Reviews Written By: A2VNLG03DIEGD4provided by Amazon.com |
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| In Flames - Reroute to Remain | ||
![]() | "Grows on you" | 2007-03-01 |
| I've been a huge In Flames fan for quite a while now, and I got this album a while back. Jester Race and Whoracle are their undisputed masterpieces (Colony and Clayman are up there, too), and when I first listened to this album I was disappointed. It seemed greatly lacking in just about every category possible in comparison to their earlier albums. Although I still prefer their earlier albums, I have come to really like this album. Unfortunately this is their last good album in my opinion. Reroute to Remain marks a change in their sound (it continues on their "newer" sound presented on Colony and Clayman, and adds some electronic samples in their music, as did Dark Tranquillity), which isn't necessarily a bad thing (it took me a while to get used to, but now I enjoy it almost as much as their older stuff). My only advice is avoid their last two albums, unless you find yourself liking their newer sound than their older sound. Overall, RTR is a very good album that evolves In Flames' sound. If you're new to In Flames, I suggest starting with Jester Race or Whoracle first, though. | ||
| Boards of Canada - Twoism | ||
![]() | "Old-school BoC; another wonderful EP" | 2006-11-05 |
| Along with such EPs as BoC Maxima (which isn't even available on Amazon) and Skam/Hi Scores, Twoism used to be among the BoC rarities. People have been known to pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars for their copy of this wonderful record. But then in 2002, Twoism was released to the masses. Just like Hi Scores, Twoism is a brief showcase of Boards of Canada's older style of electronica. As with Hi Scores, Twoism is a nearly perfect blend of IDM, trip-hop, and ambient techno. Each track is a soundscape, an experience. The production quality of Twoism isn't quite as good as their latter releases, but this only adds to the atmosphere of the EP. Twoism is a dynamic recording, as it shifts from the beautiful, blissful tunes of "Sixtyniner" and "Melissa Juice" to the darker "Oirectine" to the strange "Smokes Quantity" and "Iced Cooly." Twoism does this all in only 8 tracks. This album does not quite match the atmospheric and cohesive qualities of Hi Scores or their first widely-released LP, Music Has the Right to Children. "Smokes Quantity" can be heard on MHTRTC, but the listener can tell that the Twoism version is rougher in production. Overall Twoism is a fine EP that should be a part of every Boards of Canada fan's collection. It may lack slightly in production quality and overall flow of the album (as there are a few instances where the songs conflict with the following song, instead of setting up a direct flow between each), but these insignificant faults on add to the character of this album. If there's one thing this album has, it is character. Even though I truly love this EP, I would recommend Hi Scores first, as I believe it to be their best EP. And, if you can, find a copy of BoC Maxima, which was their first real LP. Good luck with that, though. Overall- 8/10 | ||
| Ulver - Bergtatt | ||
![]() | "Beautifully balanced black metal" | 2006-10-30 |
| When speaking of black metal bands, you'll probably hear about such extreme metal artists as Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Bathory, ect ect. All those bands stick to one formula: head-crushing, church-burning for the satan within us. But you most likely won't hear of Ulver, a band that, one album, will churn out Emperor-like black metal, filled with impossibly fast percussion, atmosphere guitar work, screeching vocals, and rough production quality (Bergatt would be that album), and turn around and do a follow-up of true folk music. And their music has continued to get more abstract from there. Ulver is not your average black metal band, and because of it many would speculate that Ulver isn't a black metal band in the first place. Say what you will, but Bergatt is a black metal album. It has all the qualities of a true black metal album (listed above), but Ulver makes black metal that is truly beautiful. The album starts out with the perfect intro song, " Chapitel I- I Troldskog Faren Vild," which starts out on a soft note with clean vocals. These vocals add much to the song's beautiful atmosphere, which seems to be strikingly similar to Bergatt's cover. "Chapitel II- Soelen Gaaer Bag Aase Ned" starts on a similar note, but with a much more gentle approach, with flutes and acoustic guitars abound. Then all the sudden all hell breaks loose... the black metal truly begins. Now all the traditional black metal pieces come together- the loud sceeching/growling vocals, repetatively fast percussion and guitar work. From here on the album balances itself out with combinations of a more gothish-metal with clean vocals and true black metal with Emperor-like vocals. This is by no means as brutal as Emperor, as it seems almost to be a mix between Emperor and old-school Cradle of Filth, but it is brutal enough. If only I could understand the lyrics... but I'd have to know their language in order to do that... no english here, but I trust that they are wonderfully crafted. No matter, they add a sense of elegance to the music. Overall, Bergatt is not your average black metal album. It is one of the most unique in that it mixes many different types of music- some not even anywhere near relating to anything metal. It takes all these different pieces to complete a beautiful and complex puzzle that is sure to please any black metal fan. It is one of the finest examples of what can be done in the black metal genre, as it paints a vivid atmosphere, which is what most black metal bands try to do in their music. Bergatt doesn't follow the evil and satanic trends of similar bands, as much as I can tell. Bergatt is a jem in a genre that is in need of unique jems like this, as they are few and far between. If you are a fan of black metal, then you need to listen to this album. And if you're new to the black metal genre, than it is a good place to start, as it is more approachable than many other albums of the genre. Overall- 8.5/10 | ||
| Autechre - Peel Session | ||
![]() | "Not essential, but still great Autechre" | 2006-10-30 |
| The first Peel Session album made by Autechre isn't anything that is absolutely essential by Autechre fans, but it's something interesting from the days of Tri Repetae++. This album is only 3 tracks long, but is still over 25 minutes long. "Milk DX" starts it off in a rather confusing manner. This song is more reminiscent of Amber, which was an excellent album, but was rather inconsistent. Things pick up with "Inhake 2," which is actually one of my favorite songs from Autechre, which has direct similarities to Tri Repetae. It is a simple beat that slowely progresses into an orchestra of mechanic sounds that transformes itself from being souless to emotive and beautiful. I would buy this album for this song alone. "Drane" ends the album with a sense of ambience, which can be found on the Garbage and Anvil Vapre, which can also be found on the 2nd disk of the American version of Tri Repetae++. Overall Peel Session is a quick fix of Autechre goodness. It isn't essential in that the same sounds can be found on Amber and Tri Repetae++, but the songs here are definately worth your time. Overall- 8/10 | ||
| Autechre - Peel Session 2 | ||
![]() | "Another quick-fix of Autechre goodness" | 2006-10-30 |
| As with the first Peel Session single Autechre release, Peel Session 2 is nothing essential. In fact, if you are familiar with Autechre's varied discography, you will know what to expect. But Peel Session 2 is still worth your listen, and will make a good addition to any Autechre fan's collection. While the first Peel Session single sounded directly similar to Autechre's earlier albums (Amber and Tri Repetae++)- this is because the first Peel Session single was recorded back in the days of Tri Repetae-, Peel Session 2 is basically a quick fix of EP7. The songs here have the same soft, gentle and/or abstract touch of those on EP7, as opposed to the naked mechanical beats of Peel Session. So if you're an Autechre fan and are looking for new material to satisfy your craving, then Peel Session 2 makes for a good, quick fix. Overall- 7/10 | ||
| In Flames - Jester Race/Black-Ash Inheritance | ||
![]() | "The best melodic death metal album ever" | 2006-09-08 |
| I absolutely love this album. I could go on and on about, but instead of wasting your time explaining the obvious, I'll just go ahead and tell you to buy this album. In my opinion, it's THE best melodic death metal album ever created (yes, it's better than Dark Tranquillity's The Gallery and At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul). It's a perfect blend of metal, with heavy melodic influences, along with death metal, heavy metal, and even folk influences. It grows on you with every listen. If you're a fan of anything metal, you need to buy this album. Overall- 9/10 | ||
| Boards of Canada - Skam / Hi Scores Ep | ||
![]() | "BoC's best EP: a showcase of their evolution" | 2006-08-29 |
| Twoism was a sign of great things to come from Boards of Canada. It was good, very good in fact, but it wasn't quite complete. There was something missing. That missing element is found here on Hi Scores, and even more so on BoC's first full-length album, Music Has the Right to Children. Hi Scores completes the preview to MHTRTC. The EP begins with "Hi Scores," which is a blissfully gentle piece. It continues with "Turquoise Hexagon Sun," which is also on MHTRTC, and is one of my favorite songs from BoC, if not my favorite. "Nlogax" is one of BoC's more individualistic and most psychedelic (if that is at all possible, when considering the psychedelic adventure that is Geogaddi) song. It is a bit rough on the edges and takes some time to get listening to, but just like Autechre's "Piezo" it becomes very addicting despite its flaws. The album begins to tone down after the peak ("Nlogax") with "June 9th" and "Seeya Later," and finally ends with the wonderfully atmospheric "Everything You Do is a Balloon." Overall the album is probably BoC's most down-tempo album, and their most consistent EP. It combines the psychedelic and atmospheric sounds that makes their music so mysterious, nostalgic, and blissful. I definately recommend Hi Scores to any Boards of Canada fan, as Music Has the Right to Children and Geogaddi just barely top it in my opinion. I guess you could call Hi Scores a mini or pre-Music Has the Right to Children, which is giving it a lot of credit. | ||
| Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth | ||
![]() | "Doesn't live up to Reznor's other masterpieces" | 2005-05-22 |
| With Teeth has to be one of NIN's most anticipated releases. News of its release came a few years ago, and he's been releasing news about it ever since earlier this year. It's been six years since the masterpiece The Fragile was released, and it's about time that Trent Reznor released an album. After giving With Teeth several chances, it just doesn't live up to albums such as The Downward Spiral and The Fragile. Yet, it seems like a compilation of Reznor's previous sounds (from Pretty Hate Machine, to The Downward Spiral, to The Perfect Drug, to The Fragile) in addition to a new sound that he has created. There's no doubt in my mind that NIN has found a new sound. With Teeth does not resemble any of his other albums, but at the same time it sounds like he molded With Teeth from all his previous works. There's the techno spirit of Pretty Hate Machine, the violent industrial soul of The Downward Spiral, and the more artistic yet accesible state of mind of The Fragile. All of these sounds are combined with a more mainstream rock spirit. One of the aspects of the album that disappointed me was that there is a lack of variety in With Teeth. Almost all of the songs are very similiar to the last. They aren't duplicates of each other, rather they have the same attitude. Still, With Teeth is enjoyable, even though it doesn't stay true to the NIN norm in my opinion. Overall it is a fairly strong album that does deserve a good deal of credit as being a well-constructed piece, but it just doesn't satisfy the anticipation that was created by waiting for a new NIN release (other than And All That Could Have Been, which was spectacular) for six years. Neither does it satisfy the expectations die-hard NIN fans had for this album, considering the great works that Trent Reznor created prior to With Teeth. It's a good album, but that's all it'll ever be in my eyes. 1. All The Love in the World- 9/10- Great song. Great intro. 2. You Know What You Are- 7/10- Definately one of the harder, more industrial songs of With Teeth. Gets a bit grating, but its good. 3. The Collector- 7/10- Sounds similiar to We're In This Together (from The Fragile), as it has a more rock inspired sound. Good, but not as good as We're In This Together. 4. The Hands That Feed- 8/10- Has a very satisfying, steady beat that is accompanied by a steady guitar and Reznor's great voice. Great song, but the song gets a little old after a while, especially at the ending. Also blends the signature NIN electronica sounds in there too. 5. Love Is Not Enough- 7/10- Starts with a drum'n'bass beat, then leads to guitar (once again). Not a stand-out, but it's a good song. 6. Every Day Is Exactly the Same- 9/10- Probably my favorite song out of With Teeth. It incorporates sounds from Pretty Hate Machine, The Downward Spiral, and The Fragile (as well as the sound of With Teeth) into this one song. Good, steady beat with backround guitar that is less active than in most other songs. 7. With Teeth- 6/10- Good song. Should've rated it a 7/10, but the way he says "With Teeth" in the song annoys the crap out of me. 8. Only- 7.5/10- More Pretty Hate Machine than anything, that's for sure. Reznor goes on speaking with the beat rather than singing, while the beat is of a more dance-type, as well as the backround sounds. Of course, there are the other more industrial backround sounds back there too. If you like Pretty Hate Machine, you'll like this song. If you dont, than you obviously wont like this song. 9. Getting Smaller- 7/10- This song goes on with a faster, more active beat that is more rock than anything, as with everything else in the song. Good song, not great (once again, as with most songs on With Teeth). 10. Sunspots- 7.5/10- Takes on a slower, softer attitude. It retains a more rock influenced sound, but once again it is carefully blended with electronic sounds. It flows very well, you could say. 11. The Lines Begin to Blur- 7.5/10- Half violent, half settled. It is a mixed bag, one half being harsh while the other half is easier to deal with, and it flip flops through each attitude throughout the song. It seems to be the ending chapter of some of the previous songs, such as You Know What You Are? and Every Day Is Exactly The Same, and seems to be an intro to Right Where It Belongs. 12. Beside You in Time- 7/10- Part of the lyrics go "And on... And on..." and so on. Well, that pretty much sums up this song. It goes on and on, doing the same thing. It has a more distorted sound that seems to have more layers than the rest. Not the best songs for those of you who tend to be impatient with continuating songs... But a good prelude to the end of the album. 13. Right Where It Belongs- 9/10- This song seems to contain the message of the album. The song starts with electronic sounds leading the beat, and an electronic piano running with the tempo. Just like with Sunspots, it flows. That's how I can describe it. A good ending to the album. It condenses the attitudes and messages of all the other songs into this last one. Strongest Song- Every Day is Exactly the Same Weakest Song- Love Is Not Enough Overall- 7/10 | ||
| The Eagles - Very Best of | ||
![]() | "Great compilation of great music" | 2005-03-07 |
| If there was one band who could successfully mix rock with country, it was the Eagles. Throughout their 30 year career in music, they have made some of the greatest and most memorable rock songs. From "Hotel California" to "Tequila Sunrise" each song is great. If you're an old fan of the Eagles or just a beginner, this is a must-have in your collection. Easily a 5-star album! I would have preferred songs such as "Life's Been Good" or "Dirty Laundry" (Don Healy) in place of either "James Dean" or "Doolin-Dalton" but overall it's a great compilation. Disk One 1. Take it Easy- 10/10 2. Witchy Woman- 10/10 3. Peaceful Easy Feeling- 9/10 4. Desperado- 10/10 5. Tequila Sunrise- 10/10 6. Doolin-Dalton- 6/10 7. Already Gone- 10/10 8. The Best of My Love- 8/10 9. James Dean- 7/10 10. Ol' 55- 8/10 11. Midnight Flyer- 4/10 12. On the Border- 8/10 13. Lyin' Eyes- 10/10 14. One of These Nights- 10/10 15. Take it To the Limit- 7/10 16. After the Thrill is Gone- 8/10 17. Hotel California- 11/10 Disk Two 1. Life in the Fast Lane- 10/10 2. Wasted Time- 10/10 3. Victim of Love- 9/10 4. The Last Resort- 11/10 5. The New Kid in Town- 9/10 6. Please Come Home for Christmas- 8/10 7. Heartache Tonight- 10/10 8. The Sad Cafe- 10/10 9. I Can't Tell You Why- 10/10 10. The Long Run- 10/10 11. In The City- 10/10 12. Those Shoes- 10/10 13. The Seven Bridges Road (Live)- 8/10 14. Love Will Keep Us Alive- 10/10 15. Get Over It- 9/10 16. Hole in the World- 8/10 | ||
| Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile | ||
![]() | "Possibly Reznor's finest work of art" | 2005-03-07 |
| To those who said the Fragile is over-hyped and over-rated, they probably can't see the evoltion of NIN's (Trent Reznor)music. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, his music was filled with anger and hatred, and fused that anger into techno beats. It was a successful mixture, as songs such as Head Like a Hole, Fixed, Sin, and Terrible Lie showed. Then his music became more focused, and morphed into the ultimate industrial being, which was the Downward Spiral. I would have to say either the Fragile or the Downward Spiral were his best works. The Fragile takes a less intense, more relaxed attitude. It is no where near as tortured as Broken, not as intense as the Downward Spiral, not as angry as Pretty Hate Machine. It shows Trent Reznor's coming of age in a sense. But he never needed to gain artistry, as he has always had it. The Fragile is just a continuation of his magnificent artistry. If you prefer Reznor's angrier, more techno-inspired music, then stick with his earlier albums (avoid the singles, in exception to Fixed-Fixed was his best single of the early 90s). But if you want to hear a less angry, more refined piece of art, the Fragile is for you. It blends the angry and tortured spirit of NIN with Reznor's artistic, intelligent, and beautiful mind. It took five years to create this piece of art, and it shows. Disk One 1. Somewhat Damaged- 9/10 2. The Day the Whole World Went Away- 10/10 3. The Frail- 10/10 4. The Wretched- 10/10 5. We're In This Together- 9/10 6. The Fragile- 10/10 7. Just Like You Imagined- 8/10 8. Even Deeper- 10/10 9. Pilgramige- 10/10 10. No, You Don't- 8/10 11. La Mer- 10/10 Disk Two 1. The Great Below- 10/10 2. The Way Out is Through- 10/10 3. Into the Void- 10/10 4. Where is Everybody?- 8.5/10 5. The Mark Has Been Made- 10/10 6. Please- 8/10 7. Star*******, Inc- 10/10 8. Complication- 9/10 9. I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally- 8.5/10 10. The Big Come Down- 9/10 11. Underneath it All- 8/10 12. Ripe (With Decay)- 9/10 | ||
| Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 | ||
![]() | "Overall, a great piece. Much better than Selected Ambient II" | 2005-03-06 |
| Aphex Twin (Richard D. James) is known for many things. He is known for making great ambient music, as he has showed his talent at making ambient music in several of his albums and singles. His first full-ambient album is a success, and shows his mastery of ambient music. I have to admit, it isnt his best album, but it is great. Strangely enough, many of the songs, such as "Actium," "Ptolemy," and "Pulsewidth" take on a dance sound that, despite what many people say, is rather rare in Richard D. James' music. But he still does a good job, as even the dance-sounding songs sound great.
1. Xtal- 10/10- A very beautiful piece. Blends ambient with the dance sounds that surprisingly is abundant in this album. Probably the best song on this album. 2. Tha- 9/10- Definatly more ambient sounding than some of the other tracks on this album. Broad and probably boaring to some people, it is still a great song. But hey, thats what ambient electronica is. Broad, sometimes boaring in some ways, but very rewarding in the end. 3. Pulsewidth- 9/10- If Aphex Twin released a dance-oriented album, this track would be on it. It's not overly dancy, as it has a blend of that slower ambient attitude. 4. Ageispolis- 10/10- Sounds like a mixture of Autechre's "Lowride" and Pulsewidth. Ambient mixed with a hip-hop beat. It's made by Richard D. James, so it's great. 5. I- 9/10- Slow and progressive. It's definatly an ambient song. Once again, may be boaring to some, but is very rewarding in the end. 6. Green Calx- 8/10- Probably the most active song in the album. Strange noises, catchy beats, ect. 7. Heliosphan- 10/10- One of my favorites. A true mix of ambient and dance techno. End result-a involving song that lets your mind float freely. Not something to dance to, but something to sit down and think to. A little more ambient than dance, and all the better for it. 8. We Are the Music Makers- 9/10- It begins with Gene Wilder saying "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." Then for seven minutes it travels on and on with good beats and an ambient attitude. A good song, not the best but not the worst. 9. Schottkey 7th Path- 8/10- Finally, another ambient song! Like the others, its long, broad, sometimes boaring, but rewarding in the end. 10. Ptolemy- 7.5/10- Takes the hip-hop beats of Ageispolis and adds some cheesy hip-hop sound effects, then cheesy techno effects. But it's better than it sounds. 11. Hedphelym- 8/10- Another ambient song, but with a twist. This song has a distorted, high piece noise in the front while having a bursting bass sound in the back. It's interesting, but not the high point of the CD. 12. Delphium- 8.5/10- Like Ptolemy, it has that hip-hop beat, but to a lesser extent. There's some ambient sounds added in there, as well as some techno sounds added in there. Overall its a good song, but once again not the stongest song. 13. Actium- 10/10- Actium is dance meets ambient (again). It makes for a great mix. Overall I was surprised by the dance/hip-hop theme that Selected Ambient 85-92 brought me, but in the end it was a very rewarding experience. I would say Xtal is definatly the strongest song of the album, and is on the list of those beautiful masterpieces Aphex Twin has been able to come up with during the past few decades of his music making career. Strongest song- Xtal Weakest Song- Probably Ptolemy. | ||
| Autechre - Incunabula | ||
![]() | "An essential to anyone's electronica collection" | 2005-03-06 |
| Electronica has got a bad rep for being unemotional and annoying. Autechre is one of those groups/artists which shatters that stereotype with rythmic, intelligent, and beautiful electronica music (the others that I am aware of that are GREAT are Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, and Squarepusher). Autechre's music may not be extremely easy to listen to, but after you listen to any of their albums 2 or 3 times you relize just how beautiful and flowing it is. In my opinion, Incunabula represents the pinnacle of Autechre's music. Unlike many of their other music, Incunabula is filled with old-school electronica sounds, which is why some people say it sounds out-dated or simple, but in all it is a reason why it is so great. Incunabula's music relies more on percussion and hip-hop beats, which is different but gives the album a sound that is actually rare. As with most of Autechre's music, Incunabula is very mathematical, and its beats are perfectly synchronized. At first, it does sound like it was put together with elementary software using old, out-dated sounds. But once you get used to the album, you see the hidden beauty. Every song in this album has its own characteristic, but all are great. The only song I really grown to enjoy is Bronchus 2.
1. Kalpol Introl- 8/10- Probably the most inriguing sounding song of the album. It doesnt rely on the hip-hop percussion beats like the rest of the songs do, as it uses the strange flowing sounds that are more common in electronica today. The thing is it just drags on without getting somewhere significant. Great sounding in the beginning though. 2. Bike- 9/10- This song sets the ambient/hip-hop beats that are common throughout the album. Not the most entertaining song of the album, but is very good nonetheless. 3. Autriche- 9/10- Probably the most ambient song of the album; it is soft, fairly slow, but has the catchy percussion in the backround. Has plenty of weird ambient noises in the backround, but its all the better for it. Sounds out-dated compared to Aphex Twin's [On #1]- which was made in 1993. 4. Bronchus 2- 5/10- To me, its the weak-point of the album. It's definatly the most abstract of the bunch. I am usually able to appreciate abstract ambient electronica a lot more than this... 5. Basscadet- 9.5/10- Picks the beat and noise level up a notch, but keeps the ambient attitude. It is a lot more catchy, but just as intellectual and mathematical as the rest. I can imagine that some people may not like it because it doesnt go where some of the other songs go; kind of like Kalpol Introl, but not to as big of an extent. In my opinion its a great song. 6. Eggshell- 10/10- Take the best qualities of this album and mix them together, and you get this song. Along with 444, it is my favorite. 9 minutes may seem way too long for any song to last, but once you appreciate this kind of music you'll enjoy every second of this song. Very few, if none at all, can make an old-school song like this and make it an enjoyable and memorable experience out of it. 7. Doctrine- 9/10- One of the stranger songs of this album. It takes a more violent and harsh sound and mixes it in with the old-school electronica sound that flourishes in Incunabula. Fortunatly its a great mix, and is a great song. 8. Maetl- 10/10- Similiar to Eggshell, it takes ambient and intelligent techno and blends them together. Great song. 9. Windwind- 9/10- Definatly the ambient song of the album. It stretches over 11 minutes in length, but just like Eggshell it makes good use of that time. Windwind sounds quite like those from Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient albums. It is long and flowing, and evolves at a slow but noticeable pace. 10. Lowride- 10/10- The most hip-hop sounding song of the group. Has a great beat but retains the mathematical aspect of Autechre's music, and also retains their sense of artistry. One of the best songs of the album. 11. 444- 11/10- Another ambient-sounding song, very broad and flowing. But unlike Windwind, 444 is extremely involving, and is one of those songs that let's your mind free to expand and explore. Probably my favorite song of the album. Doesnt sound as out-dated, as it is very complex. It may take a few times of listening to it to grasp it's greatness, but once you explore the depths of sound that makes up the structure of this song, you will experience one of the greatest electronica songs ever made (in my opinion). Once again, it sounds like a song made by Aphex Twin but with an Autechre-twist. Magnificent blend. Overall, Incunabula is a must-have for those who listen to electronica history. It is an album that will show you just how far electronica has evolved since it's release over 10 years ago, but it will show you just how beautiful it is for it. In my opinion, it is Autechre's finest work of art and is one of the greatest electronica albums ever released. Go ahead, expand your mind and try it out. | ||
| Nine Inch Nails - Downward Spiral | ||
![]() | "One of the essentials" | 2004-11-26 |
| The Downward Spiral is NIN's most popular album, and I believe anyone who's into Industrial, Rock, Metal, ect should at least listen to it. Like a majority of NIN's albums, The Downward Spiral has a dark, poetic sense to it. The lyrics are very deep, but so is the music itself. If there has ever been an essential Industrial album, there is no doubt that this is it. To any of you new NIN fans, or old NIN fans that-unbelievably- haven't heard this album, you need to buy it. 1. Mr. Self Destruct- 10/10 2. Piggy- 10/10 3. Heresy- 6.5/10 4. March of the Pigs- 9/10 5. Closer- 10/10 6. Ruiner- 10/10 7. The Becoming- 10/10 8. I Do Not Want This- 9/10 9. Big Man With a Big Gun- 6/10 10. A Warm Place- 10/10 11. Eraser- 9/10 12. Reptile- 9.5/10 13. The Downward Spiral- 10/10- One of the most emotional songs ever written 14. Hurt- 10/10 | ||
| Nine Inch Nails - And All That Could Have Been | ||
![]() | "It's a live album... But it's a great live album" | 2004-11-25 |
| I'm not one who really likes live albums. I like the studio recordings a lot more, just as most people do. The only live albums or DVDs I'll listen to or watch (DVD) are those of Slipknot (they sound the same live as they do in the studio) and Nine Inch Nails. And All That Could Have Been is a collection of some of the greatest NIN songs made, and NIN does a great job playing them live. Sure, some of the songs on All That Could Have Been aren't as great as the recording, such as Closer, but most of them are just as good, or even better than the recording. This is a great live album, one of the best, if not the best I've ever heard before. Plus, you can get a DVD with it. The 2nd disk are recording-session songs, but they are so beautiful and emotional. Every single one is a masterpiece. I'll make it simple for you... buy it.
Disk One 1. Terrible Lie- 10/10 2. Sin- 10/10 3. March of the Pigs- 9.5/10 4. Piggy- 9.5/10 5. The Frail- 10/10 6. The Wretched- 10/10 7. Gave Up- 7/10 8. The Great Below- 10/10 9. The Mark Has Been Made- 10/10 10. Wish- 7/10 11. Suck- 8/10 12. Closer- 9/10 13. Head Like A Whole- 10/10 14. The Day the Whole World Went Away- 9/10 15. Star******* Inc.- 10/10 16. Hurt- 10/10 Disk 2 1. Something I Could Never Have- 10/10 2. Adrift and At Peace- 10/10 3. The Fragile- 9/10 4. The Becoming- 9.5/10 5. Gone Still- 10/10 6. The Day the World Went Away- 10/10 7. And All That Could Have Been- 10/10 8. The Persistence of Loss- 10/10 9. Leaving Hope- 10/10- Possibly The most beautifully orchestrated and most emotional song I've ever heard of (excluding a few classical masterpieces of coarse) | ||
| Nine Inch Nails - Further Down the Spiral [US] | ||
![]() | "Possibly the best $7 you'll spend on a CD. ever" | 2004-11-25 |
| Let's face it. The Downward Spiral was one of the greatest albums of the 1990s. I'd consider The Fragile among the greatest of NIN's work (it's the modern Dark Side of the Moon), Further Down the Spiral takes The Downward Spiral-the album that pretty much put NIN on the map- to a whole new level. Thanks to Trent Reznor's brilliant musical talent, and some help by some people such as Richard D. James of Aphex Twin (the greatest techno-trance artist ever), Further Down the Spiral takes all of the Downward Spiral's strengths and magnifies them. Further Down the Spiral is less Closer (and yes, Closer is not on Further Down the Spiral) and is more of the song The Downward Spiral (there is a remix of it called The Downward Sprial (The Bottom)). It's more emotional and more in-depth than the Downward Spiral, which is pretty hard to do. If you like or love NIN's music, Further Down the Spiral is is one of the top essential CDs, if not the most essential. It is the best $7 you'll ever spend on a CD.
1. Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)- 9/10 2. The Art of Self Destruction, Pt. 1- 9/10 3. Self Destruction, Pt. 2- 9.5/10 4. The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)- 10/10 5. Hurt (Quiet)- 10/10 6. Eraser (Denial: Realization)- 8/10 7. At the Heart of It All- 10/10- Richard D. James 8. Eraser (Polite)- 8/10 9. Self Destruction, Final- 10/10 10. The Beauty of Being Numb- 10/10- Richard D. James 11. Erased, Over. Out- 10/10 | ||
| Radiohead - Kid A | ||
![]() | "One GREAT Radiohead album" | 2004-10-10 |
| I am extremely pleased with this album. It is extremely artistic without being boaring or annoying. If you aren't someone who can't listen to anything other than metal or rap, than you should listen to this album. It is great! Everything in It's Right Place- 10/10 Kid A- 9/10 The National Anthem- 7/10 How to Disappear Completely- 7/10 Treefingers- 9/10 Optimistic- 10/10 In Limbo- 10/10 Idioteque- 10/10 Morning Bell- 9.5/10 Motion Picture Soundtrack- 6/10 | ||
| Squarepusher - Ultravisitor | ||
![]() | "Not my favorite Squarepusher album, but not disappointing" | 2004-10-10 |
| I have just been introduced to Squarepusher, and I have mixed opinions about some of Squarepusher's music. Some of his previous albums I seem to really like, and there are several tracks in this album that I have come to love like Iambic 9 Poetry. But then there are some that I don't enjoy listening to, such as Steinbult. Ultravisitor is an interesting mix of drum n' bass songs and techno that somg may love, but some may hate. If you're into electronica or drum n' bass, you should check this album out. Ultravisitor- 8/10 I Fulcrum- 9/10 Iambic 9 Poetry- 10/10 Andrei- 10/10 50 Cycles- 7/10 Menelec- 8/10 C-Town Smash- 6/10 Steinbolt- 5/10 An Arched Pathway- 6/10 Telluric Piece- 7/10 District Line II- 8/10 Circlewave- 9/10 Tetra-Sync- 6/10 Tommib Help Buss- 9/10 Every Day I Love- 9.5/10 | ||
| Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children | ||
![]() | "BOC's first full album is great" | 2004-10-09 |
| If you're not into electronica/ambient and cannot appreciate the talent and immagination it takes to appreciate this music, don't bother with Boards of Canada. But if you can, you will find BOC's great artistic flow of beats and tunes amazing. It is poetry in a form that does not use words, as BOC's first full-track album fits that category. In other words, buy it. Try it, listen to it, and you will either find a great appreciate for it or you won't. As simple as that.
Wildlife Analysis- 9/10 An Eagle in Your Mind- 11/10 The Color of the Fire- 5/10 Telephasic Workshop- 9.5/10 Triangles & Rhombuses- 10/10 Sixyten- 8/10 Turqouise Hexagon Sun- 10/10 Kaini Industries- 8/10 Bocuma- 9.5/10 Roygbiv- 10/10 Rue the Whirl- 9/10 Aquarius- 10/10 Olsen- 10/10 Pete Standing Alone- 10.5/10 Smokes Quantity- 9/10 Open the Light- 10/10 One Very Important Thought- 10/10 Happy Cycling- 8/10 | ||
| Korn - Korn - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 | ||
![]() | "A great release, but is not complete" | 2004-10-09 |
| The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 album is better than I originally thought it might have been, as I would have thought songs from Untouchables would have dominated. There is a good mix of songs, songs like "Thoughtless," songs from Freak on a Leash and Life is Peachy, and a couple rare songs like "Sleepy Hollow" are missed, but those can be included in the Vol. 2 set. Overall it's a good album, the DVD is over-rated in my opinion since the live versions of the songs are good but not absolutely great. I like the cover songs "Word Up!" and Another Brick in the Wall Vol. 1-3." Although "Word Up!" may not be very KoRn, it is an extremely good song. Word Up!- 10/10 Another Brick in the Wall Vol. 1-3- 9.5/10 Y'all Want A Single- 9/10 Right Now- 8/10 Did My Time- 9.5/10 Along I Break- 8.5/10 Here to Stay- 10/10 Trash- 10/10 Somebody Someone- 9/10 Make Me Bad- 9.5/10 Falling Away From Me- 9.5/10 Got the Life- 10/10 Freak on a Leash- 10/10 Twist- 9.5/10 A.D.I.D.A.S.- 9/10 Clown- 9.5/10 Shoots and Ladders- 10/10 Blind- 10/10 Freak on a Leash (Dante Ross Mix)- 9/10 | ||
| Korn - Issues [PA] | ||
![]() | "Not as good as first albums, but still good" | 2004-08-05 |
| If you think Issues is another a**-kicking funk-metal Korn album, you're wrong. Since Follow the Leader, Korn used a lot of sound effects in their music, but Issues is just over-flowing with effects. Take my word for it, it's not a bad album. Most of the songs are great, and only a few are not that great. Issues is overall pretty good, better than Untouchables, but no where near as good their older albums. It's not as hard as Follow the Leader or Untouchables, but has more effects. Issues is not for the hardcore metal fans, who won't appreciate it's more freaky-tripped out sounds. But you should hear it, but only after the other Korn albums. If there was one album that must've lost a lot of hardcore Korn fans, it was this one. But that doesn't mean it's bad. Korn rythms are still there, and it's still very heavy. Plus there are some pretty tripped-out songs. 1. Falling Away From Me- 10/10 2. Trash- 10/10 3. 4 U- 8.5/10 4. Beg for Me- 8/10 5. Make Me Bad- 10/10 6. It's Gonna Go Away- 9/10 7. Wake Up- 9/10 8. Am I Going Crazy- 6/10 9. Hey Daddy- 8/10 10. Somebody Someone- 9/10 11. No Way- 10/10 12. Let's Get This Party Started- 9/10 13. Wish You Could Be Me- 4/10 14. Counting- 6/10 15. Dirty- 10/10 | ||
| Korn - Untouchables [ECD] [PA] * | ||
![]() | "Not their best, but not horrible" | 2004-08-05 |
| If you like hard but slower metal, this is easily the best album for you. But if you like their older music, this probably their worst. Some of their great new songs are in this album, but only a few. Only half of the album is great, some of the others are good, and then several are just not good at all. If you like the old Korn music, this isn't for you, but if you like their newer image and music, it's pretty good. It's my least-favorite though. 1. Here to Stay- 10/10 2. Make Believe- 9/10 3. Blame- 9/10 4. Hollow Life- 9/10 5. Bottled Up Inside- 8/10 6. Thoughtless- 10/10 7. Hating- 7.5/10 8. One More Time- 8/10 9. Alone I Break- 9/10 10. Embrace- 5/10 11. Beat It Upright- 4/10 12. Wake Up Hate- 2/10 13. I'm Hiding- 8/10 14. No One's There- 10/10 | ||
| Dragon Ball Z:Kidbuu - Vegeta's Plea | ||
![]() | "Dragonball Z DVD Vegeta's Plea (Kid Boo Saga)" | 2003-01-29 |
| It is my favorite DBZ Kid Boo Saga DVD released in the US yet, including most of what I like... The fighting, a good story and the return of a awsome fighter. Also it has Kid Boo. | ||
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