Antonio's album reviews (bass, metal, hendrix, effect, tracks)

mr dave · 05-01-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonio

Release Date: August 23, 1988
Label: Warner Bros.

Jane's Addiction is a peculiar band. If i had to classify them as a genre, it'd probably be Alternative Ethreal Jungle Rock, and this album is one hell of a testement to that. listening to it made me feel like i was in the depths of the Africa, swinging on vines and feeling the breeze running through every part of my body(and i mean EVERY part). They're also one of those bands that work best with every part intact. It wouldn't be Jane's Addiction without Perry Farell's scraggly, yelping vocals, Dave Navarro's free flying solos and riffs, Eric Avery's odd, yet fulfilling basslines, and Stephen Perkins' world influenced drum parts. There's an overall feeling of darkness and mystery in the songs, where parts seem to drift in and out, as if they were possesed. There's also an unbridled, animalistic tone in their music, even on songs that may seem very tame and relaxed. This is an excellent album, not only for fans of the band or anyone wanting to get into them, but for anyone not afraid to free themselves listening to music. 9.5/10

i actually dug out this disc last night to lend it to a co-worker who's on the fence about downloading the tunes for rockband hehe. hadn't listened to it in a while. the production never bothered me but farrell's voice is most definitely an acquired taste.

something that often gets overlooked with JA is avery's influence, sure he was the bass player but he wrote a lot of the music. he was never interested in being a bass hero like flea or les claypool, his bass lines usually very sparse and rarely more than a half dozen notes. 'had a dad' is his song, about the abandonment and confusion in regards to his own paternal situation.

we'll have to agree to disagree on 'summertime rolls', i don't hear it about being alone at all. if anything it's the total opposite, being able to finally enjoy the sun and nature with your love without any distractions. actually, it's about smoking a J but whatever.

that ONE riff for the mountain song is also the FIRST riff the band ever jammed on. they felt so good about it when they finished they didn't bother changing anything about it.

i always took 'idiot's rule' as a commentary on underground music and the pretentious hypocrites that force themselves into it for appearances. it makes the line 'you know the man you hate, you look more like him everyday' a bit more poignant.

'thank you boys' might not sound like anything else on the disc but on the Soul Kiss video there's footage of the band schmoozing with various bigwigs all over the place and one old dude asks perry to describe the band and he comes back with 'we're like a cross between duke ellington and the bad brains'. this is a nod to the duke.

the other thing with this disc is that it gives you a bit of an idea of what to expect from the live side of the band. tracks like 'ted just admit it', 'summertime rolls', and 'pigs in zen' with the jam out parts lent themselves really well to live situations where farrell would feed off the crowd and freestyle rants. some were better than others but no two live versions had the same vocal blurbs, the end of 'pigs in zen' is a perfect example of this.

then again i've also listened to this band quite extensively in the past along with porno 4 pyros. the 'soul kiss' video is nice and all, but anyone really interested in the history of Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiciton should look into 'Whores' it's a great read and covers way more than that video.

Amazon.com: Whores: An Oral Biography Of Perry Farrell And Jane's Addiction: Brendan Mullen: Books

Antonio · 05-01-2009, 06:41 PM

well thanks for clearing all that up, but i'll keep the review the same. just so people can see it from a first impression type thing

Antonio · 05-02-2009, 02:22 PM

Release Date: June 7, 2005
Label: Warner Bros.

I picked this up a few years ago when it was released, and at first i didn't like it. This was back when i was pretty new to rock and metal and woulldn't really pay attention to the music(yeah, messed up, i know). I've grown a bit since then and have now i truly appreciate this album. Avenged Sevenfold to me gets a bad rap as some kind of band who toned down to sell records, but i don't see it as that. listening to this album, the songs didn't have that "make it appeal to the largest audience possible" vibe to me. it seems like a very genuine, sincere release, where the band stays true to themselves. sure there's a large focus on the singing, but on this cd, everyone gets their time in the sun. I also like how on some songs they add instruments like trumpets and acoustic guitars that really make the songs larger than life.

while it may sound strange, considering all of the guitar noodling and drumwork on here, my favorite part of this band are the vocals, specifically the melodies in the songs. i feel that M. Shadows has a very good voice, as well as quite an ear for making really good vocal parts. that's not something everybody can do like that(i know i couldn't). of course the guitarists, Synester Gates and Zachy Vengeance, are very talented. to some people, the guitars are the only worthwhile thing in the band. i disagree, but hell, that's their opinion. Their bassist Johnny Christ isn't bad either, and he has some good parts, but he's more a rhythm than showy bassist. probably one of the strongest, yet painfully underappreciated parts of this band is the drummer, The Rev. along with providing breakneck speed playing to their songs, his drum fills are enough to make your head spin while simultaneously making your ears cum in uncontrollable pleasure. so yeah, he's like, good, i guess

in the end, i'd give this album a 8/10. a pretty solid effort and in my opinion, a landmark for this band

Beast and the Harlot– a breathe-in descends into an opening that makes you feel as if you're hurdling down towards hell. The riff here makes you want to bang your head. This is a good rocking track with some catchy hooks and some good guitar work

Burn It Down– This is the song that made me buy the album. from the first few seconds of double bass poundage, i fell in love with this song. the riff here is one of my favorites EVER. this song really has a dramatic feel to it, especially right before the chorus. alot of backup singing, which adds greatly to the listen. good song if you want to get into them

Blinded in Chains– a good fast song, the drums are really good on this track, especially the fills. from what i can tell, this song is about being controlled by corrupt leaders(political commentary much?). in the middle of the song, it sounds as if they're crying up to the heavens in despair, which is all good. when you think it's over, the bass comes in with a pretty kickass line and kind of an ending breakdown the traverses into a soft part with acoustic guitars in the background

Bat Country– one of their more commercial releases, hell, it was even on TRL for a while. i really like the solo on here, not only technically well done, but catchy enough so you don't get lost in a sea of jumbled notes.

Trashed and Scattered– my favorite song on here, once again in large part to the vocal work. This song is basically one of those f*ck you, i'm better than all of this deals. this also has one of my favorite lines ever

Quote:

Play your game and walk away,
your integrity don't mean sh*t!

simple, but effective

Seize the Day– eh, i'm not really into this song. basically a ballad, and even though i like a good ballad, this one kind of irks me. my favorite part really is the guitar solo, which has a stlye akin to Slash and the like

Sidewinder– About being a vampire. i really like ther riff in this one. the songs end with out of left field. a flamenco style outro, courtesy of Synester Gates and his dad. yeah you heard me

The Wicked End– a pretty good bass intro into a pretty metal song. you'll be headbanging to this, guarantee. the metal part thn changes into a more slower and majestic part for the chorus. the solo here is probably one of Synyster Gates' best, he just tears that sh*t up

Strength of the World– a 9 minute song. i rememeber reading an interview where they wanted to bring back "long songs", so yeah. It begins with an acoustic guitar, castinets and trumpets that make it sound like something out of a spanish western movie. then it breaks in with the rest of the band in their usual fashion. The chorus, "STRENGTH OF THE WORLD!" is just strong in here. in the middle, the acoustics come back in for a soft, heartfelt part. the song ends with all the instruments coming together nicely

Betrayed– written after the death of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, apparently from the perspective of the guy who shot him. really good riff here as well as the melodies, which are well done. in the end a good song

M.I.A.– dedicated to the troops overseas. basically about being a soldier and stuff. imo, it isn't bad, but it isn't great either. i guess they kind of lost some steam by the end of the cd.

mr dave · 05-02-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonio

well thanks for clearing all that up, but i'll keep the review the same. just so people can see it from a first impression type thing

for sure man, i was just offering a slightly different perspective. didn't mean to detract from your review, just tossing in a few extra anecdotes.

Antonio · 05-02-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

for sure man, i was just offering a slightly different perspective. didn't mean to detract from your review, just tossing in a few extra anecdotes.

yeah no problem, i'm actually glad to see someone comment in here

Antonio · 05-06-2009, 04:11 PM

well time for another review.......

Release Date: December 1, 1967 (UK), January 15, 1968 (US)
Label: Track (mono & stereo), Barclay (stereo), Polydor (Europe - different stereo mix only, Overseas - stereo only), Reprise (mono & stereo), MCA (stereo CD & mono LP)

This was Hendrix's second studio album, and one of the most important of his career. as you may guess from the album cover, this represented quite a shift than what was on Are You Experienced?. This showed the band branching out into more genres and experimental ventures. alot of studio work is used on here to create soundscapes almost unheard of, even by today's standards. The guitarwork of Jimi Hendrix is in it's prime, while being great as a soloist, his rhythmic style on many of the songs is just as intriguing. Its not just Hendrix who shines on this album either, both Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding have some really good moments on Axis. In all, i give this album a 10/10, and recommend it to ANYONE, not just fans of rock music, cause it's quite the trip.

EXP- The beginning of the album is a mock radio station, called EXP, and uses guitar to imitate some really strange sounds. it's a bit creepy, imo, but definately one hell of a way to introduce the record.

Up From the Skies- a very chill and relaxed song, but at the same time pretty toe tapping. the guitar solo is a bit standard, but fits well. also the bass isn't as present here as in later songs.

Spanish Castle Magic- almost a 180 from the last song, this is one of Jimi's hardest rocking songs, with some kickass riffs that'll get you headbanging in no time. definately one hell of a listen

Wait Until Tomorrow- this song showcases Jimi's R&B influences, along with showing some of his rhythmic prowess. the backup vocals on here work well too.

Ain't No Telling- pretty quick and straightforward song, with some good rhythms and guitar work, though it doesn't "wow" me that much.

Little Wing- one of my favorite songs EVER. such a beautiful and delicate song, and in my opinion, his best solo, because of the sheer feeling put into it. anyone who wants to get into Hendrix needs to listen to this

If 6 Was 9- there's a strong feeling of defiance and rage here. a real rough and tumble song at first, then it transitions into a point which i could only call total insanity. at that point there's one hell of a bass run and guitar solo. the lyrics are also very strange and somewhat cryptic. that along with alot of studio trickery definately makes it one of the band's more psychedelic releases.

You Got Me Floating- not the best song to follow If 6 was 9, but still a good song. there's some studio work on this one too, but it's a bit more subtle here

Castles Made of Sand- this is a great song, showing just why Hendrix was one of the best guitarists ever. i can't really explain this song, it's really something you'll have to hear to believe.

She's So Fine -bassist Noel Redding takes the vocals on this one. not as much of a deep song as the rest of the album, but kind of a fun, happy go-lucky kind of trip

One Rainy Wish- almost a ballad, emphasis on ALMOST. a very beautiful and heartfelt song for anyone who just know songs like Purple Haze and think Jimi was just a crazy guy who lit his guitar on fire.

Little Miss Lover- one of those "hey girl, you're hot. let's sex" songs. kind of makes Jimi look like a badass

Bold as Love- another song which is beautiful, but at the same time hit's you right where it hurts. one of the best songs on the cd, and just when you think it's over, it continues and fades out with an impromptu jam

here's some of the songs for anyone who wants to listen. oh yeah, and ignore the "download this song" things in the beginning

EXP- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - EXP - Axis Bold As Love
Up From the Skies- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Up From The Skies - Axis Bold
Spaish Castle Magic- YouTube - Jimi Hendrix - Spanish Castle Magic
Wait Until Tommorow- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Wait Until Tomorrow - Axis Bol
Little Wing- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Little Wing - Axis Bold As Lov
If 6 was 9- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - If 6 Was 9 - Axis Bold As Love
Castles Made of Sand- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Castles Made Of Sand - Axis Bo
Little Miss Lover- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Little Miss Lover - Axis Bold
Bold as Love- YouTube - the jimi hendrix experience - Bold As Love - Axis Bold As Lo

jackhammer · 05-06-2009, 04:49 PM

If 6 was 9 makes me dribble a little into my kecks.....

Antonio · 05-06-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

If 6 was 9 makes me dribble a little into my kecks.....

kecks? is that some kind of british term? but hell, i love it

jackhammer · 05-06-2009, 04:56 PM

kecks= trolleys=jockeys=underwear

Antonio · 05-06-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

kecks= trolleys=jockeys=underwear

ah, i see

05-06-2009, 04:49 PM	#17 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	If 6 was 9 makes me dribble a little into my kecks..... __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

05-06-2009, 04:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	kecks= trolleys=jockeys=underwear __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”