My 2 cent review, ...because I refuse to be left out... Options

[PillarOfDavidson]

While I don't own the album, I have previewed the hell out of it on that Amazon page. And while I probably haven't spun it as much as other reviewers, I'd just like to give my take on the effort by TGF. So, here's my 2 cent review...


1) Appetite - With blistering guitars, trippy bass lines, crashing drums, and cutting vocals this song is a thunderous proclamation that rock is back and ready to kick somebody's teeth in. The Led Zeppelin comparisons are not lite-hearted at all, especially in this song. With shades of Zep's "Black Dog," this song is the perfect kick-off song for the album. 10/10

2) Honest Man - Anybody got a black 1969 Dodge Charger handy? This song makes me wish I had one just so that I could drive it down the interstate... while listening to this song. While there may be better rockers on the album, there are just some songs that scream for you to hit the gas. This is one of them. 9/10

3) Guilty Fever - Kevin Martin's Robert Plant styling on this tune beg for your attention throughout the song and are a central feature of it. The guitars are quite heavy and rocking, but the song never seems to really get past itself to get out of the way except for the part right before the lead toward the end of the song. This song has some potential, and perhaps in a live setting the band can expand on it a little. But it seems like the apparent lack of direction hurt the finished song. 5/10

4) The Few - Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the gut. The bass sounds a little more wooden and empty at the start of the song than I would like, but it actually works to the rest of the song's advantage. This song is perfect for anyone who's ever been stabbed in the back by someone they thought they could trust. Eventually, it all comes back around on them. All the lies they had spread about you are revealed to be the empty vapor they always were. 8/10

5) The Rest Of You - At first, this song didn't seem like it would impress much. It's not that this song is bad, but that it has a rather pedestrian arrangement/progression in comparison to the rest of the songs. John Popper said, "the hook brings you back," but in this case it's the beat that brings me back. There's just something about Gracey's drumming that keeps me hooked to this song. If it'd been any other drummer I don't think that would be the case. This song has the life it has thanks to its rhythm section. 6.5/10

6) Crying Time - From the moment those bittersweet guitars start to echo you know this song is going to set itself apart from the pack. The driving bass lines help to punctuate this mid-tempo gem. And it is a gem. While the subject matter of the song may be sad, this song is incredibly beautiful. Indeed, "less is more" as the the chorus towers in its simplicity and Kevin Martin's emotive release during the bridge soars like an eagle. 9.5/10

7) Silly Thing - This song reminds me a lot of Sun from The Distance From Here; it doesn't remind me of the sound of Sun, it reminds me of the movement of it. I can't express with adequate enough words how vital Chad Gracey was, and is, to the sound of Live (especially in earlier years) and The Gracious Few. With any other drummer, as with The Rest Of You, this song may have grown stagnant. But Gracey's drums tumble along at a brisk, cutting pace, and force you to keep nodding your head in approval. The tremolo effect on the guitar throughout the song also gives it this sweet little under-water effect. 6.5/10

8) Closer - Rrrraaawwwwwww!!!!! 11.5/10

9) What's Wrong - Wha...? Oh, we're back to reviewing the album. Ok. After Closer I felt like putting it back on repeat, but all rocking songs must end. Especially the ones that are only 3:20 in length. This song has a very surreal sound and feel to it and if people still flicked their lighters instead of flipped their cell phones open I'd consider this song to be a fire hazard. Oddly enough this song is closer to the middle of the album considering it would be a perfect end to the album. Oh well. 7.5

10) Nothing But Love - Yet another strong example of the prowess of the rhythm section, this song unfortunately falls victim to direction-less design. It has incredible power and it seems as if it were building toward something or taking you somewhere but ultimately you're just riding around in the car aimlessly. Not that riding around in the car aimlessly isn't fun... 6/10

11) Tredecim - Very Tool-esque in the riffing, this song is a dark little head thumper. I could see this song on an Underworld soundtrack. Even though it's not one of my favorite tracks, this song could get a lot of airplay on rock radio. 7/10

12) Sing - In an odd departure from the vibe of the rest of the album, this song has a very light-hearted sound to it, fitting nicely with the theme of just letting go and going with your gut on something. The song eventually picks up its pace and stands firm in its convictions and fades out "singing its song". 8.5/10

13) All I Hear - As it starts out this tune can't seem to make up its mind whether it wants to be a balls to the wall head-banger or a sassy little butt swinger... but whatever the conundrum it pays off in a raucous little coda to the album. It certainly fits the theme of the album: rock is back, and it indeed intends to kick somebody's teeth in. 9/10


My overall rating for this album is 8/10. My opinion on some of the songs that I gave lesser marks will change over time as I am able to listen to the songs more. Even as I typed out my review of Nothing But Love I could see how I may have been giving it too low of a rating. But this is my gut reaction to the album.

Also, you have to understand. An 8/10 for this album is not the same for any run of the mill album out there that might get an 8/10. TGF are being judged by a higher bar than other bands are. Most bands albums being judged by TGF's bar wouldn't get past 5, if they even got to 5. I've heard some of Filter's new album... I'm sorry, but it's tripe. Even the Stone Temple Pilots new stuff sounds really weak. TGF actually seem like they cared about writing quality songs rather than just trying to cash in on either of its members previous bands.

This post has been edited by MrSheptical: Sep 15 2010, 8:53 pm