5 comments about Emotionalism.

1. I've seen The Avett Bros live once and they were awesome. This CD has been spinning in my CD player non-stop for months and I do not get tired of it. Just booked to see them again next month. I haven't been this excited about a group since the DMB. Talented musicians and songwriters and just a load of fun! They are energetic and know how to mix it up.



2. ok, I'm editing this review because I feel bad giving them such a hard time. About five songs are really good. The rest was just weepy without being very interesting.
   
   Compared to other bands it's an ok album, just not nearly as good as "Four Thieves Gone" and "Mignonette". They loose a lot of their raw edge and punk-y-ness. Sentimental gives way to sappy here. There is nothing gripping in the sound here either.
   
   What happened to those bluegrass-y punks that screamed and yelled through their songs and made me feel like I was drinkin' in the back of a truck, driving in the country while my friends (and I) rock on guitars and banjos?
   
   I don't even want to play this one for friends - I used to show off the Avett Bros. coolness before.



3. Great CD!! I saw these guys live and it just might have been one of the best shows I have ever seen.



4. The Avett Brothers are some of the best songwriters out there today. They have a way of cutting topics down to the simple heart of them and revealing something very true. Their CD Emotionalism is one of my favorite CDs I have in my collection, up there with U2/the Joshua Tree and Bob Marley/Legend (I have many more interesting selections but that's for another post). I simply cannot play the album enough times. The album is somewhat mellow, and you should know that they take on a completely different persona live and play with tremendous energy live. They scream a good bit too, giving it something like a punk-bluegrass feel to it (One of the brothers Scott moonlights in a heavy metal band called "Oh what a nightmare"). In short, the concerts are FUN and they are building a very loyal following, myself included.



5. My wife and I saw these guys in Nashville this past Friday night at their Grand Ole Opry debut and they are definitely on to something new! They are cutting edge, not really country and not really alternative but somewhere in-between. Whatever category you put them in, they are great! Once I heard them, I bought their album the next day. Listen with an open mind and they will grow on you quickly.

5 comments about Ode to Sunshine.

1. I haven't heard it, but I know someone in the band so it must be good.
   
   Just kidding. One of the few new sounds that is actually good. Don't miss it.



2. Only 5 reviews! Whats wrong with the world!? Wake up, buy (or obtain) this album, and go see these guys live.



3. Delta Spirit rocked my socks off when they opened for Matt Costa at the El Rey back in May. I like to think of them as a mash up between Bob Dylan and a grunge band. It's rootsy folk with a garage band edge. Take a listen to the soaring melody and the raucous rhythm of "Trashcan." Or the captivating melody and lyrics of "Strange Vine." And "People, Turn Around" is Dylan-esque with harmonicas and all. If you want to hear more, which I know you will, they released an EP that you can find on the internet (from which they transplanted "Streetwalker," which was not on the original release of Ode to Sunshine). It has a different sound than Ode to Sunshine, reminiscent of The Strokes. On KCRW's website, you can watch a live in studio performance. Matt Vasquez's voice is amazing. I hope this band sticks around for a long time.



4. This album is mind-boggling and should be winning awards! I saw Delta Spirit open for Matt Costa and expected a mediocre opening act. Instead, I was knocked off my feet right when they stepped onto stage. Their strong stage presence only adds to the fantastic music they create. From that night forward I honestly haven't taken their cd out of my player and they are definitely one of my top 5 favorite bands.
   
   Not one song on this album misses its mark. Truly a band on its way to great things!



5. I saw the Delta Spirit open up for the Cold War Kids at the Bowery Ballroom and i was instantly hooked. I bought Ode to Sunshine and was further blown away. A truely spectacular album. I've since seen them a few more times and they some how keep getting better. THIS IS A BAND ON THE VERGE OF BEING HUGE!!!! BUY THIS AND ENJOY!!! You will not be disappointed.

5 comments about The Cool.

1. This album is decent, frankly I think that it got too much hype but it is still a good album.



2. OMG...
   Seriously i can't say i didn't like Lupe, i was just sleeping on him!(just like mostly everyone is!) I didn't pay attention to him until I had someone tell me to listen to Gotta Eat, Dumb It Down,and Hip Hop Has Saved My Life...I had to think about who I was listening to...I knew this couldn't be Mr.Kick Push himself! Through it all this CD is bangin'...and when I say I never skipped a track; I mean I NEVER skipped a track...I personally love it from begining to end...he on the Nas...Talib...Common...Pac...Biggie level!
   4-REAL...
   GO COP THIS COMPACT DISK!



3. 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.



4. 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



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

5 comments about Soviet Kitsch.

1. I wish more info, or a rating, had been given this music CD. I threw it in the garbage after receiving it due to the vulgar language. I would not listen to it in the presence of my two young sons, nor do I enjoy hearing that kind of language myself.



2. This is wonderful. "Us" is a perfect song. One that you hear 20 years later and realize that it is a classic. But there are other great songs too. "Ghost of Corporate Futures" and "Poor little rich Boy" are my favorites.
   She captures something real in "Carbon Monoxide" and "Chemo Limo". Buy everything you can find from Regina.



3. Thank god for tori amos... otherwise we would not have those wacky offbeat artists like REGINA SPEKTOR. the album is good worth buying. Us is her best song on the album. Give it try buy it used in case you hate it you did not lose that much money.



4. You know if there's something I've seen/read/listened to/eaten that almost defies the words I would (normally) use to describe it that this is indicative of something exceptional. This is the case with SOVIET KITSCH, Russian-born and Bronx-bred Regina Spektor's third musical release. We can hear the influences that this passionate and prolific (Spektor claims to have written over 700 songs, at the tender age of 28) musician draws from. They include the Yiddish klezmer music of her Russian-Jewish heritage, "drunken sailor" songs (an example of this being the rowdy "Sailor Song" that sounds like a composition written at 3:00 AM in a smoky bar somewhere), soulful ballads ("Somedays") and much more. Though, for some, Spektor's unbridled and very distinctive vocals might prove to be too much, for me, they work brilliantly with her wildly eclectic tunes. She has been compared to everyone from Bjork to Tori Amos. Though, her vocals are soft, at times, and screeching at others, I really think Regina Spektor has a truly unusual and captivating sound comparable to none. And yes, she does play the piano and sing about quirky and unexpected topics, not unlike Amos, but Spektor is as far from a copy cat as you can get. How many copy cats have you heard of who can successfully meld together blues, r&b, gospel, folk and classical influences, all the while singing about topics like divorce, carbon monoxide and chemotherapy? Personally, I can't think of one. Buy this album today and draw your own conclusions about this marvelous young artist.



5. Regina Spector is a true original, a post-punker who sings cabaret in a sweet voice limited in range, augmented by the frailest falsetto. But it works. Her lyrics, like the best of the cabaret singers, are interesting. The tunes grab one's attention, and her spare piano accompaniment provides a setting for her haunting, often despairing, often angry lyrics. I love, love, love her!

5 comments about Mezzanine.

1. WHOA. Did I read that somebody skips-over "Inertia Creeps (#4)??"
   Wow. That's pretty crazy, given that "Inertia Creeps" is one of the dopest songs on Mezzanine. It's like being in a knock-down-drag-out fist-fight in slow motion. What's not to like about that?
   AND people down-grading "Black Milk?" What are you guys thinking?
   
   #7 "Man Next Door" is my least likeable, but overall this album is epic as far as 90's music goes. Well yeah, it's pretty epic overall.
   
   And seriously, give 100th Window more of a try. Songs like "Future Proof" and "Special Cases" are vintage Massive Attack. Period.



2. The first four tracks on Mezzanine are masterpieces, probably the apotheosis of Trip-Hop. Dark, dreamlike, beautiful, stunningly sculpted -- one senses the hundreds, even thousands of studio manhours that went into each song. The rest of the album is brilliant as well, though the "comedown" tracks #5 & #11 might be skipped on repeat listenings. Tracks #6-10 continue the greatness in different directions -- sometimes sly and funny, sometimes crunching rock. Each song has an arc, which takes multiple listenings to understand. This might be sounds repeated at the beginning that are layered upon, then layered upon again, until the whole things unwinds and you are left with the same sounds (the heavy thudding beat in "Angel," the looped feedback in "Dissolved Girl") in a new context. Songs unfold like dreams, with images and bits of narrative fading in and out. Be sure to listen to this on a good stereo; Mezzanine uses the entire audio spectrum, including some very deep bass. (E.g., at 1'30" into "Angel," you should be alarmed at how the stygian bass is getting even louder...right before the "door-ajar" car sound which is the tolling bell of doom.) This might be the most tightly controlled album I have heard. Brilliant stuff.



3. I have to admit I really hated most of the other songs, outside of Tear Drop and Angel, when I first listened in the car on a long road trip, but on the way back to my city, they got in. This is one of my favorite CD's ever. I have them on rotation on my iPod, on burned CD's in my car, on my work computer, my brother's xBox. You do have to be in a certain mood to thoroughly enjoy Mezzanine, but if you are you're gonna love it, not to mention is perfect for a late night with you special person, oh my goodness "Angel." This album is just about perfect.



4. Didn't know this group from Adam. Bought it for just the low bass to test out my speakers and new subwoofer. Has some catchy tunes, not a bad CD.



5. This cd is priceless. I'm so glad I got it.
   
   
   Nope, that's really it.

5 comments about Sky Blue Sky.

1. I've been listening to this album a lot lately and it's settling in -- in a really good way. It's nowhere near the ambition or energy of Ghost is Born, but it feels like a natural progression, and it's just a really good album. And I still call Wilco America's greatest living rock band.



2. I love this CD. The first four songs blow me away. and then three more later on. Their lead guitarist is flat out great. Very creative and he can burn when he needs to but most is just fun listening to. Some songs I just listen for his leads. But Tweedy and his new songs are fantastic. Great little melodies and their simplicity raises them even higher. But they are creative and original as anything I've heard in a while. The rest of the band fills in wonderfully with the extra guitar and bass and drums. They really hit this one out of the park. Give a listen to Impossibly Germany and you'll buy.
   Andy Waits



3. After watching the documentary 'I Am Trying To Break Your Heart', I realize why Wilco cut ties with Jay Bennett. But I miss Jay. He was a vital part of Being There, Summerteeth, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. While Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett didn't always see eye to eye, their power struggle resulted in great music...especially on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
   Historically speaking, turmoil and conflict has produced memorable music.
   
   'Sky Blue Sky' is a continuation of the decline of Wilco. It's not a horrible album, but it's not a gem by any means. I cannot think of a single song that is particularly noteworthy. Honestly, can you think of any song on this album that can be compared to the greatness of 'Via Chicago', 'Sunken Treasure', 'Ashes of American Flags', or 'Shot In The Arm'? Name one. Just one.
   
   If you study Wilco's entire catalogue of music, you will(or should) notice the lack of originality and creativity on the non-Jay Bennett albums. His production skills are also GREATLY missed. He was as important, if not more important than the founder of Wilco, Jeff Tweedy.
   
   I'm extremely thankful that Wilco still does fantastic shows, but I think Jeff needs to make a phone call. ASAP.



4. Wilco-Sky Blue Sky *****
   
   Enchanting isn't the right word, just the first one to come to mind, but it just might work. Sky Blue Sky is easily the most inspired and greatest work Wilco has ever put forth. While not the experiment that A Ghost Is Born was, it works in their favor that way. Not cluttered with what should not be. But not so minimalistic that it doesn't feel like Wilco.
   
   Sky Blue Sky is the groups first album since vocalist, and (underrated) guitar god, Jeff Tweedy kicked his habit. Hence the title. A clearer sound than on their previous works also is a reflection of this.
   
   'You Are My Face' is eloquent and coarse adding a texture and fresh feel to the bands sound. 'Impossible Germany' is a great idea, accompanied with one of the more subdued and better guitar solos of this decade. The title track serves as the focal point even though it is the most unmemorable track on the album. Remaining low key until you reach it than it absorbs you like nothing you have ever heard. 'Shake It Off' evokes the Grateful Dead at the height of their power before they became a parody of what made them great and original.
   
   Tweedy's lyrical inhibitions have been set free on Sky Blue Sky making for Wilco's most personal and inspired album to date. Mikal Jourgenson becomes more than a vital part of the group on this album as he shines more than ever before with his masterful key work. His restrained approach breeds great life into the music.
   
   Sky Blue Sky is one album that breaches genres finding a niche in every collection offering it a home. Highly Recommended.



5. Not being a big fan of Wilco's earlier work I am some what pestimistic when Wilco bring a new release. I have to say that since Foxtrot Hotel they just keep getting better and better. I am not going to name off great tracks on this album or put others down. It's just solid don't cherry pick the songs. Just let them play. I work in a Hair Salon and we play this album alot and every one ask who is this? No matter what age you are or what music you like this album is just good music and it speaks to you. Just buy it

5 comments about Nirvana: Unplugged In New York.

1. I never was into nirvana until this year and I always seen them as a loud screaming band. I never thought they could pull this kind of proformace off. And in this they did. Kurt was amazing at how he sung each song in a very mellow tone. This dvd is worth having.



2. I had been looking for this DVD for years.
   I am not a huge Nirvana fan, but this is a must have for any early 90's music fan.
   A true treasure for the music enthusiast.



3. The show is stunning; especially if you forgot about it and haven't watched it years. Some things you'll notice and love are: the uncut broadcast of course, different camara angles for a lot of shots and views that are new to everybody that is used to MTV original broadcast. Also, the new audio mastering sounds just incredible.
   Bonus features include the practice session in which they rehearse some songs.
   There is also an interview bonus section; nothing out of this world, but it's a plus.
   
   Since the audio was not edited for this DVD, you can hear Kurt messing up the lyrics for the song Lake of Fire.
   I was used to the original broadcast and so I never got to taste what raw power was behind the show. This was released just in time to make me remeber how much I love this band and how cool to see any uncut performance is, specially if it has this incredible energy and honesty.
   All in all, this is must have for any Nirvana fan and a nice gift to the rest of the world.



4. I saw this original performance on MTV's Unplugged and immediately became a Nirvana fan. A great upclose and personnal accustic musical performance with Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. Truly shows the very gifted talent of Cobain but a sobering reminder of a great loss for music.



5. I knew this would be good but didn't realize that they would be doing cover songs which I thought was nice. I assumed they would just be doing accoustic versions of their songs. Kurt Cobain was too cute for words, you could see that he was a little nervous but what a great show. Well worth the money to own a piece of history.

5 comments about Holler Back.

1. I definitely suggest, if you don't have this CD, that you better get it. The whole thing is good!



2. I loved the entire album and i ususally do not like all songs on one album. This group is fantastic! I never buy ringtones or CD's but this time I made "holler back" my ringtone and bought the CD. I hope to hear more from The Lost Trailers in the future.



3. The Trailers have never failed to impress, dating back to April 2002 when I first saw them live in Philly. Although I don't listen to that much country music, the Trailers have clearly defined their unique sound in a manner anyone can enjoy. Holler Back will be a mainstay in anyone's CD changer, guaranteed. This album rocks!



4. The Lost Trailers hit it out of the park with this one. They keep getting better with each album. I wish them much success.



5. I was going to write my own review, but after reading Matthew Wright's review why bother? He hit it dead-on. I think 4.4 stars is about right, I really enjoy this cd.

5 comments about Dirt.

1. Amazing album!
   AIC was so under rated in their prime. Their sound is unique and amazing..
   This album rocks!



2. My musical tastes have changed over the years quite a bit, but Alice in Chains has always, and always will be, my favorite band. Every one of their releases are 5 star worthy, but this one is usually regarded as their best, and I would agree. Simply because EVER single song is great, there is no filler. There is a reason AIC still gets air time on the radio all over the nation, and if you like them even a little bit and don't have this cd, you need to get it now!



3. One of The Greatest from the early 90's grunge my personal fav. 1992's DIRT !!!!!!! Where just about all of the subject matter is about heroin...... Touching base with Lonleyness, Istolation, Hoplessness, Massive Anger, Addiction, Emptiness, and Massive Depression ;-x
   One of the most darkest and depressing albums ever recorded.......



4. My first introduction to AIC was when I was really young and heard both Man in the Box and Rooster. Back then, I was turned off by Rooster because I had no idea why this guy was singing about a rooster for. Then, a decade and a half later, I'm in the Air Force and have a realization of what they were talking about and that it's not about some rooster but Jerry Cantrell's dad instead. It hit home after doing 2 deployments and I LOVE Rooster. Anyone who calls this album or any AIC grunge deserve to be shot. The grungiest songs that they do are Would? and Man in the Box. They're more heavy metal than anything. I think if you put together Guns 'n' Roses and Metallica you'd get AIC but to put this in the same category as Nirvana and Soundgarden? Absolutely blasphemous and unnecessary. I think my favorite tracks would have to be God Smack and Dam That River. I love the riffing and soloing in those songs. Them Bones is a definitely wise choice to start off the album and ends well with Would? This is definitely a superb guitar album and even though half of the album talks about addiction, it's still a good listen to fuel a good party or just sit there and listen. I like Sickman and wish it would've stayed in the heavy direction the whole way through the song and that's practically the only gripe. The album is essentially flawless and it's a shame more bands today aren't like AIC. Then again, that makes AIC the true wonders that they are. Kudos!



5. The first and only Alice In Chains CD I bought for years was their self titled album, the "tripod" album. I thought it was really cool but had to be in a certain mood to listen to it. I was pretty sure that was their best album and didn't feel the need to acquire more AIC. But for some reason, many years later (just a few weeks ago) I was CD hunting and hunted for some more Alice In Chains. I'm glad I did. I was missing out on some great compositions, and more than just songs that they play often on the radio. I ended up getting Facelift, Jar of Flies, and Dirt. I am satisfied with all of them, just sorry it took me so long to acquire them. AIC has a unique sound currently unmatched in today's music scene. Sort of a winding dreary melancholy vibe, which is just what I am looking for sometimes. R.I.P. Layne Staley.

5 comments about Pinkerton.

1. Pinkerton brims with catchy pop hooks and melodies, yet manages to go beneath the surface of the band's power pop façade and expose all the feelings and desires of a self-isolated nerd/rockstar.
   
   The album was originally panned by critics upon its release in 1996, but has now gone on to develop a cult following and has also gained the respect of critics and fans alike in retrospect.
   
   A good portion of the album was written while Cuomo was attending Harvard, while dually recovering from leg surgery, and in the process, he became a self-isolated hermit. (This is most evident on the track, "The Good Life", where Rivers sings "Can't even get around/without an old-man cane" and "Shivering in the cold/Bitter and alone") Other concerns Cuomo voices concern relationships of all kinds, from falling in love with a lesbian ("Pink Triangle"), receiving letters from a woman living in Japan whom he becomes infatuated with ("Across the Sea") and even a tune about a drug-addled liar of a girlfriend.
   
   Cuomo knows he's a geeky guy, and his lyrics are quirky and self-depreciating instead of pompous and arrogant. Throughout the course of Pinkerton, there are many examples of his writing style, and if I had to choose two songs from here to illustrate them, I'd choose the aforementioned "The Good Life" along with "Pink Triangle". The result is a plethora of fun songs, no matter how depressed or angsty Cuomo gets.
   
   Personally, I love this album. Even though it is still pretty radio friendly and poppy, it somehow manages to be brutally honest and hard to forget. It does require more than one listen to fully appreciate, and if you're new to Weezer and expecting another Blue album from this, you'll be disappointed. Underneath it all is a great album waiting to be discovered.



2. When I first heard Pinkerton, I thought, This is okay. GIVE IT MORE TIME This album is the catchiest rockingest deep lyricest and just plain awesome album EVER. Songs like The Good Life, El Scorcho, and Falling For You are just plain good. They really bring out the awesomeness in this release I didn't know anybody could possibly make an album this great besides them (check out their other albums) and I haven't found one yet. So rock hard and keep bein freakin awesome. WEEZER!



3. No need to write alot, this was and still is the best weezer Cd. No filler, just killer. Instead of all these color CD's, I wish they would go back to these types of songs. Get this one first, then be disappointed by the others.



4. This is my favorite Weezer album and at $2 it's a STEAL! If you're looking to get more into Weezer buy this album! It's awesome.



5. I am going to get this out of the way right at the start: I think Weezer's self-titled debut, or "The Blue Album", is arguably song for song one of the more perfect albums that I've listened to with nary a song that I'd consider cutting (even In the Garage which initially I didn't care for). "Pinkerton", the follow-up, is often considered the definitive Weezer release and the best of their entire career but most didn't feel that way and the album got mixed reviews though people now see it as classic over time. While it is certainly a stellar record, I always hold "the Blue Album" in higher regard though "Pinkerton" more than holds its own.
   
   Tired of Sex: About the frustrating easyness of sexual encounters without love, the song is gritty and rocks hard with a great solo. 9.5/10
   
   Getchoo: A great singalong and though the verses are simply okay, the chorus makes up for it and I even prefer the bridge out of all of it with the syncopation going on. 8.5/10
   
   No Other One: Not as raucous as the last one but it's good though it's a bit repetitive so it's not really excellent though strangely that weird lead riff is catchy. 8/10
   
   Why Bother: A bit more punk-rock in its sound and one of my favorites on the album. A bit on the short side but it's a perfect length: get in, get your feet bopping and get out. 8.5/10
   
   Across the Sea: Strangely, people always call this the best song on the CD and while I don't mind it, I never thought it was the best. Very lyrically honest about a letter Rivers received, the song is strong in and of itself and I'd recommend listening anyway. 8/10
   
   The Good Life: Ah, here we go. Catchyness all over the place from its main riff, the beat and of course its chorus. Hell, even the slide solo can be hummable. Definately one of the stronger songs on the album. 9/10
   
   El Scorcho: The first single and the one that practically turned people off immediately. Lyrically it works, it's fun to sing along to chorus and it's got a fast-paced breakdown. Why was it panned? "Buddy Holly II" it wasn't, I guess. 9/10
   
   Pink Triangle: The third single and one of the best on the album as Rivers finds a crush is actually a lesbian. Catchy in its own way and a highlight from their career as well. 9.10
   
   Falling For You: Rivers mentioned this as one of his best songs he's written and while musically complex and a strong hook, it's sandwiched between Triangle and the next song after this so I usually skipped it but it's good anyway. 8/10
   
   Butterfly: Not as heavy or loud as the others but I consider this my favorite on the record. There's quite a lot of emotion in the singing, the lyrical metaphor for relationships, it's kind of befitting that the heaviest song on the record can be the most tender. 10/10
   
   Sure the record shouldn't have gotten that much hatred as it did and while I still prefer the debut, I'd heartily recommend checking out the cd.