Genre: Hard Rock
Label Number: CDP 7 90795 2
© 1989 Capitol Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: the hangmen, the hangmen album, 1989, flac,
July 27, 2023
Various Artists - With Honors: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack (1994)
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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.Genre: Pop Rock, Alternative Rock, Grunge
Label Number: 9 45549-2
© 1994 Maverick/Sire/Warner Bros. Records
Starting with a Duran Duran cover of Led Zeppelin's "Thank You" (!) and paced by Madonna's "I'll Remember" (Maverick is her vanity label, by the way), this rock sampler is a mixed bag. The highlights are The Pretenders' cover of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young," Lyle Lovett's cover of Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies," and Lindsey Buckingham's "On The Wrong Side," which together are enough to lift it above the "OK" rating.
tags: various artists, with honors, music from the motion picture soundtrack, ost, 1994, flac,
July 26, 2023
KISS - Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (1998)
Genre: Hard Rock
Label Number: 836 427-2
© 1988 Mercury Records
Smashes, Thrashes & Hits is a compilation of Kiss's greatest hits from their '80s career. Since there weren't enough chart-toppers from that period to fill an entire album, however, '70s classics from their more theatrical days are also included, such as "Love Gun," "Shout It Out Loud," and "Rock and Roll All Nite." (Peter Criss' power ballad, "Beth," is also featured on the album, but is a re-recorded version with then-drummer Eric Carr on vocals.) This combination of classic power rock and pop-metal is what makes the record entertaining, and the album's two new tracks, "Let's Put the X in Sex" and "(You Make Me) Rock Hard," continue to display Kiss' interesting melodies. Although necessary only to the avid Kiss fan, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits is an acceptable compilation and is another good introduction to the band.
tags: kiss, smashes thrashes hits, 1998, flac,
Various Artists - Livin' Large! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1991)
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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.Genre: Hip-Hop, R&B
Label Number: CK 48501
© 1991 Def Jam/Columbia
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: various artists, livin large, living, original motion picture soundtrack, ost, 1991, flac,
Krayzie Bone - Gemini: Good Vs. Evil (2005)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Pop Rap, Gangsta Rap
Label Number: 80119-01191-2
© 2005 Ball'r Records
While his Bone Thugs-N-Harmony brother Bizzy continues to live on the fringes of hip-hop, Krayzie goes for the charts while keeping his feet in the hood. Making Twista sound sluggish, Krayzie rattles off one of his most aggressive raps on the opening "Get'chu Twisted," one of the greatest singles ever to come out of the house of Bone. The infectious, Lil Jon-produced single gives way to a fairly tight album, one that's well planned out and just a skit too long. Tracks like "All I'm Hearing" bring back reminders of the sweet soul that Bone could effortlessly ride their raps on, while Wish, Krayzie, and Bizzy's appearance on the "Twisted" remix hints at how hot the proposed reunion by Cleveland's greatest crew will sound. It'll whet any bud smoker's appetite, but the high-quality, Krayzie-only tracks justify any sluggishness the man had agreeing to relive the old days. He just had to get this album out -- or at least that's the way three-quarters of the tracks feel. The inner turmoil hinted at by the album's title is vital and urgent whether Krayzie is crying out for peace in the hood or mercilessly thugging his way to the top. "Let's Live" is his "Crossroads" for a sunny day, while "Mangled" is the vicious number that always seemed to be hiding out in Bone's basement. Lil Jon is the big name here, but Ball'r Records have rounded up an inspired group of B-list producers and laid out the tracks with a good flow. Some weak, sing-songy choruses get worked to death in hopes to re-create the firm handshake "Get'chu Twisted" made with radio. It knocks the album down a peg below the masterstroke that was 2001's Thug on da Line, but it's still an exciting album and worthy of attention.
* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.
tags: krayzie bone, gemini good vs evil, 2005, flac,
Bizzy Bone - The Gift (2001)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap
Label Number: 71150
© 2001 AMC American Music
Three years after Bizzy Bone quietly released his largely unheard debut album, Heaven'z Movie, the soon-to-be-ousted Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member followed with a similarly personal and at times confessional album, The Gift. Bizzy's ties to his Bone colleagues had become frayed by this point, and he consequently seems a bit distant and alone here. Bone fans should regardless find Bizzy's perspective interesting, and it's thankfully still easy to appreciate the rapper's versatile style.
* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.
tags: bizzy bone, the gift, 2001, flac,
Bizzy Bone - Alpha & Omega (2004)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap
Label Number: 020 970 036 0
© 2004 Bungalo/7th Sign Records
While his former crew, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, turned to religion once in a while and mysticism on occasion, Bizzy Bone's solo career has been heavy with prophecy and sky-gazing wonder. It's driven him for a while now, but on Alpha and Omega, it has set him on fire. Lyrically, this is the best Bizzy Bone album, but the subject matter and numerous references to Bizzy's posse, the 7th Sign Regime, are the dividing line -- hard to follow if you're not a fan, rich with insight if you're down. All of the guests on the album are 7th Sign Regime members, and if it weren't for Biggie, 2Pac, and Left Eye getting their shoutouts on "Thug World" -- an inspired interpolation of Slick Rick's "Hey Young World" -- Alpha and Omega would exist entirely outside the world of mainstream hip-hop. If you even have a passing interest in Bizzy, go right out and pick it up. The urgency of the record is exciting and there's a ton of Bone prose to devour. Is it worth starting here for a newbie? Check fiery numbers like "Capo," "My Niggaz," and the extremely funky "Sit Back Relax," and you'll probably be swayed. That Bizzy doesn't give two flips about current trends and what people think makes him both unique and somewhat unapproachable. Although Alpha and Omega is his strongest album yet, it follows a cryptic rule book and requires a lot of effort for non-7th Sign Regime members. [Alpha and Omega was initially released with a bonus DVD including a compelling 40-minute documentary on the life of Bizzy Bone.]
* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.
tags: bizzy bone, alpha and omega, 2004, flac,
Bizzy Bone - The Midwest Cowboy (2006)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap
Label Number: RTECD25-2
© 2006 Real Talk Entertainment/Illuminated Records
Maverick rapper Bizzy Bone's third release of 2006 -- and it's only July -- is yet another album that suggests the overly prolific man could up his chances if he slowed down and beefed up his quality control. At times, The Midwest Cowboy recalls 2004's very good Alpha and Omega, an album that included quite a bit of Bizzy's singing, and while it had plenty of the cryptic post-Bone lyrics that are now infamous, it didn't indulge to the point of disaster like some later albums. Also like Alpha and Omega, comprehendible bits of Bizzy's uneasy personal life shine through, extra enticing for hardcore fans and maybe just enough to sway the curious. Add to this some subtle hints that he misses Bone and would like to patch things up, and you've got what should be Bizzy's great return, but getting to these grand statements means slogging through eccentric filler and productions from an overworked Playalitical, who handles nearly everything in the background. Playalitical drowns the more difficult cuts in layers of Bizzy's vocals plus horns, harps, and what have you, but he's perfect for the cuts where the rapper decides to dip his toe back into the mainstream. The seductive "Lovey, Dovey," the swaggering "Around the World," and the old-school-feelin' "Wit a $20 Dolla Bill" are the best examples, and with the confessional "I Must Fess Up" added to them, you'd have one killer EP. Riveting in spots, The Midwest Cowboy is another frustrating Bizzy release, but it could have been a contender.
* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.
tags: bizzy bone, the midwest cowboy, 2006, flac,
July 25, 2023
ABC - Abracadabra (1991)
*European pressing.
Contains 9 tracks total.
Country: United KingdomGenre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: MCAD-10184
© 1991 MCA Records
Abracadabra is a disheartening latter-day album from ABC, who are attempting to stay modern by incorporating both house and smooth Philly soul flourishes to their sound. Occasionally, the results sound supple and alluring, but the record is undone by a complete lack of strong, melodic songs, as well as what sounds like Martin Fry's indifference to the material.
tags: abc, abracadabra, 1991, flac,
Boot Camp Clik - Boot Camp Clik's Greatest Hits: Basic Training (2000)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: P2 23052
© 2000 Duck Down/Priority Records
This compilation from the Crooklyn warrior b-boy crew known as Boot Camp Clik contains a cross section of the posse's hits. BCC brought a military attitude and a rough, rumbling sound to the hip-hop table. The sound and feel is the essence of the Boot Camp, largely provided by the production team, the Beatminerz. Two members of the production squad, DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt, deployed missile-type beats with a signature bone-snapping snare. On the microphone, Boot Camp soldiers possess the kamikaze philosophy of infantrymen and the skills and wit of generals. Beats and flows are fashioned by the notion of Brooklyn as a treacherous abyss of warfare and gunplay, a proving ground for mental and physical toughness. Black Moon was the first out the gate with the 1993 release of Enta da Stage, an underground favorite that found mild commercial success with the remix of "I Gotcha Opin," which lifted Barry White's "Playing Your Game, Baby" effortlessly. Enta da Stage introduced the focal member and mastermind of the crew, Buckshot the B.D.I. In late 1993, the next battalion, Smif N' Wessun (later incarnated as the Cocoa Brovaz), dropped "Bucktown," the anthem for the Camp, and their blistering debut, Dah Shining, followed shortly thereafter in 1994. Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. teamed up as the Fab Five in 1995 with "Lefleur Leflah" to take BCC into a newer, funkier direction. These two platoons followed in the footsteps of their Boot Camp predecessors laying further claim to the Brooklyn battlefield. Heltah Skeltah's debut Nocturnal and O.G.C.'s debut Da Storm took the Boot Camp back to the basement. With the heartbeat of Brooklyn beating within them, BCC is a unified collective that invented a rugged sound.
* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.
tags: boot camp clik, boot camp cliks greatest hits, basic training, 2000, flac,
Krayzie Bone - Thug Mentality 1999 (1999)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap, Pop Rap
Label Number: 1671-2
*****
© 1999 Ruthless/Relativity/Mo Thugs
Theoretically, an epic hip-hop album could be compelling, but almost of all of the sweepstake entries are tedious, serving to diminish the artist's music instead of enhancing it. Nowhere was that more true than Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's overwrought third album, The Art of War and, unfortunately, that same sense of hubris characterizes Thug Mentality 1999, the ridiculously inflated debut solo album from Krayzie Bone. Freed from the group setting but not necessarily the members -- who fill some of the obligatory guest slots, along with Bone family members such as Relay -- Krayzie doesn't hesitate to accentuate the already smooth surfaces of his music. Some of these cuts are positively smoove, which stands in direct contrast to the gangstafied lyrics, but that's always been a part of the Bone trademark. In fact, other than the occasional cut that veers toward urban territory, there isn't a whole lot to differentiate this from the average Bone release -- there's just more of it. A lot more of it: 38 tracks, to be precise. Breadth does not necessarily mean depth. Even though there is more depth than there was on The Art of War, there's a whole lot of filler cluttering these two discs, including several tracks that feel as if they're designed to launch developing artists. Krayzie tries to keep it interesting by varying the flow, never putting too many similar tracks next to each other, but who the hell can make it through 38 tracks of this without a breather, even if some cuts are skits? It may be a cliche to say that this double-record would have been much more potent if it was trimmed to a single disc, but that doesn't make it less true, especially since there are enough songs to make a very good record, possibly one of the best things Krayzie has been involved with. It's just hard to discern that for certain in this guise.
* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.
tags: krayzie bone, thug mentality, 1999, flac,
Krayzie Bone - Thug On Da Line (2001)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap, Pop Rap
Label Number: CK 85784
© 2001 Loud/Thugline/Ruthless/Columbia Records
After listening to Krayzie Bone on his second solo album, Thug on da Line, you get the sense that he is dealing with some personal demons. After years of personal and professional strife, Krayzie raps about his frustration with thug life in his patented singsong style on tracks like "Can't Hustle 4 Ever" and "Talk to Myself." There is some room for positivity, however, as he demonstrates on the sunny track "I Don't Know What" and "Rollin' Up Some Mo'," a playful ode to reefer that remakes Lou Bega's inconsequential hit "Mambo #5." Despite all of Krayzie's introspection about the thug life, he must not be too tired of it considering that nearly one-third of the tracks on the album have the work "thug" in the title. It seems that he's torn between celebrating thug life and wanting to escape from it. That conflict makes Thug on da Line a compelling listen.
* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.
tags: krayzie bone, thug on da line, 2001, flac,
July 24, 2023
ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) ☠
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Country: Sweden
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: 314 517 007-2
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1992 Polydor/Polar
ABBA's 19-song Gold collection was the first hits compilation prepared specifically for the CD format by the 1970s supergroup, and, appearing after a period of several years in which their music had been off the market, was a welcome addition to the catalog. It is still the simplest and most straightforward collection of the group's material that it is possible to buy.
tags: abba, gold greatest hits, 1992, flac,
July 23, 2023
October Project - Falling Farther In (1995)
Genre: Pop Rock
Label Number: EK 67019
© 1995 Epic Records
October Project's second album, like their first, is dominated by gorgeous harmonies and sweeping string arrangements. But it's also a smidge more lively than their self-titled debut -- David Sabatino's guitars are allowed let loose a little more frequently, and the comparatively energetic percussion incorporates a bit of Latin spice. The first single, "Sunday Morning Yellow Sky," combines a typically intense, soaring chorus with an unusually lighthearted jam featuring harmonica and funky guitar riffs. But the meat and potatoes of October Project are still the achingly poignant melodies, tunes so emotionally stoked one can't help but wish to hear them more clearly, or feel them more fully. That can be a bit exhausting after repeated listens, and the keyboard-heavy arrangements are occasionally overwrought, but in proper doses there is no catharsis like October Project. The band broke up after touring in support of this album. Perhaps the next project for tunesmith Emil Adler and his lyricist/playwright wife, Julie Flanders, should involve musical theater. These larger-than-life ballads (and the big voice of lead singer Mary Fahl) would suit the stage well, and would be considerably more compelling than much of the stuff on Broadway.
tags: october project, falling farther in, 1995,
Greg Kihn Band - Rockihnroll (1981)
Genre: Pop Rock
Label Number: BECD 9.00498 O
© 1981-1987 Line/Beserkley
With this album Kihn finally had the hit he long before deserved ("Breakup Song"). He also manages to recapture some of what made the early records so enjoyable. Once again, with both the material and the performance, Kihn sounds as if he is enjoying himself.
tags: greg kihn band, rockihnroll, 1981, flac,
ABBA - The Definitive Collection (2001)
Language: English, Spanish (Español)
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: 314 549 974-2
*****
© 2001 Polar/UTV Records
The titles of hits compilations always deal in superlatives: "Greatest," "Best," "Very Best" -- but the compilers of this ABBA collection have a special problem justifying the release of yet another such album after the multi-platinum success of 1992's ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits and its 1993 follow-up, More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits. (Indeed, the band was never shy about repackaging, issuing a Greatest Hits LP in 1976 as only its third U.S. album, followed by Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 in 1979 and The Singles [The First Ten Years] in 1982.) They have settled on The Definitive Collection and done their best to live up to the name. The 37-track double CD contains "for the first time exclusively collected in one package, each and every single as conceived and released by ABBA and their record company Polar Music between 1972 and 1982," writes annotator Carl Magnus Palm. That accounts for 30 tracks, with another five consisting of songs individual countries released as singles, notably "When All Is Said and Done" and "The Visitors," which Atlantic in the U.S. put out for chart entries. The remaining two tracks are a single remix of "Ring Ring," being given its first American release, and an extended dance remix of "Voulez-Vous," not previously released commercially. The remastered sound is excellent, and the nearly chronological order of the sequencing allows an appreciation of the band's development from light Europop to a disco-influenced sound and onto a more energetic, new wave-influenced approach, all with compelling melodies and dense arrangements in a Phil Spector Wall of Sound production style. Palm's informative liner notes tell the ABBA story single by single. (Who knew that "The Visitors" is about "the fears of dissidents in the Soviet Union"?) If this doesn't satisfy you, go ahead and buy the group's entire catalog.
tags: abba, the definitive collection, 2001, flac,
July 22, 2023
M.O.D. - Loved By Thousands... Hated By Millions (1995)
Genre: Crossover Thrash
Label Number: 202861967-2
© 1995 Megaforce Worldwide
Loved by Thousands, Hated by Millions might have represented the M.O.D. self-concept at the time of this 1995 compilation, but the description probably isn't exactly accurate. Most within the metal community had simply forgotten about this band (or more importantly, the superior project, S.O.D., that the group was born out of). In any event, after five Megaforce efforts stuffed with Billy Milano's failed attempt at humor and myopic, nationalist, and even jingoistic rants disguised as jokes, it was time for a best-of collection despite the absence of any hits. Anthems like "Spandex Enormity" and "Clubbin' Seals" probably had them rolling in the New York-area mosh pits, as live support must have been the leading criteria for inclusion in this 29-song opus. There are a couple of nice moments on Loved by Thousands, Hated by Millions -- especially from those culled from M.O.D.'s debut. But this record can be no stronger than the band's catalog, which barely qualifies as secondary within the punk metal pantheon.
tags: mod, loved by thousands hated by millions, 1995, flac,
Tyla - The Life & Times of a Ballad Monger (1995)
Genre: Hard Rock
Label Number: REV XD 197
© 1995 Revolver Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: tyla, the life and times of a ballad monger, 1995, flac,
Tyla - Libertine (1996)
Genre: Hard Rock
Label Number: REVXD208
© 1996 Revlolver Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: tyla, libertine, 1996, flac,
Tyla - Nocturnal Nomad (1999)
Genre: Hard Rock
Label Number: KOCD2
© 1999 King Island Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: tyla, nocturnal nomad, 1999, flac,
July 19, 2023
Stiff Little Fingers - Hanx! (1980)
*U.S. first pressing.
Contains 11 tracks total.
Country: United KingdomGenre: Punk Rock
Label Number: 7 72365-2
© 1980-1989 Restless Retro
The other SLF studio recordings all contain some fine songs but are recommended only to hardcore fans. Hanx, however, is a live recording that brilliantly serves two purposes: first, as proof of what incendiary live shows SLF was capable of; second, as a greatest hits record. Unsurprisingly, the tempos here are much faster than the studio recordings, but that simply adds to the excitement. Overlooked upon its release, Hanx is a raging, non-stop hunk of punk rock that sounds great even after all these years. Issued on CD by Restless Retro in 1990.
tags: stiff little fingers, hanx, 1980, flac,
Stiff Little Fingers - Go For It (1981)
*U.S. first pressing.
Contains 10 tracks total.
Country: United KingdomGenre: Punk Rock
Label Number: 7 72366-2
© 1981-1989 Restless Retro
Following confidently on from the relatively straightforward punk purity of their first two albums, Stiff Little Fingers entered the 1980s with Go for It, an album whose sense of adventure was as radical as its sense of purpose, a raw affirmation of the rock and reggae hybrid that had been pioneered elsewhere (the Clash and the Ruts come most immediately to mind), but was now to be twisted through Jake Burns' own private vision of punk at its most personally committed. The opening "Roots Radicals Rockers and Reggae," of course, sets those intentions out plain as day, while "Safe as Houses" and, among the three bonus tracks, a sterling cover of the Wailing Souls' "Mr. Fire Coal Man" confirm the Belfast band's status among the era's most convincing exponents of the mélange. Two excellent hit singles, "Just Fade Away" and "Silver Lining," bolstered what was already shaping up to be Stiff Little Fingers' finest album; the addition of "Back to Front," a Top 50 smash the previous year, and a rousing live version of "Doesn't Make It Alright" (the B-side of "Just Fade Away") complete a sensational reissue.
tags: stiff little fingers, go for it, 1981, flac,
