The Audio Nut
January 21, 2005
Welcome back to The Audio Nut.
We have changed the page a little and hope you like the improvements. We have
expanded the styles of music included in the reviews and we have also changed the
rating scale. Now the c.d.’s will get a ‘grade’ A-F with A being the highest and F
of course being the lowest. We are still seeking ideas from you about what you
think the page should or shouldn’t have. After getting tons of e-mail stating that
one sentence isn’t enough to review a c.d. the format for One Sentence Review has
changed and now the whole thing will be called Readers Reviews. So, feel free to
write in a review about a c.d. that you have just bought (old or new) and you can
write it as long as you want. If you have any questions or comments feel free to
e-mail us at anytime.
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
or
jsohn@nutzworld.net
This time around we will be doing reviews for c.d.’s
from:
1.U2
2.Green Day
3.Slipknot
4.Gwen Stefani
5.Blake Shelton
6.Mudhoney
7.Given
|
Reviews |
|
U2
How to Dismantle an
Atomic Bomb
Grade: B
2004 Interscope Records
http://www.u2.com
http://www.interscope.com
U2 has
returned with a new c.d. that should be a big hit for
older and newer U2 fans alike. How to Dismantle an
Atomic Bomb seems to dip into earlier U2 recordings
like The Joshua Tree while still expanding forward
as the band has been the past few years. The c.d.
overall has some really good songs on it. U2 already has a
huge smash hit with the first single “Vertigo” which is
probably best known as the iPod song. Bright spots on the
record are “Yahweh”, “One Step Closer” and “Man and a
Woman” The bottom line is that if you like U2 at
all you will like this recording. If you haven’t really
heard U2 and are interested in the pop/rock alternative
style of music you should add this to your music
collection.
|
|
Green Day
American Idiot
(parental advisory)
Grade:
B
2004 Warner Brothers
http://www.greenday.com
http://www.warnerbrothersmusic.com
Green
Day has put out their first c.d. since 2000’s Warning,
and it shows the true progression of a punk band from
Berkley to one of modern rock/alternatives biggest success
stories. When Green Day had their first taste of success
with their platinum selling c.d. Dookie they got
disowned from the punk rock underworld. So the only thing
they could do after getting exiled from that subculture
was to rise to the top. They have done it again with their
latest recording American Idiot which is sort of a
concept record that seems to poke and prod at media and
pop culture.
The
band has already had two hit singles off this recording
“American Idiot” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” have
received tons of radio and t.v. airplay and has put the
band back on the map as rock-n-rolls biggest pop punk
band. Fans of new and old Green Day should look into this
recording, as it seems to have a little bit of everything
for everyone. I mean it’s hard to go wrong with a c.d.
that has 21 new songs on it. |
|
Slipknot
Volume 3 The Subliminal Verses
(parental advisory)
Grade: C
2004 Roadrunner Records
http://www.slipknot1.com
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com
Slipknot has returned with their third and probably best
release to date. Vol.3 is supposed to be the last
one from the band for a while as they go and pursue “other
interests”. While the band is showing some signs of
maturity in songwriting by exploring new sounds and
instruments the overall recording is in the typical
Slipknot fashion. Fast drums, intense guitar work and
creepy lyrics have become the norm for this band from Des
Moines, Iowa.
Too bad
the band has almost painted themselves into a creative
corner with their first two c.d’s Slipknot and
Iowa. It seems that most of their songs sound the
same. Every time they play a faster or heavier song it
tends to sound like one of their other songs. Now they try
to expand their sound by experimenting and it turns out to
sound like another Slipknot song just done differently.
“Duality” and “Vermillion” have been the first two singles
and are probably two of the better songs on the record.
Hardcore fans of Slipknot and real hard and heavy metal
should like the c.d. To me it is about the average when it
comes to Heavy Metal.
|
|
Gwen
Stefani
Love, Angel, Music, Baby
2004
Interscope Records
Grade: C
http://www.gwenstefani.com
http://www.nodoubt.com
http://www.interscope.com
No
Doubt has been huge since the “I’m Just a Girl” single was
on the Clueless soundtrack years ago. The band has toured
all over the world sold millions and millions of c.d’s. So
the next step for the band naturally would be, yep, a solo
record from the singer.
Pin up
girl and rock super star Gwen Stefani has put out her
first solo record and I wish she didn’t. Love, Angel,
Music, Baby seems to be an attempt by this post punk,
alternative rock diva to expand her ever-growing audience
of teenagers and fans of the 80’s pop music. I really
don’t understand why she needed to have a solo record when
it seems to go in step with the progression of her own
band, No Doubt. I guess it’s a way to keep the band fresh
and give Gwen a chance to shine and not really have to
share the spotlight with fellow band members. Guest stars
like Andre 3000 (Outkast), Eve, The Neptunes and Dr. Dre
are just a few names from the list of who’s who on the
Billboard charts that grace this effort with their
presence. Some of the collaborations work out in Stefani’s
favor and others could of or should have ended up on the
cutting room floor. If you are a No Doubt or Gwen Stefani
fan this record might be for you as long as you are
looking for an ‘old school’ pop resurgence.
|
|
Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton’s Bar and Grill
2004 Warner
Brothers
Grade: D
http://www.blakeshelton.com
http://www.warnerbrothers.com
Nashville and Country music has seriously embraced the
dirt rock look the past couple years with acts like Keith
Urban and Rascal Flats. Blake Shelton is really no
exception. In a music market where good looks and cliché’s
sell, Shelton is right at home. A heartthrob to millions
of women around the world Blake really doesn’t have much
to offer on his third c.d.
This
recording is your typical drinkin’ song, love song and
line dance boogie song records. The first single “Some
Beach,” raced up the country music charts and has been
helping this record sell at a good pace. If you are a fan
of the new ‘trying to be old’ country music you will like
this c.d. If you are into ground breaking or innovative
music you should drive past Blake
Shelton’s Bar and Grill
|
|
|
Blast From The Past |
|
Mudhoney
Superfuzz Bigmuff (Plus Early Singles)
1990 Sub Pop Records
Grade A
http://www.muddclubb.com
http://www.subpop.com
In 1988
members of two legendary Seattle bands Green River and the
Melvins came together to join the band Mudhoney. The rest as
they say is history. Before there was Alice in Chains, Pearl
Jam or even Nirvana, Mudhoney was rocking the Seattle music
scene. The band is still together today after 17 years of ups
and downs. While I have no official word of any new recordings
the hopes are high with Mudhoney fans around the world, as the
band has booked some tour dates in Australia. There is a buzz
going around that a full-fledged return to the U.S. music
market is in the works. The last c.d. the band put out was
Here Comes Sickness (Best of the BBC Recordings) which
contained live recordings from the BBC as well as UK released
singles. (It’s a must buy as well).
Now I must
get to the bottom of this record. Superfuzz Bigmuff is
named after guitar effects pedals. The recording was
originally released in 1988 and then re-released with (The
Early Singles) added in 1990. “Touch Me, I’m Sick” was the
staple song for the band and helped get the word out about
‘Grunge’ music long before Nirvana’s Nevermind c.d.
came out.
This
recording is loaded with some of the bands’ best songs. Songs
like “If I Think”, “Mudride”, “In ‘N’ Out of Grace” and “Sweet
Young Ain’t Sweet Thing (Ain’t Sweet No More)” showcase the
bands talents and diversity in song writing. All in all,
Mudhoney never got the amount of commercial success they
deserved as bands like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Nirvana
became rock stars and sold millions of records. The bottom
line is if you are a fan of ‘grunge’ or like good rock
orientated music overall, then you should stop what you are
doing and go get this c.d.
How Do I
Get Mine?
All of the
above c.d.’s can be bought new or used by going to
http://www.amazon.com,
your local music sellers or at their respective webpages.
|
|
The Underground Spotlight |
|
To be
considered for The Underground Spotlight send me an e-mail
with contact information to
jsohn@nutzworld.net
or
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
 Given
From the
wreckage that was…
2003 unsigned band
Grade B
http://www.givenband.com
http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecomgiven
Booking:
TY@BitchinEntertainment.com
Given is a
band that has been getting some serious major label attention
as of late. As they should, by listening to From the
wreckage that was… I can see why they have been getting
notice. The band does a good job at writing their songs and
you can feel the emotion when lead singer Casey Hutchins
bellows out his lyrics.
The group
will be entering the studio to record the follow up to this
disc in April and I understand by talking to their management
that it will be heavily shopped to the major record companies.
A tour of the U.S. will follow as the group continues to gain
a reputation as a hard working and honest group of serious
musicians.
The c.d.
starts off with the song “Looking Down” which is a sincere
song about the hopelessness that seems to engulf the world.
Other tracks include “Clay”, “Prodigal Son”, (it’s not a CCR
remake) and “Three Days Clean”. In all there are 11 songs on
this disc and they all are nicely written and filled with
great musicianship and feeling. Feel free to check them out at
their web page and the MySpace page gives you a chance to hear
a few of their songs. The sound quality is very good for a
band that doesn’t have a record company budget or producer,
this too will help them in the long run as they are good at
getting their sound across in mixing and recording.
The band
reminds me of groups like Live, Candlebox and Jars of Clay.
So, if you like any of those bands or are interested in
alternative rock music give Given a shot.
Given is:
Casey
Hutchins- lead vocals and acoustic guitar
Nathanael Bazzell- backup
vocals and rhythm guitar
Clint Trevathen-backup vocals and lead guitar
Darrin Hobbs-bass
Jeremy Fox-drums
|
|
|
|
About NW Advertising Contact NW Get Involved
Link to NW Spam Policy Privacy Policy Mission Statement
©1997-2004 NutzMedia, Inc
Disclaimer
The opinions
stated above are that of J Sohn and The Audio Nut. They are
not the opinions of NutzWorld, EntertainmentNutz or any of the
above listed bands/artists; their record labels or associates
unless other wise noted. J Sohn, The Audio Nut, NutzWorld and
EntertainmentNutz are not responsible in any way for the
actions or business practices of the above listed
bands/artists etc. |
|
|
|
|
