5 comments about B Sides and C Sides.

1. Lots of great tracks - many of which I hadn't heard before. Any Rancid fan will love it!



2. Great album. If you loved "...and out come the wolves" buy this CD, very similar sound. 'The Brothels' and 'Things to Come' make this worth buying alone.



3. It's all there and it ain't light.
   As someone else already noted... it does span the band's career which gives it a pretty rounded play. I too want a new album but this f***** WILL hold you over until that s*** happens!!!
   The album also has 5 bonus tracks that add a nice right cross to finish it off.
   
   This album DOES put out. It won't disappoint.



4. My honest opinion: after promising the Rancid fans a new record like... two years ago when they started touring again with the Explosion and we all realized that no, Matt Freeman is not going to die of lung cancer just yet, they needed to give something, SOMETHING, to the fans while they keep pushing back the release date of the still mysteriously unknown seventh studio album. So I guess the plan of action was this; compile all the songs that weren't on the first six CDs and put them on one CD that would stall for time a little for the fans that haven't picked up any of the compilations that these songs were featured on.
   
   Well played, Rancid, well played. What's cool about this CD is that the songs come from different periods in time and Rancid's career. Since their sound has changed over the years so much, it's cool to be listening to one song and thinking, "Oh, it sounds like they wrote this some time around the 'Life Won't Wait' time period, and then the next song might me more hard hitting and take you back to their 2000 self titled. Ultimately the music can be traced back as far as 1994's 'Let's Go' and that's not a bad thing at all.
   
   So basically, since this is a record of b-sides and there's nothing new, nothing about the sound has really changed. Matt Freeman is still the star of a lot of the tracks, moreso than he was on "Indestructable" which is kind of nice, he was definitely underutilized there. The guitars are nothing special but they never really are, and I continue my stance on their vocals; Tim's voice is amazing, Lars's is okay, and Matt actually sings on this CD too. I love when he gets to since because his voice is just so awesome and different, it's what made Rancid's debut CD so good. The standout tracks are "Dead and Gone" "Killing Zone" "Blast 'Em" and "White Knuckle Ride" which features bass to rival "Maxwell Murder" and "Axiom" and probably surpasses both. For any fan of Rancid this is a must have CD, even if Devil Dancing is really annoying and goes on forever.
   
   But seriously Rancid, no more stalling. We want the seventh album and we don't want to wait another two flippin' years.



5. Hmmmm, could this be - a scrape the barrel of the archives cash-in album from the very band that brought punk rock back from the dead and championed integrity in the music industry? Yes. But, it is also nothing short of spectacular - and I'm happy to have my favorite, dust-crusted vinyl singles on CD at last. It ranks right up there with ...Wolves and Life Wont Wait and is a hair ahead of Indestructible among the best Rancid albums and side projects. Sure the rabid fan base can't wait for the next proper album, but this collection is more than enough to keep the pit jumping until then.

5 comments about All the Rage.

1. I love this CD. It takes me back to the 80's with lots of cool music.



2. This is just a really awesome CD and I'm suprised it hasn't been given the re-issue treatment as of yet. All The Rage was released in late 1984 or early 1985. The US singles were "Tenderness" and "Never You Done That." The album itself contained a lot of different sounding songs. General Public toyed with reggae ala UB40 style on the song "General Public." I enjoy the whole album but really like songs like "Anxious," "Where's The Line," and "Are You Leading Me On?" There are some really great remixes to some of the songs on this album, I hope that it is given the reissue treatment soon.



3. 1984 Brit pop group dabbling in funk and ska yielded one great song; "Tenderness", a jingly piano-driven, bassoon enhanced, unabashedly sweet, catchy song that contains maybe the most representative line of '80s suppressed left wing agenda, - "I open my mouth and out pops something spiteful.", it rises above the hyperactive vocals and dull routine funk of the other songs, although the song, "General Public", adds Middle Eastern and progressive elements in a grandiose album closing. Band member, Ranking Roger (vocals, keyboards), has put out at least one fine Motown influenced solo album, and Clash guitarist Mick Jones, plays some rough guitar on some of the tracks. The band needs to lean more towards it's tender side than it's frantic funk.



4. Nothing spectacular here, just a thoroughly enjoyable pop/new wave/synth/whatever offering from an outfit that probably deserved more attention. Definitely worth getting.



5. My first exposure to General Public came in 1984. I was listening to the original WKTU radio in New York City and this song called "Tenderness" came on then. At the time, this radio station was the "Disco/Dance" radio station in New York. What I distinctly remember about this station was that it was a very different song than the dance numbers that were typically played on this station. Nonetheless, this song caught my attention as well as the attention of many other fans. It turns out that this was a true "crossover" song done by the group General Public. It was part of a collection of ten songs that could easily fall into the "crossover" 80s/Techno-Pop category from General Public's debut album "All The Rage".
   
   In the mid 1980s, the term "Supergroup" became very popular. A Supergroup is basically a group or project whose primary members were in other successful bands. The two most common Supergroups were the Power Station and Mike + The Mechanics. Before either or these Supergroups, there was a Supergroup called General Public. When the English Beat disbanded, vocalists Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger decided to form a new band. They recruited keyboardist Micky Billingham and drummer Andy "Stoker" Growcott from Dexy's Midnight Runners. Also recruited was bassist Horace Painter ("The Specials") and guitarist Kevin White. Both The English Beat and Dexy's Midnight Runners produced a most unique 80s pop sound that has almost become synonymous with the decade itself. Make no mistake about this, the sounds of both of these groups are alive and well with this "alliance". In a lot of ways the formation of this alliance results in so much more than "80s music".
   
   Here is a quick synopsis of the album song by song:
   "Hot You're Cool": This might not be the deepest song in terms of lyrics, but there is a lot more than just an 80s sound on this particular track. There is some terrific saxophone work that makes the melody so terrific.
   
   "Tenderness": This is the signature song of the group. There are a lot of reasons this became the signature song. You will hear Wakeling and Roger's trademark vocals, - but you will hear contributions from just about everyone in the band. I think Billingham's keyboards, Painter's bass, and White's guitar deserve a lot of credit. Justine Carpenter does the background vocals (i.e. "Where is the...") that make this song so special. As mentioned above, this is a crossover song - although I see it more as a Dance song.
   
   "Anxious": Although not the strongest track, here is another track that breaks the 80s mold. This song features a brass section of some trumpet and trombone that helps distinguish it from many other 80s tracks.
   
   "Never You Done That": This was the second single released from this album. Here is a song that definitely walks the tightrope between rock and dance music. This is a pretty good track and the more you hear it, the more you will want to hear it.
   
   "Burning Bright": This is the second best song behind "Tenderness". I am very surprised this song didn't get more airplay. This song opens with some outstanding guitar with a light keyboard overtone. "Stoker"'s drumming is strongest on this track. There is a 1 minute introduction. This isn't as much of an 80s Techno-Pop track as the others, but has much more of a progressive rock sound. This is the song that has the lines "From Moscow to Monterey and From Maine to Mexico" that is printed on the back of the CD.
   
   "As a Matter of Fact": I don't think this is the strongest track, but it isn't a bad track. This song moves back toward the Techno-Pop sound and has much more of a Dance Music feel to it. "Stoker" shines here again with some nice drum work on here.
   
   "Are You Leading Me On": From a lyric and melody standpoint - this song starts out with a Classic 80s Techno-Pop feel to it. About 90 seconds into the song there is a terrific reggae sequence that is a nice change of pace. General Public finds a great way to integrate the reggae into the song and they switch gears flawlessly.
   
   "Day to Day" also starts with a Classic 80s feel to it. Unlike "Are You Leading Me On", it doesn't switch gears. It sticks to the Classic 80s feel. I would say this is the weakest track on the collection.
   
   "Where's the Line": Terrific mix of 80s music with a Carribean Twist. This is a very catchy song and one that is good for the dance floors. Vocals are in top form and once again the horns find their way into a track.
   
   "General Public": I think its great when a group names after song after themselves (or names the group after the song). This song is the perfect wrap-up song. It is a mix of some theatrical qualities and a very European sound. This song too is pretty catchy.
   
   The liner notes contain all of the lyrics to all of the songs. All participating musicians are listed in the credits as well along with some of the production credits. The one drawback of the liner notes is that the lyrics and credits are put into 6 thin columns per page. The result is small fonts and very difficult to read. Following this debut album, General Public's subsequent albums would never achieve the success of this debut album from both a commercial or critical standpoint. Much of this was due to the fact that in the late 80s and early 90s, the music landscape would change and move away from synth-pop to a more natural Rock Sound. However, this is more than just another 80s album - there is some real talent on this collection. You will get so much more than the song "Tenderness". I highly recommend this collection.

5 comments about Rock Steady.

1. Rock Steady by No Doubt is their last studio album before Gwen went solo, and boy that was biggest mistake she ever made. Gwen can't sing but the band rock! Gwen is all about image and looking good (which she rarely achieves) she knows her voice is lacklaster and that's why the only thing she can focus on is the materalistic BS! Rock Steady has too many producers and not a clear and simplistic sound. Songs I do like include: Platinum Blonde Life, Don't Let Me Down, In My Head, Hella Good, and Running. The rest of the tracks are over-played and filler. Hopefully the band will reunite in years to come but the talent and success doesn't go to Gwen, it goes to the hard-working and under-appreciated guys.



2. This CD is too much of a detour from their traditional sound, but it is pretty good anyways.



3. Rock Steady by No Doubt is a mixture of good tracks with some rather fluffy, insubstantial, not too creative stuff. The album begins with some catchy, energetic tunes: Hella, Hey Baby, Making Out. Underneath it All is a slower, crooning tune. Thereafter, the album doesn't really have much punch. Detective is kinda catchy, but also silly. Don't Let Me Down and In My Head and light and bouncy. Platinum Blonde Life has a good rock edge and is a good tune to have toward the end for some balance. Overall, a very listenable album, but doesn't register too much impact on the listener. Tragic Kingdom was more forceful.



4. I have always liked No Doubt no matter what everyone says, on this album you can tell what direction the band was heading towards its more pop with a mix of everything from reggae/dance/80's new wave/funk/r'n'b/rock and No Doubt's music has always been diverse but not like this so you can understand why some fans were upset including myself, it wasn't untill I heard this at a party in 2003 thats when I dicided to check out this album cause I wasn't interested at the time and I'm the type of person who listens to heavier music. This album was good but only if you don't compare it with Tragic Kingdom, you have songs like Hella good, underneath it all, platinum blonde life, start the fire and the funky and catchy song with Prince called Waiting room which is my favorite cause it sounds like an 80's r'n'b song from Prince and Gwen does a good job of singing on this she sounds really good or Hella good ;-) bad joke, the whole album has its moments but there are some bad songs like Detective and In my head which just sounds repetitive and some parts sound like a video game with the weird sound fx. Overall this album is quite catchy and fun to listen to especially if your a No Doubt fan atleast it was better then what Gwen Stefani did with her awful solo career.



5. I love No Doubt. Great Record. True to Rock Steady sound in Jamaican music. Was even recorded in Jamaica.

5 comments about All Star Smash Hits.

1. When this band came along, with their first big hit, WALKIN' ON THE SUN, I immediately noticed their being highly influenced by that 1960's band, ?(Question Mark) & The Mysterians of "96 TEARS" fame, circa 1966. The lead singer of SMASHMOUTH sounds eerily like the lead singer of that blast from the past band. Then, the follow up, CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOU, BABY was a hit, and an almost note-for-note remake of a track right off the "96 TEARS" album by that 60's band! Nobody's ever mentioned or noted this - am I the only one who noticed?!!! Yup, I have the ?(Question Mark)& The Mysterians album, which I bought at a vintage records shop a few years ago. SMASHMOUTH is a fun band, but, let's give influential credit where credit is overdue.



2. This CD is a must have. Included are their most popular songs. Because of shrek and other movies, this cd is a whole family favorite. The Kids love dancing to the music in this cd. Highly reccomend!



3. I got this cd primarily for two songs, All Star and Walking on the Sun. I tend to keep listening to my favorites, but the other songs are good too. Overall, a good CD that I will enjoy more with time.



4. These guys have an old sounding but at the same time new twist on music that is quite refreshing after hearing all the hip hop, rap and grunge music out there.



5. I've always loved Smash mouth, and this CD is the way to go for all fans. Or even if you're starting out, this is the one to get as it has several tracks on it you can't find on their other cds. such as Mystery Man and Pacific coast party. This is a good cd to get to sample all their works.
   
   Beside's it has several of my favorite songs on it, such as Walking on the sun, When the morning comes, better do it right ( a song you can't find anywhere else except for the Grinch cd) and Waste. I'm just disappointed they didn't come out with this cd sooner before I spent money on buying soundtracks just for one single smash mouth song.

5 comments about Beat This: The Best of the English Beat.

1. Saw them live at a wedding last year. Awesome live and on cd. Their music reminds me of the 80's but the ska and reggae is timeless. Good for any mood.



2. One of the greatest performers of all time, Dave Wakeling is still packing in the crowds in 2008. A crooner extraordinaire who always gets us on our feet...we just can't help it!



3. Kinda funny what happened to the Beat (known as the "English Beat" here in America, though I find that name clunky): their debut, I Just Can't Stop It, was an excellent album with their biggest hit (Mirror in the Bathroom), and assorted other goodies, most of them found here (Best Friend; Hands Off She's Mine; Twist and Crawl; Click Click; Whine and Grind/Stand Down Margaret; Can't Get Used to Losing You; Tears of a Clown, though Two Swords is missed). Then they crashed: Record #2, Wha'ppen? had a few gems (Too Nice to Talk to; Doors of Your Heart; Drowning, featured here: Get a Job and Dreamhouse in NZ are both sadly MIA), but it was uneven and felt like a holding pattern. By album #3 (Special Beat Service), they had all but lost it, going from a premeire punk-ska act to an Adult Contemporary act with a slight Jamaican feel. They managed to wring three good songs out of that mess: I Confess; Sole Salvation and Save it for Later. Wisely, they put those songs here.
   Find yourself a copy of this album. It's a great party CD, and I used to listen to it near-religiously. Great music. The Beat were a more authentic Police when it came to mixing reggae and punk, thanks to their brilliant saxman Saxa: that's saying something, since the Police were also an authentic reggae band. Every song on this one's a gem, unlike on some of their studio albums: if you're a casual fan, this is all the Beat you need.



4. If there were one UK band that was a true icon of the 80's, it would definitely be the English Beat. With the upbeat ska sounds that were heavily influenced by the Specials, this album is a must have. The album starts out with "Best Friend" which has a real catchy beat and funky horn section. "Save it for later" is another favorite which appears in the Woody Harrelson movie KingPin. "Mirror in the Bathroom" is on everybodys favorite 80's hits. The cover of "Tears of a Clown" is a masterful ska interpretation of The Smokie Robinson hit. My only gripe is that "Rotating Head" (heard in Ferris Bueller's Day Off when he is running through back yards towards the end) was not included. If you like The Specials, General Public and Fine Young Cannibals, you will love this album.



5. I grew up on the English Beat and they are still one of my favorite bands today. There is something about the ska from that era that really appeals to me. My first exposure to them was in the early '80s when my brother was in college and the Beat were a college radio staple.
   
   When I finally purchased "What Is Beat?" on tape, their first compilation album, I was in heaven. When my music collection converted to CD, "What Is Beat?" was one of the first CDs I purchased. It was a slight disappointment, though, because the CD could not hold as much music as the tape did and a few songs had to be cut. Bummer.
   
   When I found "Beat This!" a few years ago, I was thrilled. Even though there were many repeat songs, it also included some that were cut from the "What Is Beat?" CD and a few that were never included such as "Click Click" and "Drowning." I still have both CDs and each fulfills a different purpose.
   
   Ultimately, though, these Best Of albums will never tell the whole story but they are a great start to this ska band. If you like "Beat This!," be sure to check out their original albums as well for other gems that just didn't fit with the time limitations.

5 comments about Very Best of Toots & the Maytals.

1. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R229ALBVJLPV03 I've been collecting what I consider to be good reggae since the movie:The Harder They Come (includes Soundtrack CD). My favorites off this album are 'Pressure Drop' and 'Sweet and Dandy', but everything is listenable. I don't like most reggae so nineteen songs from one artist with no losers says a lot about the artist.
   
   Some may say that means it's commercial - first of all I don't think it is other than in the sense you don't have to be an enthusiastic reggae fan to enjoy it. In the second place, 'commercial', except in the really crass cases is usually a musical term for 'sour grapes', in my old but otherwise uninformed opiion.



2. I had never listened much to reggae in the past but this cd has made me a true believer. Toots and his group have made music that is wonderful and timeless. This is easily the best cd that I have purchased in a long time and will highly recommend it to anyone.



3. While this is a very good collection, the double CD Time Tough: The Anthology includes all the tracks here, but does a better job of covering the whole Toots spectrum, and the sound quality is quite a bit better. So while I agree with the positive reviews here, you get a lot more bang for the buck with "Time Tough". And TT gives you a lot more of his latter work, when love and spirituality infused his work and raised reggae to a higher plane. Go on and spend the extra $10, you won't be sorry (like I was when I bought this then still had to go out and buy "Time Tough" to get a sampling of ALL the Toots and the Maytals I came to love through buying most of his LPs in the 70's and 80's.



4. I was lucky enough to see both Bob Marley & the Wailers and Toots & the Maytals on the same double bill at the Beacon Theater in NYC back in the '70's. Until then I had heard neither. While Bob Marley was phenomenal. He did more with simply folding his arms than most rockers do flailing all around the stage & smashing guitars. But the true revelation was Toots & the Maytals. They didn't stop until they rocked the house. Listening to this "Best of" collection brings that night home to me. If you've never experienced Toots & the Maytals, buy this collection, and give it a listen. You won't stop dancing and swaying. I promise.



5. This is an exceptional summary of one of the great pioneers of Reggae music, Toot and the Maytals. The song included here, DO THE REGGAY, has even been credited with giving the music it's name. Toots Hibbert and his compatriots created some of eary Reggae's great highlights including 54-46 WAS MY NUMBER, PRESSURE DROP, MONKEY MAN and SWEET AND DANDY. This collection shows the versitily of the Maytals to include raw Ska (BROAWDAY JUNGLE, BAM BAM), funk(FUNKY KINGSTON) and Memphis soul(REGGAE GOT SOUL and the great cover of Otis Redding's I'VE GOT DREAMS TO REMEMBER). THE VERY BEST OF TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS is a great introduction to one the the giants of Reggae music.

5 comments about Everything Under The Sun.

1. If you are a fan of Sublime, this is the collection for you! Filled with all of their hits. Highly recommended. Makes a great gift!



2. I've been a long time Sublime fan, ever since their self titled album came out back in '96. A good amount of these songs I've heard but a few I haven't. This is a great collection to have for any hardcore Sublime fan.
   
   On a side note; listening to these songs really makes you sad to realize how talented Brad and the band actually were, and what they could have became.



3. was by a guy who reviews Michael Bolton and Chicago albums. Apparently he was disappointed in some of them. Therefore I wouldn't base whether I get this boxset or not on his 1 star review here. I guess I could give him a break beacuse he does like Greenday... oh wait... Greenday sucks too.
   
   As for this boxset, I actually haven't heard it yet but am interested and wanted to see if it was any good when I came across this guy's post. Had to say soemthing. Michael Bolton...seriously????



4. One of the best albums EVER released! A must have for a true Sublime fan!



5. Check out the two easter eggs on the boxset's DVD, live versions of "Pool Shark" and "DJ".
   
   To access "DJ," on the Main Menu keep the highlight on the option for 'Roll It' and press the arrow keys on your DVD remote in this order: Right, Down, Left, Up, Right, Down, Left, Up. This will automatically play the clip.
   
   To access "Pool Shark," on the second menu page for 'The Cuts' put the highlight on "Main Menu" and press the arrow keys on your DVD remote in this order: Right, Left, Right, Left, Up, Up, Down, Down. This will change the highlight to the color green and then press the Enter/OK button on your remote to access it.
   
   And if you haven't taken the time to notice, each menu is a full-length song, bonus tracks in their own right.

5 comments about Gnv Fla.

1. Listening to this album next to Pezcore, it sounds like two totally different bands, but that's not a bad thing. There's a reason why Less Than Jake put out another album. It's because they have finally found the perfect mix of ska and punk for a great album. None of the songs have that head-bang, sugar-high, beat someone up in a the pit feel anymore. Each member seems to have come to terms with their instruments perfectly, and all of the flaws in the past albums are gone leaving one flawless and entertaining album.
   
   Although Anthem still remains my favorite album because of all of the history behind it, this album is a classic in the works. With LTJ still on tour playing these song and selling this album, GNV FLA might be the finale of their music careers, but after this album we feel like we have found a brand new great punk ska band. Grab and album and pay tribute to the band who has rocked us for the past 16 years, and will continue to rock us with this new album.
   
   
   Favorite songs:
   City of Gainesville
   Does the Lion Still Roar?
   The Space They Cant Touch



2. Better than the last but not quite as good as the one before. Either way, I'll take it. It seems LTJ are once more in control of their own destiny, and this CD makes me think the path they are headed down is the one the fans want.



3. I love this album. I bought it on the release date and have listened to it countless times since then. I have been a die hard LTJ fan for close to ten years, and I was disappointed by their last two albums. (I'm 21 thats a long time btw haha) Well this album definitely returns them to greatness.
   
   The ska is back, and so is the HIGH energy pop-punk. This album contains some of the best horns ever on a Less Than Jake album. I mean check out Lion City the horns, along with the entire song, are just amazing. I also think Vinnie's lyrics on this album are the deepest and most intelligent ones he has written. Another reviewer said he felt the lyrics were like reading a novel, they took that as a bad thing. I highly disagree, the lyrics are deeper, more intricate, but are surely still damn catchy and sing-a-longable. Roger lays down awesome bass, as to be expected, he is one of the best out there. He also plays some sweet guitar riffs on this album as well, esp. Settling Son. (to those of you who don't know Roger records most of the guitar tracks on the album and has done so since Pezcore)
   
   In short a GREAT album, I personally think its their best since Losing Streak. I put it even with Hello Rockview.
   
   Best tracks
   
   Does Lion City Still Roar?
   Handshake Meets Pokerface (lyrics really hit home on this one for me)
   Then the last three tracks on the album because they blend together so well. (This One is Gonna Leave a Bruise,Life of party has just left the building, and Devil in my DNA)
   
   Weaker Tracks (none are bad just a little weaker)
   
   Conviction Notice
   Malachi Richter's Liquor' Quicker



4. Less Than Jake, is one of my (3) favorite bands of ALL times, (Rancid & Goldfinger)...
   
   Proud of the boys for "ditching" the idea of NOT putting horns in every song just because they have them. Yes, one of the main reasons we listen to LTJ is because they have horns. Its their staple sound.
   ...and they figured that out. There are horns all over the new CD.
   
   After all, when you choose to listen to an AC/DC tune, you are not expecting a ballad and soft vocals... its AC/DC and you know it.
   
   By the way, I went to the LTJ show last night at the H.O.B. in New Orleans... they were at the top of there game !!! Fantastic show, sounded great, and as always, LTJ played only (3) songs from the new CD and played tons of old tunes. They played for 1-1/2 hours and did a (3) song encore... (Gainsville Rock City, Dope Man and Plastic Cup Politics) ...outstanding show!!!
   
   Back to the new CD;
   With "Hello Rockview" and "Borders and Boundaries" being their two best CD's to date, (I would rate them as 5 stars) GNV FLA gets close but falls a bit short (just a taste under 4 stars.) To me it sounds like the latter (2) CD's I mentioned, but a bit more mature than those two CD's (musically).
   The lyrics, however, are like novels. Way too many words in each song, to crowded with lyrics, they need to let their tunes breath a bit.
   
   GNV FLA lacks vocal hooks...
   
   I have been listening to the CD since its release (and digging it) and found only 2 or maybe 3 vocal hooks on the whole CD. Hell, when I want to sing along with one of the songs, I get the lyrics sheet out of the inside cover and each song is like reading a novel. Who wants to do that.
   
   Anyway, that is my 1 and ONLY complaint with GNV FLA, too many lyrics and not enough vocal hooks. Well, that is technically 2 complaints.
   
   The sound production is great, as always, the horns are back, finally, and musically, the mature LTJ sound is great! just too many lyrics.
   
   This CD is definitely worth the buy, if you like Ska and Punk!!!
   ...and the show is one you DO NOT want to miss!
   So, enjoy both.
   
   Lil' Gleason



5. this is the most definately one of the best CD's LTJ has put out since "hello rockview" and seein as they fell flat on their faces with the last album you wont be disapointed and youll probebly be skanking in your room while listening to it

5 comments about Return of Saturn.

1. Return of Saturn by No Doubt is considered their most mature but least-selling album. This album is good but not brilliant, there are a lot of slow songs with heavy lyrics which are nice but depressing. Bathwater, Dark Blue, New, A Simple Kind of Life, and Magic's in the Makeup are standouts but the rest of the album gets boring pretty fast. This is a mixed bag but I like it better than Tragic Kingdom.



2. IF you like No Doubt before they hit the main stream, then you should get this one



3. I must confess, I'd never been familiar with No Doubt as a band before hearing Return of Saturn. I'd only heard some of their singles (I'm Just a Girl, Don't Speak, Hey Baby, Underneath it all, etc.) I also stumbled upon "Comforting Lie" and was blown away. Wow! That song alone is amazing - the heightened beat, drums, and Gwen's voice all come together perfectly. So I bought Return of Saturn just to hear the rest of the album. I wasn't sure what to expect. By the time I was done the CD I was satisfied.
   
   One thing No Doubt does best is create catchy melodies; but changes things up a bit. "Ex-Girlfriend" for example, is a great song you want to get up and dance to. On the other hand, a "Simple Kind of Life" is more relaxing; whereas "Six Feet Underground" recalls a more retro (maybe 80s) feel to it and "Home Now" has a very sweet nostalgic feel about it. Most of the songs have their own unique feel to them, making each one a nice surprise. This is wonderful because if I find a song is predictable, it gets disappointing.
   
   Lyrical content is quite surprising as well. This is considering that some of the songs could potentially be immature. Most artists are unable to capture the emotional impact of the message without sounding like they're whining. No Doubt manages to avoid both pit-falls. Even on the break-up songs, ie. "Ex-Girlfriend" and "Bathwater", the lyrics are sung with a sense of maturity about them. Gwen Stefani (lead singer) allows the listener to feel the emotions through her singing; but at the same time creates a more pensive atmosphere to the songs. She sings about the issues people think about daily (Being jealous of others, wearing a mask, the repetitiveness of life, lying for love, etc). Yet, Gwen allows a sense that you're taking a journey through a person's mind. She's not trying to belt out a message, but merely allowing their listeners to interpret and apply what they see in a song, what's presented, to their own lives. It's a different approach and it works very well.
   
   So why only 4 stars? Well, I find it just falls short of a 5 star album. I believe it's because there are a few songs, in listening to the whole CD at once, that seem a tad mellow compared to the others (ie. New). Now, these songs aren't bad, but I feel they just need a bit of an extra push to them to allow me to get more into the song.
   
   In conclusion, the CD shines for the most part. I'm not disappointed, so I would say if you're looking for a new band to check out, No Doubt would be it. Return of Saturn will be worth your time and money.



4. I believe this is No Doubt's best cd. The hits on this album are great: Ex-Girlfriend, Simple Kind of Life, Bathwater.... but i also love the other songs..... Suspension without Suspense, Magic's in the Make-up, Artificial Sweetener.... wow... I love all the songs. I am a huge No Doubt/Gwen Stefani fan...so I'm very familiar with all their CDs.... If you like No Doubt at all....this is the CD to own.



5. It would take another 5 years from "Tragic Kingdom" to make the follower "Return of Saturn" and many things happened since, On the previous we found Gwen Stefani sing about the painful breakup with bandmember Tony Kanal where most of the songs were Ska/Punkish, now 5 years later Gwen was over 30 and was not only more mature but wanted to get married and start a family also. The music was also closer to New Wave, like early Cars even if some songs are still on fammiliar territory. While this may have alienated some fans from "Tragic Kingdom" this album show growth as a band and "Saturn" works fantastic as a concept, instead of recycling what worked in the past No Doubt tried something new and it worked just fine. However, there aren't as many highlights for the charts on this album but it's still perhaps the concept of songs that makes it this good. "Ex-Girlfriend" reminds you of their previous album's song's. A catchy ska-punk song and also a hit single. This song is actually about Gwen's future husband Gavin Rossdale. Second single called "Simple Kind of Life" is one of many simular song themes of this album which deals about Gwen's maturing and realizing what she really wants in life. In the video for it, you'll also see her getting married. The song is more of a midtempo but equally strong as the first single. "Bathwater" and "New" were also released in some countries as single's and the first a catchy uptempo is pretty good. The second is a new wave song. Good songs continue throughout the album with "Artificial Sweeter" about trying to be happy on the surface but feeling bad on the inside "Magic's In The Makeup" wether people would still love her underneath the makeup and "Suspension Without Suspense" about being in a relationship that doesn't go forward. I think No Doubt's music is excellent, their sound is unique full of admiration, but their best ability is to create feelings that fans can relate to and songs that really mean something. This album is a prime example of that where many songs are part of a concept with a mature Gwen Stefani dealing with relationship eventually leading to marriage and a family. I really can see why this album has a special place in many fans hearts, even if there weren't many hit singles like "Tragic Kingdom" here. Needless to say, this is another fantastic album from one of the best bands.

5 comments about Robbin' the Hood.

1. I went on a little Sublime buying spree for the Mr. Everything arrived quickly, and was in great shape! I would definitely buy from them again!



2. I was told the cd was in factory package but was weiry. When I received the cd it was infact factory wrapped and in perfect condition I was very happy.



3. This hodge has all samples of Sublimes essence. Cut up like they Cut it.
   
   The warm-up waiting for bud.
   The comedy of Raeligh.
   Steppin Razor is dangerous.
   Bradley teaches us of Mic Control, the work we do, and lets us into his life.
   Free loop has dancehall/reggaeton fluxes.
   
   
   
   It's a podge for sure.



4. This is original Sublime. Really for the true fans. EVERY TRACK IS GREAT!



5. I bought this cd for my boyfriend. He loves Sublime and this cd is great.