June 06, 2024

A.D.O.R. - The Concrete (25th Anniversary Edition) (2022)

*This is a digital store download purchased from Qobuz
This pressing contains 22 tracks total & remastered audio.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: None

© 1994-2022 Tru Reign Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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


tags: ador, the concrete, 25th anniversary edition, 1994, 2022, remaster, flac,

June 02, 2024

Various Artists - Music From The Motion Picture Wayne's World 2 (1993)

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative Rock
Label Number: 9 45485-2

© 1993 Reprise Records
Hard rock with a 1970s orientation is the order of the day here, just as it was in the music from the first movie. Notable inclusions are Robert Plant's version of "Louie, Louie" and two live tracks by Aerosmith, although there's a generous complement of miscellaneous rock oldies ("I Love Rock & Roll," "Spirit In The Sky," "Radar Love," "Can't Get Enough," "Frankenstein," "Y.M.C.A.") and some up-and-coming acts, such as The Gin Blossoms, Dinosaur Jr., and 4 Non Blondes. Just as the movie was a commercial disappointment, however, nothing here caught fire the way Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" did on the first soundtrack.

 tags: various artists, music from the motion picture, waynes world 2, ost, 1993, flac,

Belly - King (1995)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: 9 45833-2

© 1995 Sire/Reprise Records
By developing a flair for tight, melodic hooks on Star, Tanya Donelly unexpectedly achieved the crossover success with Belly that eluded her with the Throwing Muses and the Breeders. Evidently inspired by such success and eager to prove that Belly was a full-fledged band, not just a solo project, Donelly and company made a bid for stardom with their second album, King. Veteran producer Glyn Johns gives the band an appealingly punchy sheen, and with the assistance of Tom Gorman and new bassist Gail Greenwood, Donelly cuts away her remaining arty preciousness, concentrating solely on big pop songs. While some fans will miss the occasional detour into spacy dream pop, Belly's makeover is quite convincing, and the cloaked stardom of "Super-Connected," the quirky hooks of "Now They'll Sleep," and the epic ballad "Judas My Heart" are neglected gems of post-alternative modern rock. Ironically, such shiny hooks didn't make Belly stars -- it lost them their original fan base, and by the time the record was released in 1995, modern rock radio was concentrating solely on harder guitar rock, so King was overlooked and the band broke up shortly afterward. The album and the group deserved a better fate.

 tags: belly, belly band, king, king album, 1995, flac,

Campfire Girls - Mood Enhancer E.P. (Promo CD) (1995) ☠

*This is promotional CD not intended for consumer sale. 
Contains 7 tracks total. 
A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Grunge
Label Number: 92635-2
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1995 Interscope/Boy's Life Records
A near cult classic, this seven-song EP was the closest the Campfire Girls ever came to putting out a full-length. The disc certainly isn't groundbreaking, but the rocked-out grunge and fuzz rock influences somehow combine for a record that avoids ever sounding too dated. The trudging riff of "Motorola Casanova" is an acknowledgement of the Campfire Girls' heavy mentality, and on "Little Wolverine" they showcase their ability to fuse quiet and loud parts with impressive results. Even the acoustic "P.F.A.M.G." (Perry Farrell Ate My Girlfriend) has a rough edge that gives the band directness filled with melancholy believability. It's a dirty-sounding record all around, but that really works to the band's advantage, especially on the final hidden cover of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever." Drenched in soggy guitar fuzz and overdrive, the track is a drum-driven tribute that is earnest and amazingly powerful, and it gives the record a bit of an uplifting finale. The Campfire Girls were a strong force that never really got too far off the ground and, since this is the only real document of their music, it is a worthwhile listen for anyone with an ear for mid-'90s rock songs.

tags: campfire girls, mood enhancer, ep, promo, 1995, flac,

Various Artists - Crazy/Beautiful (Original Soundtrack) (2001)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Language: English, Spanish (Español)
Genre: Chicano Rap, Alternative Rock, Pop Punk, Latin
Label Number: HR-62292-2

© 1993 Giant Records
The film CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL stars two young talents (Kirsten Dunst, Jay Hernandez) bursting with energy and vitality. Accordingly, the eclectic, multi-cultural soundtrack is full of fresh, vibrant sounds. The disc kicks off with Mellow Man Ace's Spanish-language rapping on "Ten La Fe," segueing into Lily Frost's "Who Am I?" which wouldn't sound out of place on a LILITH FAIR compilation. An impressively diverse batch of stops are made along the way, everything from the wide-screen guitar-rock of Seven Mary Three's "Wait" to the arch alt-pop of Fastball's "This is Not My Life" and The Getaway People's funky "She Gave Me Love." While this disc may seem to be all over the map stylistically, it's the urgency of expression that provides a common thread throughout each of CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL's songs.

 tags: various artists, crazy beautiful, original soundtrack, ost, 2001, flac,

Various Artists - Wicker Park: Soundtrack Album (2004)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock, Shoegaze, Acoustic
Label Number: LKS 33804

© 2004 Lakeshore Records
Wicker Park uses the explorative, plaintive, and chilly, yet ultimately quite accessible tones of indie rock and pop to soundtrack the cheekbones of Josh Hartnett. Like Zach Braff's Garden State and TV's dreamy/smart O.C., the film's music supervisors recognized the early aughts migration of public taste toward this more intelligent sound, a trend driven at least in part by indie music's profile in the areas of downloading and advertising licensing. Wicker Park includes some of whom have become usual suspects -- the tasteful, decadent pop of Snow Patrol; Mazzy Star; the requisite Shins cameo. But it also goes a little deeper than you might expect, offering the slick yet brazenly honest "Light Switch" from up-and coming-songstress Jame Wyatt, quietly deliberate post-rock from Mogwai, and the fragile icicles of +/- and "All I Do." It was only a matter of time until the electro-organic whimsy of Múm's "We Have a Map of the Piano" ended up on a soundtrack, especially in the what's-cool-next climate of the mid-2000s. And, in the tradition of Seth Cohen, Wicker Park gives mad props to Death Cab for Cutie. There's an acoustic version of Photo Album's "A Movie Script Ending" here, as well as what feels like the comp's centerpiece, Postal Service's somewhat famous cover of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds [Take a Look at Me Now]." Combining kitsch factor, engagingly glitchy, liquidy programming, sensitive guy vocals, and the credentials of Dntel and Ben Gibbard, "Odds" might be indie music's penultimate signifier in the widescreen marketplace. Other highlights of the set include Broken Social Scene's druggy, explicit "Lover's Spit," a cutesy Mates of State cover of Jackson Browne's "These Days" (previously only available on 7"), and Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano infusing Coldplay's maudlin "Scientist" with a dusky world-weariness.

 tags: various artists, wicker park, soundtrack album, ost, 2004, flac,

June 01, 2024

Guesss - Guesss (1994)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B
Label Number: 9362-45481-2

© 1994 Warner Bros. Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: guesss, guesss album, guess, 1994, flac,

Pusherman - Floored (1996)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Post Grunge
Label Number: EK 67752

© 1996 Epic/Ignition Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: pusherman, floored, 1996, flac,

Ideal - Ideal (1999)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B
Label Number: 7243 8 49432 2 6

© 1999-2000 Virgin Records
Ideal's self-titled debut showcases the R&B group's smooth, sensuous vocal styling and romantic songwriting. The single "Get Gone" reflects both of these traits, and the rest of the Houston quartet's songs follow suit, resulting in a heartfelt first album.

tags: ideal, ideal album, 1999, flac,

O-Town - O-Town (2000)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Pop
Label Number: 80813-20000-2

© 2000 J Records
It's finally come to this. The manufacturing of teen pop has reached its nadir with O-Town, a quintet of squeaky-clean boys pulled from a thousand hopefuls whose struggles were detailed, step by step, on Making the Band. Stuffing both reality TV and boy band marketing down the throats of viewers, the limited-run series weeded out a bunch of contenders, through sweat and tears (lots of the latter), to give listeners Ashley, Dan, Erik, Jacob, and Trevor: O-Town! And on their flaccid self-titled debut, the fivesome go through the motions directed to them by a squad of industry moneymakers. To say there isn't an ounce of sincerity to be found within the 12 songs here is pretty much taken for granted. That the entire project whiffs of cynicism is inexcusable.

tags: o town, o town album, 2000, flac,

May 27, 2024

Kenny Loggins - High Adventure (1983) ☠

*U.S. first pressing. 
Contains 9 tracks total.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Pop Rock
Label Number: CK 38127
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1983 CBS
Well, if Duran Duran decided to rip off Raiders of the Lost Ark, why not Kenny Loggins? After all, the swashbuckling cover to High Adventure fits this album, since it finds him relying equally on rockers and melodic pop/rock. The album kicks off with Loggins' hardest-rocking single, "Don't Fight It," a surging arena-rocker duet with Steve Perry. This signals that the rest of the record will be harder than his previous record and that's true to a certain extent, since this doesn't just rock on occasion, it also has his best ballads and mid-tempo charmers. In other words, it's his best album, showcasing all sides of his personality effectively. "Don't Fight It" is a great single, but the best moment here is "Heart to Heart," the second of two pop classics Loggins cut as a solo artist. Here, he has a great mid-tempo groove, a good lyric and an indelible melody that is soft rock at its finest. The rest of the album may not match this height -- most of the genre didn't -- but it's all strong (though it's awful strange that "Heartlight," a tribute to the children's foundation Heartlight, has the oddest melody he's ever written -- an ominous march that just gets creepier when the children's choir pops up at the end). Celebrate Me Home may be more consistent, but this is the most diverse record he ever cut, blessed by fine studio craft and a nice reliance on pseudo-new wave production techniques.

 tags: kenny loggins, high adventure, 1983, flac,

Corey Hart - Young Man Running (1988)

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CDP-7-48752-2

© 1988 EMI-Manhattan Records
Corey Hart's first two albums each had a hit single on them. Young Man Running was released in 1988 and was his fifth record overall and third since the success of "Never Surrender." For an album that had disappointing sales and subsequently saw Hart dropped from EMI, Young Man Running is a surprisingly pleasant listen. The 11 originals all have a distinct sound and a relatively upbeat feel. Stylistically, Hart experiments with sounds of reggae and rock, and throws in a little Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band for good measure. Fans of Eddie & the Cruisers will like "In Your Soul." Fans of Hart's previous hits will also like "Truth Will Set You Free" and "Chase the Sun." Overall, Young Man Running is a good used find, and, though not filled with undiscovered hits, is an enjoyable listen.

 tags: corey hart, young man running, 1988, flac,

Corey Hart - Bang! (1990)

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CDP-7-92513-2

© 1990 EMI USA
This 1990 bid for chart-faring hits definitely strives for success, and at times it succeeds. The patented Corey Hart vocals are here, along with catchy material on such fare as "Bang! (Starting Over)" and "A Little Love," with a chorus that will soon have you singing, "a little love will make your heart go bang-bang." Any number of these songs should've done well on Top 40 radio in 1990, but, alas, not even one made a bump on the U.S. charts. Hart works a soulful sound onto "Rain on Me," gets sensual with "Slowburn," and unknowingly creates a sultry homoerotic pleaser on "Diamond Cowboy," complete with an ailing harmonica solo. Much like when John Mellencamp poked fun at himself with "Pop Singer," Hart plays the same hand with "Icon," singing, "I love to be an icon, super strong, obnoxious little moron," with more than a hint of a wink. Often written off as hack product, it's obvious that Hart is sincere even when creating the lighter-flickering concert song "Chase the Sun," but he should have avoided letting "Can't Stand Losin' You" and "Kisses on the Train" be included on this release. The closer and ultimate letdown, "Ballade for Nien Cheng," where Hart lets his politics speak, just doesn't fit. While this isn't an essential release, fans of Hart will enjoy this as an occasional listen.

 tags: corey hart, bang, 1990, flac,

Corey Hart - Boy In The Box (1985)

*U.S. first pressing. 
Contains 9 tracks total.
Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CDP 7 46166 2

© 1985 EMI America
Corey Hart quickly followed the success of his 1984 debut album, First Offense, and its blockbuster single, "Sunglasses at Night," with Boy in the Box in 1985. If First Offense used new wave synths as flair for Hart's rock-oriented mainstream pop, Boy in the Box is a thoroughly modern album, at least according to the standards of 1985. Most of the rhythms are synthesized, all the arrangements are built on keyboards, the guitars are processed so they're clean, brittle, and echoey, all adding up to an album that pretty much defines the sound of mainstream contemporary pop in 1985. Although none of the songs here have the sleek ominous undertow of "Sunglasses at Night," as an album Boy in the Box is more distinctive than First Offense, building on the vibe of "Sunglasses at Night" often to strong results. Hart spends a lot of time brooding on this album, cultivating the sullen loner vibe that "Sunglasses" captured so well; even the lively title track has a touch of emotional claustrophobia running beneath it. But it's isn't just introspection here -- Hart tackles Communism on "Komrade Kiev," and the album's hit, "Never Surrender," is a soaring power ballad of empowerment, giving this album a greater musical and emotional range than his debut. If Boy in the Box still sounds tied to its time, so be it -- most albums can't help but reflect the times that made them. But among mainstream new wave-influenced pop/rock albums from 1985, this is one of the more intriguing ones.

 tags: corey hart, boy in the box, 1985, flac,

Corey Hart - First Offense (1983) ☠

*U.K. first pressing. 
Contains 10 tracks total.
Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CDP 7 46077 2

☠: Selected by Lass
© 1983-1991 EMI America
Corey Hart's debut album encompasses much of the '80s pop sound, namely with "Sunglasses at Night," an instant classic with its distinctive melody and catchy chorus. Often considered a one-hit wonder, Hart was a staple act in regular rotation on radio and MTV throughout the '80s with nine Top 40 Billboard hits and over ten million records sold. Many say 1984 was the pinnacle for '80s music, and for Hart this release came to define his sound. With a distinctive Canadian accent he stood out even with what was sometimes indistinguishable music. All the cliched '80s sounds are here in full force, from the brooding saxophone, the bratty guitar solo, the snotty background vocalists, and the catchy keyboard riffs. Hart, though, is obviously impassioned about the part that he plays. Constantly striving to raise many of his lyrics above the meter, he can come across as clumsy when he tries too hard. Where Hart succeeds is when he allows the hooks to catch. The tragic lovelorn stadium ballad appears with "It Ain't Enough," another early Hart hit that easily served its use for long distance dedication on soft rock radio during the '80s, an avenue he again repeats on "Jenny Fey" but falls flat. Time and time again Hart's voice is what saves him from mediocrity as in the cool way he says "no, no, no, no, no, no" on "Does She Love You." The dated "She Got the Radio" still retains its charm and humor and wouldn't be out of place on some quirky mixtape. The rest of the songs may fit into the typecast Corey Hart sound, but this release serves as a classic reminder of the fresh-faced voice from Canada that dominated the airwaves. For you '80s aficionados, this is one to own. Weird fact: Eric Clapton plays Dobro on the album.

 tags: corey hart, first offense, 1983, flac,

Naglfar - Vittra (1995)

Country: Sweden
Language: English
Genre: Black Metal
Style: Melodic Black Metal
Label Number: WAR 008

© 1995 Wrong Again Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release

 tags: naglfar, vittra, 1995, flac,

Emperor - Reverence: E.P. (1997)

Country: Norway
Language: English
Genre: Black Metal
Label Number: CandleCD100

© 1997 Candlelight Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: emperor, reverence, ep, 1997, flac,

Lord - Behind The Curtain of Darkness (1998)

Country: France
Language: English
Genre: Black Metal
Label Number: ELD 002

© 1998 Eldethorn
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

tags: lord, behind the curtain of darkness, 1998, flac,

May 19, 2024

YZ - EP (1991)

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: TUF CD 8065

© 1991 Tuff City Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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


tags: yz, ep, 1991, flac,

YZ - Sons of The Father (1990)

*This is a digital store downloads purchased from Qobuz.
This pressing contains 12 tracks total.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: None

© 1990 Tuff City
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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


tags: yz, sons of the father, 1990, flac,

Rachid - Prototype (1998)

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B
Label Number: UD-53114

© 1998 Universal Records
Rachid's Prototype is one of the most unpredictable and refreshing urban R&B debuts to appear in 1998. Instead of sticking to conventional urban influences, Rachid strengthens his music with a diverse array of influences that actually gel into a distinctive style. Borrowing from soul, techno, industrial and electronica, Rachid has created a continually intriguing album -- even when he doesn't quite fulfill his ambitions, the music still holds promise, which makes Prototype an exciting debut.

 tags: rachid, prototype, 1998, flac,

Kreator - Hordes of Chaos (2009)

*U.S. standard pressing. 
Contains 10 tracks total.
Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label Number: SPV 91972 CD

© 2009 Steamhammer
You know what lays ahead whenever you embark on listening to a new Kreator studio album, and 2009's Hordes of Chaos is certainly no different. And that isn't meant as a knock on the band -- heck, Kreator should be commended for sticking to their guns and continuing on in the same "thrash-happy" style since pretty much their inception (without bowing down to musical trends). So, that said, you can make up your own "Kreator checklist": growled vocals and intense riffing (the album-opening title track), lightning-fast tempos ("Warcurse"), tasty dual-guitar work ("Destroy What Destroys You") -- it's all represented here, folks. It's been nearly four long years since Mille Petrozza and friends issued an all-new studio album, and Hordes of Chaos should most definitely meet the needs of Kreator diehards worldwide.

 tags: kreator, hordes of chaos, 2009, flac,