Best DM album since Alan Wilder left BAND
587733
I am a HUGE DM fan and have been since 1984, but this new CD PTA has me so excited!!!!  The first 6 tracks are all terrific.  Really strong opening to a really good offering.  The last half of the album is a bit slow and dark, but LILLIAN is interesting.  I really love SUFFER WELL, John the Revelator, A Pain that I am use to, and PRECIOUS!  Looking forward to Nov. 5th in ATLANTA.
1320976
It's so good to have Leftover together again and cranking out albums.  I think High Country finds them a little more relaxed than they were on Aquatic Hitchhiker, but I think the songwriting may be bit better on Aquatic Hitchiker. The playing is still excellent and the contributions of the newer members are some of the best cuts on the album. Founders Herman and Emmitt contribute a couple of highlights in the classic Leftover mold.  The opener, Herman's "Get Up And Go" is the kind of tune that these guys have been creating to great effect for years.  Emmitt's "Light In The Woods" combines their classic sound with a saxophone. A great song to be sure, but the sax takes it down a notch. Vince and Drew are responsible for more good stuff here, but the two best cuts are from the refugees from the Drew Emmitt Band and Emmitt-Nershi Band.  Banjo player Andy Thorn gives us the fine "Better Day" and we get the CD's best tune "So Lonesome" from bassist Greg Garrison. For the second album in a row (third for Greg) these two have brought in great material and turned in stellar performances.  Billy Payne (of Little Feat notoriety) adds even more to a band that's already crowded with talent.  Songwriting is spread throughout the band's members and Payne even gets an assist from Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.  On some of the songs, I feel like the basic and beloved vocal harmonies are drowning in a sea of singers, but that's  a minor issue.  It's close to being a 5 star recording and I only wish they would stick closer to the Nashville Sessions and Euphoria style, instead of modernizing their sound.
3258682
"Photograph" was the first Def Leppard song I ever liked. I couldn't wait to get the album. Imagine my surprise when I found out that this album also had "Rock of Ages," which I had listened to so  many times when I went roller skating as a child.  A great precursor to  "Hysteria," this was the first mega-produced album that the band  ever did.  It also introduced the world to guitarist Phil Collen, who had  joined the band after Pete Willis exited. The great vocals of Joe Elliot  and the guitar genius of Steve Clark add to the mix, and words cannot  describe what the rhythm section does.  You have to listen to this album to  get the full effect of its greatness. Just buy it!
1518053
along with kings of the wild frontier this is the best album that adam put out.
some good writing and nice horn arrangements fill this album. not as ground breaking as the kings of the wild frontier album but not a lot in the eighties was.
if you have heard goody two shoes and friend or foe, the songs, and liked them, you will not be disappointed with this album
4451191
Right from the beginning i could tell this album was far better than ritual. this album has touches of miasma nocturnal and deflorate to it. tbdm really stepped up and delivered again with minimal changes to sound. it is apparent that shannon is no longer on drums but the new drummer fills the shoes well. all in all this would be my 2nd favorite album by them following deflorate and only minimally beating out nocturnal.
1125294
I'm a great fan of the DMB and I really enjoyed this cd.  All you die-hard DMB fans should just relax and give this recording a chance.  The songs are much shorter than in the past, most of them coming in  at a radio-friendly four minutes, but the quality of the content is what sets this album apart. I believe Dave has reached into his soul and pulled out some beautiful songs, the kind that aren't possible without some suffering in life.  So buy this CD, put it in the stereo and crank it up, and most importantly, enjoy. Thanks DMB.
2466869
Ever since Halford's newest release, I went out and bought this cd. I hadn't listened to this one in a long time but it still kicks. Yeah, its a moody album but excellent material. Although the songs tend to be a little on the slow side,you cant deny the bass and rhythms that pound through the speakers. One of the best guitar axemen. Love the moshing style guitar rhythm near the end of Genocide. The opening of Victim is also neat. Tyrant is probably their best tune with Island of Dom for its rawness. Good lyrics though I still cant figure out the words Halford spews out sometimes. What can you say about his vocal range and his ability to go from mild vibrato to snarling screams. He's unbeleivable and its great that he's still going strong. Ive also purchased Stained Class and Sin after Sin. See my other raves and rants about these.
1686749
I am impressed. Dave's finest work is right here. There are actual hooks, and not just fast riffs to bang your head to. Don't get me wrong, the old albums were great, abd they had melodic, but all of them were fast. Here the tempo is slowed down. I guess it was rehab or something. Also, there is great political commentary. Symphony of Destruction is about how our society is falling apart. Capptive Honor is about our rigid court system. Some great solos too. Glad they chose Marty. Check out his solo in Foreclousure of a Dream. It's very uplifting. The best is the title track. Very good hook. Also, check out the Iron Maiden-like solo. Cool. Very enjoyable.
3458879
I have to admit not having high expectations for this album release.  I've been a huge Def Leppard fan since Pyromania.  Since Adrenalize they've had their moments here and there....some great.  I heard this album was coming out.  I heard Nine Lives and was pleasantly surprised.  I listened to samples of every song 3 times.  I decided to pick it up.  It's the most solid release they've had since Adrenalize top to bottom.  I'm glad to see it rocks by and large.  The catchy guitar hooks are there as are the lyrics.  If this were 1989 and it were the next release after Hysteria it would have 3-4 hits on it.  The hits that should be are Nine Lives, C'mon C'mon, Hallucinate and Tomorrow.  It's not Hysteria.  But the sound of the songs probably closely resemble that sound.  They seem to have found a creative spark in the studio.  Def Leppard is back.  My interest has definitely been renewed.  If you are a Def Leppard fan you need to buy this album.  For me it gets better with every listen.  It's stayed in my CD player since I picked it up.  That my friends is a sign of a very good if not great album.
3306817
Excellent Album and one of the best from Dire Straights.  Hearing it in Super Audio makes it even better.  Too bad this format didn't catch on, but it does seem to be coming back in some ways.
1274279
I have been a 1D fan since I heard "Live While We're Young" on the radio. I have enjoyed watching the and grow over the years not just physically, but through their music. As my review of their last album, Midnight Memories states, I enjoy the edgier, more adult sounding 1D. Not many boy bands can evolve past the cheesy bubblegum pop stage...but One Direction has. This album, picks up where MM with a more mature sound...more rock and folk influences. 15 of the 16 tracks were written by the band, the exception being "18" which was written by the incomparable Ed Sheeran. As with the previous albums, I was hooked after one listen. I've had this album for 4 months now and I have just now chosen a favorite song. Yauakly after one listen of an album, I find one song I really like and stick with it...but with this album, it was so hard to choose a favorite; they're all so good!  Night Changes is the best, though, at least in my opinion. I can easily say that this is the best One Direction album yet.
After finishing this album, I was so excited to read online that the lads were already working on their next album. But with Zayn's recent ddeparture, I am kind of holding onto the albums we have so far. I am glad that he stayed through this album, it would not have been the same without him. It has been an amazing 5 years since 1D was formed, and after 4 amazing albums, they're still going strong.
3066398
Between '82 and '83 I was temoparily Djing at a pub in Oldham near Manchester. Monday nights were goth and indie night this album and the tracks on it take me right back to those nights. Most of these songs are like old friends and for me anyway have not lost any of their power or darkness in the twenty years that have passed since then. I'm also reminded of Peter hook's words about Joy Division which always strikes me as a stark contrast to the music. "Joy Division were just four lads from Macclesfield who liked to get pissed...!"
 The bonus disc is also great because of legacy left to us by the great John Peel for four decades the cornerstone of BBC Radio One. If you couldn't get to see a group live then the Peel sessions gave you an insight how they would sound. Also for me on a personal note because the session with "love will tear us apart" was recorded on my sixteenth birtday. I would highly recomend this collection to anyone who has never heard any Joy Division before. My only quibble with this album is the missing b-sides like "novelty" and "these days".Thankfully these tracks appear on "substance" the next album to buy after this and also the great "Unknown Pleasures" album which challenges any by the cure for darkness and depression.
3973883
One of Germany's most influential heavy metal exports, Blind Guardian, are back with an undeniably awesome album chock full of catchy, fun power-prog.  This is easily the best post-Nightfall album, with great riffs, catchy choruses, and a few experiments done here and there.  If there's a problem with this album, it's with the questionable mastering job - which can at times give the music little room to breathe - and not the songwriting itself.  This is the only reason it's getting a 4 instead of a 5. If you're a fan of the Bards, this is worth a purchase.
830715
I love this album. At first I wasn't so sure. At the time I had been heavy into Scenes From A Memory and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. After a few more listens and a slight mood change in what I wanted to listen to I fell in love with the music here. It's DT continuing to evolve in their musical adventures and yet a compilation and enhancement of their previous work. You'll find elements of all of their albums here. From the light stuff found in Images and Words to the hard and fast stuff in Awake and Train of Thought. James LaBrie is in top form on this album. In past efforts DT seemed more like an instrumental band that happened to have a lead singer to sing occasionally. However, this album really makes all members shine. It's much more balanced than any other album.
You also hear many tributes to their influences like Yes, Pink Floyd, Queensryche, and Rush. The title track has many parts that are directly influenced by Gates of Delirium and Shine On You Crazy Diamond and yet it is DT's own creation and signature sound that makes it unique.
This album is a must buy right up there with Images and Words. It doesn't beat Scenes From A Memory but is easily in their top 3 best albums.
Enjoy this album for a nice change of pace from the constant shredding of Train of Thought.
3701353
Although some may disregard and condemn this album, it actually is a great album. The real reason this album was discontinued in 2002 (after Ozzy's albums got remastered for a second time in 7 years) was because of the Osbourne feud with Phil Soussan and Bob Daisley (Lee Kerslake is in that feud as well). Daisley wrote the lyrics for this album and Soussan helped write "Shot in the Dark." Both of these men have tried to sue Ozzy and Sharon over writing credits, etc. This has led to the Osbournes removing bass and drum tracks from Blizzard and Diary and discontinuing this album as payback. It is very unfortunate because "Shot in the Dark" is a great song and was a huge Ozzy hit. Also, there are so many good songs on this album. Ozzy has put the album down in more recent years, but again I think it has to do with the ongoing feud and the fact that he didn't care for Jake E Lee's guitar writing style either. Also, this was a weird era for Ozzy (being 1986, he jumped on the whole glam metal market for a minute) and in his mind I think he has bad memories of this time period.

The producer, Ron Nevison, is often blamed for poor production on this album, but I don't think it's terrible. Ozzy's voice definitely sounds different from his previous albums, but it is still a solid performance.

As a huge Ozzy fan, this album is definitely one of my favorites as is often said by many Ozzy fans and I think that speaks for itself. Don't hesitate and miss out on a great album by the madman...
2166357
I first heard the Dixie Dregs in 1982 with the Industry Standard album (also 1982).  At the time I was really impressed with their virtuoso musicianship and eventually went on to explore other albums including Night of the living Dregs (1979) and the superb live album Bring em' Back Alive (1992).  What surprises me is how What If (1978) (nearly) passed me by; it certainly presents the band firing on all cylinders.  Better late than never I suppose.

The lineup on What If includes master guitarist Steve Morse (electric guitar, guitar synthesizer, classical guitar), the smoking Andy West (Alembic and fretless basses); Rod Morgenstein (drums and percussion); Mark Parrish (piano, organ, electric piano, and synthesizers), and Allen Sloan (violin).  To say these guys are top notch musicians is an understatement.  There is some unbelievably complex ensemble work and the breakneck tempos that the band employs are mindblowing.  On the other hand, these guys were capable of delicate and sensitive playing as well.  In short, these are the hallmarks of excellent musicians.

The eight tracks on this instrumental album range in length from 2:03 to 7:47 and present a mixture of Kansas-influenced progressive rock, Mahavishnu Orchestra-influenced jazz rock fusion, hard rock, classical, and country. In fact, these guys seemed to bridge the gap between bands such as Kansas and Return to Forever/Mahavishnu Orchestra.  The styles that dominate the album include the prog and jazz rock played at a neck snapping velocity - the interplay between Morse and Allen is simply unbelievable.  At the other end of the musical style spectrum is the wild country hoedown (also played at a breakneck tempo) Gina Lola Breakdown, which is a lot of fun and features virtuoso guitar and violin playing.  Although I love the wild playing on the album, my favorite pieces include the slower, mellower tracks such as the title track, Night Meets Light and the impressive classical piece Little Kids, which features a duo comprised of Steve on classical guitar and Allen on violin.  There really is a lot to absorb on this album and it is all just fantastic.

Although this version of the album has not been remastered, the sound quality is actually fairly crisp, although there might not be as much bottom end as I would like.  There are no liner notes to speak of.  Then again, I got this copy for 89 cents so I am not complaining too loudly.  For those of you that are interested, a remastered version is available&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/What-If/dp/B0000064TT/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">What If</a>.

All in all, this is an excellent album by an exceptionally talented band.  What If is very highly recommended along with Night of the Living Dregs.
1825703
I became a DMB fan a couple of years ago after hearing the BTCS single "Don't Drink the Water". Since then, I've bought all the albums and have listened to them through hundreds of times. In fact, it's really the only band that I listen to at all. I enjoy their folk-rock-jazzy kinda feel and the fact that there isn't another band out there that sounds like them...until recently. The band's new album "Everyday" has brought mixed emotions to a lot of fans. By itself it's an awesome album filled with awesome electric guitar riffs and upbeat, positive lyrics. However, when compared to the band's other albums, I'm afraid it doesn't stack up.
First of all, you will notice that words and music are written by both Dave Matthews and Glen Ballard (Alanis Morisette's producer). It's quite obvious the influence Ballard has had on the band's songs. Most of the songs contain the typical verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus style that many bands adopt to, keeping the songs between 3 and 5 minutes long. This is sad considering the somewhat through-composed style and improvised sessions that are completely missing. The absence of lead parts in the accoustic guitar, violin, and saxophone in most of the songs have left the band with an electric/bass/drum sounding trio, again, like many bands have adopted. No longer does the DMB have a sound of its own.
Fortunately, there are songs such as "Space Between" (one of the few times the violin has a major role, even if its just pizzicato) and "Everyday" (the song reminds me of "Stay" for some reason) that reminisce to Dave's old style.  Many of the other songs sound a lot like "Rhyme and Reason" and "Drive in Drive out" in their electric, upbeat approach.
Overall, the album isn't bad.  I miss the accoustic guitar, improvisations, and the unique styles in song layout. To diehard DMB fans, be prepared for a new sound. To new DMB fans, I encourage you to buy Live at Luther College, Under the Table, and Live at Red Rocks first.