Reviews, Opinions, Stuff like that

Hello. This is the thread where I will review the very few albums I own... most of you probably already own these albums.... and where I will inform you of little known bands and try to get the word out about them.

Poison - Greatest Hits: 20 Years of Rock (2006)
Label: EMI

The glammy, popular, and somewhat feminine group is back with a collection of their best songs, on a "greatest hits" CD. Poison is straight glam metal, and some metalheads wouldn't even call them metal. With glam you can expect mostly simple song structures, and emphasis on sound, self-promotion, and catchiness. Poison is really no different from most glam or hair bands, but what they manage to offer is a fun and addictive sound. I won't dare call their sound "original" or "innovative" but I will say that they were an important and influential band in the hair metal movement of the 80's.

Poison does offer some of their best songs. Their really isn't a track on this CD I don't like, or that I find unlistenable. I am not really a fan of glam even and I found this CD very enjoyable. A big reason I bought this is because I was immediatly hooked on the band when I heard the absolutely catchy riff of "Talk Dirty to Me." However, their is one big thing that CD junkies and collectors, not me, may buy this album for... their is one new track from Poison and the gang. I'm pretty sure that for the most part it is the "classic" lineup on this song, and I know for a fact C.C. Deville and Bret Micheals play on it. The track is mediocre, and all though it is average, Poison has really lost their appeal that they had in the 80's. The sound is much closer to hard rock rather than the catchy glam sound I like this band for.

In closing, I would not steer you away to purchase this album if you wanted to, but then again, it is definetly not a must buy. Poison is a great, fun band to listen to with lots of depth, even if it's just commerical depth. They write irresistable hooks, and will supply songs that will stay in your head for a long time. However, although I hear word that hair metal is making a slight comeback, I have seen very few mainstream hair metal bands that actually play real hair metal. Maybe that's because I'm located in the U.S. in a state that doesn't have much of a metal scene. The best reason to get this album is to famalirize yourself with Poison, especially if you're interested. The new track alone, in my opinion, isn't good enough reason to buy it; unless, of course, you are a huge Poison fan and must have it.

Final Rating: (Rating out of five stars)

Nice review. Are you really only 13-years-old? You write well for someone so young. Your use of "their" was wrong a few times, though. =) And Poison is definitely not glam metal. Haha. Glam really needs no suffix.

Anyway, a good review either way. Keep it up!

Thanks! And yeah, I'm 13 years old, but I'm a writer too. I usually know how to use "their" correctly, but I just get caught up in typing sometimes.

Megadeth - Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
Label: Capitol Records

So, I go in to Borders with some cash for CD's, and I intended on buying some Megadeth. I had procrastinated forever over buying one of their albums, and I decided to finally buy one. And that's how I ended up with "Greatest Hits: Back to the Start." With all candor, I was not a big fan of Megadeth to begin with. Songs like "Symphony of Destruction" just never had an effect on me, and at times, I didn't even know why they were included in the Big Four of thrash. But, that changed as soon as I listened to this album.

I heard the opening track, "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and it blew me away. The heavy riffs, Dave's deep and rough vocals, and the blazing guitar solos. Just by listening to one track, I realized something... Marty Friedman is the man! I loved his guitar style from the start. Of course, their are just times when "the man" and Dave hook up... like on the infamous track "Hangar 18." As soon as I heard that intro riff I was hooked, and was headbanging within seconds. Their are so many reasons to love that track... eleven(count 'em) guitar solos by Marty and Dave, variation, and some good drumming. Dave Mustaine's vocals are not as bad as they are made out to be at all! When I first bought this disc, I was thinking, "I bet Dave is horrible..." but my mind quickly changed when I heard the powerful "A Tout Le Monde."

Although "A Tout Le Monde" is not a thrash song by any means, it is a powerful and moving song. This really shows the capability of emotion in the band, and definetely shows that Dave can sing! Not only can he just sing metal, but he can sing emotionally too, and that song proves it every bit. Plus, I learned by listening to "Mechanix" that not only is he a hell of a singer, but he's quite the shredder! The guitar solo at the end of "Mechanix," which is actually an early version of "The Four Horsemen" by Metallica, is stunning! Every song on this CD is solid, except for one, in my opinion. Although I know many Megadeth fans and metal fans love this song, I could never get into it. That song happens to be "Wake up Dead." I heard and I was thinking, "You know, what was the point of the vocals in that song? It would've been better as an instrumental."

To wrap it up, this is a great CD for people new to the metal scene. It is also good for metalheads nostalgic for the old times, and of course, it will make a worthy addition to any Megadeth collection.

Final Rating: (Rating out of five stars)

buggie_strikes_back! wrote:

Thanks! And yeah, I'm 13 years old, but I'm a writer too. I usually know how to use "their" correctly, but I just get caught up in typing sometimes.

Proofread, sucka! Haha. No worries. Spelling and grammar get the best of us from time to time.

I agree with Eyesore, you are really good at this. And you come across as a lot older then 13!!

Great reviews bro.You certainly have good writing abilities for a 13 yr old.Keep on writing!!!!

Thanks for the support, guys. It's very encouraging.

Band Notification

Band: Lair of the Minotaur
Style of metal: Death, thrash.
Sounds like: Imagine Pantera as a death metal band, that's where I sorta get my idea of them.

I was digging through my old music folder with tons of forgotten MP3's and audio files. I stumbled upon a band called "Lair of the Minotaur," and this band is the real deal. Chugging, distorted riffs, chaotic and brutal! Varied vocals; shouts, growls, screams! Quite a package. If I can find good deals on them, like on Amazon, I will definetly be buying and checking into some of their stuff! I reccomend everyone else do the same! Awesome band.

Good stuff, indeed! However, Dave has low vocals on Holy Wars? What? I mean, there is one bit, but most of that song is classic Dave-high-pitch-nasal-fest to me - not that that's a bad thing, it works surprisingly well.

Oh, I meant his vocals on this part:

"Upon my podium,as the
Know it all scholar
Down in my seat of judgement
Gavels bang,uphold the law
Up on my soapbox,a leader
Out to change the world
Down in my pulpit as the holler
Than-thou-could-be-messenger of god"

Either way, he has some spectacular vocal work on that song.

I find dave's vocals unique/annoying/cool especially live.

Sometimes I think he does really strain himself way too hard live. I think he should just sing, he sounds better that way.