5 comments about I'm Not There.

1. This soundtrack to I'm Not There is absolutely packed with music, featuring two CDs that are each 80 minutes long. I don't recall hearing many of these recordings in the movie itself, but that's not uncommon for a soundtrack these days. The songs were all written by Bob Dylan, as you are probably already aware. Most of these cover songs are quite good, although some are better than others. Of course, it's all a matter of personal preference, my favorites may be different from your favorites. Fittingly, Dylan himself gets the final word, with the previously unreleased title song (it was recorded at The Basement Tapes sessions). This is a fine collection of Dylan songs.



2. The best collection of Dylan covers I have ever heard. From his most popular songs like "All Along the Watchtower" by the mega-popular Pearl Jam, to the unreleased and rare "I'm not there" by the not as popular Sonic Youth (unless you belong to their cult of loyal fans). There are some very cool and different versions of his songs on this CD. Overall, this is a can't miss if you are a Dylan fan. Richie Havens does a terrific job as does the young lad..the 13 year old kid from the movie, sorry...can't remember his name. These songs make you appreciate Dylan in a different way. For me, it made me go back and dust off my Dylan Lps and Cds to listen again to the original versions. Now I hear more nuances in Dylan's songs and am more appreciative of the the meter, the rythm, the math, the lyrics, the structure, the ideas, metaphors, themes, each word, each syllable, how they are pronounced, annunciated, etc. Everything starts to become even more clear and appreciated. It also makes me try to place myself in those times and realize how artists like Dylan and Hendrix for example must have sounded like they came from Mars considering the sounds and music that existed before they came along in the mid-60s. This reminds that the 60s went through a rapid time warp in so many ways not the least of which was the huge evolution of pop art and culture that has not been matched since.



3. i was disappointed by this after highly anticipating it. to me, sufjan never fails and was as good as expected. liked mira bilotte's song here, as well. i like many of the other artists here, but would rather listen to dylan doing dylan than most of them doing dylan. you can have my copy of the album if you want it.



4. Let me state upfront that, while I was rather apprehensive of the movie concept as such, I ended up really liking the non-delinear interpretation of Bob Dylan's life by director Todd Haynes. The structure of the film had the potential to turn this into a (well-intended) disaster, but it turned out to be quite the enjoyable surprise. When you watch the film. you hear a lot of Dylan songs, mostly from Dylan himself, and once in a while fragments from Dylan-covers also can be heard. The "I'm Not There" is a collection of those covers.
   
   "I'm Not There" (2 CDs, 34 tracks; 159 min.) brings 33 covers, many of which do not appear in the movie. I am generally speaking not a great fan of these types of collections (cover songs of big name artists) but must admit that it works quite well here. Among the many highlights on tis collection, my personal favorites include "Goin' to Acapulco" by Jim James & Calexico (done brilliantly in the movie), "One More Cup of Coffee" by Roger McGuinn & Calexico, Jeff Tweedy's somber take on "Simple Twist of Fate", Charlotte Gainsbourg (who stars in the film) whispering-soft version of "Just Like A Woman", a surprising appearance of the Hold Steady for their cover of "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?", an almost subdued performance of the Black Keys on "The Wicked Messinger", and a memorable "Highway 61 Revisited" from Karen O (of the Yea Yea Yeas). The very last song brings Bob Dylan himself, doing "I'm Not There", along with the Band (from the Basement Tapes-era).
   
   Bottom line: I was very pleasantly surprised by this album, which is so much more than a soundtrack. The best proof of that is of course that you can play this and it will resonate just as well, whether you've actually seen the movie "I'm Not There" or not.



5. I looked forward to seeing the movie; but, quite frankly it sucked! More artsy-craftsy contortions than a ballerenic pretzel. And the covers of Dylan's music all turn out to be lame and lifeless just like the movie. Read Chronicles or Suze Rotolo's memoir: much, much better.A Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties[[ASIN:0743244583Chronicles: Volume One (Chronicles)]][[ASIN:0825634520Bob Dylan: No Direction Home - The Soundtrack]]

5 comments about SUPER TARANTA.

1. Like a folksier System of the Down, the band Gogol Bordello takes traditional gypsy styles and injects a snarling hipster angle. Although one can sense the pleasure many of these songs would play live (their talked about shows at festivals have steadily gained popularity and with it more fans) on the album they just sound a little too boxed in, repetitious, even a little cartoonish or stereotypical at times. It is a pleasure then, to encounter the gems that fine tune their unique approach like "My Strange Uncles From Abroad" or when they elevate the instrumentation, as on the triumphant closing title track.



2. I suppose David Spade could have said that he liked this band better first time around when it was called "Vopli Vydoplyassova", but in spite of (not ony unhidden, but proudly displayed) influence of VV, Gogol Bordello has the same highly entertaining and infectious energy and appeal, which equally defies characterization. I am also equally stumped by the absence of vodka and marinated herring at the American weddings, which adds a significance of socially relevant contents to the brilliance of form. Î÷åíü ðåêîìåíäóþ äàæå ìîñêàëÿì.



3. Incredably hard to describe, but very good. Often chaotic, funny lyrics,and a great sound, make it very good.



4. Gogol Bordello's "Super Taranta" CD is a welcome new addition to anyone's 70s and early 80s punk collections. This contemporary band deftly expresses its understanding of subcultural anthropology. Gogol Bordello has captured the energy, humor, and raw sound of the traditional punk movement and adds an extra element of theatrical drama, cross cultural instrumentation and musical stylings.



5. Such a hard album to describe! Messy and drunken (yet not sloppy) but at the same time tight and crazy.... an awful lot of ground is covered here, musically. All that I could imagine while listening to Super Taranta! was an Eastern European mash-up of Mr. Bungle and Dropkick Murphys. Maybe they folks in The World/Inferno Friendship Society would be playing along, too... at night outdoors around a fire surrounded by gypsy debauchery. Can you imagine that? If you can, you've got a sense of what this album has to offer!
   
   I have no idea if this is typical of Gogol Bordello, but I can only imagine that Super Taranta! would meet or exceed the expectations of longtime fans. It certainly grabbed my attention! What can I say... give it a listen: I think there's plenty here to keep you interested, even if this sort of wackiness isn't normally your thing!

5 comments about CD Compilation.

1. I mean that in the truest sense: The Misfits are a greatly misunderstood band and I love that. People who don't know them assume they are a wierdo punk-goth band. They are so much more than that.
   The melodies on here are profound. You'll find the songs stuck in your head for weeks. These guys were such pioneers, a decade ahead of their time. The Misfits should have changed their name when Glenn left though...
   Favorite tracks: "I Turned into a Martian," "Skulls," "Astro-Zombies," and "London Dungeon."



2. Though very often heralded as punk, or goth punk, or even metal, the Misfits are none-of-the-above. In-fact, the Misfits, not easily pigeonholed, have all the very early makings of what has now become Psychobilly: classic 50's rock-a-billy era tunes infused with heavy punk and some heavy metal elements. Their influence can easily be heard in the result of many modern bands, i.e. Tiger Army, Necromantiks, The Quakes and etc. A definite tight album with great hits form their early years, that showcases Danzig's songwriting ability.



3. While punk rockers love to classify punk rock, some of us rockers need to classify rock as rock. Just like a duck is a duck or a bird is a bird.
   The original Misfits lineup is a band thats name has become bigger than the sum of it's parts; unless you were lucky enough to see these guys before 1985 or whatever (not me, I was 2 years old) you'll never get the real picture. The Misfits name still lives on today as a touring band, but is essentially just a cover band, and frontman Danzig still emerges from time to time with good material, but he'll never rock the face the way he did when this stuff was still fresh.
   Whenever you hear this stuff new though, it's like discovering a new and incredible force in rock and roll. I will go ahead and say that you can forget about calling them one of the best Punk rock bands around... they are just one of the best bands around, period.
   Raw, fast, scary, and just plain fun, sure they rock. Danzig is a force from these days. And I know you're asking yourself..."but can he crooon?" you bet your little ace he can. Any record from the original band is worth owning, and rocking out to. Static Age, Earth A.D, and Walk Among Us. I would personally say to get all three of those, and you are set... or you can get this disc, along with collection II and be pretty good also. The styles vary enough so that either way you slice it, you won't come across a dull song in the mix. Misfits ROCK man.



4. Misfits *****
   
   
   One of the great punk bands of all time was only great for a few years. The Misfits are easily on eof the all time best punk bands and really one of the best bands of all time from any genre. Glen Danzig the bands frontman and lead singerfronted the band in the late 1970's and early 1980's until he left the band to form Samhain. Danzig was really the driving force behind the band, writing most of the songs and arranging everything, also his voice is one of the most recongnizable in all of rock n' roll history. So when he left the band in the mid 1980's the band did continue on but they were never the same. Hardcore fans never felt the same abou thte band again and while they still sang about the same things and looked and played the same The Misfits were never really The Misfits again.
   
   This collection along with collection II do the best to offer the best of the band during the Danzig era, covering the albums Walks Among Us, Static Age, and Earth A.D. And while both collections are a great way to showcase the band, especially together they are a great way to introduce someone to the band. Sepperatly this is the essential way to get to know The Misfits because it basically contains it all. II is a good intro as well but more of the bands classic songs are here such as 'Bullet' 'Horror Buisness' 'Die, Die My Darling' 'Where Eagles Dare' and 'She' are all here.
   
   From start to finish you are continusely introduced to classic after classic track by this legandary band. The Misfits were one of the greatest bands in all of punk as well as one of the most influential. Their influence transended genres like Metal (Metallica, All That Remains) of course punk (AFI). They sang about horror movies and jokingly sang about them in a happy way. It is just too band Danzig started to belieave in his lyrics to much forcing him to leave the band.
   
   If you are remotley interested in The Misfits this is the one to get. All the before mentioned albums with Danzig on them are worth the money but if you just want one to cover the band then this is the perfect thing for you.



5. An essential cd if you are into punk rock or just love good music in general. The Misfits style melds vintage horror film lyrics with Danzig's unique voice and a raw yet simple sound. Every track on this album is a winner and like Operation Ivy or Led Zeppelin you will find that fans of the band vary on what songs are the best; there are just so many quality tracks to be found. The recordings on this album aren't crystal clear but do not let that deter you from checking this album out. A good starting point (perhaps the best choice) if you are new to the misfits.

5 comments about The Shape Of Punk To Come.

1. Anybody who thinks that punk rock is a lousy genre where the people can't play obviously haven't heard anything like this before (not to mention everything punk influenced). The Refused may be dead as a band, but The Shape of Punk To Come is ALIVE with stunning, well thought out music. If you like punk rock, this is a must. This is why.
   
   First off, as punk rock, it delivers on that front. It's loud, occasionaly fast, always feels like the band going to light a fire under their @$$, you name it. While it's not as intense as Minor Threat, it's not exactly supposed to be. It's potent, as WA mentioned, the vocals are full of venom, anger, and rip anew, it's explosive, it's ________ punk! Full of creatively played riffs, monster drumming, and a variety like you wouldn't believe. These guys are extremely talented, and the way they play, JUST LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE PLAY! Guitar, bass, and drum fans are in for a treat, and not the kind that equate technicality with greatness. People who understand more about music than that (though technicality brings great things, no doubt, like DEP). There are even some effects thrown in for good measure, such as the beginning of Refused are _______ Dead, and inside the liner notes list a Cello, Violin, Tambourine, upright bass, and Melodica. Don't expect much of those, however, I just think it's used great on this record.
   
   And it must be said is the many different styles these guys play, the goody bag of sounds. The interludes, the effects, the jazz breakdowns, the techno breakdowns, some of them you could dance to, the instrumental breaks, the closer, and the electronic song. Refused deliver an astounding variety of punk rock and other stuff that's it hard not to love. And it's great how those things don't feel like gimmicks. The jazz breakdown in Deadly Rhythm could easily have come out straight from the times (only don't expect any horns). And I must compliment on the atmosphere the two last songs. TannHauser/Derive has brooding, atmosphere that paints pictures of the band standing in Egypt at sunset and a city, and The Apollo Program Was a Hoax, I could see the band on a farm, a lonely farm, singing this song, or an empty NASA station with the lights off, or.... ERGH, this stuff is ________ cool. Well, I could ramble even more, but I've had enough. It would be waaayyy too long and you would lose interest.
   
   Highlights? Pretty much the whole thing. Once you digested the songs, you won't want to put it down, and listening to the whole thing from beginning to end will not be a problem (I usually try to tackle the songs that haven't grown on me before playing it all the way through).
   
   I won't spoil it for you, but give it some time (I wasn't exactly crazy about it the first time I heard it either). It's worth it and I wont' want to give this album up if you payed me. Best experimentation of punk rock since The Minutemen, and probably one of the last great punk rock albums not released by Rancid.
   
   10/10



2. If you're a heavy metal fan, you have every right to feel ashamed for not owning this record. Refused f-ing rock! This is such a slamming, grooving, neck-snapping record, it's hard to properly describe it. I can't heap enough praise on it, it's brilliant! I truly wish this WAS the shape of punk to come! I'd guess that if you like old NYC hardcore, post-punk stuff like Minor Threat and At The Drive In, then you have every reason to LOVE this LP. You'll spin this thousands of times before ever getting tired of it.



3. I am in no position to sit here and say that I am an expert in punk. I know my share of punk but to a certain extent. However I will say that I simply love this album. This album is fierce and intense. It almost transcends all genres and is actually accessable to most. Don't ask why but that seems to be the case once I play it for people.
   
   I went on to give Songs to Fan the Flame of Discontent a chance but to no avail. That did not capture the magic of this album. The Shape of Punk to Come and Liberation Frequency are standouts.
   
   
   Very Intense
   
   A must own in my opinion .... my favorite punk album.



4. I bought the dvd version of this album a year and a half ago and loved it like I like an album only a few times a year - listened to it ten times in a row and to the exclusion of doing things loved it. Well loved the music portion of it anyways, the dvd features aren't really worth it honestly.
   
   You can get the gist of what this album is from the other reviews, I merely offer a vote of support. To put it in perspective, after I listened to it over and over again for months I moved. And lost the dvd. And dropped and broke my ipod. After not being able to find it on emusic I am willing to yet again drop over $12 to have it again.
   
   If you like hardcore but INNOVATIVE punk pay for it, if you don't have money then pirate it. But listen to this, seriously.



5. Short version of the review:
   Despite it's lack of mainstream recognition, this remains one of the most culturally relevant albums released of all time. No other band under the genre of punk has since come close to matching the artistic significance and influence of this album (as Born Against, Ink and Dagger, and Nation of Ulysses are their rightful predecessors.) If you're either a musician or a fan of punk, hardcore, metal, rock, or any of the genres associated with the former four I just listed, buy the album. I'm not telling you to consider it; I'm commanding you to do so. It's that important.
   
   Long version of the review:
   So late one night in 1999 I'm up watching 120 Minutes (back when MTV used to play music) and between all of the other alternative music that jwas interchangeable, the video for New Noise appeared. Now the TV was on mute during the beginning, so after I read the title of the album was "The Shape of Punk to Come", I scoffed and was like "Great, another generic, pop-punk, NoFX clone."
   
   Then I un-muted the TV and subsequently picked my jaw up off the floor.
   
   I obtained the CD out of sheer curiosity regarding what else this CD had to offer. Maybe it was the fact I was 18, maybe it was a particular lack of exposure to different music styles at that age, but I was hard-pressed as to why I should consider this to be a punk album. Punk was a form of music that changed little since it's inception; featuring songs usually belted out in two minutes or less, having simple song structure (the guitars riffs having three chords, the drums holding a rapid one-two beat,) and with the lyrical topics typically dealing with the pitfalls of being young and broke, sung by a guy who sounds like he just got done surfing. What this band was doing was throwing out musically complex songs that were an average of 4 and a half to 5 minutes in length, chock full of syncopated beats, excellent musicianship, electronica, and an energy that was fueled by vocals shouting out their disgust with consumerism and capitalism. For an album to be considered punk, it was definitely revolutionary, for certain.
   
   All this, from a band that was broken up a year before I ever even heard their name.
   
   Sadly, though great musicians, Refused are evidently not as clairvoyant as I had hoped. Nearly 9 years after the release of this album, punk has become almost extinct, survived by a breed of kids who've shelved individualism for mass conformity, choosing to play a style of music where the bands copy each other with one-dimensional lyrics (read: lyrics universally dealing with girl problems) that drives kids in hordes to Hot Topic (not voting booths) so they can display to one another how much more "emo" one is to the next in a laughable Jesus Christ pose. If those bands could have taken the direction found on this album, what currently constitutes as punk music would have a lot more respect from the music community outside its genre than it does now.
   
   Regrettably, the Refused are f%$&ing dead, and for all intents and purposes, the final nail in punk rock's coffin can't be too far away.

No comments about Pitchfork & Lost Needles.

5 comments about Big Blue Ball.

1. Well, I haven't paid attention to Peter Gabriel, but I'm a huge Sinead O'Connor's fan. After I listened to her song on this album, I can say that it's NOT really a good song.



2. I've been a fan of Mr. Gabriel since he went solo a few decades ago. Without a doubt, he is a unique musical talent. This compilation CD is a nice addition to his repertoire. I'm particularly drawn to "Exit Through You", co-written with Joseph Arthur, and "Altus Silva", also written by Mr. Arthur and Iarla O' Lionaird. I just have one complaint with this CD-there aren't enough Peter Gabriel songs! Then again, one the many objectives of any artist is to"leave em wanting more."



3. Things sometimes get put off for a reason. Lack of interest, better things to do, or just plain not worth the time or effort. This seems to be the result here. I will always support anything Peter Gabriel touches and my wife is an even bigger fan (she didn't like it either), but this pushes the bounds even for me. It is such a hodgepodge of varying styles that no flow is given to the work as a whole. There are maybe 2 or 3 tracks even worth a listen, Peter's and the haunting track by Sinead. Spend your money elsewhere.



4. I was interested in trying out some new music and thought I'd give this a try. In a word...suck. I can't even tell you how sucky and boring this music is. It is a total joke that amazon tries to sell this together with Viva la Vida. It's not even similar, except for possibly the first track, which is bearable. It's sloppy, pieced together and pretentiously "international." If this is international music, spare me. Normally I'm a very subjective and unbiased person but this is too much. I can't believe I fell for this album...



5. I have always been a huge fan of Peter Gabrial and the projects he has taken on. This project is one of the most interesting he has done. I have been a fan of World music for many years and he has brought together some of the best. I will always be a fan. It would be nice to hear what else did not make it to the CD or to have a follow up of some of the other great artists that contributed to this project. Kudos!!

5 comments about Sin.

1. Let's face it, fans of the artist: While NIN has a lot of worthy material, the "Pretty Hate Machine" singles were only made for completists. Where others sometimes had authentic B-sides/covers, and actual interesting remixes, this was from a time when "interesting" and "remix" were an oxymoron.
   
   I'm not a big fan of remixes, and I'll admit that the majority of the rest of the disc is very average, especially coming from NIN. "Get Down Make Love" raises the thing up a star. It's a pretty good cover of Queen that does not try to ape Queen. This song is the only thing that most people usually mention on the single, too. There are also three uninteresting remixes of "Sin", but I sort of like that "dub" mix. It's nice to think of "Sin" as a dub song. I am not a purist who hates this song being turned into a dance song, as I think it could have been worse. But if you must buy a single from this era, I must direct you to "Head Like a Hole". "The Downward Spiral" era was the only real time when the singles were worth owning, save the occasional exception. Besides, if you bought it, well... you bought it and it's there for something. And having just 4 tracks cannot be too bad.



2. Not much to say, three bad-ass mixes of "sin" plus a cover of some....Also if u dont already, PHM , DWN SPRL , FRGL , BRKN , ....



3. This is a tough single for me, as I think virtually every review of this points out-- really, its quite the weakest of the "Pretty Hate Machine" era Nine Inch Nails single, primarily because of how awful the "Sin" remixes are, but in the midst of this is the, "Get Down Make Love".
   
   The "Sin" mixes first though, remixed by Adrian Sherwood and Keith LeBlanc, who did a fine job with "Down In It", this song really doesn't match their techno beat restructuring, and in fact the aggression of the song is pretty much swallowed up in a programmed beat and irritating synth effects. The short version at least has the good sense to be brief, the dub mix carries on for several minutes with samples of "LIES" and "CONTROL" lifted from the song-- essentially five minutes of ok beats and really irritating synths. The long version feels somewhat better but is more or less the short version with part of the dub version spliced in the middle of it. The three mixes as a whole are totally unengaging and can be skipped.
   
   But "Get Down Make Love" though, this is the great missing early Nine Inch Nails piece, produced by Al Jourgenson, Reznor takes a fantastic Queen song and restructures it into his own vision, staying true to the original but at the same time fully claiming it as his own. The result is tense, exciting, and extremely well done, and really is worth the price of the single.
   
   My rating however is on the whole product, and as a whole, there's not much here, but that "Get Down Make Love" take is fantastic. If you've got the albums, dig this up for that track alone.



4. This Nine Inch Nails single features three remixes of "Sin". All three mixes are good. Even the dub version is interesting, unlike most dub versions of songs. But the thing that makes this CD a must-get for Nine Inch Nails fans is the cover version of Queen's "Get Down Make Love". It's really quite good.



5. Buy it for "Get Down Make Love"
   Cherish it for The Designers Republic artwork.

5 comments about In Utero.

1. I first fell in love with Nirvana when I listened to In Utero, and Nevermind on cassette in my room. There are a lot of awesome songs on this album, i like the lyrics and i like the sound! and i just love nirvana, and always will.



2. yaknow to all that use their brains can easily see why Nirvana was so great.
   
   they embody everything a great rock band should have. amazing front man with amazing song writing abillities, an amazing drummer and a sound all their own that didnt suck!
   
   this is a brash Cd with harsh tones with catchy songs that stick in your head with great lyrics.



3. The other day a cat got jammed in my fanbelt when I was driving down the street and it sounded better than this abysmal album.
   
   The irony is that Nirvana...for all their phony anti-establishment nonsense...is nothing more than Britney Spears or Ashlee Simpson (or really Johnny Bravo from the Brady Bunch) talentless hacks who just so happened to fit the costume when the record industry was pushing their latest money making scheme....in the early 1990's the new fad was "I hate my parents; being a loser is cool" rock. To say this album is awful is like saying eating human dung makes your breath unpleasant.
   
   Honeslty, give your money to the CIA before you buy this album...at least they torture for a purpose.



4. The new generation should really try this album.And then listen again to their Fall Out Boy cd's. Bet they never play FOB again!
   Albert, Holland



5. This was a very good album, and definetly more personal than Nevermind.
   It definetly has a rougher, more abrasive and dense sound that will turn some listeners off, and others waaay on! Kurt touches on topics such as the record industry, drug abuse, loss, parental alienation, and his relationship with Courtney Love. Of course, there's the straight riffs with signature nonsense lyrics thrown in. While the album is great, it isn't as catchy and doesn't have the same replay value as Nevermind, probably because the music itself just doesn't sound as varied and pop-oriented. Nonetheless, this is definetly an album to have, and is a landmark piece of the 1990s. Buy it and love it

5 comments about Deftones.

1. What separates a band like the Deftones from others in similar bands is there is a willingness to actually try to get away from the conventions of the genre and while you'll notice familiar song structures, emphasis on riffs and the same tortured-but-cryptic lyrics, they always seemed to do things that stood them apart. After my favorite record of theirs, "White Pony", we have the self-titled which always suggests a rebirth or a band attempting to see themselves in a new light. Unfortunately, some of the songwriting isn't as strong and while on occasion, they knock one out of the park, other times it's just simply decent.
   
   Hexagram: Any preconceived notions that the band's mellowed since the last record will be dashed upon this track. One of the heaviest with Chino practically yelling throughout the whole thing, I'm surprised his lungs didn't pop out of his throat. The chorus is catchy and it's definately one of the most hard rocking but it's also a bit repetitive. 7.5/10
   
   Needles and Pins: A very cool one that hooked me up pretty quickly. The verses are pretty simple but I quite enjoy the chorus with Chino basically singing along with himself yelling and belting it out. Not a lot of changes but works well enough. 8/10
   
   Minerva: One of my favorites. Though it's pretty simple, the atmosphere and almost grand feeling of the track more than makes up for it. Chino's voice is in top form during the chorus that I can't help but sing along to. 9/10
   
   Good Morning Beautiful: It grew on me over time. The chorus is pretty catchy though it doesn't really complete rock out like say My Own Summer or something. It's decent enough but like most of the album, it doesn't really excel. 7.5/10
   
   Deathblow: A track more along the lines of Digital Bath or Knife Party, I find it enjoyable enough but there's nothing really there to latch onto, like a great hook or memorable chorus but it's just nice to have on. But then again others might love it. 8/10
   
   When Girls Telephone Boys: One of the more heavier tracks on the album along with Hexagram, to me it sounds more unfocused than anything and it just feels like screams and riffs played together to create something called a song. 5/10
   
   Battle Axe: A cool clean guitar intro opens the song and I like the feel of the track thanks to the band, has a good groove but the chorus is kind of, um, boring. It doesn't really take off or add anything but musically it works. Could've used a bit more time personally. 7/10
   
   Lucky You: Sure it's completely different than the rest of the record and isn't as intimate or beautiful as "Teenager" but I quite love this track. More electronica/trance like the Team Sleep stuff Chino did, it's got strange sci-fi sounds, the vocals feeling more breathy and quieter, some would've loved to leave it off but I enjoyed it. 8.5/10
   
   Bloody Cape: I quite like this one and the chorus stays with me after awhile. It's again one of those songs that doesn't really offer that huge rocking part and the guitar tones pretty much remain the same but it's enjoyable enough...I suppose. :P 7.5/10
   
   Anniversary of an Uninteresting Event: Bizarre title but gorgeous song. Reminds me of one of the quieter Nine Inch Nails tracks like on the Fragile. Soft, melancholy piano chords, Chino's voice finally showing off that beautiful tone he can do and ambient textures. I doubt you'd have it on repeat but it's a bright spot on the record. 9/10
   
   Moana: Probably my favorite closer they've done so far, just narrowly beating Pink Maggit. From the cool guitar riffs during the verses to Chino's voice, it keeps its pace right to the end and not once does it feel boring. 9/10
   
   Out of the albums from White Pony on, I find the self-titled to be the most scattered, parts not working well for the whole and others dragged down by the whole thing. This album has some winners like Minerva and the last 2 but other tracks just aren't interesting enough to be considered the band's best.



2. I'll start by saying that the Deftones never fail to amaze me, they simply cannot release a bad album! However, when their self-titled album was released back in 2003 I was surprisingly a little disappointed. Having just come off their epic opus White Pony and prior to that Around the Fur, the ST album just didn't seem to match up. It was by no means shelved early but earlier then the previous three albums.
   
   Forward a few years later and after not listening to the album for maybe a year or so decided to toss it in again. I was amazed!! When listening to and measuring it on its own, compared to against WP and ATF, it really is a kick arse album! Starting with the raw and angry Hexagram and continuing with a heavier and rawer feel then WP, the ST is just pure Deftones anger!! Minus for Lucky which continues with Chino having to add a electronic, Depeche Mode style song as they did with Teenager on WP. If they had yanked this tune and replaced it "Lovers", a track left of the ST it would have made this album that much better!
   
   Highlights include Hexagram, Pins and Needles, Good Morning Beautiful, When Girls Telephone Boys, Battle-axe and Bloody Cape.
   
   Could it be that Deftones albums get better with age? I wouldn't put it past them to accomplish this.



3. I bought this cd the day it came out after waiting 3 years from the release of "White Pony". Being a hardcore Deftones fan and instantly being hooked to their previous three releases, it did take me a couple spins to get used to this release. "Hexagram", "Needles and Pins", "Minerva", "Good Morning Beautiful" were favorites right from the beginning. But after a couple listens everything else came into place. I think this release is a little heavier than "White Pony", but has just as much experimental melodies and atmosphere that "White Pony" had.



4. So I am trying to get into some more mainstream music and this is actually the second deftones cd that I purchased. Just not that good overall. A couple of songs are good but as an album it just didnt do it for me.



5. this is a bit darker than what they usually come up with,but it makes for something beautiful in a shadowy manner.great cubist album.

5 comments about Collection II.

1. It seems most 'Fiends' prefer The Misfits Collection I better. I love it too, but I find myself listening to Collection II far more often. Now I have nothing against raw sounds and bad production, my own band has plenty of that, and I admit that the raw, unpolished sound is a large part of the Misfits charm, however, a little production can go a long way.
   
   Collection II has some of my favorite Misfits songs and the entire album sounds better overall than Collection I. 'We are 138', 'Nike a go go', 'Queen Wasp', 'Last Caress', Halloween 1 and 2', and 'Hatebredders' are in my opinion essential songs for a Fiend to have and I believe the best versions of these songs are found right here.
   
   For new Misfits fans and potential Fiends, I highly recommend Collections I and II to start you off. Some will like Collection I better, some will prefer II. I say as long as people are still listening to the Misfits it's a good thing and we can all celebrate one of the most unique, mysterious, and original rock bands of all time. Cheers to all you Fiends!



2. Misfits-Collection II *****
   
   
   While not quite as good as the original collection, this, collection II is still a great way to get to know The Misfits without having to go out an buy all of the classic albums that feature the classic line up with the great Glen Danzig. Once again, much like the original collection this is a great way to introduce yourself to the band or even just a great addition to a die hards collection.
   
   No this is no where are good as the original collection but this does have everything else that was left off. Collection II does contain some classic Misfits songs like the lead of track 'We Are 138.' This song is easily one of the best that the band ever recorded. 'Attitude' is another classic and easily in the bands top ten songs of all time. 'Last Caress' just might be the bands greatest song of all time if not just behind 'Bullet' and 'Die, Die My Darling.' The original version of 'Halloween' is another contender for the bands best song, it is easily the most important and the most influential. Cliff Burton decided he wanted to play bass because of this song. This is also the reason why AFI formed was because this song made Davey Havok want to start a band. I know most punk fans are not real big on AFI but all there albums before The Art Of Drowing are straight up punk and Hardcore punk. They are a great band. 'Horror Hotel is another classic, while not as famous as the others it is without a doubt one of their classics. 'Demonomania' is short but oh so sweet. 'Devils Whorehous' is the song that most people heard the first time they were introduced to The Misfits, and a real cult classic.
   
   Collection one might have the majority of the bands classic songs it really would not be complete without Collection II. This contains it all that was left off one. For the casual fan, diehards and newer fans of The Misfits this and the original collection, which is simply titled Misfits, are great ways to discover the band....while they were good anyway.



3. While not as good as Collection I, Collection II is deffidently a good buy. This collection, just like Collection I, contains songs that aren't avaliable on the studio albums, such as, Cough/Cool, Children In Heat, Rat Fink, Halloween II, Horror Hotel, and Mephisto Waltz(which was an unused Samhain song that somehow ended up on this collection). This album also contains alternate versions of Hatebreeders and Braineaters. I find these versions to be better than the originals on Walk Among Us.
   This collection contains some damn good Misfits songs, like We Are 138, Attitude, Cough/Cool, my personal favorite Children In Heat, Hatebreeders, Braineaters, Halloween, We Bite, Demonomania, and Bloodfeast. In fact, the only songs on this CD that I don't like are Rat Fink and Halloween II.
   If you're looking to buy your first Misfits albums, buy Walk Among Us, and the two Collection albums. Trust me, you won't regret it.



4. i own this album, collection 1, walk among us and static age. the production on collection 1 is horrible compared to the rest but in my opinion collection 1 has the best songs, just poor quality. danzig has an awesome voice but he doesnt sing to please everyone...he sings cuz he likes to rock out. as a misfits junkie i would recommend collection 1 first then pick up the rest (static age and walk among us). where eagles dare is still my all time fav misfits song. its vulgar but how can you not like it?



5. I was a big Misfits- fan about a half year ago. I bought 3 of their albums, Collection 1, Legacy Of Brutality and this one. Now the problem that I have, is that there really isn`t an essential Misfits collection (Box Set maybe, but not everyone needs THAT much Misfits). I prefer this one, because Collection 1 has poor versions of great songs, and Legacy Of Brutality sounds muddy as hell. I am actually still kicking myself for the mistake of buying so many Misfits CD`s, because Static Age has almost every great song in it. Walk Among Us would be a good album too.
   
   This doesn`t mean that this one sucks. Not at all, this CD still has their best songs like Last Caress, Attitude and We Are 138, plus some of my personal favorites like Return Of The Fly, another version of Hatebreeders and We Bite. But that`s about it really. What we need is a definitive Misfits collection, preferably on one CD, that has all of their best stuff from Static Age, Walk Among Us and the two Collections.
   
   So, don`t make the same mistake I did, unless you are really, really into Misfits. And even then you should think about how long you are going to be a big fan. For casual fans, I would recommend Static Age or Walk Among Us. This one is for the die-hards only.