Drive

Drive

ASIN: B000069COZ

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This 10-song voyage starts mellow with "Guitarland" and "Villa by the Sea," the former an obvious sonic homage to Freeman's duets with guitarist Craig Chaquico, and the latter a hook-laden acoustic number that is sure to find its way to the radio. Drive then moves into high gear with help from its special guests. Keyboardist Jeff Lorber and Freeman mesh their distinct styles seamlessly on the bouncy title track and "Brighter Day." And saxophonist Eric Marienthal sweetly coalesces with the guitarist on "Anywhere Near You," maybe the disc's most romantic cut. Freeman's choice of cover tunes is inspired, particularly Grover Washington Jr.'s "East River Drive," where the guitarist slyly mimic's the G-Man's sax tone, and Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer." Because the Rippingtons are an extension of who Freeman is, some tracks here have the group's sound, but on the whole, Freeman has done a good job of making sure it is the voice of his guitar heard on his first non-holiday solo album since his 1985 classic, Nocturnal Playground. --Mark Ruffin

Tracks:

Brand New Kind Of Actress (5:31)
Down In A Hole (4:18)
Try (4:48)
Chicago Promenade (3:19)
Dress Blues (4:07)
Grown (3:42)
Hurricanes and Hand Grenades (5:07)
In A Razor Town (3:15)
Shotgun Wedding (3:45)
The Magician (4:16)
The Devil Is My Running Mate (3:45)

Amazon.com

Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Isbell was a driving force in the rousing postmodern Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers. Sirens of the Ditch is his solo debut. A resident of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Isbell clearly has Catholic taste in his roots rock. His backing band throws together a pleasant mélange of pedal steel, organ, strummed acoustic guitar, and heartfelt Americana vocals. At first, it sounds like something you've heard before a thousand times, by Ryan Adams or was that Bryan Adams. However, on closer inspection, there's a lot more going on. After rhyming "bitch" with "ditch" in the song "Ditch," Isbell throws in a line about "dancing to 'Purple Rain'" and you're drawn in, to a clearly delineated but poetic storyline and gorgeous melodies. Isbell's best songs will remind you of Richard Buckner, Raymond Carver, and Neil Young. "Dress Blues" might be the most sympathetic and awesome song about the Iraq war yet written. Huzzah. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

Accomplished guitarist and songwriter Jason Isbell, formerly of Drive By Truckers (DBT), releases his debut solo album Sirens Of The Ditch.

The album rocks with 11 tracks all written by Isbell kicking off with "Brand New Kind Of Actress", followed by the rocker "Down In A Hole", a swampy number featuring Muscle Shoals natives Spooner Oldham and David Hood. Isbell s songwriting skills shine especially on "Dress Blues" a pensive ballad about a high-school classmate who lost his life fighting in Iraq and "Chicago Promenade" a tribute to his late Grandfather.

Listeners caught glimpses of Isbell s skills on Drive-By Truckers records with tracks like "Danko/Manuel" and "Outfit".

Sirens Of The Ditch's mystical quality can be partially attributed to the FAME recording studio (Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Otis Redding) in Isbell s hometown of Muscle Shoals, AL where the album was recorded. A lot of old soul musicians came through here in the late 60s and 70s and helped define the Muscle Shoals sound, the lifelong Alabamian explains, so that influence was always in my environment, but on this record I really tried to capture that.

Co-produced by Isbell and Patterson Hood (DBT), Sirens Of The Ditch features Isbell singing lead vocals and playing guitar throughout, joined by Shonna Tucker (DBT) on Bass and Brad Morgan (DBT) on drums. Several musicians pop in for cameos including Spooner Oldham and David Hood (Patterson s father) on "Down In A Hole", John Neff (DBT) on "Dress Blues" and Patterson himself guests on "Shotgun Wedding".

Customer Reviews:

Excellent CD!.......2007-07-10

I only recently discovered Jason Isbell, and I loved the songs he wrote with DBT (while not much liking DBT). This CD is everything I had hoped for. Beautiful ballads, a few rocking tunes, a diverse mix of styles, and all tied together by Jason's funny, smart and wise lyrics. Anyone who loves real music needs to hear Jason Isbell.

isbell kills it--awesome album.......2007-07-10

not much to say other than buy this album as soon as possible. isbell is a master songwriter and it's nice to see him get an entire album to showcase it. fantastic.

Average customer rating:

Countrified by Emerson Drive
Best Album Yet!
The Best Country cd i've Herd in a While
Great!
"Countrified" Rocks!

Countrified
Emerson Drive
Manufacturer: Midas Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Emerson Drive
What If?
Pure BS
Let It Go
5th Gear

ASIN: B000H5VF4S
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Tracks:

A Good Man
Testify
Moments
Sweet Natural Girl
You Still Own Me
Lucky Man
Everyday Woman
Countrified Soul
Painted Too Much of This Town
Boy Becomes A Man
Devil Went Down To Georgia (Featuring Charlie Daniels)

Product Description

I. AGoodMan
2. Testify
3. Moments
4. Sweet Natural Girl
5. You Still Own Me
6. Lucky Man
7. Everyday Woman
8. Countrified Soul
9. Painted Too Much of This Town
10. Boy Becomes A Man
11. Devil Went Down To Georgia (Featuring Charlie Daniels)

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Countrified by Emerson Drive.......2007-05-13

I really liked this CD. They are also great in concert. Vocals and music are outstanding.

Best Album Yet!.......2007-03-08

I would have to say this is Emerson Drive's best album to date. I own (and love) both of their other CD's, but this one rocks! I am listening to it constantly. I don't think that I will ever get sick of it. The lyrics of most of the songs is just so profound, and they just speak to me. If I had to pick a favourite song, it would be a tie between "Moments" and "Everyday Woman." These are both slower songs on the album, but the lyrics are just so poignant and it just gets to you nand makes you think. Also, the songs are even better when you hear them live, so if you get a chance to, see these guys in concert! I had the pleasure of seing them play at a small bar in town, and I think it's was more intimate than it would have been in a huge arena, so that made is so much better. I love this CD and would totally reccomend it to anyone! (Even if you're not a big fan of country music in particular)

The Best Country cd i've Herd in a While.......2007-02-06

This was a good cd. This was just good all around. it was different, but a good different. I was very pleased. I love the deep voises of country. this was one of the greats. i enjoyed it very much. I'm a new fan of Emerson Drive. I shall collect all of their cd someday. One at a time. I love the song " Moments" & " A Good Man". So Great Job. A lot of Stars to go around. See ya soon.

Great!.......2006-10-29

This is a great CD from top to bottom. By far the best song is "A Good Man."

"Countrified" Rocks!.......2006-09-20

While I've enjoyed E Drive's past two albums, this one takes their talents a step farther, defining their impact in the country arena. The songs, "A Good Man," "Moments" and "Countrified Soul" are my favorites, but it's not like they outshine the eight remaining songs. Each time I listen to the album, I get something different out of the songs. I'm certain this CD will be at the top of my listening stack for quite a while. BUY THIS ALBUM! It's worth every penny! And if you get the chance, see these guys live. So much energy and fun.

Average customer rating:

FUN CD
Hello to Hellogoodbye!
This CD is awesome!
sugary sweet yum yum.
eh....

Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!
Hellogoodbye
Manufacturer: Drive Thru
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Don't You Fake It
Infinity on High
The Black Parade
Sam's Town
Everything in Transit

ASIN: B000GG4XCO
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Tracks:

All Of Your Love
Here (In Your Arms)
All Time Lows
Stuck To You
Homewrecker
Oh, It Is Love
Baby, It's Fact
Figures A and B (Means You And Me)
I Was It On Your Keyboard
Touchdown Turnaround (Don't Give Up On Me)
Two Weeks In Hawaii

Amazon.com

Like that attention-getting title, Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!, this Huntington Beach quartet brings on the musical exclamation points. Following a self-titled EP in 2004, Hellogoodbye debuts with a sugary dose of synth-pop. Then, once you think you've got the foursome figured out, they put Jesse Kurvink's hyperactive keyboard playing aside for mandolin-bedecked ballad "Oh, It Is Love" ("Baby, It's Fact" is another rare mid-tempo tune). The group is rounded out by Marcus Cole (bass), Chris Profeta (drums), and Forrest Kline (vocals, guitar). According to the liner notes, all songs were written by Mr. Kline... and his dog. And those songs include lyrics like "Oh girl it's true; I can never be away from you / It's like you gloss your lips with glue / Oh we kiss and I am stuck to you" ("Stuck to You") and "Present for a presentation presented presently" ("Figures A and B"). In album closer "Two Weeks in Hawaii," he even uses the word "rad." Twice. Okay, so Kline isn't Cole Porter, but his yearning tenor and playful tales of puppy love are a perfect match for Hellogoodbye's pep rally anthems. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

FUN CD.......2007-06-12

This CD is a combination of really fun and some sweet songs. I'd recommend it! The style of music is unique.

Hello to Hellogoodbye!.......2007-06-09

Hellogoodbye are a synth dance/rock act from the US, despite sounding very British, and "Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!" is their full-length debut CD. It came out in the US last August, but only last month in the UK.

Opening cut "All of our love" (which reminds me a bit of UK group Bloc Party) perfectly captures their sound; a synth driven stomper, with vocodered vocals, digital bleeps and tweets, and ultra catchy hooks. In a similar vein are "Here (in your arms") (US top 20, currently in the UK top 5), and "Touchdown Turnaround (Don't Give Up On Me)".

Deviating from this template are straight ahead electro rockers "All time lows", "Stuck to you", "Homewrecker", the frenetic paced, "Figures A And B (Means You And Me)" with pulsing synths, and the sunny electro pop of "I saw it on your keyboard".

The ballad "Two weeks in Hawaii" wouldn't sound out of place on a My Chemical Romance album, with its gentle-to-raging-chorus style.

My favourite track is the Beatles-esque piano driven "Baby it's a fact", a charming midtempo sing-a-long with lovely harmonies, and lead vocalist Forrest Kline declaring puppy love in a charming innocent-like voice.

The UK edition of the album comes with 3 bonus tracks; live versions of "All of our love" and "Baby it's a fact", and the rocker "Shimmy shimmy quarter turn".

This CD is awesome!.......2007-05-13

I love this CD- from start to finish- highly recommended to all!!

sugary sweet yum yum. .......2007-05-08

i bought this cd because i have way too many dark songs on my regular playlists. ie. morrissey, bauhaus, skinny puppy etc. which are awesome bands that have really stood the test of time with me, but i needed something a bit more upbeat and happy. this cd is perfect for that. happy upbeat catchy tunes with semi cheesy and a little bit sappy songs about love. great cd to get if you need a musical pick me up.

eh...........2007-04-15

I wasn't expecting this album to be so.... emo-y. It is winey and boring. The vocals suck.

This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About

Average customer rating:

for anyone who is alive
great first LP
Really catchy work...arguably Modest Mouse's best
Best Modest Mouse album
Fantastic album

This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About
Modest Mouse
Manufacturer: Up.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Lo-Fi | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Moon & Antarctica
Good News For People Who Love Bad News
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Everywhere and His Nasty Parlour Tricks
Keep It Like a Secret

ASIN: B000003L1P
Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

Dramamine
Breakthrough
Custom Concern
Might
Lounge
Beach Side Property
She Ionizes & Atomizes
Head South
Dog Paddle
Novocain Stain
Tundra/Desert
Ohio
Exit Does Not Exist
Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset
Make Everyone Happy/Mechanical Birds
Space Travel Is Boring

Amazon.com

Frontman Isaac Brock's claim that he's being stalked by his own alter ego was not the first bit of evidence that Modest Mouse isn't your usual pop band. Witness the entirety of this 1996 indie debut from the Washington trio that inspired a major-label bidding war. This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About finds Brock cruising with cohorts Eric Judy and Jeremiah Green (plus an occasional cellist) through a landscape of intoxicatingly original lo-fi tunes. Sure, Brock's early vocals make Nikki Sudden sound like one smooth crooner, but their strained quality offset the primitive elegance of his guitar work, giving a passionate vulnerability to "Breakthrough," "Custom Concern," and other treatises on life in the lost lane. --Bill Forman

Customer Reviews:

for anyone who is alive.......2007-07-07

This is, overall, my favorite Mouse album. The first three tracks work together so well, with the looping meandering guitar riffs and the lyrics that sound like the life of every disenchanted teenager or young adult that's ever lived. As always with Mouse there are some tracks that get a little noisy or sound a little incomplete, but that's part of the charm. Brock doesn't write consistently perfect songs, but he writes so many perfect songs that it's almost a relief to realize that he's not flawless. Perhaps the most gifted lyricist in alternative rock, some of the wordplay is pure poetry.

great first LP.......2007-06-16

I am a huge modest mouse fan. but i know this record is not for everyone.
please start with the new modest mouse this stuff might turn you off to them at first listen. I love this CD! it has so many great qualities that dont show up on other modest mouse records.

1.Dramamine- great opening song awesome guitar rift. 5/5
2.Breakthrough- good song nice odd vocals.BUT THATS WHAT WE LOVE 4/5
3.Custom Concern- good lyrics slide guitar this one stands out 5/5
4.Might- short simple song 3/5
5.Lounge- starts fast pace ends in a slow rock jam. 4/5
6.Beach Side Property- features some screaming vocals which you dont find often in modest mouse a great song. 5/5
7.The Ionizes and Atomizes- sounds very bipolar- 3/5
8.Head South- More screaming in chorus and nicole johnson with backup vocals. really good song. "Struck by being ashamed of your old space" 5/5
9.Dog Paddle- screaming cool little song with coughs and wheezes through it. 4/5
10.Novocain Stain- a really really good song! 5/5
11.Tundra/Desert-One of their hardest hitting songs. 5/5
12.Ohio- right now im obsessed with the great lyrics in this song. "I'm upset and i leave the door open wide our hearts are used up cracked and dried." Amazing 5/5
13.Exit does not Exist- cool title blazing drums. 4/5
14.Talking shit about a pretty Sunset- one of the best songs on the album. 5/5
15.Make Everyone Happy/Mechanical Birds- starts off kinda sweet then goes full blown guitar jam. 4/5
16.Space Travel is Boring- nice song but not to special to me. 3/5

I love this cd but its not their best work.
i definitely recommend it to anyone likes Building nothing out of Something or Lonesome crowded west.

Really catchy work...arguably Modest Mouse's best.......2007-02-13

I really enjoy the overall dry twangyness in this album. The opening tracks are instant indie/alternative classics. Very quirky, laid back material that could easily please any Modest Mouse fan. I also recommend Lonesome Crowded West for more wonderful work.

Best Modest Mouse album.......2007-01-31

Here is what I have to say: This is my favorite Modest Mouse album. This album captures to total perfection what it feels like to be sad and cold but at the same time filled with a sweet appreciation for your own existence. There is such a fantastic reality to be found here. This will always be at the top for me. There is a good section of my life in which this is the definitive soundtrack. The music can be so bare but masterfull it makes you want to scream. Like living in a sparse cold room that you still find beautiful. If you want good music then, here, take this.

Fantastic album.......2007-01-21

As much as I wanted to diss them for being too heavily indebted to the Pixies, I could not resist the magnificence of this album. It blew me away when I first heard it, and it continues to.

Modest Mouse has released a slew of great albums, so I can't say this is my favorite, but it might be....

Average customer rating:

well, it looks like the NME got something right
For once, the hype is deserved.
The last great album I discovered in 2006
Have to buy it all over again.

Someone to Drive You Home
The Long Blondes
Manufacturer: Beggars Banquet Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Reminder
Sound of Silver
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Icky Thump
Our Earthly Pleasures

ASIN: B000PSJCSI
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

Lust In the Movies
Once And Never Again
Only Lovers Left Alive
Giddy Stratospheres
In the Company Of Women
Heaven Help the New Girl
Separated By Motorways
You Could Have Both
Swallow Tattoo
Weekend Without Makeup
Madame Ray
A Knife For the Girls

Tracks:

Fulwood Babylon
Five Ways To End It
Never To Be Repeated
All Bar One Girls

Customer Reviews:

well, it looks like the NME got something right.......2007-06-29

I think this album, and this band, are fantastic. They are the perfect mix of dancy, girly, and British-ness. Having heard a bunch of the singles, I was not disappointed in this at all. This band mixes all sorts of genres together, from post-punk to disco to britpop to 60s girl groups, etc. They mix all these together to make something that works QUITE well in both studio and live setting.

The singles on this LP are all great: once and never again, giddy stratospheres, and separated by motorways. However, I think the songs "Lust in the Movies" and "You Could have Both" are better than any of those songs. I think that is a rarity these days in our Ipod / Youtube music business.

By the way, this band was GREAT at the Subterranean in Chicago. Their singer is a total fox. I eagerly await something else from this band and hope they are not a Northern English amalgamation of some fads. It's really a shame that Jarvis Cocker does not like the singer's voice. I love it...she is one of the few singer currently that sounds better live than on vinyl (or CD).

For once, the hype is deserved........2007-06-09

The Long Blondes' Someone To Drive You Home is consistently catchy and enjoyable all the way through. "Lust In The Movies" starts it off with a kick and things don't let up until the CD ends. The four singles are:

1. Once And Never Again
2. Giddy Stratospheres
3. Separated By Motorways
4. Weekend Without Makeup

These four songs were all previously available on UK singles. The versions on Someone To Drive You Home are all rerecorded. This may come as a frustration to people who fell for the original single versions (as I did). It doesn't take long to appreciate these new versions, though. Either way, the songs are catchy and fun to sing along with. The music is poppy, but there's a lyrical dark streak lurking just beneath the surface.

This CD would be worth it for those four songs alone. My personal favorite song isn't one of the singles, though; it's "You Could Have Both", which features male and female voices singing simultaneously. It's got a very Pulp-y sound to it. (It's also nice to hear a reference to The Apartment in a pop song.) The remaining songs are all highly enjoyable, so what we're left with is a rarity in modern music...a CD that is solid all the way through without any of the duds and throw-away tracks that plague so many releases these days.

For once, the hype is deserved.

The last great album I discovered in 2006.......2007-06-07

This was not only the last great album I discovered in 2006 but it turned out also to be one of the best. This album is not widely known in the US due to it still not being available as anything other than an import. It is not even available on iTunes and other music download services. Hopefully 2007 will see a correction. I have to confess to not knowing a whole lot about the band. Most of the songs are credited to guitarist Dorian Cox and The Long Blondes, which probably means he writes the songs, presents them to the band, and they all hash out the final form. What is surprising about this is that the band has a distinctly feminist slant on things. They seem in many ways to be the English answer to the Riot Girl bands in the U.S. You could easily do a triple bill of Le Tigre, Sleater-Kinney (alas, if only they were still together), and The Long Blondes and have no clash of values or viewpoint. The band has much of the same brassiness of Third Wave inspired feminist rock, yet the songs are written by a guy. Well, perhaps not so bizarre. The turning point in strongly empowered female characters on TV occurred with BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, created by a male feminist, Joss Whedon. So why can't a guy write songs that represent a female take on things?

If Dorian Cox writes the songs, Kate Jackson sells them. And man, does she ever sell them. With this album she instantly joins the ranks of the most compelling female frontwomen in rock. She has a great voice, with plenty of power when she needs it, but capable of subtlety as well. They have her voice far forward in the mix, where it belongs. I love the way she manages to do so many things vocally in "Heaven Help the New Girl," and does them all well. If you compare her with, say, Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kate doesn't have all the tricks that Karen can pull off, but she has a much more powerful voice and a wider effective range.

But what really puts this band over the top for me is not just that they come with a great set of well-written songs and a phenomenal singer to sing them, but that the Long Blondes are a great band. Screech Louder on drums, Emma Chaplain on guitar (and back up vocals), Reenie Delaney on bass (how refreshing to have a chick on guitar and a guy on bass for a change), and Cox on lead guitar are a tremendously tight, inventive, and skilled. Sometimes when you have someone as good as Kate Jackson, there is a talent gap between singer and band, but that certainly is not the case here. This truly is a band, with everyone contributing enormously to the final project.

The highpoint of the album for me is "Weekend without Makeup," in which a woman chronicles how stale her relationship has grown. It is a subject that has been dealt with in countless songs, but it seems so fresh here and the notion of defining a weekend by the fact that she doesn't need to put on any make up really speaks volumes. All in all, though, the album has a number of really strong cuts. "Lust in the Movies," "Once and Never Again" (in which the singer tells a 19-year-old that she really doesn't need a boyfriend but should instead focus on life without the need of one), "Giddy Stratospheres," "In the Company of Women," "Separated by Motorways," and "Heaven Help the New Girl." The album may fade ever so slightly by the end, but these days most bands put their strongest material in the first two-thirds of the disc.

I do want to quibble with a criticism that the previous reviewer made of the album. He or she indicated that this album is "derivative." This is a criticism that is frequently made by people of one album or artist or another. But I have to confess that it is a criticism I've never been able to make any sense of. There are two sides to my perplexity, one general and one specific. Take the specific first, I listened to this album multiple times and not once thought "Wow, this is derivative." Of course there are a host of moments where the album recalls other performers. At various points the band reminds me of outfits as diverse as the Smiths, Pulp, Joy Division, and Blondie, but sometimes even some sixties girl groups. But I absolutely promise any prospective listener: you will not listen to this and think that they are ripping off any other bands' riffs. They certainly are not more "derivative" than any other band at work today. Which leads to the more general side of my perplexity: given the fact that we now have over fifty years of rock and roll informing any rock album today, how is it possible for any band to be anything other than derivative? Even the Beatles were derivative, aping a host of American R&B bands and artists. Later they came under the spell of Bob Dylan, who was himself inspired by a score of American folk, blues, and rock performers. Everyone borrows from everyone else. The question is not whether something is "derivative" but whether their particular derivation is any good. And this stuff here is dynamite. If it were boring, that would be another matter. I really don't intend to jump all over the previous reviewer. Honest, I don't. But this is an instance of aiming a largely irrelevant criticism at an absolutely first rate band. At least he and I can fully agree on one thing: this is one of the best albums of 2006.

Have to buy it all over again........2007-06-07

First Jarvis Cocker's solo CD and now Kate Jackson's band? What is with these Sheffield groups and bonus stuff on domestic releases? Well, I bought this in January thereabouts on the strength of their reviews in the British rags. If you like Alex Turner's ilk, you'll like this. The music is very similar except with Nico/Justine Frischmann (hence a lot of Elastica comparisons, mostly bad, sad to say as I like both groups) vocals. The lyrical content is the same. All in all, if the journos aren't grouping the two in with Jarvis for "The Sheffield Sound," give it time.

Will it be big here? Doubtful. It, like so many previous bands (the Kinks, the Jam, Blur) is way too English and unless you're an Anglophile, it won't be very interesting. If you are though, have a butcher's.

Signed,
epsteinsmutha

Average customer rating:

Southern Rock Rises Again
I Was Robbed!
Keep listening
The Best Hard Rock Album of the New Millenium
Not my favorite

Southern Rock Opera (Dig)
Drive-By Truckers
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Decoration Day
The Dirty South
A Blessing And A Curse
Pizza Deliverance
Gangstabilly

ASIN: B000068FUS
Release Date: 2002-07-16

Tracks:

Days Of Graduation
Ronnie and Neil
72 (this highway's mean)
Dead, Drunk, And Naked
Guitar Man Upstairs
Birmingham
The Southern Thing
The Three Great Alabama Icons
Wallace
Zip City
Moved

Tracks:

Let There Be Rock
Road Cases
Women Without Whiskey
Plastic Flowers On The Highway
Cassie's Brother
Life In The Factory
Shut Up And Get On The Plane
Greenville To Baton Rouge
Angels And Fuselage

Amazon.com

You don't need a bottle of Jack or even a trace of Southern lineage to appreciate the genius of Drive-By Truckers' Southern Rock Opera. Without a hint of irony, the Athens, Georgia, quintet creates a fast-driving, hard-living tribute to the indelible music and legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Like any good concept album, there's a modicum of plot and a theme to these 20 songs (loosely based around the rise and fall of fictitious Southern rock band Betamax Guillotine), but the best tracks make you forget the story line altogether: "Birmingham," "Zip City," and "Let There Be Rock." The "opera" aspects bog things down a bit--you probably only need to hear the spoken-word track "The Three Great Alabama Icons" once--but the overall concept still comes off without a hitch. The lyrics are great, the trio of electric guitars is blessed with raw production, and the tunes--though lacking the pop sensibility of, say, "Gimme Three Steps"--will have you cranking up the album for your friends. And, after a few spins of Southern Rock Opera, you might even find yourself digging out those old Skynyrd LPs to hear the real thing again. --Jason Verlinde

Album Description

A southern rock opera about growing up in the south in the 70's, the rise and fall of arena rock, the mythology surrounding the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and common misconceptions about the south.

Customer Reviews:

Southern Rock Rises Again .......2007-06-08

I really like the lyrics to this. That is what drew my attention to this cd. The vocals of one of the lead singers may take a bit to used to...
but this is rock after all. This cd inspired me to go out & purchase some
old Skynyrd cd's. After all ... "I DID SEE LYNYRD SKYNYRD". And after listening to the cd, you will understand what i'm talking about. For any Skynyrd fan this is a must hear. Ronnie would be proud. This cd is geat on many levels... check it out.

I Was Robbed!.......2007-03-30

After reading the other reviews of this two disk set, I thougt I'd add this to my collection. What a huge mistake. To say that these guys sound anything like Lynyrd Skynyrd or any other quality Southern Rock Band of the 70's era would be a total put-down of all the true musicians of that era. When I received this set in the mail, I first pulled out the liner notes and lyrics and read the whole "book". I liked the lyrics and the theme of most of the songs. Then I put the disks in and listened to this mess. I have never been more disappointed in my life. The longer I listened the more angry I became. Why? These guys suck. They are bad musicians, the production is bad, as far as the general sound quality, it is a muddy mess. If you are looking for good musicians with good tone that understand how to weave three guitars into well written, intricate songs with the sweet twang of southern rock guitars, look elsewhere. These hackers missed the mark by a long shot. They play out of tune, sing out of key and the production is bad. I can't believe I was suckered into actually paying for this garbage.

Keep listening.......2007-03-02

My only problem with the dbts is tring to figure out which album is there best,I have 4 and love them all. S R OPERA takes a little more time to appreciate than there other records, but is well worth the time, These guys are outstanding, wide variety of sounds, great song writing, Remind me of early Wilco, bottlerockets, and other bands from the heartland,if you love the grit and grind of exile on main street. you will love these guys. My favorite albums never sounded good to me at first, So keep listening!!!!!!!!

The Best Hard Rock Album of the New Millenium.......2007-02-19

The Truckers are simply one of the worlds most criminally under appreciated bands. Southern Rock Opera is nothing short of an American masterpiece. It's the Truckers magnificent opus that marks the change from a smart but ultimately campy southern rock group into a southern rock group of rare emotional depth, intelligence, and diversity.

Southern Rock Opera is not exactly an opera. It's more of a concept album--part history lesson, part autobiography, part fiction that loosely follows a character with dreams of becoming a rock star. It explores his musical ambition and sense of identity, beginning in high school all the way up to a tragic ending mirroring the fate of one of his musical idols, Ronnie Van Zandt of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Along the way he redicovers what it means to be from the South and regains his pride for his southern heritage. Musically this is a hard rockin album that slow's down occasionally without ever sounding tired. It allows the listener to catch his breath and enjoy the variety between the bands primary two songwriters Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. The longtime friends and musical collaborators have in Southern Rock Opera a record to be immensly proud of. Uncompromising, yet earthy and earnest, the album only kicks off a series of DBT records that follow, each one in their own right rock masterpieces. After Southern Rock Opera the band went through some line up changes and added singer songwriter Jason Isbell. Isbell's contributions have been incredibly important, adding yet another dynamic, one of an incredibly talented and soulful musician, to the already unique duality of Hood and Cooley. The band followed Decoration Day with their equally powerful albums The Dirty South and 2006's Blessing and a Curse. Truly a great rock n roll band of monumental proportions, it's a crying shame not more have been fortunate enough to hear them or have the guts to appreciate them.

Not my favorite.......2006-12-26

I love DBT!! That being said, this disc marks a turn in direction for the band, and the turn ain't too smooth. There are some gems here- check out "Dead Drunk and Naked"-- classic Patterson Hood. But overall, I feel the song writing is sub par, and frankly, disc 2 is just poor.
Personally, I would pick up the other 5 cd's prior to this one. If you really love the band after that, you might wanna try to find this one on the cheap somewhere.

Average customer rating:

Good but not classic
Really dern good
DBT at their finest...
Thank God!
top notch

The Dirty South
Drive-By Truckers , and Drive By Truckers
Manufacturer: New West Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Decoration Day
Southern Rock Opera (Dig)
A Blessing And A Curse
Pizza Deliverance
Gangstabilly

ASIN: B0002E5OIW
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Tracks:

Where The Devil Don't Stay
Tornadoes
The Day John Henry Died
Putting People On The Moon
Carl Perkins' Cadillac
The Sands Of Iwo Jima
Danko / Manuel
The Boys From Alabama
Cottonseed
The Buford Stick
Daddy's Cup
Never Gonna Change
Lookout Mountain
Goddamn Lonely Love

Amazon.com

The Dirty South is the sixth album by Muscle Shoals, Alabama-based Drive-By Truckers. While previous Southern rock bands have celebrated certain regional mythologies, this quintet revels in the towering glory of small, gritty realities. They can kick up a righteous storm, as on the country lick-filled opener "Where the Devil Don't Stay," or the swamp and fuzzy "Lookout Mountain." However, within the latter is a daunting verse: "If I throw myself off Lookout Mountain, No more for my soul to keep, I wonder who will drive my car, I wonder if my Mom will weep." It's clear these guys deliver emotional wallops at every turn. "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" honors the honesty of Sam Phillips, while writhing in the melancholy of changing times and circumstances. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

Good but not classic.......2007-05-18

I know that average reviews are not viewed as all that "helpful", but, like the previous reviewers from Indianapolis and Scotland, I thought I'd offer one anyway.

I went out and bought The Dirty South after I read the rave reviews on Amazon. From most of the reviews here, you would think that the Drive By Truckers rival the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, and early ZZ Top. According to one reviewer, they are the "saviours of rock." IMO, that's going way too far. The DBT are probably more on par talent-wise with the VRoys (from the late 90s), the Old 97s, and the North Mississippi Allstars - all decent bands, all with a good deal of talent, but ultimately one Duane Allman or Billy Gibbons short (in other words, a long way away) from being the next great Southern rock band.

Still, the Dirty South is a pretty decent album. "Lookout Mountain", "Never Gonna Change" and "Where the Devil Don't Stay" showcase the DBT's driving, dense guitar sound. "The Day John Henry Died" and "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" show that the band can write good music to go along with their strong lyrics if they put their mind to it. And "Danko/Manuel" is a great, slow country song.

For me, the main problem with The Dirty South is when the band uses their music simply as background to their vocals, which is the case on nearly half the songs. Too few hooks or changes in tempo makes for a rather bland and repetitive listening experience after awhile. "Cottonseed" and "Daddy's Cup" are songs that do absolutely nothing for me because of this.

A decent album, yes. A classic? Far from it.

Really dern good.......2006-12-26

A logical progression from Decoration Day to A Blessing and a Curse, the lyrical content is actually stepped up a notch by all three of the fellas on this one. It's hard to point out a lousy song here, and there are a handful that are truly works of art. Patterson- always a favorite, but the Cooley tunes on this disc really knock me out.
If ya love the other 2 I mentioned, you'll love this one too.

DBT at their finest..........2006-12-21

I have a tendency to ramble on, so I'll just do a little breakdown of the album.

1. Where The Devil Don't Stay - 4/5
2. Tornadoes - 4/5
3. The Day John Henry Died - 4/5
4. Puttin' People On The Moon - 4/5
5. Carl Perkin's Cadillac - 4/5
6. The Sands Of Iwo Jima - 2/5
7. Danko / Manuel - 5/5
8. The Boys From Alabama - 4/5
9. Cottonseed - 3/5
10. The Buford Stick - 4/5
11. Daddy's Cup - 5/5
12. Never Gonna Change - 5/5
13. Lookout Mountain - 5/5
14. Goddamn Lonely Love - 5/5

All in all, this is a great album. The boys from Alabama don't disappoint...

Thank God!.......2006-08-29

And just when I thought rock'n'roll was dead. DBT really are the savers of rock, they're all we've got now, and The Dirty South is simply amazing. Hard, fast, real, and most importantly fun, The Dirty South is an album to just shove in the cd player, and not have a need to skip a track. The perfect highway companion.

top notch.......2006-08-01

the best band you've never heard of...my first taste of DBT - will certainly be going back for seconds, thirds,....

Average customer rating:

Adorable!
The next screamo superstars
Awesome
Another Faceless Hardcore Band

She Watched the Sky
A Skylit Drive
Manufacturer: Tragic Hero Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax
Let Your Body Take Over
The Search Party Never Came
For Those Who Have Heart
Curses

ASIN: B000LP5FM2
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Tracks:

Ability To Create A War
Drown The City
The All Star Diaries
Hey Nightmare Where Did You Get Them Teeth
The Past The Love The Memory
A Reason For Broken Wings
According To Columbus

Album Description

Out of the desert Manifest Destiny uncovered comes the next big thing in post-hardcore. Sacramento's A Skylit Drive expertly blends the musical stylings of bands like Chiodos and Thursday with the layered vocals and naiive lyrics of Taking Back Sunday. A Skylit Drive's debut EP, She Watched the Sky, is at times raucus and irresponsible only to give way to introspection and self-immolation moments later. While this may be appropriate for a band so young, the spectrum of emotion displayed is remarkable. At its best it brings innovation and invention in an often times stale genre and at the very least it's promising.

Customer Reviews:

Adorable!.......2007-03-11

When I first saw an ad for She Watched the Sky by A Skylit Drive, I knew I had to buy it and I'm so happy I did! These guys are really cool and I haven't been able to compare them to anyone else. That's what I like about them. I bought it almost a month ago and haven't been able to stop listening. My favorite track was "Hey Nightmare, Where Did You Get Them Teeth". Very cool.

The next screamo superstars.......2007-03-09

Upcomers A Skylit Drive have released an EP that people should pay close attention to. A.S.D. would appeal to fans of Saosin, From First to Last, Chiodos, and Thursday. A Skylit Drive stays true to the screamo formula while maintaining their own indentity. While listening to A.S.D., I was reminisent, musically, of Chiodos and The Blood Brothers, while vocally, their sound is easily compared to front-men like Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday and Geoff Rickly of Thursday. Overall, She Watched the Sky is an excellent listen that will be exceedingly difficult to remove from your CD player or iPod. I highly recommend that fans of screamo or post-hardcore pay close attention to this soon-to-be household name.

Awesome.......2007-03-06

I really enjoy this 7 track album. I don't really think they are your general screamo band that sounds like everyone else. I think these guys have something different to them. The album is short and intense and filled with emotion. They use a good amount of electronic synth is the background which is cool and not typically apparent in post-hardcore bands. The album starts out with an introduction type of song that reminds me a lot of the first track on Atreyu's The Curse (I think the track is called Blood Children). After the intro, "Drown The City" comes flying at you from all directions and shows the promise of the CD's intensity. The next track, "The All Star Diaries" is a really catchy song that I really enjoy. The rest of the CD is awesome and is pretty short but I think it's better that way.

Another Faceless Hardcore Band.......2007-02-19

A Skylit Drive comes from my hometown, so I saw and met them at a local show about a year ago. I immediatly bought this, and I am sad to say that they sound basically like every other Underoath wanna-be out there. Screamo gets old, guys.

Average customer rating:

Great music!
My favorite song! Fall Into Me!
Emerson Drive, I now love country!!!!!
great guys
Em. Drive touring with Shania - Great cd!

Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

What If?
Countrified
Brian McComas
Mountains
Pure BS

ASIN: B000066EZ5
Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

Fall Into Me
Evidence
Passionate Desperate Love
Only God (Could Stop Me Loving You)
Say My Name
I Should Be Sleeping
Light Of Day
Looking Over My Shoulder
I See Heaven
How Lucky I Am
Hollywood Kiss
It's All About You

Amazon.com

Watch out, Rascal Flatts. Here comes Emerson Drive, rolling out of Canada with an eye on your formula: rock masquerading as country, high-octane energy, layered harmonies, and enough testosterone to power a truck pull. While they wrote none of the material on this debut disc, the six-piece band is hung up on "bed" songs, from "I Should Be Sleeping," the hit single about a guy's inability do anything but think of his girl, to "Light of Day" and "I See Heaven," which pretty much say the same thing. In fact, every song here is about getting the girl, thanking God for the girl, and pinching yourself to make sure you're not just dreaming you got the girl. That's what you do when you're young and in love, of course. No time for subtlety, powered-down production, or variation, unless you count "It's All About You," a slice of faux R&B in which lead singer Brad Mates vows that--what else?--he'll do anything to get the girl. Ah, obsession. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

Great music!.......2007-07-01

I purchased this CD along with the newest Emerson Drive CD and I love them both! Heart felt lyrics and beautiful music make it worth listening to from beginning to end! I can't wait to see them in concert!

My favorite song! Fall Into Me!.......2007-03-27

This song is a soulful reminder of the men in my life as well and a perfect addition to any country lovers collection. If you want to show some love and support this band - PLEASE vote for Emerson Drive at the [...]website!

Emerson Drive, I now love country!!!!!.......2004-07-11

Yes, all the songs on this CD are songs about love, from wanting the girl/falling in love with the girl/staying true to the girl. Love is, afterall, one of the major themes in all country music. Until now, I have been only a marginal fan of country music, but Emerson Drive has changed all that! Brad Mates' vocals are in a class of their own--he could sing anything--from Harry Connick style music to rock, and he would be incredible. His vocal range includes some pretty sexy bass! Each of the instrumentalists are exceptional musicians, and I believe it is this talent that prompted Shania Twain to ask the band to open for her in her current tour. The lyrics may all be about love, but they are not typical of country, especially those on 'Say My Name', 'Evidence', and 'Looking Over My Shoulder'. After listening to the CD once, it has become my favourite album!

great guys.......2004-05-10

I have been to three or four of these guys concerts, and what i love the most is there cd is amazing, and the sound even beter in person. There so great they stay to sighn everyone autographs, and ther just plain sweethearts who are talented, i would recomend this cd to anyone who likes good music

Em. Drive touring with Shania - Great cd!.......2004-01-22

This is a great album. I saw these guys in concert in Nov 2003 in Dallas, and man do they rock--and play great country! With their song "Only God" being written by Shania's husband, Mutt Lange, you know it's a great one...as are all the songs. They opened for Shania last year and will continue to do so this year when the UP! tour continues in America. Get the cd--you'll love it. Brad has such a powerful voice....you'll be dreamin'. :)

Average customer rating:

SoCo's Finest Showing
its not for everyone but that doesnt mean it sucks.
Amazing
Punk? Not A Chance
Groundbreaking

Leaving Through The Window
Something Corporate
Manufacturer: Drive-Thru
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

North
Everything in Transit
Audioboxer
Something Corporate - Live at the Ventura Theater
Say It Like You Mean It

ASIN: B000066B4V
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Tracks:

I Want To Save You
Punk Rock Princess
I Woke Up In A Car
If You C Jordan
The Astronaut
Hurricane
Cavanaugh Park
Fall
Straw Dog
Good News
Drunk Girl
Not What It Seems
You're Gone
Globes and Maps

Customer Reviews:

SoCo's Finest Showing.......2006-08-09

I first stumbled across Something Corporate with the new musical stylings of Jack's Mannequin and what I found was music that that was just as good as JM but also had a nice flair of harder rock with a little punk edge. This album is SoCo's best work. 'North' is a very good album in itself but just isn't comparable to LOTW. 'I Woke Up In A Car', 'Punk Rock Princess', 'Fall', and many others make this a must have for any JM or SoCo fan.

its not for everyone but that doesnt mean it sucks. .......2006-07-29

ok...so here it goes...this is my last review for a while. if you think about it...reviews are kind of pointless. everyone has different taste even in the same genres. for example..i happen to like some (dare i say it?) emo music, but i dont really dig this album. i mean its a nice piece of work. i respect the talent and effort that went into it..and there are some catchy songs. i dig hurricane...and thats why it was a single. and FYI...just listen to the samples...if they dont grab you...dont buy it. i mean...surely if you've been dumped enough to the point where you listen to deat metal you wont like this album at all...thats a no brainer. and by the way...death metal is the PERFECT music to listen to if you want to prevent being dumped again because noone will want to come near you anymore if they hear you listening to it. (but thats just my opinion...im entitled...right?) so...while this review wasnt really about the abum...i hope it helps people to realize that they need to trust their own tastes...and not the taste of others. i know what i like..so i buy it...im not going to tell you to buy anything i like...because you might not. and...for the record..(pun intended)..i know that if i was a musician...i would LOVE to sell as many copies of my album as humanly possible. besides...if im going to spend so much time making music for people to listen to..im gonna need to make money. i would still love doing it...money just helps. so...selling out aint that bad. or i could just write death metal and have some lonely overly dumped tortured souls at my concert. that would rock. try before you buy....reviews cant help you choose.

Amazing.......2006-05-25

I sometimes have to moderate how much I listen to this cd because if I don't, I would listen to it all the time. There's nothing like a sweet piano solo in the middle of a punk song! I saw these guys in concert back in 2002 and ever since then I have been a big fan.

Punk? Not A Chance.......2006-05-20

I had to find this album in the "punk" bins, likely owing to the fact that this album was released on Drive-Thru records, a haven for Southern California punk bands. As soon as you hear the opening chords of "I Want To Save You" you know this is not a punk album. Like, I mean, who ever heard of a piano in a punk band?

This is the inaugural full-length release from the Dana Point, CA group, having released several of the songs on the album on an earlier EP called "Audioboxer". One more thing that is apparent right from the start of the album is that the writing is not typical of a bunch of 19 year-old kids. It is smart, sexy, and melodic, influenced by years of Elton John and The Beach Boys yet definitely sporting a large dose of New Found Glory and Simple Plan. Most of the writing is done by pianist/frontman Andrew McMahon. McMahon has a way of taking the experiences, the positives and negatives of his everyday life and turning them into engaging and sometimes uncomfortable anecdotes, the verbage put to music with a definite hook. Guitarist Partington has his say on the album as well, his edgier music providing a great counterbalance for some of McMahon's softer offerings.

This album has everything from pure pop, to punk, to heart-wrenching ballads about the effect being on the road has on a relationship. "Cavanaugh Park" is a gentle reflection about growing up in suburban southern California, while "Drunk Girl" is a somewhat embarrassed look at the consequences of overindulgence. All in all, this is a good addition to any music collection, with enough angst to satisfy the teenage crowd yet enough intelligence to please any adult listener. Based on this album, Something Corporate holds the promise of great things to come.

Groundbreaking.......2006-05-18

By far one of the emo CD's made (in the category of Taking Back Sunday's "Tell All Your Friends", Matchbook Romance's "Stories And Alibies", Dashboard Confessional's "The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most" and Fall Out Boy's "Take This To Your Grave"), I'm actually amazed that this release did not become a mainstream success, espicially with it being as appealing as it is to younger audiences with its cathcy hooks and at times "pop" sound.

Singer/Songwriter Andrew McMahon went above and beyond on this release, perfectly expressing the emotions that make the genre as popular as it is. From love and loss to anger and frustration, to even just a few wierd lyrics about child hood bullies, the lyrics of this album are just as dynamic as the hypnotizing sound placed to them.

Track Ratings (1 being the lowest grade, 10 the highest)

1. I Want To Save You (8 - 10): Perfect begining to the CD, espicially with the simple piano opening, then blended in with a drum and guitar line. Opening lyric of "standing on the edge of morning, scent of sex and New Found Glory, playing as she's pulling back her hair" is perfect. Song's about trying to save a modern girl, the mentioning of sex involved in why she needs to be saved is essential really. Song and guitar picks up for chorus throughout the song... simply a perfect opening.

2. Punk Rock Princess (7.5 - 10): I dont know why, but I really couldn't ever get into this track. The guitar riffs are great, pounding throughout. McMahon's lyrics of "You could be my punk rock princess, I could be your grage band king. You can tell me how you just dont need this and your going to be something" is great and placed perfectly in the song. I'd like for the piano to take more of a prominiant role inthe song, but other then that, my complaints are at a minimum and I still dont like the track. Wierd...

3. I Woke Up In A Car (10 - 10): First single from the album, is the defination of 'piano rock'. More fast paced paino opening from McMahon, again with the start of the song with only his voice and piano (similiar to track 1). What gets me about the track is the chorus, by far one the best I have ever heard (one of the reasons why SoCo is such an amazing band are their chorus's). Building guitars to the lyrics of "Well I woke up in a car, I traced away the fog so I could see the Mississippi on her knees. I've never been so lost, I've never felt so much at home. Please write my folks and throw away my keys". Fast paced song, exceptional lyrics of moving on, and amazing instrument plays makes this one a classic.

4. If U C Jordan (6 - 10): I'll give the band credit for writing a song about a childhood bully, plus putting pop sounding instruments to the song, but as a whole I'm not a fan of this track. In a way, its too poppy and McMahon's vocals go from edgy to plain whiney on this one. Always skipped...

5. The Astronaut (7 - 10): First true ballad on the CD, but one that does fall short on some levels. My biggest problem with this track is comparing ones self to a space traveler, how tackful is that? Its a shame becase the piano on this track is excellent, along with the drums and McMahon's lyrics hit perfect pitch on the chorus, espicially when saying "I need to be high". If you take out the stupid comparison, its a great song, so if one can get past that then I'm sure you'll enjoy the song much more then I do.

6. Hurricane (10 - 10): Best song on the CD, would be the top SoCo song if not for that pesky old "Konstantine" song. Great monotone opening, giving into heavy guitars and a perfect drum line. McMahon basically ditches the piano on this one (except for the small solo near the end) to focus on keeping up with his band mates thriving guitars throughout. Make no mistake, this one is a rock song that will get you off your ass. Slow break of McMahon on the piano to the lyrics of "You don't do it on purpose, but you make me shake. Now I count the hours 'til you wake with your babies breath, breathe symphonies. Come on sweet catastrophe." to a final pounding chorus is amazing.

7. Cavanaugh Park (8 - 10): Much better ballad then the first one on this track, about childhood reflection and what we all once had innocence wise before growing up. Is perfectly placed on the CD to go after the up-tempo 'Hurricane'. McMahon again shines on this, his work on the piano is amazing. Only thing keeping from it getting a better grade is the lyrics are subpar in my opinion.

8. Fall (10 - 10): Another one of my favorites. Again McMahon ditches the piano to focus only on singing, although this is a much slower song then 'Punk Rock Princess' and 'Hurricane'. Very slow begining to the track with only vocals over a blase guitar and drum line, however both picking up to McMahon's pleading chorus of "And so I fall...". The lead into the second chorus of "I was so close,that was the most that i have ever been through. Now old cassettes and cigarettes will be the ones to save you. How can you ask for me to stay when all you ever do is go? Just go!" is one of my favorites on the CD. This one gets in your head like 'Hurricane", another great one.

9. Straw Dog (9.5 - 10): If you ever get your hands on a live perfomance of this song, cherish it because its amazing live. That said, this is one of their more poppy songs, however the guitar riffs are simply addictive and will have your head swaying back and forth through out the entire track. Song about confusion and trying to figure out what to do next, the fast paced guitars and extrememly catchy (once again on this CD) chorus make this one another great one.

10. Good News (6 - 10): Really nothing special about this track, lyrics and instruments are very bland and lacking any sort of direction on this track. I really see this one simply as a filler track without any sort of purpose or audience to enjoy it. Shame because its really on the only track on the cd that isnt aimed to anyone or different enough to give credit for at least attempting to write. Always skipped.

11. Drunk Girl (8 - 10): Haha, as a guy who has done this way too many times, I always laugh at this song. Very poppy, but they lyrics are just plain funny to me, espicially simply saying "I kissed a drunk girl on the lips" as part of your chorus. Brings me back to some questionable calls of my own drinking life! Great boozing song!

12. Not What It Seems (8 - 10): I want to like this song a lot more then I actually do. The message of ones life being worse then what people actually thinks it is is an intriguing topic to write about. Chorus is great, as usual, but the insrumentals leading into it are lacking any sort of buildup. Most tracks also feature a great fast paced section to the song, which would have been great on this track, however is absent.

13. Your Gone (10 - 10): I'm shocked more people dont like this song. I think the mixture of acoustic and electric guitars throughout the song fits the song perfectly, espicially when the emotions are suppose to be one of sadness and anger at the same time. What makes this track though are McMahons pleas of "Your gone... your gone... your gone... your gone... your gone... your gone... your gone away. If you don't like being hurt then please dont stay." The raw emotion going into each 'your gone' makes shivers go down my spine each time.

14. Globes and Maps (9 - 10): Best piano ballad on the CD. Only the piano and McMahon vocals on this one, where he is simply spilling his hear about missing someone. I'll always give massive credit to anyone who has the courage to write a song that exposus themselves down to their core, which this track absolutly does. The final chorus and meloncholy piano base can invoke some tears.

"I Woke Up In A Car", "Hurricane", "Fall, "Straw Dog", "You're Gone", and "Globes and Maps" are all amazing tracks and will get into your head for days on end. As is not the case with most CD's in this genre through, there really aren't too many tracks that need to be skipped each time (with the exception of one or two)... in a 14 track album that is impressive. McMahon is one of the top individual performers of this time and his musical and lyrical prowess are on amazing display on this release.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music