August 31, 2023

Rubyhorse - How Far Have You Come? (2000)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: Ireland
Language: English
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: HT-CD-1002

© 2000 Horse Trade
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: rubyhorse, how far have you come, 2000, flac,
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O.C. - The O-Zone Files: Rare Demos & Unreleased Tracks (2019)

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*This is a digital store download purchased from Qobuz.
The files have been tagged and sorted for convenience.
This is a 2 disc set. 
Disc 1 contains 25 tracks. Disc 2 contains 26 tracks.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: None

© 2019 Mushine Inc.
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.


tags: oc, the ozone files, rare demos and unreleased tracks, 2019, flac,
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August 30, 2023

Diversion Tactics - Pubs, Drunks & Hip-Hop (2002) ☠

By ,
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: ZEBTRAFCD 004
☠: Selected by Sentinel
© 2002 Zebra Traffic
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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tags: diversion tactics, pubs drunks and hip hop, 2002, flac,
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Various Artists - Straight From The Street Vol. 1 (The Hip-Hottest New R&B & Rap) (1995)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B, Hip-Hop
Label Number: 74321 27691 2

© 1995 Arista
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: various artists, straight from the street vol 1, the hip hottest new r&b and rap, 1995, flac,
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Blufoot - The Ablution (2004)

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Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: SCCD011

© 2004 Scenario Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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 tags: blufoot, the ablution, 2004, flac,
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August 29, 2023

Fingerprintz - Beat Noir (1981)

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*Promotional LP not intended for consumer sale. 
Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: New Wave
Label Number: TEES 1001

© 1981 Stiff America
After being dropped by Virgin due to lack of interest in the American market, hipper-than-thou English indie label Stiff signed the 'Printz and released their oddest record. The songs didn't depart from O'Neill's usual concerns (angst, urban anomie); the rock/pop influences of the preceding records gave way to a funkier, near reggae, backbeat. More than any of their other recordings, Beat Noir is rhythmically dense, a little intimidating at first, but a joy once you get to know it.

 tags: fingerprintz, fingerprints, beat noir, 1981, flac,
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August 28, 2023

Index Case - Index Case (2005)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Metal
Label Number: MRTL001

© 2005 Mortal Music
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

 tags: index case, index case album, 2005, flac,
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Various Artists - Music From & Inspired By The Motion Picture xXx (A New Breed of Special Agent) (Limited Edition) (2002)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Industrial, Alternative Metal, Metalcore, Hip-Hop
Label Number: 314 583 865-2

© 2002 Universal Records
He's a new kind of secret agent. He throws out the martinis, but keeps the promiscuity. He's sly, not suave. He doesn't cotton to conventions -- he creates his own rules. He apparently doesn't really care about music, if the soundtrack to XXX -- better known as Vin Diesel is triple X! -- is to be trusted. Where James Bond had John Barry, XXX has a bunch of alt-metal meatheads and hardcore hip-hop hombres, providing a soundtrack for the extreme sports that are XXX's background. Yes, it's another soundtrack specifically directed at its target audience, and while it can't be faulted for that, it's hard not to wish that there were less of the dunderheaded Hatebreed and Rammstein (who have never sounded stupider than they do on "Feurer Frei," with its chorus of "BANG BANG!"), especially because there are good moments: Drowning Pool's "Bodies" sounds better than ever in its Vrenna XXX Mix, Gavin Rossdale's first solo track, "Adrenaline," is Bush with a hip makeover, and Queens of the Stone Age show why they're considered the great hard rock of the time by delivering melodic -- that's right, melodic -- counterpoints to the verse and chorus of their contribution, "Millionaire." The hip-hop is more or less a wash, and while there isn't anything particularly noteworthy anywhere here, it does sustain its mood throughout, which is all that it really needs to do. Still, it's hard not to think that a new kind of secret agent should at least have something more than mood music for his soundtrack, especially if he isn't going to wind up with his own theme.

 tags: various artists, music from and inspired by the motion picture xxx, triple x soundtrack, ost, 2002, flac,
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Motograter - Motograter (2003)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Nü-Metal, Alternative Metal
Label Number: 62837-2

© 2003 Elektra/No Name Worldwide
The aggressive post-grunge thrash of Motograter's self-titled debut is easily derivative of new-millennium alt-metal. Led by the hungry growl of Ghost, Motograter is typically critical of social norms and American capitalism, and such anger carries the band's tantrum-like playing style. The 22-track album consists of 11 songs spelled correctly, while their snippet sequels are fillers with backwards titles, and such a design captures Motograter's own adverse mystique. Layered guitars chug on cuts like "Red," "Wrong," and "Prophecies" as Ghost's gnawing vocal whine is a near match for Korn's Jonathan Davis. "Get Back" and "Suffocate" are equal in rage, but with a punk rock appeal. Motograter's first album doesn't do anything different from what's already out there, and those fans who relish in fighting conventionality will probably enjoy the furor of this Texas-bred foursome.

 tags: motorgrater, motorgrater album, 2003, flac,
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August 27, 2023

Various Artists - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - The Album (2003)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Groove Metal, Metalcore, Alternative Metal, Industrial
Label Number: RTE 00600

© 2003 DRT Entertainment
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: various artists, the texas chainsaw massacre, the album, ost, soundtrack, 2003, flac,
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Rasco - The Dick Swanson Theory (2005)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: POC7033-2

© 2005 Pockets Linted Entertainment
Rasco, a rapper from California, hit the scene big in 1998 with his solo debut album on Stones Throw, Time Waits for No Man. He was proud, he was blunt, he was fresh, and he soon became one of the Bay Area's most notable underground stars. Since then he's hooked up with Planet Asia to form Cali Agents, switched labels a few times, and released a handful of solo records. 2005's The Dick Swanson Theory, on Pocketslinted, finds Rasco pretty much where he started nearly ten years ago. His rhymes are confident (braggadocio is a word often associated with him), his beats are heavy, he has a smattering of guest artists (including Planet Asia, Ras Kass, San Quinn, and Aesop Rock), an instrumental or two, some good soul grooves, and a lot of sports metaphors (the best one being "I give them nothing they can cling to/Like fastballs on the swing-through"). Perhaps because it is so similar to his earlier work, The Dick Swanson Theory sounds kind of hackneyed. And maybe Rasco knows this, too: he seems to be trying hard to win new, younger fans who might normally listen to pop music. "Backdown" has an "I'm a Slave 4 U" kind of hook, "No Love" samples Jackie DeShannon's "What the World Needs Now Is Love," and "World's Collide" is very much inspired by Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life." There's even an attempt at a real love song, the platitude-laden "Chances," which finds Rasco lamely repeating, "I got to take a chance on this girl now/You never know, it might change my world now." This is unfortunate, because where he doesn't force the songs and just lets his talent drive them, he sounds good: in "What Happened to the Game" he reflects on life over nice, jazzy riffs, and the vaguely uplifting "Situations" has a Jedi Mind Tricks-like piano groove and a smooth lyrical flow. Sadly, this isn't enough to repair the album. It only reminds you that while in 1998 Rasco was indeed a "first-year rookie that's killing the pros," in 2005 he's just unconvincingly telling other MCs that he's better than all of them. It doesn't work very well; he'll have to find something else to do before his next album if he really wants to sell that to anyone.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.


tags: rasco, the dick swanson theory, 2005, flac,
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Various Artists - Disturbia: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2007)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock, Pop Rock, Electronic, Hip-Hop
Label Number: cst 81212

© 2007 DreamWorks Pictures
For his score to the 2007 surprise hit thriller DISTURBIA, composer Geoff Zanelli created moody, nuanced orchestral pieces that both heighten the movie's drama and reveal a delicate sensitivity. With its elegant and evocative tracks (see the atmospheric "Voyeurism"), this album marks Zanelli as a promising film-score composer, and works as an excellent counterpoint to the eclectic, pop-oriented DISTURBIA soundtrack.

 tags: various artists, disturbia, original motion picture soundtrack, ost, 2007, flac,
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August 26, 2023

Jesse West - No Prisoners (1989)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: MOTD-6282

© 1989 Motown
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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 tags: jesse west, no prisoners, 1989, flac, 
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Various Artists - The Scorpion King: Music From & Inspired By The Motion Picture (2002)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Post Grunge, Alternative Metal, Industrial Metal
Label Number: 440 017 115-2

© 2002 Universal/UMG Soundtracks
Taken from the film of the same name, The Scorpion King is filled with heavy metal bands performing mostly B-sides or previously released tracks. This is a standard Hollywood action movie soundtrack, although it does have a mildly more famous lineup than most. In fact, this is about as typical as a movie soundtrack can get. There are the really good songs from semi-popular artists (System of a Down, Rob Zombie), the really cheesy songs from the popular grunge-lite artists (Creed, Nickelback), and the good-to-awful filler (the rest). What hurts this soundtrack more than anything else is the intense averageness of the whole thing -- none of these songs are extraordinary in any way. None of the songs are so awful that they deserve mention (although Nickelback barely escapes wrath), nor are any so good that they deserve mention. This is a safe, harmless, and ineffective collection of bland metal that rises out of the doldrums for the occasional gem without maintaining any consistent quality. The bonus materials are not only a waste of time, but they also tend to really confuse most computers, so avoid those too. Some dedicated fans may feel as though they should buy this to collect the rare song from their favorite band, but anyone not in those shoes should avoid the whole process if they can.

 tags: various artists, the scorpion king, music from and inspired by the motion picture, soundtrack, ost, 2002, flac,
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Thirstin Howl III - Licensed To Skill (2003)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: TEG 2401

© 2003 Traffic Entertainment Group
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.


tags: thirstin howl iii, licensed to skill, 2003, flac,
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Various Artists - Saw II: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2005)

By No comments
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Industrial, Alternative Metal, Metalcore, Hard Rock
Label Number: ID2913JU

© 2005 Image Entertainment
There were a few licensed songs on the original Saw's soundtrack, but it consisted mostly of Charlie Clouser's clanking and inky proto-industrial score. The remixer and occasional NIN member's music was overdone, mysterious, tense, and capably chilling, just like the horror-camp of the film itself. The film was a surprise hit. That means a quickie sequel, and unfortunately a quickie soundtrack to go with it. Clouser's contributions are reduced to one song (the suspenseful "Don't Forget the Rules") and a remix of Marilyn Manson's "Irresponsible Hate Anthem." Otherwise, Saw II takes the usual Hollywood soundtrack tack, rounding up a rogue's gallery of one-offs and B-sides from bands that fit the thematic bill. That means tired alt-metal from Mudvayne ("Forget to Remember"), Sevendust ("Pieces"), and the Used ("Sound Effects and Overdramatics"), as well as veterans of previous horror entry soundtracks like Bloodsimple (they were on House of Wax) and the Tool side project Puscifer (see Underworld). Instead of the creepy Rabies original listeners get a seven-year-old remix of Skinny Puppy's "Rodent" that takes the generic power saw guitar route; meanwhile, Bay Area up-and-comers Band of Pain have promise, but their "Holy" inevitably inserts Soundgarden's "Spoonman" into your head. Saw II does have a few unique inclusions. Revolting Cocks are always trashy fun, and "Caliente (Dark Entries)" delivers the goods. UNKLE max the levels in Queens of the Stone Age's "Burn the Witch," but the song retains its morbid slink. To bring it back to Clouser, his remix of Manson's "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" is strong too, a sticky, raw update of the Antichrist Superstar original. It's too bad Saw II doesn't have more of that risk-taking mentality. [The soundtrack was also released in a clean version.]

 tags: various artists, saw 2,  original motion picture soundtrack, ost, 2005, flac,
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T.X.T. - What About You? (Misprint) (1985)

By No comments
*This copy appears to be a misprint. 
Although both the back of the sleeve and the record state that side B has 5 tracks, 
track B1 (Bad Boys) is missing. Instead, track B2 (Miracles) plays in its place. 
Due to this error, this rip only contains 8 tracks total. 
Photos of the record are included on the RAR file.
Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CBS 24 461

© 1985 CBS Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: txt, what about you, 1985, flac,
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Buffalo Tom - Smitten (1996)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: 31455 7867 2

© 1996 Polydor/Beggars Banquet/Megadisc
The perennial bridesmaids of the modern rock scene, Buffalo Tom have been flirting with mainstream success since 1992's critically acclaimed album, "Let Me Come Over." Unfortunately, though Smitten may please devoted fans, it will do little to give them the breakthrough they have long deserved. In many ways the record follows the pattern started with Let Me Come Over and its follow-up, Big Red Letter Day -- namely, alternating between a rough around the edges, feedback laden sound and a more polished studio sounding album. Whereas their last release, Sleepy Eyed drew on the fuzz of Let Me Come Over, Smitten, like Big Red Letter Day, has the mark of a "studio" album. Granted, Buffalo Tom being Buffalo Tom, studio care doesn't equal a schmaltzy Celine Dion record, but the sampled guitar loops of "Knot in It," the strings of "Scottish Windows," the horns of "White Paint Morning" and the piano and organ sprinkled throughout the album show that Buffalo Tom is trying to expand their sonic palate. Janovitz's trademark power ballads blossom wonderfully with the extra treatment and "Wiser" and "Scottish Windows" are among his best compositions. Yet, as good as a Buffalo Tom song can be, it is frustrating to hear that, in spite of the added production there always remains a certain formulaic predictability to the songs that even they can't break away from. The good news is that, unlike most current bands, Buffalo Tom have a distinct sound. The bad news is that, with many of their records sounding similar, it's easy to opt for the familiar territory of the classic Let Me Come Over, the album that pioneered their style.

tags: buffalo tom, smitten, 1996, flac,
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Various Artists - Little Darla Has a Treat For You V.9 Spring 98 (1998)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Electronic, Leftfield, Indie Rock
Label Number: DRL-060

© 1998 Darla Records
Vol. 9 in the Little Darla Has a Treat for Your series charts the label's continuing expansion into dreamy electronica -- two of the first three cuts are drawn from Darla's Bliss Out series, while Color Filter's lovely "Blue," one of the disc's real highlights, might as well be. It's a tribute to Darla's tastes and aesthetics that this material fits comfortably alongside the collection's more earthbound indie-pop selections -- the Push Kings' "Lonely Times" and #Poundsign#'s "Isolation" sparkle, while Class' "Strobe Light" and Bart & Friends' cover of CCR's "Lodi" both straddle the line between pop and electronica with uncommonly sure footing. And as a sampler, the disc brilliantly serves its implicit design as a commercial gateway -- it's tough to imagine anyone discovering Rose Melberg's aching "Golden Gate Bridge" or the Lucksmiths' wistful "Caravanna" without wanting to hear much more from both acts.

tags: various artists, little darla has a treat for you v9 spring 98, 1998, flac,
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Various Artists - Rasco Presents: 20,000 Leagues Under The Street - Volume 1 (2000)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: POC 7025

© 2000 Pockets Linted Entertainment
Rasco caught some attention from people who knew what was going on in underground hip-hop in 1998, and has continued to represent the Bay Area since. This is a compilation with underground heroes such as Phil da Agony, the Grouch, Saafir, Planet Asia, Zion 1, Cali Agents, and more. The selection of guest appearances is a great blend of styles and influences and work well together from track to track throughout the album. Diverse production is done mainly by Rasco himself with a bit of help on a few tracks from Grouch and DJ Cue (from Cue's Hip Hop Shop fame). Fans of Bay Area rap will appreciate and most likely already own this album.

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tags: various artists, rasco presents, 20,000 leagues under the street, volume 1, vol 1, 2000, flac,
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August 24, 2023

Ca$h Money Click - 4 My Click/Get Tha Fortune (12" Promo) (1994)

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*Promotional 12'' LP not intended for consumer sale.
Contains 8 tracks total.
Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap
Label Number: TVT 3911-0

© 1994 Blunt Recordings
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: cash money click, 4 my click, get the fortune, 12 inch, lp, single, promo, 1994, flac,
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Treble Charger - NC17 (1994)

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Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: SUNCD013

© 1994 Sonic Unyon
Originally called nc-17, Treble Charger was forced to change its name after legal hassles with a US-based band of the same name. They eventually adopted nc-17 as the title of their first release. As is the case with most young indie artists, Treble Charger pays overt tribute to their influences on this disc. The opening track, "10th Grade Love," with its discordant guitars and Greig Nori's nasal vocal delivery, borrows heavily from the Dinosaur Jr. songbook, while the ballad-y "Red" may just be the finest song Neil Young never wrote. Other tracks such as "Popcorn Chicken" and "Cubicle" recall the feedback-drenched, drone-rock innovations of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine. Though Treble Charger never quite rises above the level of imitation on nc-17, the band does manage to produce a few of its own minor gems in the process.

tags: treble charger, nc17, 1994, flac,
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Treble Charger - Maybe It's Me (1997)

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Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Power Pop
Label Number: 07863 67438-2

© 1997 RCA Records
After two releases on the Sonic Unyon indie, Toronto quartet Treble Charger made their major-label debut with 1997's Maybe It's Me, a transitional album that ended up being their career high point. On the two indie EPs, guitarist Bill Priddle (later an adjunct member of Broken Social Scene who also leads post-rock outfit Don Vail) had been Treble Charger's primary leader, but on the much poppier Maybe It's Me, second guitarist Greig Nori challenges his primacy, writing and singing nearly half the songs including lead-off track and first single "Friend of Mine." Although on later albums Nori would pretty much take over the entire band, to the point of kicking out Priddle and refashioning Treble Charger into a Green Day-derivative mall punk band (and later mentoring lame faux punks Sum 41), the tension created by Priddle's Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine influences and Nori's poppier instincts works here. The effect on songs like Priddle's "Stupid Thing to Say" (which features a terrific, yearning chorus that provides the album its title) and Nori's "Kareen" is quite similar to Sloan's first two albums, where multiple songwriters meshed their influences into a unified band sound. Pop-punk legend Lou Giordano's production inches the band far closer to the alt-rock mainstream circa 1997, but despite the band's best efforts, Maybe It's Me was a commercial flop. However, it remains a fine, underappreciated example of where alternative rock was at in 1997, the point between the genre's post-Nevermind heyday and its eventual fall at the hands of the rap-rocking nu-metallers.

 tags: treble charger, maybe its me, 1997, flac,
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Treble Charger - Wide Awake Bored (2000)

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*Canadian pressing. 
Contains 11 tracks.
Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: 74321-77599-2

© 2000 Vik/BMG Music Canada
Canada's Treble Charger returns to form on their fourth album, Wide Awake Bored, bridging traditional guitar rock with spunky lyrics. It's typical jaunty modern rock with a intellect all its own. It's not complex nor is it overloaded with radio-friendly tracks, but it is enjoyable with its rock & roll simplicity. "American Psycho" rants with heavy guitar licks similar to the mid-'90s surge of post-grunge bands tailored for the mainstream -- Tripping Daisy, Veruca Salt, Foo Fighters. "Cheat Away" relies on more lyrical sentimentality, but Treble Charger's most appealing material arises from what's made them popular from the start: basic guitars. The spiraling "Favorite Worst Enemy" and "Wear Me Down" cite college rock indie stylings, and Greig Nori's little-boy punk rock vocals are enticing. New millennium modern rock, however, continues to be a manufactured rock package led by bands such as American Hi-Fi and Vertical Horizon. Treble Charger attempt to stay above the rest and Wide Awake Bored barely gets the job done.

 tags: treble charger, wide awake bored, 2000, flac,
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