5 comments about Fearless.

1. I'm sorry, but this stuff should've been on the radio 7 years ago. There is honestly not one thing original or refreshing about this. Disappointing.



2. First of all, let me just state that if I had no idea what was on this album I still would have bought it because it is Cowboy Mouth. They are just that good.
   With the exception of two songs that were re-done from "Uh-Oh", these are all new songs. The CD starts off very stong. "I Believe" is my new favorite song. The words are beautiful, though if you read the lyrics you wouldn't believe that it is a rock song. But it works.
   "Kelly Ripa" is quirky, uptempo and fun. "Maureen" is a departure from CM's typical upbeat rock focusing on the death of Fred's mom. Still a beautiful song about a hard time.



3. I've been waiting for this album for quite a while and was THRILLED to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, two of the songs on the cd are little-changed remakes from the UH-OH album and although it was nice to hear Regina get a momentary vocal on Tell The Girl You're Sorry, it was much less than she gets when the band plays live. "Kelly Rippa" may be fun on first listen but it gets old in a hurry. The actual new music however, shines. Fred warns us a bit on the recent DVD that Griff really likes the heavy guitar sound and it is stronger here than on many of their other releases. The band's core remains solid and the largely unexplained exit of Vance from the roster doesn't show any sign of hurting the band either creatively or musically.
   
   It's been a long wait since the band's outstanding Voodoo Shoppe cd to hear new music and "Fearless" is a mild disappointment, but keep in mind that even the worst Cowboy Mouth cd is light years better than just about anything else on the market. By Cowboy Mouth standards, this one isn't quite up to par, but in comparison to the dreck that's been released by the major labels in recent years, "Fearless" is a masterpiece!



4. Fearless may seem a departure from the no-holds-bar rock exercism that is Cowboy Mouth, but it grows on you within a matter of minutes. With up tempo numbers like "Kelly Ripa" and the best song about the female form "Belly", some new fan favorites like "Disconnected" and "Anything" the album is a smashing success in getting the listener to have fun, sing along, and yurn for more. Fans can look forward to finally hearing sassy Bassist Regina on the song "Tell the Girl your sorry" and the ever charismatic and talented Griff on "Follow me." Be prepared to give the charming drummer and lead vocalist Fred some rhythm (my fellow concert goers will atest) and a great lead guitar from normally rhythm guitarist JP on "outside lookin' in". And if you dont mind me saying, I'm awfully partial to the "The Lord knows I'm Drinkin'"....I get it and it gets me! Great album, great band, great people. How do you tell someone how great this band is? Its Easy! The music winds me up and makes me glad to be alive. And trust me, no other band will make you have this much fun. So go buy this album and enjoy Cowboy Mouth and the album Fearless, thatswhatimtalkinabout.



5. This is a great album by one of the best bands in the history of rock and roll music. With a mixture of rock, southern rock, and punk rock Cowboy Mouth displays diversity as well as passion for their music. Buy this album! You will not regret it!

5 comments about Come on Christmas.

1. Dwight brings the Christmas spirit to you via this CD. I would have given this 5 stars but the first song is slow and depressing. Who starts off a CD with a slow song? Anyway, the rest of the music is great and creative and it is priced right.



2. i bought this at a garage sale years ago, and lost it recently. It is by far the most fun christmas album that exists!! Dwight makes it so much fun, you have to have it!! My kids know when they hear this, mom is in the christmas spirit!!



3. excellent CD, not available in shops. Fast and prompt delivery. Excellent service!!!!!!!



4. Wow! I can play Dwight at Christmas time. Stellar performance, however, more traditional Carols please!



5. I love the combination of Country and Christmas music. However, Dwight Yoakam did not seem like the obvious choice, having a voice that's more suited to lonesome material, rather than the festive fare usually associated with Christmas. Being absolutely mad about Dwight and bit of a completist this album finally did wound up in my mailbox. And I'm glad it did! Trust Dwight to make this anything but standard material. The closing track "Santa can't stay" tells of a drunk dad dressing up like Santa throwing presents at mom's new boyfriend. See what I mean? Lyrically, the other songs are more conventional as Dwight resurrects some classic Christmas songs. However, it's the arrangements that make it really work. "Away in a manger" and "Silent night" prove that Dwight really ought to bring the world a Gospel album. "Silver bells" is hauntingly beautiful because of the harmony vocals of Beth Andersen. "Here comes Santa Claus" has a Rhumba feel to it, which can't help but make you smile. Overall, this is a surprisingly original Christmas album. If only more Christmas albums were this innovative.

5 comments about Maybe This Christmas Tree.

1. I am always on the look-out for original Christmas music and have a rather large number of such CDs in my collection, especially those tunes that, over the years, also became hit singles for the artists concerned. You won't find any of those in this volume which, certainly, is one of the most unusual seasonal compilations I have. I picked my copy up about three years ago, primarily because of the obvious originality of many of the tracks, as well as the fact some proceeds go to a charity.
   
   In the insert, which contains no other details except publishing credits for each of the artists, there is a small note saying "A portion of the proceeds from this record will go to the Marine Toys For Tots Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that our nation's most needy children will experience the joys and wonder of the holidays with gifts that are bought with charitable contributions."
   
   As for the music, I like most but found that I could do without these three: I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day, a traditional seasonal tune done horribly by Pedro The Lion, an indie rock band based in Seattle, Washington led by vocalist David Bazan; Christmas Time Is Here, the now-classic Vince Guaraldi composition first featured in the animated A Charlie Brown Christmas, done here by Ivy, a NY City trio consisting of Andy Chase, Adam Schlesinger and Dominique Durand, who sings it in a manner obviously meant to conjure up visions of an old 78 rpm recording - not horrible by any means - just not to my liking; and Do You Hear What I Hear? first made famous by Bing Crosby back in 1963, but poorly rendered here by Copeland, a Lakeland, Florida pop/alternative band led by vocalist Aaron Marsh, backup singer James Likeness, guitarist Bryan Laurenson and drummer Jonathan Buckley.
   
   On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoy the cover of the John (Lennon) and Yoko (Ono) & The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir 1971 hit, Happy Xmas (War Is Over), by The Polyphonic Spree, a large band directed by Tim DeLaughter with a 10-person choir from Dallas, Texas that boasts two keyboardists, a percussionist, bassist, trumpeter, trombonist, harpist, violinist, drummer, guitarist, flute player, French horn player, and one electronic-effects coordinator. Among the original cuts is The Christmas Song, a different tune than the familiar one with the same name composed by Mel Torme in the 1940s. Guitarist/vocalist Sune Rose Wagner, who wrote it, is one half of this Danish duo with bassist/guitarist/vocalist Sharin Foo who took the name Raveonettes by combining part of the name of The Ronettes with Buddy Holly;s big hit, Rave On.
   
   Another indie rock band, this time from Bellingham, Washington, is Death Cab For Cutie, and they perform Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), a tune written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry and Phil Spector, with leader Ben Gibbard on vocals and guitar, while Chris Evanson and Brett Detar, who wrote Bittersweet Eve specifically for this album, function as Belasana. The Royal Crown Revue, formed up in L.A. in 1989 and are often cited as the group that sparked a return of the Swing Era tunes, and do a great job on the old standard, Baby, It's Cold Outside.
   
   The soft vocals of Tom McRae, born in Essex, England in 1969, highlight the cover of Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime, the four-piece Canadian band Pilate contribute their composition, the haunting Fairytale Of New York, and from actress Lisa Loeb, who, with her group Nine Stories, had five hit singles in the 1990's, including the # 1 Stay (I Missed You) from the film Reality Bites, we get her unique interpretation of Jingle Bells. And finally, there's a cover of John Denver's Christmas For Cowboys, written by Steve Weisberg, by the oddly-named
   Jars of Clay, formed at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. Vocalist Dan Haseltine, pianist/keyboardist Charlie Lowell, lead guitarist Stephen Mason, and rhythm guitarist Matthew Odmark, had a 1996 # 37 hit with Flood and created their name from a new translation of a passage from 2 Corinthians 4:7.
   
   An oddity, to be sure, and maybe not to everyone's taste, but this old traditionalist likes it very much - except for those three tracks mentioned.



2. we have recommended this cd to several of our friends and plan on buying the others in the series. loved the musicians featured on this compilation and the choice of songs. as mentioned above...this is an awesome christmas cd!!



3. This is the third volume in the Maybe This Christmas series. It features mostly alt-rock performers doing Christmas music. Most of the performances are decent, but not really anything special. But Lisa Loeb does do one of the better versions of "Jingle Bells" that I've heard.



4. This weekend I was looking for some Christmas music to add to my iTunes library when I came across Nettwerk's MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS TREE, a collection of Xmas music by a group of indie pop bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Pedro the Lion. I was intrigued and I checked out the cd. I have to say that this is one of the better modern Christmas compilations I have heard. There are not a lot of Christmas cds from the alternative genre that I find enjoyable. I like how every artist on the cd gave their song its own unique twist like Royal Crown Revue did with "Baby It's Cold Outside" by giving it a swing flavor. Ivy's trip hop interpretation of the Charlie Brown classic "Christmas Time is Here" had a seductive element thanks to its laid back electronic grooves. I loved The Polyphonic Spree's cover of John Lennon's classic "Happy Xmas (War is Over)". There isn't one song on the album I didn't like. Despite not being a fan of Jars of Clay and Lisa Loeb, they did alright with the songs they covered. MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS TREE has quickly become one of my favorite Christmas cds of all time.



5. I haven't heard the earlier volumes in this series but I'd certainly like to. The copy I've been listening to doesn't include the cover of the John Lennon classic (Happy Xmas war is over) that everybody else seems to have so I can't comment on that track although I'm familiar with several other versions of the song. As far as the rest of the album is concerned, I wasn't impressed on first listen but the album grew on me with each play. It just gets better and better. I like hearing different interpretations of familiar songs but some work better than others.
   
   Highlights include Death Cub for Cutie with their cover of the Phil Spector classic, Christmas (Baby please come home), Royal Crown Revue featuring Vicky Tafoya with their cover of the forties classic, Baby it's cold outside, Pilate with a cover of the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl classic, Fairytale of New York and Jars of Clay with a cover of Christmas for cowboys, which I first heard on John Denver's album, Rocky Mountain Christmas. However, my favourite is Lisa Loeb's superb version of Jingle bells, whe she sings at a slower than usual tempo in a really sexy voice. Tom McCabe's version of the Paul McCartney classic, Wonderful Christmastime, is very melancholy contrasting sharply with the bright and cheerful original. Personally, I don't think this song suits such an interpretation but I know that others think it's brilliant. You must make up your own mind.
   
   If you're looking for standard versions of Christmas classics, you are advised to look elsewhere. If, however, you enjoy hearing familiar songs given (for the most part) very distinctive interpretations, you should seek this out. Even if (like me) you find that one or two don't sound quite right, you'll find that the others provide plenty of compensation.

5 comments about Light It Up.

1. Oh Hard Rock, so over saturated and lacking in creativity. But you still surprise me once in a while. Previously I hadn't heard of Rev Theory, but while browsing the New Release section I came upon "Light It Up", the sophomore release from the band. Based off of the beautiful cover art and sheer coolness factor of the name, I decided rather impulsively to try them out. I'm happy to say that my curiosity paid off nicely.
   
   Rev Theory is unmistakably meat & potatoes in their approach to Hard Rock, and you won't find any surprises or stark contrasts between any of the 10 tracks. What you will find, however, is a straightforward, hard rockin' group of songs that will undoubtedly appeal to the Hinder, Theory of a Deadman, and Nickelback crowd. Songs like "Favorite Disease", "Kill The Headlights" and the fun loving opener "Hell Yeah", give a pretty accurate portrayal of what these guys are going for. In between you will run across a couple of slower ballads that showcase the singer's gravely but emotionally charged inflections. As a result, "Broken Bones" and "You're The One" are some of the better tracks on Light It Up. It is refreshing to hear more acoustic or piano-driven melodies, and it serves as a nice change of pace in an otherwise straightforward listening experience.
   
   The production is smart, fine-tuned, and particularly hook-oriented. Lyrically it's nothing very creative, but Rev Theory manages to create a strong connection with its' listeners nonetheless.
   
   For all of the dissent towards this type of music, it is still a massive and irrepressible market (perhaps that's why), and Rev Theory knows this. They play within the lines just like the others, but they bring quality musicianship and genuinely smart production to the table. The result is a banquet of delectable, if derivative, Hard Rock tunes.



2. I've had this CD for over a month now and while I don't think it's quite as good overall as their previous CD, I do like it, and I think any Revalation Theory fan would too.
   
   I think it fits right in with 3 Days Grace, and Seether, is better than Saving Abel, similar to Trapt, far better than Jet Black Stare or Finger Eleven.
   
   It's worth picking up if you are into this style of music!



3. If you like your Rock like a Guns N' Roses Clone, this band is for you. So, if you are younger than 25 save yourself the trouble and just buy a Guns N' Roses record instead.



4. I bought this because I like the band Jet Black Stare and it was recommended by Amazon. Also that they were selling a combo pack of JBS and RT for $13.99. I did sample "Hell Yeah" and thought it rocked! The rest of the cd is very good too. I listen to it daily. Other good songs include: "My favorite disease", "Light it up", and "Kill the headlights".



5. I own Revelation Theorys first album: "The Truth is Currency". I fell in love with them because of this album. All the tracks have a different theme and sound while the core sound is "Revelation Theory". So I purchased: "Light it up", without listening to any of it, assuming it would be another stunner from this young band. I was really very disappointed. While there is nothing technically wrong with it- it still sounds quite tight... it is boring... really... really boring. At the songs sound similar and there wasnt that point of difference in their music that made me start following them for. I read in another review it was "safe" would have to agree there. However this is a common mistake made by young bands releasing a Sophomore album - trying to please everyone instead of just growing their core alternative fan base. As I said disappointing - but I will keep following them because after hearing "The Truth is Currency" I have to just believe its a slip up along the way.

5 comments about Into the Sun.

1. I was always a big fan of Candlebox. I thought they had just disappeared. This is a very good album, for those fans of the band. If you are new to the band I would have you buy their first couple of albums first. The reason I didn't give this album five stars is because many of the songs sound like new versions of their old stuff. When I make that last statement, I don't mean it as a slight, because all their old music is great. I'm sure they felt like they needed to connect with their old stuff, since it's been so long. Do buy this album, I want them to make enough money to continue. I don't want to wait ten more years to hear from them.



2. Wow what can I say??? hmmmmm........ While only really digging into their debut album, this album is somewhat similar in structure......
   It's not often that I can listen to every single song on an album and enjoy it.... "INTO THE SUN" is one of those select few that I have found every single track to be a gem.. Maybe it was the the fact of not hearing a Candlebox album in so long.... Maybe it's the fact that rock sucks right now with really crappy boring poser bands out there. Or maybe this is the way music is suppose to sound. Spiritual, ambitious, motivating, and lets not forget the single "STAND" with the political side....
   The real stand outs on this album in my opinion other than "STAND"
   are "INTO THE SUN" , "UNDERNEATH IT ALL", and most def. "CONSIDER THIS".
   
   Overall Candlebox fans will love this plenty of guitar solos which is always a good thing and a great album which is right there with their debut if not passing it.
   
   Also for those who want to hear what real musicians and a great band sounds like get this album today....



3. I want, no need to see this two great bands tour together. Great cd. Breath Me is a epic.



4. Candelbox is back and they're just as good if not better than their first critically acclaimed self-titled album. I wanted to put this album on the shelf after 1 go around in my cd player but found myself listening over and over again and I am still listening. If you like good ol' honest rock and roll with good guitar licks, banging drums, and solid vocals you will surely appreciate "Into thee Sun". The Cd opens up with the first track "Stand" featuring gritty lyrics and guitar licks reminiscent of "You" from their debut and rolls along to the soft and memorable track "I Miss You". Track 7 (How Does it Feel") will satisfy those looking for something harder and will not disappoint. "Breathe Me in" is a blusey rock ballad alla "changes". "Into the Sun" is a change of pace record in a sea of mediocrity. Buy it listen to it and enjoy it as much as I have.



5. After being a Candlebox fan from the begining I was hesitant to buy their new disk seeing as it's been so long since their last release, however it turns out to be a great cd. It's a little less "heavy" if you can call it that, than past cds, but song writting is great as well as the guitars. Kevin's voice still rocks too. Get it, you won't be disappointed.

5 comments about All Star Smash Hits.

1. When this band came along, with their first big hit, WALKIN' ON THE SUN, I immediately noticed their being highly influenced by that 1960's band, ?(Question Mark) & The Mysterians of "96 TEARS" fame, circa 1966. The lead singer of SMASHMOUTH sounds eerily like the lead singer of that blast from the past band. Then, the follow up, CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOU, BABY was a hit, and an almost note-for-note remake of a track right off the "96 TEARS" album by that 60's band! Nobody's ever mentioned or noted this - am I the only one who noticed?!!! Yup, I have the ?(Question Mark)& The Mysterians album, which I bought at a vintage records shop a few years ago. SMASHMOUTH is a fun band, but, let's give influential credit where credit is overdue.



2. This CD is a must have. Included are their most popular songs. Because of shrek and other movies, this cd is a whole family favorite. The Kids love dancing to the music in this cd. Highly reccomend!



3. I got this cd primarily for two songs, All Star and Walking on the Sun. I tend to keep listening to my favorites, but the other songs are good too. Overall, a good CD that I will enjoy more with time.



4. These guys have an old sounding but at the same time new twist on music that is quite refreshing after hearing all the hip hop, rap and grunge music out there.



5. I've always loved Smash mouth, and this CD is the way to go for all fans. Or even if you're starting out, this is the one to get as it has several tracks on it you can't find on their other cds. such as Mystery Man and Pacific coast party. This is a good cd to get to sample all their works.
   
   Beside's it has several of my favorite songs on it, such as Walking on the sun, When the morning comes, better do it right ( a song you can't find anywhere else except for the Grinch cd) and Waste. I'm just disappointed they didn't come out with this cd sooner before I spent money on buying soundtracks just for one single smash mouth song.

5 comments about Where'd You Hide the Body.

1. I don't know If anyone that reads these has not yet heard "McMurtry" sing can understand what we talk about by his story telling. He Is brilliant and deserving of much more fame and attention than he gets.
   This Cd Is one of my favorites of his. Yes the songs are all catchy filled with layers of melodic orchestration.
   This would be a good CD for anyone to start listening!



2. I bought this CD on a recommendation and thought it was just okay. My husband liked it alot more than I did. Enjoyed the lyrics and message. A little bit Southern rock.



3. I really like this album. I've had this whole album on my sanso player for a long time now and I haven't tired of it yet. This guy is a true poet. This guy really paints great pictures of life on the Texas Plains.This guy ranks up there with the other great Texas singer song writers like Guy Clark,Townes Van Zant,Robert Earl Keen and others I really like all of his albums.



4. Probably not your marquee musician, but never-the-less satisfing for people who enjoy this type of music...this is a very good cd with a down home sound and style.



5. I have most of his albums...buy them just because they're by him. Whenever he shows up in the northwest, I'm there. Why he isn't more popular is a mystery, but I guess the same could be said for a lot of my favorite singer/songwriters...Shawn Colvin, Steve Earle (STEVE EARLE), Lucy Kaplansky, Eliza Gilkyson...but maybe that's not their intent. Thank God for that and them.
   
   This is my favorite. I love the title song, and 'Right Here Now', my favorite of all his songs, just makes me smile.

5 comments about Electro-Shock Blues.

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



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



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



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



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

5 comments about Oh! Gravity..

1. The Beautiful Letdown was fresh and new. Nothing Is Sound hit you even harder with some fresh sounds and inspiring lyrics (mostly, some of the songs on there were a little dry). This album is a little too "hard rock" for my taste. In addition to that, the lyrics aren't as relevant as there were on the last two albums. It's fall 2008, and I am just now giving this album a full listen, because nothing on it really captured my ears when I gave it a run through when it came out. EPIC FAIL!



2. Wow. You can never go wrong with Switchfoot. From the moment, I heard the sounds of Dirty Second Hands when it was released as the first single of this record, I knew this record was going to be amazing. And, like 9 times out of ten, I was right. I have been listening to Switchfoot for 4 years now, and I must say, I was so happy to get this album. Sure, I had already heard snippets of it in their podcasts, and on the website, but I just couldn't wait to hear the whole songs, one by one, all the way to the end. I even pre-ordered this album, and not too long ago, I was able to get it signed by all five band members, as well as my ticket at the most recent Cincinnati, OH concert. To those who don't own this album: buy it and buy it very soon!!!



3. Switchfoot has been my favorite band for several years now. Out of their six major albums, this one is by far my LEAST favorite. I have listened to the album dozens of times to try and make it grow on me, but it just hasn't worked. Prior to this album, there was not a single Switchfoot song that I did not like. Now, there are a few--namely, "Amateur Lovers" (my least favorite song of the album), "Burn Out Bright", and "4:12". Overall, the lyrics from this album are not as strong/clever/heartfelt as those on previous Switchfoot albums, and the music itself is not as interesting or creative. It feels as though the album was rushed. The album does have several great songs on it--"Let Your Love Be Strong" (my favorite on the album--the "Daisy" of the album), "Head Over Heels", "Faust, Midas, and Myself", and "Awakening". The other five songs are just ok, in my opinion. "Dirty Second Hands" would have been great if it were not for an annoying "woo, woo" sound that is repeated throughout the song. If you are looking for a five-star Switchfoot album, I recommend "The Beautiful Letdown" (my favorite Switchfoot album) and "New Way to Be Human". "The Legend of Chin", "Learning to Breathe", and "Nothing is Sound" are all great albums too.



4. This is Switchfoot's best CD yet! The songs carry you through the CD and are as cleverly written as ever. As well as the normal hits you can hear on the radio, there are other gems hidden in the album that are good from the first time to the fiftieth time as you keep hearing new musical ingenuity and discovering new tricks in the lyrics.



5. I'm surprised that The Beautiful Letdown has a higher rating; Oh! Gravity is a LOT better. Theres a lot more energy put into the songs in this album. In fact, there was two songs total that i disliked. seriously, it rocks! I listen to it every day. its so good, i borrowed it from the library and then baught it here. i really reccomend it. their best yet!

5 comments about Rocket to Russia.

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



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



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



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



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