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Alex Thomas - 2/13/2009
Between Use Your Illusion I & II, I would have to choose II and for good reason, may I add. Of course with all G N' R releases it would not be the same without the obligatory 'Parental Guidance' sticker!!
It was in their heyday, the time of the release of this album in 1991, that I became a fan of Guns N' Roses but then again who didn't back then? I think since its release, the band has stood the test of time although the idea of releasing a follow-up some 17 years later is somewhat mad and to some extent not really necessary.
So back to the album and it kicks off with the anti-war song 'Civil War' which flows nicely into '14 Years' and then into 'Yesterdays' and already 3 songs in and this album stands alone as a true rock classic. Some of their best songs are on this album especially 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door', 'Estranged' and 'You Could Be Mine'. Don't forget the fantastic ballad 'Don't Cry (Alt. Lyrics)'. The rest of the album is filled with ballads & hard rock that just might scare the neighbours away.
All in all G N' R at their absolute best, and will never be beaten!
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Alex Thomas - 2/12/2009
How can I say this album is anything less than 'Excellent'? You will see why once you are blasted with 'Black Dog'.
From the get go, this album has always been recognised as the crowning point of a true great British rock band called Led Zeppelin, basically because of 'Stairway To Heaven'. A song so remarkable that it got every young rock star plucking the opening chords in every guitar shop up and down the country. But by no means just listen to this album for that song alone.
Why?
Well you would be a fool to think that that is all the album has to offer because there's so much more that Led Zeppelin brings to the table. Every song is as good as the last even the instrumental 'Four Sticks'. From hard rock tracks like 'Black Dog' and 'Rock 'n' Roll' to the sweeping epic tale of 'Battle of Evermore', the aforementioned 'Stairway' to closing with the fantastic with blues driven 'When the Levee Breaks'. It is just wicked!
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Alex Thomas - 2/12/2009
Poison are one of the original Glam Rock bands that formed in the mid-1980s. Their own take on having a good time, partying and all the girls kind of took it toll by the time the band recorded this album in 1990.
By this point, they were one of the biggest bands on the planet with two big albums behind them, they show maturity in the song writing by focusing on life changing events that are covered in both 'Life Goes On', 'Life Loves A Tragedy' and the classic 'Something To Believe In'. The shine that makes them a brilliant band still shines through but there's also a sense that they want to be taken more seriously and follow in the direction that 1988's 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' gave them.
All in all, an album worth buying with its strength of ballads and hard rock anthems, you cannot go wrong with having this in your collection!
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Alex Thomas - 2/11/2009
Okay so you are thinking what is 'excellent' about this album when they have written so many other albums since, well it all comes down to the pure unadulterated glam rock feel that will put a smile on anybody's face!!
Beginning with 'Let It Rock', you are straight onto a rock 'n' roll ride that does not want to let you go from beginning to end.
Key highlights include 'Let It Rock', 'You Give Love A Bad Name', 'Living On A Prayer', 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' & 'Social Disease' to name but a few. But why are you still reading this review, you should have it in your shopping basket by now! Get it before it's too late! This album still lives in the hearts of true hard rock fans and will forever more. Next up New Jersey!
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Craig Hanson - 1/25/2009
Best album ever! Easy listening soft rock, great lyrics and catchy music.
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conrad lehman - 1/24/2009
What a unique sound! An amazing mix of carribean and african sounds. The brass section packs incredible punch.
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Alex Thomas - 1/19/2009
Although this hails as one of my favourite Iron Maiden albums, it is purely driven by hard rock rather than heavy metal but this is by no means a bad thing and makes this album a good listen.
I say good because the majority of the album is brilliant, but there are one too many fillers that either do not fit in with the album or seemed to have been added to just fill up the album when such big numbers as 'Afraid To Shoot Strangers' and the title track lift this album to be one of the best of their 90s period with it better to ignore 'Virtual IX'.
Bruce Dickinson sounds as good as he has ever done on this album and raises the bar from the rather pleasing but lackluster affair of 'No Prayer For The Dying'.
But the highlights are 'Afraid To Shoot Strangers', title track, 'Chains Of Misery', 'Be Quick Or Be Dead', 'Wasting Love' and 'From Here To Eternity'. If you haven't heard of Maiden then buy 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' and then come back to this album, either way it should be in your collection!
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Alex Thomas - 1/19/2009
DISTURBED are one of the best hard rock/metal bands around today. Having been lumped with that of the nu-metal craze of the early to mid 2000s (probably didn't help releasing an album then), they return with their 4th album INDESTRUCTIBLE.
The album is significantly darker than the previous albums, and bases itself of the 3 years that it took to make the album with lead singer David Draiman's dealings with relationships that went wrong, a motorcycle accident as well as dealing with a suicide (featured in the hit single 'Inside The Fire').
But, although the key songs are 'Indestructible', 'Inside The Fire' and my favourite 'The Night', the whole album is great from beginning to end, it makes hope that the follow-up is not too far behind!
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christopher johnstone - 1/18/2009
This is a very good CD, it definitely has the Billie Joe Armstrong sound to it (Green Day lead vocals) the best song on the CD has to be 'Pedestrian' I don't think I've heard anything better in quite a while.
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Alex Thomas - 1/13/2009
Okay by 1992, Bon Jovi had risen from a huge tour for NEW JERSEY which was critical in nearly ending the band.
But with KEEP THE FAITH, Jon Bon Jovi was adament that the band had so much more to give musically and lyrically that this huge rock beast rose from the ashes like a phoenix and continued like never before. This album heralds the band as a triumph for the 90s, keeping their past well and truely by its side, the album brings together huge rock anthems like the title track and 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead' and mixes them with the sweeping ballads like 'Dry County' and the hit single 'Bed Of Roses'.
All in all, like the song says Bon Jovi will 'live while I'm alive, I'll sleep when I'm dead'. Brilliant album, excellent songs and a well earned 5 stars! Go buy it!
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Alex Thomas - 1/13/2009
Alice In Chains were incorrectly mixed with that of the grunge movement coming out of Seattle, WA in the early 1990s. But listening to this album, you soon realise that there's more to this band that being linked with that of Nirvana.
The highlight is the rocktastic 'Angry Chair' and is one of many big songs lumped with 'Down In A Hole', 'Rooster' and 'Dam That River' and is an expression of depression, death and ultimately drugs. A mix of ballads and heavy metal make this album a pleasing album to listen to over and over again! A must have!
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Alex Thomas - 1/9/2009
Megadeth's 1992 album 'COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION' was seen, at the time, as being their most commercial album to date and although it shows elements of 1990's RUST IN PEACE with the heavy metal solos, it presents so much more to the table.
I was introduced to the album when it was released and I decided to just go out and buy and see what I thought. Well, every song is brilliant and each one is full of heavy metal/bordering on hard rock 'epic' solos and fantastic lyrics. Dave Mustaine's own experience as a lyricist is shown perfectly, especially on the title track 'Skin O' My Teeth'. However, the highlight comes in the form of 'Symphony Of Destruction' with one of the best guitar solos that I've ever heard - spellbounding (not sure if that really should be applied to a heavy metal album but it does in this case)!!
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Alex Thomas - 1/9/2009
Tesla formed in 1986 and, compared to their popularity in the US, they are relatively unknown here in the UK but that's about to change after you read this review.
BUST A NUT is the first album that got me into this band and to be honest, despite what other reviews have said about this very album, I like it as it's easy to listen to. It isn't your usual 'throw in as many hard rock anthems and hope the fans like it' affair and throws in so much more, with a good mix of ballads in between the band's trademark hard rock songs.
My favourite song is 'Shine Away' because it's a hard rock song with a fantastic solo that you hope will never end and keeps going and going - you're almost forced to push the volume up higher and higher!
So, if you've never heard of Tesla then buy this album!
If you like Tesla but have been put off by reviews of this album then ignore them and buy it anyway as it rightly should be in your collection!
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Alex Thomas - 12/23/2008
I first listened to SONIC TEMPLE in the early 90s at a time when Hard Rock was at its peak.
For me, it pulls together all of their previous releases (LOVE & ELECTRIC) and expands on them with epic anthems, sing-a-long choruses and rousing rock guitar that will make anybody stand up, be counted and raise their fists and yell!
My favourite song is 'Sweet Soul Sister' and following on from that 'Soldier Blue'.
If you like the classic rock bands like Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, The Doors and Led Zeppelin then you will never doubt ever buying this album and bringing it into your lives.
Put it on, turn the volume up to 11 and you will never want to put this album down and you will always wonder why you had never bought this album sooner.
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Kirk - 12/9/2008
I bought this on a whim after only hearing 'Rich Kids Blues' in the shop that I was in at the time.
And it didn't disappoint! From the storming opening tracks 'Consoler of the Lonely' and 'Salute Your Solution' you have some retro Zepellin-esque riffs with a similar sensibilty of production. There are also some excellent slower songs like 'These Stones Will Shout'. As with any album there's a few tracks I'm not so keen on, but even these can be appreciated for the songwriting and craftmanship that has gone into them.
It's definitely an improvement on the first album and in my opinion one of the best of the year!
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Adam Mills - 12/7/2008
Fabulous album. The sultry tones of Dido move on to a second album, and songs like 'White Flag' and 'Life for Rent' add to the drama of this album. Very laid back, but tells a story throughout the record. If you like people like Sinead O'Conner, get this. Album 3 is out now, but this will forever remain as the icing on the cake for Dido.
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Ollie - 12/6/2008
This cd just shows how the old classics are the best. I watched the film, "Walk the line" and was hooked on his music. A great buy for all those country lovers out there !
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Ben M - 12/3/2008
An amazing album, full of tunes that hit you right in the heart and leave you speechless.
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alit - 11/29/2008
Technically, as usual, very good. However did not have the spine tingling effect of their previous cds. I would chose to listen to any of their previous efforts in preference to this, and would recommend those first if you have not bought an 'Il Divo' cd in the past.
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Tim Folland - 10/25/2008
An amazing album definetely buy it grat mix of relaxed and chilled out and rock music basically a must buy for O.C lovers and anyone else. Enjoy it!!!!