1 comments about Live: One Plus One.

1. I remember listening to this cassette when I was 17 yrs old and now, 15 yrs later I'm still listening to it. And I think its just as good today as it was back then, yeah the music is a bit on the garage band side but hey- thats whats great about it since the songs are all live. Reminds me of the times I have seen them play and I will always keep that close to me. This album has alot of special memories for me and my friends. I am so glad I was able to get this in the CD version so I can now share it with the youth of today.

1 comments about Alive & Amplified.

1. Let's get this out of the way: Mooney Suzuki has collaborated with The Matrix. Yes, that infamous trio that wrote the bland songs for pop starlet Avril Lavigne -- in garage rock, the equivalent of sacrificing babies on a fiery altar. But don't panic -- their latest album, "Alive & Amplified," is not that bad. But it definitely isn't good.
   
   In "Electric Sweat," the music seemed to almost ooze feeling, sweat and grit. That's been cleaned up by the Matrix in favor of generic rock numbers and boring musical backdrops, although Mooney Suzuki force their way through in "Sometimes Somethin'," a slice of pure rock'n'roll, and "New York Girls," a fun poppy number that escapes Matrix slickness.
   
   Even taken apart from their breakthrough album, "Alive & Amplified" is just not that good. It feels halfhearted and overpolished, grabbing the grimy heart of garage rock and scrubbing it raw. Does this sound fit Mooney Suzuki? Frankly, no -- it's too tame, too polished. It sounds like wild, untamed rock that is being held in... or like every other garage rock band spawned by the success of the Strokes and White Stripes.
   
   The scruffy sound has been cleaned up until it's almost unrecognizable as being the same band -- it's sort of the reverse of what happened to Phantom Planet's sound, where they took fun pop and made it dark and gritty. The Matrix has nothing that can benefit a high-octane, hard-rockin' band, and they wildly overproduce the album, until the greasy aura has been washed away. You can hear hints of the new York Dolls, the Rolling Stones and (of course) the Stooges, but they feel glossed over.
   
   At least one thing hasn't changed: Sammy James Jr. His endearingly awkward lyrical abilities are unchanged, but they are more front-and-center. But the songwriting has the sound of something scribbled down in a day and a half, on a tour bus, between groupies (which is also the focus of three songs). "Let's get in a primitive position/We're just fancy animals with hands/And animal glands." Ewwww...
   
   Since the band have since vowed to never ever ever touch the Matrix's efforts again, Mooney Suzuki fans can breathe a sigh of relief -- whatever comes next from these talented guys will surely be far better than "Alive & Amplified."

3 comments about The Alarm - Greatest Hits Live.

1. First thing you should know is that there are no original Alarm members here other than vocalist Mike Peters. If that hasn't made you lose interest, what you will find here are decent and faithful to the original (for the most part) performances of the old Alarm songs. A couple of the tracks, "The Chant has just begun" and "Howling Wind" are just short excerpts of the song.

   As I said the performances are mostly faithful to the original, but the backing vocals are weak here, and there is no piano, so any piano parts, like the intro to "Spirit of 76" are played without the piano, leaving it sounding a bit lacking.

   For me, some of the most interesting points are "One step closer to home", because I feel Peters breathes new life into the song. (I don't care much for the Nasally, out-of-tune vocals of Dave Sharp, who sang it on "Eye of the Hurricane"). Also "Unsafe Building" is a mesh of the '81 and '90 versions.

   This CD really doesn't screem "must own", but it's nice in that it covers much more territory than "Electric Folklore".




2. The Alarm were one of the very best groups of the '80's, and they seem to belong to that era. It's hard to imagine The Alarm in 2002, but it's sure nice to know that Mike keeps the band alive. And this is as true of an Alarm album as you could ever hope for. If you're in the group of fans that believes The Alarm were every bit as great as U2, then this is a must-have release.



3. Odds are that if you're reading this, you need no introduction to the Alarm, a band whose story reads like a Greek tragedy, complete with hubris, meteoric rise and tragic flaw leading to inevitable destruction. The story even includes a character who seems doomed to wander the halls of memory, forever trapped by his own demons. That character is Mike Peters, a man who at some level seems unable to get over his own very public desertion of his band just over a decade ago.

   In an interview around the time of the release of The Alarm's final album, "Raw," Peters hinted at his displeasure that the band had drifted from his hard core roots. "Raw" was an attempt to re-capture that spirit. But it was already too late: the band had fragmented beyond repair. Mike left the band onstage at Brixton Academy in June 1991. He has since said that he felt an artistic need to make his exit public, because the band always did everything in public, but it seems that he's never quite gotten over the personal shame of what must have seemed like a betrayal of his friends and fellow band members.

   Peters has an artist's soul that has never quite been matched by an artist's genius. Certainly, Peters' own albums since the demise of the Alarm have been unremarkable. He and the Alarm always seemed to believe that they were something more than what they really were: a fun, energetic band. Alarm interviews (and concerts) were always laced with hyperbolic turns of phrase like "the best album of all time" and homilies about great musicians they had known (or just heard of). It seems that -- either because he feels he's lost his edge or because he must continually apologize for his departure -- Peters must rake over the coals of the past until there is nothing left to rake.

   This new album is Mike Peters' latest in a continuing effort to keep the spirit of the Alarm alive...through re-releases, concerts, a web site and now the formation of "The Alarm 2000." None of the other band members appears (though he dedicates "One Step Closer to Home" to the others). The songs have the energetic ring that made the Alarm so much fun, that made Peters yearn to return to the original sound, and that first hooked me back at the UCLA concert in '86. In this respect, Greatest Hits Live is a success and any fan of the band would be delighted to hear that old sound one more time. By the same token, there is nothing really new here. If you've heard the Alarm from the "Strength" era, this album will sound familiar. There are no enlightened re-interpretations of the old material, no new tunes, nothing that would make you go out of your way to hear this.

   But that's something that was always unaccountable about The Alarm, even at the height of their hubris. Even when they weren't doing anything remarkable, their enthusiasm was infectious. Even when they were running out of energy, their energy was captivating. Mike Peters, alone among the band, has clung to this energy and enthusiasm, and that's a virtue impossible to ignore. Bizarrely, while you might find it difficult to recommend this album, it still captures your attention and compels you to listen. After more than ten years, Mike Peters is still going out in a blaze of glory. His hands are still held up high.

No comments about Extended Versions.

5 comments about Lithium.

1. Lithium is an awsome song, and so are the other two. Been a Son Live is equal to the recording that's on Incesticide. Curmudgeon is a really cool song also. It's worth it if you like Nirvana.



2. This single rocks! I, an obsessed and crazed Nirvana fan, own it as well every other CD they released and most of the singles and unreleased tracks. The three tracks found on the CD are awesome, as is expected from anything Nirvana.
   Lithium, off of Nevermind, is probably one of the most well known Nirvana songs, and is amazing. The live version of Been a Son from the Seattle homecoming is also awesome. Been a Son is off of Incesticide, a released colection of covers and b-tracks, and is also one of my favorite Nirvana songs. Curmudgeon is, one again, amazing. It was never released on a full album, and can only be found either on this single or bootlegged off of other sites. It is slightly rawer and forshadows the feel of some of the tracks off of In Utero.
   Overall, I give the single 5 stars. If you are a big Nirvana fan and don't have it, you're missing out. If you are just getting into Nirvana, or are interested in hearing more of their stuff, it's a great buy.
   The single also has an added bonus. In addition to the three great songs, the sleeve contains a complete set of the lyrics to Nevermind. These are the lyrics as written by Kurt Cobain, not as interpreted by others who have posted lyrics on websites.
   The Lithium single is awesome, and I highly recommend it.



3. This is one of Nirvana's greatest singles. First of all it includes the studio version of "Lithium", easaily one of their best songs, but the real reason to buy this single is for the B-sides. First of all there is a great live version of Been a son, wich sounds just as good at the studio version. Then there is the previously unrealsed track, "curmudgeon", which is a must listen to for any hardcore Nirvana fan. If you are a real nirvana fan you will buy this single and you won't be sorry you did.



4. This single is good. The songs are good too. I like other songs more by Nirvana. I bought it before I got the box set and I intended to get rid of it after I got the set but I am keeping it. Only for one reason, it has different liner notes. It has the lyrics, yes, but it also has a scan of when Frances (Kurt's daughter) was in Courtney's stomach. It makes this single a one of a kind. But, yes, the songs are good. Curmudgeon is the main highlight of the CD... it's ONLY available on this disc. Go buy it. But, the box set is highly recommended. This is the reason I give the "Lithium" single 4 stars. Enjoy.



5. The song "Lithium" is probably one of the most familiar Nirvana songs of all time, even to casual listeners. However, it is one of their best, and I for one, love this song, becuase it is one of the best representations of Nirvana's essence. One of the big selling points of this single is the fact that it includes all of the lyrics on Nevermind. I like the fact that it has these lyrics; I find them insightful.

   Unlike what some people have said, I think the two b-sides are awesome. The live "Been a Son" is represented in fine form here, and is taken from a great show (the 10/31/91 Seattle homecoming show, which happens to be one of my favorites [I own it on CD]). "Curmudegon" is a demo recorded in the spring of '92, and its raw quality sounds quite unlike anything on Nevermind ("Lithium" included). In fact, "Curmudegon" heavily foreshadows the sound of In Utero.

   In short, I would recommend this to people who already own Nevermind and In Utero, and are looking to gain further insight into the band. I would actually recommend getting this as part of the "Singles Box" (if you can find it cheaply), as it contains all of the singles and b-sides from Nevermind and In Utero. This single by itself, however, is still pretty damn good.

No comments about Cavestomp, Vol. 1.

5 comments about Live in a Dive.

1. Probably my favorite CD ever. And I listen to all and any types of music. It's hard to find a band as passionate as Strung Out. I've been listning to this CD for many years now and have not once grown old to it.



2. This is extremely good for a live album. Any Strung out or Fat Wreck fan should own this. Incredible band, incredible.



3. this is like a 'best of' without the lameness of being a 'best of.' all live, all great.



4. Strung out have been my favourite band for a while, but before i say anything else. anyone who listens to strung out should really listen to thrice aswell, as thrice do the heavy thing so well.
   The cd is awesome, brilliant recording and a good song selection, my personal highlight has to be lost motel which i have never heard before (probably my new favourite SO tune now). For the old strung out fans who are more into their more hardcore stuff, they will know by the song selection that there isnt all that much there apart from razor sex, dont look back. i agree that there is a hell of f-ing and blinding but im sure if u were at the gig it wouldnt make no difference cos ud still go crazy for em. check out the public enemy riff dropped in the middle of harms way. rather amusing.
   go and buy it



5. For a true SO fan, this is the Bible. Every song is played perfect and the way Jason changes his voice to his new style for old songs sounds awesome, if I were you, I wouldnt hesitate to buy this cd, I traveld over 3hrs to get this CD and boy was it worth it.

No comments about Reflection.

4 comments about Drain.

1. Ahh yes, I bought this album on cassette after seeing them live at the Yahweh Coffeehouse in Kansas City, MO. They put on a great show and were awesome guys! I love this album! Actually, I just bought the CD a couple of days ago for no more than three bucks. Can't beat that! If you like raw Grunge Rock with screaming, then you are sure to like these guys.



2. The reviewers above must have been in this band. The only reason i'm even looking at the album page is that my friend and i were just talking about how bad it was. I bought this album when it came out ten years ago and my friends all laughed at me when we heard it, because i totally wasted fifteen good bucks. I tried to listen to it one more time and couldn't get through it. These guys never should have been signed. They bragged about only using single tracking, but it didn't help their complete lack of song writing talent. And the label "christian" has to be stretched way too far to cover this waste of plastic. I mean it. If you see one of these online, click your "back" button, and go somewhere else.



3. sometime sunday is very nice good band, and it's pretty simple as that. if you apreachiate the guys vocals, he went on to a lighter sounding band, but still rock, called Tragadey Ann.
   i really give these dudes five stars, but for you perfection sticklers out there i made it three, they have talent and skill mind you, but it is not exactly flawless and masterfully played. buy both there albums. at 5 bucks for both of them its a great deal, plus if you don't like them, you can always sell them here on amazon for a higher price. have a nice day..



4. Oh man, this is the greatest CD in the history of Christian hard music. These guys defined the market with their first release, "Stone", in 1994, with Tooth & Nail Records. Their first album was good, but this sophomore release is unbelievable. If you have Real Media, listen to the songs on this page. They are great! Too bad they broke up, but hey, bands do. Buy this if you like guitar-driven grunge rock with deep, smooth bass.

No comments about Live and Loud!!.