Surface Noise [Import]

Surface Noise [Import]

Track Listings

1. The Surface Noise

2. Boy Like A Timebomb

3. That Noonday Sun

4. Ill Walk Right On

5. Nobody But You

6. Go It Alone

7. Windmills

8. Friends Of The Garden (Part 1)

9. When I Fall

10. Friends Of The Garden (Part 2)

11. Barcelona

12. Hitch Your Wagon To The Stars

13. Thunder Park

14. Closing Time

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Australian edition of the sophomore album for U.S. indie-dance act featuring Simon Dine (formerly with Adventures In Stereo). The album also features Paul Weller, who happens to be a big fan. Setanta. 2002.

Tracks:

March Into The Sea
Dashboard
Fire It Up
Florida
Parting Of The Sensory
Missed The Boat
We've Got Everything
Fly Trapped In A Jar
Education
Little Motel
Steam Engenius
Spitting Venom
People As Places As People
Invisible

Amazon.com

Their last album may have given them a certifiable radio hit, airtime on VH1, and a Kidz Bop tribute, but listening to the follow-up to 2004's Good News for People Who Love Bad News, you might get the sense that the members of Modest Mouse are flinching at the spotlight. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, the group's fifth full-length release, is denser than its predecessor with tunes that seem willfully harder to penetrate. Even the addition of former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to the line-up seems incidental, as Modest Mouse's off-kilter sound stays largely intact. But keep listening and it becomes obvious that the band hasn't lost any of his pop bite, especially midway through with a sweep of terrific songs like "Missed the Boat," "Education" and "Little Motel." It's hard to tell if there's another "Float On" in the bunch. In fact, the first single, "Dashboard," is one of the weakest Isaac Brock has ever penned. With Shins James Mercer adding lovely vocals to "Florida," however, it hardly matters. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

Great Album, got me into Modest Mouse.......2007-07-09

This is the first review I've bothered to write for any product on a retail website, so that must be an indication of some sort. This is one of those albums where I actually like almost every song. Before this came out, I scoffed at my best friend's new-found liking for Modest Mouse. I found their older stuff a bit too outlandish (which is saying something after hearing this album) and fragmented.

The songs on this album just flow so nicely. My least favorite songs on the album are "Education," "Fly Trapped In A Jar," and "Parting Of The Sensory." The first two have the fragmented style and high-pitched, cracking vocals of Modest Mouse's other albums, and the latter has a very "experimental" feel. There is a lot of clashing of instruments; it sounds somehow less structured than the rest of the songs (often this is good, but it lacks structure, rather than being free of it, if you know what I mean).

Right now I'm listening to "Spitting Venom," one of my favorites on the album. The quick change from a steady strumming to full riffs and singing is certainly one of Modest Mouse's strengths.

It's OK for MM.......2007-07-08

It's not better than M&A, Long Drive, or LCW, but it's worth picking up. In time my rating might improve, but it seems just as likely that it will not.

I wouldn't start here, I'd start with M&A and LCW, then pick up Long Drive. Good News is also decent.

catchy, unique rock.......2007-07-03

I got this album after hearing "Fire It Up" on the radio, I love it. Sometimes it's kindof catchy and melodic, at other times it's loud and punkish. The diversity is truly a strength. The melodic guitar playing is really cool, and the vocals really stick with you. I can listen to it several times on repeat and not get sick of it.

The Ship went down Dancing!.......2007-06-19

Modest Mouse is one of those bands that gets better with age... no, actually, Modest Mouse is one of those bands who starts off amazing and continues to be amazing all through their lifetime...

This album is full of dancey beats, head-bobbing minutes of musical bliss and of course, Brocks voice is unbelievably strong and powerful in every song as usual.I think that if you are not accustomed to a voice like Brocks, that you can become accustomed with enough listening and then you'll realize how friggin' awesome this kind of music is. Or maybe it's something that you either like, or dislike.

But face to facts, this is one of Modest Mouse's best albums to come out. Every song is unique, each melody is worth every note. There are a couple of really hip dancey songs like the single, "Dashboard" and "We got everything now" which stun the ears. And I also love "Spitting Venom" because of it's gradual beginning and then sudden blast of energy, they are known for such things, it gets me every time! I have to say that "Spitting Venom" is one of my favorite songs and it's almost 9 minutes long. That's a long time for a song to be amazing, and trust me, it is. There are at least three songs that dont hit as hard as the others do, but they still keep the album balanced I think. This album is worth your money.

I hope this helped, a little.

I think I'd call this better than their last album.......2007-06-15

A lot of hype after the first CD made so much noise, and this new CD is a good followup.

Average customer rating:

a deluxe edition done right
The best album of 1988...and 2007!
HOLD UP. Daydream Nation Got Better?
Deluxe Treatment of Sonic Youth's Breakthrough Album

Daydream Nation (Deluxe Edition)
Sonic Youth
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Era Vulgaris

ASIN: B000Q3648S
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

Teen Age Riot
Silver Rocket
The Sprawl
'Cross the Breeze
Eric's Trip
Total Trash
Hey Joni
Providence
Candle
Rain King
KissabilityTrilogy:
a) The Wonder
b) Hyperstation
z) Eliminator Jr.
Eric's Trip (home demo- bonus demo track)

Tracks:

The Sprawl
'Cross the Breeze
Hey Joni
Silver Rocket
Kissability
Eric's Trip
Candle
The Wonder
Hyperstation
Eliminator Jr.
Providence
Teen Age Riot
Rain King
Totally Trashed
Total Trash
Within You, Without You (Cover Song)
Touch Me, I'm Sick (Cover Song)
Computer Age (Cover Song)
Electricity (Cover Song)

Album Description

"100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s" (Rolling Stone, 1989)
"100 Alternative Albums" (Spin, 1995)
"Top 99 Albums of `85 to `95" (Alternative Press, 1995)
"The Essential 200 Rock Records" (Rolling Stone, 1997)
"Top 100 Albums of All Time" (New Musical Express, 2003)

Customer Reviews:

a deluxe edition done right.......2007-07-13

Disc One is the reissued definitive recording of the 1980's.
Disc Two is chocked full of noisey Daydream Nation goodness performed live.

So often reissues are a ripoff. This set delivers the goods and then some.

The best album of 1988...and 2007!.......2007-06-22

The fifth album (more or less) by The Best Rock Band of the Last 25 Years should need no introduction, and indeed if you're interested in buying the deluxe edition of Sonic Youth's "Daydream Nation," I can presume you're probably already a fan. You already know how the album summed up and then changed the course of the underground rock movement of the 80s, how the ample attention of critics, then music fans, then record labels set the stage for the alternative rock revolution of the 90s--oh well whatever Nevermind and yada yada yada. If, however, you haven't already drank the Kool-Aid (and you should!), some brief notes about the "basic" edition...

"Daydream Nation" is still hailed as Sonic Youth's grand masterpiece, and yeah, it still holds up as such (confession: it's my second favorite SY album after Sister), even if it doesn't seem as radical today as it did when it came out. Sure, there are swirling whirlwinds of oddly-(de)tuned guitars and feedback fading in, out and sometimes interrupting the songs, but make no mistake, there are definitely songs to be found here. The openening "Teenage Riot" is, for its galloping drums and lyrical cheekiness (imagining Dinosaur Jr's J. Mascis as president, or so Thurston Moore has said) basically a melodic and even hummable pop song. Even a more "experimental" song like "The Sprawl" has a certain immediacy, with bassist/vocalist Kim Gordon saying straigt out "does f**k you sound simple enough?" Heck, the closing "trilogy" of the album has all the power and intensity familiar to any classic rock fans, only with a live-wire buzzing and skree that comes from playing in one of Glenn Branca's guitar-army ensembles. Really, it's not so radical after all (for a taste of something far weirder, check out Twin Infinitives, which was released around the same time as DN by Royal Trux, a New York band friendly with Sonic Youth).

For us fan(atic)s, the real treat here is the second disc of this set, which features live versions of all the album's tracks, culled from the band's original tour supporting the album, albeit in a different order (SY has recently announced it will play "Daydream Nation" as part of a special show, presumably in the album's running order). These tracks, mostly of excellent sound quality, are shorter but sharper than the album versions. "Total Trash" is done as an instrumental (I could be wrong, but they seem to be quoting the early Pink Floyd's instrumental "Interstellar Overdrive" in one spot), preceded by another instrumental, "Totally Trashed," which toys around with electronics a bit. Mostly these are no-holds-barred performances that clearly draw on the band's love of hardcore punk and NYC No Wave (DNA, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks). I don't know how a non-fan would react, but for yours truly it's pure Sonic bliss.

Another great bonus on disc two is the inclusion of four cover songs, three of which were taken from now hard-to-find tribute albums (this was before that concept got beaten to death): "Within You Without You" (The Beatles), "Computer Age" (Neil Young) and "Electricity" (Captain Beefheart). There's also a version of Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick," with demented vocals from Kim, taken from a split 7" (as in vinyl, kids) that had the other band doing SY's "Halloween" on the reverse (alas, that version isn't included here). The Beatles cover in particular shows how the band could translate their sound into completely different realms--the original, of course, was played mostly with sitars.

Add all that to a package that includes ultra-Kool, and rare, pictures and an extensive essay by longtime SY friend Byron Coley, and you have a true Sonic feast. Like they did with the Goo Deluxe Edition and the Dirty (Deluxe Edition), Sonic Youth rewards fans and newcomers alike almost to the bursting point. Now let's hope they burn down the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame before too long...

HOLD UP. Daydream Nation Got Better?.......2007-06-13

Q: Sonic Youth is amazingness wrapped in pita bread?
A: Yes.

Q: Daydream Nation defined an entire generation of amazingness?
A: Yes.

Q: The new re-issue of Daydream Nation preserves the original amazingness while adding just enough ancillary material to make it that much more perfect?
A: Yes.

Q; Everyone should buy this new disc, regardless of whether they like Sonic Youth or not?
A: Yes.

Sweet.

Deluxe Treatment of Sonic Youth's Breakthrough Album.......2007-06-12

Daydream Nation is clearly Sonic Youth's breakthrough album. A two lp set that focused all their previous ideas into one cohesive and brilliant album. The songs are stretched out more (though still song length)giving more of an idea of what they sounded like live. Music at this time was stuck in pop doldrums. Sonic Youth, which had built up a cult following, after the release of this album were then signed by a major label and brought all the indie rock bands into the light eventually including one that was just getting a start in Seattle that would soon eclipse all of them in popularity. However, back to Daydream Nation. The sprawling, though in no way self indulgent quality of the album took Sonic Youth into a new direction. Now, in getting the deluxe reissue treatment,it sheds new light on the album. On the 2nd disc you not only get live versions of all of the songs on the album (and Sonic Youth live takes what they do in the studio to a new level) but rarities as their version of "Within You, Without You" which was previously only available on a rare tribute album. If Daydream Nation were released for the first time this year, it would be one of the best albums of the year and with this deluxe reissue, in many ways it is.

Average customer rating:

Must have album!
An Alt-Rock Masterpiece
gorgeous!
an all time favorite
Alright!

Siamese Dream
Smashing Pumpkins
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Gish
Pisces Iscariot
Adore
MACHINA/The Machines of God

ASIN: B000000WJZ
Release Date: 1993-07-27

Tracks:

Cherub Rock
Quiet
Today
Hummer
Rocket
Disarm
Soma
Geek U.S.A.
Mayonaise
Spaceboy
Silverfuck
Sweet Sweet
Luna

Amazon.com essential recording

An introductory drum roll drops out and is replaced by a single suspended electric guitar, which is then paralleled by a snare, filled in with the bass, and--crash!--"Cherub Rock," the opening track, is enveloped in an explosion of metal guitar. So the journey begins. This album is pre-experimentation vintage Pumpkins. Produced by Butch Vig (Garbage, Sonic Youth, Nirvana's Nevermind), Siamese Dream is first about guitars. Lots and lots of guitars. A very close second is Jimmy Chamberlain's unquestionably excellent power drumming. Throughout each song, Billy Corgan delivers angsty lyrics in his signature breathy whine. "Disarm" is a nice intermission halfway though the album. As the title of the song suggests, it throws the listener into a different mood with its full string arrangements and radiant orchestral chimes. But then it is back to the aural masochism--a pain that rarely sounds so sweet. --Beth Bessmer

Customer Reviews:

Must have album!.......2007-07-11

This is, in my opinion, Smashing Pumpkins' best album. "Gish" and "Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness" are also good, but this is their masterpiece. Still has a unique sound to me- imagine how unique it was then...

An Alt-Rock Masterpiece.......2007-06-29

This album is so good, it puts a lump in my throat just thinking about it. Very rarely are there great "albums" released anymore, where from the first song to the last, the music is strong and artfully arranged to make one complete "book" of music. I love this album, I love this sound. To me, this captures the best of the Pumpkins - the driving guitar and drums. What is that signature Pumpkins distortion on the guitar? Amazing. There's another song out there right now that has a similar sound and screaming vocals. It's not the SP, but it sure sounds like them!

gorgeous!.......2007-06-16

well this will be review 450 and i guess there aint much to say that hasnt been said at this point. so shut my mouth and strike the demons... yeah, you see i was only 4 when it came out and my sister who was only 8 had it new. the thing is i dont really remember much of it from when i was a kid. so skip some odd years later plus a shattered soul and you have me at 18, a diehard pumpkins fan of about only a year, and when i first heard sweet, sweet again it was instant nostalgia of heart warming bliss, like that song had never left my heart all those years. all in all it is the best sp album because it is the most flawless even though personally i find no flaws in any sp material. i will listen to these songs until my heart beat implodes, nothing short of that. the thing is that my taste in music is so big that i could kick it with most that love all good music, and still could not say there is anything in the history of music like the splash in "TODAY" after those opening chords of angel dust...nothing! billy better be playing most if not all of these songs on upcoming shows, hard to do when his songs list is extremely dense, still i'll prolly be the guy in the front wearing my zero tee yelling play SWEET SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

an all time favorite.......2007-05-19

Why do I keep losing this CD?! I've bought it about 6 times now and I love it every bit as much as I did back in Chicago when I first heard it, so many years ago. I love the Pumpkins, I love their ever changing sound. But this is one of those "top 5 stranded on a desert island" CDs for me, and I suspect it always will be. It's pure, raw, energetic Pumpkins at the very beginning of their long and glorious run...which is finally kicking up again soon. It's one of the few albums I own where I love every single song. A classic.

Alright!.......2007-04-28

This is now my second favorite album behind "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness." (You just can't beat that one. It's a masterpiece.) But this album is a must-have. It's loaded with classics such as "Cherub Rock," "Today," and "Disarm." Even the songs on this that aren't hits are still amazing, such as "Luna" and "Spaceboy." This album has a five-star average for a reason.

Average customer rating:

Highly disappointing..
Superlative Rock and Roll Album....
B.R.M.C. is back in form - in fact, the best yet!
No Disappointment in Baby 81
Unbelievable Album....Concert rocks too!

Baby 81
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Manufacturer: Red Int / Red Ink
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Icky Thump
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Year Zero

ASIN: B000NVIXPA
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Tracks:

Took Out a Loan
Berlin
Weapon of Choice
Window
Cold Wind
It's Not What You Wanted
666 Conducer
All You Do is Talk
Lien on Your Dreams
Need Some Air
Killing the Light
American X
Am I Only

Customer Reviews:

Highly disappointing.........2007-07-06

I had big expectations for this album; I love their style and 'Howl' even grew on me more and more as time went on, to where I think it might be their best work.

This album starts out strong: "Took Out A Loan" and "Berlin" (though you have to leave out the iffy lyrics, both songs have great grooves, like some of their best), "Weapon Of Choice" is where things start to go south. The song is a total return to form for the band, and is short and tight, but the chorus just sounds forced to my brain, even though it makes me want to pump my fist.

The Beatles-y "Window" I like, but it sorta derails the album. It's solidly written, but it's the first of bassist/singer Robert Been's contributions to the record that I just don't much dig, because it doesnt' seem to fit. Back to guitarist/singer Peter Hayes' great angsty track "Cold Wind", which fares much better, and encapsulates everything I like about the band. Then comes the string of songs that I inevitably have to skip--"All You Do Is Talk", "Lien On Your Dreams"; really sub-par stuff for a band like this. It gets better; "Need Some Air" and especially "Killing The Light" (the album's best track) bring the album back before the slightly dull "American X", which seems to strive for the vibe of the 'BRMC' album but falls short. It all ends with the slightly anti-climactic "Am I Only"--with it's endlessly repeating 2 chord structure, it's neither really good or bad, it's just there.

Believe me, I don't like to criticize a band I respect as highly as these guys. I just feel they can do better than 60% of this material. I'd hate to see them turn into the kind of band they railed against in "Whatever Happened To My Rock n' Roll?"

Superlative Rock and Roll Album...........2007-06-30

I got into B.R.M.C. quite by accident, but what has drawn me to this band is the fact that smart, solid, unpretentious rock and roll is so hard to come by these days.

It seems far too many popular bands today toil either in the poppy and superficial, or the absurdly inaccessible and needlessly complex.

Given that dichotomy, Black Rebel drives it right down the middle of the fairway (an analogy the band would probably hate). "Baby 81" is smart enough to have meaning, but accessible enough to get heads moving and fists pumping.

For those about to rock, enjoy tracks like "Took Out A Loan", "Berlin", and "Lien On Your Dreams." Although slower tempo tracks like "All You Do Is Talk" and "Killing the Light" are also worth a listen.

The highlight tracks, however, are the first single ("Weapon of Choice") and, for many, the anthem of the album ("American X"). Both are simply brilliant: the former a concise and energetic three minutes and the latter a thundering nine-minute condemnation of the contemporary American mindset. Both act as musical genius and incisive social commentary, at the same time.

Content to share the role of frontman, both Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been get the job done. Either could carry the show, but the alternating leadership with each song makes for an interesting texture to the album.

As with the rest of their catalog (four albums to date), this is highly, highly recommended.

B.R.M.C. is back in form - in fact, the best yet!.......2007-06-21

I was a big fan of BRMC's 1st cd, found the 2nd a little less exciting & "Howl" was just lost on me. When I heard this latest cd , I instantly loved it. In fact, I would say that I am enjoying it as much (if not more than) their 1st album. It seems as though they've perfected a laid-back, narcotized blues-based rock guitar sound. Their lyrics straddle a balance between melancholic disillusionment & individualistic defiance. Better still is the fact that the hooks are more infectious, but not at the expense of the unique sound that sets them apart from their contemporaries - the songs are catchy, but in no way do they sound like they've " sold out " to pop sensibilities. Comparisons to Jesus & Mary Chain are still fair, one song even sounds as if it could be a nod to the late Elliot Smith. Overall, the affect is hypnotic, driving & manages to scratch a certain rock n' roll itch that no other band seems able to reach. It's rock played loose, but solid... & for a basic "power trio" it's an amazingly "big" sound.

No Disappointment in Baby 81.......2007-06-18

Baby 81 is absolutely the best cd release of 2007. BRMC's bluesy rock lifts and fills you. It's their well-crafted sound that transports you; their lyrics are uneven and could be improved, but you won't care. It's the group's music and craftsmanship that is the draw here. There's not a wasted cut on the entire play list.

Unbelievable Album....Concert rocks too!.......2007-06-11

Just when you thought all is lost, there is nothing else "rock" enough to satisfy that crunch you need, BRMC barges in and blows your mind. I saw them in Atlanta at the Roxy and they were incredible. There is no reason not to like this album. Simply unbelievable!

Average customer rating:

One hit song does not a sell-out album/band make
"You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?"
I can't believe I heard this on the radio.
Even if you're an old school MM fan, listen to it with an open mind
Yet another masterpiece from Modest Mouse

Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Modest Mouse
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Moon & Antarctica
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Franz Ferdinand
Hot Fuss
Plans

ASIN: B0001M7P78
Release Date: 2004-04-06

Tracks:

Horn Intro
The World At Large
Float On
Ocean Breathes Salty
Dig Your Grave
Bury Me With It
Dance Hall
Bukowski
This Devil's Workday
The View
Satin In A Coffin
Interlude (Milo)
Blame It On The Tetons
Black Cadillacs
One Chance
The Good Times Are Killing Me

Amazon.com

It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment Modest Mouse started sounding like a real band. For the longest time, singer-songwriter Isaac Brock seemed to exist solely to defy the established rules, forging forward on sheer momentum and ingenuity. Even Pavement looked relatively ordinary in comparison to the band's early releases like 1996's This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About and 1997's The Lonesome Crowded West. But on Good News for People Who Love Bad News, the frontman sounds like he's finally touching the earth, and the band--minus founding member and drummer Jeremiah Green--follows suit. A relaxed mood prevails, not so much in volume but in attitude. On the follow-up to the group's 2000 major label debut, The Moon & Antarctica, big sloppy melodies battle it out with brass on punky epics like "Float On" and "The Ocean Breathes Salty." The lyrics are simpler, the arrangements tamer, but the vitality remains. The prevailing mood is that Modest Mouse has pulled off something extraordinary here: a well-rounded, lovable record that doesn't sound anything like David Gray. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

One hit song does not a sell-out album/band make.......2007-06-20

Yes, "Float On" was a smash hit. Yes, it's pretty poppy. But what about "3rd Planet" and "Gravity Rides Everything" from "The Moon and Antarctica"? To a (possibly much) lesser extent, what about "Heart Cooks Brain" from "TLCW" or "Dramamine" from "This is a Long Drive"? You see, MM have generally had more "mainstream-palatable" songs on their album, and just because this one was a hit, does not mean they sold out.
OK, you've heard that rant before, but not in such an *ahem* eloquent fashion. Now onto the review.
As usual, the hit is by no means the best song on the album. Other songs like "The World At Large", "Ocean Breathes Salty", "Bury Me With It", "Bukowski", "The View", and (ESPECIALLY) "The Good Times are Killing Me" (which, by the way, if you did not know, was remixed and tampered with by one of the best bands of all time, the Flaming Lips) not only give "Float On" a run for its money, they take the money and use it to buy cigars.
I mean, the fact that supposedly hardcore fans are nitpicking this great album because it has freakin' "Float On" on it more points out their own stupidity and narrow-mindedness than it does the band being sell outs.
So, in conclusion, if you want to keep your rather dubious "indie cred", do not buy this album. If you enjoy Modest Mouse as much as anyone should, however, than do.

"You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?".......2007-04-19

I am becoming more and more of a fan of this kind of off-beat, different music. I guess I can't help myself. I liked the single "Float On" when I heard it a few years ago, but again, I didn't pursue the album until later. Good News is interesting because of its contrasting moods. The plucky guitars and catchy harmonies conflict with the cynical lyrics that attack religion and certain kinds of people. The vocals range from pleasant sounds in the background to aggressive, near shouting tirades. The singer isn't all that great at singing, but he's great at using his voice to convey any mood he wants.

"The World At Large" starts off the album about as happy as it gets, with flutes and meaningless vocals in the background. "Bury Me With It" is about as angry as the band gets musically, though not lyrically. That would be "Bukowski", which is completely pleasant musically. "The View" sounds like kind of like dance music. "Satin In a Coffin" uses prominent drums and older sounding instruments to create a very interesting sound. "The Good Times Are Killing Me" finishes off the album while perfectly illustrating the conflict of sound and message, and it's produced by The Flaming Lips, which is cool. Modest Mouse is a unique band, and a good one at that.

I can't believe I heard this on the radio........2007-03-27

The first time "Float On" came across the radio I almost $#!? my pants. I fell in love with Modest Mouse after I heard "Dramamine". Not immediately, but after listening to the "Long Drive" record repeatedly, the band grew on me. And grew. And grew. Now 8 or 9 CD's later they're still growing on me. I'm glad they've found radio success and hope they are able to keep producing new music.

My highlights for this record include Bukowski, Black Cadillacs, and Satin In A Coffin. If you truly love the band and aren't just in it for the image, you'll love this record. The whole album is great. Yes, even Float On.

Even if you're an old school MM fan, listen to it with an open mind.......2007-03-12

This album is the worst Modest Mouse album, in my opinion, but it's still really great. That's the beauty of Modest Mouse.

What I love about Isaac Brock is that his music reveals a lot about who he is and what life has taught him. Good News for People Who Love Bad News is no exception.

The only track I don't like on this album is "Satin in a Coffin". After hearing a live recording, which I love, I can't stand to listen to the one on gnfpwlbn. It lacks passion and intensity.

Yet another masterpiece from Modest Mouse.......2007-01-21

These guys have released so many great albums that the expectations are always incredibly high for their next one. And every time they release one, I listen to it, and I'm a bit disappointed, and I say to myself, "it's good, but it's not as great as the last ones."

Then I listen to it more, and it begins to grow on me, and soon I can't stop listening to it and I'm raving, "This is their greatest album!".

That's what happened to me with this one. Didn't blow me away at first. Now? I am like an addict. As soon as a song ends I need to hear it again immediately. And I can't stop listening to the album, and I don't want to listen to anything else....

I give it huge props, even though they diss my beloved Charles Bukowski.

Average customer rating:

Takes time but worth the wait
very good for the avant garde accepting folks
Excellent mais moins que les précédents
Loved It
Sonic Youth's Masterpiece: Daydream Nation

Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Sister
Goo
Dirty
Loveless
Rather Ripped

ASIN: B000003TAL
Release Date: 1993-11-23

Tracks:

Teen Age Riot
Silver Rocket
The Sprawl
'Cross The Breeze
Eric's Trip
Total Trash
Hey Joni
Providence
Candle
Rain King
Kissability
Trilogy: A) The Wonder/B) Hyperstation/Z) Eliminator Jr.
Trilogy: b) Hyperstation
Trilogy: z) Eliminator Jr.

Amazon.com essential recording

The essential New York rock band of the post-punk era, Sonic Youth care as much about the quasi-symphonic, microtonal art-guitar music of composers like Rhys Chatham and Glenn Branca as they do about the rock-song form, and with Daydream Nation, they struck their greatest balance between the two. The songs hover gorgeously for extended lengths, letting guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo intertwine fragile tonalities as carefully as it's possible to do at wall-shaking volume, while Moore and bassist Kim Gordon's untutored voices disaffectedly intone words that flirt with pop stupidity, high-art eloquence, and urban cool. When they bear down and rock, they do it with a blurry intensity that finds gorgeousness at the heart of discord. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Takes time but worth the wait.......2007-07-05

Yeh this album may take a while to get into for some but stick with it, it is well worth the wait. For me though I have to say teenage riot just hooked me from the off great track with a beautiful slow build up. This album doesnt realy hit you straight off but rather gets you by supprise. Realy dont know how I can describe this album as you can hear so many influences coming through from Black Flag to the Velvet Underground.

Buy this and give it a listen, then listen again. It will grow on you.

very good for the avant garde accepting folks.......2007-06-14

sonic youth is not for everyone.they have a raw style which is anything but pretty and radio-freindly.with that said they're also one of the most inventive bands to come along in quite some time because of the risks they've taken and how they approach song composition.if you can stand a little noise from a band who are trying to sound beautiful in a much different way than most,give em a try and you shouldn't be dissapointed!

Excellent mais moins que les précédents.......2007-05-30

Avec Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth se réinventent, ils adoptent un nouveau son... plus commercial. Bien sûr l'album est truffé de passage rappelant la sonorité organique et grafignée du trop bon vieux matériel (Confusion is Sex / Kill yr. idol, Evol, Bad moon Rising, Sister...) mélange d'humus automnal d'une forêt mixte et d'effluves pubères de crasse de plancher d'un squat frisquet où l'on se réchauffe en se blotissant entre amis sincères. Mais pour le reste, Sonic Youth nous amène dans des territoires beaucoup moins riches (c'est ce que mes trippes me disent...)Dans le matériel subséquent, j'aime bien Dirty, A Thousand Leaves et NYC Ghost & Flowers, si ça peut vous aider à savoir si vous devez considérer mon opinion ou pas. Je donne quand même 4 étoiles parce que c'est un album très excellent, seulement, c'est la fin du meilleur et le début du plus ordinaire. En ce sens, on peut le considérer comme un condensé de l'oeuvre de Sonic Youth.

Loved It.......2007-04-17

I bought Daydream Nation after hearing the opening track (Teenage Riot) on the radio, I oynly really bought the album for that song, but as I soon found out the album is packed to the rim with songs that are just as good if not better then Teenage Riot. As many grunge albums are this is a grower, and I can see how many people would not like this album, but for me I loved this. It easily enters my Top 10 albums.

I believe that Sonic Youth are one of the most underated bands in the history of music and had they continued with this form (ie actually having a song structure) they could have been credited with starting Grunge instead of Nirvana who are incorrectly described as inventing grunge.

However f you enjoy Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Replacements or anything grunge I advise you give this album a go.

Sonic Youth's Masterpiece: Daydream Nation.......2007-04-02

This is INCREDIBLE work to say the least. An '80s Alterna-"indie"-Rock staple. Sonic Youth is MUCH MORE than your average experimental noise underground (at the time) Rock 'n' Roll band. Daydream Nation VAULTED Sonic Youth: Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo, & Steve Shelley to a NEW level of recognition as pioneers of Rock n Roll past and original trailblazers in a dawn of a new beginning. Basically the album that made Sonic Youth famous, while still being in N.Y.s indie music scene.
Originally released in 1988, Daydream Nation is Sonic Youth's sixth studio release, containing an album's worth of their coolest breezy, energetic songs and stretching Rock to far unreachable heights.
S.Y. brought their sound into the mainstream, influencing hundreds of bands including Nirvana. My Favorite songs on Daydream Nation: Opener "Teen Age Riot" - "Silver Rocket" - "The Sprawl" - 'Cross the Breeze" - "Hey Joni" - "Candle" -contains a reference to "Tonight's The Night"(1975) by Neil Young w/ line: "It's safe to say, Candle, TONIGHT'S the DAY -Candle, It's alright now candle, the wind's away-Candle. Never thought I'd see a dark sky falling....."
I sometimes wonder in what state "Alternative" music would be in without Sonic Youth. They changed and shifted the landscape's sound into a more radical, apocalyptic state. And who would of thought they would go on so many years, as of now 25+ & 18(+)-(there are a lot of side projects); albums or so, some are better than others and I own all studio albums.
In 1990 Sonic Youth released Goo (their 7th) their first for major-label DGC, to reach a wider more appreciative audience. And in 1991 Nirvana followed going to major label DGC and igniting the "grunge" movement in the mainstream. But, believe me Daydream Nation (NOT Goo) has GAINED my attention as well as thousands(+) more! One SERIOUS Record.
Another one of my ALL TIME favorites. It is also cited as making a vast array of "greatest albums of all time" lists(quoted from double album re-issue including live 2nd disc).
To me, this is the best 80s album I have ever heard and Sonic Youth's absolute Best.

Average customer rating:

Quintessential.
Modest... they shouldn't be!
prepare to be amazed...not by my review, but how amazing this album is
Excellence
After listening to it over 20 times, I realize this is the best album ever! 2nd place goes to 40oz To Freedom

The Moon & Antarctica
Modest Mouse
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Good News For People Who Love Bad News
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
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Keep It Like a Secret
The Soft Bulletin

ASIN: B0001I2CDY
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

3rd Planet
Gravity Rides Everything
Dark Center Of The Universe
Perfect Disguise
Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
A Different City
The Cold Part
Alone Down There
The Stars Are Projectors
Wild Packs Of Family Dogs
Paper Thin Walls
I Came As A Rat
Lives
Life Like Weeds
What People Are Made Of
3rd Planet - BBC Radio 1 Session
Perfect Disguise - BBC Radio 1 Session
Custom Concern - Instrumental BBC Radio 1 Session
Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes - BBC Radio 1 Session

Amazon.com

With their interstellar (really!) lyrics and angular song structures, Modest Mouse tend to defy their self-deprecating band name. In truth, the trio's got some lofty ambitions, and The Moon and Antarctica indulges their grand dreams with pristine production and a vivid sonic backdrop. It also dives deeply into their geographical obsessions--always with the same subjective twists that made The Lonesome Crowded West and This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About such inspired wonders. Isaac Brock opens Moon with meditations on the universe's shape--all twisted into such a solipsistic tangle that they illuminate immediately how much these songs are about the mind as about the world. Rarely giving off the cage-jarring thickness of guitar rock, Moon's 15 tunes are shaped around vignettes of a disheveled head figuring out the rambling disconnections of postmodern society. Guitars wobble, Brock wails on vocals, and his band mates--Eric Judy and Jeremiah Green--help take each song away from any predictable formula and toward wherever they seem to want to go. This is a band as profoundly touched by suburbia as was writer Harold Brodkey. You can imagine Brock, Green, and Judy lying on wide-open lawns, philosophizing about the shape of the universe and coming up with lyric moments like this (sung to folky, spare acoustic guitar): "A wild pack of family dogs came running through the yard and as my own dog ran away I didn't say much of anything at all / A wild pack of family dogs came running through the yard as my little sister played; the dogs took her away, and I guess she was eaten up, okay." Replays of American Beauty, anyone? --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Quintessential. .......2007-03-27

If you think you'd be interested in listening to this band, buy this album first. Think of it as their version of the Beatles' "White Album". Or Metallica's "Black Album". Or Weezer's "Blue Album". Or Primus' "Brown Album". Okay, that one sucked. Regardless, there is not a bad track on this album.

From the moment Brock tells you what his only art is until you find out what people are made of, you will be floored. The album captures all of the charm and personality that their Up albums had. But the production, the musicianship, the songwriting, the lyrics, everything, absolutely every thing is on the next level.

Modest... they shouldn't be!.......2007-02-10

This CD is better than their 'Good News' album. This one had next to no "hits" on it, and I liked more songs on this album than their other two I own! If you like odd-ball rockers and strangely hypnotic yelling and guitars, buy this album!

prepare to be amazed...not by my review, but how amazing this album is.......2007-01-30

I remember the first time I heard Modest Mouse. I was moved by Isaac Brock's sense of timing and lyrical punches. I thought that nothing could ever top The Lonesome Crowded West (and to me still nothing has), but this record came pretty damn close. From the opening note on the first track, 3rd Planet, I could feel my my heart slowly begin to drift away...right into the sea of Brock's haunting voice. And every track takes you somewhere new until you realize that you're eventually not even on this planet anymore. I absolutely love this record, for personal reasons and because they truely do raise the bar with every record they produce. If you're a fan of Good News, you owe it to yourself to hear the roots of this amazing band

Excellence.......2007-01-21

Others have said it already so many times...this is a monster of an album and Modest Mouse are exquisite.

After listening to it over 20 times, I realize this is the best album ever! 2nd place goes to 40oz To Freedom.......2006-12-02

The dark center of the universe is easily the best song ever written, easily. The music, the emotion, and the lyrics are pure perfection. Read the lyrics while listening to the song and you will realize what I am talking about. It is poetry, so I won't tell you what it all means, but if you listen to it enough it will hit you. If you can't see the thin air then why the hell should you care?

Average customer rating:

Absolutely beautiful
SP - early on
The Smashing Pumpkins' best album.
Smashing, indeed
Grade "A" music, and maybe ever better......

Gish
Smashing Pumpkins
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pisces Iscariot
Siamese Dream
Adore
MACHINA/The Machines of God
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

ASIN: B000000W6F
Release Date: 1994-10-04

Tracks:

I Am One
Siva
Rhinoceros
Bury Me
Crush
Suffer
Snail
Tristessa
Window Paine
Daydream

Amazon.com essential recording

Upon the release of Gish--the group's debut--in the summer of 1991, more than one rock aficionado hailed the Smashing Pumpkins as the best band to come out of Chicago since Ministry. A bold statement, yes, but one backed up by Billy Corgan's Hendrix-like riffs and searing signature guitar tone. Intriguing songwriting is evidenced from the start as well, with the driving, amped-up rock of "I Am One," "Siva," and "Tristessa" contrasted with the soothingly eerie psychedelic flavor of "Rhinoceros" and "Window Paine." Gish predates the band's movement toward the loop-based electronic sounds heard in their late-'90s works, yet the seeds for this transition are definitely apparent. Electro guru Tricky even sampled the backbeat from "Suffer" in the tributary "Pumpkin" on his sex-soaked Maxinquaye. Butch Vig shows off his chops as producer and cultivates signature dramatic moods on Gish, which helped put the Smashing Pumpkins on the map as one of the most important alt-rock bands of the '90s--much to the delight of the decade's disenfranchised youth. --Brad Zinser

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely beautiful.......2007-05-14

This is easily The Smashing Pumpkins' best album, and possibly one of the best albums of all time. All cylinders are firing on this one; Jimmy Chamberlin's furious drumming and deft snare work is nothing short of brilliant. It's no wonder why Corgan decided to later take on all instruments EXCEPT the drums. Even with his growing ego, Corgan was wise enough to acknowledge that NOBODY could handle the kit (and still be musical as all hell) like Chamberlin. Every drummer should be forced to listen to this in order to learn the true meaning of "tasty playing"...

The guitars hit you like a wall of bricks, and do it with a tone sent straight from the gods. Nice and fuzzy, super thick, and clear as a bell; Corgan's layering of guitar tracks here is a technique that every recording musician, producer, or engineer should experience and remember. In addition to the incredible performances and songwriting here, Butch Vig's production on this album is top notch and only serves to intensify the effect on the listener without getting in the way (as great production should).

Forgive the expression, but this is balls-out gypsy rock and roll. Buy this album even if you are not a Smashing Pumpkins fan. In fact, buy this album ESPECIALLY if you are not a fan, because it hardly represents the albums that would follow, and those who came to learn of this band later on have no idea of what they're missing.

10 stars across the board. Don't even think about it. Buy this masterpiece, and thank me later...

SP - early on.......2007-02-15

I really enjoyed this album. I have a lot of other SP albums and it was great listening to this one after hearing all the other ones. This album definitely has their early on signature licks. "rhinoceros" really stands out as one of the best songs of this album.

The Smashing Pumpkins' best album........2006-11-05

I think it would be safe to say that Gish is Smashing Pumpkins' best album. I love listening to every one of the songs on here, except maybe Day Dream, which is kind of a weird song, but it's still listenable. Some of their best songs are on here, and the melody lines are great. The guitarwork is so amazing. I don't care if you don't like The Smashing Pumpkins, get this album anyways.

Smashing, indeed.......2006-09-27

I am only discovering Gish in 2006 because in the early 90's I was on a self-imposed moratorium from listening to rock music. (long story) Whether this album sounds dated to some or not, it sure sounds fresh to me!

One thing that stands out is the guitar work on Gish. It just might be the best (at least as far as soloing is concerned) in the whole Smashing Pumpkins catalog, or what I know of that catalog, up to Adore.

Gish took time to fully sink in for me, but that's a good thing. I listened to it completely through several times before I started to realize how breathtaking the album was as a whole.

The earlier part of the album has more of the fast, driving, heavy rhythyms. The only fault here is that some of the songs sound quite a bit alike ("I am One" compared to "Bury Me", for example). But these songs are so tremendous that I can look past the similarity issue. The album hits the breaks in the middle with Crush and Suffer, two "mellow" beauties. Then, it embarks on a small journey toward a tremendous climax through Snail, Tristessa, and Window Paine. This reminds me of the Talking Heads "Remain in Light" album, which steadily darkens, finally concluding with the Overload, leaving the listener breathless. Window Paine has a similar feel, and would have been a perfect ending to Gish. Daydream closes the album, which I think is a filler...although D'arcy's pseudo-singing over the acoustic guitar is pleasant enough.

Grade "A" music, and maybe ever better.............2006-07-11

If you like Rock music and you only settle for the best, buy this album. There are so many reasons why this album is so brilliant. The guitar work is extremely magical and exquisite. On the contrary to the other Pumpkins albums, it's all real performing. By this I mean no drum machines or synthesizers are used. The LSD the Pumpkins were experimenting with at the time obviously acted as a source of inspiration. If your a fan of the Pumpkins other albums, there is no reason you wouldn't like this one{their debut}. All I am really trying to say is get your hands on this record and officially experience it. Crank it up real loud on a quality stereo, find a comfortable place to sit, and let your mind be soothed. If it turns out you hate this record, go see a doctor.

Average customer rating:

the world is a better place because of jarvis cocker
Jarvis is back and sharper than ever
Album of the Year
Jarvis Won't Waste Your Time
Brilliant

Jarvis
Jarvis Cocker
Manufacturer: Rough Trade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Favourite Worst Nightmare
Grinderman
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Sound of Silver

ASIN: B000NVHWIO
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

Loss Adjuster
Don't Let Him Waste Your Time
Black Magic
Heavy Weather
I Will Kill Again
Baby's Coming Back To Me
Fat Children
From A To I
Disney Time
Tonite
Big Julie
Loss Adjuster
Quantum Theory

Customer Reviews:

the world is a better place because of jarvis cocker.......2007-06-08

i, like many folks, really, really, REALLY, miss pulp. pulp was style AND substance, pomp and grandeur, literate and accessible, melodic and challenging, and jarvis cocker was its ringleader. after back-to-back-to-back-to-back (his 'n hers, different class, this is hardcore, we love life), pulp just kind of disappeared without any real fanfare and we, the fans, have been clamoring for new pulp stuff ever since (i still hold secret hopes we will one day get a new pulp album).

so, in lieu of a proper pulp album, we are lucky enough to get a jarvis cocker solo album, which, truth be told, isn't that far from a proper pulp album. if i had 'jarvis' without the benefit of knowing it was a solo album, i would've sworn it was a new pulp album. this is both a blessing and a curse. a blessing because it reiterates how blindingly good jarvis cocker is as a songerwriter, performer, and frontman. he's second to no one in lyrical ability. really, dood's tremendous. he touches those subjects no one will walk within a mile of. he's not afraid to skewer anyone and everyone. but he's also not above making himself vulnerable and speak to matters of the heart. it's a curse (though not in the purest sense of the word) too, because as good as 'jarvis' is, i get the feeling jarvis is much better served when he's standing in front the sizable musical talents of candida doyle, mark webber, nick mackey, and nick banks. i get the impression jarvis works best in the band setting--when he has people to lead, to guide, and to provide the backdrop for his scathing, witty, humorous, and aticulate lyrics. the songs are great, but they drama and tension inherent to so many of pulp's best songs. could it be age has mellowed jarvis cocker, even just a bit? maybe. probably. i don't know.

on its own terms, which is how it should be judged, it's a great album (i know it's really unfair to reference pulp in a jarvis solo album review. i realize it and readily admit it). even if you've never listened to pulp, 'jarvis' still comes highly recommended. 'black magic,' 'fat children,' 'big julie,' and 'don't let him waste your time' are all terrific pop songs. jarvis has lost none of his insight and cleverness.

hopefully this is a welcomed (and worthy) stop-gap between 'we love life' and the new pulp album. i can hope, can't i? and if not, the hopefully jarvis will see fit to bless the world with another solo record.

Jarvis is back and sharper than ever.......2007-05-19

Love it! With maturity and age, so many social critics become more resigned to accepting things as they are, more inclined toward polite disagreement. Not Jarvis Cocker. He's been away for a while watching, sharpening his pen, and perfecting the art of the musical withering sneer. Every song on this release combines an underlying world-weary heartache with intelligent moral outrage and thought-provoking juxtapositions. Who else can get away with referencing Auschwitz and Frigidaires in a pop song to which you can't help singing along? It's unfortunate, though, that the song that most succinctly sums up the state of things ("Running the World")is the hidden bonus track on the US release.

Album of the Year.......2007-05-06

I ponied up the extra cash, and bought this when it was released in the UK. It was well worth the cost. Jarvis is a perfect gem of a record, not a single note or lyric out of place. Coupling catchy pop melodies with sardonic, clever, often dark lyrics is something that Cocker has always done extremely well. Songs like "Tonight" and "From A to I" show that he hasn't lost his touch.
It's difficult to pick a favorite track. Today, it's "Big Julie"...tomorrow it might be "Black Magic" or "Fat Children." The songs on Jarvis are all outstanding in their own way.

God, I love this album.

Jarvis Won't Waste Your Time.......2007-04-19

I'm probably one of the few people around who thought Pulp's '98 album This Is Hardcore was Jarvis Cocker's crowning achievement. Yes, Different Class is a masterpiece in it's own right, however, the brooding, intense Hardcore had an emotional pull that still haunts me whenever I hear it. I remember buying Hardcore upon its release and being so overwhelmed by the maturity of the material. I honestly thought it would be an even bigger hit than Class. Sadly, this did not happen. It would go down as a critical darling but didn't have the Pop appeal to snag the casual fans who purchased Class in droves (in England and Europe at least). Their subsequent album We Love Life ended up being a bit of a reactionary album to regain momentum they had lost with the public at large. Although a great album it lacked the hunger of Class and the realism of Hardcore. It didn't suprise me one bit that they went on (possibly permanent) haitus after its release. All this is my opinion of course, only the band members themselves know what their motivations were.

Which brings us to Jarvis. Mr. Cocker's first full album of material since the days of Pulp. I wasn't hesitant to buy it as soon as it became available domestically in the States simply because of the amount of time I was sure he had put into it. My only wish was that he would be an artist of 43 and put out an album that reflects his age and songcraft up to this point yet not try to recapture the the mood or tempo of Class in some sad attempt to please a mass market. I wasn't disappointed at all. Quite simply put, this is a disc that any artist could release one day then get hit by a train the next with the knowledge that his or her vision and talents had been fully realized. Not only does Jarvis have the intelligence, wit and playful sarcasm of Class but it also has the emotional depth that made Hardcore so great. I was in no way prepared for how brilliantly he has been able to pour his entire career in music into one cd.

It's hard to pick one or two favorite tracks because they all have a feel of their own. Not every song will grab you on first take but once you let the album simmer a bit you'll be hard pressed to pass any up. Cocker has always been a brilliant lyricist and in many cases the lyrics drive the melody of the song. Whether its lamenting the plight of a teenage girl in Big Julie [She's by herself again\in the quiet secret night\Below the neighbour's window\Hands in pockets\head on one side] or pondering society's fate in From Auschwitz To Ipswich [Evil comes\I know from not where\But if you look inside yourself\maybe you'll find some in there] Cocker has a way of being totally descriptive while still leaving a bit of interpretation up to the listener. This record may be his best effort yet with regards to lyrics.

Sonically the album sounds amazing. It was recorded at multiple studios and was produced by Graham Sutton, Sam Lockwood, John Watson and Jarvis himself. With so many hands in the pot and recording locations one might assume the album to be inconsistent with regards to sound, however, this is not the case. The album feels organic and direct with instrumentation that is never out of place. Let's hope this is only the start of Cocker's musical output in the coming years because though c**ts are still running the world, with Jarvis around to kick them in the rear it makes everything a little more bearable.

Note: If you buy the pre-packaged album instead of downloading you will find that Running The World is a hidden track that pops up after Quantum Theory with a 28 minute gap in between. It's a bit irritating so be prepared.

Brilliant.......2007-04-16

I've been waiting for the US version to come out since the album's european release in November, 2006. After hearing it, I wish I had ponied up the cash for the import so I could have been enjoying it for an additional 5 months. For the most part, these songs would fit in on a Pulp album, but they also have a sound that is more modern and lo-fi at the same time. This is a must-have cd for anyone that is a fan of Jarvis from Pulp, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for something intelligent, witty and thought-provoking, yet at the same time, poppy.

Average customer rating:

Just extraordinary in every sense of the word.
The best album ever?
Strange and gorgeous aural mystery
Some More Insight (read if you don't understand this album)
4 1/2

Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
Manufacturer: Sire / London/Rhino
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Isn't Anything
Daydream Nation
Souvlaki
Nowhere
Tremolo

ASIN: B000002LRJ
Release Date: 1991-11-05

Tracks:

Only Shallow
Loomer
Touched
To Here Knows When
When You Sleep
I Only Said
Come In Alone
Sometimes
Blown A Wish
What You Want
Soon

Amazon.com

My Bloody Valentine's entire career has been aiming toward the perfect guitar noise that Kevin Shields has in his head: a pure, warm, androgynous but deeply sexual rush of sound. Loveless is overwhelming, with Shields and Bilinda Butcher's guitars and voices blending into each other until they become a distant orchestra, the rhythm section striding in majestic lockstep, and occasional bursts of dance rhythms (as on the single "Soon") buoying the live instruments' warp and drift. Furiously loud but seductive rather than aggressive, the album flows like a lava stream from one track into another, subsuming everything in the mix into its blissful roar, and pulsing like a lover's body. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Just extraordinary in every sense of the word........2007-07-05

Still the greatest shoegazer album ever made (and arguably the first), "Loveless" is one of those rare albums that must be listened to dozens of times in order to be thoroughly appreciated, and once that happens, one can listen to "Loveless" countless times without growing tired of it. My Bloody Valentine's previous album, "Isn't Anything," perhaps hinted at brilliance, but it's not in the same league as "Loveless" which remains one of my top ten favorite rock albums.

With the swirling feedback sonic-drenched guitars, and the minimilist haunting vocals (Bilinda Butcher and Kevin Shields), "Loveless" sounds like nothing else before or since. No fewer than six songs completely blow me away: "Only Shallow," "Loomer," "When You Sleep," "Come in Alone," "Sometimes" (sung so beautifully by Kevin), and then, after somewhat of a lull, the incredibly gorgeous finale "Soon." For me, so many emotions emerge during what feels more like a profound journey than a mere listening experience.

My question is how could Kevin Shields and his bandmates put out something so unique and wonderful and then never release another album again? I don't know if they would have ever reached these heights again, but they certainly could have tried. Fortunately MBV inspired many other bands, some who carried on the shoegazer mantle quite well. Right now, for instance, I've been listening alot to Voyager One and Bethany Curve, both who owe MBV big-time.

I think I would stand on line all night in the rain to see a reunited MBV perform "Loveless" live. I'm not sure I could say that about any other band and album.

P.S. - Above, I mentioned that this album was one of my top ten favorite rock albums. Here they are (in no particular order):

Loveless
Stone Roses - self titled album
In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson
Disintegration - The Cure
Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - Genesis
Born to Run - Springsteen
Who's Next - The Who
Beggar's Banquet - The Rolling Stones
To Our Children's Children's Children - The Moody Blues
Joshua Tree - U2

To my fellow shoegazer fans, may I recommend:

Ferment - Catherine Wheel
Nowhere - Ride
Monster Zero - Voyager One
Gold - Bethany Curve

The best album ever?.......2007-04-29

Is this the best album ever made?

I'm not sure about that... but i am sure that its up there with the likes of The Stone Roses, Pet Sounds and White Album.

It is without doubt my fave record ever... even beating The Stone Roses debut album. Whats more i still have my Loveless tour t-shirt :-)

Why Kevin Shields and Belinda Butcher never released a follow-up is a complete mystery to me. It may still happen though...

Personal fave of mine on the album is Only Shallow.

If you like this album you will love "You made me realise"... a fantastic tune.

Strange and gorgeous aural mystery.......2007-04-23

I'm an unlikely admirer of this record. 51 years old. Taking Lipitor. Bifocals. But, I've spent the last two years or so listening to this CD at least once a week. It's also an unlikely CD to admire. Perfectly reasonable people with refined tastes can be bewildered, even frightened by it. It breaks most of the rules that are supposed to apply to rock music. Brian Eno famously referred to the "vagueness" of the music and that's dead right. But, all I can say is that it magically finds some system in my brain that I have in common with lizards and plays it like a cheap guitar. It's wonderful.

Some More Insight (read if you don't understand this album).......2007-03-18

Ok, i finally stopped sleeping on this record and let me just say ... before you go hating it l-e-t i-t s-i-n-k i-n-t-o y-o-u f-i-r-s-t..i tell you i have seriously worn out my ipod playing this.. its pure euphoria falling asleep with it.. because it's like a dream.. its like someone you used to love and be with but now its just a mere thought.. and you wish you could go back to that time, but sitting there weeping you realize even if you did get back together, it would never be as it once was.

to me this record simply defines the use of vocal technique (gorgeous harmonies) guitar rhythm, and drum technique. Mind you there are some tracks that i really do not care for as much as others ("loomer", & "touched" are mediocre at best, and "I Only Said" certainly wears out it's welcome)

With that being said, there are some absolutely hands down BRILLIANT moments on this album .. i can't emphasize enough the vocalist, and his ability to speak to you, reminding you of a far away place, your past, the memory of a strange dream, and that feeling of nostalgia that we all get, but can never go back to what was.

"When You Sleep" is probably the most wonderful display of such i've heard in a long time.. the song itself makes me want to cry and thats how beautiful it is.. it reminds me of a past love, and the lyrics are so on point its chilling.. i'm telling you, this guy can fucking sing .. he reminds me of listening to a yo la tengo tune with some slowdive mixed in.

"Come in Alone" is yet another beautiful piece with all members being perfectly in sync with eachother.. it's breathtaking how these guys play together.. their on another planet.. they all know exactly what eachother is thinking.. and compliment eachother so well.. noone steals the show, their all contributing an equal amount with their respective instruments.

"Blown a Wish" is probably my favorite tune out of the bunch.. a euphoric piece of atmosphere that just makes you wish you just shot up.. i can't even imagine what this record would sound like on dope or something.. i'd probably float to heaven.. thats really the only way i can explain this song. perfection.

"What You Want" is another amazing piece with a number of mini climaxes scattered throughout.. and it never fails to satisfy, and it's a bit faster in pace compared to the rest. the end is ridiculously good and leaves you wanting nothing more because of how fitting it is. shit, it's what i wanted.

"Soon" is pretty good, nothing really to rave about in my opinion, just an all around solid song. (goes on a little to long IMO)

"To Here Knows When" is pretty good, on the same plane as "soon" nothing really to rant about.. i'd rate it as decent compared to the above song.

This leaves me to review "sometimes".. how in the hell do i do that? well the strumming is perfect .. the distortion is perfect.. the lyrics even better.. the climax even better.. the whole vibe is just .... epic.. thats how i'll put it.. THE END of this epic album

i'm giving this 5 stars because the highs heavily outweigh the lows no question.. and i always find myself coming back to this record because of the vocals if nothing else.. prepare to be taken away

one love.

4 1/2.......2007-03-17

this album is a regular on greatest albums of all-time lists that i see. upon first listen i hated it. upon second listen, i still hated it. i am up to about a dozen listens now (i like to give things a chance), and, as you see, it's up to 4 1/2 stars in my book. i am now fascinated by this thing. this is like the beautifully demented music of some dream in a warp zone dimension. walls of sound piled onto walls of sound. waves of noise. pulsing speed shifts. often the music is static (by this i mean there is a lack of forward motion), like it is running in place. these static motifs create tension that builds and are not always resolved. i firmly believe that you can only fully appreciate this album if you listen on headphones. my first few listens were blasted through my stereo speakers, and, as i said, i didn't get it. you may need patience with this soundscape. give it plenty. it will pay off. i will say this: your average lynyrd skynryd fan is NEVER going to do anything with this recording except hate it. that is not a rip on lynyrd skynryd, a band i happen to love; it's just a true statement that the AVERAGE skynryd fan will hate this, as will most fans of classic rock. i won't even begin to go into the american idol crowd! anyway, fantastic dreamscape noises for the open minded. i recommend it highly. who cares, right?

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