What are you listening to? (MKII)

RuSsMaN · October 2005

A. Proper Forum.

2. Old thread is TOO long to browse.

D. Let's kick it up a notch.

Mark Knopfler - The Ragpicker's Dream

Warner Brothers - 9 48318-2

Review (bmgmusic.com):

With his second post-millennium album in just two years, Mark Knopfler has already equaled his meager (non-soundtrack) output for the '90s. And while he isn't reinventing himself, "The Ragpicker's Dream" is a pleasant, classy, often inspired effort whose unassuming charms are best appreciated after repeated listenings. The memorable riffage that fueled Dire Straits' most radio-friendly material has been discarded for a more pastoral approach, making this a perfect album for a rainy Sunday morning. Like his Notting Hillbillies side project, it isn't entirely unplugged, yet there is an emphasis on acoustic accompaniment to its predominantly ballad slant. Instead of leaving space for traditional soloing, Knopfler weaves his snake-like guitar between the words. This infuses a tense, edgy quality in even the most bucolic tracks, resulting in the crackling but still low-boil atmospherics of "Hill Farmer'S Blues" and "Fare Thee Well Northumberland." "Marbletown" is an unaccompanied folk/blues that sounds as if Knopfler was born and raised in the Mississippi backwoods. He taps into the patented insistent lazy, shuffling groove on the spooky "You Don'T Know You'Re Born." It's the most Straits-like track here featuring an extended, winding, yet subtle solo. "Coyote," a mid-tempo sizzler -- lyrically based on the "Road Runner" cartoons -- is propelled by a walking bass figure and Knopfler's homey, lived-in, talk-sung vocals. Again, the guitar pyrotechnics are interspersed throughout the verses with overdubbed sounds employed to provide ambiance and mood. The authentic honky tonk swing of "Daddy'S Gone To Knoxville" could have come off a Wayne Hancock album, and the "King Of The Road" melody from "Quality Shoe" is a tribute to Roger Miller. As an homage to the American roots music he's always admired and a desire to retreat further from the stadium rock of his Straits days, "The Ragpicker's Dream" is a restrained success, at least on its own terms. It may not please some of Knopfler's old "Money For Nothing" fans, but at this stage, he's obviously not trying to.

Cheers,
Russ

shack · October 2005

I'm in. What are you listening to WITH a mini review. No DSOTM or stuff everyone has heard a million times. Something NEW. Give it a little thought. Good idea Russ.

I'm listening to something now....review tomorrow.

gregure · October 2005

Nice review. Sounds like the style on this album is very much in the same vein as "Sailing to Phildelphia," an album I like quite a bit. I'll have to try to pick up a copy.
Does "The Ragpiper's Dream" feature guest duets as Philadelphia does?

RuSsMaN · October 2005

No. Post 'Sailing', great album too.

TroyD · October 2005

DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED - Moody Blues

London LP DES 18012

IMO, had this album been released in 1966, it would have been talked about with the near reverence that 'Pet Sounds' and 'Sgt. Pepper' were. As a concept album, I think it's as ambitious if not quite as well executed.

Days follows a man through a normal day and along the way spawns some of the Moody Blues most notable songs such as Forever Afternoon and Knights in White Satin. Recorded with the London Festival Orchestra, well, I just don't think THAT was pulled off as smoothly as planned. It's almost like listening to a rock band with filler by an orchestra. It works in places better than others.

The album itself is pretty well recorded, I've heard better and I've heard worse...although the LP is able to convey a sense of depth and nuance that the CD does not. In fact, I'd go out on a limb and say that it's hard to take away the same experience from CD that the LP gives. This is also, as a side note, a GREAT SDA demo album.

Ok, while the whole album doesn't QUITE work in some places you can't help but feel that you are listening to something powerful and important and that alone is enough to strongly recommend it.

BDT

heiney9 · October 2005

Btw RuSs nice choice. It might help others to link where you copied your info from in case they want to furthur explore the artist. AllMusic is a great site.

I posted this list in another thread, but it's totally appropriate here as well. This is a partial list of great music that should make your system shine.

Jewel-Spirit great vocals that can really test the coloration of mid-range on system. It seems hard to get her voice to sound just right.

J.Mclaughlin/A.DiMeola/P.DeLucia-One Night In San Francisco This disc is awesome just for the playing. Three acoustic guitars dueling each other in an unplugged live environment. The spatial cues and soundstage cues from this cd are breath taking if your system is up to it. The playing is beyond phenomenal.

Talking Heads-Stop Making Sense great analog to digital transfer; want to know what the terms sense of rhythm and pace mean? listen to this cd; very open and dynamic;i t shows what can be done with a top notch analog recording if the engineers leave their damn hands off twiddle knobs!

GRP-Live in Session some great jazz musicians from an all digital label that cared to get it right. This is a group of the label musicians live in the studio. The 1:45 drum workout is fantastic. Maybe not the most realistic recording in that toms pan left to right, an obvious studio trick that would not happen in real life. But the impact of the drums should make the hair on the back of your head stand-up. The tone and timbre of each tom should be distinct and different.

Erin McKeown-Grand her music is described as folksy pop or quirky folk. I first heard her on NPR. She is a young singer/song writer with unusual pop/folk sensibilities that touch on country/pop/folk/bluegrass and occasionally big band era influences. Top notch production and a very pretty voice make this a great listen every time.

Dave Brubeck-Time Out Classic in every sense of the word. Unique time signatures, great production and timeless music. Every system I've owned/auditioned has had this played on it. Get it period.

Billy Cobham-Spectrum Generally acclaimed as fusions best drummer. Has explosive technique, amazing dexterity, jazz complexity with r-n-r aggression. generally high-quality compositions make this fusion set a standout, a strong mixture of rock-ish rhythms and jazz improvising. Great fun!

Holly Cole Trio-Best Of Acoustic bass, light drum rhythms and a spectacular jazz voice. Great listening and can be very demanding of a system. The simplicity is deceptive and a lesser system will falter.

The Who-Live at Leeds Three words.Drums.Drums.Drums. Great dynamics and elements of the rock opera style the Who did so well in the early days. Turned up it should be like you are right there!

Led Zeppelin-In Through The Out Door A production masterpiece giving glimpses of where the band may have been heading. Top notch recording listen for the songs All Of My Love and Fool In The Rain.

H9

Jstas · October 2005

Disciplined Breakdown -- Collective Soul

Format: Compact Disc (07567829842)
Release Date: Mar 11, 1997
Original release year: 1997
Label: Atlantic (USA)
Producer: Ed Roland
Engineer: Greg Archilla
Guest Artists: Luis Enrique; The Memphis Horns
Stereo: Stereo
Studio/Live: Studio
Pieces in Set: 1
Catalog #: 82984
Desc: Performer

Collective Soul: Ed Roland (vocals, guitar); Ross Childress, Dean Roland (guitar); Will Turpin (bass); Shane Evans (drums).

Additional personnel: The Memphis Horns (horns); Mike Childers (organ, Clavinet, background vocals); Luis Enrique (percussion).

Collective Soul's third album shows off a newfound confidence and newly rich and complex musical textures. As always, the tunes are melodic and the arrangements thoughtful, and Ed Roland provides searching lyrics that range in tone from the deep sadness of "Maybe" ("This blessedness of life/Sometimes brings me to my knees") to the unabashed optimism of "Full Circle" ("One fine morning I'll awake/To love's return...I believe love goes round and round"). DISCIPLINED BREAKDOWN is brimming with layers of vocal harmony, sometimes verging on the ethereal (the spirit of the Beatles is present on "Crowded Head"), while edgy guitar riffs enliven most of the tracks, occasionally providing glimpses of '70s hard rock, funk and dance beats. It all blends together into undeniably catchy rock songs.

Editorial Reviews:
Musician (6/97, pp.85-88) - "...every bit as current as Beck--yet this natural born folkie hasn't gone hip just for the hell of it. Rarely have lyrics been set in such appropriate--and diverse--contexts....few artists have managed to stretch this far with such grace, humor and utter lack of pretense..."

Also of special interest from Collective Soul, incase anyoen isn't familiar with them:

Collective Soul -- Collective Soul

Format: Compact Disc (07567827452)
Release Date: Mar 14, 1995
Original release year: 1995
Label: Atlantic (USA)
Producer: Ed Roland; Matt Serletic
Engineer: Greg Archilla
Guest Artists: Luis Enrique
Stereo: Stereo
Studio/Live: Studio
Pieces in Set: 1
Catalog #: 82745
Desc: Performer

Collective Soul: Ed Roland (vocals, guitar); Ross Childress, Dean Roland (guitar); Will Turpin (bass, background vocals); Shane Evans (drums).

Additional personnel: Jerry Miller, John DiPuccio (violin); David Chappel (viola); Steve Sidgursen (cello); Janet Clippard (acoustic bass); Luis Enrique (percussion); Becky Russell, William Brown, Bertrum Brown, Jackie Johnson (background vocals).

Recorded at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida; Kiva Studios, Memphis, Tennessee; Streeterville Studios, Chicago, Illinois; Granny's Studio, Reno, Nevada.

This self-titled album from the group that surprised even itself with the success of its premiere release, HINTS, ALLEGATIONS & THINGS LEFT UNSAID, represents Collective Soul's first complete manifestation as a cohesive band. COLLECTIVE SOUL is a true rock and roll effort, full of hard-edged, rhythmic guitar work, tempered by dips into the musicians' reserve of metal, blues and radio-friendly pop.

Ed Roland's songs are simple and strightforward, yet searching--as in "The World I Know," an unpretentious observation of good and evil, laden with questions like "Has the sweet breeze blown?/Has all the kindness gone?" Vigorous riffs, a full-bodied '70s radio-rock sound, and an essentially optimistic outlook on life characterize this record, though there is the occasional surprise like the final track, "Reunion," a contemplative, gospel choir-backed blues tune.

Editorial Reviews:
Rolling Stone (6/15/95, p.83) - 3 Stars - Good - "...With COLLECTIVE SOUL, the band proves it has the goods to continue to shine on brightly..."

Entertainment Weekly (3/17/95, p.88) - "...Soul's second album focuses the group's modest mission on breezy pop songs buffed with uniquely resonant guitars....the combination of ringing pop and lowbrow riffs could well turn them into the Bachman-Turner Overdrive of their generation..." - Rating: B

Q (6/95, p.132) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...most of these 12 tracks....are topped with phased, harmonised vocals and choruses which ring with something approaching pop genius."

All info and reviews were found on Tower Records website: http://www.towerrecords.com

shack · October 2005

Bernie Leadon - Mirror

Really Small Intertainment, LLC - 592016

Released March 2004

As some of you may know Bernie Leadon was one of the original Eagles. Since leaving The Eagles just before Hotel California was released he has been mainly a session studio player and vocal backup for many artists such as Randy Newman, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Emmylou Harris, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gram Parsons, Linda Ronstadt, David Bromberg, Michelle Shocked, Stevie Nicks, Stephen Stills, Bob Neuwirth, Pam Tillis, Travis Tritt, The Jayhawks and many more. Prior to The Eagles, he started as a bluegrass musician but gravitated to rock and eventually became part of Linda Rhonstadt's backup band. He was then with the Flying Burrito Brothers for a while and then rejoined the Ronstadt band where he met Glenn Frey and Don Henley. They started The Eagles and the rest is history. Joe Walsh replaced Leadon in the band. Walsh was great with The Eagles but I really liked the early work with the heavy county rock influences...much of which was attributed to Leadon.

I always liked Leadon's work with The Eagles and The Flying Buritto Brothers. When I came across this CD I decided to give it a spin. The best way to describe the style is "Ameicana/country/blues". Sort of a John Prine style. He is not in Prine's league...but it was a pretty good listen. The album starts out with "Vile and Profane Man" and it IS pretty profane. (As I was listening I looked out for the dark clouds expecting lightning to strike any min.). After that the album went laid back and basically stayed there. Some of the opening rifts were VERY familiar and given the wide range of musicians he has played with it is not really suprising that some of their influences are apparent. "Backup Plan" and "Rich Life" are cuts that I liked quite a lot. Emmylou Harris was a backup on a couple of tracks (I recognized her voice immediately). From an artistic standpoint this CD is ok to good. Not outstanding but worth a listen if you like the genre/style. If you are an Eagles fan it is a good addition to the colletion. His guitar/instrument playing is superior to the vocals and lyrics.

Sound quality and recording is excellent. He stated in the liner notes that the recording path was 100% analog (if that is important to you). He had some comment as to the vinyl pressing technique that supposedly mades the LP extremely good sonicly and sells for $50 ea. He did all the recording, producing, editing etc... on his own with no studio backing. For you guitar freaks out there, he lists the specific guitar he plays and how it is tuned for each track.

All and all, since I was a Bernie Leadon fan before I bought the CD it was a wothy addition to my collection.

aaharvel · October 2005

Tori Amos -MP3-
Norah -SACD-
Episode III Soundtrack (John Williams) -CD-

shack · October 2005

aaharvel wrote:

Tori Amos -MP3-
Norah -SACD-
Episode III Soundtrack (John Williams) -CD-

RuSsMaN wrote:

D. Let's kick it up a notch.

What Russ said. Don't just "list" stuff on this thread (use the old thread for that)...Tell us about it.

aaharvel · October 2005

shack wrote:

What Russ said. Don't just "list" stuff on this thread (use the old thread for that)...Tell us about it.

oh. ok. sorry. Next time then.

PolknPepsi · October 2005

Helffgott as I type this......he's very gooooood.

The man knows how to play a piano and if your speakers can reproduce this you should be very happy.... :cool:

heiney9 · October 2005

Talk about getting your groove on. Had some people over tonight and pulled this out. Haven't listened to it in a very long time.

Red Hot Chili Peppers-Blood Sugar Sex Magik

1991-Warner Brothers-Produced by Rick Rubin

In a few words...Infectious Groovy Sweaty Funk that puts a big grin on your face :cool: The band went through a lot of personnel changes and battles with drug addiction by more than one member. Having Rick Rubin at the helm certainly helped to keep the band focused. Some of their earlier stuff had flashes of greatness but in the end turned out to be a bit to disjointed and ragged, IMO. Another thing that makes this a great listen are the different moments of emotion conveyed in some of the songs, going from hard core sex drenched lyrics to well meaning ballads. Just the right mix. I need to add this to my regular rotation now that I re-discovered this gem.

Notes from cdnow:

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Anthony Kiedis (vocals); John Frusciante (guitar); Flea (bass); Chad Smith (drums). Additional personnel includes: Brendan O'Brien (Melltron); Pete Weiss (Jew's harp); Gail Frusciante (background vocals). With BLOODSUGARSEXMAGIK the Chilis produced the defining moment of funk rock and the high point of their career. Raunchy and explicit from the first, the lyrical content was not for the easily offended and frequently strayed into misogyny. Musically, it straddled metal and funk with ease; in addition to the stomping, infectious rockers ("Give It Away," "The Power Of Equality") and the downright funky ("Mellowship Slinky," "Apache Rose Peacock"), all underpinned by Flea's virtuosic but unselfish basslines, the band also showed themselves capable of writing surprisingly melodic ballads ("Breaking The Girl," "Under The Bridge")

Certified 7 x platinum by the RIAA featuring 'Under The Bridge', 'Breaking Girl', 'Funky Munks', 'Suck My Kiss', and 'Give It Away'. 1991 release produced by Rick Rubin.

Another must have for every collection. Enjoy the music....it's what makes life worth living sometimes

H9

gregure · October 2005

I could list a million but the ones that I've discovered or rediscovered lately, or simply in the mood for are:

1. Jeff Buckley-Grace
I truly love this album. He had such a cool voice-smooth, articulate, and spanning many octaves. The mix of songs is ecclectic, and sort of off the beaten path from usual rock or pop albums. A few highlights:
Lilac Wine-a nice, slow song with a great melody, and punchy bass drum.
Hallelujah-the overused, yet still superb cover
Lover, You Should've Come Over-probably my favorite song on the ablum
Dream Brother-a cool, trippy song, with some ethereal echo dubbing

2. Best of Faces
Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood-awesome music. Some nice blues and some familiar favorites. Some of the songs aren't recorded that well, but overall some great stuff. Highlights:
1. Flying-good beat, melody and excellent drum work
2. Sweet Lady Mary-a great melody-Rod Stewart at his best IMO
3. Ooh Lah Lah-a great song, the original is by far the best (but I'm a sucker for anything w/ acoustic guitar)

3. Mark Knopfler-Sailing to Philadelphia
A lot of great music w/ a lot of the same stylistic qualities Russ mentioned regarding his new album. I like the guest duets on Sailing, especially The Last Laugh w/ Van Morrison, and the last two tracks are great, very moody, and excellent speaker demos.

BlueMDPicker · October 2005

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TroyD · October 2005

Mike, the visual of your **** shakin' is really WAY more than I need.....

BDT

BlueMDPicker · October 2005

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nellis8166 · October 2005

Russ,
Have you ever seen Mark live??? I just saw him a couple of months back in Boston. Certainly one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. He played a version of "Telegraph Road" that still sends shivers up and down my spine just thinking about it.

shack · October 2005

Motown: The Classic Years

Motown / UTV Records 159456

I rarely buy a "Greatest Hits" album by a single artist (I can only think of about a dozen in my entire collection) and this is the ONLY "Greatest Hits" I own by multiple artists. I bought this CD because I wanted some classic Motown without having to buy multiple CDs. This particular 2 CD album has 40 great Motown classics from the 60s and 70s including 23 #1 billboard R&B and/or Pop hits. After hearing this one I wish I had spent the $ for one of the comprehensive Motown Box Sets. As good as this CD is...it only scratches the surface of the body of work of Motown. Here is the list of tracks from the CD:

1 Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
2 Shop Around - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
3 Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
4 Do You Love Me - The Contours
5 You Beat Me to the Punch - Mary Wells and The Love Tones
6 Fingertips, Pt. 2 [live] - Stevie Wonder
7 (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave Martha & the Vandellas
8 My Guy - Mary Wells
9 Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes
10 Dancing in the Street - Martha & the Vandellas
11 How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - Marvin Gaye
12 My Girl - The Temptations
13 Shotgun - Junior Walker & the All-Stars
14 Stop! In the Name of Love - The Supremes
15 I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - The Four Tops
16 The Tracks of My Tears -The Miracles
17 Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
18 Going to a Go-Go - The Miracles
19 Ain't Too Proud to Beg The Temptations
20 What Becomes of the Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin
21 You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
22 Reach Out (I'll Be There) - The Four Tops
23 Jimmy Mack - Martha & the Vandellas
24 Your Precious Love - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
25 I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips
26 I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
27 My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) - David Ruffin
28 I Can't Get Next to You - The Temptations
29 I Want You Back - Jackson Five
30 Someday We'll Be Together - Diana Ross & the Supremes
31 Up the Ladder to the Roof - The Supremes
32 Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) - The Temptations
33 Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder
34 It's a Shame - The Spinners
35 War - Edwin Starr
36 Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
37 What's Going On Marvin Gaye
38 Smiling Faces Sometimes - Undisputed Truth
39 Papa Was a Rolling Stone - The Temptations
40 Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & The Pips

I pulled this one off the rack tonight because last night I watched one of my favorite music DVDs...Standing In The Shadows of Motown...The Story of the Funk Brothers (A great DVD BTW) and I wanted to hear more from this talented group of musicians. All the Motown songs you KNOW are here. I could go through the list...but it is safe to say each cut is a good listen.

BlueMDPicker wrote:

If this album won't get your **** shakin', your **** is broken!

Applies here as well! Hell...I want to get up and dance like Michael in his Jackson 5 days...and that's not a pretty sight...

Whoever mixed and remastered this CD should be commended. Sound quality is excellent considering the age of this music. Stereo separation is wonderful and on the SDAs the soundstage seems to be 30 ft wide. If you want to hear/own a collection of some of the best Motown of the era, you would be hard pressed to find one better than Motown: The Classic years

beardog03 · October 2005

I said it once , I`ll say it again....

BlueMDPicker knows how to post..
He puts a way to actually find the music to listen to ,
and purchase..

Thanks man...my collection thanks you also...

You guys are all doing great actually...
This is the best way to get my musical learn on...

Russman, thanks for the thread...

Bear

BlueMDPicker · October 2005

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nellis8166 · October 2005

BlueMDPicker, this is totally off the subject but your two channel system is a work of freakin' art.

BlueMDPicker · October 2005

Well, thanks so much!

TroyD · October 2005

The Kinks - Word of Mouth

Arista LP

Yeah, yeah, yeah....'80's pop garbage. I know, I know....

I've always had a soft spot for the Kinks but there are a few Kinks tracks that I really like, Do it Again and Living on a Thin Line on this album are two that I dig. The rest is pure 80's fluff. One of the big problems I have with the Kinks is the recording on thier CD's is borderline unlistenable. The LP isn't a WHOLE lot better but Living on a Thin Line isn't the worst I've ever heard.

On the whole, for 50 cents for a minty LP, I can't complain.

BDT

TroyD · October 2005

Mozart Symphonies 25,29,32 - Colin Davis & London Symphony Orchestra

LP - Philips PHS900-133

Another great find by Dave (DAGLJAM)......the recording on this LP is phenomenal. I've yet to be disappointed, in terms of recording, by a Philips LP. While everyone is scoffing up the Merc's and RCA LS (which they should)...there are a TON of great Philips recordings.

Now, the great part about this LP is Symphony #25. You don't see it that often recorded (or at least I don't) and it's one of my favorites. The only other copy of it that I have (where I heard it first) is on the Amadeus soundtrack. This version is far superior.

25 is very easy to listen to, listening to some classical music is like doing calculus homework, tiring. If you can find it, get it!

BDT

BlueMDPicker · October 2005

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Jstas · October 2005

Pearl Jam -- Binaural

From Tower Records: http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1867549

Binaural
Pearl Jam
Format: Compact Disc (07464636652)
Release Date: May 16, 2000
Original release year: 2000
Label: Epic (USA)
Producer: Tchad Blake; Pearl Jam
Engineer: Matt Bayles
Guest Artists: Mitchell Froom
Stereo: Stereo
Studio/Live: Studio
Pieces in Set: 1
Catalog #: 63665
Desc: Performer

Pearl Jam: Eddie Vedder (vocals, guitar); Stone Gossard, Mike McCready (guitar); Jeff Ament (bass); Matt Cameron (drums).

Additional personnel: April Cameron (viola); Justine Foy (cello); Mitchell Froom (harmonium, keyboards); Pete Thomas, Wendy Melvoin (percussion).

Recorded at Studio Litho, Seattle, Washington.

"Grievance" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Amidst predictable pre-fabricated teen sensations and saccharine-loaded pop, the sturdy severity that Pearl Jam embraces on its sixth studio album almost seems quaint and archaic. But this stubborn refusal to assimilate makes for some challenging, and eventually rewarding, listening.

Hearing Eddie Vedder bellow on the Who-like bashing of "Breakerfall," and the pounding "God's Dice," shows how much Bush's Gavin Rossdale and Creed's Scott Stapp looked to this San Diego native for inspiration. Former Soundgarden drummer and longtime friend Matt Cameron replaces the departed Jack Irons, and also composes the music for the choppy "Evacuation." Other non-Vedder contributions include the ethereal slide and glide of Stone Gossard's "Of The Girl," and the sparse poignancy of Jeff Ament's "Nothing As It Seems." About the only time Pearl Jam repeats itself is with "Thin Air" a mellow number that could pass as the sequel to the J. Frank Wilson hit "Last Kiss" that the band recorded for the 1999 Kosovar refugee benefit album NO BOUNDARIES. Oddest of all is "Soon Forget," a frothy number that finds Vedder doing a clenched teeth impression of Nick Drake, while making like Arthur Godfrey and accompanying himself on ukulele.

Editorial Reviews: Top
Rolling Stone (6/8/00, pp.117-8) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...A warts-and-all album...it comes across as part of an extended conversation among the band....delving into jumpy post-punk and somber meditations, tightly wound folk rock and turbulent, neopsychedelic rockers..."

Spin (7/00, p.149) - 7 out of 10 - "...[They] relax into rock's postures and refine them....Everything you want is still there - goofy experimentalism, guitar frenzy, Eddie's self-abusive wail. It's just more solid, more clear..."

Entertainment Weekly (5/19/00, p.74) - "...Features more vulnerability than anger in its probing words....featuring the most forceful riffs since their best work, VS..." - Rating: B+

Q (7/00, p.121) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Easy to listen to....When Pearl jam gel...it's close to special....Grunge may have died, but Pearl Jam it seems will never be slayed..."

Magnet (8-9/00, pp.86-7) - "...Near-brilliant...[they] are bravely going into the woods....jolts of psychological amphetamines [and] smoldering slabs of sonic complexity..."

CMJ (5/29/00, p.3) - "...The group delivers a well-rounded work of earthy rock....confidently vacillating between epic power rock, slower, and experimental spacious tracks....[proving] Pearl Jam is still capable of sheer brilliance..."

NME (5/13/00, p.33) - 9 out of 10 - "...It's a seething, furious album; a declamatory statement against cynicism and passivity and the simple injustices of everyday life....An object lesson in rock'n'roll from some true believers, [it] burns with the intensity and desperation of a last stand..."

Pearl Jam, love them or hate them, one can't deny that thier mastering is top notch and thier recordings are some of the best in quality on the market. I have all of the Pearl Jam albums but this one has always struck me as very different and more complex than the others. The same brooding, introspective and plain odd stylings of Pearl Jam are apparent but there are subtle nuances to the songs on this album that are like no other Pearl Jam album. Sometimes it can be hard to hear but they are there. Overall though, not thier best work musically but a solid performer worth a listen and a good example of the progression of "grunge rock" into the 21st century. Alot has changed since Nirvana and since the demise of Kurt Kobain, Pearl Jam has taken over top spot as the most influential band to alot of the more modern acts like the aforementioned Bush and Creed. This album is defintly worth a listen. Virtually none of the songs hit the top 100 on the Billboard charts eventhough "Greivance" was nominated for a Grammy. It's not very mainstream but I often find that with bands like this, the work they do that hits the mainstream is not thier best work. This album is worth a listen, especially if you have a set of SDA's at home. It's a quality recording from a band with talent in all aspects from writing/composing to performing and it doesn't fit the cookie cutter mold that seems to be churning out rock band after rock band after rock band that all sound and look the same. These guys are originals. They are the roots of "grunge rock" and influence pretty much all of the current offerings from rock today. Pick this album up, borrow it, whatever, just give it a listen.

nellis8166 · October 2005

Couldn't agree more Jstas...I've been a Pearl Jam nut since it all started. Nice post.

sda2mike · October 2005

pink floyd...animals....dogs, actually......88.5 out of philly has been playing the top 885 albums as voted by their listeners....animals came in at #79 i think...if you don't have it buy it....if you don't like it, sell it

i'm not good at album reviews...btw you can listen to the countdown at www.xpn.org
i listen all day at work :cool:

bobman1235 · October 2005

Agreed, Animals was one of the first albums I ever heard on vinyl (found it in my mom's record collection.) Fantastic album.

sda2mike · October 2005

actually, it made it to #71, not #79...throughout the countdown the station has played 3 selections from each album...that's all but 1 minute short of the whole animals cd!...btw, the top 25 will play the whole albums!

What are you listening to? (MKII)

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