| Welcome to The Secret Project. All your IP are belong to us. Click this to register, but you're probably an user anyway because we do have any friends. If you're already an member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Album Reviews; Everyone Loves Music, Right? | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Mar 27 2011, 04:44 AM (11,695 Views) | |
| DucksFAN | Apr 30 2011, 02:05 AM Post #46 |
|
Unregistered
|
This review was at the request of Nascargo19. Artist: Foo Fighters Album: Wasting Light Released: April 12, 2011 Posted Image REVIEW: Foo Fighter's first release in about 3 years. Announcements made by the bad brought forth information that this album would be heavier with duel guitarists. I thought that this was really good, but all in all, I am still a fan of their 2005 album In Your Honor. But this still remains one of the better options for good old fashioned hard rock. The Good: "Walk", "I Should've Known", and "Miss The Misery" are epic, awesome songs I listened to several times before I ended the CD. Everyone has probably heard the lead single "Rope" before, and no surprise here but, it is amazing. The guitars are heavy, and for the first time in a while, we actually get to hear Dave Grohl's chops on the guitar. The guitar solo is righteous. In fact, there are a lot more solos (Not too many) than previous Foo Fighter albums, which was nice to see. "Bridge Burning" and "White Limo" were two of my favorites on the album. Just good old-fashioned Foo Fighters; They don't do anything special, but then again, they don't have to. I liked the amount of drum solos, and Dave delivers his sginature *yelled* vocals. The Bad: Many of the songs sound very similiar, and at times I felt like I was listening to one song for 10 minutes. Lack of hooks in some of the songs, because like it or not, Foo Fighters fans are accustomed to sing-along choruses. "Alandria" lacks some punch, and it falls quite short of some other FF albums. (Namely, IMO, The Colours And The Shape and In Your Honor. Conclusion: I was a little disappointed with this release. I was so looking forward to the album after hearing "Rope", but the rest of the album just didn't quite do it for me as much as a few other FF albums. Needless to say, on a musical standpoint, this is really good hard rock, and when it comes to hard rock, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody do it as well as the world-famous Foo Fighters. Score: 8.75/10 Track Listing: 01.) "Bridge Burning" 02.) "Rope" 03.) "Dear Rosemary" 04.) "White Limo" 05.) "Arlandria" 06.) "These Days" 07.) "Back & Forth" 08.) "A Matter of Time" 09.) "Miss the Misery" 10.) "I Should Have Known" 11.) "Walk" |
|
|
| nascargo19 | Apr 30 2011, 02:29 AM Post #47 |
|
Unregistered
|
Thanks for completing the request! I may get a few of those on iTunes (already have Rope) and then buy their greatest hits CD that I've been wanting for a while. Also surprised that you have a lynryd skynyrd review. Didn't think you enjoyed them |
|
|
| DucksFAN | Apr 30 2011, 02:32 AM Post #48 |
|
Unregistered
|
I'm always open to reviewing ANY album I'm asked to, just no one has besides you! Anyway, yeah, I really liked Lynyrd Skynyrd there, and if there are any other albums you have in mind that you want me to review, just holler! |
|
|
| DucksFAN | May 2 2011, 12:00 AM Post #49 |
|
Unregistered
|
Artist: All That Remains Album: The Fall Of Ideals Released: July 11, 2006 Posted Image REVIEW: First ATR album which features any clean singing of sort, marking the band's transition from melodic death metal to metalcore. This material is brutal. Mostly harsh screaming, partly clean (But beautifully sung) vocals, ATR is very good at what they do. The Good: "This Calling", "It Dwells In Me", and "Six" (Fans of Guitar Hero should know this song) are epic, simple masterpieces of composition, rhythym shifts, and creativity. "Not Alone" features some quite visceral screaming followed by a very hook-laiden chorus. And to forget the guitar solo is just wrong. A lot of the songs employ an acoustic section, which is a nice relief for listeners ears. Fans of melodic death metal will love "The Weak Willed", where lead singer Phil Labonte goes into shreiks and low growling. The Bad: I would've liked more clean vocals. "Empty Inside" and "The Weak Willed" are repetitive and poorly sung. Several songs just aren't very good, plus it's short, capping off at a minimal 35 minutes. Conclusion: Denying one of the founding fathers of modern metalcore props is something I won't do. Epic drumming and more guitar solos than you'll know what to do with is, honestly, not enough to make this album great. It's good, but I'm just not a fan of a third of the songs. The good ones are truly great, but the others aren't. If melodic death metal is your thing, this a great option, but, if you're like me and prefer metalcore, then I'd recommend ATR's albums Overcome or ...For We Are Many. Score: 6.75/10 Track Listing: 01.) "This Calling" 02.) "Not Alone" 03.) "It Dwells in Me" 04.) "We Stand" 05.) "Whispers (I Hear Your)" 06.) "The Weak Willed" 07.) "Six" 08.) "Become the Catalyst" 09.) "The Air That I Breathe" 10.) "Empty Inside" 11.) "Indictment" |
|
|
| DrFreshey | May 2 2011, 01:30 AM Post #50 |
|
Unregistered
|
Artist: The Black Eyed Peas Album: Monkey Business Release: June 7, 2005 Posted Image Review: Monkey Business was the fourth album from The Black Eyed Peas, the second with Fergie, and the last album from BEP to feature all live instruments. The material is traditional hip hop with some influences from blues, funk, and older rock music. It's good for those looking for a tasteful hip hop album. The Good: As said before, this album was the last Black Eyed Peas album to feature live instruments, and as such, it is very musically diverse, incorporating riffs in the style of funk music, and at times, even some older rock music, like in "Pump It". The thing that makes this album enjoyable for me, however, are the guest acts, which vary from Justin Timberlake to John Legend to Sting. Keep in mind also that these are some of the most tasteful rhymes in hip hop. The Bad: While some songs, like "Union" or "My Style" provide for some good entertainment, other songs like "My Humps" and "Ba Bump" fall flat, or are just generally annoying. Songs like these weaken the quality of an otherwise stellar album. Conclusion: I would definitely recommend fans of older hip hop, as well as casual fans of other genres, to listen to this album. Of course, some songs, like "My Humps", I would say are better to just skip through, but if you can get past the sour grapes, the rest of the album is solid, tasteful, good hip hop music. Score: 8/10 Track Listing: 1) "Pump It" 2) "Don't Phunk With My Heart" 3) "My Style" feat. Justin Timberlake 4) "Don't Lie" 5) "My Humps" 6) "Like That" feat. Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Cee-Lo, and John Legend 7) "Dum Diddly" feat. Dante Santiago 8) "Feel It" 9) "Gone Going" 10) "They Don't Want Music" feat. James Brown 11) "Disco Club" 12) "Bebot" 13) "Ba Bump" 14) "Audio Delite at Low Fidelity" 15) "Union" feat. Sting Bonus Tracks: "So Real" (after "My Humps"), "Change" (after "ADLF") |
|
|
| DrFreshey | May 2 2011, 01:34 AM Post #51 |
|
Unregistered
|
How... How could you? :( |
|
|
| BigMac | May 2 2011, 01:43 AM Post #52 |
|
Unregistered
|
"My Humps" is awesome. Stop lying. |
|
|
| MementoVivere | May 2 2011, 01:56 AM Post #53 |
|
Unregistered
|
Somehow I think most fans of older hip-hop would laugh. Hard. I'm not seeing the connection between BEP and old school hip-hop at all. A little respect for Talib was lost after I saw him on the track list. Really? |
|
|
| DrFreshey | May 2 2011, 01:59 AM Post #54 |
|
Unregistered
|
Have you listened to the album? |
|
|
| MementoVivere | May 2 2011, 02:04 AM Post #55 |
|
Unregistered
|
Sure is copout in here. If you can't explain the claim, why make it? I'm not putting my ears through that torture (well, without the aid of alcohol) to hear any explanation, either. I'm lost because what I have heard of this group does not remind me of older hip-hop in any way, shape, or form. I'd like to know what you heard that reminds you of it. |
|
|
| DrFreshey | May 2 2011, 02:17 AM Post #56 |
|
Unregistered
|
A good bit of their earlier material (before The E.N.D.) was reminiscent of the older style of hip hop, or at least hip hop from the beginning of the 2000s, like earlier Kanye. "Pump It" actually uses the music from the theme song from Pulp Fiction. If you listened to the album, you might not like it, but it still wouldn't be as bad as you describe it. If you'd rather just listen to one track to see, I'm about to link the songs. |
|
|
| MementoVivere | May 2 2011, 02:24 AM Post #57 |
|
Unregistered
|
THAT sounds like a more fair comparison. I thought you were referring to 80s/early 90s stuff. I like older Kanye, so I may do that; just not right away. Listening to an album I just purchased/will likely review. This thread could serve as motivation to listen to the various albums I purchased yet have not listened to. |
|
|
| DucksFAN | May 2 2011, 03:23 AM Post #58 |
|
Unregistered
|
Artist: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Album: Don't You Fake It Released: July 18, 2006 Posted Image REVIEW: RJA's debut album that was immensely popular soon after it's release. Many people have at least heard "Face Down", and this song gives a good representation of what the album sounds like. Part screamo, part modern rock, this band really surprised me. I never thought that I would enjoy the album this much. The Good: "Face Down" is definitely the best song on the album. Screamed vocals only at the climax bridge lead to a very catchy ending. "Justify" is also very good, and paints a picture of how the album goes, though the harmonizing during the chorus is the best part. The popular song "Your Guardian Angel" is a very soft song, but is a nice change of pace. This one is all acoustic with very velvety smooth vocals. Sweet stuff. "Misery Loves Its Company" is probably the most screamo song here, but it is one of my favorites, and has a very hooky chorus. I especially like the way the screamed vocals are echoing the clean part in the last chorus and repeat. "False Pretense" and "In Fates Hands" (Which contains the album title in the lyrics) are solid tracks. The Bad: "Damn Regret", "Seventeen Ain't So Sweet", and "Cat And Mouse" aren't necessarily bad songs, but are a drop off from the others. A tad whiney on some of the tracks. Conclusion: Solid. It sounds awkward at times, and some tracks are better than others, but overall, a solid debut. Another odd thing is that the singer sounds very "squeaky" at times, but the writing is so solid it doesn't sometimes register that these guys were young when they wrote this. That was just a thought; Anyway, I'd definitely recommend checking this album out, or at least listen to "Justify", "Misery Loves Its Company", and "Face Down". Score: 8/10 Track Listing: 01.)"In Fates Hands" 02.)"Waiting" 03.)"False Pretense" 04.)"Face Down" 05.)"Misery Loves Its Company" 06.)"Cat And Mouse" 07.)"Damn Regret" 08.)"Atrophy" 09.)"Seventeen Ain't So Sweet" 10.)"Justify" 11.)"Your Guardian Angel" 12.)"Grim Goodbye" BONUS REVIEW: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus new single: "Reap" Coming off their new album due out this August, "Reap" is fantastic. Screamed, almost rapped vocals start the song, then flood into a cleanly sung chorus and next verse. Hard guitars are nice, and the theme here rings true if you are up-to-date on current pop star/celebrities happenings. Good stuff, so check it out. "Reap" |
|
|
| MementoVivere | May 2 2011, 06:40 AM Post #59 |
|
Unregistered
|
Do you guys purchase what you review? That is to say, do you put your money where your mouth is? I'm not going to pass any judgment regardless of your answer, but I personally find it hard to review and recommend something I did not purchase. Anyway... Artist: PJ Harvey Album: Let England Shake Released: February 14th, 2011 Posted Image Introduction: I always say: If you're not perpetually behind on music, you do not love music. PJ Harvey is one of those artists I had heard of before; I just never got around to listening to her until I heard her on the Coachella stream. After hearing that amazing performance, I knew I had to obtain something of hers when I got more money. Let England Shake is that album. The Good: PJ Harvey's voice. It's lovely. While it doesn't totally dominate every song, I'd say it's the most prominent instrument on this album. No instrument ever overpowers her voice. If you're a fan of lengthy instrumental solos, you will not find them here. I don't cream all over solos like many rock/metal fans, so it's not a flaw to me. The lyrics. PJ Harvey has earned a reputation as a dark songwriter from what I have read, and she does not disappoint here. Pretty much every song is about the horrors of war. In an age where it seems we can do nothing other than glorify war and its sacrifices via our entertainment and media, I'm glad to see there are still people who wish to remind us how horrible it truly is. Like the horns (sax/trombone) that are scattered throughout the album, especially in All & Everything. I honestly wish there were more of them; PJ Harvey uses them to great effect. On that topic, this is NOT a traditional "rock album". While guitar and drums are present on most tracks, they are not an important part of the sound, and bass is almost non-existent. They don't NEED to be; the autoharp, horns, harmonica, and other instruments are more than adequate. Favorite tracks on this album would be the title track, The Words That Maketh Murder, and All & Everything. Let England Shake and The Words That Maketh Murder are the catchiest and fastest songs on the album. They're the songs that would appeal to most people, and someone realizes this: The Words That Maketh Murder was the first single. If you don't like them, I can't honestly recommend the rest. Everything else on the album is slower and less accessible. All & Everything, other than its length, is probably the most beautiful/moving song on the album. It starts out with PJ Harvey singing and the horns playing, and towards the end, gives way to the horns, creating a very mournful atmosphere - Almost as if someone had died. The Bad: Short tracks. Five tracks are under three minutes, and another two are very close to three minutes in length. It's like these songs have a good idea and then... Just abruptly end. I understand that many artists stick to shorter songs, but I personally am very fond of longer songs. The longest song (All & Everyone) is 5:39, and it's no coincidence that it's one of my favorites. Adds up to a 40 minute album, which is short to me. If I really had to single out any song as "bad", it'd probably be England. It's a slower song, I'm not a fan of the violin usage on that track (though normally I love stringed instruments like that), and PJ Harvey's voice isn't as great here. Conclusion: This is one of those albums that will take multiple listens to truly "get". I suspect that even after I've listened to this well over ten times, I'll still notice things going on in the songs that I did not before. It's one of those albums that will grow on you, and IMO those are very rewarding albums to listen to. Score: 9/10 If you know me, you should know I'm not really a fan of scores. I don't like the idea of summing up words into a number; I prefer to let the words speak for themselves. I only do it because it's something that's expected. I also think that if I kept track of every score, I'd probably have to alter the earlier ones so they fit criteria I use for later ones. Track Listing: 1. "Let England Shake" 2. "The Last Living Rose" 3. "The Glorious Land" 4. "The Words That Maketh Murder" 5. "All and Everyone" 6. "On Battleship Hill" 7. "England" 8. "In the Dark Places" 9. "Bitter Branches" 10. "Hanging in the Wire" 11. "Written on the Forehead" 12. "The Colour of the Earth" |
|
|
| DucksFAN | May 2 2011, 07:09 PM Post #60 |
|
Unregistered
|
Nice to see others contirbuting reviews. And to answer your question Memento, the reason my reviews are "all the same type of music", it is because I only review what I actually own. |
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Entertainment · Next Topic » |






8:17 AM Jul 11