5 comments about The Cars.

1. So, I'm driving home with my girlfriend after a wonderful dinner out, and out of no where Just What I Needed comes on the radio. So I turned it up real loud and started singing along. I'm really not a very good singer but there is no way you can hear this song and not be moved to sing along with it. My girlfriend who is 15 years my junior even loved the song (but not my singing). Before we got home I said to her, "I've got to quickly throw up a review on Amazon when we get home!"
   
   I was only 10 years old when the Cars debut album was released. I didn't actually listen to the album until two years later during my freshman year in junior high. I remember instantly falling in love with the entire album, every song. To my ears it still sounds as fresh as the day it was released. Take a trip down memory lane and put this album on for a listen and you to will realize why the saying "they don't make em like they used" is more true now regarding the music industry than ever more.



2. Front to back, this has to be one of the best debut albums of all time. You'll want to surf this new wave again and again.



3. While Van Halen were redefining metal with their debut album in 1978, The Cars did something even more improbable the same year -- they invented a new kind of rock: "new wave". This weird album could have stiffed at the cash register, but for some reason it took off. Five nerds from Boston reinvented pop music, and people dug it? So why did it work? You can choose melody or lyrics, and either way you win. Upbeat tunes, catchy arrangement, and instrumentation that we now take for granted (choppy guitars and synths) added up to hummable music. No matter that the lyrics were often dark, cynical and depressed. That just added to things. (When the local metal cover band is bellowing "let's party!", the Cars sophisticated world view seemed more appealing, especially if you were as big a nerd as the band seemed to be. Of course, Ocasek ruined that by marrying a super-model, but no matter.) Together, the hiccuping guitars and yearning vocals added up to a musical tension-and-release that perfectly mirrored the bedroom fantasies of the nerds who were listening. The Buzzcocks were more obviously about that connection, but the Cars were better. One of the greatest rock albums of all time. Five stars.



4. "Just What I Needed" was already an oldie by the time I was a high school sophomore, but that didn't stop it from being one of the most relevant songs I could get my hands on. It simultaneously fulfilled all of my most pertinent musical cravings, serving up a flawless three-and-a-half-minute cocktail of crunching power chord heroics, sharp melodic hooks, hopelessly clever lyrics, and vocals that were both quirky and impassioned. It was the perfect pop song, but with enough spiky alt-new wave attitude to imbue it with a sense of genuine cool. Every time I cue it up, it takes me back to tenth grade, to that joyful year that saw me fall helplessly in love with my best friend. "Just What I Needed" is the sound of pure, hopeless joy, of butterflies in the stomach and lightness in the head, of wry, knowing angst and cheekily self-deprecating humor. It's the sound of smart people letting their emotions sneak up on them. Beautiful!
   
   But the most mind-boggling thing about "Just What I Needed" is that it's not even my favorite song here! That honor would probably go to "Bye Bye Love," which is a brittle, cynical masterpiece. It's a simple breakup song that somehow manages to turn the whole notion of love inside out, and every one of its hooks is stuffed with bitterness and paranoia and caustic wit. In fact, I'd say that this album is worth the price of admission purely on the basis of Ric Ocasek sneering "you think you're so illustrious/ you call yourself intense." It's one of the most withering putdowns in the history of pop music, rivaling even the more acidic moments of This Year's Model and Highway 61 Revisited.
   
   The other seven songs are icing on the cake. I love icing. There are sweet, gooey gobs of it all over this disc, in the form of such irresistible classics as "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Don't Cha Stop." "I'm In Touch With Your World" is marvelously quirky, and "Moving In Stereo" is endearingly creepy. "You're All I've Got Tonight" is desperate and paranoid and surprisingly fun, "Good Times Roll" is a panicked (anti-) party anthem, and "All Mixed Up" is really atmospheric and kinda sultry. And the chorus is beautiful, sort of. Yeah. This album'll blow your mind with its inescapable wonderfulness. Treat yourself to it.



5. Strong debut for the Boston post-punk/new wave band, fronted by the legendary Ric Ocasek (though bassist Benjamin Orr could almost be considered a "co-frontman"). Snide charm and effortless hooks dominated this effort, with several deserved hits along the way (and at least a couple more that probably could have been smashes as well). Heavily influenced and influential, its flavor is dulled a bit by time--their fusion of punk/new wave with catchy hard rock is no longer quite as new.
   
   "Just What I Needed" is, of course, the standout of the bunch, but the underrated minor hit "You're All I've Got Tonight" is nearly its equal. Meanwhile, the hit track, "My Best Friend's Girl" hasn't aged quite as well, but it's got such a goofily fun hook that it's nearly irresistible. Surprisingly, one of the weakest tracks, "I'm in Touch With Your World," is the one that works hardest to stand apart; unfortunately it falls victim to a weak melody and the clichés of punchy psychedelia.
   
   Best cuts: "Just What I Needed," "You're All I've Got Tonight," "Good Times Roll," "Moving in Stereo," "Don't Cha Stop," "My Best Friend's Girl," "All Mixed Up"

5 comments about Candy-O.

1. Since the Cars had created a perfect album with their 1978 self-titled debut, it would be nearly impossible to top it. Instead of laboring long and hard over a follow-up like many '70s bands did after a huge commercial success, the band cranked out their sophomore effort, Candy-O, almost exactly one year later from the first LP. And while the album was not as stellar as its predecessor was, it did contain several classics, resulting in another smash album that solidified the band's standing as one of the most promising new bands of the late '70s. The first single, the Top 20 anthem "Let's Go," proves to be the best track, but plenty of other standouts can be found as well. The title track remains one of the band's best rockers, while the gentle "It's All I Can Do" also deserved to be a hit. The band pays tribute to T. Rex on "Dangerous Type" (the main guitar riff resembles "Bang a Gong"), rocks out on "Got a Lot on My Head" and "Night Spots," shows their softer side on "Since I Held You," and embraces modern pop on "Double Life" and "Lust for Kicks." Their second strong release in a row, Candy-O proved that the Cars were not one-hit wonders, like so many other bands from the same era.



2. On CANDY-O, the Cars not only avoided the sophmore jinx, but came through with an album that's just as good as their debut. Granted, the cover art is somewhat overly suggestive, and could inspire inappropriate sexual behavior, but the songs are uniformly strong and there are very few clunkers here. This CD and the debut are really what you need by the Cars. After this album, the band tried too hard and too many things in an attempt to remain relevant as musical tastes changed.



3. The Cars grow more interesting with time. They are forever lumped in with acts like the Pretenders, Blondie, Elvis Costello, XTC, etc. Their sound belongs to a certain era. Even though "Candy-O" came out in the late 70s, the music itself definitely has an 80s feel. In fact, one could argue this album was a bit ahead of its time as far as synth-heavy, high-production, new wave with serious pop hooks (to say nothing of Candy-O's predecessor, the brilliant "The Cars").
   
   That said, the hits have aged well but the albums are a bit hit-and-miss. Candy-O itself, while not as good as "The Cars", remains a true New Wave staple and a hit. The lyrics throughout are excellent, even on the radio hits (She's got wonderful eyes/And a risky mouth/And when I asked her before/She says she's holding out). What a vixen! And she's seventeen.
   
   Ocasek's ear for power pop is evident with Let's Go, It's All I Can Do, and Dangerous Type, but the album's ventures into darkness lack the requisite snarl or danger of other New Wave efforts. If Ocasek and company had focused on making 11 singles (not an easy task), they might have carved out a more lasting niche for this album. Rightly or wrongly, Candy-O is a bit of a footnote in any discussion of the Cars' body of work.
   
   Overall, the Cars just don't have the bite of the Pretenders, or Cheap Trick, or Elvis Costello, or even Blondie. Their sound is too glossed-over and shiny, and though a hint of darkness rescues the Cars from being
   pure bubble-gum, it still feels a bit toothless, like New Wave Light.
   
   This sound culminated in the form of 1984's "Heartbeat City", probably as pure an 80s album as it gets, from the synths to the lyrics to the MTV videos with Ocasek standing on water, or flying around attached to a bug's head.
   
   The Cars will go down in history as a singles band -- and there's not one thing wrong with that.
   
   Overall, I give Candy-O itself four stars, as opposed to "The Cars", which I would rate five stars (and one of the best debut albums of all time).



4. This CD brought back memories. I have several Greatest Hits CDs from the CARS and while they have the "hits" there are so many songs that are under the radar and deserve attention. This CD is chock full of such songs. Worth the listen.



5. I finally got around to purchasing this CD. I had the LP when it first came out but sold all my vinyl years ago. I bought the Greatest Hits and Debut CD a while back but was still missing hearing some of my old favorites (Double Life, Nightspots) from this album. What a treat to listen to them again and have them loaded on my MP3 player now. Next up....Panorama, I love the title track as well as Gimme Some Slack and The Down Boys.

5 comments about Dead Man's Party.

1. This is by far Oingo Boingo's best album-no questions asked. Dead Man's Party (the song that introduced me to them), Just Another Day, Same Man I Was Before, and Wierd Science are the best songs the band ever recorded, as far as I'm concerned. There are only a couple of songs here that really don't do anything for me.



2. Great dance CD, the song Dead Man's party is a great dance song for your Halloween Party!



3. The CD has two of my favorite songs, 'Dead Man's Party,' and 'Weird Science.' The rest of the CD quickly grew on me and now I can't think of not having it in my CD collection. When it shipped it didn't take very long for it to come in, I'd say about a week. It was in great condition when I got it and the disc itself looked brand new. Thanks a lot, and keep up the great work.



4. I first heard this album when I was on the road to and from the beach with a couple of good friends. While the rest of the album rocked my socks, it was "Stay" that got stuck in my head. I was singing it all the time, and the melody was so haunting, that I had to run out and get it. I got it on LP, and as a testiment of how much I loved it, I pulled out my record player out everyday for 3 months because I needed to hear it. Thankfully, I eventually got the cd too.
   
   I hope that everyone who experiences this album will enjoy it as much as I did.



5. Can't get enough of this CD -- energized music to play at halloween or anytime!!

5 comments about Love Is Dead.

1. I heard of this artist on the 2008 Spike Scream Awards when she performed "Walking on Air" onstage. I was instantly hooked on the song (and got everyone else in my house hooked too). After looking up more of her music I decided I wanted to buy the album.
   She has a kind of cool weirdness to her music and her songs each have a different style to it. I think the music itself sounds a little too synthetic sometimes - like there was no real band available to play or it was over-produced.
   
   My favorite tracks on the album are "Walking on Air" and "Bullet Proof"All in all - its a good album and she is an interesting character.
   I would recommend this album to anyone who is open minded about music and likes things that are a little different or kinda strange. The album cover makes it look like it may be some kind of goth-pop stuff but its not. Its a cool album and I'm happy with it :)



2. I was asleep in front of the TV when the 2008 scream awards began. I was then in the twilight zone when I awakened to this music. "Who is this?" I asked. In sharing this with my family, I find that my daughters and grand daughters already know who Kerli is. My youngest, age six, insists in hearing the end of the song when Kerli comes on the radio. "Love is dead" is a must buy for all ages.



3. Ok, I normally listen to a lot heavier stuff then this such as Slayer, GWAR, Pantera, Meshuggah, even Marilyn Manson things of that nature. But I was introduce to Kerli by some of my close friends and then I finally decided to look up some stuff about her on the good ol' youtube then I heard the title track and I got hooked. Now for the album I love the whole cd my faves are Strange boy, Love is Dead, I want nothing, and creepshow. The only song I dont really care for is up up up though i still like its just not one i listen to a lot. So i highly recommend you give this cd a shot.



4. Uniquely Beyond the REALM of NORM!!!!!!
   
   I love this CD. I downloaded the 1st single on iTunes since it was the freee single of the week and thought it was interesting. I picked up the album at my local music store since it was $7.00. I believe an album cant be that bad if its for 7 bucks. To my suprise i picked up a winner. Kerli is very interesting and unique enough to make her stand out from the crowd. The real stand out track is the album name and title track for #1 which is "Love Is Dead". Its a wonderful CD and is very unqie and cutting edge. In a world full of typical artist its nice to see someone come along thats new and doing something different or something that hasnt been heard of in awhile. Her angelic voice has traces of Dolores from the Cranberries. There's a mixture of just about everything on the CD. A little bit Avril, alittle bit Dolores, alittle goth. Its all here. Pick up this CD because its truly a great debut from a very promising new artist.



5. In all the years I have been using Amazon, I have never been so impressed with a product that I wrote a review. This is an exception. This album is fantastic! It has interested me in a new genre of music that I never listened to before (not that Kerli even fits into just one genre), just as Taylor Swift did. I love pop music, and it brings just a hint of pop - enough to get me hooked! Saying I like this album is something because I typically like singers such as Girlicious and Britney Spears, which goes to show that Kerli can appease a variety of musical interests.
   
   Her music is a collaboration between Rock and Pop with creepy/gothic overtones. The song "Walking on Air" is fantastic and is my favorite song of 2008. Almost every song is excellent, but the ones that stand out are "Love is Dead" "Walking on Air" "Bulletproof" and "I Want Nothing." The video for "Walking on Air" is the best video I have ever seen, it is absolutely amazing, and looks very high-budget. Her music is fresh and sounds unlike any other singer/band!
   
   I urge anybody to check out the songs on this album and buy it. I only found out about her from iTunes Free Single of the Week earlier this year and hardly anybody knows who she is. I know her album hasn't been super successful (according to Wikipedia) and I want her to be successful so that I can her more from her in the future. If her album was marketed correctly I really think she would reach great success. Please buy her album, you won't be disappointed! Oh, and tell your friends too!

5 comments about Rocket to Russia.

1. It's so passe to give favorite reviews glowing reviews - it seems that if an album is beloved, it deserves some kind of classic status.
   
   With Rocket to Russia, the Ramones earn this album's classic status from the first groove. This captures the humor of their first LP and melds it with punk cum Beach Boys feel. Their sound is completely original, but warmly familiar, and all of the tunes are written rightly and cleverly. This isn't hardcore, but it certainly seemed hardcore when it was released (not even Saturday Night Live would touch them), and it's completely unpretentious. Even people who weren't initially fond of the Ramones have slowly come to appreciate their special genius - and Rocket to Russia captures that genius as well as any of their records. My signed copy is a prized possession.



2. Their debut may be more historically significant, but this is still the better album. Rocket To Russia, the Ramones' third record, is one of the greatest punk records ever waxed, and a watershed moment in the tortured history of rock 'n' roll. Here, the group's signature mixture of Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, Black Sabbath, Iggy Pop, and Phil Spector is at its absolute zenith. These songs are pure gutter angst, burnt-out bursts of emotion that ring with hilarity and hatred, joy and spite, love and confusion, apathy and honesty. And you can dance to it! The end result is a package of pure, unfiltered goodness, full of meat 'n' cheese masterpieces like "Cretin Hop" and "Locket Love." "Rockaway Beach" and "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" are metallic bubblegum-surf ravers, and "Teenage Lobotomy" is an irresistible, ferocious anthem. "I Don't Care" is quintessentially bemused teenage sneer, and the cover of "Do You Wanna Dance" is just plain fun. And then there's the rollicking cynicism of "We're A Happy Family," and the bounce of "I Wanna Be Well." So, a punk classic then...



3. Simply put, this album is what rock'n roll fun is all about. For those of you who don't really get it, it is futile to try and explain it to you.



4. I bought this album because I owned it approx 30 years ago and had a vague memory of it being good. I was not dissappointed, in fact it seems to have improved with age, or maybe my taste has. Whichever is the case Rocket to Russia is in my humble opinon the best ever Ramones album. Cretin Hop is an all time classic not to mention Teenage Lobotomy, Sheena is a Punk Rocker and the best ever version of Surfing Bird. there are also 5 ripper bonus tracks. Long live the Ramones.



5. Unlike some reviewers here, I didn't exactly grown up in the punk era of the late 70s/early 80s. Yeah I was around, but the diaper rash kinda hampered my appreciation for the genre. I kind of backed into the Ramones in high school after wondering where Green Day got their ideas from (and I am happy to say that once I heard the real thing I dropped Green Day and started buying albums from the likes of the Ramones, Talking Heads, The Clash, Devo, etc. etc.). This music wasn't really THAT old when I first discovered it, and it has really stuck with me through all my phases.
   
   Anyway, in this era of emo, mall-punk, sloppy pseudo-hardcore and the like, it's refreshing to throw this one on the player and remember that punk rock can be far from the cheesy and awkward "devolution" which has occurred. Perhaps this fact alone shows the limitations of the genre as well. I mean, there is by definition only so much you can really do with a few chords and a lot of nervous or angry energy. That potential was largely maxed-out by around 1986 (although you never know, some would have said the same about 50s rock n roll). The point is, nothing that has happened since the release of this album takes anything away from its superior quality and the absolute pop PERFECTION of these rock n roll nuggets. It's got an angry Beach Boys sound that was stunningly unique for its time, and it's just so much fun to listen to nearly anywhere. If you like punk rock, this should be the first stop you make.
   
   -HW

5 comments about Ritual de lo Habitual.

1. Well deserved praise has been bestowed upon this album by others. I echo all of it. But the MP3 conversion here leaves much to be desired.



2. Amazon's reviewer Genevieve Williams sets out writing something about the "by far best" of Jane's Addiction, an album that centers around the artistic achievements of the band's masterpiece "Three Days", and the very wonderful "Then She Did", and misses the point entirely. This review generated a really strong reaction in me because it is featured on here and is so off base it is negligent. She writes,"Unfortunately, "Three Days" and "Then She Did . . ." are overlong and get bogged down well short of halfway through". I think any fan would say that both songs are exactly as long as they need to be.
   To say that "Three Days" gets bogged down well short of halfway through seems to suggest that she didn't really listen to the song because for one thing, the song doesn't even really get started until halfway through. More than that, it's a dynamic song with multiple parts that builds to a heavy emotional crescendo and has purpose and meaning for each fantastic experience that each minute brings. The song only gets better as it progresses, particularly in the middle section, which features some of Navaro's best guitar work. Every art rock band needs their epic, and "Three Days" is theirs. "Three Days" is in fact the corner stone of the artistic ability of Jane's Addiction and to me their definitive statement. To undermine it's quality based on it's length shows a real lack of understanding of the song and therefore of the "by far best" album and therefore of the band.
   
   Not to mention that "Then She Did" is a song that exemplifies Jane's Addictions other side, a compliment to their fast and blazing hard funk rock, a side that was also flawlessly executed with "Summertime Rolls". It is a slower, more meditative and sometimes experimental side. To lose the middle solo section would take away so much from the nature of the song. It's also a nice bring-down song from the epic experience of "Three Days".
   
   This album is nearly 100% amazing from start to finish. It has a great blend of hits, innovative funky alternative hard rock, and experimentation. It's the kind of album I'd bring with me on a desert island. When bands with the kind of talent of Jane's Addiction put their power into lengthy pieces like those mentioned above, they deserved to be given more justifiable criticism than lazy words like "overlong". You can't expect a band that reintroduced art rock to popular music to stick to their 4 minute funky rock formula all the time. Personally, I don't believe calling the heart of an album "unfortunate" for any reason is really understanding what the album is going for. Jane's Addiction will take you on a trip, you just have to let them take you there. Ritual de lo Habitual



3. Jane's Addiction-Ritual De Lo Habitual ****
   
   
   Easily the bands strongest album released with the original line up of Perry on vocals, Dave Navarro on guitar, Stephen Perkins on drums, and Eric on bass. As far as the Strays album which was released with another bass player it was good for an arena rock band, but not for an alternative act of Jane's callober. Released in 1990 before a world tour which would be the bands last due to creative difference this would only be the bands second studio before they imploded.
   
   In a nut shell the album is based and centered around the focal point of the album, the song 'Three Days' which is the story of a three day sexual experince Perry had with two other women, which is also dipicted on the albums cover. This song is a roller-coaster filled with slowed tempos and fast breaking instrumental assaults. Dave Navarro's guitar solo is easily the best thing he ever recorded. Other highlights on the album include the opening track and minor hit 'Stop!' which starts the album off perfectly. 'No One's Leaving' is another rocker which keeps the albums going nicely. 'Been Caught Stealing' is the albums big hit single, and went on to be one of the 1990's most memorable songs. 'Classic Girl' closes the album and may very well be the very best song that Jane's Addiction ever pinned. Describing the song would do no good as you really must hear it to understand it, and beside describing it would be damn near impossible. 'Ain't No Right' and 'The She Did...' are also memorable.
   
   Ritual was quite the swan song for Jane's Addiction. I brought everything the band stood for and wanted to convey with their music and art to the mainstream even more so then their fantastic debut, Nothings Shocking. After this Navarro would join the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a short stint and Perry would form the great Porno For Pyros but none of those side projects could compare to Jane's and Ritual in prticular. Navarro never played better guitar before or after, and Perrys lyrics are his all time best. This is the album to get if you want Jane's Addiction.



4. This album is a masterpiece by my fav band, Jane's Addiction. Three Days alone is worth the price of this album, it is such a well written epic that twists and turns with different emotions. Plus you get other J.A classics like Stop!, Ain't No Right, Been Caught Stealing and Classic Girl. Then She Did is another epic that is beautiful, grand and somber at the same time (actual title was Then She Died). No One's Leaving, Obvious and Of Course are good too. If you have not gotten this album yet you really should, it's an all time classic. The cover art done by Perry is great as well.



5. With international fame and over 100 reviews I felt that there was really noting more that needed to be said about this magnificent masterpiece but a recent conversation lead me to post the following theory - it was really Jane's Addiction that began the early 90s music revolution, NOT Kurt Cobain and Nirvana!!
   
   The reason I say this is simple - it was the shocking appearance of this, formerly "underground", band's 3rd album at the top of the Billboard charts that sent record companies everywhere scrambling to sign their own "independent", "underground" band!! And, as a DIRECT result, Geffen signed, and more importantly promoted, Nirvana while Sony/Epic grabbed up Pearl Jam, Atlantic signed the Stone Temple Pilots and A&M signed Soundgarden! And those are just the best known examples!!
   
   I also feel that the original Lollapalozza tour in the summer of '91 primed audiences all over America for all these various styles of music, which also aided the assimilation and acceptance of "Alternative" music into the mainstream.
   
   But, all that aside, this is simply one of THE greatest albums EVER recorded and, as good as Nothing Shocking is, it was merely a promise of things to come! For all the hype surrounding the so-called "Alternative" music scene - these guys were the REAL DEAL!! There's not a bad song on the album though "3 Days" is clearly the centerpiece and high point of the album and "Then She Did..." is just as clearly a part 2, meant to be heard immediately after 3 Days, not separately! And what to make of "Of Course"...well that's the alternative part!
   
   An all around great band, containing the man I personally feel was the best guitarist to come out of the late 80s/early 90s, Dave Navarro! Also one of the best, most entertaining live bands I have seen in over 30 years of attending concerts and, although it took 12 years for them to release another album of all new material, it was definitely worth the wait and Strays proved that they had lost ABSOLUTELY NOTHING during the intervening years. I did find the 97' tour with the Chili Peppers Flea on bass quite interesting and wonder what the possibilities of that team up could produce in the long run!!
   
   Bottom line.........an absolute MUST-have addition to any music collection and here's hoping they are FAR from done with the Jane's Addiction story!!

5 comments about Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.

1. Sometime in the midst of the little new wave renaissance that was the early 90s , I heard one radio DJ say to another "I just got back from London where they are worshipping Harriett Wheeler like a Gaaaaawwwwwwd." Indeed. I have always loved "Here's Where the Story Ends" but I never treated myself to any of the Sundays' CDs until recently. Now I am thoroughly convinced that this CD is one of those rare recordings such asAbbey Roadand Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, in which there are no bad cuts.
   
   The lyrics are fashionably zippy ("hideous towns make me throw up", "it's good to have something to live for you'll find...live for a job and a perfect behind") and at times quite self-reflective("I won the war in the sitting room, I won the war and it cost me, I won the war and I feel proud...but I don't know why it's hard to go to sleep in my house" and of course the whole of "Here's Where the Story Ends" which I still can't figure out ....is it a suicide note or a Dear John letter? You decide.) Wheeler's voice is incredibly lovely. And the music is always eerily beautiful with chords that evoke the Beatles on a day off jamming with Sixpence None the Richer, who actually list the Sundays as an influence, or with the Gin Blossoms. The combination of teen detention center lyrics and bright melodies also predate Death Cab for Cutie....who said misery need be morose, even in the 20th century?
   
   Reading, Writing and Arithmetic is really the Sundays' best recording. Blind, their sophomore effort, trots out what seems to be outtakes from RWA. Their mid-90's CD, Static & Silence, contains at least one hit("Summertime"), and ventures into new territory...but it's Dylan-at-Newport territory, with more production and electronic instrumentation competing with Ms. Wheeler's whispy vocal chords, no doubt frightening some of the fans who delighted in the pared-down sound presented here. As far as I know, we've heard naught from them since.
   
   This CD stands out as one of the few in which every song is pure pop pleasure. Besides....Reading, Writing and Arithmetic is the basics; you need to have the basics.



2. Um, old guy here, young when Reading, Writing came out. Getting old now. Love it as much or more.



3. This is great album. Most people may recognize their cover of the Rolling Stones song Wild Horses from a later or possibly Here's Where the Story Ends from this album.
   
   I have never gotten tired of listening to it and only wish there was another album on the horizon for this group.



4. The Sundays are unique, much like Pink Floyd is unique. You won't hear a Floyd song and thing hey was that Britney Spears? And you won't mistake the Sundays for anyone else, Harriet Wheeler's voice is quite distinctive as is the guitar work, the jangly bright magic guitar work, and that voice like silk weaving between and over the guitar.
   
   If your not one for words and don't care for vocals, you might as well stop reading now. On the other hand, if you've by some chance not heard or don't own the Sundays, now is a perfect buying opportunity. The songs don't wear thin, they are well produced and become more complex yet calmer as they move from 1st album to last. There are only 3 albums to be had and a smattering of b sides, singles and bootlegs, but this is a beautiful, wonderful catalog, and many in this world would argue we'd be much poorer if it hadn't of happened at all.
   
   The Sundays, will bring joy to your soul and a lilt to your step, may make your car get better gas mileage and make you more appealing to the opposite sex. They definetly will make your ears feel better and your brain as well. Get some today.......



5. Every song is beautiful..every one. You know the greatness of an album when you read these reviews and you see so many differing opinions as to what are the best songs. There really is no answer, just listen for yourself and make up your own mind. My favorites are "My Finest Hour" and "Hideous Towns", but you'll think differently. When I was 18, I had a crush on Harriet Wheeler just from listening to her voice. Honestly, I think I still do 17 years later. Enjoy!

5 comments about The Velvet Underground.

1. If White Light/White Heat is the late night downtown scene, not so much on a Friday or Saturday, but on a Wednesday, when only the locals and the hardcore seed the bars and clubs, then this one is the lower East Side on a very hot and bright Sunday afternoon, long ago, long before our modern era of boutiques and designer pastries, but rather when the lower East Side on a Sunday afternoon was mainly deserted among the tenements, the record stores and book stores shuttered up, the drunk sprawled out across the asphalt, and the romancer heading out of his shared studio walk-up in search of his dream, flies buzzing and all the parking spaces taken.



2. With the exception of a few brilliant songs (Candy Says, After Hours, Murder Mystery), I can pretty much live without this one, as opposed to the other 4 studio albums of theirs



3. Whether it was the maturation of Lou Reed or the departure of bassist John Cale, there must have been a reason why the Velvet Underground's third album sounds very different than what came before. Where melodies once trundled about under the ocean of scraping guitars, now they float to the surface and bounce along above the squall. It's hardly an uplifting album, but the screech and vitriol has been toned down considerably. More accessible? Yes. Less adventurous? Sure. But Reed was always the band's driving force, and the way he embraced abstract pop textures at this time was more rewarding than anything he's done before or since.
   
   "Pale Blue Eyes," the band's best song, is a gorgeous low-tempo Reed-ish ballad. "What Goes On" is one of their most accessible and catchy rockers. And "After Hours" is an otherwise throwaway track amped up to necessity thanks to a perfectly catchy harmony. Some of Reed's finest writing is on here and the music is often quite beautiful to listen to. Not as revolutionary or influential as their red-throated debut, but an altogether more successful endeavor--by a hair.
   
   Best cuts: "Pale Blue Eyes," "What Goes On," "After Hours," "Candy Says," "Beginning to See the Light," "Jesus," "I'm Set Free," "Some Kinda Love," "That's the Story of My Life," "The Murder Mystery"



4. I just purchased this remastered version of the Velvets' 3rd album, which provides both good news and bad news. The good news is that the sound is definitely improved, with far greater clarity and the guitars louder in the mix. The bad news is that the original version of "Some Kinda Love" is missing. Some genius decided to replace the original with an inferior version - different instrumental track, different vocal track, and different lyrics. This new track could have been added as a bonus track if somebody felt that the world needed to hear it, but --- what were you thinking? Plus, there's no mention anywhere inside or outside the booklet that this remastered CD no longer contains the original, far superior version of "Some Kinda Love."
   
   One star deducted for somebody messing with a rock 'n' roll classic and showing contempt for fans of the music.



5. My amazon friend Fin reminded me of this album, and I realised it's the most beautiful of the Velvet Underground's output. John Cale left the band rather acrimoniously after the White Light/White Heat sessions, and this album (with new guitarist Doug Yule, who I believe is underrated in the eyes of VU fans) came out. It's a very reflective, introspective album, which is kind of a surprise. But it's so gentle and beautiful. The opening song, Candy Says (about Candy Darling, a transvestite who used to hang out with Warhol and his crew), is really lovely. The rocker What Goes On is a bit of fluff, but it's great fluff. I love the endless rhythm guitar solo on it. I adore Pale Blue Eyes. The song Jesus is uplifting, and it wouldn't be too out of place at a church gathering. The Murder Mystery is not a particularly good song. Its concept is very good, but the execution was bad. Sterling Morrison and Lou Reed read two seperate stories at the same time to a slashing backing track (reminiscent of the White Light/White Heat album, especially The Gift). It just doesn't work here. But that song is forgotten about when you hear the wonderful, sweet After Hours. It's sung by Maureen Tucker, and although she doesn't have a great voice, it works wonderfully for this song.
   
   This CD is a different mix than appeared on the box set. The vocals are turned down, and the guitars are brought up. I actually prefer this mix to the "closet mix" that is on the box set. That emphasizes the vocals over the instruments. Both are good to listen to, but I just prefer this one. This is the Velvet's most delicate album.

5 comments about Electro-Shock Blues.

1. This is one powerful album! Considering the inspiration for much of it comes from the suicide of E's sister and the personal turmoil that resulted, how could it not be?
   
   Track 1, with its wistful melancholy and deceptively gentle tone immediately punches us in the stomach with lyrics like "my name is Elizabeth my life is shit and piss." This sets the tone for an album that batters us with its heartbreaking revelations. For anyone who loves Eels, this is a must, for those of you who have yet to hear the genius of E, this is a must. The third track, "Cancer for the Cure" sounds like a bunch of deranged monsters jamming out bleakness. With its hypnotic bass line and trademark E synth, you will find yourself being sucked into wanting more, more, more! Tracks 4 is reminiscent of Daisies of the Galaxy--a brief departure from the brutal beats of the previous song--delivering us welcome relief with E's signature upbeat sarcasm. The music sounds sane, but the lyrics reveal otherwise.
   
   "Going to your Funeral Part 2" is an instrumental that again reminds me of Daisies of the Galaxy. "Last Stop" is a psychedelic sounding song that takes one on a trippy ride through vocal experimentation. It is layered with a secondary voice--as if the conscience is speaking to us. It coaxes the singer along with a line like "I'm gonna fly on down for the last stop to this town." E lets it all hang out with this album--with its occasional distortion (Efil's God) and contradictory mellow interludes. But the mellow acoustic songs are no less seeped in turmoil than the harder, shocking sounds of the album. Rather, they make us wonder what constitutes insanity---with what seems like very lucid descriptions of the absurd.
   
   "Ant Farm" has a country vibe, exemplifying the versatility of the Eels. One of the last tracks, "The Medication Is Wearing Off" has a Souljacker feel to it--it's as if we're coming down from a bad trip, realizing that we that we never went anywhere. It winds down with lyrics like, "Watch the day disintegrate so I can stay up late and wait."
   
   This album is unrelenting in its darkness--and satisfies the soul in ways that only an Eels album can.
   One of their best!



2. I have a rule. I dont give reviews 5 stars.
   This one being the exception.



3. Electro-shock blues has a much darker content and tone than more recent (although still dark) releases. Cancer, death and suffering are common themes. However as with all eels releases there are moments of optimism , particularly with 3 speed and PS You rock my world. If you give it enough time it may become one of your favorite cd's.



4. Electro-Shock Blues was the first Eels album I bought. I'd heard a song off of it on Pandora, so thought I'd check them out. Little did I know that I was about to be indoctrinated into the cult of E! I was literally blown away from what I heard.
   
   From the opening lines of this album, "Laying on the bathroom floor/kitty licks my cheek once more/And I could try/ But waking up is harder when you wanna die" you know you are hearing a "rock" album like none you've ever heard before. Sometimes Electro-Shock Blues is sad beyond belief, sometimes it is rocking hard and loud, and there's even beautiful fantasies to come along on--"Last Stop This Town" in which we can all join E and his sister for a flight away from all of the pain of this world. It's a beautiful and joyous fantasy, typical of E to be able to take tragedy and find hope and beauty in it.
   
   In my other reviews of Eels albums, and other folks reviews up here, most people should know E's story by now. At the time of this album, his sister had just committed suicide. Shortly later, he found out his mother had terminal cancer. At the age of 19 E found his father, one of the 20th century's most famous physicists (and apparently not a very nice man) dead in the family's hallway. He had, at the time of this album, lived through more tragedy in a young life than most people go through in a lifetime.
   
   So it's hard to imagine, even though "Beautiful Freak" was such a hit and he could have ridden that gravy train for awhile, how he could not have dealt with these tragedies that were happening to him, just as he achieved his first musical success w/Beautiful Freak. Fans of Beautiful Freak may have been put off that this album is such a "downer," but it won E a whole new trove of fans who could appreciate his nuanced outlook on life, his beautiful talent for turning a phrase and making us feel what he's feeling, and overall, an important and mature album examining the human condition. If it sounds like pretty heavy stuff, it is, but in the very best possible way.
   
   If you're looking for bubblegum pop, this is going to be a huge disappointment. But if you like your music (and your art in general) to delve deeply into the why's and wherefore's of life--to ask the question "what's it all about?" and then make the brave attempt to answer it, then this album will blow you away. Like the album that E released in 2005, which in many ways seems like a sequel to this album, "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations," this is a work of genius. If E had wanted to hang up a calling card letting the world know that there's a new kid on the block ready to claim the title of best singer/songwriter of his generation, he couldn't have done any better than this album.
   
   For anyone who has a heart, and has ever experienced profound loss, and the healing that follows, go along on the journey that this album will take you. In the end, the feeling is catharsis. Or to quote E, in the last song on the album, "P.S. You Rock My World":
   
   "Laying in bed tonight i was thinking
   And listening to all the dogs
   And the sirens and the shots
   And how a careful man tries
   To dodge the bullets
   While a happy man takes a walk
   
   And maybe it is time to live"
   
   That in a nutshell is the E philosophy: acknowledge the pain, but fight on, determined to make it to the day when you put the past behind you, and find happiness. Apparently, our E is now a happily married man, and so he is the proof of his own philosophy. And with all he's survived, E has earned his happiness many times over!



5. Electro-Shock blues is my favorite Eels album. I can't help thinking of it as the bastard son of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. The son, because musically it is some of the most perfect chamber pop ever concocted. Bastard, because lyrically it is the opposite end of the universe from Brian Wilson: instead of fun 'n' sun, it's cancer 'n' suicide. Actually, the song titles are so morbid that for a long time I was hesitant to buy it, despite the fact that I already owned and liked several other Eels albums. But there's no need to worry---no subject matter in the world could ruin these kinds of melodies. It's kind of like Wes Anderson's movies. Objectively speaking, don't they all have sad endings? But you leave the theater feeling happy, or at worst bittersweet. Life has two sides, and I'm grateful for artists like E and Wes Anderson, who can present the bitter side but somehow manage to make it go down easy. Arguably, that takes much more talent than what the Beach Boys did.

5 comments about Road to Ruin.

1. I loved the Ramones and still do. I saw a documentary about them, and it took me back to the old days. I saw them in the Rutgers student center in the 70's, throughout the city (I went to CBGBs a couple of time, but always was afraid someone would flush it!) and north NJ. They were always fun and their music would always inspire massive drinking! But even sober for almost 12 years (10/26/96), it can inspire working out like nothing else. The Rock and roll High School begins with I just wanta have something to do: my buddy said it was Hard Days Night for junkies.



2. Buy the debut Ramones CD, Ramones Leave Home,Rocket to Russia, Road to Ruin, and the New York Dolls First CD. Trust me.



3. If you don't like the Ramones, you don't like rock and roll. I don't know how else to say it. If you are tired, sad, or having trouble getting started in the morning, put this cd in and get going to a better, brighter, more blitzkreig-y kind of day. This was my introduction to the band and still my favorite, although the debut is fantastic as well. It's A Long Way Back, I Just Want To Have Something To Do, I Wanna Be Sedated, the list just goes on and on...all killer stuff. Even though some of the hardcore fans decried the 'ballads,' (let's face it, latter day Aerosmith drivel these ballads ain't - thank God), they are just being purists. Every single song on here is great and that's something very few bands can say about any one of their records.
   The Ramones took the pop formula and crushed it with Johnny's down strokes and the sneering nasal charm of Joey's impassioned vocals. Honestly, if you don't like this band, I don't value your musical opinion.



4. The Ramones-Road To Ruin *****
   
   
   Road To Ruin was an album title that totaly reflected none of the music. It maybe the most irrelavent album title in all of history in once since and dead on in another. Road To Ruin is actually one of The Ramones very best albums. I hold it higher then the legendary debut, and think Rocket To Russia may be the only other album better then this. But at this point the boys had given up on themselves. They had realized they were never going to be mega stars at this point and were never going to be the next The Beatles like they had started out to be, so their metality was that they were ineveitably on the road to ruin if you will, and The Ramones were pissed off about it. Road To Ruin was a major step forward for the band as well as a massive change both metaly and phisicaly. Tommy had left the band to become a full time producer and enginer and the band recruted Marky which helped to make the sound more aggresive. The band grew musicaly and creativley. They were making more then just three chord songs here, and the songs were no longer "we're gonna find happiness amongst the choas." Oh no, The Ramones were angry and ready to let the world have it which is what makes this album so beautiful because Joey was really heated. This album also showed the experimental side The Ramones that the world had never ever seen before.
   
   'I Just Want To Have Something To Do' opens the albums feriously and with sophistication. This song showed show much growth by the band from their previous album Rocket To Russia as far as musicianship, lyrics, and arrangement are concerned. One of the better songs the band ever wrote, and possible the best on Road To Ruin. 'I Wanted Everything' is an aggressive rant about wanting it all...fame, fourtune, millions of fans, and notatriety all things the band would atane after their retierment but at the time it seemed like it would never happen. 'I Wanted Everything' is unlike anything the band had previously released. 'Dont Come Close' caused a lot of contraversy upon release of this album. Many fans, critics, and supporters of the band wrote it and 'Questioningly' of as country western songs but anyone who listens to the songs can tell that it is just not the case. 'Dont Come Close' is so signature Ramones its not even funny. The song comes acrossed on first listen as a shock but upon inspection it is just like a million other 1960's pop songs which is what the band set out to make songs as, so it fits in perfect for the band. The acoustic guitars are a nice change of pace for an album that is so angry. 'I Dont Want You' is a cry for desperation in anger and pain. It is 'I Just Want To Have Something To Do' continued musicaly. The song hits you like bricks in the chest and doesnt appologise, it shows you the band means buisness here. It helps to make Road To Ruin the bands version of The Beatles album Help! 'Needles And Pins is an excellent cover that completly owns the original. Never has suicide sounded so....well not bad. The Searchers did the original and it was good but faulters in comparison to The Ramones cover. 'Im Against It' maybe the angriest song the band ever recorded. The verses to the songs are written light hartedly in humor as the band has been known for but then the chorus kicks in and anyone who has heard Joey sing the legendary "Im Against It" chorus knows the man is pissed about something. You can feel the conviction in the song and the emotion behind it. If you were to make a list of the three greatest Ramone songs ever recorded then 'I Wanna Be Sedated' would have to be included. The bands most popular song next to 'Blitzkrieg Bop' and is maybe the only Ramones song to ever get regular radio play, It is still played to this day. Rumor has it the song was written after Joey was burned before a show and had to be taken to the hospital but he knew the band had a whole leg left on their tour so he said "Put me in a wheel chair get me on a plain before I go insane" and the song was written right after that. Classic. 'Go Mental' is anthemic. The chorus is so believable and convincing. While it isnt the strongest song on the album you wanna sing with it every time it plays. Johnny also plays some of the best guitar of his career on this song as well. 'Questioningly' is the other country western song mentioned earlier. Its not country, sorry but its not. Because Whiskey is mentioned and slide guitar is played someone decided The Ramones went George Jones. This is a nice love song while not a 1960's pop song like 'Dont Come Close' it is still a really good love song amongst some much frustration. 'Shes The One' is just killer. It sounds as if the band finished recording and said "oh no we need a pop song," but it doesnt matter because it is one of the best songs on the album and totally ture blue Ramones. Classic, the song is just so killer. 'Bad Brain' is a return to the more punk sounding song. Yet another song about insanity which as well all know is a very popular subject in the Ramones cannon. It is rumoured that the hardcore/punk band Bad Brains actually got their name from this song, they were going by another name at the time this was released and decided to change. Even if that is not whole truth, the song is still great with out the legend. 'Its A Long Way Back' is a three line rant written by Dee Dee about Germany where he was born. It has really good production and sounds great but does not really offer much to the listener, Im a personal fan of the song but think 'Bad Brain' should have close the record. Still a decent finish to the album.
   
   Depending on what version of the album you buy there are five bonus tracks at the end of the reissued version. 'I Want You Around' which is a nice pop song from the band and classic, but this is an alternate version. Also included is an alternate version of 'Rock N' Roll Radio' which is one of the bands all time best songs and this version is no different the only alteration is that it does not include the radio intro. A live medly of 'Blitzkrieg Bop/Teenage Labotomy/California Sun/Pinhead/Shes The One' is included here which was originaly on the Rock N' Roll Highschool album. 'Come Back, She Cried A.K.A. I Walk Out (Demo)' is also included and its really good. 'Yea, Yea' is another demo track and is really cool, sort of like 'Shes The One.'
   
   With or without the bonus tracks Road To Ruin is an excellent album. Its one of The Ramones very best albums if not their best. One of the finest punk albums as well as rock n' roll albums of all time. Road To Ruin was a rare moment in Ramones history that no one should miss out on. It is an incredible album that should be included in everyones collection. I have never met a person to not like The Ramones, the punk label sometimes scares some away but with a chance and a listen you will see that The Ramones are just a tougher version of The Beatles.



5. This is a good album, but not their best. If you're new to the Ramones, start with an anthology or with one of their excellent first three albums: The Ramones, Leave Home, or Rocket to Russia. Sadly, the Ramones started going downhill with this one.