Editorial Review

Having nearly exhausted their capacity for pop-song politics on Read more

Reviews (427)

`I Stand With The Sons Of Cain'
I first purchased a copy of `The Joshua Tree' on tape when I was 15 years old after I had bought `Rattle and Hum'. I loved many of the new songs on `Rattle and Hum' like Heartland, Desire and Hawkmoon 269 so `The Joshua Tree' was a natural purchase. This is where the problem starts and where I differ from a lot of other `Joshua Tree' fans but the reason may be lost on the CD generation. (Side A / Side B) Bands often put all their best material on Side A of a record through a sometimes pain staking selection process. The problem I have with this album is that I prefer and believe side B to be infinitely superior to Side A.
Essential in any rock collection
This album is quite possibly their crowning glory and is what all their other albums are judged by. It continues in the direction that Unforgettable Fire paved the way for. The opening three songs show U2 looking inward, loneliness, relationships, have become rock anthems and a staple for their concerts. The sound is carried over to In God's Country & One Tree Hill. The other tracks display U2's interest in America and it's music. And the way Exit builds is simply superb. An essential album in the annals of rock history and an essential addition to any music collection. Their recent offerings pale compared to this. What do you mean you don't own it yet?

U2 finds what they have been looking for.
Alright I am a diehard U2 fan and have all their LPs, a few EPs and three singles.Back in 1987, I bought the CD thinking "Wow, another U2 release," and flying down to FL to visit my parents.To tell the truth, "Fire" disappointed me a little bit, so I was very curious about this release.When I first heard the opening notes to "Where the Streets have No Name" and Edge's ringing guitar, I was spellbound.Yes, I loved U2 but I hadn't expected anything like this.I continued listening to the CD and it was a masterpiece, classic song after classic song.I kept listening to it even after I got home, and even now, I still listen to this CD on iTunes, ages after it first came out.From "Streets" to the tear-jerking closer of "Mothers of the Disappeared", there is not one bad song ("Exit" isn't as good as the rest but still awesome).
Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. College Rock    4. Ireland    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Post-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

As AFI rode onto mainstream radio playlists with their gleaming major label debut, Read more

Reviews (214)

Loyal AFI Fan!!!
Decemberunderground is one of the greatest cd's ever!!! I love all of AFI's music and bands do change there style to keep up to date.Davey's style keeps the band going and his voice is great!!!Jade's style with his guitar is his own!! Every song on this CD is excellent and you will never tire of it. Even if you have never heard of AFI, you will love this CD, give it a try!!!

Not a shabby followup

A bold new direction.....in cruise control.
AFI is one of the more exciting acts in the quasi-rock mainstream.While they aren't risk takers in the Tim Buckley sense, they certainly aren't scared of adding fresh interesting levels to their maturing foundation. This of course accumliated in their best release to date,"Sing the Sorrow."This isn't the case with "December Underground" as they appear to have cut themselves down to the old punk quick so that they may construct an entirely different sound from the rubble.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Emo    3. Glam Rock    4. Goth Rock    5. Hardcore Punk    6. New Wave    7. Pop    8. Punk    9. Punk Revival    10. Rock    11. United States of America   

Editorial Review

One need hear only the first notes of this collection--the Edge's ringing guitar notes ushering in "Pride (In the Name of Love)"-to be taken back to 1984: Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher rule the Western world, the L.A. Olympics is the top sports story, and Ms. Pac-Man reigns at arcades. In rock & roll, there's U2 growing in stature with each new title. Even doubters of the Irish lads have to concede that together they formed the one '80s band with the skill and sense of scale to take over the airwaves and concert stages in a decade of diminished expectations. This 15-song '80s best-of assortment (stick around for the hidden track) spans the decade, reaching back to 1980's "I Will Follow," when Bono and company were peach-fuzzy and earnest as choirboys, and tracking their path through their most glaring misstep, 1988's overblown Read more

Reviews (226)

Toast with Guinness (Paul or Extra Dark)
U2's 'The Best of 1980-1990' may be straightforward, but that simply shows how important and successful they have been for harnessing passion. This compilation works because their singles are often their best material. The '[Limited Edition]' is worth the extra purchase because it has some essential material. (There are some weaker songs as well, but the B-sides will prevent the collection from becoming repetitious.) "Pride (In the Name of Love)," "New Year's Day," "I Will Follow," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," and "Desire" have all rewritten the history of pop/rock music. They resonate well even today. The other allegedly lesser songs are merely great. Singles were their strongest suit, but their albums are solid and consistent as well. (Although the nineties found some uneven albums, but that should be saved for another day.) Passion is rock's hallmark, and Bono's primal singing, The Edge's inventive guitar, Adam Clayton's throbbing baselines, and Larry Mullen's athletic and idiosyncratic drumming all have come together for some of the best big rock band songs since The Beatles.
This is good but the '1980-1990, special edition' is better!!
Hey, did you know that the 'Best Of 1980-1990' exists in a double CD. The second CD is less famous but it is worth the money! There is a version of 'Everlasting love' and a nice version of 'Unchained Melody', plus,songs like 'Dancing Barefoot', 'Walk to the water', 'Bass Trap', 'The Three Sunrises' and 'Love comes tumbling' among other things. This second CD is actually very good.
ho-hum
Not bad, but not their best. compilations can be pretty bad and this one ?????????? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Album Rock    3. Alternative Pop/Rock    4. College Rock    5. Ireland    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Post-Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Given these tumultuous times, one would expect Ani DiFranco to confront strife head-on, but on this, her 18th album, she tunnels beneath the headlines toward deeper emotional, psychic, and institutional conflicts and causes. She begins by channeling her inner Joni Mitchell, pouring out a quartet of jazzy confessions lightly dusted with electronica, musique concrete, and keyboard drone, but urged forward by Todd Sickafoose's warm acoustic bass. His throbbing, be-bop lines are this spare but somehow atmospheric album's musical soul. As DiFranco's voice bobs and weaves around those rhythms, the personal poetry makes the politics hit harder--and vice versa. She celebrates marginalia and makes peace with a world in flux. She conveys the heat of across-the-café infatuations and grows anxious over her subconscious desires. When she locks her sights on contemporary culture, she sends a scattershot spray against celebrity cults, network news, biotechnology, Yucca Mountain, stolen elections and, of course, patriarchy. But she's a gifted enough poet and musician to keep the album from collapsing into radical rhetoric and psychobabble. The spoken-word title track begins in Hiroshima and ends in a declaration that feminism is not about equality but about "reprieve"--an amnesty from fear and hate, in other words, and an affirmation of life. In the context of a death-driven culture, her decision to bear children, "to split herself in two," becomes the most "radical thing you can do." None of her manifestos, however, would ring true if it weren't for her imaginative, even playful singing and her ever-more accomplished acoustic guitar playing, sometimes classically graceful, sometimes purely urgent. Read more

Reviews (16)

Another masterpiece!
It seems Ani Difranco is getting better and better as she grows up. This particular record is mellow, deep, thought provoking and musically brilliant.
More of a Man Than Most Men Will Ever Be...
Invariably a looming epitome of political awareness and self-reliance, the very pregnant Ani Difranco is in rare form with her latest studio album "Reprieve." Quite a varied collection, and the first after what has been for her a long absence (the outstanding "Knuckle Down" came out in January 2005), Difranco sounds revitalized and acutely in touch with herself. In each lyric and guitar strum resides a sense of purpose and unquestionable passion.
Brilliant
Ani rocks.However, this CD is even better than the rest.The songs are woven together perfectly, with funky techno sound-effects hinting in the background, each song digitally mastered, gently flowing to the next.During one particular song, we even hear a dog barking, far way...This entire collection is amazing, both as a compilation of songs, as well as individually.I received the CD in the mail a few weeks ago, right when it came out, and I have literally been listening to it non-stop ever since.It's downloaded to my IPod, my ITunes, and on both my computers; I keep the actual CD in my car's stereo.And I can't seem to get enough of this music, even after listening to it, time and time again.And unlike CDs of other artists, I loved this CD immediately.It's simply brilliant.SHE is simply brilliant.I never knew she could get even better than her other music, than her other CDs.There is something unique about this one: it's literally a work of art.She has risen to new heights, folks.Amazing stuff... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Anti-Folk    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter    7. United States of America    8. Urban Folk   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (3)

If It's Not Broke
I love the record. But was really disappointed in the remastering.
Hey, where's IN THE STICKS??
First off, I need to say something about the impact that this album has had on the course of popular rock music, both at the time, and still today. From the moment the PRETENDERS first album came out, it was hailed by critics and fans as an immediate rock and roll classic. Perhaps because of the various styles each song explored, while still having a unique sound as a band, you could tell right off, that this was not going to be a gimic band that would come out with a couple of albums and disappear. With talented musicians, the intellegent lyrics tinged with eastern spirituality, and the post punk energy matched up with cutting edge new wave sound production, this band had it all. One song is reggae (PRIVATE LIFE DRUMMER), one song has jazzy, avant guarde time changes thruout the song (TATTOOED LOVE BOYS), you have beautiful ballads (LOVERS OF TODAY) next to high energy punk (PRECIOUS), top fourty BRASS IN POCKET pop perfection, and just a general sense of COOLNESS that vibrates all thru this record. One can tell a good album, because it transcends its time, and whatever the current sound might be, to reach back in music history, and grab parts of all that came before, while still breaking enough new ground, to point towards future possiblities. PRETENDERS did that. So, the real question is, you have the CD already, maybe the LP as well, so do you fork over up to 25$ for a new copy?
Great album X 2
As it was, Pretenders stood as a bona fide classic. The original CD issue wasn't too bad in terms of sound, but this remastered version restores some vocal subtleties that were missing on the old disc. More importantly, there's a second disc containing sixteen rarities -- demos, unreleased songs, and live tracks. Most fans will agree that the original Pretenders lineup was the best, so having more songs to treasure from that version of the group is something to celebrate. The songs on disc two aren't essential, but many of them (like "Cuban Slide" and "Swinging London") are fun, and the demos give an idea of how the songs on the proper album evolved. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hard Rock    2. New Wave    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Bursting at the seams with creative energy, the Clash's stunning 1979 double album more than made up for the artistic and commercial disappointment of its predecessor, 1978's tried-too-hard Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (416)

One of the greatest albums of all time
This is one of the best ever, of any genre.If you like punk rock, you have to have this.I'm really at a loss when trying to explain the album - there simply are no words.Even the picture on the cover is perfect.Even the colors are perfect.There may be other albums that I like as much, but none that I like better.
.....I Don't Get It
Actually 3 1/2 stars .The Clash' third album London Calling is possibly the most overated album of all time . I understand if you're into punk you want a claim in rock and roll history , but most of the songs on this album are hardly punk . The bulk of the album is reggae or reggae influenced . The title song is great , Brand New Cadillac ( a cover of a Vince Taylor song ) is great too . Ditto for Lost In A Supermarket , a song that sounds like something from Genesis' Duke period . Spanish Bombs , Hateful and Clampdown are good too . There are 18 tracks on this album .What are the other standout songs ? I don't hear 'em . I would think that " one of the great albums of all time "would be solid from top to bottom . The bulk of this album is mediocre pop/ reggae songs . Where's the edge ? I don't hear it . This is one of those albums like Exile On Main Street that's cool too like ... possibly because the criticssay so ?

Completely Deserves To Be As Popular As It Is
What a revolutionary album this was, released in 1979. I just love listening to the Clash's "London Calling" Album. It is a fun and entertaining, yet thoughtful masterpiece of 20th-century rock music. The lyrics are often very political. It gets a lot of hype, and I think it deserves all that attention. It truly is a great album! "London Calling" (album) contains a diverse range of musical influences, so it will fit in in almost any music collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Britain    2. British Punk    3. England    4. Hard Rock    5. New Wave    6. Pop    7. Punk    8. Punk/New Wave    9. Rock    10. Rock & Roll    11. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

If rock's most successful and memorable acts have usually succeeded by wrapping their own distillation of music history and personal tastes in whatever fashionable trappings are currently gripping the culture, it's hardly surprising that the Cars remain one of the most enduring symbols of the punk/new wave era. This 20-track anthology distills that argument perfectly. Ric Ocasek's songs embody a solid '60s sense of pop craftsmanship informed by a trend-conscious stylistic sheen and a cynical, slippery emotional detachment that's often betrayed by his own distinctly weary brand of romanticism, from the anxious pop of "Just What I Needed" and "You're All I've Got Tonight" to the melancholy-on-ice musings of "Drive" and "Tonight She Comes." Sixteen of the 20 cuts here were chart singles, and radio staples like "Bye Bye Love" and "Dangerous Type" might as well have been. Read more

Reviews (78)

A baby band...................
The CARS were one of the most annoying, dumb, pathetic, lame, overrated, stupid, lousy, and awful bands ever came out in the 70's. Their lead singer RIC OCASEK sings horribly and sings like a baby. This greatest-hits album was a huge joke that each and every song is incredibly bad.
JUST WHAT I NEEDED
If you like the Cars This is the CD for you it has all of their greatest hits on hear from "Tonight She Comes" to "Moving In Stereo". If you like 80's music or if yoou just plain like music you will buy this cd. The remastered sound is done well too. This is 80's rock n roll at its best. So buy it Today.

CARS COMPLETE GREATEST HITS
IF YOU LIKE THE CARS. THIS CD HAS ALL THEIR BEST HITS ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Album Rock    4. New Wave    5. Pop/Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Billy Idol's secret is one that he shares with, of all people, Trent Reznor--the ability to take a pop base and disguise it with layers of other genres, most notably hard rock. His adaptability is on display throughout this 16-song career retrospective. It's amazing just how well the former Generation X frontman's songs have aged. Songs such as the disco-punk hit "Dancing with Myself," "White Wedding," and "Cradle of Love" are as appealing as ever, as is even "Shock to the System," just about the only listenable thing from 1993's Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Subjects:  1. Hard Rock    2. New Wave    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

"I'm ready / Ready for what's next," Bono announces at the outset of Read more

Reviews (443)

First CD I ever owned, favorite album of all time!
No kidding, this is THE best U2 album and not only that, easily in the Top-10 greatest albums of ALL TIME.This album is flawless.I still break it out every now and then and can't believe how good it is.This album will always be special to me in so many ways.I listened to it daily for over a year during one of the greatest years of my life.
Not only U2's best album, but also one of the greatest albums ever!
Wow. What an amazing album. It seems like not enough people pay attention to U2's 90's music. After Achtung Baby was Zooropa, which I really enjoyed and then there was Pop, which I thought was just "okay". Anyways, Achtung Baby is definitely U2's best album. Here are my ratings for each song:
"One" Techno Masterpiece!
'Achtung' has to rate as one of two of the best albums by U2.It ranks with 'Joshua Tree,' which has more variety, even if 'Achtung' gratifies the listener with more immediacy.U2 reinvents their own sound wheel with the help of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, once again, but with "Flood" added to the helm.The lyrics cover the gamut of love realized and unrealized with the fluency and passion of their best work.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. College Rock    4. Ireland    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Post-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (17)

Exceptional best-of set
Of course you know all these songs, and of course there are many more great cuts deeper on the original albums, but for a single-disc review of a band with over 10 years' worth of releases, this 18-track set is hard to beat.The group went through several striking stylistic changes over its lifetime, but that variation actually helps this disc hold together as an album as well as a set of songs.
A nice compilation of The Talking Heads
I've always liked The Talking Heads, they always had catchy songs that were fun to listen to. I must admit, my favorite of theirs has always been "Burning Down The House", but there are so many good songs on here, as well. The Talking Heads were one of the best bands of the 80's, that's when they had their best work. The 70's were ok, too, but their 80's work really shined. I'm quite happy with this.

Articulate Collection
Oddly, a compilation by Talking Heads should come out uneven and disjointed, but this collection is marvelously done.The songs meld well together and provide a sampler that wouldn't prevent anyone from buying their excellent original albums.('Talking Heads '77,' 'Remain in Light,' and 'Speaking in Tongues' are their crowning achievements artistically, but 'Fear of Music,' 'More Songs About Buildings and Food,' and 'True Stories' demonstrate that they had a great repertoire. (Unlike, 'Sand in the Vaseline,' which is also excellent, but perhaps takes too many gems and doesn't align them as well.)
Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. American Punk    4. College Rock    5. New Wave    6. New York Punk    7. Pop    8. Pop/Rock    9. Post-Punk    10. Rock    11. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (32)

Great CD
Pushed all my buttons - great songs - great singer - great collection!

You gotta have this one!
You can find almost every Cyndi's classic hits in the collection CD. From 1983 to 1997, the girl's anthem-"Girls Just Want To Have Fun" to the cool rock tune-"Sisters Of Avalon". Besides, the rare track out of "The Goonies" OST-"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" is available here as well!

Cyndi Lauper music CD
Definitely worth the buy.One bonus feature is the title song from the movie "The Goonies". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. New Wave    2. Pop    3. Pop/Rock    4. Popular Music    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

As Read more

Reviews (83)

They should release a 2-disc Greatest Hits Compilation.
...and this is the list of songs they should put on the compilation
Hidden stuff
I found this info on the Internet; I haven't verified it yet. A bit thin of a career retrospective.
A career overview of tracks selected by Robert Smith, "Greatest Hits" may be a bit of a misnomer, at least here in the United States, but nonetheless this proves to be a fine overview of the Cure's tenure with Fiction Records-- the only shortcoming of the piece is that as a single disc, selection had to be carefully performed and a number of critical pieces were omitted.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Goth Rock    4. New Wave    5. Pop    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

The final album of U2's early period, before the group broadened its sonic palette and lyrical vision, Read more

Reviews (157)

"All's Fair in Love and 'War'"
U2 started a string of masterpieces with 'War' their first brilliant album from their early years.While 'Boy' and 'October' are excellent and reinvented the wheel of pop music, 'War' is more accomplished and varied musically and is conceptually sound.The raw power of their early years is harnessed on this album as well as an expertise the two predecesors lacked.There are really two sides to the album:One could be called "War;" the other could be called "Love," but they are both intertwined throughout.
Excellent album
I have been looking to purchase some U2 CDs for quite some time now.I finally began my U2 collection about a week ago with this CD - WAR, probably their most popular album.Released in 1983, WAR was U2's breakthrough album, beginning their journey toward becoming one of the decade's most popular bands.From what I've heard, it's probably the group's most political album, though I can't back that up, as it's the only U2 recording I've heard so far.However, having heard WAR, I intend to hear many more.
Sorry - Surprisingly inconsistent:
U2 wanted to broaden their musical horizons and vary their styles. U2 does make a very talented and varied record with War. Instead of putting out the blockbuster everyone says this is supposed to be, War just finds U2 in transistion sounding at times confused and unfocused. Sunday Bloody Sunday gets my hopes up and it is my all time favorite U2 song. Seconds and New Years Day keep the hope alive. The next two are pretty good and I am still optimistic this will be great. Well my jaws drops when I hear the second half of the album, just horrible. Refugee is a genuine attempt at something different, but fails miserably. Bono sounds awful and the instrumentation is all over the place. Two Hearts beat as one contains no real melody that is complete. The rest of the album is rather forgettable. War makes a valiant attempt establish U2 as a band who will be around for a long time. This feels like they were not sure what direction they wanted to take. They would struggle to find their niche until their breakthrough Joshua Tree. I am a U2 fan and owned war, so get the album you will probably love this album. I am one of the few that just was not sold on War. Not a bad album, but I wished it was better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. College Rock    4. Ireland    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Post-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (288)

While I am a huge Henry Rollins fan...
...I must disagree with him. He has obviously put up a mental wall to anything by the Cure, but someone who ruminates on depression (in fact, makes a living off of it) so intensely can surely appreciate the level of intensity and emotional impact of Robert Smith's outlet, especially this album. Disintegration is flat out one of the most amazing albums of all time, by anyone. One thing I noticed while listening even for the first time was the visual impact it had. Not so much in the form of reality based images, but more like paintings. It's also one of the shortest long albums I own, meaning that it's 70-some minutes seem much shorter due to the album's ability to keep you mesmerized the whole time. As someone who generally listens to hardcore, extreme metal, and grind, I can tell you that all of those genres have nothing on this album in terms of intensity.
Amazing Album
The last 3 tracks on this album are as perfect for my soul as anything I've ever listened to. It's like Smith found a Chakra for our modern existence. If you are deep and contemplative, then turn the lights out, lie down, and put this record on.
On my top 5
They just don't make music this good anymore. This is one of the few albums that I could listen to over and over and was one of the last great albums of the 20th century. Great stuff! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative/Indie-Rock    3. College Rock    4. Goth Rock    5. New Wave    6. Pop    7. Post-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

While English pop monarchs Duran Duran have remained active for two decades, it's clear that the indomitable ensemble was at its peak during those mercurial '80s. This greatest-hits collection documents the band's ambitious beginnings as a funky glam-rock outfit and follows its gradual transformation into a high-tech pop band with loads of commercial appeal. Featuring now-classic tunes like "Girls on Film," "Rio," and "Planet Earth" as well as more recent songs like "Ordinary World," Read more

Reviews (170)

just good stuff
This has every good and great song Duran Duran has done to date.
Had all my faves but a couple were "snipped"
Had all the favorites I love and remember, but was very dissappointed by the shortened versions of "Save A Prayer" and "Hungry Like the Wolf".Yes, us true Durannies know the difference!

Not a Single Duran Duran Hit Missing
This compilation contains all Duran Duran's hits. From "The Reflex," "Rio," "Save a Prayer," and other eighties classics to some of their later tunes like "Come Undone" and "Electric Barabella," it spans their entire career as influential new-wave musicians.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Dance    2. Dance-Pop    3. England    4. New Romantic    5. New Wave    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Popular Music    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop    11. Synth Pop