5 comments about Songs of Faith and Devotion.

1. this album was released in 1993, the height of grunge, where the styles of the 80's and all the wonders of synth pop were finally drowned out. Depeche Mode release "Songs of Faith and Devotion", a highly anticipated follow-up to their most commercially successful album "Violator".
   
   as a commercial success it did not do as well as the previous album. the contents of the album are a different story. Here is where the band has finally incorporated a more organic sound to their music and guess what, IT WORKS!. the first release "I Feel You" was a change of pace as a loud distorted guitaer kicks things off and many were surprised.
   
   in my own humble opinion Martin Gore probably has written some his strongest material.
   
   Many were expecting "Violator pt. 2" or something like that. had depeche mode done that, it would have been a let down and a major disrespect to their fans, as depeche mode have always progressed their sound on each album.
   
   stand out tracks are "I Feel you", "In Your Room" "Condemnation" "Get Right With Me", "Rush" and "One Caress"
   
   sadly the devotional tour would test the limits of the band as alan wilder left after the tour and dave gahan's struggles with heroin were in full swing.
   
   all in all this is a strong album and a must own for depeche mode fans.



2. It is amazing to listen to this album from 1993 and see how truly current it still is....this album features every dimension of the Depeche Mode sound, from haunting orchestrations to soul-searching lyrics and vocals to straight forward modern music with catchy beats & melodies....
   
   In a time where every so-called artist sounds the same and is manufactured for quick release at your local Wal-Mart or other big box, bands like Depeche Mode stand as a lone voice in the wilderness of so much crap. People think they know "modern/alternative music"? HA! Depeche Mode invented it and they continue to re-invent....Songs of Faith and Devotion is a classic....best tracks include "Walking in My Shoes", "In Your Room", "Get Right With Me", "One Caress", etc....



3. A bold - and to many listeners, shocking - venture into the transition of musical frontiers, from a band already renowned for a seemingly very different genre, Depeche Mode's Songs of Faith and Devotion hit the music world like a proverbial earthquake upon its initial release in 1993.
   
   Some fans rejoiced, others fulminated, and many more were for the most part just plain confused, as the line between the band's former (and considered to be, signature) style of music and that of more traditional rock seemed to blur for a moment.
   
   To say, however, that Songs of Faith and Devotion is simply Depeche Mode's experimental crossover into a more rock-oriented genre would be both an injustice and an understatement. At closer listening, one begins to realize that this album is not about Depeche Mode becoming a rock group; rather, it is about the band's artistic journey into new lands of spirituality and darkness, touching upon subjects of a more noetic nature than those in previous albums, and with a greater depth and emotion than is found on the songs of most other albums.
   
   Amongst the very best of SOFAD:
   
   In Your Room (one of the greatest songs ever recorded)
   Walking in My Shoes
   Higher Love
   Mercy in You
   One Caress
   Judas
   
   This album is, in my opinion, one of the 3 greatest ever done by Depeche Mode - along with Violator and Black Celebration.
   
   SOFAD is an audio journey most definitely worth taking - and returning to time and again, no doubt.



4. I tend to find that the people who don't like "Songs of Faith and Devotion" are in two categories: Electronic purists who are so set in their ways that DM doing a guitar based album is a travesty (although hints started with "Black Celebration"), people wrongfully accusing it as an attempt to stay relevant (followed "Violator" and most of these are songs that Pearl Jam and the likes never have & never will make). But beyond that, there isn't one single bad song on "SoFaD." It may take awhile to digest it though, I'll admit. It took awhile for me to get used to the "noir-gospel" of "Condemnation," but I now really love that song. The lyrics are not really embarassing, and "I Feel You" is one of Depeche Mode's greatest songs ever (that says a lot!). Another classic is the six-and-a-half minute "In Your Room." Martin Gore sings on a couple of slower-toned, orchestral tracks like the dark yet beautiful "Judas" and string-heavy "One Caress." Sure, the single version of "Walking in My Shoes" is better than the one on here, but that doesn't make this "not worth owning." Not only this, every song still sounds like Depeche Mode. The songs I didn't mention are still wonderful too, and I particularly like the punch of "Get Right with Me" and the pseudo-industrial "Rush." Gore is usually great when he writes the type of dark lyrics on this album, part of its greatness.
   
   In short: It's worth owning because it's a wonderful band at a creative peak, it's cheap, and even if the cover art is lackluster the music will help you overlook that (but I think that's why some people presumptively dismiss & mock the album). Hey, the first two albums have my favorite cover art and are my least favorites that the group did.



5. This album is excellent, lots of good reviews so mine will be about one song from the album, Mercy in You. This song for me, has been what DM has meant to me over the years.
   
   I would lose my way again
   Be led hopelessly astray again
   Just so I could pray again
   For the mercy in you
   
   These words are such a strong statement to do wrong, to do bad, if only for the forgiveness that is offered, to return again. This has been for me a taunting of religion, of sin and how foolish and at the same time rewarding the whole process is. Alot of events in the lives of DM happened after this album and Ultra was released with the abscense of Wilder.

5 comments about Tom Tom Club.

1. Beginning life as an off-shoot from Talking Heads while David Byrne worked on a solo project, Tom Tom Club has endured for over twenty-five years on and off, and this debut album has remained a strong seller, though its follow-up, Close To The Bone, remains mysteriously unavailable.
   
   Thanks to the electroclash movement Tom Tom Club sounds more contemporary now than it did a decade ago, and many of its hooks and beats have been sampled over and over. The best known tracks are the singles Genius Of Love and Wordy Rappinghood, though as they were initially signed by Chris Blackwell to the British Island label, Wordy Rappinghood was not released as a single in America at the time. It was a huge hit in Europe, though, and was revived not long ago by Chicks On Speed. The album works well as a whole, full of light and bounce and rhythm.
   
   The CD of the 1981 album has been somewhat extended from the original vinyl release. The non-album 1982 single Under The Boardwalk, a funky reworking of the old Drifters tune, has been added, along with the remix of Lorelei that was on the 12" B-side. This was rather smoother and less quirky than the original. Very welcome bonuses are the excellent 12" remixes of Wordy Rappinghood and Genius Of Love.



2. Make no mistake, this Tom Tom Club Album is fantastic BUT as stated very well by MANY MANY MANY previous reviewers their 2cnd album, "CLOSE TO THE BONE" is HANDS DOWN, TOM TOM CLUB's CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT!!! (So I really don't understand why it's so hard for the record/CD company to get their sh*! together and release this already..it would OBVIOUSLY MAKE ALOT OF MONEY!!!) After recovering much of my 80's collection on CD, this is an ACHING SOAR SPOT!!! My cassette tape has worn out from over 25 years of use. Nothing will ever be better than "PLEASURE OF LOVE" and "THE MAN WITH THE 4-WAY HIPS" but the whole album FLOWS together and their is truthfully not one bad track on "CLOSE TO THE BONE"...it should REALLY be RELEASED ON CD in IT'S FULL ENTIRITY!!! I could never get sick of this album. I am thrilled to read that many people are still "discovering" them and guess what?... THEY ALL WANT THIS CD! PLEASE RELEASE TOM TOM's "CLOSE TO THE BONE" on CD NOW!!!



3. By the time Tom Tom Club released their first album, Talking Heads had already established themselves as an amazing melting pot of musical styles ranging from the electronic influences of Brian Eno to the world-beat type rhythms that made Remain in Light the classic that it is.
   
   Tom Tom Club clearly attempts to take the magic that spilled forth from Remain in Light and drive it in a similar direction while meshing it with the more current sounds of the time. Witness Genius of Love, a landmark achievement that still stands today as one of the great songs of all time. That song alone makes this album worth the price of admission. Fortunately, the rest of the album isn't far behind.
   
   I didn't care too much about Tom Tom Club in the '80s. I'd heard Genius of Love and, of course, thought it was pretty cool. I never bothered to pick up a Tom Tom Club album, though. I found a copy of Close to the Bone on vinyl for $.99 a while back and thought it was good, but not necessarily great. Nevertheless, I kept on the hunt for a nice vinyl copy of their first album. I finally found it last week, for an amazing $4. After just a couple of listens, I think I can easily say that this album is an order of magnitude better than Close to the Bone.
   
   If you're a fan of Talking Heads, world beat, or even just somebody who knows Genius of Love and appreciates it for what it is, get this album. In addition to the well known Genius of Love and Wordy Rappinghood, pay particular attention to L'Elephant, As Above So Below, and On On On On... You will not be disappointed. Join the club.



4. Like the rest I have always loved TTC. I am moving my vinyl over to CD and really wish the WB would pull the lead out and release "Close to the bone" on CD! It needs to be released, really it does!



5. I chose to put my comment here since this is their first (and arguably best) album -
   
   WHERE'S THE 'GREATEST HITS' COLLECTION??!!!!!
   
   I'd like to see "Pleasure Of Love", "Suboceana", "Call Of The Wild" and "Devil Does Your Dog Bite?" (From the "Married To The Mob" soundtrack) all on one CD! And while they're at it, they could also tack on those cool live versions of "Genius Of Love" and "Wordy Rappinghood" from the 12" of "Call Of The Wild."
   
   It's not fair that Backstreet Boys and Hillary Duff have 'greatest hits' collections, and they have fewer albums than TTC.
   
   Sire Records - Are you listening?? You put this together, and you'll get my $15!!

5 comments about Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings.

1. I love The Police and this is the definitive collection. A must-have.
   
   But there's one tragic flaw: at least in the version I have (the original boxed set release from 1993), there's a serious mastering error at the beginning of "Roxanne," arguably the most essential track in the bunch. It sounds as if the analog master tape was not up to full speed when the digital master was being recorded -- the pitch and tempo are slightly off as the track starts and then it slides up to the correct pitch. No!
   
   I haven't heard any later pressings of the boxed set so I don't know if this problem has been remedied... but if you buy this, you might still want to spend the extra 99 cents to get the Outlandos d'Amour MP3 of "Roxanne."



2. What a great idea this is! Basically this box set gathers the band's five excellent albums together which are "Outlandos d'Amour" (1978), "Reggatta de Blanc" (1979), "Zenyatta Mondatta" (1980), "Ghost In The Machine" (1981), and "Synchronicity" (1983) plus many b-sides that range from studio recordings not included in the albums or live tracks.
   
   Of course all tracks have been remastered so if you are thinking about getting the Police albums, this is the way to do it! But to complete the collection you should also get the excellent double live album that was released in 1995 too! So don't forget about that. It includes two concerts. One from 1979 and the other from 1983.
   
   For fans of the late 70's new wave movement or rock in general this group featuring Sting on vocals/bass, Andy Summers on guitar and sometimes vocals, and the awesome drumming from Stewart Copeland is essential listening as their fusion of reggae, rock, and other styles became hugely influential.
   Thanks for taking the time to read!
   Later...



3. The complete works of The Police in a four disc collection. A great classic compilation of the recordings done by The Police. If you are a fan then this collection is well worth it.



4. Message in a Box is an amazing box set, with every song The Police have ever played, and it is all neatly placed in chronological order. The Box Set also comes with a biography of the band, from their humble beginnings as a pseudo punk group, to the amazing Reggaesque group that epitamized there career. Sting and The Police were lyrical geniuses, and were candid when discussing anything from temptation(Don't Stand So), obsession(Every Breath You Take), and even the misery of war(Canary in a Coalmine, and Invisible Sun). For any classic rock listener out there, I highly recommend this band, it just kicks butt!



5. I first started listening to The Police when I was in middle high school and never got tired of them. Most of the songs on this CD set reminded me of specific times throughout my middle to high school years.They also became subjects of conversations I had with friends in college about the bands we listened to while in high school. The Police still rocks!

5 comments about The History Of Iron Maiden - Pt. 1: The Early Days (2DVD).

1. Bravo! What a well done Maiden documentary this is. There are so many great interviews. I leanred much that I did not know even after being a Maiden fans for over 20 years. Very well put together. The menus are great. It is shot very well. Editing is great. Just perfect!



2. This DVD has about 4 concerts on it, it has interviews and history. It seems like they took all of the Videos and turned them into DVD's. It lasts for about 5 hours and 15 minutes, well worth every penny of the price.



3. Too many highlights to list them all here. It's a shame that Paul Di'Anno chose partying over significance, but Bruce Dickinson is a much stronger performer and frontman, so everybody won (except, of course, Di'Anno).
   
   "Beast Over Hammersmith" is unbelievably raw and vital, and it doesn't let up. The performance of "The Prisoner" is a real jaw-dropper...the band just CRANKS.
   
   I'm glad that we have the Dickinson lineup of Maiden still rocking in 2008, but this DVD gives you a rare glimpse into the history of a band who set out to conquer the world...and DID.



4. I purchased this DVD and its totally awesome and worth it. As for Maiden fans this is a real treat! I'm looking forward to Pt.2, that is if Maiden is planning on releasing it any soon!



5. Uh... yeah.... There's not much else to say,
   everyone already said it-- just get it!!!!
   This is the definitive starter collection for Real Maiden Die Hards, and new discoverers alike---10 stars!!!!

5 comments about Night and Day.

1. After the "Beat Crazy" album in 1980 Joe broke up his original band and recorded an album of swing music called "Jumping Jive" which was completely different from anything he had done up to this time. Jackson then did another 360 with "Night And Day" in 1980 when the one time punk turned himself into a songwriter not unlike his older heroes like Cole Porter or George Gershwin. Most of the punk, new wave is gone on this one in favor of a jazzy sometimes salsa lounge act feel. The album does still rock in places, but this is a very different Joe Jackson album from anything that came before it. Ironically "Night And Day" would prove to be a huge success with the album climbing to #4 in the U.S. charts and the single "Stepping Out" becoming Joe's biggest hit. "Breaking Us In Two" and "Real Men" would also get significant airplay and all three songs continue to be staples of Joe's live shows to this day. The album is represents a portrait of life in 1980's New York City with the disc broken up into "day" and "night" making it somewhat of a concept piece. I find this album to be rather schizophrenic in nature. It has several of Joe's all time best songs on it, but the rest of the album has never done a lot for me. First the good, "Breaking Us In Two", "Real Men", and "A Slow Song" rank up with the very best material Jackson has ever written. The rest of the album is rather pedestrian by Jackson standards with songs like "Cancer", "T.V. Age", and "Target" taking on rather mundane issues of the day in a rather average manner. The rest of the songs on the disc have never done a lot for me. "Night And Day" was Joe's biggest seller and there are some very very high points on it, but overall I like some of his other discs a lot better.



2. This album was such a refreshingly beautiful when it appeared in 1982. Jazzy, Latin-y pop filled with a beautiful old sound reinvented for the era. The songs all speak for themselves - there's not a bad one in the bunch. A Slow Slong just came on my IPOD and I had to write this. One of my all time favorites.



3. Realy ahead of it's time! Latin riffs and diferent musical instruments combined. Most people didn't start doing that till the 1990's
   More like Sting mets Pete Eschvedo!
   I would reccomend it! Still very upbeat.



4. This album has some of Joe's best songs. Another World, Cancer, Breaking Us in Two and the immortal classic, Real Men. That alone would make this album a worthy buy. BUT, the over produced synthesized sound of this album is AWFUL! At least on the first opening tracks. Another World is a great song but the rendition here is terrible. Just overproduced and synth-like which makes it painful to hear.
   
   I highly recommend getting Joe's 1980-86 live album which has much better renditions of all of this albums best material and it's not over-produced and "synth-like" in production.
   
   I don't know what Joe was thinking when he produced this album but the synth-like sound has not aged well at all and it takes away from what otherwise is gorgeous song writing.
   
   I think Joe Jackson is one of the most talented pop artists of the past 25 years, without question! His output is prodigious and prolific. He's experimented with many different styles and alas, his fan base has only shrunk as crappier pop material got more airplay and Joe somehow got forgotten. His latest Rain album is a superb comeback piece but it really misses the sound of a guitar to it.
   
   But as for Night and Day, while it has many of Joe's greatest songs, it truly was an overproduced piece of work that, frankly, if Joe were to spend time reviewing, he might well have rejected if he hadn't been caught up in the craze of synth-80's like sound which dominated pop radio in the 1980s.
   
   Slow Song is a beautiful piece of music but you can find many other renditions of this done ever better than the studio version.
   
   Night and Day should have been produced without the synth sound. It would have made for an album with much longer staying power.



5. "We--
   Are young but getting old before our time
   We'll leave the T.V. and the radio behind
   Don't you wonder what we'll find
   Steppin out tonight.
   You--
   Can dress in pink and blue just like a child
   And in a yellow taxi turn to me and smile
   We'll be there in just a while
   If you follow me."
   
   This is one of my favorite Eighties albums. After releasing his 1981 album of jump jive covers, Jumpin' Jive, Joe Jackson released the 1982 album Night and Day finally bringing him the recognition he long deserved. Up until Night and Day, Jackson was mostly known for his 1979 "New Wave" single, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" (from the Look Sharp! album). The album title is taken from a Cole Porter song, and in a sense the album pays tribute to Cole Porter (and to New York City, where Jackson was lived for 20 years until smoking was banned in clubs). The album evokes a New York City-inspired urbanity, the "aural equivalent of a movie classic from half-a-century ago, filmed in shimmering black and white." The album's Latino-rhythm-driven sound was more sophisticated than Jackson's previous releases, and resulted in two hit singles: "Steppin' Out" and "Breaking Us In Two." If there was ever any doubt before, the tracks "Real Men" and "A Slow Song" confirmed Jackson's familiarity with the 1980's gay culture. ("So don't call me a faggot/Not unless you are a friend/Then if you're tall and handsome and strong/You can wear the uniform and I could play along.") The album features Jackson on organ, synthesizer, harmonica, piano, alto sax, vocals, vibraphone, and fender rhodes; Sue Hadjopoulos on flute, percussion, bongos, conga, timbales, vocals, xylophone, and bells; and longtime bandmember Graham Maby on bass, percussion and vocals. Tracks include:
   
   1. Another World (4:00)
   2. Chinatown (4:06)
   3. T.V. Age (3:42)
   4. Target (3:46)
   5. Steppin' Out (4:28)
   6. Breaking Us In Two (4:52)
   7. Cancer (6:04)
   8. Real Men (4:04)
   9. A Slow Song (7:03)
   
   G. Merritt

5 comments about Painkiller.

1. Man, the boys must of taken some viagra and chased it with a crack pipe. This is some heavy stuff. Its really good throughout... and I think its one of the best Priest out there, and I love their older stuff. I didn't think they would top SFV or SC but they have with this monster. Awesome stuff.



2. With the dawn of the '90s comes Judas Priest's "Painkiller", possibly the greatest and one of the most influential speed metal albums of all time. Between Rob's always-impressive range of vocals shattering the air, KK and Glenn's jaw-dropping guitar work and newcomer Scott Travis's complex, thundering drumming, this album is one of the absolute finest releases by the Metal Gods.
   There's no doubt when it comes to the fact that Judas Priest has experimented a bit over the years. Their earlier works were bluesier and more progressive, their '80s classics delved in New Wave of British Heavy Metal. In terms of the sound on this album, if compared to other artists, it's kind of like taking the thick, rich epic guitar-and-drum tone of Mercyful Fate, mixed with the speed and sinister riffage of Slayer and the melody and talent of Van Halen, only faster, heavier and a more epic sense of melody. However, that's only comparing them to other artists, I feel that "Painkiller" has a sound that totally original Judas Priest. And "Painkiller" is the Holy Grail of adrenaline-driven metal of the past 20 years. It's the high-water mark probably most metal bands today aim at. And you've got to be honest and say that all these songs, as fast and wild as they are, still are very well written.
   One great thing about the album is that it's a concept album. The Painkiller is the hero, and the Nightcrawler is the villain, and most of the album between those two songs is about triumph in battle, and the evils that lurk in the night. Yes, this is indeed Priest at their finest.
   Another thing that makes this album more interesting is the order of the songs. I mean, sure, they've gotta be in a certain order to make a sensible concept, but I love how the songs go from tense to comfort, and back and forth. The dynamics of the album are just as impressive as the musicianship, songwriting and singing.
   Some of my favorite songs on this metal classic are:
   "Painkiller": The six-minute epic that opens the album, kicking the song off with some blast beat drumming and a heavy, sinister guitar riff. Lots of blazing, power-packed guitar soloing fill out this album, with Rob screeching all the way through with his signature power.
   "Hell Patrol": A nice contrast of "Painkiller", like I was talking about. It rocks just as hard but it's got more of a comfort level than a tension like "Painkiller". More great riffs, and Rob uses his cool mid-range voice for this song.
   "Metal Meltdown" opens with 30 seconds of pure guitar shredding, a great way to open the album. In comes a fast, melodic but sinister riff and lightning drums, and Rob using his powerful voice as always.
   "Nightcrawler": The headbanger of a song that's about the villain in the concept album. Features a creepy and tense, quiet section where Rob sings about the Nightcrawler being like a villain in a slasher film. Very interesting song.
   "A Touch of Evil": An epic song at over five and a half minutes, combining awesome keyboards, guitar work and lyrics. One of the best metal songs ever, indeed.
   "One Shot At Glory": Is the lengthy, epic anthem that closes out the original album with a bang!
   In addition, the album comes with the moody "Living Bad Dreams" and a live version of "Leather Rebel". So to sum myself up, "Painkiller" is one of the best speed metal/ power metal albums ever to be released. I strongly recommend this to all Judas Priest fans, and all metal and rock fans, because it's an amazing, well-written classic. Thanks for the time, and peace.



3. English metal gods Judas Priest released their 12th studio album entitled Painkiller in September of 1990.
   After the disappointment with 1988's Ram it Down, Judas Priest reached their mid-career crisis. First, bands like Metallica and Megadeth were fighting hair bands like Bon Jovi and Poison for metal supremacy. Second, longtime drummer Dave Holland quit Judsa Priest leaving lead singer Rob Halford plus guitarists Glenn Tipton and KK Downing and bass player Ian Hill without a drummer. That all changed when they replaced the somewhat Phil Rudd-ish playing Holland with a fast footed and armed American named Scott Travis from Racer X (Scott's influences were John Bonham, Neil Peart and Alex Van Halen all rock drumming legends). Also, the band were embroiled in a lawsuit after two families sued the band for claiming their kids killed themselves after hearing backwards masking on the 1978 album Stained Class.
   With the problems facing Priest, the band went in the studio with producer Chris Tsandgeries to record what is possibly one of the greatest metal albums EVER RECORDED!
   The album's opening title cut is one of the best tracks the band ever recorded though I must admit when I first heard this on the radio and MTV in late 1990, I thought I was listening to an album by Slayer but it was Priest with Rob Halford's shrieks and KK Downing and Glenn Tipton's fiery riffs. Travis' drumming breathed new life into a band that were arguably heading for mediocrity, Priest were never known for lightning double-bass drumming prior to that. Next is another great classic "Hell Patrol" which is another great song. We follow with the heavy "All Guns Blazing" which just kicks serious arse. Next is another great piece "Leather Rebel" which is a great but underappreciated gem in the Priest canon. The first half ends with "Metal Meltdown" which sees Halford shrieking like he had some Devil trapped in his body and the dual leads of Tipton and Downing just rocking out in a serious way.
   The album's second half picks up where it left off with the heavy "Night Crawler" which rocks. Next is the classic "Between the Hammer and the Anvil" which was another great Priest rocker. Next was the album's second single "A Touch of Evil" which features keyboard work from Don Airey (famed for work with Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow, Deep Purple, Brian May) and speaks of demonic possession and metaphorically speaks of love and features one of Halford's best vocals, especially his scream at the end of the bridge and the three Halford singing/screaming the last chorusand one of Tipton's best solos. "Battle Hymn" is a great instrumental which serves as an overture to the classic speed metal closer "One Shot at Glory" which sees Halford joust between singing and screaming. He ends the track with a high scream and would end his tenure with the band for 14 years after this.
   While many hold Painkiller in high regard (like myself), unfortunately the record buying public disagreed and this album flopped when first released due to stuff like Poison and Vanilla Ice. Painkiller barely hit the Top 30 and scraping Gold.
   In 2002, the album was re-issued with two bonus tracks. One of which called "Living Bad Dreams" was kept off the album due to time constraints whilst the live "Leather Rebel" rocks as hard as studio version.
   Highly recommended!



4. Put quite simply, a masterpiece of aggression from one of the creators of modern heavy metal. Sounds as good now as it did then...A must have for any metalhead.



5. This album is amazing. Classic metal, and Classic Priest. Rob sounds amazing. Guitars are flawless, as are drums. Just amazing. "Night Crawler", "Leather Rebel" "Between the Hammer and the Anvil", and "All Guns Blazing" are probably the best tracks. Buy it. Hell, buy two copies. LONG LIVE THE PRIEST!

3 comments about A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation.

1. I was fortunate enough to have received (and reviewed) a copy of The Wombats' debut EP here in the states back in February. It didn't take me a long time to fall in love with the band. I found their witty tales of boy/girl woe to be irresistible, and the short, 5-song album really got me excited for their full length debut. After only a few months of anxious waiting, it has finally arrived. Does it live up to my expectations?
   
   Totally. All of the wit and charm that The Wombats displayed on that EP (not to mention, all of the songs) are still in full force here. The intro-track "Tales of Girls, Boys & Marsupials" is a playful, acapella song that simply repeats its title for a minute or so. As a "real" song, it doesn't do much. But as the first song on the album, it does a brilliant job of letting listeners know exactly what they're in for. It runs head on into what was the EP's strongest track (and it accomplishes the same feat here), "Kill the Director," in which singer Matthew Murphy compares his strange love life with a romantic comedy. He memorably shouts in the song's bridge, "This is no Bridget Jones!," and I still can't help but shout right along with him. It's such an awesome song!
   
   That song is followed by two other "old" tracks: "Moving to New York" and "Lost in the Post." Both songs are well-written, highly energetic, and incredibly infectious tunes, and it's good to be able to hear them in the context of a full album. It's not until track 5 that I actually get to listen to some new material, and "Party in the Forest (Where's Laura?)" is just as good as anything I've heard from the band up to this point. Matthew's vocal melody in the verse drags a little at points (as it does on "Lost in the Post"), but he more than makes up for it in the chorus. "School Uniforms" is a decent song, but it can be a bit overwhelming on the first listen. In this frantic, chaotic track, Matthew does make a few witty observations about childhood inadequacies. My favorite is when he sings, "It all went downhill/ you grew tall/ I stayed the same/ I guess that's just puberty/ making us boys always play a losing game."
   
   "Here Comes the Anxiety" is the obligatory downer track. After all, not everyone can be happy all the time, though you think with a song like "Let's Dance to Joy Division" that the opposite would be true. This song, the one they advertise with a little sticker on the front of the CD packaging, is one of the best "new" tracks on the album. Matt sings, "Let's dance to Joy Division and celebrate the irony," though I doubt that many people in The Wombats' target audience would understand why that would be ironic, or that they could even name a Joy Division song (even though he alludes to one in the bridge). Personally, I find "Backfire at the Disco" to be a better dancing song all around, and as the lead-0ff track to their EP, it brings back memories of the first time I heard the band.
   
   "Little Miss Pipedream" is just as amazing as it was the first time I heard it, though the band has added a lot of electronic flutters and effects to change the sound of the song slightly. Still, it maintains its self-depreciating charm just fine. The next two songs, "Dr. Suzanne Mattox PhD" and "Patricia the Stripper" are both pretty forgettable tracks, though one can hardly blame someone for dismissing them when they're sandwiched between "Pipedream" and the album-closer, "My First Wedding." The latter track is one of The Wombats' best songs, and features everything from loud group vocals to thick, wet synths. Matthew describes his experience in going to the wedding of a girl with whom he has a past. He acknowledges that she wasn't right for him, but notes that "She's my heartless bitch that I just can't seem to get enough of!" Needless to say, a lot of drinking and hijinks ensue.
   
   So once again, I'm blessed with the pleasure of being able to listen to The Wombats, and I have to say that I am once again very pleased with the experience. To be honest, I was a bit afraid that the band's attitude and style would wear thin on me in large, full-length LP doses. To my surprise, A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation has only left me wanting more. Though I've only had the album in my possession for a few days, it has already gotten more plays than I care to note. For the most part, the highlights of this album are the songs that were featured on that EP that I keep bringing up over and over again (sorry 'bout that). So if you're just looking for a small fix, I totally recommend that you pick that one up. But if you're a normal person and you're into bands like The Killers or Art Brut, you'd be dumb not to give this one a chance. The Wombats may not be the most original bands in the world, but they sure are one of the most entertaining!
   
   Key Tracks:
   1. "Kill the Director"
   2. "Moving to New York"
   3. "Party in a Forest (Where's Laura)"
   4. "Backfire at the Disco"
   5. "My First Wedding"
   
   7 out of 10 Stars



2. I love these guys! This is the best new music in a really long time. It's great, I love the Indie, dance, pop-rock tunes. These guys are spot on, and it is joy from start to finish.
   
   I give them 5 starts



3. A powerful, energy-filled rocker of a band, funny lyrics through infectious riffs and efervescent production, which grant the album a funky and trashy but at the same time polished texture , make this wonderful newcomers from Liverpool a breath of fresh air. I have only listened to it once but first off Im sure it will be a grower. Imagine Killers meet Libertines meet Franz Ferdinand sort of coctail...Im buzzed already!

5 comments about The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

1. Concerning the missing/edited tracks:
   
   As some have noticed, the two included Sven Libaek songs have not only been re-titled for the soundtrack, but they've been shortened. "Shark Attack Theme" is actually a 3:53 song called "Inner Space" from the album of the same name. "Open Sea Theme" is actually a 3:01 song called "Thatcherie," also originally found on the Inner Space album. Furthermore, a song from that same album called "Island of Birds" is also used very early in the film but has been left off the soundtrack.
   
   If you're like me, you want your soundtrack to include these songs in their complete forms, with their correct titles. Determined use of Google will reward you, especially if you head in the direction of two specific domains ([...]).
   
   And, as some have also noticed, the beautiful song that plays during the Jaguar Shark scene near the end of the movie has been left off the soundtrack. This is completely unacceptable, of course. The track is by Sigor Ros, and it is called "Staralfur." It is quite legally available for free on the internet, the best copy of which I was able to find at ([...]).
   
   If you go to the trouble to add these tracks to the soundtrack, you'll have a 5-star album on your hands. You shouldn't have to do this of course, and the people responsible for this soundtrack (Anderson, Poster, Leib) have been rightly criticized because of it.



2. Bought this CD because I liked the movie, wish there were more songs from the movie but not bad overall.



3. I got this as a christmas present from a friend. I like most of the music on this album. My problem with this album is the 2 Sven Libeak pieces. They are both shortened, and wow are they shortened. The 1st song on the album " Shark Attack theme " ( Which is actually called Inner Space ) is shortened by over 4 minutes. It's originally over 5 minutes long, and on this album it is 0:57, WOW . The other Sven Libaek track is also grossly shortened to just over 2 minutes. And Wes Anderson even writes a little memo inside the album about Libeak and how he's happy to include his music on the album. Jeez, it seems like they'd have had enough space on the cd to include 7 more minutes of music. Specially from someone as amazing as Sven Libaek. Shame on you Wes Anderson
   
   Anyway, aside from those, it's a pretty good soundtrack. The Mark Mothersbaugh instrumentals are my fave aside from Libaek. " Gut feeling " by Devo is one of their best songs. The Seu Jorge Bowie covers are great and relaxing, and 30th century man by Scott Walker is pure excellence.



4. Though filled to the brim with well known actors, "The Life Aquatic" is truly a Bill Murray film. As an actor he is so underrated. This film while receiving some bad reviews is a completely wonderful jaunt exploring the world of documentary film makers. It might poke a little fun at the likes of Jacques Cousteau but it is all in good fun. The score is absolutely wonderful with pieces from David Bowie and original score from Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo)as well as the soulful Seu Jorge. Look for great performances from Jeff Goldblum and Willem Dafoe....This film is just a lot of fun.



5. I've always been a fan of Wes Anderson movies, and this was another brilliant one. The soundtrack is great, and every song fit each scene perfectly. Especially the Jorge tracks. I was definitely disappointed that the Sigur Ros track that plays when they finally find the shark, and Zissou starts to cry, wasn't included. It was the most moving song and from the most poignant scene in the movie, so it seemed strange not to put it on the soundtrack CD.

No comments about Movement (2 CD Collector's Edition).

5 comments about Parallel Lines.

1. The greatest new wave album not by the talking heads, surely one of the greatest albums of all time. The band never was this strong or consistent again.



2. ..after seeing those lines and hearing that music.
   
   Anyone who has ever heard Parallel Lines from start to finish should be affected by it as well. Opening with telephone buzz and breaking into the punky new wave "Hanging On The Telephone" through 12 songs of neon nuances, organ bounces, sultry cooing and downright new wave genius this is arguably one of the best albums released ever, and that comes from other real critics and not just my blonde head.
   
   When I first saw Debbie Harry on TV singing; I was transfixed. I had to know who she was, what she was, where she was. Once again my Aunt Sarah stepped in by having the Parallel Lines album since they had done a cheerleading routine to "Heart Of Glass", I stole that record from her and I've never looked back.
   
   The rocking jaunt of "One Way Or Another", the 60's popness in "Sunday Girl", the gloomy "Fade Away And Radiate", "11:59", "Will Anything Happen?", "I'm Gonna Love You Too" - there isn't a bad song on this bunch.
   
   In fact, I used to act out the entire album from beginning to end in my room. There was also one of my neighbor's neices who bought the album and brought it to the the house where I insisted I knew all the words - they laughed at me until they started following along on the lyric sheet while I sang. That's how cool of a kid I was!
   
   Just listen to some of the amazing lyrics and the incredible music and you'll be hooked too - "Your mouth is permanently entrenched where a molar should be" - how frickin' cool! Parallel Lines made me want to be a singer, it made me want to write songs, it made me proud to be blonde, and it made such an effect on me I can't go without it for more than a few months without pulling it out and playing it from start to finish all over again. And now there's a brand new 30th anniversary addition out and Deb & The Boys are doing the album live on tour! It doesn't get better than that.



3. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/REGH8YU0Z2R31 My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!! Blondie rules.



4. If you follow my reviews, you know that King Diamond is one of my all time favorites. I also really like EXODUS and Bon Jovi. I have respect for Britney Spears. I am not the biggest Blondie fan, but I don't deny that her "Parallel Lines" record is a real masterpiece. (A fine piece of 70s history!) 'Hanging On the Telephone' is a great intro to her record. 'One Way Or Another' is a powerful song with a rocky edge. (For the record, she sang this song when she was the guest star on the "Muppet Show.") 'Picture This' and 'Fade Away' are nice. 'Pretty Baby' is alright. 'I Don't Know' is alright. '11:59' keeps the good tone of the record and maintains its edge. 'Will Anything Happen?' also keeps the energy levels of the record up. 'Sunday Girl' has a nice pleasant sound to it. 'Heart of Glass' is not my favorite, but I understand it was a major hit. 'I'm Gonna Love You Too' has a nice energy as well as a rocky edge. 'Just Go Away' is a powerful song that ends the record on a high note. While I will probably always lean towards heavy metal records like Bon Jovi's "7800," King Diamond's "Conspiracy," or Exodus's "Temp of the Damned," the reality is that other things are nice too. And Blondie's "Parallel Lines" is a GREAT record that is pleasant with just the right amount of a rocky edge. It is a real masterpiece and a fine piece of the 70s.



5. Sure there are a few legitimate crits one can lay against Blondie. The band members werent the greatest musicians except for the drummer and Ms Harry's voice is fine but limited. But the band 100% shines here. Every track is a (slightly twisted) pop gem. The lyrics are often wry and funny or other times campy and weird. Decades have gone by and this CD still sells exceedingly well in the UK. The USA never quite seemed to "get" Blondie I think in part because we in the US didnt understand that the lyrics were ironic and tongue-in-cheek. Other Blondie CD's are good too, expecially their first self-titled album and Eat to the Beat, but this is the album that memorably defined their style.