5 comments about Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits.

1. This is another Greatest Hits package I have picked up to fill in for missing/lost CDs.
   
   It has all the hits that I remember from the Pyromania and Hysteria when Def Leppard was their most popular. I know they had a couple of records before then, but I never really listened to the band until I saw Photograph on MTV.
   
   Bringin On The Heartbreak is a real good song from an album before they became famous with Photograph.



2. I love Def Leppard, the music, the songs, the words to the songs, I just love it.



3. This CD has all of the greatest hits from Def Leppard and would be a great gift for any Def Leppard fan!!!



4. Great mix of songs that I remember from my high school years. I loved the Pyromania album, but this one brings together a lot of great songs. Rock On!



5. For any Def Leppard fan, this one can't be beat! The cover doesn't look like much, but the songs are all awesome!

5 comments about U218 Singles.

1. If you are new to U2, this is a great place to start that will pull you in. Be careful, buying this album will most likely lead to many more U2 albums for your to purchase, so buy only if you have more CD money to burn ;)



2. Great songs from a Great band -- this set shows why U2 will be here for a long time.
   Proof of Popularity (Billboard Boxscore, Ray Waddell): $389,047,816 earned from the Worldwide "U2 Vertigo Tour" - March 28,2005 to Dec 9, 2006 - 131 shows - 4,619,021 tickets sold - tour producer Arthur Fogel of Live Nation - $96.92 average North America ticket price (Poillstar) This type of popularity and earned success doesn't come around everyday: Senator Hillary Clinton has it: In the 2008 Presidential Primary race, Hillary Clinton not only earned more votes than any of her rivals, she earned more votes than any other Presidential Primary candidate in the history of America.



3. a great best of, all the songs you need, except the U.S. version omits "I will follow", fortunately the European edition leads with that track...unfortunately for both, the cd is annoyingly LOUD, with modern-mastering techniques almost ruining the release...docked a star for that, do not play for more than 20-25 minutes, or you will need medical attention



4. This cd has some of my favorite U2 songs, quite a few of which I didn't have yet. However, if you have most of their albums I would just pay for the download of U2/Green Day's "The Saints Are Coming." It's an AWESOME song that will wake you up. It also has a fair bit of meaning to a lot of people, as it was played at the first Saints home game after Katrina.



5. "U218 Singles" is U2's latest attempt to cash in on its long-gone glory days and appeal to young 'uns. U2 began as a "born-again" Christian rock band in Dublin. They had post-punk alt. rock, with a rougher edge than the slickly produced New Wave hits currently on the scene. In the beginning,Bono&his band had something fresh&innovative.
   
   "U218",is,like all greatest hits comps, a mixed bag. There are some fun,catchy tunes from U2's early days,such as "Sweetest thing","With or without you",and "Mysterious Ways." There are more spiritual radio hits like "Pride (in the name of love)" which simultaneously invokes Jesus and Martin Luther King,along with "I still haven't found what I'm looking for","Beautiful Day" and "Where the streets have no name." That's the good (where's "Bullet the blue sky"?). Now,onto the bad&the ugly.
   
   "U218" also has the faded glory "hits" of "Sometimes you can't make it on your own" and "Stuck in a moment you can't get out of." The catchy message rock of the '80s has degenerated into preachiness&sanctimony in the millennium. There's the turgid "Elevation" that has some cheesy lyrics about the "curve of your thighs"(it's NOT sexy),and somehow got remixed for the openly campy Tomb Raider movie starring Angelina Jolie. It makes sense. There's the genuinely wretched "Vertigo" song that got plugged into endless rotation thanks to the iPod ad. Finally,there's the pretentious "Saints are coming" duet with Green Day. When two pretentious bands collide,it's... something else.
   
   "U218" is mediocre. There are genuinely great songs blended with wretched ones. If you REALLY REALLY like U2,I recommend "In the name of love: Africa celebrates U2." It's got amazing covers from Angelique Kidjo, Les Nubians, the Sierre Leone Refugee All Stars and Vieux Farka Toure. The best U2 is out of Africa.

5 comments about Eliminator (Collector's Edition) (CD/DVD).

1. ZZ Top's 1983 MTV classic 'Eliminator' brought a change of scenary for the band. Gone are the days of the "Texas tornado blues effect." This album is driven by the synthesizer work of Dusty Hill, who plays the synthsizers (uncredited), and does a pretty good job with it too.
   
   After hearing 1981's 'El Loco,' I kind of figured ZZ Top was heading this way. And that's not a bad thing, either. While this isn't one of my all time favorite albums from them, it's still pretty awesome.
   
   While I loved 'Sharp Dressed Man' and Hill's funky bass playing on 'Thug,' the real highlight to me on this album is 'I Need You Tonight,' a bluesy jam with no synths and no drum machines. Just Gibbons, Hill and Beard jamming. It could have easily been a hit on the 'Deguello' or 'Tejas' record.
   
   'Legs' was a crucial MTV hit for the band; the video was extremely popular. 'Gimme All Your Lovin' was also a big single for the band, and achieved commercial success.
   
   Another one of my all time favorite ZZ Top songs is 'Got Me Under Pressure.' It's one of their best songs, and definitely the second best song here (besides 'I Need You Tonight').
   
   While I'll be the first to tell you that if I had the choice between 1981-1990 ZZ Top or the 1971-1980 ZZ Top, I pick '71-'80 every time. But, I really do enjoy 'Eliminator,' and it's much better than 'Afterburner' and 'Recycler.'
   
   Now that I've talked about the album, let's move forward into the remastering and the "collector's edition" bonus disc:
   
   -The sound quality is superb! Compare this to the original '90s Warner Bros. CD edition of this and you'll be stunned. There is no comparison, this is hands down the version to own.
   
   -The DVD is awesome! Great music videos, although why is 'Tube Snake Boogie' on 'Eliminator' even though that appeared on 'El Loco'? I do question Warner Bros. move to include that here. It's almost like adding 'Sharp Dressed Man' as a bonus track on 'ZZ Top's First Album' from 1971.
   
   Now, here are a couple of side comments that do not relate to the album or reissue, but are questions that I would like to know?
   
   It's nice to see Warner Bros. reissuing the 1983 classic 'Eliminator,' but where the heck are the reissued versions of 'Tejas' and 'El Loco,' from 1976 and 1981, respectively? If you are gonna remaster 'Eliminator,' at least remaster those! Unlike some ZZ Top fans, the drum machines/filtered drums don't bother me, but since 'Eliminator,' 'Fandango!,' 'Rio Grande Mud,' 'ZZ Top's First Album' and 'Tres Hombres' have been remastered, why not reissue the other two albums? It's only logical!
   
   Overall, if you don't own 'Eliminator' and you want to get it, hands down, buy the collector's edition. The bonus DVD and the exceptional remastering job make it worth the entire price of admission.
   
   Highly recommended for any ZZ Top fan. The music is five stars, and so is the music. ZZ Top are the greatest band to come out of Texas, and anything less than five stars is criminal in my books. Closing statement: REISSUE 'EL LOCO' AND 'TEJAS' ALREADY!!!
   
   ENJOY!!!



2. This review is only for the original album since I don't care much about bonus tracks or DVDs, but since you brought it up, I will say that the "bonus" live tracks on disc 1 sound homemade. I can't believe they were included.
   
   Anyway, back to the main course: The original CD release, and even the Eliminator material in the gorgeous box set a few years ago, just never did anything for me sound wise. Sure, it's great rock 'n' roll, but the digital mastering didn't do it justice. This remastering changes that. The music comes to life with punch, presence, and transparency - and it was done with no noticeable compression. They even resisted the urge to master it too loudly. This is a remaster that both the average CD buyer and the audiophile will be VERY happy with.



3. Released on LP and Cassette in March 1983 on Warner Brothers, the blues boogie of "Eliminator" was an absolute phenomenon for the Texas trio ZZ Top.
   
   They'd been bubbling under for years - "La Grange" in 1973, "Tush" in 1975 - and a minor hit with "I Thank You" in 1980. But none of it even remotely indicated what would happen in 1983 and 1984. "Eliminator" - one of the best boogie albums ever made - changed everything for them and us - it was little short of absolute global domination.
   
   It was a combination of things - the umpteen tracks that were all single/radio friendly hits, the emergence of rotation MTV, the videos with leggy sexy babes - the fabulous 1956 coupe car - the ZZ TOP keyring flying through the air to the hapless buck trying to be a 'sharp dressed man' - the image of dusty dudes with beards - all of it combined in one heady mix to produce domestic sales in the USA topping 10 million with the same number estimated for the rest of the world. And if you take into account second-hand sales since that heady time 25 years ago and an early issue on CD, you're looking at a "Rumours", a "Purple Rain" and a "Thriller". This September 2008 (delayed release) has it good points and bad though...
   
   Here's the layout first:
   
   Disc 1 (78:27 minutes)
   Tracks 1 to 11 are the album REMASTERED in its entirety with the original lengthier mix of "Legs" at 4:34 minutes re-instated for the first time (it was replaced after initial pressings by the shorter single mix of 3:37 minutes)
   Tracks 12 to 18 are bonus tracks; 12 is the single mix of "Legs"; 13 to 17 are 5 previously unreleased live tracks (13, 14, 16 and 17 recorded at Castle Donington Festival in Leicestershire in England, while 15 was recorded at The Marquee Club in London - no dates supplied)
   Track 18 is the 12" "Dance Mix" of "Legs"
   
   The remastering of the album is FANTASTIC - muscular, in your living room, detailed - all that it should have been these last two and half decades. I've waited years to hear "I Need You Tonight" in this sound quality and it was worth it. But the really bad news is the audio bonus tracks, which are a huge letdown. The live versions have what is laughably called `audio restoration' on them - they sound like rubbish bootleg recordings - someone standing in a field with a microphone held up (Donnington was exactly that - a vast field). The truly awful extended mix of "Legs" was on the box set anyway - unlistenable then and the same now. Worse - there are single edits of "Gimme All Your Lovin" and "Sharp Dressed Man", but maddeningly they're not included here - they should have been - it would have been far more appropriate to a supposed `collector's edition'. Also there's nothing new worth hearing - no outtakes, alternatives, no demos, no new songs - nothing. Really disappointing stuff I'm afraid. The album is great, but the supposed bonuses are awful.
   
   Things fare better on the 2nd disc, an 8-track DVD. First up are the 4 famous videos that broke the album with a worldwide TV audience and their inclusion on this `special edition' is only right and proper - they were such an integral part of the "Eliminator" experience. The prints are clean, but unfortunately blurry in that cheap 1980s kind of a way. They're fun to re-watch, but not much more than that. Things get considerably better with tracks 5 to 8, which are professionally filmed studio performances. They were recorded live in front of a studio audience on 17 November 1983 for one the UK's popular pop programs of the time - "The Tube". The sound and visuals are great and while the vocals are live, I'm fairly sure some tweaking has been done to beef up the sound. Whatever way you look at it - this is primo ZZ TOP and makes up somewhat for the disappointing crap that is tail-ending the Audio CD. Fans will really enjoy these.
   
   The packaging isn't great either - a gatefold digipak with a 20-page booklet. The layers under the see-through trays have no photos of singles - outtakes - they're blank - pretty crappy really. The car's pictured a couple of times, lyrics reproduced, a basic essay on the album - but no real event feel to it - no live shots - no interesting formats pictured - fan stuff left out - it's basic really, when it could have been so much better.
   
   In truth, you'd have to say that if Rhino had just issued the remaster of the album with the single edits and the 12" mix added on at the end - then that would have been so much better. As it is, you're being asked to spend £13 to £16 on a package that smacks of laziness and greed - and worse - leaves you with a bad taste in the mouth - an underwhelming experience that should have been a real celebration of a really great album...
   
   To sum up - fantastic remaster of the album, good stuff on the DVD, but docked a star for the rubbish filler at the end of Disc 1.



4. I loved ZZ Top before this album came out in 1983 and the music here only made me love the band more. The music is wonderful (Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Lovin', Got Me Under Pressure, Legs, I Need You Tonight, TV Dinners etc.). The band rips, Billy Gibbons in particular. The sound on this release is great.
   
   I remember watching this videos back then and seeing them again makes me smile. Classic videos, which if you were alive and watching any type of video music back then you saw over and over. I enjoyed watching the videos again this evening. A guilty pleasure if you know what I mean.
   
   The car is in the rock and roll hall of fame, the record sold over 10 million copies and the videos won awards. How many releases have that kind of effect?
   
   The concert footage is fun to watch as well. If you don't own this, or are a big fan of this CD or the band - you should seriously consider purchasing this.



5. i love zz top - hey, i grew up with their videos - but i'm sorry, there's no way i'm going to buy this edition of the cd at $19.99. yes, it's got a handful of videos on it - but big deal, i recorded those videos off of the tv years ago. even the live performances off 'the tube' (a british tv program in the 1980's) are so special - i recorded a couple of those (but the others weren't broadcast). is that all they've got left in the zz top archives ? i mean, come on - the album paid for itself years ago (when i bought it) so why the high price ?
   
   i guess at least the record company had the decency to wait nearly 20 years to come out with the expanded edition to entice you to buy it again. do you just hate it these days, when a cd is re-released with a couple of extra tracks about 6 months after it first hit the shops ? no wonder cd sales have tanked !

5 comments about Sawdust.

1. October 5, 2008
   First, let me be upfront, I am not the best music critic to evaluate the Killers for generational reasons but I am going to offer you, nevertheless
   a bona fide and credible reason for purchasing their music. Although I go back to the days of listening to Bob Dylan covered by Leon Russell singing She Belongs To Me on vinyl, as a music critic I can recognize unusual talent and vocal and performance superiority when I see it no matter what genre or generation we are talking about. I saw Brandon Flowers on SNL tonight and I honestly enjoyed it immensely. He had the presence and the confidence that we held so dear in the front men of some pretty over the top classic bands. The music was of course the evolving punk synth category that apparently 30 somethings want back. Brandon's vocals were measured and top notch tonight even though my idea of punk was Elvis Costello transcending into Green Day as opposition. The tracks on this CD that I favor are Bourbon On The Shelf and Mr. Brightside. The evolution of this band sounds like a conundrum to me, threaded to Las Vegas and apparently attempting to further the punk contribution to fans. The focal point of my argument forwarded to younger listeners is purchasing their music is a win/win only. Brandon Flowers, who come to think of it, I have seen twice on SNL gave a very lasting and exceptional performance tonight on vocals and keyboards. I think for that reason and the other tracks I have heard, this is a very interesting and competent band
   
   Jay Adler, Music Critic



2. By all, I mean me and my two kids. I am 66 and first purchase was Be Bop A Lula by Gene Vincent and that is a good enough measure of me, my daughter is 35 and still enjoys the Doors, my son is 24 and Mark E. Smith's The Fall is the best band in the world - whatever its personnel consists of at any given time. I tell you this because if Sawdust is acceptable to the three of us it should go down well with the majority. Most of all, the band members are a tight team rather each performing a little bit apart from the rest. Distinctive enough to stand out from the here today, gone tonight rubbish ensembles - the CD is well worth my money.



3. There's a reason these are b-sides, and scrappings, they aren't that good. The Killers only produce a few good songs on each album, and here is just some of the leftovers that didn't make the cut to be leftovers. There are few good songs, like Sam's Town, Mr. Brightside Re-mix, Tranqualize, Shadowplay, and Romeo & Juliet, but you'd be better off just downloading them stand- alone.



4. If you are a Killers fan or a fan of music in general then you have to buy this album it is amazing! The compilation of different sounds on this album is enough to buy it just to hear their range. My suggestion is that you quit reading this review and buy it right now:) No,Seriously.



5. Overall, this album has been extrodinary! Expecially the new songs stand out veru well, and I don't quite get why it is The Killers least bought Album. i think This, for sure, is the Kilelrs least-rock album, with more of a poppy, synth style for them.
   
   Track List:
   
   1. Tranquilize
   This song is very different from the Killers normal songs. First of all, it features the songwriter/singer Loue Reed. It is very strange, almost as if they are talking. It is a great song, overall. All there voices blended together makes a beautiful sound. Another weird thing about this song, is that at the end of the first chorus, Children sing around four lines of words. This song is great, It won an Award for "Best Song" in NME 2008.
   
   2. Shadowplay
   This song sounds very 80's pop with the drums, which makes it interesting for The Killers to play. They did a cover of Joy Division's Shadowplay. In my opinion, The Killers made it at least 10 times better! It sounds so much more upbeat and rock! The guitar really makes the song in the third verse, when there are three different parts running through eachother, that really makes the song to me. The Singers voice sounds strange, as if it was dulled down, to seem creepier or something, but it just makes the song better! I love this song, and think it's one of the best songs on the album. But then again, i think at least 7 of them are the best on the album.
   
   3. All The Pretty Faces
   This song is so exciting! I think this is one of the best on the albums to! First there is soft synth, then the guitar plays slowly, to begin the song, then the drums come in, and everything is perfect by the time Brandon starts singing "Help me out, I need it!" over and over. I think the song is truelly PERFECT until the chorus comes along, and in my opion, ruins pretty much the whole song. The chorus isn't strong at all, I really don't like it, it doesn't match with the rest of the song. But then when it's over, it conects again by saying "I don't feel like, I don't feel like, I Don't feel like loving you." and it all fits together again. This song is AMAZING, except for the chorus! :)
   
   4. Leave The Bourbon on The Shelf
   As if right now, this song is my favorite song. In the beginning it sounds like your in the garage actually listening to the band, which is awesome, and then the guitar starts and the song sounds oddly familiar. Ten when Brandon starts singing, his voice is muffled or radio-ized or something, and it's amazing. Then when he gets to the chorus, his voice gets a little less muffled, and then another time it goes completely normal. The song is so great, and it's so upbeat, and garagey. This song is really good for when you need comforting. This song always cheers me up! at the very end, everything is stopped except his voice, which makes it fel like your at a concert
   
   5. Sweet Talk
   This is, I think, still my altime favorite song on this album. It's by far the most poppy song of ALL THEIR SONGS. it has synth through about the entire song, and BRandon sings very highly, and he does it with no struggles like the way his voice sounded in Sam's Town, which I thought, put a character in him, and made all the songs better. THe lyrics in this song are VERY goos. the first fourt lines
   "Lift me up on my honor,
   take me over this spell
   Get this weight off my shoulders,
   I've carried it well"
   This song is the best. I was my favorite song for almost a month which is a REALLY long time for me. :) It sounds nothing like the killers to me, almost like a different band. But I love it sooooooo much
   
   6. Under THe Gun
   Another AWESOME SONG! I beleive this song was released before on Hot Fuss's Limited edition, along with Glamorous Indie rock and roll. This song does sound just like Hot Fuss style, if you liked that. The song just basically reminds me of all the other songs on Hot Fuss, but defenitly the ones up there with Mr. Brightside & All These Things That I've Done.
   
   7. Where The White Boys Dance
   This is NOT one of my favorites. The song is strange check out the first few lyrics
   "Take me to the place where the white boys dance
   Take me to the place where they run and play
   my baby is gone
   you might have a chance
   just take me to the place where the white boys dance"
   I admit, other then the chorus, this song could be good. But the played it really low on the chorus, which screwed the whole thing up. Not the WORST song on sawdust, but one of them. -
   
   8. Show You How
   This song is great! The beginning is like a girl checking her messeges on her cell phone, and then the lead vocolist, Brandon Flowers leaves her a messege, singing, then all of a sudden the messed up phone style music, changes to reality. nd he says "She told me sweet thing...." and goes on talking about the girl he left the messege too. I think this song is very unique and personally I Love it. Although, it's a bit short. 2:28
   
   9. Move Away
   This song was featured on spider Man 3. THe guitar style reminds me of Barracuda By Heart, whenver i hear it. This song reminds me of Sam's Town. It's pretty good, it's on my medium side of good n' bad. I don't ahve much to say about this song, there just isn't much to say.
   
   10. Glamorous Ibdie Rock And Roll
   The lyrics suck, I'll tell you that. But the song, like the last one, move away, is on my medium side. It's pretty boring with the chorus holding long notes, and then waiting like the same amount of time as the note, with all quiet, and then it's starts again. This song is good, but not on the GREAT side. It gets pretty good when the enter the third verse though.
   
   11.Who Let You Go?
   This song is very repetetive. the chorus is just Who Let You go? a million times, so this is on my medium side again. I just wanted to let you know, Where the white boys dance is lower then medium. This song is strangely familiar, it makes you think you've heard it before, when you really haven't. I think a LOT of songs sound like this.
   
   12. The Ballad of Michael Valentine
   THis is one of my favorites on the album. I'm suprised it's not popular, because I love it. THere is a little intro that is very kewwlystrange. Then when it changes to the verse, it gets even better. It's about traveling, but he s telling a story of Michael Valentine, as he mentions is the beginning. This song is real edgy. In the chorus he states I've got The BUZZ, like Marlon Brando. When he says Buzz, it almost sounds like he is high or something, because it's a little strange and whackey. lol. It's true it's very different, maybe he wants it to be his new style of singing or something
   
   13. Ruby, Don't Take Yourr Love To Town
   This song, i'm sad to say, is in my opinion the worst killer song of all. It is farm/western/hillbilly style, which frustrates me. They redid this song, so it's boring. The song is dull and boring and if you hate the killers,you would probably be laughing over this song. It's not HORRIBLE, but i think it is yet the worst ever song by the killers, and it is a dissapointment.
   
   14.Daddy's Eyes
   This song is very rockish. Lots of guitar, and again it sounds familiar. This song for me is in between medium and good. It was written for his newborn son, Ammon Richard Flowers, born July 14, 2007. He also talks about his wife in the song. This song is a classic, it's pretty good to listen to.
   
   15. Sam's Town (Abbey Road Version)
   This song is from the album Sam's Town, if you've heard it. If you thought that song was too loud, or crazy for you, you will loooove this version.It's all in piano, which makes it much more peaceful. I perfer the regular version of sam's town, but i still love this song!
   
   16. Romeo & Juliet
   If you liked the last song, you will probably like this song as well. It's quiet but, beautiful. I love this song, one of the best on sawdust, to me. The old version by the Dire Straits is wonderful too.
   
   17. Mr. Brightside (Remix)
   This is perferably annoying to me, because the intro is 2 minutes long, and everything is so slow, but at the end, there is a song called "The Captain" hidden, which is great!
   
   This album is amazing! My favorite by the killers, ?I? wonder why no-one will give this album a chance!?!?!?! YOU SHOULD!!

5 comments about Sam's Town.

1. I've owned this album for so long now and it still finds its way into my CD player all the time.
   "Sam's Town" is really underrated. The Killers have definitely shown growth from their first record on to this one. Lyrically, this album has so much to offer and is quite thought-provoking.
   The album is built around "When You Were Young," "Bones," "Bling" and "This River Is Wild." - Four amazing songs. The rest of the record is almost equally good with a complete lack of filler songs.
   I REALLY reccomend this album. If you don't own it, please give it a try :)



2. It's a good album. It definitely does not sound like their debut album, but it's not bad at all. Fewer songs stick out individually to me, but the album as a whole flows better.



3. Where do I start. First off this is a good CD and a great selection of songs from the Killers. Personally I just love the Killers and the more I listen to this CD the more they become my favorite band. You just have to give this a listen and you'll feel the same way.



4. I can't say I was a fan until I saw the Killers in concert on their 'Sam's Town' tour. That really made me go back and listen to their material with a bit more interest.
   
   Save three songs, I think this disk is extremely solid.
   
   At first I was put off by the Springsteen-esque riffs in "When You Were Young", but they really make them work. And though I loved "Bones" when it first came out, I think I overplayed it a bit. It's still good, I just overdid did it.
   
   But I am a huge fan of the title track and actually almost all the songs. I can do without "Uncle Johnny", "Bling" and "My List". They are the three that keep this from being a 5-star disk.
   
   I even like the "Enterlude" and "Exitlude" - though like others, I think it would have kind of made more sense for the former song to be the first cut....but that's hardly a big thing.



5. Sam's Town I loved the previous album but this one was disappointing; a self-indulgent sophomoric snooze.

5 comments about Nostradamus.

1. JP goes in a different direction on Nostradamus...and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Gone are the shredding guitar solos that have been their hallmark for decades. I've listened to this 5 times through now and I can honestly say it gets better with each listen. Fans looking for Painkiller II will be sorely disappointed. This is not a CD you'll want to crank up as you're pulling up to a stoplight to try to impress the hot chick (or elderly couple) next to you with your ability to listen to loud music (btw, no one over the age of 18 is ever impressed with this skill in case you're wondering). However, if you can come in without any preconcieved notions of what Judas Priest should sound like, Nostradamus can provide an entertaining journey, albeit a different one than Priest fans might be used to. It would be hard to deny that JP has earned the right to do what they want with their music after three-and-a-half decades. As far as I'm concerned, if they choose to make a Christmas Album with the Wiggles next, so be it. I certainly don't feel they owe me anything at this point.
   
   For some reason I was never consulted during the creation of this CD. However, had my opinion been requested I would have had a few suggestions. For instance, since they were going in this symphonic direction anyway, I wish they would have taken it a bit further and added more orchestra and choir elements. Especially given the topic, I thought they could have mixed in some more classical material to help bring the listener into a journey through the French Renaissance. I also would have added some haunting choir pieces that would have helped conjure images of the church that was both friend and foe to Nosty at various times. Rob certainly has the voice to pull off the theatrical sound.



2. I may have a more objective review than most here as I was not a major Priest fan growing up in the 80's. I did hear their popular songs and loved them, but did not relish in their albums. I was always drawn to conceptual rock like Rush 2112, The Who's Tommy and Quadrophenia. So to hear an amazing rock opera like this in 2008 is refreshing and brave.
   
   I for one would finance bringing this to the stage. I think it would be a sell out show instantly and it would be well deserved. I do not think Priest fans should fear this variance of Priest. Have we (40 and 50 something folk) all not mellowed after all the years of rocking hard. I think our generation is far deeper than the current crowd and can appreciate change and taking risks.
   
   So I applaud Priest and I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 simply because nothing is perfect - although a new Zeppelin album and tour may just be that.
   
   Rock on Priest. And great vocals Rob!!



3. After only a few reviewed listens, I was quite impressed with the
   plethora of elements that Judas Priest conjured up for their latest effort on Nostradamus!
   
   An impressive twist of the tale steping back and forward into man's longtime evilution. It explores the sins of the fathers gone by right up to today's society still riding the waves of time and mankind's uncertain future? Nostradamus shows another realm of Priest exploring their own creative concept filled with mysterious soundscapes, midtempo melodies, and synphonic drama mixed into their trademark hard & heavy metal domain! There are many standout songs including the intro./Dawn of Creation, The Phophecy, Revelations, Plague & Pestilence, Sands Of Time, Persecution, Visions, the Title track, and the album finale/etc..!
   
   If your looking for another start to finish metal effort, this one is simply a slight departure into areas that many metal acts have explored before. You have black metal rockers like Dimmu Borgir/etc..using dramatic, airey orchestrations, Newer bands like Iced Earth who always seems to explore newer adventures in darker concept music writing. And now, the Beast that is Priest have done their concept Nostradamus! It's definitely worth a LISTEN & then some! These Metal Masters from Great Britian really deliver energetic passion, pleasure, and pain twisting another dimension into the Metallion! Great showing all around by Rob, Glenn, K.K., Ian, & Scott! Go on now, go get it!



4. The grand news is: Judas Priest decided to push things further. I've been a huge fan of theirs for nearly thirty years now, and I knew that they had this in them. Casual listeners wanted more of "You've Got Another Thing Coming", but I now ask the same casual listeners to try to lose that mindset; open up, and discover how brilliant "Nostradamus" IS.
   
   Many people have been buying this album thinking retro. The fact is, Judas Priest already released a "Living After Midnight"/ "Breaking the Law"/"Don't Go" album, "Angel of Retribution".
   
   Much like the fantastic recent release of Manowar, "Gods of War", "Nostradamus" pushes the boundaries of how "metal" is usually defined. In plainer language, cds like "Nostradamus" and "Gods of War" are expanding the boundaries, which means that Metal will last longer as an ART FORM (the same art form that was definitively invented by the composer Richard Wagner in the late 19th century). No, we're not talking laugh-out-loud pretentious boredom like Opeth, Paradise Lost, etc.. This is one of the best Rock/Metal bands ever, shattering convention and revolutionizing the genre and sub-genres they practically invented.
   
   Without a forerunning band like Judas Priest daring to do more with Metal, it (Metal) will continue to decline in aesthete. I realize this isn't particularly important for a casual-listening headbanger (I'm not implying you're one of course, if you are of course that's just fine). But as a lifelong lover of Metal, Judas Priest, and the last Great composer of music, Richard Wagner I most certainly DO care about music AS music with depth, scope, and range.
   
   Slipknot and Disturbed are examples of the Big Bang side of Metal. That sort of music most certainly has its place in this genre of music we love, but there's no depth to it, nothing to make one think and want to listen intently; to gain something with every listen. Granted, they aren't aiming for that particularly (neither are other Big Bang groups like the Masters, Ac/Dc). But (to use Ac as an example) the style becomes disposable.
   
   People like Manowar and Priest have released albums that will insure the longevity of the heavy metal genre. Manowar's "Gods of War" was the single most important Metal release of 2007, and "Nostradamus" takes that title hands down in 2008.
   
   Buy it, give it three intent listens, and you'll start hearing exactly what I mean.
   
   The second disc is harder for a good reason. Priest has reached a far more developed sense of dynamics, range and scope in their compositional skills.
   
   Don't miss out on this one.



5. Few if any concept albums are worth a grain of salt The Wall being the head honcho of the bunch. There was a story being told there. There was also a visual aide of being made into a movie as well as w/ Tommy. What story is actually bieng told in Nostradamus?? To my ears its more like a cd inspired by the idea of Nostradamus not a tale of his life. I just saw the video of Gods of war I think it was and even that didn't relate to much of anything - just a cast of a thousand different computer generated warriors breathing fire! I do like "Alone" on its own(no pun intended) and that is the only track that remains w/ me after owning it for months. I feel like they focused too hard on making a concept cd that it fails on both musical and lyrical fronts. The keyboards in Turbo were used in a cheesy 80's way, here they were supposed to add a theatrical air to it - Again not to the best end. Just to say it has keyboards and thats why it sucks - is stupid. It sucks for many other reasons than that. There is still talent there but all this mid-tempo stuff is not their forte by any stretch.

5 comments about Partie Traumatic.

1. 
   I am totally into the the Black Kids CD, which contains the hits "Hit the Heartbrakes", "Hurricane Jane", "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend...", and "I've Underestimated My Charm". These are some of the best songs of the year and Summer of 2008. If you like the Cure, Duran Duran, and early 80s sounds you will love this CD. This should be on everyone's short list as CD of the year. All those songs list above came out on an earlier EP, but they are just as good here. My favorite song is "Hurricane Jane." It is pretty soulful and you can't help but play it about 10 times a day. The song that sounds most like the Cure is "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend..." as they are paying homage to one of their favorite bands. I don't usually give out 5 stars, but when a CD is my favorite of the year, it is worthy.



2. Oh, the fun that could be had with this album. Saw them at Lollapalooza and as a live band they have a lot of work to do. The album though, basically requires a party asap! Love it, love it, love it. Can I say it enough? I don't think so. Way to go Black Kids, we love ya!



3. www.pitchforkmedia.com, a website I regularly go to for music news, couldn't even review this album but posted a score of 3.3 out of 10 and a cutesy picture of pugs where the review would be. It pretty much made me sick (except the pugs were there to stop me).
   
   Over the past decade we've come to a point where a lot of people think they are alternative, but they just wear some of the clothes and buy some of the music some of the time. Then they make music themselves and things get really confusing. There are an equal number of people that latch on to indie bands like it's a cult, expecting each one to follow a pretentious code of indie conduct or be severed as unworthy. There's an identity crisis going on that leads to the pitchfork review--an inability to let go of definition and just have a good time. This is exactly what Black Kids do with their music. They don't appear to care if they are a geeky blend of new wave, Motown and Brit-pop set in Florida of all places. They sing unabashedly of teenage lust and getting out on the dance floor. They are not afraid to play simple melodies on their keyboards alongside their more complex rhythm section maneuvers. Like another band from the south I love, The B-52's, they sound like they are doing this because the songs are fun, without any pretention. This band is the real thing, but it isn't designed to blow your mind away because of it. They certainly are not looking to turn off the indie crowd in the process, but to look to their debut to fulfill any indie precedents of clever intellect, instrument use, or production is futile. They can't hear you from the dance floor and excuse me I need to join them.
   
   The band didn't rise up through years of calculated self released material, contacting and negotiating with labels, promoters, etc. They were at the right place and time. The attraction was having a download only EP containing early versions of four of their best songs. They toured Europe building anticipation for their debut. By the time they were ready to record Partie Traumatic the band need not cater to every label whim--they were wanted as is, so to mess with the formula would be a mistake. It's a freedom most bands never get. Another mistake would be to try to write songs that prove the worth of the band to the indie crowd.
   
   The new songs on the album are just as good as the four songs they reworked from their debut EP and blend into the album arrangement seamlessly. The same blend of influences is there, with maybe a little more emphasis on their obvious love for '80s pop from The Cure. I can easily pick out two or three new songs that could be released as singles. But nothing on the release shows they are intending to take over as indie rock gods. The band isn't seeking to play big arenas with their songs, or to bring everyone together for some collective experience. They just want to have fun, so they do.
   
   So to have the opportunity to do what they want, then follow through with an honest release that contains seriously fun and well executed material is much, much more refreshing than reading some jerk go on and on about how the album didn't "wow" him so it must not be any good. I can dance alone if I have to and still have a good time. I guess that's the point.



4. Its amazing and fresh! My favorite tracks are 1-7. If you're a fan of Cobra Starship I'm sure you'll love them. Check it out!



5. As mentioned by another reviewer, US quintet The Black Kids (much like Brit duo The Ting Tings) are suffering from some backlash; it's okay to love and laud them while they're unknowns, then put them down when they hit the big time.
   
   Ignore the snooty critics, this album is one of the best I acquired during my recent visit to the UK, even my cousin who isn't really into Rock music found it catchy.
   
   Agreed, they do not reinvent the musical wheel (they largely toe the same line as "Hot fuss"-era Killers, especially opening cut "Hit the heartbreaks", complete with pseudo Brit accents) but still, their brand of dance/rock is incredibly catchy, from single "I'm not going to teach your boyfriend how to dance", the groovy pair of "Listen to your body tonight" and "Love me already", the buzzing Chic inspired "I wanna be your limousine", the slightly more downbeat but still brilliant "Hurricane Jane", to the Duran Duran channelling closing cut "Look at me (When I rock wichoo)", every song is upbeat and incredibly catchy.
   
   The CD comprises just 10 songs, and there's really no need to go into each track as each is outstanding. Partie Traumatic? More like Partie Fantastic!!!

5 comments about The Cure - Greatest Hits.

1. An unimpressive album, used only a couple great tracks, otherwise n good. And the worst part is it can not be ripped by a computer! ...what gives!?



2. The Cure are a unique band with some very memorable songs. This is interesting because Robert Smith chose the tracks himself, and artists are often the biggest critics of their own work. He has chosen well and if you're a Cure fan, it's a very nostalgic listen. It just goes to show what great songwriters they are.



3. Unlike some greatest hits album, this is a certifiable jewel. The classics keep coming at the listener from #1 until the end of the record. I'd rate this a 9/10 and have since purchased a second copy for my girl friend's car as well. I enjoyed this music the greatest when sipping on wine with the lights low and candles lit. A must buy for any Cure fan!



4. I only bought this Cd because I wanted Boys Don't Cry, Friday I'm in LoveMint Car, Lovesong, and The Lovecats, I never really listened to the other songs before, expect for some that are on the Boys Don't Cry album and their Disintegration album. But I started listening to the entire CD, and now I love it! All the songs are amazing!



5. ...the fact all of the songs on this particular greatest hits album are remastered. Yes there have been several greatest hits albums before, but none sound like this. I have compared the CDs I have back to back with this one and as good as the originals (and other hit compilations) sound there is night and day difference. Even the album Galore is not as clean and crisp as this one, albeit just a small difference between the two. I know it sucks for those of you who already have the songs, but then again if you want the best of the best mastering you have to buy this CD.
   
   For those of you who do not have a lot of Cure music this is the CD to get. You get (of course) all of the hits in what's currently the best reproduction possible. If you're a diehard fan and want some of those classics to stand out on your stereo you might want to go ahead and swallow that pride and get the CD. It's worth checking out.

5 comments about Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection.

1. if you don't want to buy several of their CD's, this is a great choice. I would have perferred more songs from High N Dry.



2. If you grew up in the 80's you had albums or tapes by these guys...you know you did. The band's music has aged great and this collection sounds incredible and spans all the great song choices. Finally a REAL greatest hits CD that got it right!
   
   Also check out Fozzy All That Remains Reloaded, brilliant CD.All That Remains Reloaded (W/Dvd)



3. If you like Def Leppard or any of their songs and only want their greatest hits, then this is the (double) CD for you. It is definitely one of the most comprehensive compilations for any artist that I have found. Included are 6 of 10 tracks from High N Dry, 7 of 10 tracks from Pyromania, 7 of 12 tracks from Hysteria, 4 of 10 tracks from Adrenalize and 1 or 2 tracks from all their other albums including their excellent remake of the Badfinger classic "No Matter What". More tracks from Adrenalize could have been included but I guess there's only so much room on these CD's. Highly recommended.



4. I absolutely love Def Leppard and have for a long....long time!! This collection is superb! The only song that I really miss on it is Gods of War from Hysteria, other that that it is wonderful!! A must-have for any Def Leppard fan!!!!



5. This album has most the hits from most of their albums.
   There is quit a bit they left out, they should've made
   this a box set with about 4 CD's & like 1 DVD.
   It's would've covered more of the other hits that are't
   on this album.
   Outside of that I would have to say it's a good album.
   I rate this album a 8 from 1to10!!

5 comments about Achtung Baby.

1. Out of my whole U2 collection, I'd have to say this is my favorite one. U2 is a band that comes out with albums that never sound the same, but you know it's them. I love this album because it was an area U2 never explored as far as modern rock. Just like Bono said on the "Achtung Baby" Video, it's the most serious album with the least sounding title.
   I love the whole allum, but "One", "The Fly", and "Ultra Violet" are my favorite tracks. Just like any other album they came out with, all 4 band members shine through with they're playing skills. I'm so glad the always do "One" when in concert. This is A MUST album to get for any U2 fan. I love this album so much, I can never get sick of it!



2. This is my favorite U2 album. I saw them on their legendary, amazing Zoo TV tour (at the World Music Theater in Tinley Park, Illinois, more on the show later). This is a wildly creative, ambitious album. It's not the work of idle artists, but vibrant ones. U2 has managed that rare feat in rock and roll to keep exploring and pushing themselves without sounding self indulgent (except for Zooropa).
   
   The opening track, Zoo Station, is a favorite, and the song they kicked the concert off with. One is one of their best ballads, and I absolutely love Until the End of the World. It was written for the Wim Wenders film, and it's one of the best things about Wenders's film (which, honestly, is a bit of a mess). The single Mysterious Ways (replete with a belly dancer during the show) is one of their best singles ever. I love the CD booklet as well, which has some amazing photographs and is one of the best examples of making a great CD jacket. It's like a great album cover, which is quickly becoming a lost art.
   
   When I saw this concert, one of the best things was when Bono called the local police (honestly). The sound system that U2 was using was for huge arenas, and the World Music Theater, while a large outdoor arena, wasn't a huge one, but the sound system didn't know that. The Tinley Park police department received many complaints about the noise, so Bono called them on the third show they did in that venue to complain about the noise. Us in the crowd cooperated with Bono to let the police know that there was too much noise, if you know what I mean. It was a sensory overload type concert, with many monitors, lights, and even a car hanging above the stage (or a fake car). It was a very memorable concert, one of the best I ever saw. And this is my favorite U2 album....



3. the time is the early 90's, gone are the excesses of the 80's, technology is trickling down to the hands of the masses. the world is in transition as the cold war has thawed. europe is changing, as mindsets, politics and geographic borders are different.
   
   music is changing as it is going away from slick production to a more grimier, less polished finish.
   
   U2 is aware of the world changing and are influenced by it.
   
   rumors circulate about how U2 are changing their sound. a sample of it is released on "red, hot and blue", the song, "night and day" and it just made my jaw hit the ground.
   
   then in the fall of 1991 "the fly". i heard it at 6AM, waking up to the dj talking about the new U2 song and how it was being played for the second time that day. when i heard that opening guitar lick, U2 had put rattle and hum and the joshua tree into a wood chipper (mind you there is nothing wrong with both albums).
   
   when i finally purchased the album, it was just incredible.
   
   from the opening "zoo station" all the way through "love is blindness", i was plugged in and could not put down my headphones.
   
   every song stands out for me, with no favorites as i love them all.
   
   this is U2's best album, hands down, no other album even comes close.
   
   the tour was way ahead of its time, a mobile television studio, a true multimedia experience before the phrase was ever used in popular vernacular.



4. U2's Achtung Baby (1991) is an album that I really like. Now, I like War and The Joshua Tree, too, and consider those two to be the band's finest work. I also consider Achtung Baby to be on the same level as both of those albums. The best songs on War and The Joshua Tree are political in nature, but there are no overt politics on Achtung Baby. If there is a theme here at all, it's the fascinating nature of women and a cynical view of relationships with them. I like the modern sound of Achtung Baby. It's full of sound effects, feedback, and recording studio pyrotechnics. There's still plenty of emotional substance and melodic structure, it's just that the sound is more daring and stylish.
   
   Zoo Station and Even Better Than The Real Thing both feature the new sound along with the classic U2 melodic rock formula. The Edge's guitar work here is some of his very best. It's bold and dramatic, and it's experimental sound gives the album it's character. One is a great song, one of the band's best. The purity of love gets lost in the haze sometimes.
   
   Have you come here for forgiveness?
   Have you come to raise the dead?
   Have you come here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head?
   
   Ultraviolet (Light My Way) and Mysterious Ways are highlights, too, and both are great songs. I also like The Fly, and Love is Blindness.
   
   Achtung Baby is rocking, interesting, and inventive, and it's one of U2's best albums. This is one that you don't want to miss.



5. On Achtung Baby U2 decided to completely change and renovate their sound and it has turned out to be quite effective, not only has this turned out to be one of their best albums ever but its also one of the best albums of the 90's this album has also managed to sustain their level of success.
   Just from the opening riffs and electronic sounds of Zoo station you could tell that they were experimenting with song structures and some dance beats this however really does work and doesn't sound cheesy.
   
   The album also has some swirling guitar riffs from The Edge as well as layers of effects and Bono seemed to have more personal lyrics this time instead of the usual political stuff, I always thought he was a brilliant lyricist and songwriter as proven in songs like One, Until the end of the world and Mysterious ways which has some brilliant drumming and a nice rhythm those songs were the highlight.
   The album also was a huge hit and from start to finish there is not a single bad song, U2 have definitely delivered on this album especially after the huge success that was The Joshua Tree and in my opinion Achtung Baby was a hell of alot better than that album not that theres anything wrong with Joshua its just that this album rocks alot harder and I tend to listen to this album more often.
   Achtung Baby is a great epic album which has some great acoustic numbers with some great rock songs like Even better than the real thing, The fly, Mysterious ways these songs are very energetic and almost have a tribal or world beat to them.
   
   I consider this to be my favorite album of all time and despite it being 17 years old it still sounds as cutting edge and fresh as the day it was released, the general concept or theme of the album is about love and betrayal with some more emotional and inspired lyrics and Bono does a great job with these songs just check out the excellent So cruel it has a simple piano sound and some great and honest lyrics "You say in love there are no rules/sweatheart your so cruel" and the song Tryin' to throw your arms around the world where Bono sings I'm gonna run to you.
   The rhythm and solid guitar work was great although the drumming at times could have been better like in the song Who's gonna drive your wild horse but thats just a minor complaint, this album is definitely a work of genius the type of album you would listen to over and over again, I cannot recommend this album highly enough.