Skull & Bones [Explicit Lyrics]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As rap-metal hybrids continue to sell millions, Cypress Hill fills the "Bones Disc" of this two-CD set with a half-dozen hard rockers that keep things loose-limbed enough to incite the dance floor to something other than moshing. The best music the group has released in years, it shows that this decade-old act is still capable of surprise. The accompanying "Skull Disc" hardly delivers the same jolt, but should satisfy hardcore fans of the Hill. While Cypress Hill sound convincing and forceful over the 64 minutes of Skull & Bones, the record's lyrics have little new to say: most of these songs warn off would-be competitors, praise ganja, or complain about the hardships presented by the rappers' celebrity status. Still, the crunching "Bones" tracks and the occasional Spanglish verses show that this crew hasn't run out of spirit yet. --Bob Roget

Skull & Bones,Cypress Hill,Sony,Hardcore Rap,Latin Rap,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,Rap-Metal,Rap-Rock,West Coast Rap

Skull & Bones [Explicit Lyrics]

Tracks:

Bertha
Mama Tried
Big Railroad Blues
Playing In The Band
The Other One
Me & My Uncle
Big Boss Man
Me & Bobby McGee
Johnny B. Goode
Wharf Rat
Not Fade Away/Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad
Oh, Boy!
I'm A Hog For You
Bonus Track 1

Album Description

Expanded & remastered (in glorious HDCD) version of 1971 album includes two ultra rare bonus tracks, 'I'm A Hog For You' & 'Oh, Boy!'. Includes expanded booklet as well, with rare photos, packaged in Digipak format. Warner/Elektra. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

A great Live show!.......2007-02-22

I found the record version of this in my basement. Sadly, for about 3 years I could not listen to it and other amazing grateful dead records because it seemed that no one in america had a record player anymore. But I finally bought the cd and good god Is this good! it truly is an awesome piece of music, it can stand the test of time, and it is really good to listen to for whatever occasion. This is by far one of the best live albums the dead released, it is up there with "Live/dead" and "truckin up to buffalo july 4th 1989" But it as soon as humanly possible.

An interesting live album despite the overdubs.......2006-10-13

This is a great live album dispite that it doesn't really represent the period right. Spring tour 1971 featured alot of Pigpen tunes in the setlists but only one appears here. Due to Pigpen's illness, most of his parts are erased and overdubbed by Merle Saunders. Vocal overdubs were also added. On all of the lp copies you hear Phil singing backing vocals on Bertha. For whatever reason, on all the new remixed, remastered and newly released albums for this period this also happens. Buy this disc with Ladies and Gentlemen and get a good dose of the Dead from spring'71. Not Fade Away/Goin' Down The Road is one of the all time best.

A Mixed Bag, with Moments of Greatness.......2006-06-02

For their second `official' live album, the Grateful Dead switched gears a bit from their previous endeavor. While "Live/Dead" accentuated the jamming aspect of the band, spreading five songs over four sides (the three tracks on side four really constitute one performance), this collection goes for a breezier feel. Here, eleven tracks fill out four sides, allowing room for only one meandering jam ("The Other One"), which does little to add to the legacy already created by "Live/Dead". When performing their own original material, this album succeeds completely on its own terms. "Bertha" is one of the chirpiest jam tunes the Dead ever came up with - enough to inspire Los Lobos to do a faithful cover version - while "Playing in the Band" gives Bob Weir the opportunity to indulge in some rock and roll. It's only when the band attempts to incorporate songs previously made famous by others that the album veers out of bounds. "Me and Bobby McGee" is a pointless endeavor, especially in light of Janis Joplin's definitive version, while there really aren't too many people who would consider a Grateful Dead version of "Johnny B. Goode" to be essential listening.

Grateful Dead works mostly because it presents a fairly accurate overview of the band's strengths (and weaknesses). Energetic `cover' songs such as "Mama Tried" and "Big Railroad Blues" provide an opportunity for the band to get down to basics and play like a fully integrated bar band. "Wharf Rat", meanwhile, shifts moods, sounding simultaneously desperate and hopeful, allowing the band to grease its improvisational tendencies to full effect. Most telling is the jam that ties Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" to the public-domain folk song "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad." This segue pretty much summarizes the best bits of the album, combining instinct, tradition and energy into a unique synthesis that transcends either basic song. Coming on the heels of two exceptional studio recordings, more people were listening to the Dead, and this album does an excellent job of retaining old fans while seducing new ones. Combining elements of their `traditional' jamming with a batch of nicely constructed new songs, Grateful Dead does a laudable job of offering something for everybody.
B+ Tom Ryan

....THAT OLD COUNTRY FEELING........2006-04-06

In the sixties The Grateful Dead were the premiere group in the scene of Psychedelic Jam Rock. They made their way up the ranks by playing infamous live shows that were famous for "the vibe."
What was the vibe? Well basically the band and the audience would become one, sometimes on the music (which was excellent at times) and sometimes on loads of drugs (in these cases the music was nothing more than a few intangible notes repeated over and over.---see LIVE/DEAD)
By the early seventies however, The Dead had reached a new phase. They found that, a little bit of proffesionalism, and a little less partying, was actually making them successful. In the same year the band released their two masterpiece albums WORKINGMANS DEAD and AMERICAN BEAUTY, and launched what became their first major (major) tour. This all happened years before I was even concieved, but when you look through my DEAD collection, this is the era where I hop on board. The laid back, country style, that far better showcases the bands talent, over the sixties psychedelia. GRATEFUL DEAD (aka SKULL and ROSES) was the bands next release, and really basks itself in country feel. The whole thing was recorded live, but stands to be the first published recording for every track contained within. Excellent stuff, some of The Deads best, for sure.
Right off we get the now bonafied classics BERTHA, MAMA TRIED, ME AND MY UNCLE etc.
Bob Weirs Dead introduction of PLAYING IN THE BAND, and there are also a few cover songs... ME AND BOBBY MCGEE (a different kind of version, nice) JOHNNY B. GOODE, and BIG BOSS MAN (W/Pigpen on vocals for that-yeah)-
This should be part of your DEAD collection, I'd say. If you like the country side of THE DEAD, without all the space out jams, this is for you.

Jerry's 'On'.......2005-09-03

I read somewhere that Jerry said this record epitomised what the Dead were all about. and after hearing it again ,re-mastered after all these years I agree .I had this on vinyl while living in London in the 70's(a double LP) I liked it then and I love it now . Jerry's guitar never sounded better (especially on the remaster -great job whoever is responsible )Song selection is what they were doing back then .This is the disc that has the famous , Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away'' seguing into Woody Guthries' , "Goin Down The Road Feelin Bad" and the superb Big Railroad Blues(was that Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers?) .All tunes contain astounding band performances Kicking off with "Bertha" ,and Jerry's axe shines throughout . I would recommend this to anyone new to the Dead ,as a great place to start. This remastered version contains two extra tracks that could have been left off .. The Coasters' Im A Hog For You Baby,and Buddy Holly's Oh Boy! .. 'Hog' is the better of the two , but neither of these performances enhance the disc .. but, there again .. some Deadheads might be ecstatic that this extra material is on here.

Average customer rating:

Intense!

Expressway to Your Skull
Buddy Miles Express
Manufacturer: Hip-O Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Them Changes
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ASIN: B000BQPYMC
Release Date: 2006-12-01

Tracks:

Train
Let Your Love Light Shine
Don't Mess With Cupid
Funky Mule
You're the One (That I Adore)
Wrap It Up
Spot on the Wall

Product Description

Buddy Miles has cast a large presence in rock history, but hes a large man, so maybe its not such a big surprise. Recruited by Mike Bloomfield out of Wilson Picketts backup band, Buddy joined the Electric Flag. In keeping with the times, the Electric Flag were psychedelic, heavy, funky, and bluesy, with jazz and world overtones tossed in for good measure. Miles would later recall it as the best band I ever played in, which is quite a recommendation, given his résumé. The Electric Flag shorted out after the first album, and co-founders Barry Goldberg and Mike Bloomfield departed. Miles attempted to soldier on under the Electric Flag moniker, but a second album proved that to be unworkable, so he kept the horn section and formed the Buddy Miles Express. Their debut album, Expressway To Your Skull, had elements of Blood, Sweat and Tears, the JBs and Hendrix all jamming together on 12 inches of vinyl. Speaking of Hendrix, Miles and Jimi had been pals since the days of the Monterey Pop Festival, so it was no surprise that Buddy was asked onboard for the Band of Gypsys project. The band debuted on New Years Eve 1970, and the lineup recorded a single album before Hendrixs untimely death. Miles has carried on in a variety of venues since, from a stint backing John McLaughlin, touring and recording with Santana, and giving voice to the California Raisins. In the post-Raisin era, he has led a band called the Blues Berries, recording one album in 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Intense!.......2007-06-02

All I have to say is that this is one of the most jammin' CD's I've listened to in a while. It's sad that I have to look deep into the past in order to find quality music.

Average customer rating:

In my humble opinion ...
Love this CD!
No hits on this Skunk Weed
B Real, Mugs, Sen Dawg.....What happend?!
Good....For What it Is

Skull & Bones
Cypress Hill
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Latin Rap | Latin Music | Styles | Music

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General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

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Rap Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Black Sunday
IV
Stoned Raiders
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom

ASIN: B00004SVJR
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Tracks:

Intro
Another Story
(Rap) Superstar
Cuban Necktie
What U Want From Me
Stank A** H**
Highlife
Certified Bomb
Can I Get A Hit
We live This S***
Woldwide

Tracks:

Valley Of Chrome
Get Out Of My head
Can't Get The Best Of Me
A Man
Dust
(Rock) Superstar

Amazon.com

As rap-metal hybrids continue to sell millions, Cypress Hill fills the "Bones Disc" of this two-CD set with a half-dozen hard rockers that keep things loose-limbed enough to incite the dance floor to something other than moshing. The best music the group has released in years, it shows that this decade-old act is still capable of surprise. The accompanying "Skull Disc" hardly delivers the same jolt, but should satisfy hardcore fans of the Hill. While Cypress Hill sound convincing and forceful over the 64 minutes of Skull & Bones, the record's lyrics have little new to say: most of these songs warn off would-be competitors, praise ganja, or complain about the hardships presented by the rappers' celebrity status. Still, the crunching "Bones" tracks and the occasional Spanglish verses show that this crew hasn't run out of spirit yet. --Bob Roget

Customer Reviews:

In my humble opinion ..........2007-03-26

I'm a fan, don't get me wrong. On disc 1, there's 6/10 songs that are winners, but "certified bomb" is just embarrassing. On disc 2, there are 2 good songs, and one (Rock superstar) is basically just a remix from disc 1. The other good one was Valley of Chrome. After that, the attempt at metal is pretty poor, and it was a bad direction to take. Sen particularly let the band down on this album (he was great on IV.)

Love this CD!.......2006-12-26

Die hard Cypress fan and like them even more with this CD. C'mon folks, how many rap artists can do rock/metal? I dig it and I like the mix. I would rate this second to Black Sunday.

No hits on this Skunk Weed.......2006-05-24

I love cypress hill but cant stand this album. Its just plain horrible to listen too. Its the only cypress hill CD I dont own. Ice T went this route in the mid 90's. It didnt work then and doesnt work now.

B Real, Mugs, Sen Dawg.....What happend?!.......2005-10-16

Black Sunday was amazing, Temple of Boom was brilliant, IV was not there best but still a masterpiece.....but now? Something has happend to the Hill and let me tell you buddy, I don't like it! What the hell happend Muggs? You were an amazing Music Producer?! I'm sorry to say this but RAP wise this is 1 star material(no not because there was limited rap songs in it...because it was baaaaaaaaaad....very, very bad). In all honesty the first CD is horrible, there was not one track I liked except for semi funny "stank A-hole"...the rest are just average....plain........average. They want from brilliantly Dark/stoned raiders to horrible sucky, suck rockers...yeah that's right. And if you're thinking I disliked it because they went rock then you're absolutley wrong, I loved "Lightning Strikes" which had a dark rock beat to it in the Hills amazing "IV"...The only metal/rap songs that are good on this album are "Valley of Chrome" which reminded me of "Lightning strikes", "Get out of my Head" and "Can't get the best of me" which we get to hear some of Sen Dawg(Maybe it's just me but I think this is the longest Hill song that Sen Dawg has rapped in were els the others he's very limited in)....yeah the rest I really didn't like that much and "Rock Superstar" was meh for me... Very sad with you guys :( .....

If you're a CH noob and looking to start somewere first get there debut(which is still a superb album) and work your way up to IV and then.....just wait for a good Hill album and skip there last 3 albums...there just...average..

3.1/5 stars

Good....For What it Is.......2005-08-11

Metal Rap bands tend to do poorly but these guys were different. They seem like their down with everyone and that's good. The talent level in rapping was very high but some of the songs fell flat with the beats etc. You should get this if you're into CYpress because they are good it's just that a lot of their songs aren't great.

2 Best Songs - Stank A** H** & (Rock) Superstar

2 Worst Songs - Cuban Necktie & Certified Bomb

Average customer rating:

Been done before
Like Brand New Sin with Iron Maiden vocal

Born in Hell
Viking Skull
Manufacturer: 456 Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rock Did It
Route 666
Doomsday Rock 'n Roll
Artimus Pyledriver
In the Mouth of the Young

ASIN: B000F8DTFK
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Tracks:

Born In Hell
Crank The Volume
Red Hot Woman
Frostbite
Saddle Up
Seedealer
Beers Drugs And Bitches
Rock And Roll Suicide
Dirty Dirty Hole
Inject My Woman (With Love)
You Can't Kill Rock And Roll

Customer Reviews:

Been done before.......2007-05-22

As my title states, this album has been done before. Sure it's fun to listen to booze-laden rock and roll from time to time, but odds are you own this album already under a different bands name.

First time I heard this album I automatically thought of Pumpjack. For those that don't know, Pumpjack goes back a few years and I'd have to think were the first ones to come out with albums like this one. Granted they never signed the big record deal, but once you heard 'em, it was good enough. Think of Kiss with downtuned guitars and scruffy vocals and you'll get Viking Skull. It's an overall fun album to put on if you're in the mood to get in the car and drive to a football game or concert, but believe me, there's bigger and better out there from a Souther/Stoner Metal standpoint.

Like Brand New Sin with Iron Maiden vocal.......2006-06-21

This is a pretty good CD and worth buying. The guitar work is really, really strong. It reminds me of Brand New Sin, but the vocals are mot really there. The vocal style is like Iron Maiden or older 80/90's style rock. There are a lot of people who like that so I don't mean that in a bad way . . . just that for me (my ear) . . . been there done that. If there were anything that I would change about this CD it would be the vocals. I will definitely keep the CD in my collection and for very sure will be listening to it. As for the songs . . .

tracks 1 - 5, 8 and 9 are all VERY solid. I rated them 4 out of 5 stars, primaryly based on the guitar work and tempo of the songs. They are all hard rock or metal in nature.

Track 7, Beers, Drugs and Bitches is my favorite. Very strong song getting the rare 5/5 stars rating. Again great guitars, with a lot of what I call the new hard rock or metal sound.

If you are familiar with Brand New Sin and like them you will probably like this band too. If you don't have BNS yet I would check them out before buying this one. However this is also a very solid CD and I also recommend checking it out. Older bands I like include Metallica, Ozzy, AC/DC, GNR, etc. . . just to level set you.

Average customer rating:

Funky Skull
Melvin Jackson
Manufacturer: Dusty Groove
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Betty Davis

ASIN: B000QG8NNO
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

Funky Skull
Ma She's Makin Eyes At Me
Bold & Black
Dance Of the Dervish
Everybody Loves My Baby
Cold Duck Time
Say What
Funky Doo
Silver Cycles

Average customer rating:

skull duggery
another good album from No Limit
step over p, let your dogs through
It's gets better with time.
One of the best realeses from No Limit

These Wicked Streets
Skull Duggery
Manufacturer: Penalty Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Guilty Til Proven Innocent
Sky's the Limit
Memorial Day
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Black Mafia

ASIN: B00000C0A3
Release Date: 1998-09-08

Tracks:

Where You From
If It Don't Make $$$...
The Set Up
Testimony
Satisfied
Mistakes In The Game
My Regiment
Shakin' In The Streets
I'm Not A Victim
It's No Limit
Pain
Murder Crime
If U Feel
Drama
What What
These Wicked Streets
For The Fans
Ghetto N*ggas

Customer Reviews:

skull duggery.......2001-11-28

This album sholuld be called G.O.A.T. Greatest of all time because he is the illest mc ever. These wicked streetz sweeps you off of your feet.The cover art is great what a concept , skull duggery with his doggs. This just makes u ask where is he now. I heard about a greatest hitz album hitting da stores by next tuesday.I hope they come throught with that skull duggery /battle cat colaboration I just cant wait,

peace out soliders

another good album from No Limit.......2000-02-11

I read these reviews from people, and I just don't understand how they can give low scores. This cd is very good. Track 1 is good, 2 has a beat similar to that of the song "I Want It All" by Warren G, and Mack 10. Tracks 3,4,5,6, and 7 are good, 8 and 9 are average, and 10-18 are good. I'm a no limit fan, and whoever else is a fan, then you will like this cd. If you're not a no limit fan, you still might like this cd. It does have good lyrics to it, and it's just very easy to listen to. The beats just flow into your head. No Limit 2000. [[\] [[] [[_ [[ [[\/] [[ "[". Hoody Hoo.

step over p, let your dogs through.......2000-02-01

much better than i expected from something coming from the no limit camp. i haven't been impressed with them at all lately but this could mark the start of something new at no limit... real lyrics! i can only stand so much ugh! and this definitely is a welcome change

It's gets better with time........1999-09-03

Skull has some good lyrics his tracks just wasn't all that good except "where you from" if all his songs had beats like that he'd be untouchable.

One of the best realeses from No Limit.......1999-04-19

I don't why everybody's dissing this cd. Skull brings all the heat, this is a great release from No Limit.

Average customer rating:

Very good stuff
old dog same tricks
Et Tu Brute!
Should have been a Iggy and Stooges disc!
Iggy Pop - 'Skull Ring' (Virgin) 4 1/2 stars

Skull Ring
Iggy Pop
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000D9YE7
Release Date: 2003-11-04

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Little Electric Chair
Perverts In The Sun
Skull Ring
Superbabe
Loser
Private Hell
Little Know It All
Whatever
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Rock Show
Here Comes The Summer
Motor Inn
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Amazon.com

Iggy Pop Photos

More from Iggy Pop

A Million in Prizes: The Anthology
The Idiot
Nude & Rude: The Best of Iggy Pop

Brick by Brick
American Caesar
Live at the Avenue B

Customer Reviews:

Very good stuff.......2007-04-12

ONe of my gripes about most music reviews, is that they are almost written by fans of the artist, carrying their preconceived notions and biases with them.

I've never purchased an Iggy album before, and I really enjoy this. Criticisms that it's "radio ready pop" are ridiculous. I never heard any of these songs on the radio, not that they don't deserve it. Lyrics like "Anger and greed brew until they stampede/And I can transmute/Them into more loot" isn't exactly Bon Jovi.

What I like about this album is the songs rock hard, Iggy's voice is excellent, the production and mix is good, the guitar tones are heavy and awesome, the most of the lyrics are interesting and offbeat, and it doesn't get old. For hard rock fans, definitely worth it.

old dog same tricks .......2006-02-21

iggy pop the leader singer with the stooges who have reformed for 4 tracks on this album after three albums with the stooges " self titled" "funhouse" "raw power" and now they've got a new album in the works [yay]iggy pop cemented a solo
my favorite solo album is not this it is
1990 classic lust for life which featured david bowie on piano and he wrote some of the music to some of the famous tracks
iggy albums are so-so some are fantastic some are medi-ocre

but on this 2003 release on virgin records
he had made a full force agressive album with hillarous
lyrics and contribuations from the likes of greenday on my favorite track "private hell"6
sum 41 on the single "little know it all" 7
the trolls 2.4.8 11 13 and 16
the peaches 10

this was a high standard heavy rock[punk] in a year when music was in a slump
hells bell for iggy pop

Et Tu Brute!.......2006-01-20

What was Iggy thinking?! Why would one of the pioneers of punk let some of the "new punk" bands on his album *cough* greenday and Sum 41. What made Iggy do this i think to myself at times...money? thought it was funny? to much drugs? or he just forgot what punk was about in the first place? what ever it is i don't aprove. The "new punk" takes all of what punk is about and twisted into part of what punk was fighting and making the average person to believe it's punk... also, Iggy's solo song mentions something about how the radio plays nothing good.. and he lets greenday and sum 41 on the album! ... on the bright side, only 3 songs had this problem (6,7,14) so i felt bad giving the album 1 or 2 stars... although 1 song of "new punk" is too much.

On a positive note, it is nice to hear the stooges play again after a long gap of time (1,3,5,9).

The other songs are not bad, but i would just recomend getting stooges albums or old iggy pop albums insted (such as Lust for Life or raw power). I would say don't make a big deal about buying this beacuse there is so much better music out there.

Should have been a Iggy and Stooges disc!.......2005-06-27

Iggy Pop and his band The Stooges (Asheton Brothers)
reunite on four tracks for the punk all-star disc. Green Day, Sum 41, Peeches and the Trolls appear on this
as well. It sounds great but I wished it was an all Stooges album. The tracks with the Stooges are the best of the bunch. The music still sounds raw (but more refined). I marked out when I heard these. Maybe in the future they'll record a full-fledge reunion album. One can dream....

Strongly recommended.

Iggy Pop - 'Skull Ring' (Virgin) 4 1/2 stars.......2005-05-28

Great follow-up to Iggy's 2001 'Beat 'Em Up' disc(see my review)and about as slammin' as one could expect.As for some who may've not heard,four of this CD's sixteen cuts had Iggy reunited with two of his former Stooge members.All four of the Stooges tracks sizzle,"Little Electric Chair",the title cut "Skull Ring","Loser" and especially the prototype punk rocking "Dead Rock Star".There are also tunes here that have Iggy pairing up with a couple of other more modern punk bands,liked the two songs he performs with Green Day.He also teams up with artists The Peaches and Sum 41.There were like maybe one of those tunes that I thought seemed tame.But,hey!For the most part,this title is a must-have.Includes a 12-page booklet with photos and song lyrics(get out the magnifying glass).

Average customer rating:

Essential
This is..
american doom metal
"The Skull" unleashed upon the world
Dense, scruffy doom-- a sleeper classic

The Skull
Trouble
Manufacturer: Escapi Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Doomsday For The Deceiver (20th Anniversary Edition) (2CD/DVD)

ASIN: B000I2IUG6
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Tracks:

Pray For The Dead
Fear No Evil
The Wish
The Trush Is/What Is
Wickedness Of Man
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Customer Reviews:

Essential.......2007-03-27

What a grand re-issue of a grand band that deserves much more recognition.

A must for Metal/Doom/Black Sabbath/great music fans.

Really.

This is.........2007-03-07

Wonderful.So much so..So wondeRful and ranks with the best in guitar recordings..I like this.They acted in interviews like the story of Jesus was just interesting,but they were Christians at this point and were called Satanists by so many! It's Catholic (I like Sarolta..) Metal.Praying for the dead to get them out of Purgatory'S CathoLic.TRippy guitar overdubbed.

american doom metal.......2007-03-07

better than the trouble debut, better than anything by candlemass. this is like classic mercyful fate without the widdly bits and the soprano vocals. instead, trouble's singer is reminiscent of robert plant fronting dio era black sabbath. a hint of the beatles occasionally is noticeable, but fortunately not as often as would soon be the case.

"The Skull" unleashed upon the world.......2006-12-19

TROUBLE - THE SKULL

On March 21, 1985, Metal Blade Records will release "The Skull" upon the world. The second album in less than a year from the Chicago based heavy metal band Trouble, it is being anxiously awaited by fans and the music press alike. It is an even heavier work then their classic debut album, yet the music is more detailed and the production is stronger. Trouble, is quite simply one of the heaviest bands of all time, creating a sensation in the world of metal with their ultra heavy music and their fresh approach to metal lyrics.

Trouble is influenced by the music it's members grew up on. Bands such as Budgie, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Iron Butterfly, The Doors, Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath are all examples. These influences, together with their own ideas, came together to shape the band.

Over the years, the band have matured into an incredible live outfit. The many years of playing and practicing together really become evident when Trouble hit the stage. The powerful guitars of Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin grab your attention immediately. Both Rick (whose influences include Michael Schenker and Anthony Bourge) and Bruce (whose influences include Tony Iommi, Uli Jon Roth and Ritchie Blackmore) tune their guitars down from standard tuning to add even more crunch or `gunk', as they call it, to their sound. Gut wrenching rhythms, dynamic solos, wild vibrato bar work and incredible double leads abound. Without question one of the tightest teams in the business, yet each is an immensely talented musician in his own right, capable of the most subtle of touches where needed.

The rhythm section of Jeff `Oly' Olson and Sean McAllister is no less astounding. Seans's floor shaking bass lines combined with Oly pounding away at his huge 15 drum kit is an experience in itself. Sean (whose influences include Geddy Lee and Geezer Butler) is also the rowdiest member of the band on stage, always doing his best to out headbang the `bangers down front. Drummer / percussionist Jeff `Oly' Olson (whose influences include Bill Ward, Carl Palmer and Neil Peart) has a highly original approach to heavy metal drumming, evident in his playing style and his drumkit itself. He utilizes five bass drums, two in standard fashion, and three behind him which are tuned to different pitches and used as vertical timpanis. He is one of the hardest hitting drummers around and uses his huge kit more creatively with each show. His lengthy solo is one of the highlights of a Trouble performance. Topping all of this off are the raw edged vocals of Eric Wagner (whose influences include Ian Gillan, Jim Morrison and John Lennon). Eric is a truly original vocalist / lyricist and his powerful vocals provide the perfect compliment to Trouble's grinding music.

Trouble's music is unquestionably heavy, (heavy, not fast), but it is a step beyond today's stereotypical metal image, especially in it's lyrical content. For example, after listening to their songs the total heaviness of the music may give you the impression of a Satanic type band. But this is not the case at all - Trouble's message is quite the opposite. They sing of peace and hope, of good vs. evil, and the things we face from day to day. In other words, they always lean towards the good, not the evil. Trouble is a heavy metal band with a positive message. It is a message that all the band members firmly believe in, but not something they are trying to force on the listener. Even on stage, Trouble are different from most metal bands. They do not cover themselves with leather and spikes, they just wear the same kinds of clothes on stage as they'd wear off. Herein lies the key to understanding what Trouble is all about. Trouble is just five regular guys who happen to have an incredible talent for making extremely heavy music together. Simply stated ....... trouble are just being themselves, doing their own thing, and not trying to act like something they're not.

HISTORY OF THE BAND:

Trouble's roots date back to 1979 when guitarist Rick Wartell formed the band with guitarist Bruce Franklin and vocalist / lyricist Eric Wagner. In November of 1979 they were joined by bassist Ian Brown. Drummer Jeff `Oly' Olson joined in June 1980.

Trouble made their first real mark on the metal world in February of 1983 when the Trouble Live tape was recorded at a Chicago area gig and released for sale to the metal underground by Metal Child Enterprises. (Since the release of the debut album the Live tape is no longer for sale.)

After recording the Live tape, bassist Ian Brown left the band and the music scene to follow other goals. He was replaced by Sean McAllister in May 1983. Trouble's line up has remained unchanged since then.

Trouble's debut vinyl appearance was on the Metal Blade compilation Metal Massacre IV in late 1983 with the track "The Last Judgement", taken from a homemade demo tape. This started their popularity rising, and the sales of the Live tape grew steadily.

In early 1984, Trouble journeyed from Chicago to L.A., California to record their first full length LP for Metal Blade Records. It was recorded during February, produced by the band and engineer Bill Metoyer. Just prior to the album's release a 12" single was released featuring "Assassin" c/w "Tales Of Brave Ulysses" (the old Cream classic). And finally, the long awaited debut album, simply entitled "Trouble" (later referred to as Psalm 9), was released in early April of 1984. The first 5000 copies were pressed in white vinyl.

Trouble spent the spring / summer of 1984 writing and rehearsing the material for "The Skull" in Chicago, as well as playing live in several cities across the United States. The band recorded "The Skull" during late September and early October at studios in the L.A., California area. Once again it was produced by the band and engineer Bill Metoyer. Following the recording of the album, they played several dates on the West Coast and then returned to Chicago. Trouble spent the winter of 1984-85 rehearsing and writing songs for their third LP, as well as giving several performances in the Chicago area.

(Biography by John Smatlak with special thanks to Wade and Polly Brooks.)

Dense, scruffy doom-- a sleeper classic.......2006-11-15

This is raw, ragged doom metal. If you can get past the low-budget 80's production, you'll unearth some of the most emotionally potent, introverted metal of its time. Sabbathian riffs meet Maidenesque twin guitar melodies in unpredictable, twisting arrangements, all of which add up to a bleak sound that not only bludgeons but--if I may be a bit melodramatic--weeps and sobs. That is, on this and other early Trouble albums, the team of guitarists Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin create a unique throbbing, sobbing metal guitar sound that's quite magical, shining through despite the dodgy production. Complementing this guitar sound, vocalist Eric Wagner screeches lyrics that grapple earnestly with questions of faith, sin and the meaning of life, and does so in a way that doesn't come off as pompous or preachy, but rather self-questioning and heartfelt, as if these existential doubts and questions genuinely torment him.

This album is not beyond criticism--the progressive arrangements can be needlessly busy and self-indulgent; the over-long "The Wish" may have its moments but kills the album's momentum as the 3rd song; Wagner's vocals are sometimes too thin and reverb-drenched (he continued to improve to become a truly distinctive, soulful singer--check out Trouble's self-titled or the LID side project).

Regarding this particular release, the slipcase artwork and photos are beautiful. The psychedelic, ominous album cover captures the feel and atmosphere of the music. On the downside, the CD notes suffer typos and, quite annoyingly, the lyrics are printed in ALL CAPS. (Though, it should be added the words are much more effective heard through the music; afterall, the lyrics aren't exactly subtle literary masterpieces on the page--they're from the gut, and meant to be heard as such) The extra live DVD is unlistenable and unwatchable, but fun for the hardcore fun who wants a taste of Trouble back in their heyday.

While I'm at it, I'll plug their other recent re-issue, Psalm 9, which is more accessible, with catchier songs and riffs and a gloriously heavy guitar tone. I chose this one to review, as its the thorniest, and more difficult to appreciate at first, but deserves its champions.