Monkeys for Nothin' and Chimps for Free by Reel Big Fish

kurtkurtkurt:

This album is very, very mediocre. I mean, I know Reel Big Fish have been pumping out records and surely you hit dry spells in creativity... But I think that's when you don't release anything.  Pretty much from start to end this is bland. UGH! Reel Big Fish why do you disappoint me!

Stuckski:

If this album were by any other band than Reel Big Fish, I would probably give it a seven or eight. But, c'mon RBF! You guys are responsible for Turn the Radio Off and Cheer Up! Is this really the best you could do? You disappoint me. You could at least have released this huge pile of average under a fake name, so I could go on blissfully pretending that everything you guys make is awesome.


RATINGS:
kurtkurtkurt: 3/10
Stuckski: 4/10

Evil Empire by Rage Against the Machine

kurtkurtkurt:

You know, I thought I liked album more than I actually did. I guess a lot of it boils down to if I am listening to songs and asking myself "Is this still the same song?" I'm not saying that bands can't write long songs, by all means there are bands that do it well. I just think that it wasn't working for me on this album or today or something.

Stuckski:

"Hey, I'm kinda angry, can you tell?" If this is what the singer is trying to get across, it's working. And you know what? I'm OK with that. Angry music is nice sometimes.


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 5/10
Stuckski: 7/10

Toxicity by System of a Down

kurtkurtkurt:

I feel like if Danny Elfman would have decided to create metal after Oingo Boingo instead of become a famous movie composer System of  a Down is roughly what he would have made. These guys were all the rage when we moved to Arkansas back in the day (and Metallica and Slipknot and A Perfect Circle and Tool. Metal was king there.) I've always enjoyed the song Chop Suey, but I feel that they need to cut out almost whole minutes in some of their songs for me to enjoy the Album more.

Stuckski:

What the hell kinda genre does System of a Down play anyways?! Circus Metal is about as close as I can get to describing it. Chaotic and hilarious, with songs like Bounce and Psycho especially keeping me laughing. The singer's voice is unique in a 'crazy homeless person shouting' kind of way, and is probably where I get the 'circus' vibe from. All in all, one of my favorite albums.

RATINGS:
kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 10/10

MTV Unplugged in New York by Nirvana

kurtkurtkurt:

It's definitely not the strongest Nirvana album but it's still alright. I guess this went out to prove that they could make not loud music or something (Or it was just MTV unplugged and you can only be so loud on an acoustic set). Anyways most of their songs that they make acoustic turned out very eh. Their covers, on the other hand, definitely stand out. Lake of Fire and Plateau I thought were both pretty good.

Stuckski:

Come nigh you heathens and listen to my holy words, for I am the ultimate HIPSTER! While everybody else worships this album, and claims it is the most awesome thing ever, I say...meh. Seriously though, I don't really see the point of this music. It doesn't affect my mood in any way, it's just some dude quietly moaning to himself about some Lake of Fire, a chick named Polly, and some more inanities. Quite frankly: it's boring.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 6/10
Stuckski: 4/10

Shootenanny! by the Eels

kurtkurtkurt:

I couldn't put my finger on it for the whole album, but the lead singer sounds like Beck on certain songs (slow Sea Change era Beck). Anyways, these guys were alright, somber as hell, but alright. I'd definitely have to be in the right mood to listen to this over and over, or want to be in the right mood, or something. I'm not normally trying to be depressed so I can't say that it'd be too often. I did, however, enjoy having a horn section on the bluesy opening track All In a Day's Work. (well I just enjoyed that track in general I guess).

Stuckski:

If you're a lonely alcoholic -as I aspire to be- then Shootenanny provides the perfect soundtrack for your daily tryst with that bottle of liquor. Gentle and melancholy, it is especially effective if you're drinking to forget...well anything. The rough vocals go down surprisingly smooth when you chase it with some gentle keyboard and a shot of rhythmic guitar. If rum is your poison of choice, then I recommend chugging it to the sounds of Love of the Loveless, which will lead you smoothly into oblivion. If you're more of a vodka person, then Agony might be for you, a harsher sound for a harsher drink. If it's whiskey you're wanting, then fuck you. Whiskey is awful.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 6/10
Stuckski: 9/10

Statesboro Blues: The Early Years 1927 -1935 (Disc 3) by Blind Willie McTell

kurtkurtkurt:

I got into blues/country/bluegrass/folk a few years back and that's where I got this. It's really interesting this album kinda slaps every single recording he ever made together into one giant album. You end up getting several recording of the same song, just a different take, and where songs would be shelved as a b-side or just generally mediocrity they've been placed into this collection. His voice is okay, but just not quite there. Unfortunately he's no Leadbelly or Robert Johnson and it shows.


Stuckski:

My own pappy loves playing guitar, and has instilled a love in me for blues and bluegrass, so I enjoyed Willie's guitar. His voice isn't quite so entertaining, and as for the lady who regularly throws in vocals...well let's just say I really wish she hadn't. I really, really do.
All in all, the guitar doesn't really make up for a lot of the grating vocals, and the mediocre sound quality (yeah, I know it's how most of the thirties sounded...and I don't give a fuck).


RATINGS:

kurtrkurtkurt: 4/10
Stuckski: 5/10 (Nice guitar can only make up for so much)

Fragile by Seether

kurtkurtkurt:

This album sucks. I can't bring myself to say any good things about it. I can't stand post-grunge, not one of those bands has made music you can get behind. Seether your music is BORING.

Stuckski:

Imagine if Creed and Nickelback somehow managed to have a lovechild. Thoroughly nauseated yet? Well the result of that union would be something not quite unlike Seether. At some point these guys got together and asked themselves one question: "How can we make the most money for the least amount of effort?". This is incidentally the origin story of most post-grunge alt-rock bands.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 1/10
Stuckski: 1/10