5 comments about Ten.

1. Although, I am up to date with the ipod/mp3 era, I wanted to go back and buy some of the classic cd's I once owned. This is one of the best albums in my opinion.



2. Containing many of Pearl Jam's early hits and some less famous gems, Ten ranks among one of the best albums of all time and is probably the best to emerge from the decade of the 1990s.



3. Ten is a landmark not only in rock history but in music in general. The album has been certified as 12x platnium, thats above Nirvana Nevermind album. First of all, there is a lot of great songs on here. Alive is a song that is totally misunderstood, most people think its an ispirational anthem, it is part autobiographical and part fiction. The kids mom tells him that he thinks is his father is his stepdad and his real dad was dead and the mom turns to sexually embrace her son. JEREMY is about a kid who was real quiet and goes in front of his classroom and shoots himself. RELEASE is a song about his father. OCEANAS is a song about eddie that had love for his surfboard. PORCH is a song about if you love someone, tell them



4. Ten by Pearl Jam is an album that deserves every bit of praise it gets. It's loud, angry, anthemic, and smart. Eddie Vedder's growling baritone voice expresses the concerns of a generation with his powerful lyrics, while guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready create flooring guitar riffs and melodies. Every song on Ten can stand on it's own, while still demonstrating the quality of the album.



5. I am a long time Pearl Jam fan, from the 1991 "Ten" debut album on, and I have been on the roller coaster ride ever since. I will admit upfront that I am not a big fan of the self-titled 2006 studio album. Just not enough songs on there that will catch and keep my attention, and for me arguably the weakest studio album of the band to date. Live, though, Pearl Jam remains a force to be given its proper due. I was at Bonnaroo last month, and their headliner set was fabulous. I bought the CD collection from that evening through the Ten fan club.
   
   "June 14, 2008 Manchester, TN" (3 CDs, 29 tracks, 154 min.) is an amazing live album. While seeing the band, it was clear that the band was in peak form, but it't not until I heard this collection that I heard really how sharp they were that night. The set list is just fabulous, starting with the rarely live played "Hard to Imagine" (from the "Lost Dogs" compilation), moving into a scorching "Curderoy", and so on. Eddie Vedder kept the banter to a minimum throughout the evening, but he couldn't help himself to comment that "the time has come for change" and "how beautiful an evening this is", but that's what makes Eddie Eddie. Tellingly, the band plays only one track from the 2006 album, namely "Life Wasted" (surprisingly, not playing "Worldwide Suicide"). Other highlights are, among the many for me, "Love Reign O'er Me" (terrific Who cover that they've played many times over the years), "Rearviewmirror", a scorching 8 min. "Black", and the closer "All Along the Watchtower". What a great evening of music that was.
   
   I've got a number of other Pearl Jam live CDs from their concerts (thank you guys for releasing all of your shows digitally and/or in CD format), but this one is for me the best one yet. And it brings back a lot of good memories from attending Bonnaroo last month. You don't have to be an "official" Ten member club to get this. Just go to the website and it's your for the taking. And well worth it!

5 comments about Folklore & Superstition.

1. Loved the first album. Can't say the same about this album. Seemed more like a contractural aggreement than an actual effort. Kept hoping to find at least one song that would "grab me" on this album. Never found it. It is tolerable, nothing more, nothing less. This will become a dust collector in my collection.



2. I'm very impressed with both albums from this band. Finally a rock band that does NOT sound like Nickelback.(I like Nickelback but I don't need 10 different other bands that sound just like them) This has a little southern flair without sounding country. Great solos, great changes, great rhythms. Overall I think these guys are better musicians than some of the other bands people want to compare them to. I can listen to both albums all the way through and enjoy every song.
   PS: I originally stole this from the internet but it was good enough for me to later seek out and purchase. Why would I do that? Because I want the industry to know that I'll support them if they produce good music.



3. BSC was one of the best bands to break out in '06 and their self titled debut album was easily one of the best of the year. It was no wonder that i was really looking forward to the new one. They are a killer band with absolutely talented musicians. Blind Man increased my expectations cos that's a great track. Now, the rest of the album.... is rather disappointing. I wasn't expecting the guys to re-invent the wheel with this one... just wanted and expected no holds barred straight up rock 'n roll. While there are maybe 3-4 tracks that serve that purpose, the rest of the album is pretty forgettable. Each to their own opinion. Some might like this one cos its got a broader appeal... dare i say slightly commercial. I think the first album was a great effort. This one... not so much. I still think the band is great and will look forward to stuff they put out in the future.



4. This is a big miss for 2008. I was anticipating this album alot, problem is it's just plain boring. There is a couple rockers here but if you want a great album like their self-titled, you will be hugely let down.



5. First let me say that if you liked the first album you will most likely like this one. Its a little less metal and more rock than the first but it has some great songs such as Blind Man, Long Sleeves, Ghost of Floyd Collins, and Peace is Free. There isn't really a bad track on the whole album.

5 comments about In Utero.

1. From "Serve the Servants" to "All Apologies" this album never EVER lets you down, its lyrics are haunting and melodic. Kurt Cobain's thoughts come out loud and clear in this amazing record. This incredible music should not only be owned by any true Nirvana fan, but by anyone who is interested in Seattle sound.



2. If not for the brief midsection of less then brilliant choices, In Utero could have been as immortal as most want it to be. As is, it remains nearly as resonant, innovative, and hard-hitting as first heard, the perfect counterpoint to a more polished major label debut.



3. I first fell in love with Nirvana when I listened to In Utero, and Nevermind on cassette in my room. There are a lot of awesome songs on this album, i like the lyrics and i like the sound! and i just love nirvana, and always will.



4. yaknow to all that use their brains can easily see why Nirvana was so great.
   
   they embody everything a great rock band should have. amazing front man with amazing song writing abillities, an amazing drummer and a sound all their own that didnt suck!
   
   this is a brash Cd with harsh tones with catchy songs that stick in your head with great lyrics.



5. The other day a cat got jammed in my fanbelt when I was driving down the street and it sounded better than this abysmal album.
   
   The irony is that Nirvana...for all their phony anti-establishment nonsense...is nothing more than Britney Spears or Ashlee Simpson (or really Johnny Bravo from the Brady Bunch) talentless hacks who just so happened to fit the costume when the record industry was pushing their latest money making scheme....in the early 1990's the new fad was "I hate my parents; being a loser is cool" rock. To say this album is awful is like saying eating human dung makes your breath unpleasant.
   
   Honeslty, give your money to the CIA before you buy this album...at least they torture for a purpose.

5 comments about Another Country.

1. If Tift Merritt never records another album, I will still be happy. She has made three of the best soft country albums of all time. I will never get tired of listening to her lilting and deeply felt Southern vocals. Clearly she writes the tunes first because they flow just fine on their own but her voice, like that of an angel, adds meaning to the music that few female singers can match. After listening to her music for awhile, you feel you know here inside and out and you just know she is love-filled person just wanting to express it to the world. So much talent, so expressive and one of the all-time greats.



2. I loved Bramble Rose so I was glad to get this new CD and I am not disappointed at all. In fact, I love this CD. Her voice shines on certain tracks, like Another Country and Broken, and delivers solid performances on I Know What I'm Looking for Now and Keep You Happy. Her lyrics have matured with her and are quite often moving and thought provoking. It's a great listen and I play it in the car each day. I don't care much for the french language song, but I'm sure it pays homage to her year in Paris and has a personal meaning for her. The rest of the songs are wonderful.



3. Always heard good things about Tift; finally listened and agreed. Country, folk and rock are all here. I do think it a mistake, though, to make listeners go to her website to find her lyrics.



4. This is an outstanding album, best I have heard this year. Gorgeous, restrained vocals; intelligent, sensitive lyrics; and a first rate backup band combine to make this a rare and rewarding musical experience. Outstanding audio quality as well. If you have not heard Tift Merrett before, this is an excellent, accessible intro; if you have, I think you will find this a major step forward in her musical evolution.
   
   Neal G.



5. Tift Merritt's latest effort, long in coming, proves that she is a songwriter of range and merit. This album is somewhat more subtle than
   her previous effort, 2004's "Tambourine" and it suffers for it. Even still, it was well worth the wait.

5 comments about Daughtry: Deluxe Edition (CD/DVD).

1. As a huge Daughtry fan waiting for the next cd to come out, of course I loved the extras. They are a great band and I loved this Deluxe Edition



2. This is a awesome cd/dvd Daughtry always goes above and beyond for their fans and they gave us a couple of hours of great viewing and listening pleasure. Feels Like the First Time is so right on I couldnt believe my ears it is as amazing as the original was. the live songs and video goes a long way to showing new fans why us "old timers" are fiercely loyal ...they put on a great rock show!! If you love great music and fun video's this is the package for you it completely rocks from start to finish.



3. I am really pleased with Daughtry's Deluxe Edition CD/DVD. I really enjoy being able to watch all of Daughtry's videos at once. I hope that Daughtry comes out with a concert DVD as well. All of the songs are great because I can relate my life to all of them.



4. As an avid Daughtry fan from the get go, this was a must have for me! I love their version of Foreigner's "Feels Like the First Time" and the live version of "It's Not Over" is great! It makes me feel like I'm at one of their shows...I've been to 4 and counting! I'm glad to have their CD that the whole band actually plays on since the band was chosen after the original CD was recorded. I'm looking forward to more concerts and CD #2!! Daughtry (is a band, not just one man...Chris, Joey, JP, Josh and Brian) has a fan for life in me!!



5. Finally got my copy! a must-have perfect addition to a Daughtry fan's collection. Can't wait for their next release!

5 comments about O.

1. The first song I ever heard by Damien Rice was Volcano and I fell in love. Volcano is an amazingly haunting song and sticks with you. Shortly afterwards I located his MySpace page and listened to songs from there which included songs from both 0 and 9 and fell even more in love.
   
   I must say, Damien Rice has an amazing voice and beautiful lyrics. I would suggest this CD to everyone espcially if you're looking for music to just play in the background while working. The music is soft and even and isn't too distracting, but, as contradicting as this may sound, it's very memorable. There's no way I'll ever regret buying this CD.



2. I just love this album. Damien Rice brings storytelling back to the alternative music scene. His warm and sultry voice is reminiscent of Indian singer Tanita Tikarum, only with a slightly more positive bent to the lyrics. The songs have a degree of continuity which makes whole album listening a pleasure. It is filled with unexpected and delightful interjections from female vocalists. The ample use of strings makes O both easy listening and the triumph of a contempory balladeir.



3. This is a fairly uneven CD--some songs are very nice, but others make you want to reach for the "skip" button.



4. Blowers daughter, Amie, Older Chests, this album is packed with slow emotion that will never get old.



5. This stunning Damien Rice offering is by turns imperfect, soulish, quirky, self-absorbed, and fantastic.
   
   Rice's persuasive voice is complemented with uncommon tact by gorgeous female accompaniment. Though it never ceases to be a Damien Rice album, Lisa Hannigan and her friends are so good that they play a solid supporting role without which Rice would not be what he is. Almost the same can be said of the understated by skillful acoustic guitar that encircles Rice's voice throughout `O''s tenspot of tracks.
   
   One cannot escape the notion that there was some enjoying of wine as this album was perceived and executed and that it is best enjoyed beside a bottle of something red. The image, at the least, gets at the tone and substance of his artistry and the soft-ish reflection that his songs embody.
   
   Among the album's many fine tracks, one deserves special mention: `Can't Take My Eyes Off of You' is an exquisite restatement of an old tune, masterfully accomplished in the way that remakes too often are not.
   
   This album came to this reviewer from his son as a Christmas gift. I was unfamiliar with Damien Rice. On the strengths of this album, that will change.

5 comments about Everything Is Fine.

1. This cd is great. My favorite track is the aong he does with Anthony Hamilton. But the entire CD is chocked full of great music. Turner's vocals are really sharp. The songs are better than his other albums in my opinion.



2. This CD is in my truck right now, and it must be showing some wear! I am really enjoying it! I bought it for the duet with Trisha, but have left it in my CD player for the quality of the overall work. Josh continues to impress me with his vocal strength and style and well as his ability to make a truly "Country" album!
   My kids enjoy this album with me too. Best of all, I don't have to skip over songs or stop them from singing foul words in lyrics! A family album is hard to find these days.



3. Outstanding, awesome cd. Josh Turner has one of those voices you don't hear often, but when you do, it is fantastic. His smile adds a lot to his videos. Songs go from upbeat to slow and romantic. Must have.



4. Wonderful CD. Listened to it a couple of times, got hooked, and now it is one of my favorites, played often. Great voice, great songs.



5. I've never been a country music fan except for an occasional song, but when I heard Josh Turner's voice I, at the very least, had to order a couple of his CDs. Not only does he have a great barritone voice, but some of the lyrics to the songs are either clever, funny or touch the spirit. And, he's not so hard to look at either.

5 comments about American Idiot.

1. I have heard all the songs on Insomniac and Dookie and loved them.When I got this I was expecting kind of the same music but got totaly different and I like it.They kinda got away from their punk roots but that's fine by me.I love all the songs on here.The only song that I could live without was Rock and Roll Girlfriend segment on Homecoming.My personal favorite song on the album was either Holiday or Saint Jimmy.The lyrics are sometimes hard to understand because of his accent but you can always go on google to see what they are.The guitar,drum,and backup singers all are very talented and do a fantastic job.Recommended to any Green Day fan.



2. When your band has hit the skids and you want to be taken seriously as an "artist" (after ripping off the Ramones for years), you can always do what Green Day does here - create an anti-American "concept" hardcore/punk album. The media will help cover for all of your resultant and inevitable flaws and lack of actual creativity, because in the process of trying to be political you help reinforce said media's own prejudices, which they seem to like. Unfortunately for Billie Joe and company, mixing Pink Floyd and the Descendants in the same blender doesn't work, and the only thing they ended up with was a (charitably described) mess. The only tolerable track is "Holiday". The rest of the album is suitable for only those who breathe the rarefied air present within the state of California. Because there are still a fair number of us who remember proper examples - Ramones' "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg"; Sex Pistols' "Bodies"; Stiff Little Fingers' "Alternative Ulster"; just about anything from Suicidal Tendencies' or Fear's first albums. Hilariously, the album was originally released with DRM and its associated root-kit. In doing so Green Day rather hilariously "Spoke truth to Power" by forcing DRM up the collective alimentary canals of its fans on behalf of the RIAA. So much for sticking it to the Man.



3. I remember rushing to Target to buy this album when it was first released, playing it over and over again till the songs were imbedded into my brain and than went to school to discover that everybody else was listening to it. It really annoyed me, seeing that all these people who never listened to Green Day before are suddenly fanatic about it, especially the preps. I than cast the CD aside to collect dust till a couple years later when the Green Day fanatical episode died. The CD is very enjoyable, like a punk pop opera of the millennium. But some of the songs bore me to death, others are a tad-bit annoying since I heard them re-played on the radio so many times and others I cherish and love. My favorite song on this album is Jesus of Suburbia and my least favorite is Whatshername. American Idiot is a good track, but pales in comparison with Jesus of Suburbia, at least for me. Holiday is awesome as well, and I adore Are We the Waiting. Boulvevard of Broken Dreams is okay, but since I heard it so many times sung by others and played on the Radio it is somewhat distasteful now.
   Shes A Rebel and Letterbomb are a nice accommodation of this album. Wake Me Up When September ends, as a lot of the fans of Green Day know, is not based on September 11th. Its actually about the death of Billie Joe's father, and the reason why he gets tearful while singing this song. Homecoming is similar in build of Jesus of Suburbia and Give Me Novocain is one of my top three favorites from this particular album.
   If you an oldie Green Day fan, this is a nice new sound to you. For anybody who has never heard Green Day before except from this album, and have purchased Bullet In A Bible, try listening to Dookie which is actually far better than this album will ever hope to be. Sure, this album is popular and the best of 2004, but don't proclaim this the best. Dookie has always been the best album of Green Day, American Idiot is second best.
   I' am really looking forward to Green Day's new album, which should come out later this year. If you want to re-visit the "Sweet Children," days of Green Day, try listening to 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours and Kerplunk! to get an original taste of Green Day. Don't just stick with American Idiot, try all the other albums as well.



4. completely deserving of every accolade. Just a rock tour de force that makes you want to grab your guitar and blast away. not one false note here, changing tempos, walls of crunching riffs, great vibes that escalate as you get deeper into the record. it will go down in history as one of the best rock albums ever.



5. I've been listening to rock of various stripes since my teens in the mid-60's. While I still get a kick out of the classics, my greatest thrill (musically speaking) is finding a fresh twist on rock traditions...a sound that doesn't simply re-tread old ground or wander off into experimentation for its own sake.
   
   American Idiot is, in many ways, an old fashioned album, with strong echos of The Who, Pink Floyd and other great stadium bands of the last half century. But Green Day rejuvenates the form with inventive rhythms, unexpected melodic changes and a 21st Century political and social sensibility, making American Idiot a completely contemporary piece of musical art. If you're looking for an example of the best of today's mainstream rock and roll, you could hardly do better. Give the album a listen; start to finish, it's a blast!

5 comments about Greatest Hits Vol. 1 - The Singles.

1. I am always fascinated buying used CDs from Amazon. The process is seemless and you really don't know that you are dealing with hundreds of other small vendors. The product quality was excellent as described and I played the CD for days on end when it arrived.



2. The Goo Goo Dolls are a very good band, with a charismatic front man (John Rzeznik) and his competent backing band. They have come up with better than average albums and a pretty decent selection of songs. But this "Greatest Hits" fails on several levels.
   
   For starts, the Goo's breakout song "Name" (from A Boy Named Goo) has been re-recorded for this set. Given that it's the song that introduced most folks to the band, it's not acceptable. My guess is that The Goo's legal fights with Metal Blade over royalties may have fueled the switcheroo and led to no other "Boy tracks on this set. All albums prior to "A Boy Named Goo" are ignored, likely because What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce covered that territory and the previously mentioned legal issues.
   
   But for covering the Warner years (The Goo Goo Dolls' exclusive label after "Boy), the songs show the band evolved from the scruffy Replacement Styled roots of Superstar Car Wash to the polished BonJovi balladeering of "Iris," their biggest hit. "Better Days," the best song off Let Love In, deserved a similar fate even if radio has moved on from the band. The four major songs from the top-seller Dizzy up the Girl are here, including the magnificent "Black Balloon."
   
   Missing in action would be a couple of the band's great covers (Tom Petty's "American Girl," Supertramp's "Give a Little Bit") that would have made nice bonus tracks, given the skimpiness of the listings. For the fans of this late 90's and early 00's sound (think The Gin Blossoms or Toad The Wet Sprocket), this Greatest Hits of The Goo Goo Dolls falls far short of what it could have been.



3. I started out a casual fan of the Goo GOO Dolls but was really surprised by all the really good songs they have put out after buying this, I found out. If what they do in the future is as good as this CD I will be back for more.



4. Many people have commented on the lack of pre-"Dizzy Up the Girl" hits such as "Name".
   While this is a valid point, there is a likely reason for this: Before 1995 (release date for DUtG), drummer Mike Malinin was not a member of the band. Therefore, the previous albums do not feature him on drums (George Tutuska is the man behind the percussion there).
   So while their previous stuff is good, it's not really the work of all the current members. This also explains the new version of "Name".
   In my opinion, the Goo Goo Dolls are one of the greatest bands of the late-90s and on. Their longevity only further proves this. What other 90s band do you still see pumping out hits and continuing to expand their fan base?
   Mike has been a large part of this, so I think it's natural that the majority of songs include him as the original drummer.



5. Since I tend to like Rock, Top 40, and artisits like Jimmy Buffett, this album was a great collection of hits, while not being too hard in the rock category. If you liked what you've heard on the radio from these guys, then you'll love this album.

5 comments about Youth & Young Manhood.

1. SO glad I bought this. AC/DC meets the Avett Brothers. The universe's answer to Bon Scott's death by misadventure.



2. Sort of like binge-drinking with friends and staying up all night to see the sunrise, these songs evoke rare moments when the visceral absurdity of the world is illuminated with elegant, manic clarity.
   
   Like Kurt Cobain, there are several moments where the singer is more interested in the sound of his throat cracking or shredding to pieces than forming neat and pretty words. Either you can surrender your ears to this sort of thing, or you like your songs a little more predictable and digestible.
   
   KOL are all about FREEDOM, freedom from coherent speech, freedom from technical proficiency, freedom from standard song structure. Their songs are the musical equivalent of clips from David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino movies. And maybe a couple of Japanese Ninja movies.
   
   But unlike any other garage/punk act out there today, their music has the pervasive underlying machismo and confidence of a legendary classic rock act. I guess it's a Southern thing that people from New York drown in neurosis to emulate.
   
   To the untrained ear, these guys seem unschooled and musically naive and the songs seem basic, but these guys are geniuses when it comes to subtle tweaking of standard pop/rock arrangements. If you're a musician, you'll find several moments of saying "Oh, that's clever..."
   
   Long story short; this isn't an AC/DC album, it's not a Modest Mouse album. It's definitely NOT a Strokes album.
   If you're thinking about buying this cd, I promise Kings of Leon will change your life. They're HUGE in Europe, and they changed my perspective on this art form. They're one of THOSE bands.



3. do i really need to say anything more? One of my fav disks by one of my fav bands.



4. New different sound that picks up some great influences - Strokes meet the Velvet Underground meets the "I don't give a @#$% what you think of my music" creativity of Jeff Buckley.
   
   These guys are an open channel and both albums are must haves. Listen over and over - you'll get it.
   
   If you don't understand this band or Caleb's phrasing - you were probably one of the people who thought Jeff Buckley's Grace album was crap.
   
   This is the band to watch for the next decade. Enjoy.



5. Very basic rock and roll. I get the impression that these guys barely know how to play their instruments, and their singing is not particularly "schooled" either.
   
   If you're looking for some simple rock, with a touch of folk here and there, this might be for you. Sort of Bob Dylan meets The Strokes.
   
   Some of the tunes are quite engaging. But on the whole, it all seems sort of trite.