Has there ever been a band in rock music with a name that's better than AUDIOSLAVE? I don't think so.

The fact that 3EB's third album, Out of the Vein, doesn't really deviate from the band's proven formula doesn't bother me in the slightest. While critics may argue that this album reveals some sort of alleged decline following the departure of Kevin Cadogan, I simply have to disagree. While it may not sound like the band is stretching itself or forging into new territory with Out of the Vein, this album is definitely the characteristic Third Eye Blind. Does a band always have to experiment and innovate with each new album? If you love Third Eye Blind's music as I do, then you will love the music on this disc. I get the same exhilaration by listening to Out of the Vein as I have with the band's previous albums.

All the hallmarks of 3EB's music are found on this new release, including the shimmering, glossy sound; the wailing guitars combining power chords with intricate play; Stephan Jenkins' stream-of-consciousness lyrics and earnest vocals; variable musical landscapes and textures, even within tracks; and excellent album production. It's all here, the complete package, just like a die-hard 3EB fan would hope for in buying this CD.

The opening track, "Faster," is an appropriately fast-tempo song with an infectious chorus and a clever, dazzling bridge. "My Hit and Run" is 3EB at its finest with soaring guitars, compelling vocals, and a superpower sound. Songs with titles like "Crystal Baller" and "Palm Reader" make you wonder where Jenkins has been going for spiritual guidance, but they're fun tunes nonetheless. The album contains thoughtful, affective pieces with "Self Righteous," "Good Man," and the exquisitely yearning "Can't Get Away." "Wake for Young Souls" is borderline hip-hop with its bouncy rhythm. Other tunes include "Blinded," "Forget Myself," "Company," and "Danger," which all follow 3EB's heraldic sound and are easy pleasers for devoted 3EB fans. The expendable song on this album would be "Misfits," a tune that just doesn't do anything for me. With that exception, I thoroughly enjoy every track on this disc.

Out of the Vein provides an abundant musical feast for Third Eye Blind's faithful fans. While we're all sad to see Kevin Cadogan leave the band, it's gratifying to discover that Stephan, Arion, Brad, and now Tony are capably carrying the torch. I look forward to more great music from these guys in the future.

Let there be NO DOUBT about it: there's a reason this band is as hot as they are in today's music scene. This is an enormously talented set of musicians. Rock Steady is nothing but fun, through and through, from the first all the way to the last song. The tunes on this album are irresistible. Gwen and her boys are passionate, talented, and charismatic performers. The production on the album is superb. Rock Steady is unquestionably a product born of veteran musicians who began with raw talent and abundant energy and have learned a few lessons from the fruits of success.

You've heard the hit singles. If you like those, then you'll definitely enjoy the rest of this album. From start to finish, No Doubt's Rock Steady will be candy to your ears.

My instincts were right. The All-American Rejects' debut simply cannot be rejected. Ever since I bought this CD a couple of months ago, it has been a regular spin on my CD player.

This album consists entirely of songs with memorable hooks, up-tempo rhythms, melodic punk-pop choruses, and infectious lyrics. The album has been well-produced, enhancing the overall packaging of each song. More importantly, it's remarkable that such a young band has demonstrated these sophisticated pop sensibilities in their songwriting. The album contains eleven laudable songs, each of which is a worthy listen in its own right. Lead singer Tyson Ritter never misses a note, even transitioning in and out of falsetto, and the band adroitly blends hard driving guitars with keyboards and even orchestral arrangements. What's not to like?

With this debut album, the All-American Rejects have demonstrated they have sharp musical senses. Their music compares favorably with any emo-type artist you hear on today's radio. Between the band's natural musical talent and its alignment with today's hottest commercial sound, it wouldn't surprise me to hear more from the All-American Rejects. This young band is poised to make it big.

lol lol lol dude did Huk write this?

Each track is a finely-crafted original work and represents a significant piece of Windham Hill's legacy of piano music. This soothing collection of tunes is splendidly suited for a romantic evening by the fire, a morning stroll in the park, or an afternoon of lazy daydreaming. Whatever your condition, Windows is guaranteed to uplift your spirits and rejuvenate your soul. The album is that good. I recommend it without reservation to anyone who relishes the sweet sound of solo piano.

only if huk is aaron blight

Pleased to Meet Me is a "must have" for any fan of pop-punk music, including any of today's hot emo bands. This release fits right in with the guitar-driven, melodic, punkish sound you hear so frequently today. But the Replacements produced this album 15 years ago, making Pleased to Meet Me a "vintage variety" of emo.
Every track on this album is a worthy listen. The album opens with a couple of driving rockers, "IOU" and "Alex Chilton", complete with heavy guitars and fast rhythm. "I Don't Know" is a farcical (but fun) reinforcement of idiocy through questions and the repetitive "I Don't Know" answer. "Nightclub Jitters" captures the jazzy presence of a nightclub, and "The Ledge" is a melodic trip through a suicide attempt. "Never Mind" and "Valentine" are infectious tunes with soaring choruses; whereupon the band fulfils its bad-boy image with "Shooting Dirty Pool" and "Red Red Wine." The pause of "Skyway" is a charming and unforgettable acoustic tune, an irreplaceable break amid the loudness of the rest of this album. The final track, "Can't Hardly Wait," is a great closer, making you think you can't wait to hear what else the Replacements have to offer.

I first bought this album on cassette back in 1987, and it's been a favorite ever since. Today it sounds even better on compact disc. Funny thing is, over time I have purchased other albums from the Replacements and Paul Westerberg as a solo artist, and none compares to Pleased to Meet Me. I've sampled enough of these other discs to conclude that Pleased to Meet Me was the One Album When They Got It Right. This is the crowning Replacements achievement, the album I will always associate with Paul and his boys, one of the best albums of the 1980's.

(1 of 5 people found the following review helpful)

Had to discover what all the "hot fuss" was about, October 14, 2005

These days I rarely listen to radio and prefer to find out about new music on the internet. Being "Generation X" myself, I was intrigued a few months ago as I started reading on the net about the "new wave revival" featuring a proliferation of bands who are resurrecting that old 1980's sound with a bit of a modern, emo style twist. The band that I kept reading about, the one that seemed to be cited most commonly, was The Killers. That frequent recognition, coupled with my exposure to the driving single "Mr. Brightside" (a great tune), motivated me to buy this album.

Initially the album was just okay, but after listening to Hot Fuss repeatedly over the last several weeks, it has truly grown on me. There are some very infectious tunes on this album. These guys are clearly having fun; the music is compelling, and the band sings and plays with an intensity that will draw you in. Generally this album is synth-backed, guitar-based, new wave/emo style pop-punk - and it ultimately works.

The Killers have included enough variety on the disc to keep you interested. I must say that contrary to the suggestion from the lead Amazon.com review, I LOVE the chant on "All These Things that I've Done" -- I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier -- that is the most singular moment on this disc, one that you will remember and might even sing to yourself, a place that opens to an unexpected but exhilirating passage through a gospel-laden choral crescendo. A similar but moderated moment bubbles up during "Andy, You're a Star." There are several other lines from this disc that I just can't keep out of my head, like the opening of the syncopated "Believe Me Natalie." These songs and lyrics aren't especially profound, but they are undeniably fun.

To sum it up, in my opinion, "Hot Fuss" is deserving of the attention it's been receiving. If you like the single(s) you've heard from this album, you'll like the rest of the tracks as well. I'm sure other bands will jump on the "new wave revival" bandwagon, but I'm not convinced that many will be as effective as The Killers.

-
Purple Rain is a kaleidoscope of musical color, July 29, 2002

I used to own a copy of Purple Rain on cassette back in the 80's, when Prince was bestowed the singular title of "Prince of Pop." Like most audiophiles who listen exclusively to CD's nowadays, I haven't heard to a tape from my collection of 80's cassettes for years. My cassette copy of the Purple Rain soundtrack has been sitting in a storage box for a long time, a distant memory in my mind, music that would rarely be played again on my stereo.

That was the case until a couple of months ago, when I happened to catch the Purple Rain movie on television. I'm a sucker for music on TV and was drawn to the concert footage of Prince and his band. After seeing the movie, I just couldn't get this soundtrack out of my mind, so I proceeded to buy Purple Rain on CD.

Wow, this digital CD sounds so much better than that old cassette. More importantly, the music on this album is OUTSTANDING. I honestly think I enjoy the Purple Rain soundtrack more today than I did two decades ago when it was all over the radio.

Unequivocally, Purple Rain is one of the best albums of the 1980's. Meticulous care was placed into the production of this album. Prince's masterful songwriting was at its finest in this work. The musical performance of Prince and the Revolution is ebullient, shining, and electric. This is high-energy music, the kind you simply cannot resist.

There will be no sitting on the couch when you hear this soundtrack; you simply MUST get up and dance like a maniac. This is true for all seven of the faster tempo tunes on the album. On the two ballads, the title track and "The Beautiful Ones," Prince delivers some of the most dramatic, heart wrenching vocals ever heard. In fact, you can tell Prince put his entire heart and soul into this album; his vocals are so passionate and his songwriting is so compelling that you simply can't resist being moved by his music. When you combine that kind of artistry with immaculate studio production, the result is an extraordinary body of music.

If your history dates back to the music of the 80's, try resurrecting this album - you'll still love it! If you're of a later or earlier generation, the Purple Rain soundtrack is still some of the best, most grandiose pop rock ever recorded. I highly recommend this album!!!
--

This guy HAS to be fake. it's like an Onion columnist somehow escaped the asylum and got internet access.

A coworker of mine purchased this CD last week and brought it to the office. Thankfully I can say that I had never heard of this band before. I simply could not believe what I was hearing out of the CD player and seeing on the CD inserts. These guys don't play music. These guys are nothing but racketeers trying to make money off of disengaged or angry teenagers. At best Slipknot is completely farcical, and at worst they are utterly satanic. Either way you look at it, this CD provides nothing more than comic relief.

--

okay, this guy is Mormon. Has to be.

I'm in a timewarp, right?

okay, this guy is Mormon.

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/9580/img0031qc4.jpg

Newsies quickly became and has remained our family's favorite movie ever. I love it, my wife loves it, and our kids love it.

An irreplaceable part of what makes this movie great is the music. As with all great musicals, the Newsies soundtrack is stirring and infectious and delivers messages that are not only fundamental to the storyline but also offer something we can all relate to in our own lives.

We bought the Newsies soundtrack when it was initially released as the movie played in theaters. The movie didn't doo too well at the box office, and they quickly stopped producing the soundtrack. A few years later, I saw used copies of the Newsies soundtrack selling for $60 on the internet. (We weren't about to sell our copy no matter how high those prices went!) Finally in 2001 they got wise and resumed manufacturing the soundtrack to put it back on the market, and you can buy it today for a reasonable price.

Interestingly enough, the popularity of this movie has steadily grown over the years. While most people who have seen Newsies have watched it at home on the DVD or VCR, it is a veritable fact that most who have seen it think it's a really, really, really good movie. For some reason, musicals just don't do as well in the box office these days, but I'd rate the quality of this film, and its accompanying soundtrack, to be on par with any other musical I've ever seen. It's simply fantastic.

This is not music that can be analyzed intellectually. Or, perhaps I should say it is not music that can be analyzed intellectually by someone with my intellectual limitations. But some great albums owe their greatness to their lyrics, some to the musicianship on display. This album is a great album because of its feel. The vibe. This album has a certain feel to it that is consistent from the first note to the last. And it's an irresistible one. The best analogy would be watching soft-core teletubby [programs] on four quaaludes, outside in a Jacuzzi on a crisp mid-autumnal day amidst the blossoming juniper trees while sipping a strawberry/banana smoothie. I hope that captures it. I hear their next album is more eclectic but not as satisfying, I don't know, I haven't heard it yet. Marc Libman loves you. Buy this album! Peace.

I wish it was a Jamiroquai review.