No comments about What The World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform The Songs Of Burt Bacharach.

4 comments about ESPN Presents X Games, Vol. 1 - Music From The Edge.

1. I don't really think of this as an X-games sampler, as much as I do just a great early 90's alt/metal collection. It's pretty lengthy at 17 tracks, and includes alt/metal classics from Primus, Ministry, Pepper's, Beastie's, Korn, Kravitz, Faith no More, and a great House of Pain remix. The remaining stuff is all mostly good too. Volume 3 isn't bad either with Pantera, 311, and Crystal Method, but it's not as sweet as this is. So if your throwing a party with all your little X buddies, and they're at least over 19, this should be the only cd you need.



2. That's a weird title, you might think. But just listen to the end of "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz. The original version ends with a drum and guitar hit. On this album, the hit is provided by Sepultura with their jungle-drumming and it sounds so cool! The album is full of fun little things like this that fans of the original -structure songs will appreciate (or despise, I guess). But hey, if you want the studio-recorded endings to the songs, you might want to buy the individual albums, because there are a lot of great bands on this album. For you people that like 80's pop, there is a VERY different version of Soft Cell's "Tainted Love." It doesn't have that electronic beeping in it though. Overall, this is a pretty heavy album and isn't for everyone. But for those who appreciate creative noise-making, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better compilation.



3. This CD combines a great mixture of Hard Rock from older, established bands like Megadeth, and newer bands like KORN. A definite 5 Star.



4. This is a must buy for all of the music fans out there this cd is a combination of one hit wonders to yet to be famous artists such as the beastie boys and the goo goo dolls. Most of the songs on this cd were big hits or should've been big hits one of the best cds that i own(and I own a lot of good cds). If you are going to buy one of the x-games soundtracks this is the one to buy

No comments about Punk Uprisings, Vol. 1.

1 comments about Johnny Hanson Presents: Puck Rock, Vol. 1.

1. This is a compilation of a lot of Canadian punk bands doing songs that have two things in common: They are all about hockey and they all ROCK! Songs about drinking, fighting, and playing hockey from fans of the game. This is no novelty item, this CD is entertaining and will wake up the neighborhood with a wall-rattling assault of ear-numbing hardcore!!

1 comments about California Ska-Quake, Vol. 2: The Aftershock.

1. If you are a REAL fan of the OC scene and ska, you will enjoy this CD. Trust me. I've been collecting Ska music cds for about 6 years, and this CD is one of my most valued additions o my skankin music arsonal. PS if you like the 1st wave, PURCHASE the EQUATORS: HOT CD. SKA PARADE 4EVER. ZacIlit

5 comments about Not So Quiet on the Western Front: Alternative Tentacles.

1. oi i have the LP from way back when but no longer have a record player so hearing alot of old stuff brought back memories of when music was art and said something



2. If you don't own this classic compilation of West Coast punk rock, you don't know punk. Tons of great songs in a wide range of styles from the cream of erly 80s Cali hardcore. I think one of the best tracks is by Fresno's own MANIAX, "OFF TO WAR" - amazing these young teens were only 13 years old when they recorded this in their living room. If you want to get more MANIAX, check out their new website and the upcoming release of their long-awaited "MANIAX - THE LOST TAPES" CD due out Winter 2007 featuring over 30 (!) unreleased tracks from the vaults and nearly 80 minutes of DIY punk spirit homegrown in the Central Valley circa 1980-1982 - go to www.maniaxmusic.com to check 'em out! Sorta PLASMATICS meets THE CLASH with some BLACK FLAG and MINOR THREAT thrown in for good measure - get it now!



3. Along with "Let Them Eat Jellybeans" and "New York Thrash", this comp introduced thousands of wayward youths in the '80s (myself included) to all the great bands that comprised the underground punk/hardcore scene. This one was a regional comp (like most of the time) that focussed Northern California and Nevada bands. Sure, I had heard some of these groups already, like Dead Kennedys, MDC and Fang, but there were a bunch of bands that I had never heard of before that were absolutely incredible like Social Unrest (over the years I sought out all of their great records--the ep and first three 12"s), Los Olvidados, No Alternative, Impatient Youth, etc. Even among some of the bands I already knew, there were tracks I hadn't heard yet. The best example of this would be "F**k your America" by 7 Seconds.
   
   Another vital component of this record was the insert booklet that came with it. This is considered to be the first issue of Maximum Rocknroll magazine, which was and is still the most relevant punk zine for those who dig punk beyond the poser appeal that unfortunately dominates the majority mindset in music today. I remember reading the lyrics while listening to each song and drifting off into my escapist fantasy world of a punk utopia were I knew other people were out there that felt like I did. The punk scene was my religion in a way, for it gave me mental sanctuary from the stupid society that I lived in (and that hasn't changed at all!). None of the songs were too deep or complex, but they very much appealed to the teenage punk angst with lyrics about hating dumb rich people, rednecks, war, religion, etc. And that's the way it should be. Get your profound words in literature, but hardcore works best with in-your-face simplicity.
   
   This record, and the lyric booklet that became MRR, is now available on CD for people who weren't around at the time (or since lost their vinyl). Alternative Tentacles did a cool job keeping the original aesthetic quality by repackaging the lyrics/zine into a CD-size booklet that still devotes an entire page for each band (plus a cool intro to the reissue by Jeff Bale).
   
   Sure, some of the bands/songs on here are super generic and haven't held up with time, but the majority are still great to crank loudly today - and not just for nostalgic value.
   
   Obviously this isn't for dumb sheep that think Urban Outfitters' clothing and a Yeah Yeah Yeahs CD makes you punk. You either get it or you don't. Assuming you're reading these reviews, you probably get it. And if you dig old American (California sound) punk/early hardcore at all, then this is absolutely mandatory.



4. Not So Quiet on the Western Front is one of the best comps because it offers most of the best hardcore/punk from California and Nevada at the time. I definitly recommend this to anyone who is new to hardcore,Check it out.



5. This is it; this is the music that liberated thousands of my fellow Northern Californians. There's some truly kick-ass $hit on here. And while the styles range tremendously, every song on this album is good. And then some are GREAT, like "Pay Salvation" by Los Olvidados or "Breakout" by UXB. If you like Maximum Rock and Roll, you will love this album! This is a monument to nonconformity and I highly recommend it.

2 comments about Cover to Cover.

1. This album is a lot of fun and has different groups performing a variety of classics from various genres.
   
   The renditions of classic rock staples Wish You Were Here, Godzilla, Crazy Train, Brain Damage, Paranoid, Purple Haze are fun, refreshing and well executed, while Walk on the Wild Side, Odd Couple and The Godfather theme have infectious grooves that will leave you asking for more.
   
   Highly recommended!



2. A fairly standard set of ska covers, further proving that ska music is readily the most versatile genre on the market today. The covers of "Burnin' Love" and "Paranoid" are especially outstanding. Worth a listen.

1 comments about Who Covers Who.

1. I'm not giving this two stars just because I'm comparing the covers to the fantastic originals; it's because the covers here are rather weak, overall. I was surprised to see that Blur had covered "Substitute" on here, and that's probably the only band featured here that most people will find familiar. Unfortunately, all the Who songs here are the typical ones, nothing obscure (I would've much preferred Blur doing "Disguises", for instance"), and the only redeeming tracks on this album are both the Telescopes and Brilliant Corners versions of "The Good's Gone". Why? Because they seem to have the right spirit about them, and both are psychedelic, dreamy, and are actually making some kind of statement musically. I can't really say the same for ANY of the other tracks on this album (sorry, Blur!). Most sound not only overly-ambitious, but like they were recorded after a couple of days of band practice in somebody's garage.
   
   But, this is typical of the so-called 'tribute album', which doesn't end up being that great of an homage, after all! Listen to the original Who versions of these, not to mention cover songs of other bands which actually turned out interesting and different, and you'll see what I mean! Substitute: Songs from the Who is another, if you want to check that out as well. But, I must say I have yet to hear a really great cover of a Who song, to date.

No comments about If It Ain't Stiff...A Stiff Records Collection.

5 comments about New Coat of Paint: Songs of Tom Waits.

1. This collection of songs and the artists that perform them are great! I purchased this for my dad who was praising a song he heard on XM Radio in the cafe music channel. He loves it!! Some rockabilly,some blues, punk interpretation! Some of the best of both worlds are involved with this cd!



2. Some artists really aren't meant to be covered because their reach is far beyond any quality interpretations/renditions. These artists are the deities of American music. I've bought tribute albums to Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits, and they all just really suck. Sometimes it's more the singer than the song which is why no formula ever works when rendering such artists as the aforementioned.



3. Only Tom can sing his songs, period. Keep moving -- nothing to listen to here.



4. I like Tom Waits most of the time. It was hard for me to listen to all of this album. This is one I will probably give away or resell if I need some cash. I hope I can find a buyer for it soon.



5. Nobody can be Tom but Tom. (Just listen to John Hammond's attempts to sound dangerous, and you'll know what I mean.) That said, these are some damn creative interpretations of Tom's work. Not just creative, because it can be creative and still [bad]. This stuff is creative and sounds good.

   In my collection, I have four different covers of Heartattack and Vine, and Lydia Lunch's is still my favorite. Muriel is great done in prayerful whispers, and the guy that sings Broken Bicycles lays down a dirge for a vocal track. Screamin' Jay opens the throttle up wide on Whistlin', and the call-and-answer format of Virginia Avenue is really neat.

   I like music that doesn't sound like everything else. That's why I like Tom. If that's why you listen, you owe it to yourself to pick up both this and "Step Right Up," which, in its own way, is even weirder and more wonderful than this one.