Don and I exchanged a bunch of music many months ago with the idea of introducing each other to “new music”. As I do with all music I get from people, I’m offering up a review of it all. I made Don an MP3 disc which he’s in the process of reviewing (go here), so what I’ll do is post the stuff he gave me (which was significantly more) in 2 sections.
What I’m posting is the raw data, my thoughts on hearing the stuff. It’s VERY uncensored and it’s mostly concerned with what I’m deleting. See, I put all of this stuff on my iPod and the stuff I like will stay on there; what I don’t like will be deleted. It’s usually easier to just put the stuff I get rid of.
Of course, this is long as hell (thus the split):
Alice In Chains – Unplugged – I am disappointed in this one. I really thought I’d love it, but Staley is so clearly out of it that the other 3 guys can’t salvage it. It definitely shows that it was their first gig in 3 years. It’s too bad that dude couldn’t keep his shit together. You’d think that after so many musicians ODing that people would just stop taking all that shit. Well, I guess not. On this album some of the arrangements were good (heavier songs into acoustic), but mostly it was kind of uninspired. I have to say, I’m glad I never bought this.
Allmans – Decade of Hits – good stuff for the most part. The only tracks I got rid of were Crazy Love, Revival and Wasted Words.
Allmans – 10/2/04 Charlotte – very good quality. I need to see these guys sometime, this is a really good show. Revival is the only bad song. Really dumb lyrics. Other than that, really good.
Animal Bag – Animal Bag – Awright, I have to say it. I know he’s your friend and all (or something like that), but the thing I can’t get past with this group is the singer. I don’t think his voice fits the music and I’ve always hated metal singers who sing in that whiny, cat-type voice. There were too many back in the day that sounded just like that. Musically, it’s decent enough, and there are some good bits, but nothing really moves me. Some interesting bits in the latter part of Missing Out. Some good melodies on Cheerful Mary. Moonsong might be my favorite, for the music. The production’s pretty crap on this whole album though…too digital and “thin”. Needs to sound more real. So yeah, that’s all pretty much it. Sorry, bro.
Black Crowes – Money Maker bonus tracks – Don’t Wake Me is a good track, shoulda been on the CD. Mercy, Sweet Moan WAS on there as a hidden track, right? I think it’s pretty useless and shall be deleted.
Black Crowes – Southern Harmony – great album. Only iffy tracks are Black Moon Creeping and Time Will Tell. On BMC I don’t like the chorus, but the rest is really good. As for TWT…eh, kinda boring. Getting rid of this one.
Black Crowes – Amorica – good, solid album. I really enjoy it. Like I said, Wiser Time is awesome. The only track I didn’t care for (and will thus delete) is Downtown Money Waster.
Black Crowes – By Your Side – You only included Welcome to the Goodtimes. Eh, I don’t really care for this song. I usually love horns, but I don’t think they work in this one. Maybe it’s just the arrangement. I don’t know. I’m just not that impressed with this song in general.
Black Crowes – Live at the Joint, LV, NV 10/14-15/05 – I like the Crowes, I think they’re a cool band. I’m not keeping this though. Don’t get pissed or anything, just hear me out. OBVIOUSLY they’re a good live band, and yes, I enjoyed listening to the shows. The thing is, I know I won’t ever listen to them. Plus I’m really weird about live recordings popping up on shuffle. It’s always a bit jarring. So yeah, I like it, they’re good shows, but I know I won’t actually listen to them. I appreciate all of the different tunes and different arrangements (definitely), but I guess for space issues (and I know I won’t listen to it) I won’t be keeping them. However, hearing them does make me want to go see them live a lot more. And that leads into…
Black Crowes – Live & Acoustic in London – There were parts of this I liked better than the Las Vegas shows and parts I didn’t. I enjoy both the acoustic and electric stuff. I like the different arrangements and esp. in how Chris Robinson changes the way he sings like everything. That’s cool, and a mark of real singer IMO. One of my primary complaints about this show is that they’re almost too raw. Yeah, they’re a great band, and have been since 1990 (at least), but it’s still a bit too raw for me. Not the recording quality, but the *band* quality. They hadn’t fully found themselves yet. At times that rawness kinda got to me. So yeah, I liked it (though on the whole not as much as the 2005 shows), but I’m also not going to keep it. It’s good and interesting, but I don’t think it’s something I’d need to hear again. Just my crazy opinion.
Black Sabbath – Wasps Behind the Wall of Bassy Nibs (original version) – love this shit. I wish it wasn’t as 1 track, but whatever. I’m going to trim NIB off anyway since I already have it.
Black Sabbath – Best of – There are a good number of songs I already have from We Sold our Soul for RNR and since the sound quality is exactly the same, I’m just keeping my versions. So, the ones I’m deleting because I already have them (and like them!) are: Black Sabbath, Wizard, NIB, Paranoid, War Pigs, Iron Man, Tomorrow’s Dream, Fairies Wear Boots, Sweet Leaf, Children of the Grave, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, & Snowblind.
So then, my thoughts on the rest:
Evil Woman – dumb song
Wicked World – never heard it before this. I completely understand why. Not a good track…except for the cool guitar bit in the middle. Dammit! I hate it when people do that shit, “oh, we have this shit song, let’s stick a cool guitar part in the middle”. Fuckers. Eh, I’m still skipping it.
Planet Caravan – ugh, I can’t stand this song…and I hate the Pantera version just as much as this one.
Electric Funeral – hey Ozzy, what a great melody! It sounds like they were really reaching with this track. I haven’t heard this in over a decade and it hasn’t gotten one bit better.
Embryo – he needs to tune.
Lord of this World – not bad. It sounds like the other early tunes, but it’s OK. I don’t think I’m going to keep it.
Into the Void – interesting. It seems like Ozzy’s struggling with the verse lyrics (tripping over himself), but I like the riffs on here, and some good changes too.
Supernaut – Hell yeah, love this tune. Great shit.
Killing Yourself to Live – Ah, Chuck Klosterman! Love that book. Oh yeah, the song. Another cool middle section. I think this song is decent. I’m going back and forth on keeping it. I don’t think I will, but it’s not that bad of a track.
Spiral Architect – sounds like The Who. This is quite an interesting track. I think I’m gonna keep it.
Hole in the Sky – decent. It’s heavy-ish, but not essential. I gotta say, Iommi’s definitely a Riff Master.
Don’t Start (Too Late) – What the fuck? I guess you gotta shake things up and show off your chops every once and a while. It would be better if he actually DID SOMETHING with the music, but it’s a cool little diversion. Still, I’m not keeping it.
Symptom of the Universe – OK, you know in the Ozzy video where Larz talks about Metallica jamming this song with Ozzy…holy fuck, can you imagine how damn cool that was?!?!? Fuck, this is a cool ass tune.
Am I Going Insane – it was on my old BS comp and I deleted it. Stupid song.
Dirty Women – some good guitar work, but it’s a crap song.
Never Say Die – I still love this song. I like the version from Speak of the Devil better, but it’s still a great song. It just needs heavier production. I’d like to hear the Dio lineup play this one.
Hard Road – interesting/decent, but not a keeper.
Heaven & Hell/Turn up the Night – Love them both (well… I love H&H), but I’m deleting them since I have better sounding versions from the Dio comp.
The Dark/Zero the Hero – why even bother putting Dio on this CD (who deserves an entire CD, which finally happened) and then *1* track with Random Singer #3. They shoulda just kept it all Ozzy, or had a disc and a half Ozzy and 6 or 7 Dio tunes. This song is “heavy”, but it’s crap.
So, besides the ones I already had, the ones I’m keeping are: Into the Void, Supernaut, Spiral Architect, Symptom of the Universe & Never Say Die. Look out!
Black Sabbath – Reunion – You gave me versions of Behind the Wall of Sleep and NIB. I really like both, but I don’t need another version of NIB. They clearly play it with more enthusiasm than Behind the Wall of Sleep, but I don’t *need* it and I don’t see myself listening to it that often. I will keep Behind the Wall of Sleep since it’s such a cool song and you never hear it.
Billy Bragg – Hamburg 06 – Dude, I have to be honest. This music is not for me one single bit. I find it incredibly boring. I think those poems should have stayed in written form and not transformed into songs. And I really don’t care for Billy Bragg’s voice or really him in general.
Neko Case – Blacklisted – decent stuff, it’ll take a while to all sink in. Lady Pilot is fucking bad ass, though. Pretty solid album. I’ll definitely listen more. Outro With Bees (reprise) is the only “ugh” track on the album.
Cinderella – Long Cold Winter – This one might be their strongest album. I’m not sure. There are still some weak tracks on here, but the best songs here are definitely the best ones they ever did. Falling Apart at the Seams, Gypsy Road, Last Mile, Coming Home….great stuff. Let’s see, the one’s I’m not keeping are: Fire and Ice, Long Cold Winter (even though it’s not bad as a blues tune, his voice just isn’t right for it. I laugh every time I hear him sing this), Second Wind and Take Me Back. The rest are all keepers.
Cinderella – Heartbreak Station – Dude, I was totally surprised how I didn’t like this near as much I did when it first came out. It’s still very ballsy, that’s for sure. For some reason, there was something that didn’t quite sit with me. I think maybe it’s just a quality of songs. Hell, maybe it’s just *me* and something in my mind is not willing to listen to “new shit”. I dunno. Most of the tracks I didn’t really care for. I guess it looks like I’m just keeping the singles – More Things Change, Shelter Me & Heartbreak Station. OH! For some reason on the mp3’s you gave me, the track Sick For the Cure is repeated. The problem is that the first one is actually Nothing for Nothing. Crazy shit.
Cinderella – Still Climbing. Ehhh, it’s decent. It certainly sounds like Cinderella, but it’s missing something. Maybe hunger? I dunno. I’ve listened through it a couple of times and while everything sounds “fine”, nothing really moves me. I gave it a chance though.
Alice Cooper – Greatest Hits – I kept about half of the songs, and decided not to keep: It’s My Body, Desperado, Be My Lover, Teenage Lament 74 & Muscle of Love
Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies – Raped and Freezin isn’t too great of a song, it’s going bye-bye. Elected is a good song, even if his vocals are totally out of key. I probably won’t keep Billion Dollar Baby. It’s got a couple of good riffs, but it’s not much outside of the main riff and the chorus. Generation Landslide, not bad. A little interesting. I don’t think I’ll keep it though.
Alice Cooper – Welcome to My Nightmare – Let’s see, you put on the title track, Devil’s Food and Black Widow. The title track I love; goes without saying. As for the other two, they were OK, Black Widow being better, but I didn’t really love either one. I guess I just don’t need to hear them on my ipod.
CSN – CSN – Judy Blue Eyez is awesome, Marrakesh Express is lame, so it is thus deleted. Overall this album is solid, really good stuff. Judy is still the bomb, though.
CSNY – Déjà vu – It’s interesting that you feel this is a superior album to the first one. I disagree. There are definitely some great moments on here, but there are also a lot of things I either don’t like, or they’re kinda boring. Yeah, I know, blasphemy. I figure you’re man enough to handle it. The songs I really like are Carry On and Woodstock. I like the first bit of Déjà vu, but then it loses the whole cool stuff and it just kinda plods on. I think it’s not a surprise that I like the Neil Young tracks the least. I really just don’t like that dude. So yeah, that’s the basic synopsis of one of your favorite albums!
CSNY – 4 Way Street – ah, man…I’m not into it. I can’t stand Neil Young in any capacity (sounds like someone is stepping on a cat). I know you like the dude, but for me he’s near last in bands I would ever listen to. As for the rest of the album, it’s almost putting me to sleep. The tunes are good, but it’s just soooo mellow that I can’t really listen to it and enjoy it.
Dangerous Toys – Hellacious Acres – I’m definitely going to keep a few off this, but honestly not too many. I never thought they were a consistent band anyway, so it doesn’t surprise me that only a few tracks per album hold up. Let’s see, I’m keeping the singles: Gunfighter, Gimme No Lip & Line ‘Em Up. The rest just aren’t that great.
Miles Davis – Bitches Brew – Awright, about time this mofo came on! Fucking freaky-ass-Miles-shit. Fuck yeah. I’ve never heard this album in full, so I’m looking forward to it. OK, after listening I have determined it’s a VERY cool album. I have no idea why I never bought this. I’ve been meaning to buy the Bitches Brew Box set, so I’ll just move it a bit higher up in the list. Great shit.
Dio – Stand up And Shout – well, since I don’t care for the Elf material you know that’s going bye bye. I actually don’t care for Rainbow’s Starstruck. And Strange Highways isn’t that great. It’s annoying that they thought that was the best song off that album. And Wild One was WAY better than Lock Up the Wolves. Ah well. I think for being a 2CD overview of the man’s career, it does a pretty good job. The high points are definitely hit. I would’ve liked a couple more rainbow songs, but that’s OK. Did I say earlier that Dream Evil is my favorite song of his? No, it’s clearly Last in Line. Fuck yeah.
E Muzeki – sounded pretty good from what I heard, but the problem is that there is a ton of “digital noise” on these tracks. All of them that I heard. I guess it’s the mp3 equivalent of skipping. Even though I’d probably keep it, the noise prevents me from wanting to hear it again.
Elf – It’s interesting to hear the beginnings of Dio, but I’m not too enthralled with the music. I really don’t care for honky-tonk piano. There are a few moments where the music is a bit more involved (less bluesy) and some parts where he really SINGS. Those bits were interesting, but as a whole the disc wasn’t too enjoyable for me.
Flecktones – 3 Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – I have to listen to this again too, but my initial impression was that it was WAY too “lite”. Just kinda weak and pussified. No balls.
Galactic – Crazyhorse Mongoose – I’m going to listen to this again, but something didn’t quite jive with me. I don’t know what it is.
God Street Wine – Live at the Wetlands – Man, I just don’t like it. I know they were concurrent with Phish, but they really sound too much like Phish for me. The musicianship is fine, but I just don’t hear the songwriting there. These guys are similar to Moe for me. Both bands sound like the stereotypical “jam band” to me. They have that “jam band” sound, and I’m sure people dance and stuff at the concerts, but *for me* there’s not much substance past that. Not my thing, man.
Warren Haynes – Clinton NJ 97 – on the whole not bad. Some of the tunes were good, but it’s not really my kind of thing. It didn’t suck, but it wasn’t great for me. Sorry, but it leaves my ipod.
Charlie Hunter – Return of the candyman – Well, first off, I have to say I skipped Fly Like an Eagle. Steve Miller can suck it. The rest of it…I think I’ll probably keep the rest of the album. It’s got some nice grooves and even though it approaches smooth jazz at times, it’s pretty chill and it’ll be a nice thing to have in the pod.
Jamiroquai – Funk Odyssey – man, I really don’t care for this album. It just sounds like generic disco music, except 20 years too late. I don’t know, I’m more concerned with songwriting than just rehashed disco/dance music. The slow/different songs stand out a good bit, but they’re not good enough to keep.
Jamiroquai – Travelling Without Moving – I was hoping this would be different from Funk Odyssey, but it really isn’t. I’m not a fan of disco, so that’s a big strike against it. I guess I just don’t see the point of disco 20/30 years later when it’s basically the same thing. It’s danceable shit certainly, but for the most part it coulda came out in ’77 and it would fit in. And it’s strange, because Virtual Insanity is SUCH a good song and I was so hoping that songwriting would carry on to the rest of the tracks. I like how they tried different stuff, like the reggae and all that, but that one just wasn’t very convincing. I do like both of the didgireedoo (?) tracks so I’m keeping those, but that’s really all.
Jellyfish – Bellybutton – good stuff. Album was pretty short, only about 40 minutes, but I liked it. I’ve heard them pop up when I put your playlist on random and it’s always good to hear it. I think they’ll make a nice addition to the iPod. Oh, on the CD I gave you, check out Millicent Friendly. They’re really inspired by Jellyfish and are actually appearing on a Jellyfish tribute CD coming up soon.
Norah Jones – Not Too Late – I really like this album. Very casual kind of vibe. I like that it’s all originals. The Sun Doesn’t Like You is a bad ass song.
Sexy Norah – Live at Bonnaroo – good stuff, good show. Def. a keeper.
Lacuna Coil – Comalies – I’m definitely going to listen to this more, but on the first few listens I definitely like it more than Karmacode. Right now I’m more in the frame of mind of “appreciating from afar, but not really LOVING it”. Something like that. I think I’ve figured out what I don’t like about it (because how I work, is when I don’t immediately ‘like’ something, I look to find out why). One thing is the keyboards. I really can’t stand them, esp. in metal bands. There are few keyboardists out there who I truly like and think they contribute to the music. Page is one, Jonathan Cain from Journey is another one, though not near as much as Page. Other than that, eh, they can all go away as far as I care. And I mean in “rock” bands here, not dudes like Greg Allman. But my point is for me they don’t work in metal bands. Another thing preventing me from loving LC is that they’re essentially a goth band, and I fucking hate goth music. I really think it blows. It’s true that they’re absolutely better than all of those bands, but that they’re playing in that style gets them some negative points. I know they’re heavy and all, but the rhythm dudes are nearly always playing boring ass shit. So I don’t know, I want to listen more. They’re definitely better than most heavy bands out now, but right now, for me, they’re just average.
Moe – No Doy – I mentioned this early in the GSW entry, but I was just extremely NOT into this music. They’re all good players, but the songwriting is just really bad on here. This group reminded me of a friend of mine when making fun of jam bands, this is the type of shit he’d sing. Nonsensical lyrics are fine and all, but these guys just take the cake for it. Horrible stuff. You really like this? I have to admit that one of the other albums I heard was slightly better than the tracks off this one, but still, everything I’ve heard from them is really bad. I’ll at least *try* to listen to the other ones.
Mother Love Bone – Interesting. I don’t think it’s good enough that I’m going to keep it (and the singer gets on my nerves after a while), but I think it was good to listen to. Well, good in the historical perspective…because a lot of these songs could have been Pearl Jam songs, or riffs or something. So yeah, I liked hearing from a historical perspective, but as a stand-alone album it’s only decent. I still love Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns, but since I already have that track I don’t need any of this. I am glad I got to hear this album (finally) though. Interesting to hear those guys’ early stuff.
Motley Crue – ST – Heavy. I really like that they put out such a heavy album. There seems to be more crunch to the songs on this album. I still think Corabi brought so much to the band that Vince couldn’t even conceive of. It’s weird in that it’s definitely still Crue, but it’s also different. Different than they had been before. I think that if they had stuck with it they could have quite possibly completely shed that old “glam” image and *maybe* be one of the heavier leaders of metal today. MAYBE. Obviously, instead, the band chose to be forever stuck in the “glam/hair metal” thing and well, it’s too late now. As far as what the band is presenting to the world, nothing matters after Dr. Feelgood. And that’s crap, because they were a good band with Corabi, esp. live. Ah well, blame Nikki. As for my enjoyment of the album, I’m kinda iffy. I appreciate and like the heaviness of the album, but that doesn’t always translate into me loving it. I like it, it’s fine, but it IS still Motley Crue, and they’re really not a consistent band for me anyway. The S/T album is a million times more consistent than Dr. Feelgood, but it’s still not something I L-O-V-E. Ya know? I still think Misunderstood is the best track on the album and that one I’m keeping, but the rest I really don’t need to hear over and over. I can appreciate their boldness from afar and I’m happy with that. I am glad I listened to it all the way through, though.
Motorhead – Ace of Spades – you just threw on 2 tracks, Ace of Spades and We’re the Road Crew. I don’t really care for Road Crew, but Ace of Spades is classic.
Old Crow Medicine Show – Big Iron World – This is a strange one, I appreciate the musicianship and the songs are either good or clever…but…most of this stuff, especially all of the “hokey” stuff really isn’t appealing to me in a digital format. I’m sure they’re great live (they sound like a lot of fun) but listening in my headphones to it isn’t something I really like to do. Sorry, but it seems like it’s just something to be experienced live.
Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged in – Let’s see, the tracks you put on here are Cry Tough, I Want Action, I Won’t Forget You, title track & Talk Dirty to Me. The first 3 tracks I was never really that impressed with when they came out. They’re decent, but nothing great. Look What the Cat Dragged in isn’t too great of a song, I didn’t really like it. So, I’m only keeping Talk Dirty to Me. It’s fun and stupid, but whatthefuck.
Poison – Open Up – Love on the Rocks – ehhhh, don’t dig it. Nothing But a Good Time – fuck yeah. Fallen Angel – rocks. Every Rose – Eh, it’s ok. I’m gonna keep it, but more so for nostalgic reasons. Your Momma Don’t Dance – ugh, no. I’ve never liked this song. Fuck Kenny Loggins.
Poison – Flesh and Blood – Let’s see you put on Unskinny Bop, Let it Play, Ride the Wind, Something to Believe in & Life Loves a Tragedy. Unskinny Bop, I never really liked it. I think it’s something you tolerate, but not really enjoy. At least not me. Let it Play was just kinda lame, same for Life Loves a Tragedy. Something to Believe in, yeah, I’ve heard it a million times. Pretty good song, but I’m not going to keep it. I’ve heard it enough in my life. Ride the Wind, fuck, my favorite Poison song. Best one they ever wrote. I really don’t get sick of hearing that one. So yeah, 1 out of 5!
REM – Automatic for the People – Don’t care for Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Sweetness Follows, Monty Got a Raw Deal and Ignoreland. I had to listen to this a few times before I got into the full mood for it. So, I’m keeping most of the songs. It’s a good album, fairly solid, but it’s not *amazing*.
Rush in Rio – Duh! You need to find that 3rd disc, though. I’m gonna buy this one day.
Rush – Snakes and Arrows – I included this since it’s part of what I got from you. So, I listened to the whole thing, not completely actively, but that’s because if I did I’d be so damn bored. And as I type this I’m listening to Spirit of Radio. Fuck, completely different band. Even just the fire that the band had back in ’80 is nowhere near to be found on the new one. You can still be a matured person and songwriter, but still have a FIRE under your ass. Rush just doesn’t get it. Yeah, on the whole this album bores me. The lyrics are uniformly bad. Peart comes off as a dumbfuck. Whatever. You know, there are good musical bits here and there, but there’s not 1 single consistent song. It’s not shitty like the last album was, but it’s just boring. The only song I liked was the 2nd (of 3 ?!?!?) instrumental, Hope. Very different, but cool. Of course, it’s only 2 minutes long and doesn’t really go anywhere. I liked the solos that Lifeson actually took, and it’s nice to hear him solo again since he’s so good at it. There isn’t a single one on the last album. One of the many reasons it sucks. So yeah, that’s nice about the few solos. But overall, fucking A, this is a boring album. And to all of the motherfuckers who have compared it to Presto (one of my faves), they are so incredibly wrong. It’s just not even fair. Again, not the same band. They should have ended the band back in 97 or 98 when they almost did. I am going to keep this a little while longer, because it’s to be inspiration for a song about when groups used to be talented, but they lost the FIRE AND HUNGER and not put out boring as shit music. So hey, it’s good for something!
The Sadies – In Concert Volume 1 – I’m enjoying this more than I had previously. I’m not really too much into the whole country thing, but they’re definitely good players. I’ll listen to it some more, but my basic thought is that while it’s not amazing, it definitely doesn’t suck. I don’t think I’ll be keeping it though.
Joe Satriani – Anthology – I give him points for trying, but he definitely shouldn’t sing. Not a “bad” voice, but it just doesn’t work. Thankfully it’s just for a few tracks. On the whole I liked his earlier stuff best (80’s) and wasn’t too terribly in love with the 90’s stuff. The experiments in electronica are interesting, but it’s still just more of the same. I dig the way he composes a lot of the time, but I wish his rhythm sections weren’t so damn boring. I guess it’s that way so that nobody upstages Satriani at any time. I’m not going to go through every track on here, but the ones I’m keeping are from the earlier albums (Surfing, Blue Dream, Extremist). Maybe some of the latest ones. Oh, there were some weird problems in a few of the songs. Maybe all on disc 2? In the middle of a lot of the songs, it cuts to another song for like a measure and then goes back to the proper one. I don’t know if it’s a mistake or not, but I figure it is.
Skid Row – 40 Seasons – I just don’t need any Skid Row. In listening to those tracks from the first album, I just realized that I don’t need to hear it anymore. Not for fun and not for enjoyment. I mean, it’s decent stuff, but I guess I’m just over it. That and I really, really can’t stand Sebastian and so hearing his voice all the time just pisses me off.
Skid Row – Slave to the Grind – I owned this for a long time, but I eventually sold it. And when I sold it, I didn’t tape any of the songs. I guess it’s just one of those that’s “good enough”, but not something I really want in my collection.
Spin Docotors – Pocketful – already know about this one.
Spin Doctors – Turn it Upside Down – I really didn’t like this one too much. I mean, it was decent and the sound was good and everything, but *something* was missing that was all over the first album. I know a good number of these tracks are older, but something still sounds weird. Like they’re just kind of coasting a little bit. I don’t know what it is, but it’s there. At least it is for me. There really wasn’t anything off this album I feel was essential.
Sting – Dream of the Blue Turtles – This really surprised me. I was surprised that I couldn’t stand like 90% of this album. It’s really cheesy and the songwriting is quite weak, especially when you compare it to the last album he made before this, Synchronicity. OK, Fortress is an AMAZING song, and the other popular ones are decent enough, but the rest is lame cheese-jazz (but not nearly good enough to be REAL jazz). I’m glad I heard this without buying it, because I was extremely disappointed in it. There’s no need to keep any of the tracks off it since I have the good ones on his best of anyway.
Izzy Stradlin – Some Live Show – I really didn’t like this. Don’t like his voice and I don’t care for the songs. Irregardless of the quality of the show, that wasn’t what bothered me. It just sounded sloppy to me. He shouldn’t sing.
Waifs – Brief History Live – Hm, the main vocalist sounds like Neko Case a bit. I prefer her singing to the others in the group. The music was pretty good and the songs not bad, but I think they would be better (for me) in a live setting and not listening on CD. Not bad, but I’m not going to keep it.
Current Location: home
Current Mood: normal
Current Music: Bruce Dickinson – King in Crimson
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