Surgery

Amazon.com
One of the few bands to give neo-psychedelia a good name, this Los Angeles-based band, have lifted the veil a little on their fuzzed-out Jesus and Mary Chain drones that colored their earlier two albums, cutting down some of the excessive white noise and equally excessive track lengths in an effort to be--dare we say--a little more accessible to the casual fan. But perhaps that careful editing of the Warlock's confused and messy muse had everything do with the fact that the band employed Tim Rothrock (Beck, Badly Drawn Boy) to man the boards on their third offering--and to his extreme credit, Rothrock has been able to streamline the Warlock's rare and idiosyncratic genius. Their odd occult hybrid of the Walkman, the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth and the Shangri-La's produces brainy esoteric and unapologetic music that forces fans to wade through psychic lethargy, ennui, and abject depression--to get to the other side. But in that distant musical shore lays true enlightenment. Singer Bobby Hecksher doesn't shy away from telling the truth, whether it be his former druggy past, ("Come Save Us" "Bleed Without You Babe,") or the aftermath of crippling heartbreak ("Like Surgery"), or even living without hope ("Suicide Note"). But whatever the malaise, the Warlocks have prevailed with their strange, rude magic, continuing to cast a spell on listeners. -- Jaan Uhelszki

Surgery,Warlocks,Mute,Rock

Average customer rating: "I've Been Here And I've Been There/ And I've Been In Between" Whimsical Progresive Rock Back in the day Sophisticated progressive rock! Let me join in the chorus of praise for this album, one of the greatest prog rock albums ever....

In the Court of the Crimson King King Crimson Manufacturer: Discipline Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: In the Wake of Poseidon Larks Tongues in Aspic - 30th Anniversary Edition Remastered Red 30th Anniversary Edition Remastered Discipline Close to the Edge ASIN: B00065MDRW Release Date: 2004-11-22

Tracks:

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man (Including Mirrors)
2. I Talk To The Wind
3. Epitaph (Including March For No Reason/Tomorrow And Tomorrow)
4. Moonchild (Including The Dream/The Illusion)
5. The Court Of The Crimson Song (Including The Return Of The Fire Witch/The Dance Of The Puppets)

Customer Reviews:

"I've Been Here And I've Been There/ And I've Been In Between".......2007-07-20

One can only imagine what it was like to hear King Crimson's debut album back in 1969 (unless you're at least 38 years old, I guess. Okay, I probably I could have picked a better sentence to start this review. Moving on...). In the Court of the Crimson King was a bold, dramatic statement, an uncomprimising record that seamlessly combined hard rock (in the 60s sense of the word. Think Blue Cheer and Cream) with psychedelia and elements of jazz and high-minded poetic grandeur. The eye-popping cover art and suite-style song structures sealed the deal, and a new style of music was born: Progressive rock. Indeed, just about every act that has ever been labled "prog," from Pink Floyd to Yes to Jethro Tull and onward through the likes of Radiohead and the Mars Volta can trace the basis of their sound back to the 'Crim's first record. Robert Fripp's slashing guitar chords and nimble melodies bridged the gap between hevy metal and art rock (before either style was really a full-fledged genre, Black Sabbath and the Velvets notwithstanding), while multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald gave the music a jazzy, textured complexity, weather he was playing the flute, the vibes, or the mellotron, and Greg Lake's vocals were quintessential prog: Technically acomplished, dramatic, and high-minded. Michael Giles' drumming picked up where Fripp's guitar left off, spanning the (not all that wide) space between rock and jazz. Topping the whole shebang off were Peter Sinfield's lyrics, which were abstract and poetic in the extreme, a set of textures and images rather than coherent statements.

But you probably want to know if the music's good. Well, here's the deal: No matter how good a progressive rock band is (and believe me, King Crimson were very, very good), they (pretty much) inevitably succumb to a few pitfalls. The most common is pretention. On this particular record, the most obvious victim of that malady is "Epitaph." The song's eight minutes don't produce a single memorable melody, and Sinfield's lyrics are obtuse in the extreme. They amble through a series of references to men being "torn apart/ with nightmares and with dreames" and "the iron gates of fate" without producing a single good line. It doesn't help that Lake seems to think he's singing scripture, stuffing each sylable with forced drama and unreasonably present passion. The song does have a sort of lumbering majesty (created, pretty much, by sheer force of will), but it's far from a classic. And its typically bloated length insures that it'll overstay its welcome. And then there's the notorious "Moonchild," which features a ten-minute instrumental "freak-out" section, the only truly interesting aspect of which is its odd quietness. Otherwise, it's every bit as overblown and indulgent as the very worst of 60s sound "experiments."

Otheer than that, though, this is a really great listen. My personal favorite track is the achingly beautiful "I Talk To The Wind," a haunting dreamscape with some of Sinfield's most poignant lyrics. The chorus shows off the subtleties of Lake's considerable voice, as he twists his vocal chords over and around the words, enunciating them with an uncanny grace and power. Good stuff. In a similar vein, the first two minutes or so of "Moonchild" (pre freak-out) are a gorgeous accoustic rumination, full of imagery and joyous sound. Of course, there's also the eternal "21st Century Schizoid Man," which foreshadows Rush, only without the nerdiness. Fripp's brutal, slashing bar chords fuse with McDonald's white-hot trumpet and Giles' thundering drums to form the ideal bed for one of Lake's most uncharacteristic and awesome vocal performances ever. He spits pure venom, snarling the lyrics (a rush of fiery, apocalyptic imagery) with menace and boundless energy. The song then breaks off into an awesome intrumental section, which sees Fripp and McDonald spitting melodies at eachother. It's a lava-spewing jam that dazzles the listener with its polymelodic ferocity, its shape shifting intensity. Crank it up, dude. And then there's the title track, which closes the proceedings with a burst of endearing bombasm (that is almost certainly not a word, but I can't think of a noun form of "bombastic") and shape-shifting insanity.

So, the end result is one of the coolest debuts of the sixties, a fantastic rock album, an introduction to some really gifted musicians, and the Rosetta Stone of prog. Neat!

Whimsical Progresive Rock.......2007-07-17

The debut album of King Crimson is one of their finest (though not their best; see Red if you want their top recording). This is the only Crimson album that features Greg Lake (of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer fame) on lead vocals. Although there are only five tracks, each one is rather lengthy and showcases the hallmarks of progressive rock as a whole.

My favorite two tracks are 21st Century Schizoid Man and The Court of the Crimson King, the first and last tracks respectively. Both are epic progressive songs, and are essential for any progressive rock fan; well worth the price of admission for this album.

Back in the day.......2007-06-28

I had a fairly adequate stereo which was centered on a Thorens transcription turntable with an excellent stylus. It always cheered me up to hear this album played at moderate to somewhat loud volume levels. I won't get into the progressive rock chicken and egg debate, for I also appreciate many of the other groups mentioned but KC has a very special place in my hierarchy of rock bands. They made several other good recordings, again duly noted in several reviews but I always have liked this one the best.

For those who have not heard this I would suggest attempting to hear part of it at least prior to buying as I realize this particular genre of rock can be considered an acquired taste.

Sophisticated progressive rock!.......2007-06-24

I knew this album of course before buying it, but it really amazes you when you listen to the whole thing song by song in your home stereo.

Let me join in the chorus of praise for this album, one of the greatest prog rock albums ever...........2007-06-12

This is arguably one of the greatest debuts in rock history (alongside The Velvet Underground and Nico). It is an almost perfect album, a feat that doesn't happen very often. Every song is so beautifully written, crafted, sequenced, and performed by some of the greatest musicians the rock world has ever heard or seen. The starter, 21st Century Schizoid Man, is amazingly intricate. It's one of the best songs from Crimson's library, and the middle section is blistering in its intensity. The quieter songs (just about the rest of the album) are so mellow, moving, and haunting, with lyrics (courtesy of prog rock's greatest lyricist, Pete Sinfield) that still hold up today. There are only 5 songs on the album (all running epic length), but they're pretty much perfect. The only one that gives me a slight problem is Moonchild. The last 10 minutes of the song (after a beautiful introduction) are kind of aimless. But then, maybe a few more listens, and the song will finally kick in. This is one of my favorite albums ever.

Average customer rating: Classic Dead Kennedys Re-master this!! Another good DK cd. pardon me for being a "poser" but i think this album is a tad overrated Another classic

Plastic Surgery Disasters / In God We Trust Inc. Dead Kennedys Manufacturer: Manifesto Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music All Games | Mac Games | Categories | Computer & Video Games Similar Items: Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (CD + New DVD Documentary) Frankenchrist Bedtime for Democracy Damaged ASIN: B00005NT4G Release Date: 2001-09-11

Tracks:

1. Advice From Christmas Past
2. Goverment Flu
3. Terminal Preppie
4. Trust Your Mechanic
5. Well Paid Scientist
6. Buzzbomb
7. Forest Fire
8. Halloween
9. Winnebago Warrior
10. Riot
11. Bleed For
12. I Am The Owl
13. Dead End
14. Moon Over Marin
15. Religious Vomit
16. Moral Majority
17. Hyperactive Child
18. Kepone Factory
19. Dog Bite
20. Nazi Punks Fuck Off
21. We've Got A Bigger Problem Now
22. Rawhide

Product Description

1. Advice From Christmas Past
2. Government Flu
3. Terminal Preppie
4. Trust Your Mechanic
5. Well Paid Scientist
6. Buzzbomb
7. Forest Fire
8. Halloween
9. Winnebago Warrior
10. Riot
11. Bleed For
12. I Am The Owl
13. Dead End
14. Moon Over Marin
15. Religious Vomit
16. Moral Majority
17. Hyperactive Child
18. Kepone Factory
19. Dog Bite
20. Nazi Punks Fuck Off
21. We've Got A Bigger Problem Now
22. Rawhide

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Classic Dead Kennedys.......2007-07-04

Ok first off I am not interested in all the controversy about the ex band member.

I heard all the BS about them and know full well about their "Rock and Coke" festival in Turkey (Dead Kennedys rock and Coke....please) Though in saying that not much of a fan of post DK Jello churning out LP after LP saying the same boring meaningless rant for the kids (yeh he may go on about the ex band members milking the DK's name for profit but can he realy say he is doing any different with his endless Jello Biafra and the blah blah band albums?)

Anyway, rant over. DK were/are one of my all time favorite band from way back before any tv ad or whatever and this is one of my all time favorite LPs. DK were great because they could mix politics with good music and humour as well. They didnt rant but just took the p*** out of the powers that be. Some of these tracks (such as bleed for me, I am the owl) need to be heard by kids today.

Great to hear, never mind the BS over the ex band members. Leave them to fight it out amongst themselves. Me, I will just keep the memories of a great band.

Re-master this!!.......2007-04-12

Censored for the SUV generation. The original release of "In God We Trust Inc." included the track "Too Drunk to F**k". Dont bother. Look for a used copy of the previous CD release.
"Plastic Surgery Disasters" was not their best release. Jello Biafra's lyrics sound like he was running out of ideas.

Another good DK cd........2007-04-11

Good punk with Jello and some politics. Typical DK, but in a good way.

pardon me for being a "poser" but i think this album is a tad overrated.......2006-07-19

maybe i dont get it or had to be there or something. i mean, maybe im just growing out of this political "shock" punk thing. maybe "nazi punks f**k off" has more of a back story and was a protest anthem that i am unaware of.

anyways, yes, this album is well worth a spot in any DK fan's collection and hits pretty hard and fast at that! there are some great little hardcore political songs on this. i mean, it isn't near as attractive as bad brains or early bad religion, but ill give the boys their credit. they were nice and creative in a political sense around a time when most bands were trying to be another Ramones. make sure you get fresh fruit for rotting veggies first. that is the DK album to own.

p.s. if you get this and want it brand new, dont worry about those "alternative tentacles" nutcases. this band broke up about 20 years ago and people are still raving about how they are "selling out." even so, a band that makes people think about important issues should be noticed by more than the people who already agree with it. so jello isnt profitting like many argue. well unless you buy these cds from jello himself, it is all the same. id rather support the 3 other guys in the band, over some elitist record store owner who will buy beer.

Another classic.......2006-03-09

This is another Dk release,The bass work really stands out on this and all the other instruments are done with perfection ,Pick this up now!

Average customer rating: Still Wrong

Brain Salad Surgery Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Sanctuary ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Tarkus Trilogy Emerson, Lake & Palmer Pictures at an Exhibition Works, Vol. 1 ASIN: B000IY0G4S Release Date: 2006-11-20

Tracks:

1. Jerusalem
2. Toccata
3. Still...You Turn Me On
4. Benny the Bouncer
5. Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Pt. 1
6. 1st Impression, Pt. 2
7. 2nd Impression
8. 3rd Impression

Album Description

Limited Edition reissue of this 1973 album comes packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. In the '70s, ELP were THE Progressive supergroup at the time and their musical flamboyancy was embraced and accepted by Prog fans, Hard Rock fans and anybody with an FM radio nearby. Features plenty of rare bonus tracks including a medley of song excerpts originally only released on flexidisc. If you're looking for an album that defines a musical era, then this is the one. Castle. 2006.

Album Details

2006 Digitally Remastered Edtion of the Trio's Debut Release on their Own Manticore Label. This was an Extravagant Concept Album, Regarded as their Most Ambitious Studio Work.

Customer Reviews:

Still Wrong.......2007-02-10

This is still the wrong mix of this album. Hopefully, Shout! Factory will find the correct master.

Average customer rating: what can I say? Very good even if... Sheer, talented genious... ELP - At Their Peak I'm Perfect, Are You?

Brain Salad Surgery Emerson Lake & Palmer Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Trilogy Emerson, Lake & Palmer Tarkus Pictures at an Exhibition The Yes Album ASIN: B0000033TE Release Date: 1996-07-16

Tracks:

1. Jerusalem
2. Toccata
3. Still...You Turn Me On
4. Benny The Bouncer
5. Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression-Part 1
6. Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression-Part 2
7. Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression
8. Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression
9. The Making Of Brain Salad Surgery

Amazon.com

With orchestral swells and symphonic arrangements, Emerson Lake & Palmer put the Prague in '70s progressive rock. There was something of that dark, European artistry in their compositions that always made their music more grandiose than their stateside counterparts. Brain Salad Surgery was a conductor's wet dream. Works like the "Impression" study in four movements were epic to the nth degree. Influenced by Mussorgsky and Stravinsky, ELP wreaked havoc with the conventions of what rock and classical music could and could not be. In typical fashion, the trio included one highly accessible cut, in this case the haunting "Still... You Turn Me On." The CD also contains the enigmatic favorite, "Karn Evil 9." --Steve Gdula

Customer Reviews:

what can I say?.......2007-05-19

What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said?

This is one of the best rock albums ever and should be in anyone's collection. You know the songs, you know the lyrics, you know the great art work done by HR Giger and you know the legacy attached to this great album.

SO, buy this if you do not have it. If you have this listen to it again (like I am right now) and let it take you again.

Very good even if..........2007-04-17

Even if I am not a die hard fan, one must admit that this album is really great and played by amazing musicians.
Keith Emerson, what a keyboard player !
This is ELP at its best.

Sheer, talented genious..........2007-03-02

This is one of my favorite all time albums, as is the case with almost every ELP release. This is one group that you can't easily go wrong with.

'Brain Salad Surgery' doesn't seem to stay in one place for very long, but every category that it touches, it does so with exceptional precision, originality, and taste. 'Brain Salad Surgery' generally has a dark, damp vibe throughout. Even though most of these songs are very heavily concentrated on Palmer's extremely elaborate and creative work on the keys, there is (as always) more than plenty to keep you interested. This is one of those albums that is extremely technically intricate, but still listenable enough to say, read a book, or go to sleep to. A top notch preformance and a definate must-have for anyone looking for something experimental, well crafted, and very pleasant to listen to.

ELP - At Their Peak.......2007-02-12

Just about anyone who is a fan of classic progressive rock probably already owns this album. It is considered one of the all time classics of the genre and from a commercial standpoint was ELP's high water mark. The single from the album "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2" (can you imagine a single with that title today?), with it's famous opening line "Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends" is still played in sports stadiums and on highlight reels throughout the world to this day. Some fans say this is the band's best work, some don't. For critics this album contained everything that they hated about prog rock. Bombast, pomp, epics, long instrumental excursions, and sci fi lyrics, it's all here. The album starts out with a cover of the British classic hymn "Jerusalem". This is followed by "Toccata" which is an adaptation of Ginastera's 1st Piano Concerto, 4th Movement. The highlight of this piece is Carl Palmer's use of what was then pioneering percussion synthesizers. At the time no one else was doing anything like this. Greg Lake's "Still You Turn Me On" is next, serving as a very cool little ballad as only Lake can sing them. "Benny The Bouncer" is a throwaway track with honky tonk piano. Then the band get out the big guns for the almost 30 minute "Karn Evil 9" that tells the story of the battle of man vs. machine. This is ELP at their best with the incredible keys work of Keith Emerson, the frenetic percussion of Carl Palmer, and the churning bass and vocals of Greg Lake. Lake even throws in a rare electric guitar solo. Listing to this today it all sounds a bit dated, but at the time this was ground breaking stuff. If you ask ELP fans it is usually a tossup between "Karn Evil 9" and "Tarkus" as to which is the band's masterwork. If you are not familiar with ELP and are looking to explore them this would be a good place to start.

I'm Perfect, Are You?.......2007-01-31

The perfect progressive rock masterpiece just got better, with a better sound and an interview about the making of the album and meeting Swiss artist Giger. Karn Evil 9 is the best prog song of all time and is worth the price of admission here. All 30 minutes of Karn Evil 9 must be played
LOUD!

Average customer rating: They operate like no one else you know Not the critics, darling A very good indie rock album - close to classic - I think fans of the genre will like it a lot - 4.5 stars Nothing new from neo-psych vets but ok for newcomers The Warlocks pumps their psychadelic sound on steroids

Surgery The Warlocks Manufacturer: Mute U.S. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Neo-Psychedelia | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rise and Fall The Phoenix Album Passover Then I Saw the Holy City Warlocks ASIN: B000A2H7EK Release Date: 2005-08-23

Tracks:

1. Come Save Us
2. It's Just Like Surgery
3. Gypsy Nightmare
4. Angels In Heaven, Angels In Hell
5. We Need Starpower
6. Thursday's Radiation
7. Evil Eyes Again
8. The Tangent
9. Above Earth
10. Bleed Without You Babe
11. Suicide Note

Amazon.com

One of the few bands to give neo-psychedelia a good name, this Los Angeles-based band, have lifted the veil a little on their fuzzed-out Jesus and Mary Chain drones that colored their earlier two albums, cutting down some of the excessive white noise and equally excessive track lengths in an effort to be--dare we say--a little more accessible to the casual fan. But perhaps that careful editing of the Warlock's confused and messy muse had everything do with the fact that the band employed Tim Rothrock (Beck, Badly Drawn Boy) to man the boards on their third offering--and to his extreme credit, Rothrock has been able to streamline the Warlock's rare and idiosyncratic genius. Their odd occult hybrid of the Walkman, the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth and the Shangri-La's produces brainy esoteric and unapologetic music that forces fans to wade through psychic lethargy, ennui, and abject depression--to get to the other side. But in that distant musical shore lays true enlightenment. Singer Bobby Hecksher doesn't shy away from telling the truth, whether it be his former druggy past, ("Come Save Us" "Bleed Without You Babe,") or the aftermath of crippling heartbreak ("Like Surgery"), or even living without hope ("Suicide Note"). But whatever the malaise, the Warlocks have prevailed with their strange, rude magic, continuing to cast a spell on listeners. -- Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

They operate like no one else you know.......2006-07-28

"Surgery" is The Warlocks' line drawn in the sand.

On the other side are the 12-minute jams, sprawling acoustic psych freakouts ('House of Glass' from "Rise and Fall" as a prime example) and lo-fidelity sound quality that recalled both the sleazy English 80s (Spacemen 3 et al) and the late 60s Northwest garage rock scene.

On this side are shorter bursts of muscular and decisively riff-laden shards, and a noticeable improvement in sound quality.

Few bands could pull off such a staggering transformation, and Warlocks are one of them.

Where Warlocks sounded like true 60s revivalists on "Rise and Fall" and "Phoenix" they now sound like modern bands that cite the 60s as an influence but sound more like the 80s underground, i.e. Brian Jonestown Massacre, Dandy Warhols, BRMC.

The ultra-catchy 'Just Like Surgery' steals a page from the Jesus and Mary Chain's playbook but substitutes the howling feedback with mid-fretboard power chords and an infectious lead riff. This song alone is worth the price of admission.

Producer Tom Rothrock did some tinkering and brought lead 'Lock Bobby Hecksher's pop songwriting instincts to the fore, and to fairly astounding effect.

'Gypsy Nightmare' carries some atmospheric background guitar lines behind the din and 'Angels in Heaven...' is akin to a doo-wop send-up or prom night slow dance that lifts some notes from Modest Mouse's 'Sleepwalkin.'

'Thursday's Radiation' harkens back to the sprawling/shimmering dirges of previous albums and will satiate long-time fans while providing newbies a taste of what they've missed.

Unfortunately 'The Tangent' drops an anchor into the middle of the album (and I believe it's one of a few songs Hecksher wanted to leave off the album), but it's rescued by 'Evil Eyes Again' (JAMC-styled pop), 'Above Earth' (bottom of the well slowcore) and 'Bleed Without You Babe' (slow-paced two-note blues with guitar explosions), which are notable standouts. 'Suicide Note' closes the album with one of the Warlocks' patented expansive jam sessions, though it's cut in half and a slithering bonus track closes the last five minutes of the 12-minute running time.

A few misses here ('The Tangent' and 'We Need Starpower' seem tossed off rather than fleshed out), but there are enough bullseyes here to keep your attention and prod newcomers seek out the Warlocks' outstandig earlier efforts.

Not the critics, darling.......2006-02-25

I remember all the psycho-gothic drone bands of the 80's and 90's. I've got plenty of Spacemen 3, Love & rockets and Jesus and Mary Chain albums, etc. etc. I also can dig BJM and BRMC. I don't let it bother me that the Warlocks share black eyeliner with these bands. If you look around at all the reviews of this album, you may encounter alot of negative stuff about the Warlocks. Let it go. They are worth the price of admission. They trace a musical pedigree back past Velvet Underground and aren't afraid to do space doo-wop. There previous albums have sharper highs and more dangerous lows, but this album is grandiloquent. I've had it since the day it came out and I'm still listening to it every few days and I have a lot of CDs to chose from. Do yourself a favor if you like any of the bands I mentioned above. Get this one.

A very good indie rock album - close to classic - I think fans of the genre will like it a lot - 4.5 stars.......2006-01-11

The Warlocks' "Surgery" may not be the most accessible album in the world, but for what it is it's pretty good stuff. It's essentially lo-fi-ish indie rock with hard-edged guitars. Singer Bobby Hecksher is pretty likable most of the time, though on occasion he's a little questionable (see "The Tangent"). I think The Warlocks certainly have their own sound, but I would argue that it's not different or great enough to merit mass media attention. It's pretty derivative stuff with a couple relatively new ideas (see "Above Earth", especially). The production is pretty well done here. The lyrics tend to be hard to make out, but they're relatively interesting when you can hear them (they at least enhance the sound of the songs). Another good thing here is that every song on here is "good", though not necessarily hitworthy. Overall I think that hard-edged indie rock and The Warlocks fans will really like this, but I couldn't call it classic. It comes pretty darn close, though. It's still, however, highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

Nothing new from neo-psych vets but ok for newcomers.......2005-11-19

This album has been touted as the one to hear by critics. They are probably grasping the coattails of the Brian Jonestown Massacre's related stagger onto a higher plane, so to speak, and a broader, post-"Dig" audience. I don't begrudge either band this notice, as a long-time fan. Still, when I listen to Warlocks albums, they do not greatly differ. They are more consistent than BJM and also tamer. Ex-BJMer Bobby H. and his neo-psychedelic cohorts follow here in the footsteps of Jesus & Mary Chain, more than a direct link back to the 60s pioneers.

But Bobby's voice can be painful to hear--his warbling "singing in the shower" tone does not do justice to whatever personal demons he exorcises. His delivery, admittedly very casual, lacks the personality that many other punk & psych singers conveyed despite similar limits and proudly displayed lack of training. Tracks 2 and 8 copy the chord changes (or absence thereof) of JMC so as to not even make them thoughtful limitations, so blatant and therefore lazy do these tunes sound. I was expecting, as with the Aislers Set (female-led, semi-obscure indie band from San Francisco marrying girl-group style to Joy Division's ambiance), a Ronettes-meet-the-Velvets coupling from what I had heard before listening to this CD, but I don't hear progression from their previous albums on Surgery.

This review is not meant to sound as overly negative as it may. If you have never heard this band, this is a good start. There's nothing here to turn off fans of the darker, neo-psych meets indie gloom cadre. But I found my attention wandering, and preferred it when the longer tracks departed from vocal terrain to explore--as in their earlier song "Jam of the Warlocks" on their self-titled e.p.--more of a space-rock, acid-tinged exploration. The songs here are too brief to allow high takeoff into such expansive realms, where the band's core of inspiration has in the past been more directly infused into their own grooves. I hope that future releases by this group combine their efficient craftsmanship with more imagination.

The Warlocks pumps their psychadelic sound on steroids.......2005-09-21

'Surgery' basically takes the fuzzed-out psychadelia of The Warlocks and pumps it up on steroids. Although their previous release 'The Phoenix Album' didn't stray from mind-bending stoner rock, the songs had some structure, the album was tight and cohesive. In contrast 'Surgery' focuses more on trippy repeating riffs, creating for a more sludgy, dense, amplified wall-of-sound. Just think Spacemen 3 meeting The Raveonettes, or early Stereolab meeting Jesus And Mary Chain, all with accompanying bursts of Pavement/MC5 feedback. Another comparison would be a more swirlier drugged-out Chapterhouse. But make no mistake, this is a Warlocks CD, from Bobby Hecksher's droning vocals to the thunderous double-drums, even adding a psychadelic whirlwind twist on 50's oldies. 'Surgery' continues to trip the light fantastic, but instead of with hallucinogenics, with high-voltage power.

Average customer rating: Almost no guitars, but this is rocks best.... A Masterpiece

Brain Salad Surgery Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Castle Music UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Trilogy In the Court of the Crimson King Pictures at an Exhibition Scheherazade & Other Stories ASIN: B00005AFLS Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

1. Jerusalem
2. Toccata
3. Still...You Turn Me On
4. Benny The Bouncer
5. Karn Evil 9
6. Brain Salad Surgery (Single)
7. When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine (Single)
8. Excerpts From Brain Salad Surgery (Flexi Disc)

Album Description

UK reissue of 1973 album, digitally remastered from the original tapes. Includes three bonus tracks, 'Brain Salad Surgery' (single), 'When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windows Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine' (single) & excerpts from 'Brain Salad Surgery' (flexi disc), 'First Impression/Second Impression/Still...You Turn Me On/Toccata/Jerusalem/Third Impression/Benny The Bouncer/First Impression/Benny The Bouncer'. 2001 release.

Album Details

Digitally remastered with Three bonus tracks: 'Brain Salad Surgery' (Single), 'When the Apple Blossoms Bloom in the Windmills of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine' and 'Excerpts from Brain Salad Surgery', as they appeared on a special flexi disc.

Customer Reviews:

Almost no guitars, but this is rocks best...........2006-04-28

This recording is indeed such an amazing experience it would take me a couple of days to explain fully. Not my favorite band, but this stands out as the best recording in rock for me. Travel within it. Live within it. Become the "salad", enjoy the "surgery", understand the "brain" behind everything. This is art. Listen and become art yourself.........

A Masterpiece.......2003-01-31

I am 35 years old now and this album is just as fresh as when I heard it back in 1982. This album is very underrated, it is one of those albums where you have to listen to all it. Every song is a classic. This is a masterpiece, I just wish I could of seen these guys live, it would of been a mindblower. The remastered CD is even better, I heard stuff that you could not hear off of the album. ELP rocks!!

Average customer rating: Welcome to the Apocolypse...

Brain Salad Surgery Lake & Palmer Emerson Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Trilogy Emerson, Lake & Palmer Black Moon The Best of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Sticky Fingers ASIN: B00008EPMD Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Jerusalem
2. Toccata
3. Still...You Turn Me On
4. Benny the Bouncer
5. Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Pt. 1
6. 1st Impression, Pt. 2
7. 2nd Impression
8. 3rd Impression

Customer Reviews:

Welcome to the Apocolypse..........2007-06-08

This 1973 release by Emerson, Lake and Palmer showcases the genius and vision of a post-apocolyptic world leading with technological enslavement of humankind. We take a visceral ride into the underbelly of a dark, dreary world as if a carney beckoned us to enter a freak show we were unable to resist. Once inside, there is no turning back... We fasten our seatbelts tightly and hold on for the ride. "Jerusalem" prepares us for the journey as we whirl through "Toccata" and the crystalized flesh of a long-dead love with "Still... You Turn Me On". This album showcases the musical versatility of ELP as we switch from classical, to rock to ragtime to what was then a new genre led by a moog synthesizer in "Karn Evil 9". What a delicious ride with such forbidden fruit! Thirty-four years after the original release, this music is still as vital and fresh and compelling as during the original release. Are ELP seers? How did they foretell the grip that technology would have on everyone? Listen carefully and we may receive the answer.

Average customer rating: Not Original But Good Nevertheless

Seven Second Surgery Faber Drive Manufacturer: 604 Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000OYCKZK Release Date: 2007-05-07

Tracks:

1. 24 Story Love Affair
2. Tongue Tied
3. Second Chance
4. Sex and Love
5. Sleepless Nights (Never Let Her Go)
6. Killin' Me
7. When I'm with You
8. Summer Fades to Fall
9. Time Bomb
10. Obvious
11. You'll Make It

Album Description

Discovered by Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, who was impressed with both their songwriting and work ethic, their impressive live gigs led them to signing with Kroeger's 604 Records label.

Customer Reviews:

Not Original But Good Nevertheless.......2007-07-28

This band will have a better chance of hitting it big in the US that Hedley, a Canadian band that sounds so similar to Faber Drive you would swear they were the same. This sound is sort of a cross between Nickelback, Matchbox 20, and Blink-182. Imagine Rob Thomas singing "All the Small Things" and there you have this sound. Because of the enormous appeal that this rock sound has, radio programmers and DJ's should give this a long look, because there are a few potential smash hits here. "24 Story Love Affair" is the opening track, and probably the best track, very catchy and up-tempo. A few songs drag in terms of length, but this is tolerable because the melodies are good and the guitars are cranked up most of the time. We could forgive bands like NEW Found Glory for going artsy-fartsy on us if the songs still had a hard-rocking vibe (which, specifically aimed at YOU NFG, "Coming Home" did not), and fortunately, Faber Drive does rock out enough to make this a CD that you can play all the way through and enjoy it from beginning to end.

Average customer rating:

Persian Surgery DeRvishes Terry Riley Manufacturer: Dunya ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Descending Moonshine Dervishes / Songs for the Ten Voices of the Two Prophets Shri Camel ASIN: B00008S836 Release Date: 2003-04-08

Average customer rating: Pleasant weirdness It surprised me hardcore Pretty gnarly, dude Wild Album, Best of the Early Years! That's heavy, dude!

Telepathic Surgery The Flaming Lips Manufacturer: Restless Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Neo-Psychedelia | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hit to Death in the Future Head Hear It Is The Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg - The Priest Driven Ambulance Album, Demos and Outtakes Clouds Taste Metallic Transmissions from the Satellite Heart ASIN: B000003BGD Release Date: 1993-07-01

Tracks:

1. Drug Machine in Heaven
2. Right Now
3. Michael, Time to Wake Up
4. Chrome Plated Sucide
5. Hari-Krishna Stomp Wagon (Fuck Led Zepplin)
6. Miracle on 42nd Street
7. Fryin' Up
8. Hell's Angel's Cracker Factory
9. U.F.O. Story
10. Redneck School of Technology
11. Shaved Gorilla
12. The Spontaneus Combustion of John
13. The Last Drop of Morning Dew
14. Begs and Aching

Customer Reviews:

Pleasant weirdness.......2007-07-13

Better than "Hear It Is", not as good as later work.

The first (approximate) half is better, it sort of tapers out at the end. "Drug Machine In Heaven" is a good freaky pop tune with a bizarre, 10-second, retarded-version-of-Snakefinger guitar solo in the middle. "Right Now" starts off with weird guitar feedback and a really dissonant riff (which reoccurs throughout the song) and becomes a good, thumping, propulsive number. Then there's a stupid 30-second interlude called "Michael, Time To Wake Up", which is, yes, an attempt to wake the band's bassist up with guitar feedback. "Chrome-Plated Suicide", if not for the feedback in the background and strange lyrics, would be just a good classic-rockish tune. It's still good, it's just weirder than it would have been otherwise. "Hari Krishna Stomp Wagon" is another good, strange-but-catchy propulsive tune. I realize I am using the same description over and over, but it's the only way I can think of to explain these songs. The subtitle, "F@#!@$@# Led Zeppelin", will always be a bit of a mystery, because the Lips obviously liked LZ. It ends with the sound of a radio being constantly tuned to different stations, which segues into the next song, "Miracle on 42nd Street", which is kind of quiet and pleasant-sounding. Another propulsive rock tune follows, "Fryin' Up". Possible drug reference?

Then, oh sweet mother of god holy jeebus graham cracker smorgasbord, we have "Hells Angels Cracker Factory". A 23-and-a-half minute jam with weird sound collages and stereo panning layered on top, it's weird, it's sprawling, it's awesome. The sounds on top include a motorcycle (duh), an opera singer, backwards guitar and drums, random samples of talking and such, and at the end, an answering machine. The jam is basically the guys rockin' out with the occasional guitar solo and drum flair. Pretty darn cool.

The second half, like I said earlier, is worse. I like "U.F.O Story". It begins with, uh, well, a U.F.O. story, then goes into a rousing rock song, then ends with a pretty piano coda. Almost a mini-epic at 7 minutes long. "Redneck School of Technology" is good too. After that, I lose interest. The songs aren't bad, they just don't hold my attention as much.

To sum it up, if you want some driving, rocking, crazy, weird, bonkers, awesome, revved-up, strange, weird, pleasant, dang good music, buy this album. If you don't, you are a fool who is doomed to be trampled by camels.

It surprised me hardcore.......2005-10-31

My whole life, people have always told me and reviews have always declared that the lips' early stuff was "trite" "inaccessible" "ridiculous" "the acid that acid eats" "impossible to listen to" ETC.

All during this time, I owned everything from Priest to present (with the present changing and new albums purchased as time went along). I never really liked Priest (I know THAT stepped on some toes) and figured that all these people were right about early lips stuff.

WHATEVER. I went out on a limb and downloaded a few songs off of this record to see if it was worth finding a place to buy it from. I downloaded "Begs and Achin'" "Chrome Plated Suicide" and "Drug Machine in Heaven."

I ordered the record in a matter of hours.

This record rawks, let no one deceive you. Priest and HtDitFH are steps down from this, though I enjoy the latter greatly. This record is raw, yet polished, insane, yet almost beautiful. It's nearly impossible to describe. It's noise, it's insanity, it's friggin' awesome. Nothing gets me up in the morning easier that "Drug Machine in Heaven" and it just gets better as the record goes on.

Easily half of the tracks on this record are instant classics.

Don't buy into carping reviews about this record. This album rules. And rules good and hard.

Pretty gnarly, dude.......2005-09-21

This was a pretty rockin' Flaming Lips album.. My brother first got it for me at a used record store. I had heard "She Don't Use Jelly" on the radio late at night in the 90's and I loved it. I wanted that song so bad but instead my brother found this album for me. After a few listens I decided that it was pretty damn good. It's not as magical and floaty sounding as their newer albums but it still has a lot of good stuff.

Wild Album, Best of the Early Years!.......2003-04-13

Not nearly as brilliant as Priest Driven Ambulance, but definatly a wild, heavy album. This is probably the bands best 80's album (although Oh My Gawd!!! comes quite close to earning that title). No Lips collection is complete without it. Hell's Angel's Cracker Factory is worth the price of admission alone!

That's heavy, dude!.......2002-04-24

The Lips continued their spaced-out journey with their 3rd album, Telepathic Surgery, in 1989. Next to Oh My Gawd!, this is definately one of the weirdest Lips albums. The cover is also priceless: a man standing in front of a barren field, holding a hubcap to his face.
The stand-out tracks include:
1. the brief but strange "Spontaneous Combustion Of John" and "Shaved Gorilla"

2. the hilarious "UFO Story" where Wayne tells the band about his encounters with UFOs as a kid, complete with a beautiful piano ballad stuck right in the middle.

3. "Chrome-Plated Suicide", which deserved to be a chart-topper

4. The 25-minute plus epic "Hell's Angel's Cracker Factory", which contains endless guitar and drum solos, backwards vocal samples, an opera singer, motorcycles revving, an answering machine, tape loops, and more. Worth the price of the CD alone. It also never appeared on the vinyl or cassette version, and never even was released as a single!

If you're looking to dive into the world of the Lips, here's a good place to start. Buy it, as Wayne would sing, "Right noooooooooooooooooooooooooooow!" :-)

Album Review:

1. Talking Stick
2. The Best of Boney M. [Import]
3. The Best of Voyage [Import]
4. The Cream of Female Vocal Trance [Limited Edition] [Import]
5. The Cream of Female Vocal Trance, Vol. 3 [Import]
6. The Mix Tape, Vol. 2: 60 Minutes of Funk [Explicit Lyrics]
7. The Mix Tape Volume III: The Final Chapter [Explicit Lyrics]
8. The Pimp [Explicit Lyrics] [EP]
9. The Present Lover
10. The World Famous Beat Junkies, Vol. 2

Album Review

album review

Album Review

I Feel for You Pt. 1 [CD-single] [Import]

Romantic Opera Arias

Quatre Chemins De Mélancolie

Music: Live [Import]

Slew

Recoil [Clean]

Say the Word

Should God Forget: Retrospective [Import]

Sings at the Toronto Horseshoe Club [Live]

Por un Amor

Recalled Moments

Portugal [Import]

Sessions V.2: Paul Oakenfold

Sticky Fingers

Unaccountable Effect