Reviews: Metal Edition Part 2

Two metal acts: one that has just signed to Roadrunner Records and the other having left there because of unfair financial parameters. These two acts are also going in opposite directions as far as quality of music.

Rob Zombie
Hellbilly Deluxe 2
Roadrunner
LP/CD

Such is the case with his movies, Rob Zombie should avoid sequels in his music. As poor as 2006's Educated Horses was, this album is far more vanilla. Like Marilyn Manson, Zombie has painted himself into a corner with his image that he feels he needs to live up to that he becomes a caricature. It should come as no surprise then that John 5 returns as his guitar ingenue. 5, of course, was just a guy in a long line of Manson guitar foils. He is, actually, a capable guitar player and the only bright spots of the album are when Zombie manages to fit within the sonic landscape John 5 creates ("Cease To Exist,") and where his guitar abilities shine through (the Grindhouse-inspired "Werewolf Women Of The SS,"). Many of the songs are disjointed with no flow at all and just sound like a White Zombie tribute band with original music. This album was supposed to be some kind of return to form but is really just what Rob Zombie does in between terrible movies nowadays. He has said that this is probably the last physical album he will be releasing and that's a good thing because that'll be less fodder for landfills.

Track Grades:

1. Jesus Frankenstein - 5.7
2. Sick Bubblegum - 4.4
3. What? - 5.4
4. Mars Needs Women - 2.8
5. Werewolf, Baby! - 6.0
6. Virgin Witch - 4.7
7. Death And Destiny Inside The Dream Factory - 5.8
8. Burn - 4.6
9. Cease To Exist - 8.1
10. Werewolf Women Of The SS - 7.8
11. The Man Who Laughs - 4.1

Overall Grade = 5.40

Fear Factory
Mechanize
Candlelight
LP/CD/Boxed Set

I was very excited upon learning that this album marked the return of founding guitarist Dino Cazares. I was a little less enthused to find that this was not a full-blown reunion as bassist Christian Olde Wolbers and (one of metal's best) drummer Raymond Herrera would not be joining Cazares and singer Burton Bell. One other cog from the previous lineup remains as Byron Stroud mans the bass as he did when Wolbers moved to guitar. But the pleasant surprise is how Dethklok drummer Gene Hoglan manages to fit in and not miss a beat (ha!). The machine gun assault is firmly intact.

When breaking this down, the thing that sticks out the most is how much Cazares's arranging was missed. Wolbers had tried admirably to ape his guitar style but they didn't have all the different parts to songs that Cazares created. Mechanize is not the caliber of the classic Demanufacture but it is their best album since 1998's Obsolete and they didn't have to resort to covers for airplay. This album still may not see any airplay but that doesn't discount the fact that Mechanize is a tour de force and a new beginning for this "Fear Campaign,".

Track Grades:

1. Mechanize - 7.8
2. Industrial Discipline - 8.4
3. Fear Campaign - 8.7
4. Powershifter - 8.5
5. Christploitation - 7.2
6. Oxidizer - 7.4
7. Controlled Demolition - 8.1
8. Designing The Enemy - 8.3
9. Metallic Division - 7.3
10. Final Exit - 8.6

Overall Grade = 8.03

Notable Upcoming Albums - February

2/9:
Fear Factory - Mechanize
Yeasayer - Odd Blood
Buzzcocks album remasters

2/16:
Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back
A Silver Mt. Zion - Kollaps Tradixionales

2/23:
Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain't No Grave
Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
Shearwater - Golden Archipelago

Quarter Century Review: Night Time

Killing Joke
Night Time
EG Records
Produced by Chris Kimsey

Killing Joke influenced many bands that I admire like Ministry (having had the late Paul Raven of Killing Joke on bass) and Big Black. That being said, I had never really seen their greatness. I understood their appeal but felt their '80s output doesn't seem to be much more that a louder, more aggressive version of Dead Or Alive.

Upon listening to Night Time in depth, I still don't think that my take on the music is incorrect, the perspective was just a tad skewed. Maybe there was nothing wrong with being a louder Dead Or Alive. "You Spin Me Round," is still a pretty good song, after all. But pretty good is as far as I'm willing to go. There are definite moments on this record that excite but they are not plentiful enough for this to be more than a pretty good album, much less a classic. For me, I prefer their later and heavier work. Still, this album is respectable and good for a listen every once in a while.

Overall Grade = 7.63

What's YOUR Favorite Singles Collection?

With the release of Couple Tracks by Fucked Up this week, it got me to thinking: What is the greatest all-time singles collection?

When I say "singles collections", I don't mean this:

I'm talking about a collection of 7" records or other non-LP tracks and/or b-sides, not greatest hits packages. The old belief, even The Beatles believed this, is that you put out albums but you don't put your singles on your albums. "Hey Jude," is a non-album track, for example. Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart," is their most well-known song but it was not on their Closer album, despite being recorded in the same year.


So, here is the list of my favorite singles collections:

Black Flag
The First Four Years
SST
Recorded 1/78 - 4/81
Released 1983

Though widely regarded as the best era of the band, no full length album was ever recorded with singer Keith Morris. Nor with subsequent frontmen Chavo Pederast and Dez Cadena. Not until Henry Rollins joined the band did the final record their first LP. But by that time, the sheen had already begun to fade on the hardcore legends whose fans would always clamor and long for the days of "Nervous Breakdown," and "Jealous Again,".

Buzzcocks
Singles Going Steady
EMI
Recorded 11/77 - 7/79
Released 9/79

A stellar collection with all of the A-Sides on, well, the A-Side with the B-Sides of the corresponding singles on the B-Side. Doesn't get much better than "Orgasm Addict"/"Whatever Happened To...?".

The Beatles
Past Masters
Apple/Capitol
Recorded 9/4/62 - 1/4/70
Released 3/88

As I mentioned before, the classic "Hey Jude," was not any of their studio albums. Hard to believe, maybe, but neither were "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You", "We Can Work It Out", and the definitive Lennon anthem "Revolution,".

Jay Reatard
Matador Singles '08
Matador
Recorded 4/08 - 9/08
Released 10/07/08

What a great talent. The first four tracks are as strong as anything. The record consists of 7 singles and their B-Sides with one extra track. In a few years, this may be my favorite singles collection. It's still a bit soon.

The Jesus Lizard
Bang
Touch & Go
Recorded 8/1/89 - 3/25/99
Released 1/18/00

Bang has a great mix of original B-Sides, covers, and previously unreleased tracks. "Glamorous", "Deaf As A Bat", "Chrome", and their version of The Dicks' "Wheelchair Epidemic," were all concert staples as last year's reunion tour. Personally, I enjoy the cover of Trio's "Anna," featuring ex-Big Black/Naked Raygun guitarist Santiago Durango on vocals.

Joy Division
Substance
Factory
Recorded 12/77 - 3/80
Released 7/88

In my opinion, Joy Division's best songs were non-album tracks. The great "Novelty," was the B-Side to the classic "Transmission,". The wonderful "Dead Souls," was originally a B-Side in a France-only released single with the heartwrenching "Atmosphere," as the A-Side.

Fucked Up
Epics In Minutes
Deranged
Recorded 5/02 - 2004
Released 3/16/04

Before Couple Tracks, there were Epics In Minutes. The band thinks this compilation is a bit incomplete as there is a Japanese singles comp that is more comprehensive. But many of the tracks missing from Epics In Minutes have been added to Couple Tracks. So, in essence, the two are companions. Either way, it's good to be able to listen to "Police," in the car.

Dead Kennedys
Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death
Alternative Tentacles
Recorded 6/79 - 1987
Released 1987

The Dead Kennedys B-Sides were better than most bands A-Sides. "Too Drunk To Fuck," is some kind of anthem and Jello Biafra's fresh take on Sonny Curtis's "I Fought The Law," is another in the long line of off kilter DK covers.

Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010

Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010
Various Artists
Matador
2xLP/CD

Gerald Cosley of Matador Records spent some time in the home of the SXSW festival and brought some of the local flavor back to New York with him. One should always be curious of collections like this. When you curate an album made up of bands from one scene that exist concurrently, you sometimes end up with a record with all very similar songs. There is plenty to like in this group of tunes and it starts instantly.

The record starts off with its bar none standout track, "The Ghosts That Wake You," by Follow That Bird!. Imagine PJ Harvey singing with the Vivian Girls and you're just getting close to the potential greatness of this band. There are other fine tracks here and in a wide variety of sounds. The advantage of trying to take an indie snapshot of Austin is that you'll find no limitations of creativity because no band is trying to sound like another band. I have no handy Frankenstein-like comparison for The Persimmons but I really like them. If nothing else, this collection should be treated as a map to finding your favorite new band. There's plenty to choose from.

Track Grades:

1. "The Ghosts That Wake You," Follow That Bird! - 9.7
2. "Blister," The Young - 7.8
3. "Spirits Roam," Woven Bones - 7.4
4. "Crush On You," Flesh Lights - 7.5
5. "Little City Girl," Dikes Of Holland - 7.0
6. "The Engineer," Tre Orsi - 8.0
7. "Akron Bureau," The Distant Seconds - 7.0
8. "Hoboken Snow," Kingdom Of Suicide Lovers - 7.4
9. "Mommy's Little Soldiers," Elvis - 7.1
10. "First 48," Love Collector - 8.5
11. "Can't Remember Your Name," Bad Sports - 8.3
12. "Drink It Dry," Wild America - 7.7
13. "Beautiful & Very Smart," Harlem - 7.1
14. "No One's Gonna Miss You," The Stuffies - 7.2
15. "Older Than You," The Golden Boys - 9.0
16. "Nobody's Fool," The No No No Hopes - 7.3
17. "Nazis On Film," The Teeners - 8.1
18. "The Notice," The Persimmons - 9.2
19. "Entirely Wired For Sound," Lost Controls - 8.0

Overall Grade = 7.86