1. City of New Orleans
2. Rhinestone Cowboy
3. You've Lost That Loving Feeling
4. Forever in Blue Jeans
5. Blue Bayou
6. California Girls
7. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
8. California Dreaming
9. These Boots Are Made For Walking
10. La Isla Bonita
11. Country Roads
12. Love Me Tender
13. New York, New York
14. Amazing Grace
15. More Than Words Can Say
Final Thoughts
Amazing Grace
I love this song. It's simply amazing. (Unintentional pun ftw.) I have nothing else to say. Just listen to it. It's worth the time you'll spend on it.
Rating: 10/10
Blue Bayou
I suppose there has to be one or two songs on every album that aren't stellar. Unfortunately, this is one. It's a little like a Jimmy Buffett song sans alcohol references. Overall, I enjoy the simple melodies and slow tempo, but I suppose for me it's a change of pace in sound. Worth the listen in any case.
Rating: 8/10
California Dreaming
Oh boy, this song is a piece of work. I really liked the original, even though it seems as though The Mamas and the Papas performed it whilst high as a kite on several types of hallucinogens. The Hoff's version doesn't really change that, either, and it's still a very good song. One of my favorites from my childhood, as I believe I've said.
Rating: 10/10
California Girls
Being from the Midwest, I always found the inference that all Midwestern girls were farmer's daughters to be a little ridiculous. And the simple fact that the East Coast doesn't necessarily set fashion trends is somewhat amusing. (What it says about Southern and Northern girls, however, is still pretty much dead-on.) I'm also not surprised that David Hasselhoff, who spent a large part of his career playing a lifeguard in Southern California, would at some point tackle this song. And, to pastiche Yoda, a good job he does. Gentle baritone, ridiculously campy background musicians, and one of the coolest songs ever recorded equal an excellent listening experience, if one asks me.
Which, of course, you did, if you're here.
Rating: 10/10
City of New Orleans
The first song on this album is also the first one I'd never heard before I picked it up. That said, it's also the first experience I'd had with David Hasselhoff's vocals, and let me tell you, I was surprised. The Hoff is a much better singer than I would have ever wanted to admit before hearing his work. Since this is the first track, I'll say this here: his backing musicians are talented, but nothing truly special. His vocals are really the only selling point this album can stand on, and so far, I haven't been disappointed.
Rating: 9/10
Country Roads
There really isn't much to say about this song, other than it really is beautiful. I keep being struck dumb by the fact that yes, the voice coming through my headphones is David Hasselhoff. I'm likely to be struck by that for a very, very long time. And John Denver was a good choice. Mr. Denver's songs tend to lend themselves to The Hoff's vocal quality.
Rating: 9/10
Forever in Blue Jeans
This is the first song on the album so far (the fourth, in case anyone's keeping track) in which I actually enjoyed the intro, because it wasn't forgettable. Okay, that's not entirely accurate, the guitar's completely forgettable, but it's quite beautiful. The Hoff once again aces the vocals, and the only question I would have (the lyrics) doesn't apply, since The Hoff didn't write the song, he's singing it. (After checking Wikipedia, all questions are answered: Neil Diamond wrote it.)
Rating: 8/10
La Isla Bonita
Of all the artists The Hoff would cover, I never thought of Madonna. But this was always one of my favorite Madonna songs (those who know me should be choking on their drinks at the idea of me listening to Madonna right about now. To that I have this to say: I'm reviewing David Hasselhoff, and you're questioning Madonna?), and The Hoff does very good by it. So far, on my quest through this album, this is the song I've listened to the most. And it'll likely continue to be that. I really liked this song.
Rating: 10/10
Love Me Tender
I've never actually heard the Elvis Presley original of this song, but I can't see it being performed any differently, and, sacreligious as it might be, I have to say that The Hoff's voice is likely better suited to the song. Elvis was lust and sex, The Hoff is romance and sex. Slightly different. Candles and wine versus beer and dirty dancing. I like The Hoff's version better.
Rating: 9/10
More Than Words Can Say
This is the only song on this album that The Hoff wrote himself (with help, of course, but still his only writing credit), and it's actually really nice, in a soft way. The man certainly has talent, and that's something that I think nobody can deny.
Rating: 10/10
New York, New York
All of a sudden I want to watch Gremlins 2. I really can't say anything about this song that wouldn't insult the standing of this standard that hasn't been said in other song points.
Rating: 10/10
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
This song has always amused. It's definitely a classic, and I can always get behind a song that's about keeping a positive outlook. The brass bridge is a nice touch, too. There isn't really much to say about this song, though, but it's again definitely worth the listen.
Rating: 8/10
Rhinestone Cowboy
I have the same problem listening to this version of this song as I do any other, and that's that I always expect the melody to drift off into something else. When it doesn't, I'm not sure whether to be disappointed or pleased. In and of itself, this is actually quite a good song, showcasing more of the baritone quality of The Hoff's voice. Very good, to the point where I only remember the forgettable backing music when it crescendoes.
Rating: 9/10
These Boots Are Made For Walking
I'm not 100% sure of the country style of this song, but I do like the vocal quality. And the song is overall a good one. Seems like it's something one would have heard in the 80's or early 90's watching pro wrestling, but I don't mean that as a bad thing. "Easy listening" is easy to listen to for a reason, right?
Rating: 8/10
You've Lost That Loving Feeling
I would very much like to know who the female vocalist is sharing the vocals with The Hoff. Very easy listening of it, but that's really all right. Truly worth the listen at least once, and probably more than that.
Rating: 8/10
Final words:
I wasn't expecting much about the album. I really wasn't. I don't go for easy listening, and I was skeptical about an actor's ability to sing. But I am pleased to admit that I was wrong, very wrong, about this. This is a good album, and I'd recommend it to just about anyone. Go get it, seriously.
Overall: 134/150 (89.3%) (B+)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Shinedown - Leave a Whisper
Released July 13, 2003
Shinedown was:
Brent Smith - vocals
Jasin Todd - guitars, lap steel, theremin
Brad Stewart - bass
Barry Kerch - drums, percussion
Tracks 13-15 are available on the Enhanced Edition (released June 15th, 2004), and 16-25 are available, with 1-15, only on the iTunes/Amazon Deluxe Edition (released July 7, 2009). As of yet, I have not experienced 16-25, and when I do, I will add them to this post. --9/8/09
1. Fly From the Inside
2. Left Out
3. Lost in the Crowd
4. No More Love
5. Better Version
6. Burning Bright
7. In Memory
8. All I Ever Wanted
9. Stranger Inside
10. Lacerated
11. Crying Out
12. 45
13. Simple Man (acoustic) (from the Sanford Sessions)
14. Burning Bright (Sanford Mix) (from the Sanford Sessions)
15. 45 (Acoustic) (from the Sanford Sessions)
16. Simple Man (Rock Version)
17. Leave A Whisper (Leave A Whisper Sessions)
18. Start Over (Leave A Whisper Sessions)
19. Soon Forgotten (Demo)
20. No More Love (Demo)
21. Falling Fearless (Demo)
22. Left Out (Demo)
23. Emptiness Man (Demo)
24. Notice Me (Demo)
25. Fly From The Inside (Live Acoustic)
45
This was, way, way back in 2005, my first exposure to a southern band named Shinedown. I suppose that it's probably the best song from this album to experience first, as it begins slowly, calmly, and mellow, and builds up to the energy that I, at least, typically associate with Shinedown songs. The only sad part about this song is that Brent Smith's vocals never reach the peak of range that they do in this song.
Rating: 10/10
45 (Acoustic) (from the Sanford Sessions)
While acoustic versions of songs tend to be worth the listen, this just seems like a watered-down version of the original. Brent's vocals are usually pristine, but it seems like on this one, he could have done well by clearing his throat a few times. That, and during the bridge, it seems like he's straining a bit too hard to sound the same as he did in the non-acoustic version.
Rating: 6/10
All I Ever Wanted
Not a bad generic rock song, but definitely not Shinedown's best. It seems to me as though this is more of a typical "cookie cutter" song than it is an original masterpiece. I admit it's very powerful, emotionally, but other than that, there's really not much to it.
Rating: 7/10
Better Version
Sometimes it seems that Shinedown's been recording versions of this song since they began recording songs. But that's all right. This is more of a hard rock standard than most of the songs on the album, but at the same time, manages to sound a bit whiny at times. Still one of the better songs I've heard.
Rating: 8/10
Burning Bright
This is another song that made Shinedown one of my favorite bands. I particularly like the lyrical juxtapositon, and to tell the truth, the almost warbling sound of the main guitar riff is eerie, and that just adds to the...well, to the mystique. And the end...well, it lends a certain feeling to the song that I just cannot describe.
Rating: 10/10
Burning Bright (Sanford Mix) (from the Sanford Sessions)
Really, my comments for the original version still apply, and the music adds more of the eerie feeling to the song. Were it possible to give more than ten points to this song, I would. Actually...
Rating: 11/10
Crying Out
This song...well, there really isn't much I can say about it without sounding like I'm gushing. It's catchy, it's heavy, it's got the benefit of Brent's A-game vocals, and it catches you off your guard if you haven't listened to it before.
Rating: 10/10
Fly From the Inside
An excellent song to begin an album with. Lyrics are typical Shinedown confusion mixed with some excellent imagery, and of course Brent's on his game. Another great song from a very good band.
Rating: 9/10
In Memory
In 2005, I had something happen to my psyche right around the same time as I first picked up Leave a Whisper. This song immediately grafted to me, and as such, I'm almost unable to give it a horrible rating. Of course, it doesn't deserve it. It's an excellent emotional song about emotional progress, featuring most (but not all) of what makes Shinedown an excellent group.
Rating: 8/10
Lacerated
An atypical song from these boys. It starts out very, very slow and creepy, and doesn't really shift in tone the way it does in speed. Same Shinedown lyrical riddles, same Shinedown heavy guitars, but this would be right at home in a horror movie. If you manage to sift through the words, it becomes fairly clear that it appears to be about emotional abuse, but then again, that could just be my interpretation of the lyrics.
Rating: 8/10
Left Out
I like how Shinedown starts a few of their songs with slow parts, being followed by heavy guitars, but I suppose I can't see why they'd do it more than once per album, or three times total. It does tend to get overdone. On top of that, this song just isn't "great". It's well done, but it's definitely not their best work.
Rating: 6/10
Lost in the Crowd
A ballad. Goes from simple soft-sounding guitar to heavy guitar, and really doesn't change much in tone. I'd say more about it, but I really don't have much to say about it at all. It's not the best song on the album, but it's likely not the worst, either. But it's just not what I think of when I think of Shinedown.
Rating: 6/10
No More Love
Not a bad hard rock song, but there's really nothing special about it. It's heavy, and it sounds good, but it's not very memorable. In its own way, that makes it a good song, but it's not special.
Rating: 8/10
Simple Man (acoustic) (from the Sanford Sessions)
One of the best covers I've ever heard. Brent's vocals are absolutely perfect for this song. Nothing else need be said.
Rating: 10/10
Stranger Inside
One of the better songs on the album. It's hard to say "best" when an album has so many good songs on it, though. It's catchy, and should have been a single. Definitely one of the hardest songs the album has to offer, and I don't think I've heard many songs that are so much hit, so little miss like this one is.
Rating: 9/10
Final rating:
Original Edition: 99/120 (82.5%) (B-)
Enhanced Edition: 126/150 (84%) (B)
iTunes/Amazon Deluxe Edition: unknown/250 (n/a%) (n/a)
Shinedown was:
Brent Smith - vocals
Jasin Todd - guitars, lap steel, theremin
Brad Stewart - bass
Barry Kerch - drums, percussion
Tracks 13-15 are available on the Enhanced Edition (released June 15th, 2004), and 16-25 are available, with 1-15, only on the iTunes/Amazon Deluxe Edition (released July 7, 2009). As of yet, I have not experienced 16-25, and when I do, I will add them to this post. --9/8/09
1. Fly From the Inside
2. Left Out
3. Lost in the Crowd
4. No More Love
5. Better Version
6. Burning Bright
7. In Memory
8. All I Ever Wanted
9. Stranger Inside
10. Lacerated
11. Crying Out
12. 45
13. Simple Man (acoustic) (from the Sanford Sessions)
14. Burning Bright (Sanford Mix) (from the Sanford Sessions)
15. 45 (Acoustic) (from the Sanford Sessions)
16. Simple Man (Rock Version)
17. Leave A Whisper (Leave A Whisper Sessions)
18. Start Over (Leave A Whisper Sessions)
19. Soon Forgotten (Demo)
20. No More Love (Demo)
21. Falling Fearless (Demo)
22. Left Out (Demo)
23. Emptiness Man (Demo)
24. Notice Me (Demo)
25. Fly From The Inside (Live Acoustic)
45
This was, way, way back in 2005, my first exposure to a southern band named Shinedown. I suppose that it's probably the best song from this album to experience first, as it begins slowly, calmly, and mellow, and builds up to the energy that I, at least, typically associate with Shinedown songs. The only sad part about this song is that Brent Smith's vocals never reach the peak of range that they do in this song.
Rating: 10/10
45 (Acoustic) (from the Sanford Sessions)
While acoustic versions of songs tend to be worth the listen, this just seems like a watered-down version of the original. Brent's vocals are usually pristine, but it seems like on this one, he could have done well by clearing his throat a few times. That, and during the bridge, it seems like he's straining a bit too hard to sound the same as he did in the non-acoustic version.
Rating: 6/10
All I Ever Wanted
Not a bad generic rock song, but definitely not Shinedown's best. It seems to me as though this is more of a typical "cookie cutter" song than it is an original masterpiece. I admit it's very powerful, emotionally, but other than that, there's really not much to it.
Rating: 7/10
Better Version
Sometimes it seems that Shinedown's been recording versions of this song since they began recording songs. But that's all right. This is more of a hard rock standard than most of the songs on the album, but at the same time, manages to sound a bit whiny at times. Still one of the better songs I've heard.
Rating: 8/10
Burning Bright
This is another song that made Shinedown one of my favorite bands. I particularly like the lyrical juxtapositon, and to tell the truth, the almost warbling sound of the main guitar riff is eerie, and that just adds to the...well, to the mystique. And the end...well, it lends a certain feeling to the song that I just cannot describe.
Rating: 10/10
Burning Bright (Sanford Mix) (from the Sanford Sessions)
Really, my comments for the original version still apply, and the music adds more of the eerie feeling to the song. Were it possible to give more than ten points to this song, I would. Actually...
Rating: 11/10
Crying Out
This song...well, there really isn't much I can say about it without sounding like I'm gushing. It's catchy, it's heavy, it's got the benefit of Brent's A-game vocals, and it catches you off your guard if you haven't listened to it before.
Rating: 10/10
Fly From the Inside
An excellent song to begin an album with. Lyrics are typical Shinedown confusion mixed with some excellent imagery, and of course Brent's on his game. Another great song from a very good band.
Rating: 9/10
In Memory
In 2005, I had something happen to my psyche right around the same time as I first picked up Leave a Whisper. This song immediately grafted to me, and as such, I'm almost unable to give it a horrible rating. Of course, it doesn't deserve it. It's an excellent emotional song about emotional progress, featuring most (but not all) of what makes Shinedown an excellent group.
Rating: 8/10
Lacerated
An atypical song from these boys. It starts out very, very slow and creepy, and doesn't really shift in tone the way it does in speed. Same Shinedown lyrical riddles, same Shinedown heavy guitars, but this would be right at home in a horror movie. If you manage to sift through the words, it becomes fairly clear that it appears to be about emotional abuse, but then again, that could just be my interpretation of the lyrics.
Rating: 8/10
Left Out
I like how Shinedown starts a few of their songs with slow parts, being followed by heavy guitars, but I suppose I can't see why they'd do it more than once per album, or three times total. It does tend to get overdone. On top of that, this song just isn't "great". It's well done, but it's definitely not their best work.
Rating: 6/10
Lost in the Crowd
A ballad. Goes from simple soft-sounding guitar to heavy guitar, and really doesn't change much in tone. I'd say more about it, but I really don't have much to say about it at all. It's not the best song on the album, but it's likely not the worst, either. But it's just not what I think of when I think of Shinedown.
Rating: 6/10
No More Love
Not a bad hard rock song, but there's really nothing special about it. It's heavy, and it sounds good, but it's not very memorable. In its own way, that makes it a good song, but it's not special.
Rating: 8/10
Simple Man (acoustic) (from the Sanford Sessions)
One of the best covers I've ever heard. Brent's vocals are absolutely perfect for this song. Nothing else need be said.
Rating: 10/10
Stranger Inside
One of the better songs on the album. It's hard to say "best" when an album has so many good songs on it, though. It's catchy, and should have been a single. Definitely one of the hardest songs the album has to offer, and I don't think I've heard many songs that are so much hit, so little miss like this one is.
Rating: 9/10
Final rating:
Original Edition: 99/120 (82.5%) (B-)
Enhanced Edition: 126/150 (84%) (B)
iTunes/Amazon Deluxe Edition: unknown/250 (n/a%) (n/a)
Machinae Supremacy - Redeemer
Note: You may notice that I mention several times a problem I have with the Retail Edition's sound. I'm open to suggestions on how to improve said problem.
Underground Edition
Retail Edition
Underground Edition
Released on March 18, 2006.
1. Elite
2. Rise
3. Fury
4. Ronin
5. Kaori Stomp
6. Hate
7. I Know the Reaper
8. Seventeen
9/10. The Cavern of Lost Time/Rogue World Asylum
11. Through the Looking Glass
12. Oki Kuma's Adventure
13. Reanimator
14/15. Prelude to Empire/Empire
Retail Edition
Remixed and re-released on November 8, 2006.
1. Elite
2. Through the Looking Glass
3. Rogue World Asylum
4. Rise
5. I Know the Reaper
6. Hate
7. Ghost (Beneath the Surface)
8. Seventeen
9. Ronin
10. Oki Kuma's Adventure
11. Reanimator
Elite
All in all, a fairly good opening song on both albums. The Underground version is prefaced with a simple speaking track, the Retail version is not. Past that, the two songs are identical, though I will say that I've had problems with the Retail Edition songs being muddied slightly, and as such, I prefer the Underground version.
Retail: 6/10
Underground: 7/10
Empire
Nearly seven minutes of epic guitar, choral chanting, and headbanging fury. If you can make it all the way through this song and still not enjoy this band, then you may as well not try to listen to anything else they have. This showcases every single ounce of awesome that this band has to showcase. SID chip, technical skill, et cetera. I love it, and at some point will revisit it to showcase more of the song.
Underground: 10/10
Fury
An Underground-only song. Excellent, excellent opening guitar line. I can't say that enough. Really, I can't. Unfortunately, the song doesn't hold that particular line, and after the first chorus, it tends to get a bit repetitive. Overall, not a bad song. It holds to the middle of the pack, and it's good for when you just need to headbang a little bit.
Underground: 6/10
Ghost (Beneath the Surface)
When I first pieced together my knowledge of Redeemer, I was saddened that the Retail Edition didn't have Empire on it. With the general muddying of the sound (which I have mentioned elsewhere), it seemed to me that this edition would be utterly useless without the best song on the album to go with it. Then I found Ghost. I am so utterly thrilled with this song that there really isn't much to say about it. I can't do it justice without thinking for several days. So I'll have to go back and do a Song of the Month special about this song.
Retail: 10/10
Hate
Another one I just can't really get behind. It's not that it's terrible, but it's just not the blend of technical skill and lyrical poetry that Machinae Supremacy shows in songs like Ronin and Ghost.
Retail: 4/10
Underground: 5/10
I Know the Reaper
A very catchy tune, I must say. Robert's almost whiny vocals are the only major detriment to a song that mixes all the best that Machinae Supremacy has to offer: smashing and flowing guitar lines, hints of almost 8-bit sound at the edges of your senses, and lyrics that make you really sit down and think.
Retail: 7/10
Underground: 8/10
Kaori Stomp
I can't say that I've listened to this song much. I just can't get behind it. It seems to go from senseless heavy guitar riff to senseless heavy guitar riff, and honestly, hearing a Swedish man speak Japanese in the middle of an English verse isn't really my type of music. I just have trouble getting behind this song.
Underground: 4/10
Oki Kuma's Adventure
How many songs can really reference "Firefly" and get away with it? Seriously? And I would very seriously like to know who the female backing vocalist is. In all seriousness, though, this song is very close to absolute perfection in every way. The only thing that costs the Retail version half a point is the muddying of the sound that happened throughout the whole album. I'll likely give this song its own post somewhere down the line.
Retail: 9/10
Underground: 10/10
Prelude to Empire
90 seconds of prelude. Nothing much to speak of here, except for the two second clip of "Insidious" from Deus Ex Machinae caught my attention. I really do enjoy the way it leads up to Empire, though.
Underground: n/a
Reanimator
Who doesn't love a song about zombies? Seriously? It didn't help me much that the first time I listened to this was when I was reading through Blackest Night #1. Man, that gets creepy. Machinae Supremacy seems to have some sort of fixation on zombies, one that I can understand, but this is only one of two songs on the Retail Edition that reference undeath, and considering that this is subtitled "(March of the Dead III)", I wonder a bit. That said, this is a great song to mellow out to, for exactly two minutes and eighteen seconds (on the Underground version). After that, it will surprise you and blow your eardrums out if you're not careful. Overall, a very good song. Emphasis more on the SID chip than on the guitar, and a section in the middle with a woman speaking Japanese make this a less than usual song by any band, and that alone is worth remembering.
Retail: 8/10
Underground: 9/10
Rise
One of my favorites, on either version of the album. It's really not often that I find a song that's both musically beautiful and also lyrically well-written. I can't interpret any song for anyone else besides be, but I like to think that there will be a second subculture uprising, after listening to this song.
Retail: 7/10
Underground: 8/10
Rogue World Asylum
Another of my favorites. From the very beginning, it's smashing and headbanging hard rock, until the vocals kick in, and then the story begins. If you follow the lyrics, it's really quite beautiful, the story. Again the SID chip blends with rather than overpowering the guitar and vocals, and makes for a beautiful contrast.
Retail: 8/10
Underground: 9/10
Ronin
Another song that is nothing short of sheer epic. My advice: if you can, turn the volume on your music playing system as loud as you can stand it, then begin the song. If you can still think clearly, then you are a better man (or woman) than I. Perhaps it drags on a bit, and is slightly repetitive, and there is always the issue of Robert's vocals. The SID chip is used particularly well in this song, as support and integration rather than the primary focus.
Retail: 8/10
Underground: 9/10
Seventeen
"These people are plenty smart. Yes sir, a lot of them actually went to college." is the speaking track that begins the Underground version of Seventeen. Overall, though, the song has little to do with the enigmatic phrase chosen to begin it. It appears to be a political track, and really doesn't quite live up to the typical standard.
Retail: 6/10
Underground: 7/10
The Cavern of Lost Time
Thirty seconds of instrumental as a plausible prelude to Rogue World Asylum. Nothing to see here, move along.
Underground: n/a
Through the Looking Glass
I would really love to see this performed live. The sound of a piano playing a beautiful melody contrasts so well with the guitar lines, and Robert's vocals manage to sound almost adult in this song. I was really impressed with this the first time I heard it all the way through, and I'm still impressed now.
Retail: 8/10
Underground: 9/10
Overall score:
Retail: 81/110 (73.6%) (C)
Underground: 101/130 (77.7%) (C+)
Underground Edition
Retail Edition
Underground Edition
Released on March 18, 2006.
1. Elite
2. Rise
3. Fury
4. Ronin
5. Kaori Stomp
6. Hate
7. I Know the Reaper
8. Seventeen
9/10. The Cavern of Lost Time/Rogue World Asylum
11. Through the Looking Glass
12. Oki Kuma's Adventure
13. Reanimator
14/15. Prelude to Empire/Empire
Retail Edition
Remixed and re-released on November 8, 2006.
1. Elite
2. Through the Looking Glass
3. Rogue World Asylum
4. Rise
5. I Know the Reaper
6. Hate
7. Ghost (Beneath the Surface)
8. Seventeen
9. Ronin
10. Oki Kuma's Adventure
11. Reanimator
Elite
All in all, a fairly good opening song on both albums. The Underground version is prefaced with a simple speaking track, the Retail version is not. Past that, the two songs are identical, though I will say that I've had problems with the Retail Edition songs being muddied slightly, and as such, I prefer the Underground version.
Retail: 6/10
Underground: 7/10
Empire
Nearly seven minutes of epic guitar, choral chanting, and headbanging fury. If you can make it all the way through this song and still not enjoy this band, then you may as well not try to listen to anything else they have. This showcases every single ounce of awesome that this band has to showcase. SID chip, technical skill, et cetera. I love it, and at some point will revisit it to showcase more of the song.
Underground: 10/10
Fury
An Underground-only song. Excellent, excellent opening guitar line. I can't say that enough. Really, I can't. Unfortunately, the song doesn't hold that particular line, and after the first chorus, it tends to get a bit repetitive. Overall, not a bad song. It holds to the middle of the pack, and it's good for when you just need to headbang a little bit.
Underground: 6/10
Ghost (Beneath the Surface)
When I first pieced together my knowledge of Redeemer, I was saddened that the Retail Edition didn't have Empire on it. With the general muddying of the sound (which I have mentioned elsewhere), it seemed to me that this edition would be utterly useless without the best song on the album to go with it. Then I found Ghost. I am so utterly thrilled with this song that there really isn't much to say about it. I can't do it justice without thinking for several days. So I'll have to go back and do a Song of the Month special about this song.
Retail: 10/10
Hate
Another one I just can't really get behind. It's not that it's terrible, but it's just not the blend of technical skill and lyrical poetry that Machinae Supremacy shows in songs like Ronin and Ghost.
Retail: 4/10
Underground: 5/10
I Know the Reaper
A very catchy tune, I must say. Robert's almost whiny vocals are the only major detriment to a song that mixes all the best that Machinae Supremacy has to offer: smashing and flowing guitar lines, hints of almost 8-bit sound at the edges of your senses, and lyrics that make you really sit down and think.
Retail: 7/10
Underground: 8/10
Kaori Stomp
I can't say that I've listened to this song much. I just can't get behind it. It seems to go from senseless heavy guitar riff to senseless heavy guitar riff, and honestly, hearing a Swedish man speak Japanese in the middle of an English verse isn't really my type of music. I just have trouble getting behind this song.
Underground: 4/10
Oki Kuma's Adventure
How many songs can really reference "Firefly" and get away with it? Seriously? And I would very seriously like to know who the female backing vocalist is. In all seriousness, though, this song is very close to absolute perfection in every way. The only thing that costs the Retail version half a point is the muddying of the sound that happened throughout the whole album. I'll likely give this song its own post somewhere down the line.
Retail: 9/10
Underground: 10/10
Prelude to Empire
90 seconds of prelude. Nothing much to speak of here, except for the two second clip of "Insidious" from Deus Ex Machinae caught my attention. I really do enjoy the way it leads up to Empire, though.
Underground: n/a
Reanimator
Who doesn't love a song about zombies? Seriously? It didn't help me much that the first time I listened to this was when I was reading through Blackest Night #1. Man, that gets creepy. Machinae Supremacy seems to have some sort of fixation on zombies, one that I can understand, but this is only one of two songs on the Retail Edition that reference undeath, and considering that this is subtitled "(March of the Dead III)", I wonder a bit. That said, this is a great song to mellow out to, for exactly two minutes and eighteen seconds (on the Underground version). After that, it will surprise you and blow your eardrums out if you're not careful. Overall, a very good song. Emphasis more on the SID chip than on the guitar, and a section in the middle with a woman speaking Japanese make this a less than usual song by any band, and that alone is worth remembering.
Retail: 8/10
Underground: 9/10
Rise
One of my favorites, on either version of the album. It's really not often that I find a song that's both musically beautiful and also lyrically well-written. I can't interpret any song for anyone else besides be, but I like to think that there will be a second subculture uprising, after listening to this song.
Retail: 7/10
Underground: 8/10
Rogue World Asylum
Another of my favorites. From the very beginning, it's smashing and headbanging hard rock, until the vocals kick in, and then the story begins. If you follow the lyrics, it's really quite beautiful, the story. Again the SID chip blends with rather than overpowering the guitar and vocals, and makes for a beautiful contrast.
Retail: 8/10
Underground: 9/10
Ronin
Another song that is nothing short of sheer epic. My advice: if you can, turn the volume on your music playing system as loud as you can stand it, then begin the song. If you can still think clearly, then you are a better man (or woman) than I. Perhaps it drags on a bit, and is slightly repetitive, and there is always the issue of Robert's vocals. The SID chip is used particularly well in this song, as support and integration rather than the primary focus.
Retail: 8/10
Underground: 9/10
Seventeen
"These people are plenty smart. Yes sir, a lot of them actually went to college." is the speaking track that begins the Underground version of Seventeen. Overall, though, the song has little to do with the enigmatic phrase chosen to begin it. It appears to be a political track, and really doesn't quite live up to the typical standard.
Retail: 6/10
Underground: 7/10
The Cavern of Lost Time
Thirty seconds of instrumental as a plausible prelude to Rogue World Asylum. Nothing to see here, move along.
Underground: n/a
Through the Looking Glass
I would really love to see this performed live. The sound of a piano playing a beautiful melody contrasts so well with the guitar lines, and Robert's vocals manage to sound almost adult in this song. I was really impressed with this the first time I heard it all the way through, and I'm still impressed now.
Retail: 8/10
Underground: 9/10
Overall score:
Retail: 81/110 (73.6%) (C)
Underground: 101/130 (77.7%) (C+)
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Initial Post
(in which I go over the purpose of this blog)
The name of this blog is Cougar Draven's Bonus Track! My name is Cougar Draven. (Okay, technically, no, it's not, but it's close enough right now.) I plan on using this blog to review various items of a musical nature, and to provide suggestions on new music, and links to other blogs who do the same thing.
I have no initial concrete pattern to follow. In one post, I may review a single song. In another, a whole album. I may even review a set of songs, or an entire discography. I do hope that, somewhere out there, I can provide someone else with a new band to listen to, or broaden someone's musical tastes by even just a little.
So far, this is what I've got going:
9/12/2009 - David Hasselhoff Sings America (2004) - B+
9/8/2009 - Shinedown - Leave a Whisper (2003) (Includes Retail and Enhanced Editions)
9/7/2009 - Machinae Supremacy - Redeemer (2006) (Includes Underground and Retail Editions)
The name of this blog is Cougar Draven's Bonus Track! My name is Cougar Draven. (Okay, technically, no, it's not, but it's close enough right now.) I plan on using this blog to review various items of a musical nature, and to provide suggestions on new music, and links to other blogs who do the same thing.
I have no initial concrete pattern to follow. In one post, I may review a single song. In another, a whole album. I may even review a set of songs, or an entire discography. I do hope that, somewhere out there, I can provide someone else with a new band to listen to, or broaden someone's musical tastes by even just a little.
So far, this is what I've got going:
9/12/2009 - David Hasselhoff Sings America (2004) - B+
9/8/2009 - Shinedown - Leave a Whisper (2003) (Includes Retail and Enhanced Editions)
9/7/2009 - Machinae Supremacy - Redeemer (2006) (Includes Underground and Retail Editions)
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