5 comments about The Steeldrivers.

1. AWESOME CD.Love the Steeldrivers! This group has a unique sound. you need too buy it!!!



2. Love the Steeldrivers! This group has a unique sound, what I call bluesy bluegrass. I hope to hear a lot more from this group. And they are as great in person as on their CD!



3. This is a phenomenal album. Melodies and lyrics have freshness and impact that cut through the same-old same-old country scene. Fantastic 2-part harmonies that go from the rich smoothness of a summer night to the soaring edge of a mountain storm. Feels like it comes straight from the heart of the true America we so rarely see or hear.



4. This is the best CD I've bought in quite some time. You don't need to be a bluegrass fan to enjoy it either. My buddies give me a hard time when I pop in a bluegrass CD normally, but this one they told me to turn up. I would recommend this to anyone. Picture it as mostly traditional bluegrass with Van Zant singing the lead vocals.



5. I came to this cd as a long-time fan of Mike Henderson, a true genius who has never been associated with anything but excellent music. "Steeldrivers" is no exception. Of course, the musicianship is out-of-this-world, you expect that with bluegrass, but what really separates this record from most of the others is the quality of the songs which are all just slightly "off-center".

5 comments about The Cool.

1. Lupe Fiasco's, The Cool, is just a fun CD to listen to. I am not a Hip-Hop expert by any means, but I like his flow and I enjoy the beats he uses. His collaborations with Michael Santos, Snoop Dogg and Sarah Green are great. When Superstar first came out, I was not a big fan of the song. The more I listened, the more I liked it and decided to give the entire cd a try after sampling all the songs on itunes. I was not disappointed. I am a big Tribe Called Quest fan and while Lupe is not in the same league as Tribe, he reminds me of them. Many of the reviewers here seem to like Lupe's first CD as much, if not better, than this one. I am excited to give a try.



2. Lupe is much better on the re-up from his first album Food & Liquor. This joint flows with thought provoking and creative joints for the new millenium. What stops this album from being a classic is that it kind of falls off after Dumb It Down.
   
   Top Joints:
   Streets On Fire (Dope, reminiscent of Nas' What Goes Around(Poison)
   Paris, Tokyo -
   Hi Definition - This is my joint
   Dumb It Down
   Intruder - Dope
   Go Go Gadget - Jacks Busta's flow perfectly



3. wow. i wasn't expecting it to be this good, his first cd was sick, but this one....man...i'm speechless...



4. Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool" is definitely a classic due to the fact that his lyrical content is vintage hip-hop material. It is so refreshing to hear something other than the same thing in our music such as drugs, sex, and violence. Like Common, Lupe delivers more of a poetic flow with a message behind what he's saying. Most artists these days rely on super hot beats from top notch producers to sale records but Lupe let's his lyrics do the selling for him. A true student of hip-hop, he truly upped his ranking as one of the hottest rappers in the game. If you want true hip-hop (pure lyrics) then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "The Cool." It is worth every cent, trust me.



5. As a tremendous fan of his debut release, "Food & Liquor," I did not truly believe that any subsequent offering would in any way compare to such a monumental opus, which balanced superior intellect and aesthetic appeal (not surprising given the yin-yang evocation of balance in the title alone). How sadly mistaken I was, for "The Cool" does not merely maintain the level of quality that had been previously shown, but far surpasses it. This was the first album I purchased upon returning home from my deployment in Iraq and, hands down, it is one of the greatest musical masterpieces I have ever procured.
   
   Perhaps one of the greatest appeals of this release, at least in my opinion, is the construct in which it is introduced: the tripartite manifestation comprising The Game, The Cool, and The Streets. While some may disagree with this assessment and, given Lupe's identification within the Islamic faith, I have no idea if such an unholy emulation was his intent, but I see this three-tiered incarnation to be profoundly and antithetically comparable to the Christian Trinity. Thus, I see The Game serving in the role of The Father, the source of power and reforming those who seek that which he provides; The Cool serving in the role of The Son, the resurrected entity who serves as the identification to those who seek reformation; and The Streets serving in the role of The Holy Spirit, which permeates all aspects of life, serving as a conduit to achieve The Cool, thereby reaching The Game. And, of course, the character of Michael Young History, which represents the struggle and reconciliation within each and every one of us, regarding the paths that lay before us and the choices we make.
   
   Given what the hip-hop industry generally promotes as the overarching ideal, Lupe's decimation of this concept as illusory and destructive is both prophetically hopeful and yet apocalyptically cynical. And, while "Food & Liquor" introduced us to this dichotomic view, "The Cool" paints a full picture with sublime summation. The song, Streets on Fire, culminates in the clearest illustration of said picture with overwhelming passion [Note: After hearing this song for the first time, I put it on repeat for well over an hour; I sat there in a daze at what he was saying, the power of his words affected me that much].
   
   This album, like his previous, espouses what in my mind rap is supposed to be: poetry. Thus, if you are looking for something that promotes the afore-discussed ideal generally and talentlessly promoted within the rap industry (typically comprising drugs, murder, and misogyny), then look elsewhere; Lupe is no apologist for such myopic filth. However, regardless of whether or not you are an aficionado of rap music, if you are looking for someone that promotes intelligence on a higher plane of artistic expression, something that captivates the mind and empassions the soul, then you are sure to appreciate "The Cool."

5 comments about Greatest Hits.

1. He has a great voice and his lyrics are captivating. This CD will never get old.



2. From the beginning, Lenny Kravitz has been an enigma. He's a rock star with streamers in so many gene pools that his songs were often surprise packages of whom he'd be this year. He's a man with a soul obsession with Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, the idealistic rocker that worships John Lennon and Led Zepplin, and the modern pop rock desires that would have him emulate Prince and work with Madonna. He also plays guitar with a Hendrixian flair. Scope that over a decade's worth of music, and you get the culmination of tracks that compose Kravitz' Greatest Hits.
   
   Kravitz' crazy-quilt of style is a music fan's delight. From his early Beatles hommage "Let Love Rule" to the Princely message funk of "Mr Cab Driver," Kravitz made an audacious debut on Let Love Rule. He came off as a one man flower-child, which made the sudden left-turn into the easy grooving Mama Said shocking. But the Curtis Mayfield hit "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" pushed Kravitz into hitmaker territory. At the same time, those rock instincts were pushing the envelope as Guns and Roses guitar slinger Slash co-wrote "Always On The Run."
   
   As he came more and more into his own voice, Kravitz aimed for the stadium bleachers and scored when the Hendrix styled "Are You Gonna Go My Way" became a mammoth rock radio hit and a retro-video smash. The insistently classic rock loaded Are You Gonna Go My Way album remains his most consistent album, but it was the followup, Circus, that gave Kravitz his first top ten album. This time, the Zep influence howls from "Rock and Roll Is Dead." But is was also where Kravitz lost focus, which is indicated by the fact that only two songs from that album are included here.
   
   Kravitz took a four year break, cut his hair, trimmed his musical excesses, and came back with 5. Focused and less dependant on retro-rocking, the slow build of "Fly Away" and the killer remake of "American Woman" (which was featured in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me") captured an artist at the peak of maturity and prowess. "Black Velveteen" returns full-circle to his Prince fascination. It wraps up Kravitz first decade, along with a powerful new song "Again."
   
   As collections go, it serves its subject well. Lenny Kravitz' classic rock identity crisis made for fascinating musical evolution before finally resolving itself. Given that his career since has held steady (Lenny to the recent It Is Time For A Love Revolution), Volume Two will probably just as solid as this best of.



3. MTV has been a two edged sword for the music industry.
   
   On one hand, it has been a great way to break new music to the masses,on the other hand it has parlayed superficiality over substance to heights unimagined.
   
   Lenny is the poster boy for what is wrong the music industry:
   a soulless, contrived product,aimed at a demographic anxious to learn what is hip because MTV said so!
   
   Well,there are two things Lenny ain't : hip and Hendrix.
   
   He doesn't write much of his stuff, and tends to do cover tunes that are right up there with Pat Boone.
   
   Listen to covers of Princes' Kiss by Tom Jones and LK.
   
   It' amazing, that a 68 year old Welsh white man has so much more soul and feeling when doing that song.
   
   It's surprising that Prince hasn't called up Lenny and asked him to pull that song from his repertoire.
   
   But then again,royalties is royalties.
   
   Lenny should stick to selling tight jeans and sunglasses,because making music ain't his strong point.



4. I have owned this cd about 4 times and it keeps disappearing. Its that good! If you are a Lenny fan and would like a one cd to not have to keep changing cds out , this is perfect. If you have never experienced Lenny or want only his main steam hits, it is perfect!



5. There's been a few Kavitz songs that I've heard and loved, so I started with this CD in purchasing his music. I really enjoy it. Looking to exploring which CD(s) to buy from here. Very enjoyable.

5 comments about Live in Santa Monica '72.

1. I second most reviews about this famous and important live recording by Bowie & Spiders.
   
   Just a note: Some Bowie talking between songs are cut out, compared to the Golden Years release some years ago. Compare for instance the intro to "Andy Warhol".



2. Much better than the soundtrack live album from Ziggy Stardust The motion Picture, the band sounds raw and rocking. Mick Ronson was brilliant of course. I used to have the widely available bootleg of this on LP. This package comes with some great pictures and notes in a box and of course sounds much better than my well-worn record.



3. A wonderful performance by the Spiders from Mars. It showcases, Bowie and Ronson in the early years
   Ronson's back up vocals, blend well with Bowie's early sound.
   Wish I could have been there!



4. This album is an absolute gem. I've never been the biggest Bowie fan, but have always been looking for a good live album from him. This production is increadible from top to bottom. The sound quality is phenomenal with just the right amount of crowd noise and quality vocal/instrumental mixing. Also, the set list cannot be beat. All the quality Bowie tunes including the best tracks that you don't hear every day on your local classic rock radio. Even the classics, with solid guitar solos, jams, and lyrical variations, are a big improvement from the original recordings. Overall, this album is a must have for any classic rock fan regardless of whether or not you're a huge Bowie enthusiast.



5. It's about time that the grail of Bowie LIVE has been professionally produced. The quality is spot on. If you want Bowie, Ronson at their best this is the album (CD) to get. Hey, you even get a ticket to the show.
   GUNN

5 comments about Greatest Hits '93-'03.

1. This CD has to be owned by every 311 fan for two reasons. Track number 16. How Do You Feel? and number 17. First Straw. These two songs are only available on this CD. The price was low enough for me so I totally had to have it. The two songs are totally worth it and it's a great mix to pop in when you just want to hear some good summer tunes.



2. I've been a 311 fan since Music came out in the early 90's, seen them in concert a few times. All in al this is a pretty good collection of 311's work. Some good singles, a couple of heavy songs from thier early stuff, and a good collection from thier latter albums. If you are looking for a collection with a particular feel you might want to single out one of thier albums. However, if you're looking for a hits collection with a broad range of 311's music style over the years look no further. Good stuff!



3. I got my item pretty fast and it was in exactly the same condition as described. I was pretty impressed.



4. THE TRILOGY OF DEBUT ALBUMS, 1993-1996
   
   Music (1993)
   Debut Trilogy Part 1: An original, energetic, raw, explosive fusion of rock, hip hop, funk, reggae and rap. About two-thirds of the songs are re-worked versions of the band's best songs from the Omaha years. The other third are butt-kicking new songs made just for this release. This album says, "This is what we can do."
   
   Grassroots (1994)
   Debut Trilogy Part 2: An exploration of their roots, a musical journey of growing up from the ground up. This album says, "This is where we came from."
   
   311, "self-titled" or "the blue album" (1995)
   Debut Trilogy Part 3: A crisp, tight, bold, definitive, well-oiled machine. This album says, "This is what we are."
   
   
   THE TRANSITION YEARS, 1997-2001
   
   Transistor (1997)
   4th Studio LP: The next phase in 311's evolution begins with this ambitious and psychedelic exploration of their unique style. This is their longest album, and it shows a substantial decrease in the rap/sing ratio. Transistor is my 4th favorite release (or 2nd fave if you count the first three LPs as one).
   
   Soundsystem (1999)
   5th Studio LP: While this follow-up to Transistor is not a huge leap forward style-wise, they still "come original" here. Soundsystem is really just as high quality as Transistor, which is only slightly more favored because it is longer. Soundsystem, technically my 5th favorite LP, is the last 311 album that I would describe as "great."
   
   From Chaos (2001)
   6th Studio LP: This is the 3rd and final album of the Transitional phase started by Transistor and continued with Soundsystem. This album is not a huge departure from Soundsystem, but to me it far inferior. Front-man Nick Hexum was suffering from a long-term relationship break-up, and it shows. This album attempts to herald the dawning of a new era for the band, but it instead accentuates the ending of their glorious initial decade. From Chaos is tied with DTOM (2005) for my least favorite 311 studio LP, but it still has a couple killer tracks, like "Sick Tight."
   
   
   THE NEW SCHOOL, 2002-?
   
   Evolver (2003)
   7th Studio LP: Evolver succeeds in a lot of ways that From Chaos fails. It truly brings in the next era of 311's evolution. While it is a better LP than From Chaos, it further embraces melody over rap. I would describe this album as good but not great. This is my 6th favorite 311 album.
   
   Greatest Hits '93-'03 (2004)
   311's Greatest Hits CD does have a lot of good studio-recorded songs, but the best part is that all of them (even from 2003) are digitally re-mastered for the best possible sound, and the early rocker "Homebrew" is even updated with a sorely needed remix. The two new tracks clearly belong in this new era started by Evolver. It is disappointing that the rocker "How Do You Feel?" feels under-developed and brief, as if a guitar solo was left out just to keep it simple and more easily digestible to the casual fans. Still a good song though.
   
   Greatest Hits song source statistics
   
   1 ~ Music (1993)
   1 ~ Grassroots (1994)
   3 ~ 311, the self-titled "blue album"
   2 ~ Transistor (1995)
   2 ~ Soundsystem (1999)
   3 ~ From Chaos (2001)
   2 ~ Evolver (2003)
   1 ~ cover song from movie soundtrack
   2 ~ new songs first appearing on Greatest Hits



5. It definitely has almost all of 311's best songs, and includes their cover of "Love Song" by The Cure, however some of the songs chosen to fill out their greatest hits album seem to be thrown together as filler. Most are good songs regardless, but unless you celebrate their entire catalog, you'll understand what I'm talking about. Still, not upset that I bought it!

5 comments about We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.

1. This is a great CD...I bought it for the song "Dashboard"- the song is awesome...Fire it up is also a pretty good song. I would say that it is worth getting this CD, especially since the songs really aren't played on the radio. I have heard "Dashboard" a few times on the radio, which is what peeked my interest in this CD. I have Modest Mouse's other CD (Good News for people who love bad news), so when I heard the song on the radio, I immediately recognized it as Modest Mouse. If you are a Modest Mouse fan, you should certainly buy this CD!



2. I was not a big fan of good news for people who love bad news but this is not any better there are a couple of good songs if you want good modest mouse get the lonesome crowded west or the moon and antarctica dont bother with this or good news for people who love bad news.



3. It's one great song after another. If you don't feel like dancing to Fly Trapped in a Jar, Education and Steam Engenius check your pulse. Little Motel and Parting of the Sensory display Brock's quieter singing abilities and he does have them. The louder harder songs are more demanding of those abilities and you gotta have it to do it. I think they managed to equal and surpass the previous issue Good News for People Who Love Bad News and this is a band that is peaking. I just hope the peak last at least 20 years as I rarely find music that satisfies me like this does. Another masterwork some have called a magnificent mess. Well, it is magnificent.



4. It's actually more like a 4.5, but it pains me to see only 4 stars on this album's 'average rating'. It ought to to be about 4.5 stars. I find it hard to compare Modest Mouse albums with each other when it comes to quality, so i will only tentativly say that this is probably their best Epic release(my favorite is actually the odds and ends compilation Buliding Nothing Out of Something). So the other reviewers have pretty much hit on everything I was planning on. Yes, this is anything but the sound of Modest Mouse 'selling out'. Yes it's dense, yes that guy from the Shins sings on a few tracks (best result is "We've Got Everything"). Yes, one of the highlights is the towering epic "Spitting Venom". Most of the songs are high-energy, fast and disoreintating, with incredible musicianship (Dig Johnny Marr's excellent guitarism throughout). The slower songs are welcome breaks, however. This is Modest Mouse's most 'over the top' album I think. Like I said, the band is a relentless force, playing fast and at odd time signatures for most of the songs. Isaac Brock's vocals are also at their most frantic, loud, and ridiculous-pummeling-torrent-of-words-esque. Throughout the album, he barely takes a break. I think that's due in part to the way it was mixeed. The end result is very in-you-face(there's a more conventional hyphenated phrase for ya). See before(on the earlier albums from the 90s) you had this madman of sorts yelling over all this guitar he was kinda buried under (along with his own double-tracked vocals). Well, now he's right in your ear. That's a recomendation, not a warning.



5. Making clanky dance pop seems to be a major fetish these days. With Franz Ferdinand and Panic at The Disco revisiting this new wave station, Modest Mouse up the ante on "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank." There's plenty of choppy pop to go around for those that love it.
   
   Kind of like Canadians Hot Hot Heat, MM also has an affinity for The Cure's Robert Smith-style vocal yelps. Both "March Into The Sea" and initial single "Dashboard" whoop it up in grand style. Better still is "Missed The Boat," which is my favorite track here.
   
   Isaac Brock also has a way with the chopped up lyric. "We've Got Everything" is a sad tale of details of folks who have done everything, "tried everything as half-a--ed and liars." All through "We Were Dead..." words bounce off each other and ricochet in imagistic fashion and nonsense. It makes a lot of the listening to this CD as much fun as a word puzzle (which probably says more about me than MM). If that sounds like your kind of pop band, than by all means, grab a life vest and get aboard.

5 comments about Evil Empire.

1. I can't believe it's taken me 12 years before writing this review. What I am glad of though is that I didn't write this within a year of buying "Evil Empire"; when this came out in 1996, I - like many - was expecting a bombastic array of accessible riffage, heavy ranting and slick production similar to RATM's debut. What we got however was a grimy, dark and sinister effort that better showed off RATM's hiphop and punk influences. This was a shock. And it probably explains why it took me a while to get into. Now however, I listen to this album with a huge amount of satisfaction. Everything about it is great: Zack de la Rocha's voice is so aggressive, so vitriolic and just so downright convincing; the guitars and bass (oh, the BASS!) tap very different frequencies so each is heard equally, even though they often play the same thing; and the drums - although not jaw dropping - support everything perfectly. The only thing missing was Tom Morello's speedy guitar shenanigans - but even these aren't missed terribly because the music doesn't cry out for them in the way their first album did. Listening to this album on headphones while walking down the street is as close to what it must be like on heroin - makes you feel 10 foot tall and that bullets will bounce off you. I don't know what else to say - words literally fail me at the sheer greatness of this album. Together with Mr Bungle's "California" and Soundgarden's "Superunknown", I have my desert island discs (and probably the best slab of 1990's rock). An essential purchase for rock connoisseurs everywhere.



2. it took me a little while to get into this album, but when I did I enjoy it, It is just really good, the sound, the feel, it is a great second album for Rage!! totally should buy it, it is so good I have no words to describe, Has to be heard to be believed!!



3. RATM, as heard on this album, are no doubt legends in this genre and have influenced bands that have followed. Are there any other bands like RATM? I know of no other band except NYC-based Kongcrete whom I discovered when I saw their awesome video for their Joker theme song for The Dark Knight movie. The music video and music rock! Their other songs on myspace.com/kongcrete, Amazon, and iTunes are like Rage, Korn, Linkin Park, and Publc Enemy on steroids. And they seem to be inspired by horror and action movies. Anybody know more about this band? They have a poll on myspace, and I voted for Punisher as the next movie they need to write a song for.



4. Don't hurt me now.
   
   Not quite a sophomore slump; I give it 3.5 stars. Doesn't have the aggressive freshness of the debut nor does it rock as hard as the third one. This falls somewhere in between (literally). Rage's MOR record.
   
   Recommended, but get the other two first.



5. Of the entire Rage catalog, nothing comes off as hard, as heavy, as poignant as Evil Empire. Probably they're most recognizable album, Evil Empire is filled with hard hitting power. The first three songs (the trilogy of rock - People of the Sun, to Bulls on Parade, to Vietnow) define the pace of the entire album. Down Rodeo has, for me, some of the best lyrics I've ever heard in a song. I still get goosebumps all these years later. "These people ain't seen a brown skinned man since their grandparents bought one."
   
   I miss this band, and am thrilled to see them working together again. I dream of seeing a new album from them. I hope it comes close to Evil Empire.

5 comments about Amnesiac.

1. I rarely give ANY product this kind of review - but Amnesiac is one of those rare CD's that can be listened to in entirity. Moody, extremely layered, sad, whistful.
   
   Listen to it once and you will be hooked.



2. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE CD AND THESE GUYS ARE AWESOME LIVE!
   LIKE SPINNING PLATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



3. Rock music does a lot of things extremely well, but one emotion that it seems to have difficulty capturing is despair. I'm not talking about the blues. The blues involves reveling, often in a kind of self-satisfied way, about one's awareness of how badly one's life is going. There's nothing smug or self-satisfied about despair: it is a prelude to the death of hope, the reaching of a point from which one can't "come back." "Amnesiac" captures despair better than just about any rock album I can think of (another great entry in this abject sweeptakes would be Fleetwood Mac's masterpiece "Then Play On").
   
   "Amnesiac" is to most music dealing with misery as opening up a bottle of whiskey in a darkened room with a loaded gun on the table, alone and with the phone disconnected, is to a bragging drunkalogue delivered to a crowded AA meeting. If you don't understand what I'm talking about consider yourself fortunate. If you do, get "Amnesiac." It does perfectly what it sets out to do, with no compromises or gratuitous bows to commercial acceptance or normal rock and roll conventions. It couldn't be the high art that it is if it had been done in any other way.



4. I remember listening to this album while reading at the library on cold winter days somewhere in upstate New York when the sun did not shine (which was often). These songs have a haunted feel that perhaps matched my surroundings and my mood. I agree that this album is maybe not right for every single occasion, but I feel I have to defend some songs on this album that have been pounded on by others. In my opinion, this is one of the best albums in terms of interesting music that you can actually enjoy listening to. I have listened to this album (as well as all of the other Radiohead albums) from start to finish many times, and for some reason, Amnesiac is the most fun. As for the disjointed sound, who is bothered by this now? How many people have not gotten used to listening to a wide range of music on iPod shuffle mode? I am not one of those guys who defends avant-garde art because it's daring or clever. I actually like these songs for what they are. In terms of favorites...
   1.Life in a glass house--like being drunk in an old French wine bar on a wet night walking home with your crumpled hat and clinging to a telephone pole for support. I was shocked to see other people don't like this song. It gives me chills every time I hear it. But hey different strokes.
   2.Pyramid song--driving through an unknown mountain town on a cold still night alone. I like how this song builds into that dreamy, melodic nowhereness.
   3.You and whose army--I like how weak his voice sounds in contrast to his big words--overall it gives me the feel of a weak person reminding someone who is tormenting him that we are all weak and there is strength in numbers. Do not mess with us!
   4.Hunting bears--as a post-apocalyptic source of nutrition, bears will be hunted. It will be a sad time. This song will make it sadder.
   5.Spinning plates--probably not good enough to listen to on repeat, or maybe not ever, what the hell, skip this one.
   6.Knives out--sounds more like a Radiohead song than anything else on this album, and it's good, but not as good as some of the other songs on Amnesiac.
   Anyhoo, if you don't like this album I can't help you. It's not worth trying to change someone's opinion regarding music anyway. (Have you ever tried to recommend something you are super excited about to someone and they are like, eh..) I feel that way about this album. I'm just glad I have it and can listen to it on my headphones so as to not annoy those around me.



5. I have to admit that Radiohead's first three outings, culminating in OK Computer, were spectacular. With songs like Creep, The Bends, Fake Plastic Trees, Let Down and Electioneering, they had become the buzz band of the '90's. Then came Kid A and it's companion Amnesiac. Disgusting! Thom Yorke adopts a high, nasally, whiney voice and the critics call it avante garde. The band starts to play unmusical, atonal mood poems and the critics exclaim that Radiohead have made rock music interesting again. Au contraire. This entire album is pretentious crap. It's only place is to be played in Soho with the band wearing all black, including turtlenecks and berets. Real Rock'n'Roll has a soul, which this does not. Radiohead had a soul up until OK Computer. It's shown it's head in spurts on Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows, but is still hiding behind all this pretentious BS. Let's hope they snap out of it, stop investigating their own navels and return to producing music for the real world, not a bunch of godforsaken critics.

5 comments about Second Gleam (Dig).

1. The Second Gleam (2008, Ramseur) The Avett Brothers' fourth studio EP. **1/2
   
   The Avett Brothers are a definitive college-esque band. Hippie circles love 'em and they've got enough spunk to attact even offended ears, but on The Second Gleam, the energy is lost. That in itself is not the problem. In fact, if anything, it shows maturity. However, the material is just downright dull from start to finish. In fact, only on "The Greatest Sum" do soulful vocals actually appear, as the rest of the EP is dominated with cliche remembrances of love, family, and death. To say it is bad is one thing; awful, certainly not. But what makes it bad is its own laziness, which is a cumulative would-be effort of simple rhythms and lyrics.



2. I am the Avett Brothers most avid disciple, so you're hearing nothing negative from me. The Second Gleam must be listened to repeatedly, it's like reading the Bible, you get something new from each song with each encounter. There's a finish to this CD that's satisfying in a different way than their first Gleam, and I love it too. It is not the rollicking footloose Avetts like in concert, it's the intropective soulful Avetts. Love them. Love the Second Gleam.



3. It seems to be a little more depressing than emotionalism. But these songs come from the heart. A must have for any avett fan.



4. As the Avett Brothers pack their bags for the big time of American Recordings and Rick Rubin, they've left this six-song EP as a capstone to their five years on the indie Ramseur label. Unlike the fuller, rock-inflected country-folk productions of last year's "Emotionalism," their latest is pared back to just the brothers, their guitars and a banjo. Bassist Bob Crawford is absent, the vocals are mostly solo and the lyrics are pushed up front, with instruments providing a setting rather than active elements of the songs. The result is more like a songwriter's circle than a studio recording, leaning more heavily on the tunes than the performances. The six songs (clocking in at just under 21 minutes) are thoughtful, direct and personal, covering themes of growing up and letting go, romantic desire, brotherly considerations of family, and some philosophical wonderings. The brothers finger-picking is particularly fetching on "Bella Donna," a song of innocent teenage longing that winningly brings to mind Alex Chilton's "Thirteen." The Avett's capture a frankness, in their writing, singing, playing and production that's startling in its quiet power. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2008 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]



5. As a rule I avoid sequels. I can name only a handful of movies, books or albums that have succeeded artistically as a "sequel". While THE GLEAM PTII, does not rate as high in my opinion as the original, it's still a pretty strong piece of work. The concepts of both albums are the same, Scott and Seth Avett, minus bassist Bob Crawford facing off solo with spare, acoustic ballads. The original GLEAM gets the nod mostly due to IF IT'S THE BEACHES; perhaps the Avett's shining moment on record. Still, PART II does deliver some first class material, especially the opener TEAR DOWN THE HOUSE.
   
   The quiet tunes featured on both GLEAM sets are a far cry from the raucous intensity of the Avett's live shows, but these guys are such great songwriters that it's still some essential listening. It will be interesting to see where they go on their next album that will be produced by fellow bearded Svengali, Rick Rubin. In the meantime it will be fine with me to enjoy these amazing, honest, heartfelt performances.

5 comments about Because of the Times.

1. Kings of Leon is a great, young, energetic band. They caught my attention with the first single On Call, which I find quite irresistible. The music on Because Of The Times has traces of artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Doors, but most importantly, Kings Of Leon have created a rather unique sound of their own.



2. The album plays with the your ear drums from the start. There are too many good things to say, so I will keep this very very short. I have been passionate about music my entire life. I even worked in the business for 4 years. I have had very few occurences where I was so swept away by the originality of an album. The Kings of Leon are not using wild new instruments, like homemade 3-string basses, but they are breaking rules. They are quickly moving into a class all by themselves, and their popularity (or lack thereof) in the United States shows how original they are.



3. I have listened to this album more than any other in the last year, that speaks for itself.



4. I really enjoyed the music on this Lp..but, the whole reason for purchasing an Lp was for better sonics... which, on this "red" colored album, are horrible...the background noise drowns out any low level music...A "re-issue" should be done for customers who have recieved the bad vinyl...Rick



5. I think I came across Kings of Leon when browsing the top "Southern Rock" albums on Amazon list. They were #5 with "Because of the Times". I decided to give it a shot even though I knew next to nothing about them.
   
   Knowing that I'm not a rabid fan, nor a chronic hater, and have hundreds of albums from almost all genres of music I can say with all honesty this album is amazing. People have described the album pretty well so I won't repeat what's already been said - but if you don't own this album and really enjoy a great rock album, pick this up. Their music is very creative, with excellent vocals, songwriting, and arrangements. Take my word for it, pick this album up.