm not going to repeat stuff. I will say that Cake is great! I own all 5 albums and there is not one song on any of them that I do not like. In fact, after 2 listens of any of the albums and you'll swore they're old classics!

One of the best CDs ever
From one of the best bands ever. LOVE THIS BAND.

Can you ever have enough Cake?
I bought every Cake CD within the span of a few weeks after I finally got hooked by "Short Skirt, Long Jacket" from Comfort Eagle.For a long time, Comfort Eagle was my favorite Cake album.The problem is, ask me on any given day now and it'd probably be a toss-up between Fashion Nugget, Prolonging the Magic and Comfort Eagle.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Pop    4. Post-Grunge    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Within the song cycle of innocence and experience that is Read more

Reviews (28)

Give it a try
A weird wonderful mixture of Bruce, Warren Zevon and Robert Earl Keen.His lyrics make you want to hurry up & learn the words so you can sing along.A most enjoyable CD.

About 20 years too late!
While musically James McMurtry has talent, the message of his album and especially the hit song "We Can't Make It Here"is outdated and unrealistic. In the song McMurtry laments about shirts being made in Singapore and the problems of outsourcing jobs, among other ridiculous things. It seems he would like to live in the world of the 1950s. While appealing on the surface, it is a waste of time to think like this.
Wonderful surprise
Wonderful surprise.I bought this CD based on one song I heard on the radio, ususally a mistake.I am thoroughly enjoying the whole CD.I will definitly buy more. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. Roots Rock    6. Singer/Songwriter    7. United States of America   

Reviews (43)

Great
This CD is not bad. When I first played a Marriah Carey song came on so I kind of regretted buying the CD. As the CD moved on it started to get better because a rather dancy song came on by the "The Pussycat Dolls" sang a song called "Stickiwu" came on. Other songs such as "Dirty Little Secret" by "The All American Rejects" and "Unwritten" by Natasha Beddingfield were good too. Nickleback was a little rusty throated on "Photograph" because the lead singers voice is scrachty. "Dare" by "Gorrilaz" had a great tune so over all I give Now 21 an 8 1/2. Bottom line is this is a good CD and if you wanna buy it you go for it!

The Greatest!
1. Don't Forget About Us- (A+) Oh so now Mariah finally gets put on a NOW complication. This songs the greatest, beter than "We Belong Together," because it doesn't sample anything. (#1)
Now using Kids' Bop standards
let me start by saying, the nows from the 90's were a lot better than what now is making now.they usually start off with hip-hop/rap (THere's plenty)then pop, then rock/alternative, then keith urban. the Now series should have started in the mid 90's.in the mid 90's they had way better sh-it than they do now.they had pearl jam, green day, tupac.BOY HAVE THINGS F_UCKING CHANGED!like if you look at the track listings for now 22, the middle to end of the album are all 2-bit pro tool users!someone commented that that dude nick lachey sounds better now than when he did in 98 degrees.yeah, cause he's just discovered that all his pop classmates like teddy geiger, david powter, jesse mccartney are using these pro recording tools to improve their sucky voices, and now nick wants to join the band wagon.and another thing to nick, "Dude, forget about Jessica, ur songs all sound the same because u keep crying like a lil' bit9ch about her. its fine to release 1 song about her, but 2?is that all ur songs are about, man?thats pathetic.look at jessica, she's singing about going out and having fun with friends.her videos have color and dont take place on a tacky beach shore. ur a handsome guy, go look for a hot groupie and do the damn thing wit her. get ur mind off jess.also i think pink should be on this album.u may think she's squeeky clean pop, but shes cool cus she's unlike natasha bedingfield and kelly. she broke the pop mold!it makes me wonder did the same people that made the first nows the sames peeps that made these pot headed compilations of today. also now has the habit of featuring one or two singles from an artist and then forgetting about them.they must be stealing Kids Bop's formula. they should a link on their web site so fans can vote for what they want to hear on the next disc. i stopped buying these albums at now 14 when they started cramming these worthless hip-hop disasters on their discs. ewwww.and can now no go overboard when they edit the songs.they should release a clean and explicit version.and they should stop cutting the endings to songs. when i make my own mix cd's i have several songs passed 4:30 and i'm able to fit 22 or 23 songs on the disc easy.now is the kind of series that takes even a song that ends at say...4:10 and edits down to like 3:20thats almost a whole minute!now should stop chuggin that bong and release true to heart authentic compilations.not comps that they hurry and just put any crappy song on so they can make their profits and take it up the a.ss from jesse mccartney's record label ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Contemporary Country    3. Pop    4. Pop-Rap    5. Pop/Rock    6. Post-Grunge    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop Collections    9. Urban   

Editorial Review

While the hype machine forever proclaims this or that new artist to be "unique," "original," or "a fresh new voice," most of the time what you hear is more of the same old, same old. Thus, it is a rare joy to hear a newcomer that actually qualifies as all of the above. Mindy Smith fits loosely in the alt-country genre but adds some distinctive touches that set her apart from the field. A residency in Nashville brings a welcome Music Row level of craftsmanship to the playing and production, while her singing and songwriting take the music to places where cliché has never been. A song like "Hurricane" has a hook Faith Hill would kill for, but tells a tale of rebirth that might prove a little raw for her emotional range. Like Julie Miller, Smith writes songs that deal with redemption and spiritual matters in a way that is powerful without being off-putting to the more secular among us. Likewise she can write about her stepmother's passing in terms general enough to make it a stirring ode to the loss of any love--and do it in a voice that could make a statue misty. Smith more than held her own on the Dolly Parton tribute, Read more

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Reviews (127)

Love this cd
This cd has been so uplifting to me, I am not a real religous person nor do I listen to country music, but there is just something about her voice and the lyrics that she wrote that it makes me cry, it makes me smile, lets just say it makes me just plain feel, human.

The Real Deal and Then Some...
There have been so many reviews of this CD that I will keep mine short and sweet.Mindy is a major talent with a beautiful,distinctive voice both in her singing and her writing.Please don't pass her by because you think she might be too country,too spiritual or too anything.Hers is a talent that transcends genres and labels.I can't wait to hear from her again.

Mindy The Maverick.<