It have a pretty accurate portrayal of the rise of Joy Division
932590
It have a pretty accurate portrayal of the rise of Joy Division, the U.K. club scene in the 70's, and the lifestyle of the working class during that period in the U.K.
284913
The band's name almost sounds like a command from an S&M stag film, eh? This CD was originally slated to be released on Trent Reznor's Nothing label. That apparently never happened. I really like this seven track disc - it's got a certain 'heavy industrial' vibe to it. I think the tunes "Hands Of Fire" and "Hands Of Glory" make the CD well worth your time. Some might say that Trust Obey is like a cross between Nine Inch Nails and Godflesh. Sounds like a winner to me. Do check it out when you can.
4571454
Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" is a great album I finally obtained. I heard some of these songs on the radio in the '80's, so it's nice to hear the album as a whole.  Very cool and influential guitar licks throughout.
3984289
Being almost 50 I'm not the intended audience I'd venture to guess, but I was intriqued by the name of this group I was unfamiliar with.  I think since they were called Manchester Orchestra I conjured up visions of an Oasis type straight ahead rock band with, perhaps, a more diverse sound.  Except for the diversity what I got couldn't be further from the what I imagined.

Based on what I have distilled from several listening sessions there is no Oasis in MO's sound, but plenty of other 90's influences with Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins being two of the most obvious.  Obviously if you were to pick good 90's music those two bands were some of the better ones.

This album grows on you.  It's angry aplenty with lots of grinding guitar to underscroe that, but like Nirvana it has moments of quite introspection sometimes side by side in the same song.  It is programmed well to where it seems the first 10 songs are to be taken in a single sitting if possible, with the last two being, to my way of thinking, like bonus tracks that really don't add much yet they certainly don't take away anything.  The loud dynamic swings and heavy guitar work well with the urgency of the vocals to draw the listener in.  I think this band could really develop to be more impressive overtime and this is a very respectable showing which leaves the listener invested in hoping just that.
147910
I heard this SF band's third album playing at Ameoba Records in Hollywood and was immediately curious. Judging from their frequent mention in that record store's "Best of..." booklets, they seem to be known more in the Bay Area. The third album builds on what this one, the second, creates: a reverberating, cavernous, ominous depth like that with which producer Martin Hannett surrounded Joy Division (described well in Simon Reynolds' "Rip It Up and Start Again: Post-Punk 1979-1984, also reviewed by me). This vertiginous plunge is balanced, as Amy Linton's earlier band "Henry's Dress" and the Aislers Set's "Terrible Things Happen" debut were wandering towards:  Phil Spector's girl groups meet the mods meets noisy pop-punk.

The results may seem grim; the lyrics are often downbeat. But the pitch of singers Amy and Wyatt conjures up a smoother approach. The tense balance between the pop and the doom creates the blend that The Aislers Set brews.

This thin delicate surface conceals a frozen still lake. Icy attitude cloaked in rippling textures. My favorite songs are the opener, the perky "The Way to Market Street," and a cover of a standout track off Slumberland label mates 14 Iced Bears' "In the Beginning" compilation, "Balloon Song." My four stars are not a criticism, but only an indication that the results over the length, albeit typically brief for Amy's efforts, may lull you. If you want to be let down easily, however, this is a good album to slouch by. The band's tart consistency, as with many Slumberland records, may work for or against your tastes. The sour pop sound of wistful angst: this is served up in 14 sharp, tangy flavors.
2030489
This is a pretty good album. It reminds me a lot of what underground hardcore used to sound like in the late 80's/early 90's. Kind of sludgy at times, good fast riffs at other times, some psychedelic mixed in.  Very fuzzed out distortion, and some decent vocals to support the music. A fun album that, while hearkening back to another musical era, does well at being present and relevant. I've been enjoying my time with this album quite a bit.
4657938
I first saw this film when it was released in the 1980s and fell in love with it. Most 80s metal bands were already on the verge of self-parody, but This is Spinal Tap captured the time beautifully. The fictional group seems to be modeled after Status Quo, who started in the 60s as a psychedelic band, before transforming into a rather mindless but energetic hard rock outfit.

The film's writers really understand the rock'n'roll world and parody it with much affection:

* The chronic problem with changing drummers, especially in hard rock bands
* Losing a key member, causing the band to change its musical direction
* Managers and record company people having their own agendas
* Non-musical girlfriends interfering behind the scenes
* The dubious pleasures of life on the road
* Hyped comebacks that may or may not be successful
* Being reduced to playing in smaller and smaller venues

The bonus materials are terrific - music videos, lots of great outtakes. Putting the commentary track on is like watching the film Mystery Science Theater-style.
4099285
This album took me a little while to get into, partly because it was more  different from their demo than I was anticipating, and partly because their  song writing is so complex.  Once it began to sink in though, I really  found myself loving it.  The lyrics on this album are top-notch, as is the  technical use of guitar and prominent keys.  Their singer I've grown to  enjoy.  He's less operatic and dynamic than I usually like, with a kind of  Dave Matthews-ish alternative or monotone sound, but I think he suits the  band well and is able to give them something distinctive in this regard.  The melodies and arrangements throughout the album are also excellent, yet  I think at times their full effect is lost amongst production that is, I  feel, less than impressive.  All in all, this is one of the better prog  releases I've come across in recent years (and it's still continuing to  grow on me!).
4348580
This is a great album. Anyone thinking about getting it should buy it right away. Their sound is very atmospheric and they sound like they were heavily influenced by Joy Division. Since Joy Division is long gone (don't look for New Order to help) Interpol will have to do. Great stuff, worth a listen. Great for a nighttime drive...
4351666
I have a great time while listening to this and remebering the world that was and how it was about to change and this band was at the forefront for change.
854542
I bought the dvd yesterday when I went on a splurge at Best Buy cause I had so many gift cards... I don't own any albums by Social D, Youth Brigade or Minor threat but this movie is alright. It reminda me a lot of the book Philosopy of Punk which I also recently read. The DVD offeres a lot of insight to the whole "scene" but personally it wasn't informative at all seeing as I already knew about it. At any rate, if you're into the three bands I'd pick up this movie just cause it has great tour footage and such also, it shows how the members of the bands really are behind the microphone and personally I always wondered who the asses of the underground are.
4574763
Great e.p., for the right price.  I'd pay the money just for "P.D.A."  The full length CD will be released in August, but for now, buy this e.p.  By the way, I can understand why people reference Joy Division when speaking of Interpol, but let me be the first to mention (at least in this forum) that these guys are the spitting aural image of the Chameleons UK.  And that's a good thing.
2050961
Did not expect to like this movie, but it's incredibly well done. You can see the director's roots in photography (he's a noted music photographer among other things) and he knows the subject. Do not have to be a fan of Joy Division to like this movie, although it probably helps.
2935563
What's not to like, joy division is one of the rock groups that changed the face of the genre for 80's pop brilliant. this  cut of Transmission sounds great too, I may go back and download the whole album.
507923
This is fantastic Joy Division influenced pop from NYC, moody with high emotional drama and some really good songs.  A few years ago a band a sound steeped in 80s melodic postpunk would not have been taken seriously (e.g., Stretch Princess).  But with the emergence of bands such as The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Hives, and The Mooney Suzuki, the grunge/indie/emo logjam has finally been shattered.  I eagerly look forward to the full-length in August!
2376008
Not a bad CD by any means. The art on the cover and the name of the band pretty much paint an accurate picture of what you're getting into. While not bad there are a few songs that sounds same and granted the double bass pedal in it is fast and intense it's not needed for as many songs that they have it in. Its one I had to repurchase because my CD was scratched to hell and that is of course after it grew on me
2850930
When I first heard about Spinal Tap, I saw a photo and actually recognized Michael McKean (lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist David St. Hubbins) from his role in "Short Circuit 2" (guilty pleasure there). So, I immediately understood that Spinal Tap was a parody of the heavy metal genre. And yet, somehow the legitimacy of the band is not in question when taking into account that McKean, Christopher Guest (lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel), and Harry Shearer (bassist Derek Smalls) actually wrote and performed these songs. Adding to the parody is the fact that these songs, while intentionally campy and funny, are actually as good as anything released by the bands they made fun of. The elements of Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and any other metal band of that time are all exaggerated to create something that is humorous, yet not devoid of musical talent. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that "Big Bottom," "Hell Hole," and "Stonehenge" are probably as praiseworthy as Judas Preist's "You Got Another Thing Comin'" or Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast." While not as evil (though the spoken druid section of "Stonehenge" is kinda creepy), it's just as loud and it rocks just as hard. If you're a fan of heavy metal, this album just might satisfy you to the point of hilarity. Give it a try. It's funny, but it rocks!