Recent CD purchase/review thread:

[WEREWOLF]

Ministry- Animositisomina
This 2003 release is definitely not the best Ministry album. It has some great tracks, in particular 'Lockbox', but overall it gets pretty monotonous. I also found the production a bit tinny.

The International Noise Conspiracy- A New Morning
If you can get past the band's Marxist views not a bad album. Sort of a mix of Punk, Pop and Jazz with the Communist Manifesto thrown in for good measure. Stand out tracks 'A Northwest Passage' and 'Capitalism Stole my Virginity'.

Paul Di'Anno- Nomad
Paul Di'Anno's post Iron Madien efforts have always been a disappointment and this 2002 realease is no exception. Maybe I am expecting too much because he was always my favorite Iron Maiden singer. I suppose Nomad is a solid Metal album just not very original or relevant.

Neurosis- Times of Grace
Another brilliant slab of spacey sludge from one of the most interesting bands active today. Their music is weird, unsettling and follows no conventions.

Bruce Dickinson- Skunkworks
I thought this was a really good album. When it came out I remember it recieving bad reviews so I avoided it. It turns out to be an excellent hard rock album with interesting, thoughtful lyrics. Maybe it wasn't Maiden enough for the critics. Stand out tracks 'I Will Not Accept the Truth and 'Inside the Machine'.

[Cbear]

Shooter Jennings- Put the O back in Country. Hes the son of Waylon Jennings and is doing a rock/country/punk kinda thing. I've only heard a couple songs so far and its ok for what it is. After I hear the whole thing, I'll have a better idea.

[dogofwar]

Currently in the CD player...

Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth
Audioslave - Out of Exile
Seether - Karma and Effect

I don't really like really heavy metal. I do like Marilyn Manson for some reason, my first time I saw him live it was me in casual clothes and 7,000 goth freaks....great show though. Manson and NIN are the only groups that I pay for everytime they come to town.

[WEREWOLF]

Currently in the CD player...

Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth
Audioslave - Out of Exile
Seether - Karma and Effect

I don't really like really heavy metal. I do like Marilyn Manson for some reason, my first time I saw him live it was me in casual clothes and 7,000 goth freaks....great show though. Manson and NIN are the only groups that I pay for everytime they come to town.

What's your favorite Manson album? 'Hollywood' is it for me, but every album Manson has done (with the exception of 'Mechanical Animals' and 'The Golden Age of the Grotesque') is brilliant IMO.

Their Best of CD/DVD 'Lest We Forget' is worth picking up as it has all of their videos up to 2004. Their song list could have been better. Somehow 'Astonishing Panorama of the End Times' was left off.

[dogofwar]

I loved Mechanical Animals....

HolyWood would probably be my favorite because it's a pretty deep album but I like everything he does, he is just brilliant in my mind....and yours..

[f2rc]

i like all the covers they did more than the origianls. i figure if you're going to do a cover song, don't remake it so it sounds exactly like the original, go nuts and make it your own. they definitely did that. making depeche mode and soft cell sound heavy must take some kinda talent.

i saw them years ago before they became a household name and the boogeyman to all those parents groups. they were pretty good. they were opening for NIN on that tour they co-headlined with Hole. At one point in the show he (manson) stripped down so all he was wearing was a big black strap on dildo, which he rubbed and waggled at the crowd as he sang. then when the song was over he wrapped himself up in an american flag and walked off stage, without a word. they reminded me of like a corporate-rock version of GG Allin. I had no idea they'd become so huge.

[dogofwar]

I saw the Manson/Hole show during the Mechanical Animals tour..the one that lasted like 9 shows before Manson and Love imploded...but it was awesome and was not only my favorite Manson show but my favorite concert period. Hole was a great live band, when they took the stage the crowded booed them...because they wanted Manson but 2 songs in..they were right there...

I actually thought Love's solo album America' s Sweetheart was pretty dam good.

[WEREWOLF]

"i like all the covers they did more than the origianls. i figure if you're going to do a cover song, don't remake it so it sounds exactly like the original, go nuts and make it your own. they definitely did that. making depeche mode and soft cell sound heavy must take some kinda talent."

Manson's cover of 'Down in the Park' by Randy Numan is incredible. You are right, Manson always does great cover songs. Their CD singles where you find most of Manson's cover tunes are must haves if you are a fan.

[Shamrocked]

Shooter Jennings- Put the O back in Country. Hes the son of Waylon Jennings and is doing a rock/country/punk kinda thing. I've only heard a couple songs so far and its ok for what it is. After I hear the whole thing, I'll have a better idea.

Shooter's disc is great Cbear. I'm looking forward to seeing him play his father in the Johnny Cash biopic this summer.

[WEREWOLF]

Bruce Dickinson- Tyranny of Souls
Another excellent solo effort (might be his best to date) by Maiden's front man. Interesting lyrical content and superb guitar work by Roy Z. Stand out tracks IMO are 'Devil on a Hog' and 'A Tyranny of Souls'. The only negative is that I found the songs a little bit too wordy at times.

Jesu- Jesu
Godflesh founder Justin Broadrick's new project. Eight brooding suicide inducing slabs of despair. With each track averaging over 9 minutes long this is for seriously diehard Godflesh fans only. IMO Broadrick needs to reform Godflesh and pick up where they left off with Hymns (their last and one of their very best albums). Stand out tracks- None. Jesu is one long droning mess of emotionally wrenching, soul crushing monotony. Stay away from sharp objects while listening.

Fastway- Fastway/All Fired Up
A guilty pleasure from the eighties. Founded by Fast Eddie Clark (Motorhead), Pete Way (UFO) and Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie) Fastway was a great traditional hard rock band. This two album disc has their first two and only significant albums. Fast Eddie Clark is one of my all time favorite guitarists and his talent really shines on tracks like 'Say What You Will' and 'Easy Livin'. Dave King was a great rock vocalist as well. Anybody know whatever happened to King?