Life, Death & Other Morbid Tales

Life, Death & Other Morbid Tales

Track Listings

1. To Travel Within

2. Passage

3. Passenger on Psycho's Path

4. I Am

5. Misery Song

6. Lust Another Morbid Tune

7. My Secret Garden

8. Heathendom

9. Crown of Thorns

Tracks:

Redemption
Burning The Lives
Storm Winds
Failure Of The Devout
Venomous
Another Hero Lost
Final Call
Dread Uprising
The Great Collapse
Just Another Nightmare
Forevermore
Bonus Track 1
Bonus Track 2

Customer Reviews:

The Shads shoot for greatness...and succeed!.......2007-07-23

There probably won't be an album released in 2007 that is more highly anticipated, closely inspected, and strictly critiqued than Shadows Fall's new one, "Threads of Life." After selling over 300,000 copies of their last full-length (2004's "War Within"), this Massachusetts-based quintet followed in the tracks of Lamb of God and Mastodon by (finally!) jumping to a major label (this is their first release under Atlantic Records). Subsequently, the band teamed-up with a well-known producer (Nick Raskulinecz) who has worked with such pop groups as Velvet Revolver and the Foo Fighters. These things considered, this could have been just the thing that haters were waiting to scream "sell out" at.

So what are we to make of the new album? Well, here's the thing: It sounds slick. Extremely slick, in fact. Atlantic's big budget and production definitely shine through here, as evidenced by the muted rhythm guitars, crisp lead guitars, punchy drums, big choruses, and multi-tracked vocals that are as smooth as a baby's bottom. Thus, a lot of fans will be immediately turned off that it isn't as raw, intense, or edgy as, say, 1997's debut, "Somber Eyes To The Sky." But there are a couple of advantages of this huge production, including a thicker guitar tone, and hooks that are just spectacular. Thus, your first listen to "Threads of Life" will probably spent dwelling on how glossy it sounds, but after giving it a little time to digest, the album will soon reveal itself as the extremely contagious listen that it really is.

Every band member is at the top of his game here, and they turn out some of their best and most professional, phenomenal, and technical music to date. Paul Romanko is a solidified bassist, and he lays down some of his meatiest and most audible bass lines on this record, and Jason Bittner's drumming is as quick and forceful as ever. But there are really three star performers who take up most of the spotlight. The first of which is longtime frontman Brian Fair -- who proves he is much more than just a "vocalist" - he is an actual, honest-to-goodness singer! And a darn good one, too! Sure, he can still growl when he wants to, but he never sounds remotely one-dimensional or overly angry, because most of the time he opts for a full-throated singing voice which shows off his warm, powerful pipes. The two other stars are Jonathan Donais and Matt Bachand, who are doubtlessly one of modern metal's leading guitar duos. Their riffs are deliciously crunchy, their leads are usually blazing fast (but never out of control), and their solos have gotten more technical and ripping, and now even occasionally border on being melodic.

The songwriting is superb as well. Shads released a great C.D. in 2002 named "The Art of Balance," but that title could have just as well applied to this album, too, because there is variety aplenty here. The result is a superbly exciting, meticulous, contagious, diverse, mature, rich, and well-textured sound. Plus, Brian Fair also chipped in by coming up with some of his smartest and most passionate and personal lyrics. "Threads of Life" has many terrifically memorable songs, and even if some are more so than others, there isn't a single stinker or filler to be found from front to back. In other words, heavy music doesn't get much more consistent, listenable, easy to digest, or flawless than this nowadays.

The propulsive "Redemption" hits the ground running with excellent, bullying guitar leads, deft double bass slamming, and a huge, wonderfully harmonic and infectious chorus that will have everybody in the crowd waving their lighters. "Burning The Lives" works similarly, with a forceful, streamlined chainsaw guitar attack opening the song before giving way to a "Dimebag" Darrell-worthy solo and an open, cleanly sung chorus. "Storm Winds" is the album's first semi-ballad, but not to worry: the fine singing, well-placed bits of guitar crunch, and terrific solo present here make this song another keeper. "Failure Of The Devout" begins with an acoustic intro that evokes Testament before rocketing into a river of blistering, chunked-up guitar shred.

Then, however, things start to get a little more experimental. Three of the next tracks, the hooky "Venomous," "Final Call" (which is highlighted by a grumbling bass line and one of Donais' best solos to date), and the especially hefty and chunky "Dead Uprising," are all muscular yet mid-tempo chug churners which slow down the record's pace significantly. You'll probably grow more and more uncertain as you make your way through surprising tracks like the ultra-melodic "Another Hero Lost," which will instinctively be thought of as a blatant stab at getting radio play. However, after dreamy, ambient acoustic strums, two cool guitar solos (one melodic, the other blazing), and Brian Fair's mindblowing singing voice and touching lyrics (inspired by Fair's cousin, who died while stationed in Iraq), are added to the mix, then "Another Hero Lost" turns out to be a great power ballad which any Eighties thrash band would be glad to call their own. Then comes "The Great Collapse," a gorgeous, piano-based interlude.

Two final songs round out the set, the first of which is one of the biggest highpoints on hand here. In addition to a guitar solo which will induce vertigo in some listeners, "Just Another Nightmare" boasts an awesome chorus composed of irresistibly sweet, sometimes almost even (dare I say it?) emo-ish crooning that stays in the listener's head for several days. Finally back on familiar ground, "Threads Of Life" ends the same way it began, with "Forevermore," which is an all-out onslaught of scorching riffage.

"Threads of Life" will surely be too mainstream for some fans (especially longtime followers), but fair-minded listeners will find absolutely nothing to dislike here. This is an epic, unquestionably excellent and completely satisfying album which is a frontrunning candidate for album of the year, and is one of the top thrash releases of the new millennium. It even has the potential to go down as of the genre's all time classics, and to say that Shadows Fall are now firing on all cylinders would be a gross understatement. Some would argue that The Shads came close to but did not quite fully achieve true greatness with their first six full-length releases, but there should be little debate over that now, because "TOL" is the kind of stuff that legends are made of.

Shadows Fall - Threads of Life .......2007-07-17

After hearing some buzz about Shadows Fall, I decided to check them out. Their most recent album "Threads of Life" is the latest release from the band, so my review will lack the critical analysis that could be used to compare any progression or change they have had from albums in their past discography.

Songs I liked: Redemption is the opening track and is heavy and powerful, with a mix of thrash and repetitive style rock riffs in places. The songwriting is good and I liked the vocal efforts on this song, as well as most songs on the album. The track "Failure of the Devout" has some good changeups within the overall structure of the guitar parts. The track "Another Hero Lost" is one of my favorites and has some catchy riffs as well as definitive melodic guitars throughout. The drifting ballad "Final Call" is a nice change to throw into the mix of hard edged thrash and rock based tunes. The fact they do this shows a little bit of diversity and showcases the bands ability to at least do something different than spit out repeated riffs and angst style vocals, which is a habit many bands of this genre fall into. The track "Forevermore" is fast and furious with high speed guitars and vocals that hit home. The percussion on this song is a little more prevalent and does not take a back seat to any of the other instruments used.

Bottom Line: Normally I don't like to use other bands when comparing music or writing a review, however at times it can be very necessary because it is a better way of conveying a sound or style of music than trying to describe the sounds I hear and feel on the album. If you are looking for a more progressive or math metal style of music, these guys are probably not for you. If you like some of the thrash metal bands from the 1980s then you may find these guys to your liking. They are not Pantera or old Metallica, but the album itself is pretty tight, and although at times I felt there was a lot of repetition within the songs as a collective whole, there is enough strength here to grow, with room to improve. If you like to listen to anything from Disturbed to Dragonforce, you may find room for this album in your collection. This genre of music is heavily saturated right now with bands trying to make their mark, and I think Shadows Fall may have enough shredding and decent songwriting within them to carry on into the next decade. I realize they formed over ten years ago, and do have a strong overall fan base. Vocalist Brian Fair is particularly impressive here and with that said; I look forward to going back and listening to more music by this band.

LOVE IT.......2007-07-06

This Album is just awesome! Plain and simple. Riffs are awesome, solos are insane, and Brian Fair's vocals keep getting better. It's nice to hear a band that grows and stays true to themselves too.

Thrash and terror!.......2007-07-05

I am so glad to see that there are stil thrash bands in circulation. I like all of that norweigian black/deathy stuff...but thrash is my idea of great metal music. And here they are, a modern band doing an old thing with all of the much needed ingreidients to keep it original and personal. Shadows Fall is further proof that thrash is not just another metal trend, it's the timeless form of metal that will always come back to bite you just when you thought it was dead. I recommend this fine album to fans of Slayer, Exodus, and Burst.

Shadows Fall = Metallica lite.......2007-06-22

These guys try so hard, but they are oh so average
3 for effort and i still liked them live

Average customer rating:

More Good Stuff from a Big Man
Posthumous greatness
Biggy at His Prime
Biggie's best work!
The greatest album ever released by Biggie & BadBoy Records.

Life After Death
The Notorious B.I.G.
Manufacturer: Bad Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000039QA
Release Date: 1997-03-25

Tracks:

Life After Death Intro
Somebody's Gotta Die
Hypnotize
Kick In The Door
#!*@ You Tonight
Last Day
I Love The Dough
What's Beef?
B.I.G. Interlude
Mo Money Mo Problems
Niggas Bleed
I Got A Story To Tell

Tracks:

Notorious Thugs
Miss U
Another
Going Back To Cali
Ten Crack Commandments
Playa Hater
Nasty Boy
Sky's The Limit
The World Is Filled...
My Downfall
Long Kiss Goodnight
You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)

Amazon.com essential recording

The King of Brooklyn, Biggie Smalls, busted through with an instant hip-hop classic on his first album, Ready to Die, but he outdid even his standard on Life After Death, an audible, posthumous autobiography about the life of the former dope dealer. The 2 CD set revels in death, especially on "Niggaz Bleed," "Somebody's Gotta Die," and "You're Nobody ('Til Somebody Kills You)," but it's painfully clear that this chestnut-cheeked, fun-loving father of two wanted to see his kids grow up on "Sky Is the Limit" and "Miss U," both of which point to the future. The album also serves as a testament to Biggie's flexibility: he adopts Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's rapid rhyme flow and Midwestern beats when they guest on "Notorious Thugs," he positively bounces on both "Mo Money Mo Problems" and "Going Back to Cali" (guesting Eazy Mo Bee), and even kicks it Wu-Tang style when RZA shows up for "Long Kiss Goodnight." --Asondra R. Hunter

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

More Good Stuff from a Big Man.......2007-07-20

With 2 discs, Life After Death gives the listener a lot of material by Biggie. Some reviewers criticize this as having some weaker stuff and annoying guest appearances, but I think that's just a function of having a bigger album. Some stuff inevitably will not be as good as the rest. And I think the guest appearances are fine. Lil Kim spews off a foul mouth on one track, but that's what she does in her own stuff. Anyway, there's lots of great raps on her. The album's a bit slicker and more produced, lacking some of the edge of Ready to Die, but I think things as a whole work very well. While maybe not quite as awesome, on a song by song basis, as Ready to Die, this album definitely has enough quality material for the 5 stars. The best raps:

Hypnotize
Kick in the Door
I Love the Dough
Mo Money Mo Problems
Another
Going Back to Cali
The World is Filled

Posthumous greatness .......2007-07-14

This album is Biggie at his best before his music got corrupted by a sniveling weasel named Sean P Giddy Combs. It has guest appearances like 112, Too Short, Jay-z, R. Kelly, The Lox etc but Biggie shines regardless of guest appearances. The album kicks of with vivid storytelling by Biggie on Somebody's Gotta Die but that's not the only track where Biggie tells a great story. N***** Bleed is another cinematic track and Story To Tell is Biggie telling a story of some chick he was messing with whose husband ends up coming home while he's still there. Miss U is a touching tale with some good vocals by 112 on the chorus. Big keeps it true to the MC side of him with tracks like Kick In The Door(Nas Diss), the sinister sounding What's Beef, the first single Hypnotize, My Downfall(feat DMC), Long Kiss Goodnight(obvious 2pac diss but the track could do without Puffy's bipolar ranting. We all know Diddy is a cupcake), Last Day(feat the Lox). I Love The Dough is another highlight which features Jay-z and Angela Winbush as both Jigga and Biggie drop some hot verses on the track. Bone Thugs N Harmony join in on the festivities on Notorious Thugs as everybody delivers some fast-paced verses on the track. Going Back To Cali is Big's ode California and Biggie teaches the rules to the game on Ten Crack Commandments. The album does have its flaws like Playa Hater which is awful and anybody who can tell you that track is tight is borderline insane. Last Day is suspect only because of lackluster verses by The Lox(Biggie killed it!). I never felt The World Is Filled(feat Too Short and Fluff Diddy) and thats another song, with guest appearances where Biggie had the only notable verse(case in point for Mo Money Mo Problems). After that this album is smooth sailing. Biggie has his songs for the ladies like Nasty Boy and F*** You Tonight(feat R. Kelly) which he makes work for him. Lil Kim joins in on the battle of the sexes record Another. 112 makes another appearance on the magnificent Sky's The Limit where Biggie recalls his past. The second disc ends with the gritty You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You) as Biggie brings it to you raw and uncut. Bottom Line: The Notorious Big's Life After Death is easily the best rap album of 1997 and is a necessary requirement for any rap fan's collection. Biggie excelled on every track(even when the guest spots didnt) and the production was the best that Bad Boy could get. Standout tracks on Disc 1: SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DIE, HYPNOTIZE, KICK IN THE DOOR, F*** YOU TONIGHT, I LOVE THE DOUGH, WHAT'S BEEF, N***** BLEED and I GOT A STORY TO TELL. Standout Tracks on Disc Two: NOTORIOUS THUGS, MISS U, ANOTHER, GOING BACK TO CALI, TEN CRACK COMMANDMENTS, NASTY BOY, SKY'S THE LIMIT, MY D0WNFALL, LONG KISS GOODNIGHT and YOU'RE NOBODY(Til Somebody Kills You). RIP to Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious Big. Gone But Never Forgotten. There you have it. The most earnest review you'll ever read without the silly arguments about who is the better MC out of Pac and Big. You guys who are still carrying on with this asinine dispute need to agree to disagree and GROW UP!!! You're fools are damn near 40 still carrying on like high school kids. SHAME ON YOU ALL!

Biggy at His Prime.......2007-07-11

The Notorious B.I.G. was a lyrical genius and he showed it on Life After Death. This is the greatest rap double album ever. Biggy mastered his flow and showed his versitility on this album. He told stories, gave us party records, got serious, clowned around, rapped over west coast beats, rhymed fast, and gave us hard core street records. This is the definition of a complete album. Ready to Die was a classic and Biggy took it to another level on this album.

He left the world with his best work before he passed. Biggy had a great ability to make his lyrics very visual. Stories like "Somebody Gots to Die", "Niggas Bleed" and "I Got A Story to Tell" are so good that you can visualize his every word. Biggy had the East Coast on lock and no one in the game could touch him in wordplay. I can not even sit here and start to name the best songs because there were too many.

Biggy dropped two classic albums and was killed while he was still on top. He never lost his spot. Life After Death raised the bar for the game. I would have loved to see B.I.G. grow as an artist and make new music after this record. Unfortunately, his time was cut short, but he left us with a gem that shows his amazing talent....

Biggie's best work!.......2007-07-05

The first album was pretty tight, but this title cd album is Biggie's best work. And even if he was still alive, i'm not so sure that he could really top this one. It's a collector's item.

The greatest album ever released by Biggie & BadBoy Records........2006-12-01

Life After shows Biggie's growth as an artist and man. The storytelling is very cinematic and compelling. This is really a movie on wax for real. The paranoia is also raised on here and for good reason since Biggie spent 1996 fending off Pac's accusations and insults. In short, Biggie was a naturally gifted, personable, smart dude that's greatly missed.

Top Joints:
I Got A Story To Tell
Long Kiss Goodnight
Notorious Thugs
Hypnotize
N*ggas Bleed
Goin Back To Cali
My Downfall
What's Beef
Kick In The Door
You're Nobody.........
Ten Crack Commandments

Basically the whole 2 discs.

Average customer rating:

spiritual americana
Rich Heritage
Superb
Can't walk away from it!
Mana from Heaven

American Angels

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001ADB4Q
Release Date: 2004-02-10

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This, Anonymous 4's final recording, is a break from their usual "early music" periods and locations; it presents American music, religious in nature, from the 18th and 19th centuries. And it's absolutely beautiful from start to finish. Their normal, exquisite technique and purity here blend to sound the way we imagined the ladies' choir in church meetings in America past might have sounded: sweet, sincere, and with harmonies recognizable yet somehow fresh. Some of the songs begin with the women singing "fa, so la" exercises, which was called "shape note" singing because some places taught singing with notes as shapes--circle, rectangle, diamond, triangle. But it's the music that counts, and there are treasures here. They include two versions of "Amazing Grace," one familiar, one with an unusual melody and a piece called "Blooming Vale" which is as sophisticated as anything on their previous albums. "Shall We Gather at the River" is performed with a clarity and loveliness that makes us forget that it's normally sung as background to movies about the Great Depression. The foursome sometimes sing in rich harmonies and occasionally alone or in pairs or trios. This is glorious Americana and highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

spiritual americana.......2007-01-06

I have some of the older Anonymous 4 recordings which are more medieval
and gregorian in style (I love them!). They move on to cover spiritual
basics of the 1800s. If you like classical music, perfect harmonies
and spiritual americina, then you will be blessed!

Rich Heritage.......2006-10-11

Anonymous 4 consistently produces exquisite and authentically beautiful recordings and this one presents early American hymns in ways few groups can manage. Some tunes are highly recognizable while others are 'new' to me but a refreshing reminder of the singing heritage of religious societies in times past. For those who enjoy old hymns and authentic renderings, this is a must buy.

Superb .......2006-08-07

This collection of American Christian music is not only an enthralling musical experience but a spiritually uplifting one as well. Anonymous Four have transferred their luminous vocal quality to a new space with perfect success.

Can't walk away from it!.......2006-08-07

My only "complaint" about the CD is that I absolutely HAVE to sit and listen to the entire thing whenever I start it up! I usually have music playing in the background while doing other things, but not this one! There are no tracks that I find myself wanting to skip over as in most collections. In fact, I usually find myself going back and listening to selected tracks again (and again and...) after taking the hour+ to listen to the whole thing through once.

These four ladies produce a unique and remarkable sound. I can't recommend it enough.

Mana from Heaven.......2006-05-08

I think the title of this CD is perfect. I first heard an interview for this CD on Public Radio and fell in love. I had never heard Anonymous 4 before then but look for all I can find of their music now. The title is perfect as the women sound like Angels and the music lifts the spirit. I find myself singing the old version of Amazing Grace all the time now. Incredible and a huge blessing to all who hear it.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

Star Wars: A Musical Journey (2005) (V)
Not one of his bests, but very close
John Williams' finest work
A Great Conclusion to the Prequel Trilogy
Williams is slumming it

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music from the Star Wars Saga
Star Wars Trilogy
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

ASIN: B000850IS6
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Tracks:

Star Wars and The Revenge Of The Sith
Anakin's Dream
Battle Of The Heroes
Anakin's Betrayal
General Grievous
Palpatine's Teachings
Grievous and the Droids
Padme's Ruminations
Anakin vs. Obi-Wan
Anakin's Dark Deeds
Enter Lord Vader
The Immolation Scene
Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious
The Birth Of The Twins and Padme's Destiny
A New Hope and End Credits

Amazon.com

John Williams' lovely and moving score for the sixth Star Wars film brings thirty years of collaborating on George Lucas' beyond-popular intergalactic franchise to a close. (Is this really the end of Star Wars? Can't Lucas and Williams work together on a prequel to these prequels? Let us hope so, and that Jar Jar Binks is nowhere near it.) As this music accompanies the most exciting Star Wars film in many a moon, the soundtrack itself is more fun, more evil, more nasty and bumpy. Many of the heroic, anthemic themes woven throughout Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith will necessarily be familiar to any fan of the series, from the "Imperial March" to the main theme. It's remarkable how stirring the latter can be, no matter how many times you've heard it, and even for those who do not have all their money invested in S.W. memorabilia. There is a lot of new music here, and the lush, extensive range of both Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra is on display, most notably in the menacing, percolating "General Grievous" and the rousing "New Hope" end theme. --Mike McGonigal

The Force Is Also with:

Star Wars Trilogy soundtrack box set
Star Wars Episode II sountrack
Star Wars Episode II, Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode I, The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Trilogy on DVD
Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Customer Reviews:

Star Wars: A Musical Journey (2005) (V).......2007-06-21

product: Star Wars: A Musical Journey (2005) (V), included as bonus disc in Episode III soundtrack.

The bonus dvd with this soundtrack was the reason I purchased. I enjoy film soundtracks, and science fiction, but this dvd was a real highlight for me. I got the soundtrack cd out of the local library. The cd was missing from the case, but I found this wonderful dvd instead that I went out to purchase later.

With optional segments of dialog from Ian McDiarmid, this film is a stunning visual and musical overview of the full epic story of episodes I-VI of Star Wars. For those of us who felt that eps. IV-VI fell short of our expectations, this film presents them well as parts of the whole story. The Musical Journey also stands as a summary of the entire SW opus for someone who is not familiar with the Star Wars characters and plot. Highly recommended.

Options: no subtitles or other options.

Not one of his bests, but very close.......2007-05-21

The Episode III soundtrack is very good. Not great, but very, very good. You can tell that Williams is getting old, but he still manages to weave together a very memorable score.

My favorite tracks are "Battle of the Heroes," "Anakin's Betrayal," Palpatine's teachings, "Anakin vs. Obi-Wan," and the "Immolation Scene."
The others are very good as well, but these are especially nice. "Battle of the Heroes" is Dual of the Fates for Revenge of the Sith. "Anakin's Betrayal" is a very sad track that is, in my opinion, one of William's most powerful pieces. "Palpatine's Teachings" is really, really neat. It's very dark and moody, a perfect piece for the evil emperor. The only weird thing is the end. "Anakin vs. Obi-Wan" is the action piece that plays during the battles of Anakin and Obi-Wan, and Yoda and the Emperor. Finally, "The Immolation Scene" is another sad piece, even more so than "Anakin's Betrayal."

Although I really like this CD, there are some things that are missing (as usual). First, the whole sequence where the droids are looking for Obi-Wan after he was shot. You see Obi-Wan in his ship with Senator Organa on the Hologram (or whatever it is), and Obi-Wan says that his clones turned on him. That was some pretty awesome music that OF COURSE was left out of the CD. Then there was Dual of the Fates in the movie, but completely absent from the CD. And probably the most annoying was that whole piece of music before Obi-Wan and Anakin fight. It was so touching and sad and I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY LEFT IT OUT! Absolutely amazing. Also, did anyone notice that some little bits were cut out? For example, in Anakin vs. Obi Wan, they cut out about a second or two of choir. What?! What the heck is with that? It's when Anakin is running on the long thing and jumps on the droid on the lava. Also, there was some pretty cool drumming when you see Yoda and the Emperor fighting, and you can see the whole stadium (the big room). There's also drumming in "Enter Lord Vader" that is muted in the soundtrack.

Oh well...if I'm going to collect movie scores, I'm going to have to get used to the fact that in almost all cases there's not going to be every bit of music. I've experienced this in both Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park I (there was very little left out on this score), and almost everything else. At the moment, I'm just waiting for the 22nd, for the Pirates of the Caribbean 3 soundtrack. It's gonna be amazing.

See Yu

John Williams' finest work.......2007-04-20

There is little more I can say that hasn't already been said about the soundtrack to Episode 3, especially what Amazon contributor Dan Mohr wrote in his review of the soundtrack on 2/2/2006. His review captured almost all the thoughts, feelings, and emotions I had when I first listened to the soundtrack, and was, IMO, the best review of John Williams' greatest masterpiece.

Having said that, I will say that few soundtracks have ever so perfectly captured the underlying emotional currents of their respective movie; in the case of ROTS, the contemporaneous tragedies of Anakin's fall to the Dark Side, the extermination of the Jedi, and the rise of the oppressive Empire. The listener is confronted with the depth and totality of the evil that has beset the entire galaxy to a degree that the film could not reach in only 2 hours.

Bravo, Dan Mohr, and BRAVO John Williams!

A Great Conclusion to the Prequel Trilogy.......2007-04-07

This is a great work of art. I rank it 4th among Star Wars soundtracks after A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and The Phantom Menace. I had a hard deciding which I thought was better, The Phantom Meance or Revenge of the Sith, but I decided that The Phantom Menace lays the foundation for so much that is in this soundtrack and is thus the more masterful work. But that doesn't mean that this score still isn't great. Every piece is a thrill to listen to and pace never lets up. "Battle of the Hereos" is an amazing piece and the rendition of the "Funeral Theme" from Episoded I captures the film's tragety magnificently. Also I do not think John Williams could have portrayed the Jedi's extinction more perfectly than he did in "Anakin's Betrayal". This is without a doubt the best score of 2005 and one of the best of the decade.

Williams is slumming it.......2007-04-01

Williams's score for Revenge of the Sith is almost entirely overbearing, lacking any emotional subtlety. The music is overcomplicated and even a bit confusing, especially in the tracks that correspond to action sequences in the movie. His overuse of choral tracks and vocals is too bombastic and irritating to be listened to without the explosions and laser blasts of the soundtrack to soften them. (Yes, this music is actually softened by the sounds of warfare.) Worst of all, much of the music has simply been lifted from earlier scores. At times his self-imitation was so blatant that I actually wondered whether the editor who had complied this score had made a mistake and I was listening to The Empire Strikes Back or A New Hope. Also suffers from not including the entire score, in some cases cutting out musical segues in obvious and awkward ways.

Average customer rating:

Its not Black Waterpark, but very good
Another enthralling work of art.
Artistic, Thought Provoking, Inspirational
Still Life is a must for anybody who likes Opeth
Have I Told You Lately...

Still Life
Opeth
Manufacturer: Peaceville UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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My Arms, Your Hearse
Morningrise
Blackwater Park
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ASIN: B00008AWOG
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Tracks:

Moor
Godhead's Lament
Benighted
Moonlapse Vertigo
Face of Melinda
Serenity Painted Death
White Cluster

Product Description

1. The Moor
2. Godhead's Lament
3. Benighted
4. Moonlapse Vertigo
5. Face Of Melinda
6. Serenity Painted Death
7. White Cluster

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Its not Black Waterpark, but very good.......2007-07-23

I don't know if it is possible to crank out another BWP, but this album is still worthy of 5 stars. This is right in line with Opeth's other dark albums. This band is one of the most talented bands out there, when speaking with regards to instrument playing; would rather see them stop the demonic screaming and just focus on the singing.

Another enthralling work of art........2007-07-13

Still Life, like basically any other Opeth album, is a testament to this band's brilliance. This was their fourth album, and marked a few noticeable changes in Opeth's sound. First, Mikael's growl deepened considerably on this release, and it sounds more proggy than the releases prior to this one. It's also their first album with bassist Martin Mendez. This is also the first Opeth album to feature songs that cross the 10-minute mark and beyond since Morningrise.

Still Life, as most people know by now, is about a man sent away from his village. 15 years later, he returns to find his lover, Melinda. He watches her from afar, afraid of being seen by the other villagers, fearing for Melinda's saftey and his own. Eventually, he meets her, and tries to convince her to come with him. But the Council of the Cross, the people who banned him from his village, as well as the people who are in charge of it, slit Melinda's throat. In his rage, he slaughters the people who took part in murdering her, until he is burned at the cross, and sees Melinda waiting for him in the next life, with open arms. Even though this story is ficticious, I could really see it as something that probably happened a lot in the midevil days. There is more to the store than that, but that's the just of it.

In constrast to My Arms Your Hearse, Still Life is softer, and contains more acoustic passages. Like I said before, it also marks the point where they veered from being a spacey, atmospheric band to a more stable, progressive oriented band (not that there's anything wrong with either style). The style of the album still follows the Opeth formula: long, atmospheric inquisitions that makes transitions between brutal (yet still proggy) death metal and quiet, acoustic folk/prog music. But this is the style that we've all come to love and expect from Opeth, so no criticism is called for here! Mikael has awesome guitar solos here with extreme complexity (without sounding too indulgent). Peter provides great rythm guitar riffs that give Opeth their amazing atmospheres. Martin Lopez makes great transitions between maniacal double-bass pounding and soft tapping of the drums. Martin Mendez, as always, is buried behind the rest of the band for the majority of the time, unfortunately. So I can't say much about him, other than the fact that he sounds great whenever he's audible.

My favorites off Still Life are: The opening track, The Moor. This song is about when he returns to his village, expressing his hatred for everyone in his former village except Melinda. Mike's clean voice sounds very haunting on this song, and I get chills everytime I hear it. Godhead's Lament. It's one of the heaviest off the album. GL is when the man is marveling at Melinda from a hiding place, seeing that she's been taken in and brainwashed by the Council of the Cross. He also decides to stay in an attempt to get her back ("What woould they care if I did stay. No one would know, oh-ho"... I love that part!). Great melodies are present on this song, and Mike has a great solo. And finally, Moonlapse Vertigo, which is possibly my favorite track here. Mike sounds like a stray puppy on this song, especially during the part where he sings "I would persih at the given signal at the slightest touch from my soul tainted prophet in flesh for all the plagued and lost." In this song, the outcast reminds himself that he'd be killed if the Council saw him. This is also the point where he decides to meet Melinda and take her with him.

Unfortunately, this album was neglected in the States, because awful trends like Britney Spears and The Backstreet Boys were polluting the airwaves. No one wanted to dig beneath the surface and find the artworks that Opeth have made and are still making. And while they have gained more recognition in the U.S. (and everywhere, really), they still haven't gotten the success that so rightfully deserve. Metal is a highly discriminated genre. A shame too, since there are many talented metal bands out there with immense sophsitication, such as Opeth.

I don't think Morningrise will ever be kicked out of my spot for "favorite Opeth album," but I've come to love this album so much that it has dethroned Orchid as my 2nd favorite Opeth CD. Although, in all truth, I listen to the entire Opeth catalogue and find each album to be a classic, at the risk of sounding like a fanboy. But Still Life, like all of this amazing band's albums, is a spellbinding masterpiece that deserves multiple listens by everyone on the planet, if only people would give it a chance. But hey, maybe all that popularity would corrupt Opeth ;).

Artistic, Thought Provoking, Inspirational.......2007-06-17

I can't say enough about this great band. Still Life is a wonderful concept album that grabs you from the beginning and never lets go. Proggers, go out of your way to hear this band. This band is a must for all progressive fans. Absolute brilliance!

Still Life is a must for anybody who likes Opeth.......2007-05-07

One thing I have noticed over the years is that Opeth always makes great music, and Still Life is a perfect example of that. It is definitely one of my favorite albums. If you are new to listening to metal, Still Life is an excellent start. This album proves just how talented Opeth is compared to a lot of other metal bands.

Have I Told You Lately..........2007-03-16

I love this band. Everything Opeth puts out into this world is original and great. They are awesome in concert, too.

Kind reader of this review: If you buy only one CD by Opeth, let it be Still Life. Every song is a chapter in a story. Imagine, a story being told to you in a voice which you find dually lulling and frightening. Imagine music playing--music harsh and gentle. You see a woman, there, up ahead. She's standing at the edge of a dark forest. The first things you notice about her is a pale face, black hair, and you take notice that she's dressed in old time garb (maybe gothic wear?). She stands as a woman saddened by something which is unknown to you--a pain which you'll never understand. Can you save her? Would you put your life down for her salvation? Would you dare to love Melinda?

Average customer rating:

Is it enough? Boring and boring.
Maiden's finest in years!!
The Songs are Too Long, But the Album Is Worth Checking Out.
Blown Away
Best Maiden album in years but hard to review

A Matter of Life and Death
Iron Maiden
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Brave New World
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ASIN: B000H7JD4A
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Tracks:

Different World
These Colours Don't Run
Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
The Pilgrim
The Longest Day
Out Of The Shadows
The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
For The Greater Good Of God
Lord Of Light
The Legacy

Amazon.com

You've got to hand it to Iron Maiden. After two decades of recording and releasing albums, the British sextet still has its share of fresh ideas, something it proves once more on A Matter of Life and Death. The opening tracks "Different World" and "Brighter than a Thousand Suns" show, more clearly than ever, the group's progressive rock roots and its affinity for upsetting expectations about what a heavy record should sound like. But some of the material--"These Colours Don't Run" and the epics "Lord of Light," "The Legacy," and "The Longest Day"--also suggests that the band could stand to expand outside its comfort zone a little more often. By now we know what to expect even from the most unusual Maiden album and that familiarity ultimately sinks A Matter of Life and Death faster than any fad at the forefront of the heavy rock scene. At best the record shows the band is still vital, at worst it shows us that Steve Harris and company are coming up a little bit winded these days. --Jedd Beaudoin

Customer Reviews:

Is it enough? Boring and boring........2007-07-24

When will They do new things?(different sound)Still same sound, still same writer songs and still same scream! I am boring evenwhile listen new album.

Must novelty. Just!

Maiden's finest in years!!.......2007-07-15

A Matter Of Life And Death (2006.), Iron Maiden's fourteenth studio album

The new millenium has been a huge revitalisation for Iron Maiden. It cannot be denied that the `90s was a barren period for the heavy metal gods. The departures of guitarist Adrian Smith and later frontman Bruce Dickenson left a huge hole to fill in the band. `Virtual XI', released in 1998 was an extremely disappointing album and marked a low point for the band. However brighter days were ahead as Bruce Dickenson and Adrian Smith both returned to the band. The restored line up then released `Brave New World' and `Dance Of Death' which were both fantastic albums. So could Iron Maiden, heavy metal giants of more than just a generation pull another serving of classic metal out of the bag? With the band's popularity again surging, `A Matter Of Life And Death' couldn't have been released at a better time...

Over their career, Maiden have had more than a fair share at successful attempts to push musical boundaries. Their early career, sparked during the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal was revolutionary and then their progressive and conceptual stuff at the end of the `80s was revelatory. `A Matter Of Life And Death' is very much a progressive album but it goes one step further and incorporates a grand, epic feel giving it an imposing, `magnum opus' style. There is plenty of life in Maiden yet and this album is an awesome expansion of their classic sound. For me and a number of other fans, this album is definitely the best of the band's work since the re-union of the classic line up but it is in many ways one of the best albums of Maiden's career, full stop. This brilliant album deserves more than just a mention alongside `Powerslave' and `Number Of The Beast'. In terms of songwriting, there is some extremely impressive stuff on here which can easily be put down as some of the band's best. There are giant epic songs which ooze the prog metal style that Maiden often incorporate into their music throughout the album. However, I personally find that what really makes this album a result is how the band performs the music. The album has that great `live' feel to it and the chemistry of the band seems better than ever. You can see this on the DVD which comes with some versions of the album. The band seem to be loving playing their new music and the new directions it takes them in. All of the band have a hand in the songwriting through the album which furthermore makes this work a proper band effort. Guitarists Smith, Murray and Gers all play out some fantastic riffs and memorable melodies across the album and Steve Harris' bass work always adds to the colour of the songs. Bruce is on top form with the operatic vocals and Nicko McBrain exhibits some of his finest drumming on this album, providing a mix between beats with heavy prescence and the more understated lines.

`Different World', the album's opening track has proved to be an immensely popular track. The main riff is inescapable and some of the melodies in this brilliant opener are great. `These Colours Don't Run' is a classic heart on sleeves song from the band. Bruce gives an expressive vocal performance in a song dedicated to those serving in wars. `Brighter Than A Thousand Suns' is the first epic of the album, with a theme about the Manhattan Project. The song has some rousing choruses and plenty of varied sections which weave together seamlessly. `The Pilgrim' is equally strong musically, with an eastern flavoured riff. Bruce Dickenson returns us to the themes of war with `The Longest Day', a song about the D-Day landings. There are some beautiful melodies in this one as well as racing guitars and a gripping chorus.

`Out Of The Shadows' is more archetypal Maiden, with a nice mix of electro acoustic sections and heavier choruses. A song about birth and entering the world. The curiously titled `The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg' was another single off the album. The song opens and closes with a slow, atmospheric guitar work whilst the main part of the song features more classic riffs and inspired Dickenson Vocals. `For The Greater Good Of God' is a slower, more reflective epic which grows much more enjoyable with repeated listens. `Lord Of Light' features more impressive solos and melodies and a galloping section; something we haven't seen from Maiden in a few albums. `The Legacy' is an amazing closer, my personal favourite track on the album. This final epic is built up into different sections, each with their own melodies and themes. However this doesn't break the flow to the song and each section stands tall in their own right, lyrically covering humanity through time and the trail left from war and opposition. The acoustics are fantastic on this one!

`A Matter Of Life And Death' is Iron Maiden's finest album in a long time and a classic in it's own right. Easily one of the best metal albums of 2006 this work is an epic journey of massive proportions and never loses it's life or spark. The band embarked on a great tour for this album, often playing the whole thing right through at some of the gigs - testament to the greatness of the material on here I guess. If you like Iron Maiden or music with an epic style, this album is a must!

MY RATING: 9.5/10

The Songs are Too Long, But the Album Is Worth Checking Out........2007-05-11

I love Iron Maiden, but I'm hardly a BIG Iron Maiden fan. This is only the third CD I've heard by the band (the other two being "Piece of Mind" and "The Number of the Beast") and considering that most bands from the '80s are has-beens and wannabes by now, it's nice to see that Iron Maiden are not only surving, but thriving. This is a 10-song album and I liked all of the songs. Loved 9 out of 10 of them really, but I'm giving it 4-stars for one major reason. The songs are way too long! I've always been a guy who likes his songs short and to the point. But there are some exceptions. I love Rush and The Doors, but if you're going to write a song that almost hits the 10-minute mark, it better be that long for a reason. Some of the songs on this album have no reason for being that long. The shortest track on the album is the first track "Different World" (4: 18); The longest track is "For the Greater Good of God" (9: 24). The only track under 5 minutes is the aforementioned first track. Anyway, onto more things. Singers voices naturally mature over the years. Listen to Chris Cornell when Soundgarden first started and then listen to him now. Sounds different doesn't he? This has occured with several artists with long careers such as Geddy Lee, Bob Dylan, Eddie Vedder, Robert Plant, etc. Since Bruce Dickinson is a vocal God, I was nervous to hear how he'd sound. Guess what? He sounds great! His voice sounds almost exactly the same, just a bit more nasally...But he still rocks! The opening track (despite being a little "cheesy" lyrically) is a great way to start the album. It's a great song, that could easily be a radio staple. The next track "These Colours Don't Run" is a very political song with a great guitar and vocal performance. Up until "The Longest Day" and "Out of the Shadows," it's a five-star album. These are the weakest tracks, but Maiden quickly regains momentum with "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" which is a little too long, but still is great. The next song, the longest, would be a 5-star song if not for it's 9-minute run time. It's a song that seems to be nine minutes long only so they can prove that they can write a song that long. They could have easily shaved off 3 to 4 minutes off of it. The next two tracks are good (except, also very long), especially the closer "The Legacy." Hardcore Maiden fans will be very pleased no doubt and so will newcomers, but this is a 10-song album. It should be 35 to 45 minutes. This album is 2 seconds shy of being 72 minutes long! You have to set aside a certain time of your day to listen to this album. It's got some great songs on it and I'd recommend you check it out. If Iron Maiden can still rock this hard all these years later, they could put out a masterpiece with their next album (if the songs are shorter). "Number of the Beast" is commonly considered their best album...They still have a chance to improve upon that one.

GRADE: B

Blown Away.......2007-05-01

Just when I'd written Maiden off, thinking there was no way they could come back after the somewhat disappointing Dance Of Death, they release A Matter Of Life And Death. Not only that, but the album has the same feel as Dance Of Death, but they actually accomplish the progressive feel without getting repetitive. This is the best album since Bruce rejoined the band, perhaps the best Maiden release since Powerslave.

The album kicks off with what at first seems to be a standard Maiden starter, with a fast metal riff and a verse reminiscent to that of "The Wicker Man." The chorus of "Different World" shows that this is a different world indeed, where Bruce throws away his trademark shriek for a more melodic tone. And somehow it works.

"These Colours Don't Run" has a verse that sounds like a chorus. Very catchy in that Maiden way we've come to know. Also has the accomplished progressive feel the band seemed to be aiming for on Dance of Death without losing the epic edge the band had on previous releases.

"Brighter Than A Thousand Suns" has a cool riff, but unfortunately goes on for a tad bit too long for my tastes. Also sounds a bit like a redone version of "Paschendale," except I like "Paschendale" better. Still a good track.

"The Pilgrim" is another good track that falls short of the excellent standard set by the rest of the album. Unfortunately, it gets swallowed up by the other tunes, so is not as memorable as it could have been.

"The Longest Day" begins with Harris' classic slow gallop and a haunting guitar riff. Dickinson proves yet again that his voice is as good as it ever was. "The Longest Day" is thankfully not too long. About five minutes into the song, the guitar takes off, leading into a solo reminiscent of early Maiden but still with the modern vibe.

"Out Of The Shadows" reminds me of "Children Of The Damned," and is a great song although the chorus does get a little repetitive. This time, however, the band keeps it relatively short (my main gripe about Dance Of Death is that the songs are long with the chorus being repeated over and over again).

"The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" kicks off the epic four set at the end of this album. All songs at this point are over 7 minutes long. I really like the way the song starts, and when Bruce starts singing, you already feel like you've started on his journey. Then the Sabbath-like riff kicks in. Wonderful song.

"For The Greater Good Of God" is the longest song on the album, clocking in at 9:24. This song starts out sounding like it belonged back on the X Factor. Thankfully, Bruce and not Blayze comes in, and all is well. Bruce once again shows why he belongs with the mike. His vocal range absolutely destroys on this song.

Following that, there is "Lord Of Light," and on this track, Bruce actually sounds a bit like Blayze. But not for long. He starts screaming in true Dickinson fashion. This song could easily have been on Number of the Beast without sounding out of place.

The closing track, "The Legacy," is probably my favorite on the album.

Best Maiden album in years but hard to review.......2007-04-18

This is the album Maiden fans have been expecting since Seventh Son, but it's also the hardest one to review in the band's history. On the plus side, we see a unique and strong concept for the songs and cover (war and religion), a distinct never-seen-before-in-Maiden prog sound, inspired songs and an end to that repeating the same chorus to exhaustion that we saw in BNW and DOD. On the con side, the slowstart-getsheavy-endsslow throughout the whole album can get in the nerves and if the mood is not right you can't stand listening to it.

Xcept for the pseudo ballad Out Of Shadows, all songs are individually outstanding and capable of featuring on any Maiden album. And you have the impression that they will be even better and more powerful when played alive. But you end up wishing that some were shortened and started with a heavy riff for a change. On the musician side, stars are Bruce singing like The Prisoner with new tricks and Nicko drumming like Neil Peart. The rest of the band sounds strong as ever, but you wonder when they will do triple solos, since they have 3 G-men now, and why they did not allow Adrian to use the "commercial" inspiration that gave us Prisoner, Run To The Hills, Flight Of Icarus, Aces High, Two Minutes, Wasted Years, Evil That Men Do and The Wickerman.

Don't get me wrong, I love the album, but I end up listening to it less than BNW and DOD, because it depends so much on my mood (and a long commute) for me to really appreciate it. Well, here are the songs for a detailed look in:

DIFFERENT WORLD - one of the best openers for Maiden, joins the hard rock feeling of DOD's Wildest Dreams with the quality of BNW's Wickerman and a chorus from Thin Lizzy. 9/10
THESE COLOURS DONT RUN - starts the long prog pieces, great chorus, aggressive singing, the bridges between solos could be less dull. 8/10
BRIGHTER... - absurdly heavy riff from Adrian, will scare off some Black Metal fans, great lyrics, again agressive singing, a little repetitive chorus though. 8/10
PILGRIM - Egypt meets Maiden adds complexity , great guitar intro, second shortest song, Bruce kicks a**. 9/10
LONGEST DAY - you feel right into Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan's first 15 Minutes. This is awesome, a long proggy song, with emotional lyrics and singing that will send shivers through your spine. 10/10
OUT OF SHADOWS - downfall here. Joins Tears Of The Dragon with Wasting Love to a worse result than any of them. Not bad, but not on Maiden level. 6/10
REINCARNATION... - the most original single ever, and a great one. A slow deathly start with "enigmatic" lyrics, heavy and hooky guitar riffs, awesome Brucelike chorus and catchy simple solos. Need more? Personally, I believe that Benjamin Breeg is an alias for Eddie, ie, the band -> check the lyrics. 10/10
GREATER GOOD... - Best song in the album, a classic right now. Epic, singalong bridges, hammeringc chorus, you can't make it better no matter how you try. 10/10
LORD OF LIGHT - Again a great song. Slow and dark start, a heavy rock'n'roll riff starts a journey into the dark side of God, aggressive singing, solos all around and some guitar bending and vibratoes never sae in Maiden before. 9/10
LEGACY - mix of Medieval acoustic guitars, bombastic keyboard moments and some aggressive singings, but electric guitars are a little downplayed here. Great ending for the album and a nice innovation from Maiden, like DOD's Journeyman. 8/10

PS: check Saxon's new Inner Sanctum album, it's absurdly good.

Average customer rating:

Maiden is back on top
A Matter of Life And Death
An absolute masterpiece.
maiden at their finest!!!!
Maiden's finest in years!!

A Matter Of Life And Death
Iron Maiden
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000H7JD4K
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Tracks:

Different World
These Colours Don't Run
Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
Pilgrim
Longest Day
Out of the Shadows
Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
For the Greater Good of God
Lord of Light
Legacy

Tracks:

Contains interviews and two in-studio performances.

Customer Reviews:

Maiden is back on top.......2007-07-19

This CD is incredible. Every song is well written. Think back to the days of Powerslave or Piece of Mind. It's that great. Vocally, Bruce is as sharp as ever. Guitars are strong and razor sharp. Drum scores are creative and present, if that makes any sense. If you are a long time Maiden fan, this will not dissapoint at all. If you are a new listener, sit back and enjoy the ride. If the songs were shorter, they could grab more air time.

A Matter of Life And Death.......2007-07-17

This is simply one of the quintessential rock efforts ever produced by mankind. Marking the 3rd album of a reunited Iron Maiden and comprising what are arguably 6 of rock's best musicians in history, the band has capitalized on each other's capabilities to create a truly stellar work. If you ever wondered what contribution a great singer could make to rock music; if you ever strained to hear a bass rythym; if you ever started the song over when the guitar solo came up; or if you ever thought Ginger Baker's "double bass" was as good as it gets, you need to start retheorizing your "Rock Philosophy" right now. Iron Maiden's on-again/off-again efforts throughout the '80s/'90s do "A Matter of Life and Death" no justice and furthermore should NOT be used as a yardstick for their 21st Century accomplishments. Listen to "A Matter of Life and Death," and you'll agree: it takes 6 Englishmen to make perfect rock music (and I'm American!). My English/Poetry PhD mom even gave the lyrics a hearty "thumbs-up." I defy any rock fan to name a better, more important album in the past 4 decades--if you think you can, you need to go back to school.

An absolute masterpiece........2007-07-17

This album is an absolute work of art. I'm a fan of Progressive metal/rock, and I truely think this is one of the best albums Iron Maiden has recorded, if not the best.

See, before I bought and listened to this album, I wasn't a huge Maiden fan. I liked their songs, but they never quite hooked me enough. But I read a couple of online reviews for this album. They were praising it: "Five stars!" "More progressive than ever before!" "Best from Maiden in years!"
So, I was anxious to listen.
I went out, bought the album, put it in my CD player, and listened.
How it blew me away.

Ever since, I've been a huge Maiden fan, and I now have almost all of their studio albums. So, you could say, this album made me a Maiden fan.

So anyway, let's get to the point. After all, you aren't here to read about how I became a Maiden fan, you're here to read about the album.

"Different World", the rocker-single opening is great; very catchy. Man, do they know how to solo.

"These Colours Don't Run" is one of my personal favorites from the album. I love the slow opening, then transitioning to fast-paced, amped up, in-your-face anthem. It's great really. After all of these years, Bruce can still hit those high notes.

"Brighter Than a Thousand Suns", an epic song about 8 and a half minutes long, is also one of my favorites. It has many changes melodically, which keeps the song interesting. Again, I praise Bruce for still being able to hit such high notes. And Steve Harris is perhaps one of the best songwriters known to humankind. His lyrics are deep and meaningful, and like nothing you've ever heard before.

"The Pilgrim" This song was the first I truly loved on the album. It has a very, very catchy chorus and opening. The riff is quite unique, and I could listen to this song for hours without getting sick of it.

"The Longest Day" I believe this song's lyrics refer to D-Day in WWII, correct me if I'm mistaken. It really has a powerful effect. It starts off slow, like many songs in the album, but, of course, the riff kicks in, and instantly the audience nods along. Quite a catchy song, with great lyrics.

"Out of the Shadows" The opening riff to this song is kind of mystifying. The band works together in a way nobody can duplicate.

"The Reincarnation of Benjaming Breeg" This is my absolute favorite on the album, and probably my favorite Maiden song overall. The opening is a slow, dramatic riff, followed by a short, soft vocal bit. And again, the song transitions to a heavy, heavy riff, which I find quite catchy. The song has a lot of transitions, and only if you hear it, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say, it's one of the best songs I've heard in ages.

"For the Greater Good of God" This is beat only by Benjamin Breeg. The lyrics in this song are very powerful, and the riff truly fits. Once again, it starts off slow, and then slowly builds. Bruce's voice amazes me on each and every song on the album, especially this song. He has a different singing style from earlier albums, and I quite like it. The chorus is catchy, and this is another of those songs I could listen to for hours and not get sick of. This song is the longest on the album, reaching an epic 9 minutes and 24 seconds, and every second of this song is amazing. Definitely a classic.

"Lord of Light" This one also starts off slow, and it sounds like religion is a theme in the lyrics. Adrian, Dave, and Janick really show their skills on this album, and this song is a highlight for them, I think.

"The Legacy" This is song also starts off slow, with a hauntingly beautiful melody in the beginning. It's really quite a unique song. Many transitions, once again, and another highlight of the guitarists' skills. This one is also quite powerful lyrically and melodically. Definitely one of my favorites.

And there you have it. That's my opinion of this work of art. Up the irons.

maiden at their finest!!!!.......2007-07-15

brighter than a thousand suns and benjamin breeg could be the only songs on the album and it would still be 5 stars,their best to date,incredible,awesome,etc...buy it or you are missing out.

Maiden's finest in years!!.......2007-07-15

Average customer rating:

Best Cd I Have Ever Purchased!!!!
If you not from here, you cant review this album
The Roots
"gangsta" rap is a waste
LIFE OR DEATH

Life or Death
C-Murder
Manufacturer: Priority Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000064PW
Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

Intro
A 2nd Chance
Akickdoe!
Costantly 'N Danger
Don't Play No Games
Show Me Luv
Picture Me
On The Run
Get N Paid
Only The Strong Survive
The Truest Sh...
Making Moves
Feel My Pain
Soldiers
Cluckers
Life Or Death
Where I'm From
G's & Macks
Commercial
Riders
Watch Yo Enemies
Duck & Run
Ghetto Ties
Survival Of The Fittest
Dreams
Outro

Customer Reviews:

Best Cd I Have Ever Purchased!!!!.......2007-06-23

This is my favorite cd of all time, I don't skip one track on the entire cd and it's timeless, I could listen to this album right now matter of fact I just might!!!!

If you not from here, you cant review this album.......2007-05-15

If you not from the south then you don't know the impact this album had on rap itself. When P started opening doors for us to get any credit this was the album that said the south had more than west coast clones and booty shaking music. Before this album you had the Biggies, the Tupacs, and all that but you didnt have too many people HONESTLY living day to day that life and rapping about it. They might have experienced it but no one was rapping live and direct from the lions den like Master P and all of the No Limit Soldiers.

The Roots.......2006-11-17

This is the start of what is to become a wonderful artist. Picture me is one of the truest songs about livin in the ghetto. If you ain't got the boys behind you, you's a dead mother !@#$%^.

"gangsta" rap is a waste.......2006-10-06

ive heard 13 year old white kids that rhyme circles around this dude. all he has going for him is that he's "hard" which doesnt mean anything if youre an MC. even if he didn't shoot that 16-year-old he was probly glad he got arrested for it so that he could put "gangsta" samples on his record

doesnt anyone have anything to say any more besides how many people theyve shot and drugs theyve sold??? i thought that was what was holding the ghetto back in te first place, why brag about it. people need a reality check

LIFE OR DEATH.......2006-09-29

cmurder lives a hard life, watch im bout it, then you will no were he comin from, him and his brothers hold down the rap game reppin big bad TRU click

The Chronicles of Life & Death (Life Art Version)

Average customer rating:

so good
Bad Charlotte! Absolutely horrible Charlotte!
GC SUCKS!
Teens like this music
An Angsty Saga

The Chronicles of Life & Death (Life Art Version)
Good Charlotte
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk Revival | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

The Young and Hopeless
Good Charlotte
No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls
Still Not Getting Any...
Good Morning Revival

ASIN: B0002X590Q
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Once Upon A Time: The Battle Of Life And Death
The Chronicles Of Life And Death
Walk Away (Maybe)
S.O.S.
I Just Wanna Live
Ghost Of You
Predictable
Secrets
The Truth
The World Is Black
Mountain
We Believe
It Wasn't Enough
In This World (Murder)
Falling Away (Bonus Track)

Album Description

DESCRIPTION:Chronicles of Life and Death is the follow-up to Good Charlotte's breakthrough, The Young and the Hopeless. Packed with catchy punk-pop, the album is available in two versions, Life and Death which include the bonus songs "Falling Away" and "Meet My Maker", respectively.

Customer Reviews:

so good.......2007-06-28

i just love this album.it makes me laugh and think hard sometimes too.good charlotte just keeps getting better.

Bad Charlotte! Absolutely horrible Charlotte!.......2007-01-10

Cool! More emo for the hit stations to pump into the ears of mindless musicoids who obey whatsoever the airwaves tell them! Actually, that was a bit harsh on this band's fans. But anyway, this is an absolutely atrocious release with the exception of "I Wanna Live" or whatever it's called. I heard this album about two years ago and that's the only song that stood out to me. Don't buy this! It's pop trash and there are much more sophisticated bands you could look for. (I.E. Lostprophets, still slightly emo but much better lyrically and instrumentally)

GC SUCKS!.......2007-01-08

Hahahahaha. This band sucks, period. Honestly, I have never heard such horrible displays of music. Wait I have, that was Paris Hilton, K-fed, and Simple Plan. Wow. Hard to believe that the music scene has become this awful. I wonder what kind of idiots run the music industry these days. Whatever happened to the good ole days of BLack Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Jimi Hindricks, Metallica, Pantera, Alice in Chains, etc. All of these good bands/artists have basically been replaced with whiny, wimpy, bubble-gum pop/rock bands/artists like GC, Simple Plan, Jessy McCartney, Paris Hilton, etc. I can't understand why wimps with no talent whatsoever are given recording contracts.

Anyways, back to this piece of crap band. This album just flat-out sucks. All the tracks are terrible. The lead singer sounds sexually frustrated which is absolutely annoying to hear. The guitar playing is a joke. These guitarists clearly don't know how to create a good riff. All they use is power chords and distortion. The production is terrible too. Btw, if you wanna know how whiny the lead singer can get, just listen to the first single off the album. It has him doing a spoken part which sounds more like a crying four-year-old than anything. It is ridiculous but not surprising when I hear most high school students saying how good this band is or that they rock hard. People, you don't know anything about what good music is or what rocks hard. For something that rocks hard, try Pantera, Metallica, Killswitch Engage for that.

I will be training to become an SBI agent in two years and know that I will have to deal with many juveniles in my line of work which makes me hate this band even more b/c that's what most of them listen too and rap(don't get me started on how much I despise this). I don't have a lot of respect for adolescents these days come to think of it. The fact that many of them are such spoiled brats and complain that their lives are horrible b/c their parents are too strict really pisses me off. In essence that's what this band talks about in their lyrics, especially on this album. I have had all I can take of bands like this and their fans who are ungreatful to be alive. This album deserves 0 stars, btw.

P.S. Also, if I have offended anyone by this posting, deal with it!

Teens like this music.......2007-01-05

My teen daughters like this group. Too weird for me though.

An Angsty Saga.......2006-09-29

I've given up my Good Charlotte fan status and tried to chuck my "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" CD ages ago. It's kind of personal, but I just kind of outgrew them.
Anyways, on this CD, I think the only song I like is "Predictable." I was resistant to it, but it wore me down. The speech-rant part in the middle cracks me up every time. Sorry, Benji and Joel. I know you showed vulnerability, but that whole "You're never coming back!" stuff makes me laugh.
It's not really good, and not my favorite thing ever, but it's fun to sing along like angst-filled pseudo-punks (with the windows firmly closed, to keep our cred intact, of course).

The Chronicles of Life & Death (Death Art Version)

Average customer rating:

Most disappointing album EVER
Come on.
How the f... they call themselves good Charlotte when it's just bad?
Had Some Good Points...
Worst Band Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Chronicles of Life & Death (Death Art Version)
Good Charlotte
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk Revival | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Young and Hopeless
Good Charlotte
The Chronicles of Life & Death (Life Art Version)
Good Morning Revival
No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls

ASIN: B0002X590G
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Once Upon A Time: The Battle Of Life And Death
The Chronicles Of Life And Death
Walk Away (Maybe)
S.O.S.
I Just Wanna Live
Ghost Of You
Predictable
Secrets
The Tenth
The World Is Black
Mountain
We Believe
It Wasn't Enough
In This World (Murder)
Meet My Maker

Album Description

Chronicles of Life and Death is the follow-up to Good Charlotte's breakthrough, The Young and the Hopeless. Packed with catchy punk-pop, the album is available in two versions, Life and Death which include the bonus songs "Falling Away" and "Meet My Maker", respectively.

Customer Reviews:

Most disappointing album EVER.......2006-10-20

Having rather enjoyed their self-titled album and "The Young And The Hopeless", I made the mistake of buying this boring and musically morbid CD.

If this was an attempt by Good Charlotte to expand the group's musical horizons, then it's a perfect failure which perhaps demonstrates that the boys had by this point reached the limits of their creativity.

If the album were not bad enough, I find the marketing technique of issuing two nearly identical CDs that differ only in the so-called "bonus song" offered to be cheesy at best. If that doesn't embrace the term "sell out", then nothing does.

Come on. .......2006-03-27

It is really sad when people go on artist product sites and write trash about them when they dont even listen to the product, besdies what you hear on the radio.

I mean come on. Give it up.
You obviously cant escape them, so you might as well deal with it.

SO if you dont like them, dont talk about them. The people here that do talk about them and only talk about hate for them.

So STFU. Ignore it, go listen to your "GOOD music" and let the fans listen to GC. They are obviously sucessful in what they do and will continue. SO just bit your tongue and go on with your life.

I mean if you hate them so much, why the shiz do you write long things about it. Real people would just go on with their normal lives and not care. Cause thats what cool people do.

I like Good Charlotte. Im 16. What?
Who the freak cares. I dont bother with your music.
Dont bother with mine.

(I am referring to all the gc haters who feel the need to waste space on something they hate) not anyone in particular. Just them =)

How the f... they call themselves good Charlotte when it's just bad?.......2006-03-27

No need to say more, these f@gs are just making lousy punk pop for the teenage girls and mtv watching kids who think they're quite rebel with listening to this kind of sheit, and these suckers do it just for the money like green day or blink 182. There just have to be some stuff like this to fill all the pop and mtv charts.

Had Some Good Points..........2006-02-25

Note: Track ratings are based on the album, not music in general.

I got this album for Chronicles, which is a pretty decent track, but after listening to the whole album a few times it didn't really have much to say for itself. Almost all the songs are, well, boring. The only thing that stops it getting two stars is that it does have some decent tracks on it.

Also, Amazon says that track 9 is called the tenth. It's not, it's the truth.

1. Once Upon a Time- The intro is ok, just a little odd. It really doesn't seem to credit anything to the band, but it has a nice tune and sets the mood for... some other album. 8/10

2. The Chronicles Of Life And Death- A very good song, and it reminds me a heck of a lot of Sims 2... The tune is excellent, and the lyrics have some highlights. Though it's just the track, this song has a very good video if you care to look online for it. 10/10

3. Walk Away (Maybe)- Has some nice bits, but overall just a bit grating on the ears. No excellent tune, or revolutionary lyrics. It's not bad, but it's not good either. 6/10

4. S.O.S.- Again, a few decent bits here and there, but mostly very samey. The lead's whining is quite noticeable here. 5/10

5. I Just Wanna Live- It's one of the better songs, but not one that I really like. It doesn't really fit with the rest of the album, and sounds a bit like Scissor Sisters rapping. Still good, though. 7/10

6. Ghost Of You- A lot of very nice bits here, but basically the same "nice bit" repeated. The verses are very dull, and still the whining gets through... But the chorus is defitiely qutie good. 7/10

7. Predictable- A nice tune again with some very decent bits, but also a lot of pointless lyrics dragging it down. It's another self-pity songs, but the chorus' tune redeems it a lot. 7/10

8. Secrets- One of the best tracks on the albums, this is one of the few that stays good throughout. The instrumentals in this are also very good. 10/10

9. The Truth- Another good one, but very slow, sad and depressing. Think of Oasis's "Stop Crying Your Heart Out." The major complaint about this is it's the same tune repeated, but otherwise it's one of the best. 10/10

10. The World is Black- One of the best again, this one has very good lyrics that can really make you think (or at least made me think). The tune is lacking, but is in no way bad, and is better than some of the other songs. Despite its fairly cheerful tune, this song is one of the most depressing on the album. 10/10

11. Mountain- Missing out a lot on the tune here, and it suffers from poor vocals. There are still good bits, and it's one of the more cheerful tracks on the album. Not bad. 7/10

12. Believe- Talk about depressing. "Her only son has died, and now her daughter cries." The tune is simple but comes across as ok. The lyrics aren't brilliant, but the song isn't bad. 7/10

13. It Wasn't Enough- Awful, whingy start. But one of the best on the album, and certainly the cheeriest. It's one that you can sing along to without thinkin gyou're singing about your own destruction. The lyrics aren't happy, but the tune makes up for it. The chorus' tune falls short, but the verses are good. 10/10

14. In this World (Murder)- Ok tune, interesting lyrics, but it has a tendency to give you a headache. I can't listen to it; it's trying to be rock too hard with too much whining. But the lyrics are interesting, especially at the chorus. Not a happy song, though, and certainly headache-inducing. Not beacuase it's overly bad, just because it grates. The lead singer is whinging again. 6/10

15. Meet My Maker- Again, trying to be rock and falling short. Better than Murder but singing about death in a not so cheery way. It's songs like this that remind me of My Chemical Romance, but Good Charlotte just don't have the same vigour MCR have for their music. It's a mediocre song: not bad. 6/10

16. Wounded- Hidden track, in the middle of Meet My Maker. A very good song, running in the same vein as "The Truth," but a whole lot better. One of the best on the album, certainly. And the whining seems to fit this time. Excellent song. 10/10

On the whole, they could have done a lot better, but some highlights redeem the mostly mediocre album. My advice to Good Charlotte: Quit with the nasal whining, it hurts our ears. Decided whether or not you're going to be emo. And if you can only produce crappy songs, just don't produce at all. This album would have done better if had cut out all the average tracks.

Could have been worse, but nothing special either.

Worst Band Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-12-26

First of all, they're emo, so I give them a 1 star just for that. If I could give them lower I would. They think that they're better than Jimi Hendrix? Well why doesn't the lead guitarist from Good Charlotte take his guitar and shove it up his a$$! Their solos suck so fricking bad, it's unbelievable. What's with all of these kids saying how great they are? All they consist of is a bunch of wining little sissies b*tching about how screwed up their lives are. Boo hoo, who gives a sh*t?!? They think they've got it so bad. Look at all the kids on the other side of the world who are starving to death, have no homes, and no families. The kids in America who are influenced by their emo junk think that just because their parents don't let them do whatever they want that their lives are so bad. So that's an excuse to go cut their wrists? Nice influence their music is on kids. What happened to all of the good music from the 60s and 70s? I'm a kid and I don't listen to any of that emo crap. I listen to Kiss, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin. Real music. Not in a trillion years could Good Charlotte match up to any of those bands. By the way...their music just sucks in general.

Music Info:

Music Info

music info

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