2 comments about The Best of the Rykodisc Years.

1. Given the limitations of time (80 minute CD) and representation (at least one song from each of his proper albums), this "best of" fulfills its title about as well as it can. As a long time fan, I find the selections pretty accurately cover my favorites--with one glaring exception being the uplifting "Miracle" off the "Under Cold Blue Stars" album.
   
   Josh Rouse is an adept storyteller with a knack for a gorgeous melody. His songs depict very real, relatable scenarios (and, accordingly, carry much emotional weight). At his best, these elements combine for dramatic effect, be it joyful and optimistic ("It's the Nighttime," "Rise," "Feeling No Pain") or heartbreaking ("My Love Is Gone," "Michigan"). Stylistically, he can handle an alt-country groove and 70's disco-pop with equal skill, ensuring he never lets himself get too redundant with his songwriting.
   
   Disc 1 is about the best collection of modern adult pop you'll find anywhere. Disc 2 will be enjoyable for fans--especially the inclusion of all six tracks from the rare "Bedroom Classics, vol. 1"--but most of the demos here, while decent and interesting in their differences from the final versions appearing on other albums, are not nearly as impeccable as the songs on Disc 1.
   
   CHECK OUT: "Dressed Up Like Nebraska," "Feeling No Pain," "Rise," "It's the Nighttime," "Michigan," "Suburban Sweetheart (demo)"



2. If you haven't heard of Josh Rouse yet I'm not too surprised. He certainly isn't mainstream. Instead Josh has been crafting catchy melodies and concise albums with little or no filler; each album so different from the next it's difficult to market this artist as merely alt country (or rock, or pop, or 70's retro, or folk, etc.). He is easily the most talented and dynamic artist over the last decade to put music on compact disc.
   
   The first disc is a great opportunity for a beginner to have a taste of everything. This collection includes a few of his favorite songs from all 6 of his albums with RYKODISC. The only drawback to hearing these tunes in an "arbitrary" order is the fact that you'll miss the context (the theme or prevailing influece) that Rouse provides in the original albums. Of course if you like what you hear then the real reward comes from listening to each individual in it's entirety, each of which are better on their own merit than any best-of collection could possibly be.
   
   Of course I was familiar with all of Rouse's previous albums when I purchased this. Which leads me to why Disc 2 is a must buy for avid fans: Bedroom Classics Vol 1. Ladies and Gentlemen, these songs have been IMPOSSIBLE to come by until now. This is the rarest of Rouse -- only 750 EPs were put into circulation and the last time I saw one it was on Ebay 3 years ago with bids running as high as $130 for these 6 songs. There is also other pretty good unissued songs on Disc 2 but the main event is definitely The Rare EP in it's entirety.
   
   Alright, quit reading this and add this awesome CD to your cart. Don't look back. Enjoy!

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 Superunknown.

1. This is a great album. I like all these songs.
   
   Love the 1.99 download price ;-)



2. This album has occasionally been referenced as "Led Zeppelin for the 1990's" and, truth be told, there is quite a Zep influence here (the middle-Eastern stylings, heavy guitar riffs, Cornell's extended Plant-esque wailing). But what sets this album apart from other Soundgarden offerings is the craftsmanship of the songs themselves. Thankfully, the usual "woe is me" lyrics are only present in one or two of the songs. Cornell keeps the lyrics lighter than usual and in perfect pitch during delivery. The result is a comparatively uplifting experience (one notably absent from any Pearl Jam album except "10"). Kim Thayall's diverse guitar playing finds a perfect outlet here - from the intense overdriven blues solos on the title track and Like Suicide to the alternative, lowered-pitch grind tunings of 4th of July. Nothing is out of place. This was not always the case for Soundgarden, whose albums tended to be somewhat uneven.



3. having to admit that I was introduced to soundgardern through Audioslave, because of Chris cornell, it is a great rock band from the 90s!! hit after good hit, that makes the listener beg for more!! one of the best albums I have ever heard!!



4. Amazon is so full of gushing fanboys bloating on about their favorite childhood music, movies, actors. This will not be one of those type of reviews.
   
   Superunknown stands the test of time from repeated listening and never shows its age. My kid (12 and 10) love the album and request it on road trips.....by singing the chorus...."ALIVE IN THE SUPERUNKNOWN"



5. On my list of greatest albums of all time. The experimental songs work well, the radio hits work well. The mix, the sound, the quality, the lyrics...all perfect. All of these new crappy bands should listen to this to find out what rock is all about.

5 comments about Greatest Hits Volume Two CD/DVD.

1. Goo Goo Dolls released most of their hits on "Greatest Hits: Vol. 1," leaving the not quite so great hits for "Vol. 2," with some 80s cover songs and a demo of "Iris." The collection of videos on disc two is incredible, but after a while, I got tired of all the Goo Goo.
   
   Don't get me wrong, I love the Goo Goo Dolls. Even if radio stations don't play their really great hits ("Black Balloon") as much as they really should, the Goo Goo Dolls are a very good pop rock band. However, if anyone can imagine how nauseated they were with hearing "Iris" twenty million times on the station, they have yet to listen to the overdose of dramatic pop on "Vol. 2." All the Goo Goo Dolls' videos are on disc two, so everyone can now get their daily music video fix of John Rzeznik with this double-disc album.
   
   And if that wasn't enough, the Goo Goo Dolls even added a video of five songs from their concert at Red Rocks, Colorado. And they also snuck in a performance of "Slide" in there as well. This is an excellent collection of goodies and treats from the band.
   
   But be warned, do not try to listen to all the videos in one day. Believe me, I tried, and by the end, I didn't want to hear anymore of those pop hooks again.
   
   But the Goo Goo Dolls are still a very good band. One especially good reason to get this album is for the obscure song from the "Batman and Robin" soundtrack, "Lazy Eye." This is the Goo Goo Dolls at their best, with the loudest and edgiest performance that would even make Billy Corgan proud.
   
   And the Goo Goo Dolls play some great smashing punk renditions of 80s songs, such as "Slave Girl" by the Lime Spiders and "Don't Change" by INXS.
   
   So even though I got tired of it, the Goo Goo Dolls' fans will snatch this collection from music stores (or amazon) immediately. And I just can't resist watching the video of "Black Balloon" over and over again.



2. This is a collection of unreleased,demos,B-sides,soundtracks, and fan favorites.
   This Collection is great. Unlike volume 1 which is just their top 40 hits. It has tracks from all their releases. "Torn Apart", "No Way Out", "I'm Awake Now" and "String of Lies" are my goo songs on this record.
   Their version of Tom Petty's "American Girl" is great too.
   Then you got the DVD which has all their music videos and a live performance.
   Since the Goo Goo Dolls are past their prime they should focus on reissuing and remastering their old records, since their first 3 records have bad sound and all almost impossible to find.



3. This CD/DVD is a must have collection for all Goo fans! The CD has great rarities, including the demo version of Iris, giving the opportunity to hear the transformation of the song from first recording to the monster hit version. This is a chance to hear the history of the Goo Goo Dolls and to take a listen back through time. The DVD has all the music videos, as well as some live performances from Red Rocks last year, and is again an opportunity to view the musical transformation of one of Americas best loved bands. Awesome is the best way to describe this CD/DVD collection. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.



4. This CD is for the diehard Goo fan. If you only know the Goo on the radio then this might be a surprise for you. The songs on the radio are the ballads and pop songs which are on Volume I. When you listen to this you will notice they can rock too! There are only a couple songs that I found hard to listen to and they were the old cover songs. I knew when I bought the CD that I might not like a few songs but it still did not keep me from buying. I am glad I did. I did not care about having all the videos as the music is the most important to me. I still consider it a bonus to have them. The Red Rocks concert is great! Any fan, diehard or not, will love it! This is truely a great band and this CD shows their progression over two decades. If you are looking for the songs mentioned above in the first review, check out EOAC - otherwise known as What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art, and Commerce. That's another great compilation CD.



5. the dvd is a great history of the goo with so many great songs,however, the cd is on the weak side.the song selection is fair at best, instead of containing some of the album tracks that got a decent amount of attention . who ever complied this disc didnt do there homework . HATE THIS PLACE good song from dizzy but worth of being on a hit collection?STOP THE WORLD superstar car wash days again, ok but all the other great songs on that disc to choose from why this?then its LONG WAY DOWN first song that i would have picked.ALL EYES ON ME great tune but why us a half wit live version.LAZY EYE from one of those batman movies, yes not on anything else good track.this demo of IRIS is horrid, if they wanted to include this song they should have used the original acoustic version used in the city of angels movie. i could go on but the selections are not worth going through.the covers they included are good but there are better songs that could have been used NAKED, that was like a hit.LUCKY STAR,WE ARE THE NORMAL,THERE YOU ARE,FALLIN DOWN,the real version of NAME
   not that crappy redo on GREATEST HITS 1.something like TWO DAYS IN FEBURARY the song selection is just weak.

5 comments about Sky Blue Sky.

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



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



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



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



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

5 comments about Dirt.

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



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



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



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



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

5 comments about The Heat.

1. These guys are fresh and completely sold out for Jesus. I can't wait for their next offering!



2. I will say this album rocks. If you like good music that is not too hard and not too soft then check it out. I double dog dare you as this will bless your socks off...Washed by teh Water is one of the hits off this album that is a smash hit along with a bunch of others. They have a great live performance that you should see. See it because it is a different concert. Especially when they do an accustic show after as an encore. It will blow your mind to watch these guys do what they do best: Play great music and worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.



3. Absolutely my new favorite. The music, the lyrics, their style ... I had only heard one song from this CD prior to making the purchase and it has been in my player since I received it. All tracks are very good. I highly recommend it regardless of your favorite type of music!



4. What a talented group! I love this CD from beginning to end. This is one of those rare CD's wherein there is not a bad song. I recommend it to family and friends and often I just simply buy it for them. :-) No need to suggest...just give.



5. Very solid album but certainly not as good their first which is OK considering that Daylight was certainly the best christian rock album of the decade so far and perhaps the best rock album period. The songs are stylistically more pop than rock on this one and more homogenous; their isn't quite the sonic variety on The Heat. Instrumentally, the rhythm section seems to be less active, but the keyboard work, while more prominant than I might have wanted, is really interesting. The first two tracks probably represnt the most variety and are the highlight of the album. Everything after that sounds pretty good, but after a few songs, you have to look down at the display to see how many different songs you've actually heard.
   
   I heard someone give an interview recently talk about the sophomore slump by saying that it makes sense that 2nd albums aren't as good as debuts because bands spent their whole lives putting together their first album for a label and are then pressured by that label to put the second one out in eighteen months or less in the midst of near-constant touring to promote the first one. I think that accounts for the lack of variety, and maybe there's one other reason; more of these songs seem to be an effort to create a single rather than just a great song. Still, an album well worth a listening to.

5 comments about No Deliverance.

1. Remember when bands like Lit and Splender and The Gin Blossoms were big? Around the same time, there was also a little band called Toadies that was getting some big play with their debut album Rubberneck. But even with the massive success of their first album, their label didn't approve of their second album and it was never released... so it wasn't until 2001 when they put out their second album, and by then a lot of their fame had died down and they ended up breaking up.
   
   But now they're back with a new album (and a pretty similar sound). No Deliverance reflects the rock mentality that the band has come to represent to many, but also manages to keep it a little lighter on songs like "Song I Hate" and "Don't Go My Way." What's impressive is that the band sounds equally good with either style (though I prefer the more melodic tracks).
   
   No Deliverance as a whole is a fairly decent album - it just sounds like it was recorded in 1999 rather than 2008. Fans of the band will not be disappointed, but they're unlikely to pull in new listeners.



2. It is not fair for me to review this CD since I was not familiar with this group. I was never a hard rock fan. The recordings are thundering but clear, and transported me back to the late sixties and early seventies.If that is its goal, then it achieved it well.



3. I'd heard a lot of hype about the Toadies, and with them coming to play a show in my town I figured I'd give them a listen. Initially reminiscent of a slightly twisted combination of Weezer and Linkin Park, I wasn't sure I cared for them, but they have sharp lyrics and a consistent, tight sound. I'll probably break this album out for parties more than personal listening, but I'm glad I finally gave them a try.



4. The band seems to be all over the place on this album, as if they are trying to settle on a style. I wish they had made that decision before heading to the studio.
   
   Of the nine songs (I refuse to count "I Want Your Love" as a song), I was mildly amused by two or three of them (So Long Lovely Eyes / Song I Hate). By the second time through I found myself trying to determine what band each song sounded like.
   
   For example, Song I Hate should have been on an Everclear album. Think: "I will buy you a new life".
   
   Anyway, three times through was enough to be certain that I don't need to hear any of them again.



5. If you are forced to have a party of people who don't communicate with each other, play this CD. Loud metal rock with nothing new and inspiring. Just old stale sounds from the Heavy Metal era. Stick with Guns and Roses or Metallica. Don't waste your hard earned money on this one!

1 comments about Peace Queer.

1. In his own clever way, Todd Snider never fails to surprise. Just when you think he might rest on his hind legs and write something innocuous, he fires back with his most confrontational and poignant record yet. He starts off with a Bo Diddley beat cradeling a metaphor between a maniacal president and someone who "Drove us off a cliff and called it 'flyin'." Snider softens the blow to CCR's "Fortunate Son" while adding to the depth of the lyrics with his hushed reading. He touches on the life awaiting soldiers who return from the war in "Cape Henry" and another character piece, "Is this thing workin?", draws a line between a high-school hallway bully and the chief executive officer through a Gil Scot Heron style recitation. The piece appears again in song form later as "Is This Thing On?". The perils of middle age parenthood inspire "Stuck on a Corner" with it's rompin' rock & roll beat that berates a daughter who "Can't Stand the sight of the car I bought her." Anyone who works in a cubicle and can never seem to satisfy everyone, this is your new anthem.
   Just like George Carlin before him, Snider's funniest material is also the most truthful.

3 comments about Fearless.

1. 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!



2. 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.



3. 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!