Editorial Review

The final album by the Clash's original Strummer/Jones incarnation is also their most inconsistent. There were musical and ideological rifts developing within the band, and it shows: the experimentation is almost as wild as Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (102)

THE CLASH/ WHATS NOT TOO LIKE
I will admit I have mixed feelings for this album. I'm shure many other clash fans feel the same. while some claim this is the album that ruined their career, others will say that it is their finest work. I personally think this album is very good, but not the same or nearly as good as their two first albums. The clash after having exploded in the punk scene, they moved on to break music barriars. While I miss their original style, its hard not to appreciate theirtheir later work. No matter what which part of their career you look at, you are for shure absorbing some good music. Rest in peace Joe Strummer. We can't be certain about these kind of things but I really hope he made it.

The Clash - COMBAT ROCK (1982)
The final album to feature the full Clash group - Mick Jones was fired and replaced on 1985's CUT THE CRAP - COMBAT ROCK is also commonly referred to as the album on which The Clash "sold out". The group changed their sound from punk rock to new wave, losing much - but not all - of their fire in the process. Their strategy, if you want to call it that, worked; they scored their biggest hit ever with the dance/funk tune "Rock the Casbah" and COMBAT ROCK shot to the top of both the U.K. and U.S. charts. There's a number of other greats here, such as the similarly funked-out "Overpowed By Funk", the reggae-tinged "Straight to Hell" and "Car Jamming", the strong opening track "Know Your Rights", and the laid-back saxophone-filled "Sean Flynn". The rest of the songs are good, but lack the punch - the aforementioned "fire" - of previous Clash compositions. COMBAT ROCK continues to explore different musical styles, and though the result isn't as impressive as the earlier Clash releases, it's still a fun and well-made album.

The final album by the Strummer/Jones Clash.
I think it's a bit steep to call this the worst album by The Clash. The fact that they could achieve commercial success while still making very interesting and original music (unlike my least favourite album, "Give 'Em Enough Rope") makes this quite a valid album, especially with suchmusical escapades as "Sean Flynn" and immediately catchy material like the two songs - you know which, "Car Jamming", and "Straight to Hell".
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Subjects:  1. British Punk    2. Hard Rock    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Elvis Costello kicked off his debut album with a formal device that would also serve his next two long-players well: the first thing you hear is his voice. That opening phrase--"Now that your picture's in the paper..."--was more than sneakily, if not intentionally, appropriate, since Costello was quickly declared the second coming. It's become Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (42)

the first and greatest elvis.
at the time that this album came out i had just lost my little boy, my husband had left me for a woman 24 years my junior, & i had a serious rash all up & down my left side. i was DEPRESSED. then i heard this music & suddenly i wanted to wear lipstick again. i wanted to wear lipstick & i wanted to dance. what a great album. and to this day in 2006 it still is! the best elvis costello album known to man (and that's saying something).

Elvis is King!
The angry young man hit a grand slam with this debut album. EC ain't much of a guitarist, but hey when you can capture what an entire generation is thinking within your lyrics...well, they call that genius! Back to back, the tunes here are all winners. Alison is a particular favorite of mine. This album is the beginning of a remarkable body of work that is still evolving.
Nearly Unbeatable Debut
First, this review is only about disc one because I don't have disc two...
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Subjects:  1. British Punk    2. College Rock    3. England    4. New Wave    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Pub Rock    8. Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock & Roll    11. Rock/Pop    12. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

The Smashing Pumpkins are a Read more

Reviews (92)

Songs besides "Landslide" should have been on the Greatest Hits
It's the truth...this album is amazing...I listened to The Greatest Hits first, and when I listened to Pisces Iscariot, I was somewhat surprised that great songs such as "Obscured" and "Starla" were not on the Greatest Hits.Those were two of my favorites on this album.
Speaks to Billy Corgan's lack of priority
This, without a doubt, is one of the best alternative albums of the era, nevermind that it's a b-sides collection of sorts. All of the songs are good, and it's very listenable. billy corgan obviously doesn't know when he's written a good song.
great sounds make ears good
What surprises me most about Pisces Iscariot is the sheer eclecticism that it represents.These are songs that range from the barely-there acoustic opener Soothe to the all-out amps on 11 grind of Pissant.Corgan forces sounds out of his guitar that don't seem to all be coming from the same place.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Grunge    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Post-Grunge    6. Punk    7. Rock    8. United States of America   

Editorial Review

In 1972, when rock & roll was all but dead in Manhattan, five cross-dressing glam punks from the boroughs convened and began hammering out crude, sub-Chuck Berry rock for the downtown in-crowd. It took another year before a record company dared to sign them, thus foisting Read more

Reviews (63)

New York Dolls - self-titled (Mercury)
Review number 63.Originally unleashed to an unexpected public in summer of 1973,this was of course the glam rocker's very first record.If you think the Stooges were great,step aside,this CD reissue is ALSO a true Proto-Punk classic. Every one of this album's slamming tunes 'practically' pulls you in,like "Personality Crisis", the radio friendly(?) "Looking For A Kiss", "Lonely Planet Boy" (one of my personal favorites), "Bad Girl", "Pills" and "Jet Boy". So glad they've recently reunited,aren't you? Highly recommended.

What more can really be said?
I'm a big fan of Bowie, Iggy, T. Rex and other bands of that glam/early punk era. This album provides a perfect mix of those genres. It's really hard to listen to this album and not hear how their influence spread to a lot of bands that would proceed them.
Something Happened in Lower Manhattan
I had pretty high expectations for this CD when I first listened to it way back when. I understood that it was a recording of high historical importance and influence, and the fact that Morrissey endorsed it as his favorite CD - and does to this very day - certainly bode well for it.Besides, I couldn't help but be drawn in by a bunch of guys dressed as red light district Barbies playing trashy, menacing rock 'n roll in a brew of Rolling Stones-style blues and reckless proto-punk abandon.Moreover, in the wake of the glam rock of T. Rex and David Bowie, the New York Dolls imitated their fashions so as to flatter them, but took it to the extreme and gave it an irresistibly kitschy quality. Image was very important at the time, and the Dolls were wise enough to embrace it.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Glam Rock    3. Hard Rock    4. New York Punk    5. Pop    6. Proto-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll    9. Rock/Pop    10. United States of America   

Reviews (12)

Blondie rocks...
Great cd! It has the hits and a couple of others as well that perhaps weren't that popular but still nice songs. The dvd has basically the songs from the "Greatest Video Hits" with the addition of "Good Boys" and "Rapture Riders." Both cd and dvd are very good and by buying this combo it's cheaper than buying a cd and dvd separate so, good bargain for Blondie fans on a budget!

I have been a fan for 30 years now....
Blondie is one of the great bands from the NYC scene of the late 1970s. They had a cool retro underground sound, but they were also capable of hits. They hit the top of the charts several times in the US and UK. For five years they were one of the biggest American bands. They were also one of the first rock bands to artfully move into the reggae, disco, and rap genres. I first saw them on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in 1976. When I moved to NYC twenty years later, I used to see various members of the band hanging out downtown. It was a surreal experience. Just last week I saw Frank Infante at a club. This was one of the first cool bands that I got into before my brothers. There have been a few greatest hits records from Blondie. This one celebrates their controversial induction into the Hall of Fame. This one collects all their hit singles. Plus in has the "In The Flesh" remix. This sounds like an Electroclash tune. It also includes some newer material like "Maria" and "Good Boys." One of the best tracks is the Blondie vs. The Doors mashup "Rapture Riders." This is pretty good.
Still Waiting
I bought this solely for the DVD.I enjoyed it a lot, really.It made me wish they'd release "Eat to the Beat" as a DVD (that way we'd get the rest of it.)So, I'm 'still waiting'. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. Club/Dance    3. New Wave    4. New York Punk    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. United States of America   

Editorial Review

On their 1997 release, Dude Ranch, juvenile hardcore-pop band Blink 182 tickled the funny bone with an assortment of dumb sex jokes, off-color artwork, and between-song skits, including one of a dog drinking from a freshly peed in toilet. So, two years down the road, have the band matured at all? One look at the cover of Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (1210)

Absolute pop-punk classic
1999 was a crazy year. Everyone was getting prepared for Y2K. Everyone was out seeing Star Wars Episode 1, Toy Story 2, and The Sixth Sense. It was a year of popstars (Britney Spears, N*SYNC, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys) and rap-rockers (KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock), but among them came a little punk trio of guys in their mid-20's singing teen anthems along to simple, catchy, energetic music that would inspire hit music for years to come. That band was blink-182, the band that created tons of hits, inspired millions of teens to start bands, and popularized the term "pop-punk", and it all happened with this album.
WOW THEY SUCK
God these poesurs couldn't be anyworse. Whats funny is that travis barker is getting a divorce!! He sucks!!!

Great cd, even though it is old
Just Adam's Song makes this cd worth getting. It is the best song I have ever heard. Besides from it, there are other good ones on the album. All The Small Things was the first blink-182 song I ever heard. I don't understand what it's about, but it is really good. What's My Age Again? has hilarious lyrics, but it is still a great song. blink-182 may be gone, but this cd is still one of the best ones ever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative/Indie-Rock    3. Bass (Electric)    4. Drums    5. Guitar (Electric)    6. Pop    7. Post-Grunge    8. Punk Revival    9. Punk-Pop    10. Rock    11. Rock/Pop    12. Synthesizer    13. Vocal Harmony    14. Vocals    15. Vocals (Background)   

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (987)

great cd
this is their best cd so far. im sure their music is just going to get better!! good album, buy the cd!

I don't get it
A pop rock band with a violin?I'm sorry, I just don't get it.It's not like the band sucks, they're good musicians if you're into that poppy sound, but the violin just confuses me.There's a time and place for violin in rock music, with an ensemble arrangement for example, but not solo.IMHO.

They finally got somewhere
Ocean Avenue did wonders for YC.They finally got onto the radio after about 7 years of working their @$$es off.And this album does not dissapoint.It has everything a good band needs to make it big.And compared to their first albums, "Midget Tossing", and "Where We Stand", this album is proof that any band can go from struggling to famous if they try. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Punk    3. Punk Revival    4. Punk-Pop    5. Rock   

Reviews (14)

Pepper is like a breath of fresh air ...

Kona Town is a must buy!
This CD is really great to listen too! All the tracks bring you a great sound that will keep you bobbing your head.
It is good ... but nothing great
But it is NOT 311 or sublime, or even Go Jimmy Go. Not even in the same class. The lyrics and music are far more simple, and in spots have an annoying country touch. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

With Read more

Reviews (613)

A few quick words!
Despite all the nay-sayers, this was and is a truly great album. It is by far the best of the Smashing Pumpkins albums and Shame is the most lush, beautiful and profound song I have ever heard. It will transport you to another universe!

awesome
This is my favorite album by the smashing pumpkins and i think i have 5 of them. (Mellon Collie is totally over rated) Adore however is Dark, Brooding, Beautiful and emotional. It is my second favorite record ever, just behind blood sugar sex magik by the red hot chili peppers.
You make me real...
"Twilight fades
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Electronica    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Post-Grunge    6. Punk    7. Rock    8. United States of America   

Reviews (6)

The Ramones wrote hit songs
In a more perfect world the Ramones would have had a load of hit records. Their songs were written to be hits. Joey Ramone was always thinking that their next release was gonna be the one that would top the charts.
Sorry But....
Ramones are my favorite band ever i would have to say, hence the 5 stars.... but since I have virtually their entire collection, The two best of compilations to get I would have to say are "Loud, Fast Ramones" or "Ramones Mania". Basically if you have those two compilation and their first self titled album, you can consider yourself set for a while. Ramones "Anthology is also awesome. My two favorite Ramones albums of all time are RAMONES "Ramones" and "Mondo Bizarro", Of course I'm talking about getting a quick RAMONES fix here, or if you just wanna check out the band for the first time... you gotta start somewhere right? well i wouldn't start here, I would strongly suggest, for the price and a good starting place either "Loud, Fast" or "Mania", the two-disc "Anthology" is pretty damn good as well... But c'mon ,How bout a rarities disc already or something???

NOOOOOOOOOOO
This is horrible. ok, 1. There are already like 3 greatest hits packages and an anthology. There's no need for more. 2. If you are a true Ramones fan(like me), you buy the albums, not greatest hits. Very disapponting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. College Rock    3. New York Punk    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Rock    7. United States of America   

Reviews (2)

Pretty good
I agree with the other reviwer who said it sounds more like this was meant to hurt you than the oxneers... Since I liked their full length more than their ep I was a bit upset when I first listened to the album. But as time grew on the album really grew on me. This is deffinitly their most mature album and it highlights their talents well. So overall this is a great recordjust not my style but you should still check it out.

Another great cd
From the first time I saw These Arms Are Snakes open for the Blood Brothers right before the release of their first ep, I was hooked. Easter totally kills it, and is much better than their first full length Oxeneers (and I loved that one too). This release is less dancey and more like the ep This is meant to hurt you.This thing is worth buying for the the song "Child Chicken Play" alone. This band deserves to be huge. Maybe if they got stupid haircuts and changed their name to These arms are Disco and sold their soul to FUSE they would be, but whatever, I'll just keep spreading the word on how awesome this band is. ... Read more

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

Reviews (51)

influenced countless bands to follow
This is not your Pop-Punk stuff. No sad little Emo kids are jamming to this one , either.
Classic good misfits
The misfits is one of my all time favorite bands next to nirvana and the ramones. this is a bunch of demos and tracks taken from the early recording with Glenn. because i will tell you this with out Glenn there is no such things as the misfits. everysong rocks. just look past the low sound quility but collection 2 sounds better and it is eqaul to this album. some songs are very dark and i can tell you waht songs is good or bad. they all rock. so buy this album and it will be in your cd player for awhile. i have had my since high school and its still it the shuffle.

awesome music is an understatement
i just purchased this album, my first misfits album and every song on it rocks (i especially like where eagles dare).i just bought two more albums, walk among us and static age and i wish they would hurry up and get here in the mail because i cant wait.my only complain is the sound quality.it sounds like they put a dollar store tape recorder in the corner and started rocking...but i guess that makes it sound more real too.metallica covered a couple of their albums on their garage album but it just isnt the same. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Founded by guitarist/songwriter Greg Ginn, Black Flag exploded out of L.A. in 1981 with a debut album so confrontational that MCA Records refused to release it, stating that Black Flag was "immoral" and lacking "redeeming social value." When the album finally came out on Ginn's own SST label, it was clear why MCA recoiled, as Black Flag's skinhead look and hardcore sound signaled a new chapter in punk--and rock in general. With Henry Rollins's venom-dripping vocals leading the way, the album features such hostile teeth-gnashers as "Rise Above" ("Try to stop us/It's no use"), "Six Pack" ("I got a six pack, and nothing to do"), and, of course, "Life of Pain."Read more

Reviews (131)

Stop bashing Rollins....
Okay, first of all this is a good album period-its a change of sound from their previous years, but still it's a good album. I'm not going to choose a side for Black Flag-Morris vs Rollins because Morris rocks hard and Rollins rocks hard. However, I can see how some people don't like their aggressive more hardcore and angry sound found on this album and prefer their less instense more just plain punk theme of Keith Morris Black Flag has and vice versa. In conclusion, if you enjoy a more heavier, angry, twisted, and hardcore sound in your punk buy Damaged. And if you prefer a less intense and more straight up old school punk buy The First four years.

Howling Madness
This is arguably the very first Hardcore band. They played for years before this debut, (earlier stuff is on "the First Four Years") but this in my opinion is their crowning achievement.
Thirsty and Miserable
Thirsty and Miserable is one of the greatest hardcore punk songs ever written. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. American Underground    3. Hardcore Punk    4. L.A. Punk    5. Pop    6. Punk    7. Rock    8. United States of America   

Editorial Review

After two years off following the release of the genre-expanding Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (525)

Green Day are LEGENDS!!!!!!!!!!
Green Day in my opinion were one of the greatest groups in history!
Green Day-Punk NOT Posers
This is by far one of the best cds I've ever heard. My favorite from Green Day. My favorite song ever is Castaway. People that are calling Green Day posers really need to stop. Wow, they tried something new! Let's sue them!!! NO. They've been a band longer than I've lived on this planet. (no, I'm not from outer space...I'm just 12) Green Day teaches people to be who they are and that they shouldn't be afraid to show some self respect. Take Minority for example-Stepped out of the line/like a sheep runs from the herd/Marching out of time/to my own beat now-They want you to show your individuality people! Have those haters of Green Day even heard their music? Have you given them a chance. Wow, you hear one sample of a song-maybe-and you think they suck. THATS NOT GIVING THEM A CHANCE!!! Stop trashing, start listening.
Green Day's Warning
WARNING: is a major progression in the sound and style of the punk rock band: Green Day. The players still had the grudgy and edgy sound of guitars, bass, and drums. Excpet this time around, the band had obviously searched for a further progression in sound. At times, the band is accompanied by horns, harmonicas, strings, mandolins, and it greatly improves the originality to Green Day's performance. Joel still leads the band with his gritty vocals, but at times he adds more heartfelt lyrics than he has ever done in the past. It is the beginning to his path in expressing his personal and political thoughts. The band itself is well formed and play together remarkably. WARNING: is the record before Green Day's major breakthrough as a politcal rock band, and an album you have to hear.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative/Indie-Rock    3. Bass (Electric)    4. Drums    5. Guitar (Electric)    6. Pop    7. Post-Grunge    8. Punk Revival    9. Punk-Pop    10. Rock    11. Rock/Pop    12. Vocals    13. Vocals (Background)   

Reviews (61)

The Best of Flogging Molly
When first listening to this album, many first reactions may be to say that this isn't as good as Swagger or Drunken Lullabies. I thought the same way. But then, after going through the CD several times, I found myself coming back to this one over and over, far beyond Drunken Lullabies. Overall, the intrumentation is phenominal, far beyond the other two albums. The melodies range from soft and soothing (Wanderlust, To Youth) to drunken lullabies style awsome (Tobacco Island, Seven Deadly Sins) to haunting and emotinally chilling (Spoken Wheel, With a Wonder and a Wild Desire). Overall, an intense and amazing album.
Flogging Brilliant!
Wow..this quite unlike anything I have been exposed to in music so far.I love the blending of traditional Irish/Celtic folk instruments and vibe with the attitude and swagger of the modern punk movement.It is somewhat reminiscent of the Pogues at their best but manages to forge its own unique groove.Buy it...play it...love it!

The light of a fading star? NO WAY!
I'll admit right away, I didn't like this album at first. I had to force myself to listen to it. But once I heard it a few times...I fell in love! This CD is amazing. There's a perfect balance of slower songs (Whistles the Wind, Don't Let Me Die Still Wondering) and faster songs (Seven Deadly Sins, Tobacco Island - one of the best on the album). In my opinion, Within a Mile of Home is better than Drunken Lullabies, but both are worth getting (if you liked Drunken Lullabies, you'll like this album). Within a Mile of Home is perfect for doing chores or other things that you really don't feel like doing. It's upbeat and will help you get the job done. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk Revival    5. Punk-Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Maybe hanging out with Jello Biafra put the fun-loving spring in Offspring's step. Or perhaps it was just the royalty checks, hot babes, and fast cars. Whatever the case, the band's fourth record, Read more

Reviews (786)

Another good one!
The Offspring has so far yet to put out an album that really disappoints me. I haven't heard Ignition so I can't really say much about that but I have heard everything they've released since Smash and most are at least good. This release however is better than good, its very good. No it may not be as amazing as Smash but it does have a lot of great tracks. My favorites are "Staring at the Sun", "The Kids aren't alright", "She's Got Issues", and "Pay The Man". Here's ratings for the rest of the album...
fair...just fair
the offspring..a band who draws inspiration from some of the best music around(the damned, TSOL, agent orange, adolescents, and DI), have great record label that is responsible for new records/re-issues from TSOL, The Damned, and other great legendary punk artists, and a band who used to be really great punk revival have truly disappointed me with records like this.
One of the all time greats....
of punk rock cds. This is a very fast in your face album with sometimes funny lyrics: Shes got issues, walla walla. However the best offspring song is on this disc: The kids arent alright.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Popular Music    4. Post-Grunge    5. Punk    6. Punk Revival    7. Punk-Pop    8. Rock   

Editorial Review

After its most prolonged absence from the recording studio, Sleater-Kinney has reloaded with a smoldering rock and roll record that rivals John Lennon’s Read more

Reviews (93)

Finally
A thin, reedy, weak voice caterwauling is caterwauling nonetheless. Finally, the production adds some much needed depth and masculinity to this girl-pop trio. Let's face it, the vocals for this group on previous outings were Spears-esque, or Madonna-lite-like at best. Try as they might, these ladies could never match Dalle or Love or Hynde. But Fridmann saved the day by injecting an interesting set of distorted textures and saved these ladies from themselves. This is their only worthwhile record, and man is it a good one.

Hate to see 'em go out like this
Man do I love this band, and "Dig Me Out" and "The Hot Rock" fall firmly in my top