5 comments about Fear of Music.

1. A brief survey of the musical landscape from about 1963 until the present yields the following results:
   
   1. There are a lot of people who write and perform songs that are about nothing;
   2. There are some people who write and perform songs that are about something;
   3. There are precious few people who can write songs that are essentially about nothing and in constructing and performing them, turn them into songs that are about something.
   
   David Byrne's unique genius, as far as I can tell, is his ability to slot himself (with band in tow) into the third category. Now perhaps this isn't quite a fair, accurate assessment of his body of work, because in a sense the songs he wrote during this period are indeed about something, in fact they are about a lot of things. But the jumble of ideas is essentially nonlinear, and the stories these songs tell are more in the performance and arrangement of ideas than via a standard narrative. This was something almost unprecedented for the "pop" music world, and I think this album was where it reached its apex for Byrne and co.
   
   On songs like "Air," "Animals," and "Drugs," for example, it's hard to determine what the message is. But the way these songs are performed is gripping and provides them a weight you'd never suspect from a cursory read through the lyrics. Take for example the absurdist lyrics to "Air":
   
   Air...Air
   Hit me in the face
   I run faster
   Faster into the air
   (I say to myself)
   What is happening to my skin?
   Where is that protection that I needed?
   Air can hurt you too
   Air can hurt you too
   Some people say not to worry about the air
   Some people never had experience with...
   
   Air...Air
   It can break your heart
   So remember when the weather gets rough
   (You'll say to yourself)
   What is happening to my skin?
   Where is that protection that I needed?
   Air can hurt you too
   Air can hurt you too
   Some people say not to worry about the air
   Some people don't know s*** about the...
   Air...
   
   Ok what the - ? But give this a listen, Byrne's lyrics channeled through his one-of-a-kind high-pitched vocal performance and set against a tight, edgy guitar-driven white-boy funk workout. The paranoia and claustrophobia are virtually palpable. It's as if the air is pursuing, attacking the narrator. Or perhaps the narrator is only perceiving this to be the case? Is the danger all in the paranoid's head? Or is it real? The song offers no resolution.
   
   This album is varied as well, some lyrics almost telling something of a semi-linear story ("Life During Wartime") or making a point about everyday existence ("Heaven"). The common theme is the examination of small things, details in our lives that we might miss if we weren't careful to pay attention to them. "I got some groceries, some peanut butter, to last a couple of days," intones Byrne about halfway into "Life During Wartime," and it's easy to believe that this mundanity would be of significant concern to a man hiding out in a building during a war. On "Animals," Byrne scolds non-human creatures for "living on nuts and berries," setting a "bad example" for the rest of us. I like to think of this as a statement of supreme irony (after all, the animals are surviving quite well but look at humanity!), however the lyric leaves a lot to the listener's imagination. It takes a mind like Byrne's to think of concepts like that, and enjoy it or not it does provoke a reaction from most people. That's art. The very definition.
   
   The album is also a relentlessly edgy, herky-jerky tight funk workout which remains one-of-a-kind no matter how many other bands try to emulate it. If it weren't so overtly weird, it might even play well as a party record. I was born two years after its release so I have no idea how it was received by the public at the time. Honestly, compared to a lot of new wave stuff from that era, it's really not that extreme in some ways. A matter of context I suppose.
   
   In sum, this is a brilliant work and holds up just as well now as it ever did. I love all of the music that this band created, through their final few (poppier) albums, but this one remains the most striking to me. A rare moment in history where depth of performance and attention to compositional detail transformed abstraction into something concrete and tanglible.



2. This album will never replace Remain in Light for me as the ultimate Talking Heads experience. But then, nothing will. Nonetheless Fear of Music is very audiophile, not unlike Remain in Light. There is a lot going on through each track, and much of it goes undetectable without the use of high frequency headphones. "Memories Can't Wait" is no doubt a great example of this. But unfortunately, despite all the cool arrangements, sounds, samples, and grooves on Fear of Music, there just isn't enough in the songwriting department. I feel like this album is very well produced, and I think the musicianship is prevalent. At times, Byrne is very witty. But there is no "Once in a Lifetime" on this album, even if "Air" comes fairly close. "What is happening to my skin?....Some people say not to worry about the air....but Air can hurt you too!" lol. It got a laugh out of me anyway.
   
   This is a very worthwhile album. It really is worth listening to, just for all the ear candy injected into the stomach of this album. Especially on the stronger tracks, you can tell in the direction (Remain in Light) they are headed. Lyrically, we see Talking Heads near their best on "Air," and "Heaven." When listening to "Drugs," for the first minute and a half I have to remind myself that this is not a Brian Eno record. Because until David Byrne starts in, "Drugs" could easily fit in as an instrumental in Before and After Science. Unfortunately, the vocals ruin the ambiance of this track. Good thing Eno did solo work.
   
   Best tracks: Air, Life During Wartime, Memories Can't Wait, Heaven.



3. Summer of 1979. I just graduated from high school. I was into The Who and Led Zep during those years and then I listened to this album. Fear of Music instantly changed my listening preferences much like in the scene from Taxi when Jim, as a college student, eats a pot brownie and changes immediately into the stoned Reverend Jim. Fear of Music introduced me to Eno, Bowie, early Roxy Music, and alot of the new wave music that was coming out at that time. David Johansen's first album stayed on my turntable for a long while. Today Luna and Wilco take up alot of space on my iPod, and I thank Fear of Music for this.



4. David Byrne always passes off the "Fear" angle/theme here as a joke -- but I don't buy it. These songs are anxious, clautrophobic, and twisted -- and legitimately so to my ears. They're also poppy as a laundry basket full of poppyseed muffins, and this aural culture clash has been known to lead to vertigo -- don't look down....



5. Buy it, definitely. Every song is great (except Animals - I never could get into that one). It's dark, it's funny, it's artsy (in a good way), it's 100% unique, like the Talking Heads in general. Best cuts: I Zimbra; Cities; Life During Wartime; Air; Heaven (my favorite of the bunch) and Drugs. Buy it, and pick up More Songs About Buildings and Food, Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues while you're at it.

5 comments about Buckcherry.

1. Just good old fashion rock and roll.How refreshing to hear music like this again. Vocals are a great with a throw back to Bon Scott's style of singing. Some hard edged songs with some softer and blues mixed in. I look foward to the new release in September.



2. case was warped but disc was in good shape, not 'like new' as stated, but decent. order arrived quickly. I would buy from them again if they had what I was looking for at a great price as they did this time.



3. My c.d. came very quick and it was in perfect condition for a used disk. There's not a scratch on it. Great prices! :)
   
   Lindsay K. Truran



4. At the end of a depressing decade, Buckcherry was pretty much exactly what rock n' roll needed. With a much missed love of debauchery, Buckcherry burst onto the scene, behind the success of singles like "Lit Up" and "For the Movies."
   
   But a twelve song album cannot be carried solely by two hits, and this album is evidence, yet again, that the best albums also have killer "filler." "Check Your Head" is an example of such, with compelling melodies, strong playing throughout, and interesting lyrics, and is really an album highlight.
   
   There really are a lot of good tracks, here. "Lawless and Lulu" is a standout to begin the second half of the album, and "Borderline" and "Baby" help to mellow out an otherwise hard rockin' album, in between harder tracks like "Get Back" and "Drink the Water."
   
   All in all, this is a damn fine rock n' roll effort, and a thoroughly enjoyable album.



5. I'm a little slow on the uptake here. Didn't come across this record when it came out. Still I feel obligated to rave about it. This is very good up tempo , blues inflected hard rock. No compromises on this record. Just straight up , in your face aggressive rock. Wish I had come across this one sooner.

5 comments about Rabbit Fur Coat.

1. I love Amazon's daily MP3 download deal. That's how I discovered this ensemble, and I am thrilled! These girls have a spectacular musical talent. The harmonies, the instrumentals,the lyrics. It all comes together in a uniquely American way.



2. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins pair up well to give us this beautifully produced album. The captivating voices singing these evocative lyrics that tell rich stories hit a home run for music. It truly is a marriage of modern day sounds and folk with a 70's feel and a hint of alt-country. Another artist, Arrica Rose seems to capture this same mystique for me in her latest album La La Lost .



3. Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis is a superior and lovely album from my favorite former child actress. Jenny's voice is so pure and execeptional, this intelligent readhead can sang!! I guess you can say this album is a cross between indie rock and experimental country. The Watson Twins provide beautiful harmonies over many of the tracks. The title-track gives me chills, the song is about her mother and the pitfalls of fame, I could listen to this autobiographical song all day. Other standouts include: The Big Guns, Rise Up With Fists!!, Melt Your Hear, The Charging Sky, It Wasn't Me, and Happy. Jenny's second solo album, Acid Tongue comes out in September, can't wait for that baby! Jenny is also the singer for the band Rilo Kiley so check out those albums as well, enjoy!



4. i love, love, love rilo kiley and was eagerly awaiting jenny's solo release. i was a little surprised at how acoustic the album turned out, which is both good and bad. i love jenny's quirky lyrics and her songsmanship, but i think something is missing without the backing of the rest of the band. jenny has a great voice, but i don't think it can carry some of these songs. still, this is a good album overall. just don't expect a rilo kiley album before you buy it!



5. This album moves Jenny Lewis further in the country/gospel direction that Rilo Kiley had inched towards with More Unusual. However, she still keeps things poppy, and the songs are easy on the ears.
   
   The big surprise is how much depth, feeling, and meaning she is able to put into her songs, while still keeping them accessible and catchy. The first few tracks in particular will grab your attention and not let go. You will find the urge to replay the previous song almost irresistible.
   
   I didn't like every song, and my feelings toward some of them have changed since I first bought the album, but most have withstood the test of many listens, and this is clearly a five-star album. (Oddly, the most well known song, Handle With Care, though good, feels completely out of place on this album.)
   
   All in all, a great album.

5 comments about Secrets.

1. Thanks to Amazon I listened to snippets of this album and recognized a voice very much akin to Alison Krauss and also a tremendous mandolin player. Then I dug deeper and found out many members of Union Station were guests on and produced the album. And then, I discovered that talent was still in her teens and I was blown away! Every song is a keeper and to think this young lady will only get better as time goes by is just down right scary!!! This CD has none of that first-timer feel to it at all. Be part of a legend in the making and buy this magnificent work.Secrets



2. There is not one song on this album that I dislike. This is the first album in a long long time where I have enjoyed every single song. This girl is very talented. Not only can she play the varnish off a mando but has the voice of an angel.



3. I never considered myself a fan of Bluegrass as a genre but it has slowly crept into my collection. Sierra's album has definitely won a place there. Her talents are revealed through this album. Every track is delightful -- hard to pick a favorite!
   I would recommend this album to anyone who loves music. She will reach out with her mandolin and touch your soul. A lovely young woman with a lovely voice--can't wait to hear more!



4. She is one of the best of the new generation bluegrass artists. Her style of playing and the pure, on pitch voice is a joy to hear. I really liked the last track for its simple, clear style. She will only get better as she matures. A must have, especially if you like good mandolin playing!



5. Having been a devoted Bluegrass musician for close to 20 years, I can truly say that we finally have something new here that will be talked about for decades to come. There are so many young musicians who have emerged in the last decade, and many are producing outstanding music. However, Sierra is miles, no, years, ahead of them. It cannot be denied that she exhibits a STRONG influence from Alison Krauss, but this is something vastly different, something that we have not heard before. Sierra is a new, fantastic talent. There are no words that can accurately describe the spectacular work done on this album. It is a work that embraces tradition and innovation, and if your taste is for the best in Bluegrass, BUY THIS ALBUM.

5 comments about Leave a Whisper.

1. I bought this for a friend's christmas present and he liked it a lot and from what I've listened too it's pretty good alternative.



2. Got the 2004 Enhanced CD yesterday from a local store and listened for 3 hours straight. Almost all the songs on it are great and I will definitely keep an eye on this band for further CD's. However, wondering if anyone else has had the problems I had. The 15th Track, an acoustic version of "45", would not copy to computer -- kept getting error message. I exchanged the CD and got same error message with the replacement CD. Also, this enhanced 2004 CD says it includes a video of "45" and contains a 16th "data track", but video will not play in either computer or DVD player. Has anyone else had this problem? Would like to know before I purchase a third copy of this CD.



3. Great CD. Contains several great songs to include "45" and "Burning Bright" The whole CD is filled with good or at least decent songs. This was my second time buying the CD because I lost the original copy that I had bought some time ago.



4. I but a lot of music, I've bought several albums before and after this one, but very rarely I find an album where I love EVERY song, and this is one of them. It is a must have for all rock and roll fans, if only for the excellent version of Skynyrd's "Simple Man", which I have never, ever heard done so well. Thumbs UP!



5. Incredible talent- The best Version of "Simple Man" I've Ever heard! "45" is also a stand out. MUST HAVE!

5 comments about Wanted! The Outlaws.

1. The CD itself is in great condition. There was confusion about my having already purchased it, and shipment was therefore delayed. The seller quickly rectified this oversight and remained in constant communication until my receipt of the item.



2. This CD has wonderful country songs by the 4 outlaws - Waylon, Willie, Jessi, and Tompall. Too bad country doesn't still sound this good. This CD is real country. "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys", "T for Texas", "Put Another Log on the Fire" are my favorites.



3. Thanks for Waylon's effort and support, Willie could make a breakthrough. And Willie gave a helping hand when Waylon was in a mess. What a great friendship they made. Moreover, Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser supported Waylon and Waylon let them ride on a bandwagon called "Outlaw". If it had not been for the album, Tompall could have never taken any spotlight.
   In a creative sense, I don't think this compilation carried weight much in the country music scene. But it is still necessary to look back what was the Outlaw phenomenon. Willie's RCA tunes are fabulous and Waylon's tunes show his determination turning into self-confidence. Those uplifting days were so glorious that we can hardly find such a magic in today's music.



4. Great CD. A must for the country music lover. No better compilation of Willie, Waylon, and Jessie Coulter among others.



5. Excellent collection of off-main stream country music. Highly recommended. Includes additional cuts that were not on the LP.

5 comments about Dwight Sings Buck.

1. Service is awsome. I received my order in good time and in great condition. I would buy products form this seller again.



2. got the cd with in 3 days. very good.
   cd was perfect condition.
   I'm useally a good fan of dwight yokam, but after hearing this cd, I'd rather liston to buck owens himself.



3. A superb reading of Buck's music that makes Dwight's version as necessary to your collection as Buck's original.



4. I love Buck. I like Dwight. I know that Dwight idolizes Buck. So why doesn't this album work? Really - somebody clue me in. I know that Dwight tried to add his personal touch to each song. Maybe that was the problem - the yodel - hiccup doesn't make the song better, just annoying. Maybe it is because the two of them sound great seperately and as a duet....hearing Dwight without Buck doing Buck's material doesn't feel or sound right.
   
   I wanted to like this disc - gave it several listenings in attempts to do so. It still leaves me flat. Sorry Dwight - nice try. I respect your respect for the master - the great Buck Owens, but let him rest in peace. Buck will always be Buck and Dwight will continue to be Dwight....Dwight needs to continue finding his own muse. He will continue to provide us with great music. This disc just isn't it.



5. I truly enjoy Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam, and the songs I've heard them sing together. However - this has got to be the worst CD I have ever heard. I don't know how it even got to the shelves!

5 comments about There Is Nothing Left to Lose.

1. I just recently got There Is Nothing Left to Lose, and I think it is one of the Foos best records they have done. It starts of good with Stacked actors, which is good, and then Generator and personaly, my favorite song, Aurora. All of the songs are really good and catchy. The last 3 songs are really good, Aint It the Life is a really good catchy song that sounds like it could be a b-side or another part of Big Me. All In all i love this album, and if you are a foo fan get it. I recentyl saw them live, and it was an amazing concert.



2. while this CD has a lot of very strong material it just doesnt have enough. i found only half of this CD to be worth while and the rest acting in as filler. songs like Learn to Fly and Stacked Actors are very very quickly dismissed and songs like Break Out although very good isnt enough to hold my attention.
   
   this CD is different from other Foo efforts because this is the first time since the S/T debut has Dave been the only one writing and playing the guitar parts.
   
   songs like Aroura and Generator are very very catchy and worthy of praise.
   
   IMO this is a SO SO effort from Foo Fighters.



3. What else can I say, I didn't truly appreciate this album until I saw some of the material played live, like, "Aurora." Or, simply have low expectations when you first put the album in, and make sure you've heard none of the other Foo Fighters albums beforehand.



4. This is a great album. No doubt about it.
   
   The songs are extremely well written, but what has always endeared me to this album is the phenomenal RECORDING. TINLTL ranks very high amongst my favorite rock recordings by any band, EVER! Each instrument is balanced perfectly and shines through uninhibited by the others, creating a truly remarkable sound scape. The drums are rock solid and crystal clear. The guitars jangle with remarkable clarity and Grohl's ever-improving voice has never sounded better. Some of the more recent FF albums have suffered quite a bit from muddy recording techniques, in my bold opinion. However, it also helps that this collection of songs is amongst the best you'll find on any rock album from this era.
   
   While this album can be considered the FF's foray into pop rock, there is still plenty of crunch and plenty of that unmistakable trademark Grohl loud/soft dynamic. "Generator", "Aurora", and "Headwires" are a few unheralded standout tracks. BUY THIS!



5. I always felt that a song's ability to withstand the test of time was the true measure of its value, and not much can be said in that regard for There Is Nothing Left to Lose. Now, don't get me wrong - it's a fine album. But it's not the Foo Fighters' best album. There are plenty of catchy songs on it, but compared to other efforts in the band's collection, there is nothing remarkable about this album, as much as it pains me to say it.
   
   "Learn to Fly" got a lot of radio play (and a hilarious video to go along with it, as the Foo often do), and some other solid songs are sprinkled into the album - my favorites being "Headwires" and "Generator." Ultimately, though, the delivery is more or less flat. I think the biggest problem with the album is that there's nothing musically new or challenging for the band; it's almost as though they're beating a dead horse. This was corrected on every subsequent album.
   
   I am an enormous Foo Fighters fan, and I adore all their CDs. This one just happens to be the weakest in the collection.

5 comments about Jar of Flies.

1. This is a major departure from the bands first two albums. On the song I stay away that actually has an ochestra on it. No Excuses is their only song to make it to number 1 on the rock charts. Whale and Whasp is an instrumental song, Dont Follow is a very good laid back song to relax to



2. A mega good ep from Alice.
   A more than worthy mini follow up to Dirt.
   Not a weak track anywhere to be found on the disc.
   An often overlooked disc by the masses.
   A must have for Alice fans and prog. rockers.



3. As much as I love Alice in Chains's full-length albums, I think their EP releases are the best evidence of the band's versatility, talent, and soul. Case in point is the 1994 EP Jar of Flies. Coming after two unrelentingly heavy albums like Facelift and Dirt, a laid back, almost mellow collection of material is about the last thing you'd have expected from Alice in Chains, yet it never seemed out of character.
   
   The disc starts off with a pair of very slow-paced songs that retain the gloom and atmosphere of Dirt, if not that album's fury. After that comes a pair of upbeat (for Alice in Chains anyway) singles - I Stay Away and No Excuses - which are among the band's all time best songs. Next is the soulful instrumental track Whale & Wasp, followed by the laid back, harmonica driven Don't Follow, which is one of my absolute favorite Alice in Chains songs. Closing track Swing on This is an odd one, sounding like a bizarre swinging version of Dirt's God Smack.
   
   If you're an Alice in Chains fan, you have to own Jar of Flies. It's an important moment in the band's progression, and one of the better albums the 90's alternative rock scene had to offer.



4. Definitely one of my favorite albums of all time! I burned a nice ridge in this CD, listening to it to get me through some hard times while away in the Army, while grunge was still young, raw, and fresh.
   
   Facelift had me hooked. Dirt had me wiggling. But Jar of Flies tore through my soul. Didn't sound like a grunge band, yet it unmistakably was. Being so strung out, Staley still managed to groan his way through the songs, with Cantrell supporting. Not saying it was bad at all, but every ear listening knew (though never admit) that something was going on. But really, we didn't care. Had some great songs, great melodies, excellent lyrics (some of the best writing in decades, surpassing the garbage that the radio boasts today as new "talent'), this album (along with Sap) were the most distant from what they'd produced before, a good change for music that came out around the time which all sounded the same after a while. Alice In Chains were one of the early ones.
   
   It was probably best that Staley died when he did. Had they sobered up and pushed forward, and still be producing music (which I doubt; where's Smashing Pumpkins, or Soundgarden?), they'd probably have to recreate themselves again, just to branch out and remain fresh, different. For that is what the whole grunge movement was all about.



5. Alice in Chains very unique sound just makes you want to keep listening it's as simple as that. It's a dark, dreary, beautifully sophisticated harmony that you remember for a long time. Jar of Flies is arguably Alice in Chains finest work as it is some of the most powerful and moving songwriting and crafting you'll ever hear. Layne Staley's vocals deliver a haunting message to the listener but also that there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Jerry Cantrell's guitar playing is at its finest on this record and his dual harmony vocals with Staley give Alice in Chains that unique vibe that has us gushing over this record 14 years after its release. Alice in Chains is one of the greatest bands of all time and this record is an exclamation point.

5 comments about Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.

1. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood is a wonderful example of a brilliant singer. Neko Case gets the nod as one of the most gifted American singers with a voice like silk and a delivery that is welcomely unusual. The album is painfully short, though, clocking in at just under 38 minutes. One has to wonder why.



2. As always, a couple of cuts I could live without. Overall, a very enjoyable CD, with "Hold On" being outstanding. Great new artist with room to grow.



3. Basically, her songs are very short on this album... most are two minutes. Or even less. She reaches the top of her range, and then her song is over. If the song was longer, like Roy Orbison did, her crescendo would make sense. But the songs simply are not developed or long enough. My attention flagged. The brevity of the songs were what took over, for me.
   If only she could do a cover, I kept thinking, so I could really enjoy that voice at full tilt for more than ten seconds, or even three.
   The album art also did not satisfy. There were many drawings, and admittedly I wanted to look at pictures of her instead. There was not a single photo of her inside the fat booklet. Pictures of billboards, stacks of tape reels, drawings of semi-trucks, instead.
   Many people I'm sure would enjoy this album, but I did not care for it.



4. When I got this CD, I wasn't familiar with Neko Case, but soon I found I couldn't stop playing it back to back in an endless loop. Now, a year and a half later, even my 3 year old loves it and knows all the words since I subjected her to it constantly.
   
   It's dark, it's lovely, it gets in your bones and just won't stop. Try to turn away...I dare you.



5. This CD grew on me over time. There's several excellent tracks that will hit me immediately but then I began to realize that all of the tracks are worth _many_ repeated listens. Easily one of my favorite CD's of that year. Ms. Case's singing is impressive -- strong and clear at all times. Her musicianship is just as impressive. Her lyrics have a dark streak to them and I suspect this will turn some off but they are missing out.