Editorial Review

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Reviews (97)

Inventive, genre-defying, purely brilliant.
Fugazi is one of my favorite types of bands, that being one who spits in the face of such tawdry things as "labels", or "genres".These guys take the rawness of punk and indie rock, and the complexity of jazz and prog, and strike a seemingly impossible balance between the two.This album is a wild roller coaster of layered complex rhythms, jarring time changes, loud, crashing walls of noise, and plaintive, tranquil melodies.
Fugazi sound like a f**ked up Offspring
Fugazi is so bad it hurts, I've never liked them because they can't sing and their music is just plain boring. These guys are so old its funny, whoever takes this band seriously is an idiot.

Fascinating
This is musically excellent and absorbing in content, ranging from raw to dreamlike.I love this album and just regret never having had the opportunity to see this group live. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Underground    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Post-Hardcore    5. Punk    6. Rock   

Reviews (37)

one of my all time fav cds
This is a great album, the best part is in the lyrics, though the music is good too.The lryics are meaningful, makes you think, and has its own evil but interesting philosophy on life.Listen to "michael" and if you like it, you'll probably like all the other songs.This might not be for everyone if you don't get it.

winey vocals
the music is good,but the winey vocals get on your nerves from the get go.

only for a certain audience
let me start off by saying this cd isnt for everyone.i personally love afi (everything but sing the sorrow) and misfits,samhain,danzig.and i believe that is the only way you can truly enjoy this band,for people who only listen to afi aren't familiar with glenn danzigs work,this music may be to slow and less raw.on the other hand danzig fans who've never heard afi will probably find davey's voice to be too high pitched and whiny.but like i said as a huge fan of both afi,and danzig's work i absolutely love this album.i highly highly suggest it.after all the misfits were afi's buggest influence.so the im sure everyone will enjoy the lyrics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Goth Metal    3. Hardcore Punk    4. Heavy Metal    5. Pop    6. Punk    7. Rock   

Editorial Review

Though some would say that the Misfits just aren't the Misfits without the fiendish Glenn Danzig fronting them, Read more

Reviews (149)

Who cares about Glen?

New sound, better singer

The New Age, The Fiend Club
I. Danzig, No they did/do not need to change the bands name The Misfits works just fine. Grow up, Bands progress just like the world around them does. Glen Danzig is the one whom openly said he wanted nothing to do with the reforming of The Misfits! If you wish to properly direct your anger then go rate Danzig albums and spare us your idiotic behavior.
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Subjects:  1. American Underground    2. Hardcore Punk    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Rock   

Reviews (28)

Punk Rock Heresy And A Masterpiece.
Punk Rock Rule No. 1: To ensure credibility never sign to a major label.
"She buys herself a seat and sits on the floor"
This was Husker Du's first album with Warner Bros., having adopted a totally mainstream sound.I like their later SST material (New Day Rising, especially), and some of their earlier stuff ("In a Free Land," "Diane," "Gravity," "Amusement," "Chartered Trips," "Pink Turns to Blue," "Statues," etc.) but I find the final era of their career incredible!I consider Candy Apple Grey as well as Warehouse: Songs and Stories to be their most solid albums.Pretty much every track here is amazing, especially Grant Hart's songs.Whereas, I tend to prefer Bob Mould's music to Hart's on the early Husker albums, Hart really emerged as a excellent singer-songwriter on Flip Your Wig through Warehouse.Three of my all-time favorite Hart tracks are here.Bob Mould was getting rather introspective on this album, perhaps he was already looking ahead to his brilliant Workbook solo project.
This is..
So important.Keeps the OnEs (and me..) I know from HurtinG themSElves it seems! ..For real thiS is the most passionate and well WritTEn albUM..I Like it a lot reMinds me thAt it's ok that I have not gotteN (I wan it!)MY IsiS SesHAt. My..the punkers hAd it right. Bob Mould wriTes the best songs ever. I love ya.. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Underground    3. College Rock    4. Hardcore Punk    5. Pop    6. Punk    7. Rock   

Reviews (152)

I had no idea what I was missing out on.
My boyfriend introduced me to Norma Jean with this album "Bless the Martyr, Kiss the Child" at first my ignorance got in the way and all I could hear was noise, but eventually I was telling him to put it in again, and again...before I had discovered NJ I was listening to bands such as Korn, and Disturbed...I know I know you can slap my wrist later! So I wasn't much of a hardcore fan but this guys voice crawled under my skin and gave me the chills every time, I didn't know what it was about it but I needed more! The way that they totally surprise you with this album..there is absolutely NOTHING repetitious about it, you think your getting into the groove of things when all of a sudden they change it all up on you in the most genius way.
oh please
Mad Pirhana...dude how am i soposed to respect your review when you gave papa roach 3 stars...okay get a life. People like you are so hypercritical when it comes to music...you scrutinize everyone else for their tastes and act like your taste is superior and THEN complain about when someone feels the same way! I don't get it?

One of the most beautiful, chaotic, and perfect records ever produced.
I normally don't write reviews on Amazon. When I saw that Bless The Martyr and Kiss the Child had sunken to a four-star average, the first word that came to mind was "blasphemy." I don't claim to know a lot about music, and I don't claim to have particularly better taste in music than the next guy. I do however, know enough to tell you when music is inherently bad, or undoubtedly good. Let me tell you, I have never heard anything like Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child.
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Subjects:  1. Death Metal/Black Metal    2. Heavy Metal    3. Pop    4. Post-Hardcore    5. Rock   

Reviews (46)

Horrible
if you like goodcharlotte or blink 182 you are an idiot and you might like this.
should have stopped at "Everything Sucks".
I love the Descendents and thier work. Lets just say that I was very disappionted with this album. It didn't even sound like something Milo would sing. It sounded more like them trying to sound like an unoriginal punk POP (not Milo) band. This album does not give the Descendents justice to what an awesome band they really are.

Bad note to go out on
Milo and co. have made it pretty clear that this album is to be their last, but what a bummer of an album to go out on!
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Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. L.A. Punk    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Punk-Pop    6. Rock   

Reviews (18)

Unique and Brilliant!
most reviews ive read keep saying that the older stuff is way better, but i disagree. ive heard his older stuff a while ago and thought it was alright. but i got this album and let it grow on me, what makes it so great is the synth of his microkorg mixed with those heavy guitars. its like nothing ive ever heard. u can tell he musically progressed too. its more along the lines of Apocalypse Wow! and Fellowship of the Bling sounding (if you want to compare to older stuff) and of course The Common Denominators and Fluxuation return. I first saw them with alkaline trio in 03 then again this past fall with alk3 again and mcr (who was way overrated) reggie was way better than them. alkaline was great tho

Just a bit too serious for Reggie
This album is the most recent release by James Dewees's brainchild, Reggie and the Full Effect.To fans of the full effect prior to this release, this album will seem forced and just a lack of what we know reggie to be.Those who did not discover ratfe before this release will probably enjoy this album as it is more in the style of the more mainstream alternative rock scene, a la Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, New Found Glory, etc.That being said, this is not a terrible album.It does have its moments, but it doesnt feel like genuine Reggie like the past three albums have had in their own ways.
Reggie & The Full Effect had done it again!
Love this band my favorite song is get well soon and love reality! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Emo    2. Hardcore Punk    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Rock   

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. Hardcore Punk    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Box set
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (19)

PORTLAND NATIVE SAYS YES TO WIPERS
Like Syd Barrett, Greg Sage has been afflicted/blessed with a condition known as synthaesia, the ability to 'see' sounds and 'hear' color. One of the guys from Crackerbash said that the Wipers sound like Portland in the winter. Listen to 'youth of america' and you will know what months of rain and grey skies look/sound like...
So good....
A very addictive set of records... Particularily 'Is this Real?' and 'YOA'. It's beautifully flawed stuff: self-romanticized teenager music that takes itself too seriously; but damn, is it awesome.
all they needed was some great songs
of course that's the rub for many good local bands. the wipers were (are?) a very good local band but i had never heard of them before amazon .the reason for that is there are no great songs on this box set. they play great, sound great but nothing is memorable (except maybe the overall guitar driven sound). comparisons to the velvet underground, love or big star are absurd because all those bands had many all time greatsongs. and that's the main difference between all time greats and very good local bands. great songs. it's what's lacking on this box set. 3 and 1/2 stars. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Underground    3. Hardcore Punk    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (2)

The Refused AREN'T F*cking Dead
The Refused' album collection may be sparse, only having three full lengths to show in the time span which the band was together, but these three recordings are easily among the most influential in the hardcore music world. Picking a favorite between the three is a very difficult task for me, because each presents something uniquely different from the other. Their eponymous debut "This Just Might Be... The Truth" was a frantic blast of early 90's hardcore with noise/grind tendencies. "The Shape Of Punk To Come" was a bold and brash experimental masterpiece, which saw the band not only taking their sound to the furthest extremes, but also creating some of the best musical compositions the punk and hardcore worlds had ever seen. While the other two albums are both amazing in all respects, my personal favorite Refused record has always been "Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent." Stepping up their technicality from "This Just Might Be... The Truth", the Refused melded together punk rock fury, with the 80's ethic and mentality of hardcore, added in metallic elements to their sound, and let the energy take them to their highest pinnacle. Among the their albums, "Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent" remains the band's heaviest and most aggressive outing, without the vast experimentation and atmospheric landscape that would follow. If you never listened to this album initially, now is just the perfect time as the album has been re-issued by Epitaph, with sleek new remastering and production. What's more important is how much influence this record still holds today, especially in the punk, post-hardcore and hardcore scenes.
Has this album already been forgotten?
This is one of the most important of the mid-nineties hardcore albums. When everyone was releasing either straight-edge or tough guy hardcore, Refused released their thesis on anarchy. Don't forget this record.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Hardcore Punk    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Rock   

Editorial Review

"Do ya wanna party?" challenges the soundtrack to this freaky and funny reworking of George Romero's Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (193)

No Barbra in this one.
This movie is not a George A. Romero project and is not officially a sequel to Romero's...Living Dead film series.
BEST COMEDY-HORROR EVER: BAR NONE!
I must admit, time has not lessened the appeal of this classic comedy-horror film. In fact, considering the bloated horror films that pass themselves off as comedy-horror film's, this one stands head-and-shoulders above them all. I don't like films in the horror-zombie genre. I find most [if not all] a bit repulsive. However, this one is an exception. The comedic elements of the film are great, and the horror, although a bit dated and predictable is ably pulled off due to the excellent cast. Mainly: Burt (Clu Gulager), Ernie (Don Calfa) and Frank (James Karen)
The Living Dead have Returned, and they need more paramedics...
You want zombies that run after survivors for brains with a strong dash of comedy? Return is your movie! Yes, these zombies speak, usually chanting "Brains!" to ease the pain they feel when undernourished. A spoof of sorts on Romero's films, Return of the Living Dead is a classic zombie film brought to life by comical performances, solid directing that allows the actors to breathe onscreen, and loads of zombies.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Underground    3. Goth Rock    4. Hard Rock    5. Hardcore Punk    6. Heavy Metal    7. Pop    8. Post-Punk    9. Soundtrack    10. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Reviews (11)

The best D.R.I. album!!
In my opinion the most complete album and better production than the other releases. An incredible hardcore- punk- thrash influenced. If you didn't know about D.R.I., try first "Crossover" and later "Thrash Zone".

An overlooked band in a genre run by mediocre bands
I was glad when D.R.I. came out with an album entitled "Thrash Zone" because face it, they were a Thrash band. I went to see these guys in August '04 and some little punk rock kid saw I had my Nuclear Assault "Survive" tour tee on and said ever so sarcastically, "Metal, YEAHHH!" All I said was, "Hey moron, what kind of band do you think you're seeing? That's right a metal band. Go wack it to your DK records." (The kid was probably thirteen.) Sure they got the punk rock inspired lyrics and the Hardcore hollering and occasional riffs, but they were definitely in the Thrash genre if you had to pidgeon hole them.
Classic!
I think this is their best work.They were also incredible at the Stone Pony last summer! :) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Underground    2. Hardcore Punk    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Punk Metal    7. Rock    8. Thrash   

Reviews (47)

Different but still great.
Following up a masterpiece like Jane Doe is not an easy task, and on its follow-up You Fail Me, Converge seem to have realized that they had taken the intense side of their sound pretty much as far as it would go. So they did the wise thing - they shifted the focus of their music. Most immediately noticeable is that the volume level of You Fail Me is lowered significantly from the constant "10" of Jane Doe; in correlation to this Jacob Banner's vocals are much more guttural and human than the screeches he delivered before. Both of these are correlated to the new direction in Converge's music, a direction which focuses more on the compositions, textures and emotions that their sound can deliver, rather than just the pure intensity.
It Won't Fail You,
I wasn't sure at first whether or not to buy this album. I really like Jane Doe, and I saw the music video for Eagles Become Vultures, but I was still a bit reluctant to get it. I finally did, and let me tell you, this is a great album. It is better than Jane Doe in some aspects and not as good in others. First of all, there is one less guitarist on this album. This makes the music sound somewhat basic compared to Jane Doe's aural assault, but it is polished to a beautiful shine. Some standout tracks are "Drop Out", "Hope Street", "You Fail Me", and the single, "Eagles Become Vultures." The transition from Drop Out to Hope Street to You Fail Me is one of the best ever. Drums on this album are as hectic as ever, the drummer pounding relentlessly with amazing precision. There is time to relax, however, once "In Her Shadow" kicks in. "First Light" is basically just guitar feedback, but it works great as an introduction to the album. Bannon's screams sound a bit different on this album, in the way that they aren't distorted as much as they are on Jane Doe. If you like this album and don't already have Jane Doe, you should buy that as well. I now want to explore Converge's early stuff, like Caring and Killing and Petitioning The Empty Sky.

You need this album. Buy it. Now. Bought it yet? Why not. Buy it. Come on. Press 'add to cart'.
Without a doubt my favorite album of all time.
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Subjects:  1. Hardcore Punk    2. Heavy Metal    3. Pop    4. Rock   

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (10)

The Master of No Mercy
This, from what I hear, is one of Suicidal's best-selling records, probably as much because of the name as the music. This is the first record with Robert Trujillo on bass, although for whatever reason, he is credited as "Stymee".These days he makes a more than a comfortable living as the latest Cliff Burton stand-in in Metallica.The downside to this album is that the production is kinda flat.The upside is that there are several excellent songs on here.However, its should be noted, and I don't see it in any of the other reviews, that half of this CD is actually cover songs, plus two more are different versions of the same song from Suicidal's previous album.
Better than HOW WILL I LAUGH...
With this being said I will you a reason for my bias; pure angry thrash[metal]. Well... except for the two alternate versions of "How Will I Laugh..." WAKING THE DEAD is perfect for a slow-mosh, the lyrics for MASTER OF NO MERCY are hilarious and JUST ANOTHER LOVE SONG makes the circle pit explode with drunk idiot punks and locs alike. The energy is much more present here than the previous album discussed above and contains less mindless tracks that plagued that record making it way too hokey. Here, Suicidal are much more primal and evcn more metal than that release. The two HOW WILL I LAUGH reprises are almost worth a rats (...)(check out the 'heavy emotion version,' which is the best of all three!) SUICIDAL 4 LIFE!!!

A good album, but a letdown from How Will I Laugh
Considering that of the 9 songs on this album, two are just remixes of the track "How will I Laugh" there really isn't enough new material here.The material that is there is good though, with a thrashy sound, a bit less melodic than How Will I Laugh but nicely mettalic.My theory on this album though is that this is mostly material that didn't make it onto the How Will I Laugh album or wasn't finished so they released it a year later.Not bad, but not so memorable.Read more

Subjects:  1. American Underground    2. Hardcore Punk    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Punk    7. Punk Metal    8. Rock    9. Skatepunk    10. Thrash   

Reviews (113)

Fight Song - Craziest 1:30 minute song out there
This album is really well done.Everyone out there should listen to the instrumental Fight Song! It has some really good drum work on the fast parts of the song, and will get you pumped for anything, especially a fight!

Fun ska at its best
I love this CD.The Aquabats have a great fun way of playing music and telling silly stories.The CD has a lot of funny songs like The Cat With Two Heads.The entire CD will have you smiling and feeling like dancing.

Easily Their Best
Although none of their albums are bad, this is by far the best one. The Fury of the Aquabats is 13 amazing songs that are hilarious and great to sing along to as well as 2 cool instrumental songs and one song im not crazy about (Attacked By Snakes). If you have the slightest liking for ska, funny music or just upbeat, fun music that makes you happy then this would easily be my number one reccommendation for you. All you need to do is pop it in and no matter how you were feeling before... you are guaranteed a smile after the first couple of seconds of Super Rad. It is just impossible to be sad when listening to these guys. My favorite songs are Super Rad, Red Sweater, Captain Hampton..., Story of Nothing, Idiot Box, My Skateboard, Lobster Bucket & Theme Song. This not only their best album but one of the best ska albums as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Hardcore Punk    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Punk Revival    6. Punk-Pop    7. Rock    8. Ska    9. Ska-Punk    10. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Editorial Review

Punk rock has long been known for its short, loud, and snotty anthems, but this is taking things to extremes. None of the songs found here reaches the one-minute mark. Some are among punk's most esteemed anthems, while others are casual additions to the canon. In either case, even if you don't like one tune, well, there's another one coming in just a few seconds. This isn't the best introduction to these bands. The Descendents, for example, are punk-pop titans who and not at their best when aping the hardcore set. However, where else can you find Less Than Jake, Nerf Herder, Blink 182, Green Day, the Mr. T. Experience, Gwar, the Circle Jerks,D.O.A., Agnostic Front, and the Muffs all on one CD? There's no shortage of top-shelf names here, and more than a few surprises will keep you hopping. Read more

Reviews (72)

Infectious!
The first listen you will be unimpressed.The second you will be intrigued.The third, you won't be able to get these 30 second songs out of your head!This CD is fun, in a decade when music takes itself way to seriously.

hot shelf
Okay guys, this cd is awesome, I heard that there was a super rare vinyl pressing of this, but I mean, is that for real?Anyways, yeah you should buy this cd, it's kinda wierd saying this, but it sounds... dated.Yeah I know it's only seven years since this came back and most of this bands are still around (and putting out some lame albums) but even the bad bands seem to put some good songs on this joint!No joke.I can listen to the whole thing through and through cause it has shoit songs... I don't see why you wouldn't get it, I mean it's a classic comp, I wish there'd be more like it, you know like an updated thingee.Oh yeah the Ataris song is suprising to my liking, it's all about those lame bands that the radio STILL plays even though it's been like (oh eight or so) many years since that song was written.Blah blah blah... anyways, I think fat wreck should put out short music volume 2, I mean what is wrong with that, it must have been hell getting this together though, I don't doubt em for not doing it again...

good but it leaves you wanting more...
The cd has alot of good songs, but they are not enough to get a true sense of each bands particular style. So even if you like a band's thirty seccond teaser, you may not like that band's other music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Underground    3. Hardcore Punk    4. Heavy Metal    5. Indie Rock    6. L.A. Punk    7. Pop    8. Post-Grunge    9. Punk    10. Punk Collections    11. Punk Revival    12. Punk-Pop    13. Rock    14. Ska-Punk    15. Skatepunk    16. Third Wave Ska Revival    17. Thrash   

Reviews (24)

Can't pick a favorite
I really can't pick a favorite Fugazi album... ironically, the only two not in my running for a favorite are the first two (which everyone else seems to love)... For me, Fugazi is a band that has gotten better and better with age, so basically starting from Steady Diet on, it's all classic in my opinion.
Kickin' album
If you've never heard a fugazi album, this is a great one to start with.
An essential taste of the real alternative
Red Medicine occupies a special place in Fugazi's discography--the righteous indignation that fuelled rampaging early classics like Repeater was giving way to a more complex, technically advanced approach, but the polished machine that showed up on the band's swan song The Argument wasn't yet in full effect.Fortunately, this crossroads managed to merge the best of both worlds, resulting in what I consider to Fugazi's most consistently compelling effort.The band still had two talented frontmen in the howling Ian MacKaye and the sneering Guy Picciotto, the musicianship continued its progression in terms of virtuosity and intricacy, and most importantly the songs here are never less than unpredictable and involving. Many bands that hang their hats on anger and aggression suffer from their inability to write a song to save their lives, but Fugazi (along with the similarly dearly departed Refused) knew how to how make you wait for the big payoff, how to ramp up the intensity at just the right moment, how to manipulate noise rather than just bowl listeners over with it.Interestingly enough for a rock album, the guitar often isn't even the lead instrument--check out how many songs are driven by the intricate, mathy, at times even funky rhythms laid down by Brendan Canty and Joe Lally.Odd rhythms, time signatures, and song structures prevail throughout (not much verse/chorus here, and not much 4/4 timing either), and the band hadn't yet incorporated all the melodic elements that popped up on The Argument, making for a challenging and occasionally frustrating listen that offers up more looks than an NFL defense.There's aggressive post-hardcore that sounds like Repeater with a higher IQ (Bed for the Scraping, Back to Base); swirling noise rock (By You); eerie indie rock propelled by whip-smart guitar lines and angular rhythms (Do You Like Me, Target, Latest Disgrace); a freaky-sounding tune that interrupts some intensely rhythmic jamming with Ian's throaty screams (Birthday Pony); even an experimental horn-driven piece that dispenses with the guitars entirely (Version).Of course, its diversity and occasional difficulty are part of what make Red Medicine such a great album, as well as the epitome of Fugazi's approach to music: freed from the constraints of genre boundaries and commercial considerations, they were free to defy perceptions of what rock music could and couldn't be.As much all the brilliant material they produced, that may well end up being their enduring legacy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Underground    2. Emo    3. Hardcore Punk    4. Indie Rock    5. Pop    6. Post-Hardcore    7. Post-Punk    8. Punk    9. Rock   

Reviews (10)

Part of history, but I hate this band.
Before the "unhelpful" ratings rain, I will say for the record that the first two TSOL albums are "decent" if a