Antonio's album reviews

You wouldnt mind throwing a PM my way would you? (and yes I keep asking you for things today, but hey Iv been musically deprived for a week without internet :)!
 
Janes Addiction are a band I should really like with their skewed view of Rock music and although they have some great moments, I have never been truly blown away by them. is it Farell's voice or the underwhelming production? I'm not quite sure. It's about time I gave this another listen as it's been quite a while since I have heard it.
 
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Label: Warner Bros.
Release Date: August 21, 1990

Thanks to RezZ for the link

This was the second studio album from Jane's Addiction, and compared to their previous effort in Nothing's Shocking, a bit more rock in it's step. I was a bit saddened by this, seeing as NS had more of a primal and natural edge to it. Even so, after listening to the album, i found much to love in it. this was released a year before Nirvana's Nevermind and was hailed as a harbinger of things to come, and i can see that, with that sort of tone in the music as well as a sense of freedom in what they're doing. another thing Eric Avery it seems has more of a bass presence on here, which as a guy who loves bass presence, i see that as a Big Plus:thumb:.

Something i found out when i was getting the information on this album was how it was divided into two parts, where tracks 1-5 were their more rockish oriented songs, track 6-9 are in whole a tribute to Perry Farrel's deceased friend Xiola Blue, who died at age 19 of a heroin overdose. the tracks seem to be a chronicle of her life.

In all i give this album a 9.5/10, with much of it's new ideas and the direction it showed the band going into, this is a must have for any Jane's Addiction fan and fan of music in general.



Stop!-Beginning with someone presenting the band in spanish this song then switches time signatures like clothes, only to "STOP!" at various points that make it as uncomfortable as it is exciting.

No One's Leaving - Slapping da bass, didn't know Eric Avery had it in him :D. the guitar seems to surround you in a cloud of effects, even during the solo.

Ain't No Right - i feel a bit alienated listening to the beginning of the song, with Perry talking about "Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll" like it's a bad thing ;). then when you think it's over, it goes to a song more their sound and feel, with funky bass, guitar and primal drums to match

Obvious - a bit calmer than the previous song, but still as intense. It seems to be a plateau song for them, where things run smooth the whole way.

Been Caught Stealing - Definately one of their biggest hits, but not my favorite JA song. nothing wrong with it, i'm just so tired of hearing that by them and ONLY that on rock radio. Even so, i think that it definately deserves a listen for anyone who wants to hear this band.

Three Days - ah, the ten minute epic. it seems that these guys have crossed into that territory. with a very slow and calm bassline from Avery from the start, it goes into a just a slow song, where you could feel the pain in Perry's voice. it starts to pick up, but still the same feeling with a bit more guitar. The solo in this song is possibly Dave Navarro's best effort, with him stepping a bit outside the ol' pentatonic scale and exploring some new territory. definately give this song a listen, you'd be denying yourself something great if you didn't.

Then She Did... - this song seems to be a bit more intimate in its approach than any of the previous ones, starting off calmed and then going into the band's massive sound, complete with violins! It then comes back to the more quiet, inward feel of before.

Of Course - i smell a bit of Middle Eastern influence! It starts with that and Perry sounding like he's half asleep, but in a good way as he keeps bringing "La La, La La, La La, La La" into the mix.

Classic Girl- The final song on the album seems to feel like the night after a huge party, waking up with a hangover and looking around to see all of your stuff either tampered with, damaged, or stolen. it's also a sense of peace and calm in the air. Even with the shift at approximately 2:45, it still holRAB that feeling.
 
Yeah, as long as your thread's getting read then it's a job well done.

I might just have to check out that Reverand Horton Heat album - all I've got is Smoke 'em If You Got 'em (which has as much psychobilly awesomeness as you can shake a stick at).
 
Very good review. I honestly feel pretty much the same way about each song. I guess the only difference between you and I is that this album has to be my favorite of theres. And its funny you mention how Dave goes out of his pentatonic box for once, because I saw an interview with him where he talks about how he doesnt know much theory and he almost always sticks to major/minor pen scales.
 
yeah, i've gone throught the cd at least 3 times since i got it, and while the production is surprisingly meh(it's Warner Brothers for God sakes), it still has its really good moments. as for Perry's voice, yeah, either you love it or hate it.
 
Well, I've got some news everyone.

seeing as i have just finished classes and i'll be able to have more free time on my hanRAB, and because i want to expand my musical horizon rather than posting the same old stuff, i'll start taking any requests for album reviews. anyone who wishes that i review something can PM me with the name of the artist and album, as well as a link to it. feel free to post in here too


so yeah, just so you know
 
hmmm seems i was right about EXP :yeah:

and yeah i have 5 of his cRAB, mostly cause my guitar teacher was a HUGE fan(he even met Jimi when he was 9), and would teach me Hendrix songs and lend me cRAB and stuff, and i gotta say that all along the watchtower and voodoo chile are massively overrated, there's so many better songs by him IMO.

and yeah with Noel and Mitch, guess not everything was groovy in the 60's eh? ;)

and yeah i know the 1st foo fighters cd started as dave's side thing in the Nirvana days, i read up a bit on that and how he was so afraid to present any songs he did in fear of throwing off band chemistry. and yeah he did rerecord the entire album himself, cause he thought the version he did with the band wasn't up to par and he also rerecorded much of the band, minus their 1st drummer. after that guy found out is when he decided to leave.
 
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Release Date: October 14, 1997
Label: Reprise

man it's been a while since i've done one of these, but hey, the show must go on.........


Nimrod is the fifth album released by Green Day and the second album after their seminal release, Dookie. By this point they're pretty well positioned in popular music, but not too much that they'd recycle old sounRAB and styles completely. Now, there are two reasons that i chose to do this. One, I felt that this was a time when Green Day sound was evolving, breaking out of the pop punk barriers and encompassing new instruments and sounRAB into their music. Listening to this, you get random doses of fast paced punk, slower paced pop, and even ska at one point. sure, not exactly leaps and bounRAB, but for these guys, it's quite the change.

The only problem i have with this cd is the lack of bass prescence. Now Mike Dirnt's got the gooRAB, but he's not using them enough. ffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuu >_
 
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Release Date: May 27, 1977
Label: Capricorn RecorRAB

Formed at the University of Miami in the 70's, Dixie Dregs is a band that i'm surprised isn't talked about that much on here. what i can only describe as "southern fried fusion", these guys combine elements of jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and country, melding them together to take you on a journey with compositions that are well organized, complex, and brimming with excitement. just looking at the album cover tells you that you're in for quite a trip, and seeing the smiles on the guys' faces tells you that you're gonna like it. It's sunny disposition leaves you feeling like you're gonna have a good day; this is definately an album you want playing when you wake up in the morning.

I love how this album has each of the players have their defining moments as well as great parts away from the spotlight. Steve Morse of course, being the composer of all the songs on this album, takes center stage, as does violinist Allen Sloan, who's smooth and cheerful sounRAB compliment Morse's funky country lines. Bassist Andy West, keyboardist Steven Davidowski and drummer Rob Morgenstein provide a strong backing; having mastered the art of subtlety while still being able to tear sh*t up, so to speak.

brilliantly composed, full of good, upbeat spirit and musical virtuosity, this is one of my favorite albums and hopefully one that you'll love too. 10/10




Free Fall-Like i said before, good waking up music. this song sounRAB like the sun is shining and you're getting your day started, taking a bath, brushing your teeth, getting dressed, and grabbing something quick to eat before you're out on your merry way. then it sounRAB like your in your car, trying to fight the traffic to get where you're going. it's also likely to get this stuck in your head, it's actually quite singable for being instrumental.

Holiday-sounRAB like you're parusing the local shops around town during christmas time, the snow is on the ground, with carolers and santa on every corner greeting you as you walk by. i love how Morse plays an almost Irish sounding diddty on this, as well as the touch of bells that give this a real seasonal feel

Hand Jig-the drummer does an offbeat solo, then it transitions into a song that feels like you're a business man walking down the street to your high rise building, getting ready to ink that new contract with the company. in the middle it does a bit of soloing, then gets back to business

Moe Down-the beginning sounRAB like an orchestra getting ready to play, then it goes into a hoedown, complete with fiddle, banjo, slide guitar and all around fun.

Refried Funky Chicken-the guitar on here does make it sound like chicken in the deep fryer. my favorite song on here, one that's upbeat and gets you moving, not unlike many of the songs on here already.

Sleep-sounRAB like the title, and the best touch is the synthesizer that makes it feel like you're being carried away on a cloud. a bit of a well deserved break from the rest of the album.

Cruise Control-You know those movies where a bunch of guys jump into the car on their way to Vegas and the camera views from really high above as they speed down the highway? yea, it feels like that, real upbeat and just cool. it makes a bit of an abrupt stop in the middle, feeling like you're walking into an amazingly fancy and state of the art hotel, just in awe of everything. it speeRAB up a bit, with the guys soloing back to back, then gets back to where it started

Cosmopolitan Traveler-i really like how the song titles pretty much describe the song. this actually does feel like you're walking through the big city, possibly you're first time there and just taking in the awe of everything

Dig the Ditch-hmmm......i don't know quite how to describe this song, it's hard to put my finger quite on how this song makes you feel. it's still good though.

Wages of Weirdness-starts a bit strange, then it picks up with the bass and violin, and is a bit of a clusterf*ck to me, like they're trying to fit a lot of different riRAB, sounRAB and just plain music into one song. it's good, but you might miss something if you don't listen closely. oh yeah, there's also a piano solo, which is damn good if i say so myself

Northern Lights-i almost thought this was some kind of bonus track at first, because of the talking in the beginning. this is a pretty calm ending to the album, really just and acoustic guitar and violin.
 
yeah, haha, i can see what you mean, just hope that some of it can help you see it in a different light possibly

oh and Bulldog, it's definately a good listen, they have a good sound, but at the same time a good deal of variety
 
i wouldn't call those hendrix tunes 'massively' overrated but they aren't the be all end all of his work the way some go on.

wasn't aware about there being an initial band for FF. i always thought he had the recordings done then pulled a group together to tour it once nirvana ended. either way i don't think anyone anticipated how successful that 'side project' was going to be.
 
I like the Crack The Skye album review but I haven't yet downloaded it.
I read an article that the drummer's sister's name was skye and she killed herself because of their abusive father or something.
Anyway, I'll get it soon it looks great.
 
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