TIM (2)

In isolation these reviews are pretty accurate. Trouble is no-one buys CD's in isolation, you decide what is released and you prioritise your spending. With stuff around like H.E.A.T/JSS/Romeo's Daughter/Sunstorm/Shinedown etc etc then, unless you're rolling in cash & need every single AOR/MR album that comes out, I can't see why you'd buy this. If you dislike most of the above named albums then I can't see why you'd like this in the first place as it's just AOR/MR with a few heavier songs (which are shite)...

DYNAZTY - Land of Broken Dreams

DYNAZTY - Sultans of Sin H.E.A.T - Address the Nation JSS - Damage Control

Nice review. Really disappointing given the quality of vocalists on offer. Great vocals (especially Hitchcock) can't rescue these songs. Truth is there are just too many good albums around to spend money on this...

You'll probably get caned for saying that, but I agree to a point. I absolutely love the song, "Chemical", but for me that's the only truly killer Crashdiet song and I only like 5 or 6 songs by the band over the 3 CDs I owned by them. They make a great sound, but most of the songs are no better than 'quite good' for me. Surprised neither of you could find a hook on the debut? what about 'Riot In Everyone', 'Its a Miracle', 'Queen Obscene', 'Knock You Down', 'Breakin The Chains', 'Tickket', 'Out Of Line'?? Honestly mate, I played that album 5-6 times before selling it and I don't remember any of those songs! I do vaguely remember "Chemical", but I also remember being under-whelmed. It's definitely a glam/hard-rock thing though as I don't like WigWam (after the awesome debut)/The Poodles/Crazy Lixx or any of that other stuff either. Just not my bag (of make-up).

Yeah but then the only ballads you seem to like are from Westlife. Ooops, I mean Blessed By A Broken Heart. Easy mistake to make. LOL, I dont dislike ballads, but hardly ever would I rate them in amongst the best songs on a CD. 'Angels' was different as that was a pretty special song with an awesome chorus and solo....wouldnt quite rank 'One and Only' alongside that.......and as for BBABH - that song definitely ranks in the lower half of that album too. For the record Yeah I was just kidding. I do, like Dave, struggle to find a real stand-out tune on this one. Lots of songs I love, with "Living on the Run"/"Better Off Alone" and the ballad as highlights, but just needs a real storming tune that's perfect from start-to-finish. Oh, and 2 better closing songs...

Yeah but then the only ballads you seem to like are from Westlife. Ooops, I mean Blessed By A Broken Heart. Easy mistake to make.

Thanks, will check out the other bands. Amaranthe definitely have some cheesy choruses going on there, but then a lot of the other swedish melodic death metal bands do too (Sonic Syndicate, Scar Symmetry etc). Frankly they're definitely not as good as those 2 bands, talent-wise, but they still sound pretty okay to me...

My summary is below... 01. Breaking The Silence - Perfect opener, nice anthemic chorus. 8.5/10 02. Living On The Run - Killer lead-off single, great keys & big 80's AOR. 9/10 03. Falling Down - Nice verses but slightly average chorus by their high standards. 8/10 04. The One And Only - Absolutely stunning ballad. Like The Magnificent's "Angel". 9.5/10 05. Better Off Alone - Lush verse and pre-chorus, pure AOR heaven. 9.5/10 06. In And Out Of Trouble - Saxophone? Really? Strong AOR, but needs bigger chorus IMO. 8/10 07. Need Her - Big highlight with strong vocals and hooky-chorus. 8.5/10 08. Heartbreaker - More great mhr with killer catchy chorus, great songwriting. 8.5/10 09. Its All About Tonight - Harder-edged rocker. Decent chorus, but average song. 6/10 10. Downtown - This one builds nicely but just doesn't go anywhere. Decent but unspectacular. 7/10 Overall I'd give this about 8.5/10, which is a lower rating than "Freedom Rock" (which is a 9 or more IMO). This one's better produced and I do love the new vocalist, and frankly if they'd replaced the last 2 songs with better ones then I'd probably like this about the same. "The One & Only" is a stunning/epic ballad, but otherwise it also kinda lacks a big stand-out track (in the way the previous albums had). Despite these small criticisms this is still AWESOME and essential.

H.E.A.T - The One & Only (killer ballad)

THE VEER UNION - Divide the Blackened Sky H.E.A.T - Address the Nation JSS - Damage Control ALTER BRIDGE - Live at Wembley CD/DVD

I'm only angry when someone looks at me a bit funny, or talks to me, or makes fun of my imaginary friend. Those things MAKE ME ANGRY. Breathe, count to ten, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, it's all better now.

It does indeed. but the new album sounds exactly like Crashdiet to me. Which is no bad thing Yeah, I think they are similar. Sounds like they have the songs, which is the most important thing. Definitely in my want list. In all honesty I like this more than Crashdiet. Granted that wouldn't be hard, but this sounds pretty decent to me. Now thats a weird statement - both sound virtually identical, but if anything Crashdiet are more melodic. Yeah I'd agree with that, but nothing at all on the Crashdiet sank-in. Not one song. Not one chorus. I enjoyed some of the music, it was all well-played and stuff, but nothing to get repeat spins from me. I know this is close to sacrilege round here, but that disc just washed-over me so I then just sold it. Peepshow is more interesting and has bigger hooks (to these ears anyway), though it's still nothing I haven't heard a zillion times before. Nice stuff though.

Very nice again from this consistent as hell band. It won't win any new fans, but it'll keep their fans very happy I'm sure. Early fave is 'Moving on' but it's another good'un overall. Next up: The Veer Union - 'Divide the blackened sky' Not a massive fan of that new The Used disc. I do like the Veer Union though...

I thought exactly the same. It builds nicely but just ends-up being a pleasant tune with no big hook. Weakest track for me... sounds like Magnum to me. Crikey, that's a bit harsh mate.

This album is better than the last Nightwish album tho ;-) Yeah, it is what it is....but there are some good hooks. Yeah and I like the aggressive vocals combined with the cheesy choruses. It's definitely better than the latest Nightwish, but then that is like the soundtrack to a kids fairy tale rather than a metal album. Look forward to getting it through the post....

I thought exactly the same. It builds nicely but just ends-up being a pleasant tune with no big hook. Weakest track for me...

thanks guys, I'm always grateful for just how much good music I pick up thanks to everyone's sharing on here...

Yeah I did listen to some of their tunes last night. Strange one, kinda power metal with some cheesy euro-vision choruses, not to mention some obvious use of autotune. Not surprised the scandi's love this, but they're not exactly Nightwish are they? (before they decended into ridiculous film soundtracks) I'm intrigued enough to order this one though, so thanks for the post...

SHINEDOWN - Amaryllis SOUL SELLER - Back to Life JOJO - S/T OVERKILL - The Electric Age DYNAZTY - Sultans of Sin

Didn't you like the last one? This one's punchier IMO, better produced too. Fewer ballad-type songs as well, but they still do those songs well... Yeah, I liked the last one plenty enough. Thought it was a little over-rated to be honest, but it is a very good CD, and by far their best till that point in time. This just sounds like it'll be more consistent throughout. Other way round for me. Thought the last disc was fucking killer and think this one is better produced but very slightly weaker (though still essential).

That sounds about the best song too... I haven't listened to any of those tracks, yet, but I want this to be the best album of the year so bad that I'm expecting it to fail my expectations. I can't see that happening. I mean, I love their first 2 discs & Vaughn's own stuff, plus I loved the From the Inside stuff too (even the recent one), but this isn't as good IMO. Set the expectations low and you should be pleasantly surprised when the few good tracks kick-in...

could be the catchiest track this year Just for once today, I'm going to agree with you. Do my eyes deceive me? Did Tim really say what I think he said? Shit, I'ma mark this day in my calender. Here's an entry in my diary I'll cherish forever. I was talking to Glen. As you were. Don't fuck with my emotions. Alright, just post something sensible and I'll agree with it. In the meantime make sure there are no bottles of pills or open windows near you...

could be the catchiest track this year Just for once today, I'm going to agree with you. Do my eyes deceive me? Did Tim really say what I think he said? Shit, I'ma mark this day in my calender. Here's an entry in my diary I'll cherish forever. I was talking to Glen. As you were.

And a bloody good try to - Excellent disc Romeo's Daughter - Rapture H.E.A.T. - Address The Nation I'm not quite as convinced mate, some good tracks though. Playing it back-to-back with the mighty H.E.A.T disc is not that helpful...