Average Rating: 3.23 Rating Variance: 1.06 Objectivity Score: 91% (Very Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicBilly Talent Billy Talent IIThey toned it down a little, and in the process secured there position among the elite rockers in Canada. Though the first track, Devil in a Midnight Mass is reminiscent of the debut album, one that could be a 13th track on the first album, one that makes you say..so..i hear your still angry..but it is still a great track. After the first track, they tone it down a notch but keep rolling even smoother than the first album straight to the finish. The highlight tracks would include Devil in a Midnight Mass, Red Flag, Pins and Needles, This Suffering, Fallen Leaves and Surrender. But overall the whole album was a jewel. There were no bad tracks on this disc, not even a sub-par track, every track was exceptional on this album. The album raked in 5 Juno nominations, which they took home 2 of. They also pulled together 11 MMVA (MuchMusic Video Award) nominations and won 3 of them. This album gave Billy Talent its complete set of wings. And then some. The Verdict: this is it.4.5 superbBilly Talent Billy Talent IIIBilly Talent took it back another notch, trimming screaming almost completely out of the album. Lead singer Ben said 'I'm getting to old to scream' or something to that effect in a interview with MuchMusic. For some I'm sure it takes away from what they want out of Billy Talent but for me theyre still the same band from 2006 with II. The album opens up with Devil on My Shoulder, which is the 3rd single off the album, following in the steps of Turn Your Back and Rusted from The Rain. The song has meaty guitar riffs with enough distortion to sastisfy. And the song gets close to screaming, old fans rejoice. Tracks 1 through 6 are all exceptional, some of their best work. Though, The Dead Can't Testify, and Diamond on a Landmine are only OK tracks in my opinion. Ones that you would usually skip over. Turn Your Back, the first single from the album is a great song, and check out the remix with Anti-Flag (not on the album) The last two songs, Sudden Movements and Definition of Destiny are both worth listening to. Though the first 6 tracks are still the best tracks off of this disc. Now to the hardware portion. In the Juno category, they recieved 3 nominations, and took home the award for Rock album of the Year. In the MMVA's they recieved 4 nominations, and took home International Video of the Year by a Canadian, Director of the Year and MUCHLOUD Rock Video of The Year. As for the charts, this album did not do as well as II did. It topped the Canadian charts but was only No.2 this time in Germany. The album was not noticed in the U.S for the second time. The Verdict: Less popular, and still not much success in the states, but this album is still extremely good.4.0 excellentBilly Talent Billy TalentThis album forced the world into recognizing one of Canada's rock powerhouses. From the days of WATOOSH! Billy Talent grew into a new name (due to legal issues) and a new market. Who knew it would grow into one of Canada's most charismatic bands. You rarely come across someone who doesnt like at least one Billy Talent song. This album was in Billy Talents angrier, more stick it to the man days. The days where Billy Talent was solemn heard with out the accompanyment of Bens screaming. And unlike most bands, Billy Talent pulled it off, the whole screaming gig. The album is a 12 track explosion, leaving you gasping for air. As in most albums, its not perfect. Sometimes, the screaming would get a little out of control, or the song would get tiresome, but overall, the album is a beaut. But watch out Ben's about ready to hit someone. Seriously. The strongest tracks on the album in my opinion are River Below, Try Honesty, This is How it goes, and Line & Sinker, while the weakest are Standing in the Rain, The EX and Voices of Violence. The inbetween are all still exceptional. It was clear by the end of the last track, Voices of Violence, that Billy Talent still needed some growing to do. Their screaming antics were still a little over the top, and a little to much to top the charts. (it peaked at NO.6) And sometimes, its better not to mention santa in your songs. But it was clear Billy Talent would be back for more. The verdict: The album won 2 Junos, 2 ECHO awards, and 3 MMVA's and is critically acclaimed. Enough said.Green Day International SuperhitsIt would appear I am on of the first to review this album. This album was a spacefiller for the label during a dissagreement between the band. It was bassically a colaboration of all of the bands big time hits up until then. Unfortunately Green Day's albums seemed to take a similair road with very few originals with the acceptions of American Idiot and the most recent 21st Century Breakdown. But the album, due to the fact is all hits is pretty good. The first track Maria is not my favorite, but still a solid track. The highlight tracks in my opinion would be Poprocks & Coke, Basketcase, When I Come Around, Brain Stew, Good Riddance, Minority, Warning and Waiting. The rest of the tracks hold their own as well. This album didnt receive any hardware due to the fact it was only a greatest hits album, but it went Gold in the U.S. In the end, as we all know, the band didnt break up, and they created more albums. The rumors of breakups were reborn when the took 5 years between albums and doing no more than touring. Back to the album, after the closing track, St. Macys Day Parade and take the disc out. Its probably better then having 6 CDs with hits, when you can have one CD with all the singles. The Verdict: Its not a must buy, but its worth a look if your just getting into Green Day.Metric FantasiesI hate to say it but..my sister showed me this band, introducing me to Police and Private, and Live it Out. Metric. One of the most popular indie bands in the world, fact of the day? My friends dad produces them. Anyways, Fantasies, this Toronto bands 4th studio album is amazing. From the opening track Help I'm Alive (which a band i used to be in did a cover of), one of my favorites, to Stadium Love, another favorite, this album is my favorite by Metric. The best tracks have to include Help I'm Alive, Sick Muse, Twilight Galaxy, Gimme Sympathy, Collect Call and Stadium Love. There you go. 60% of the album are supurb tracks, and the rest hold there own, and theyre all above average. This band flaunts Canada's strong indie scene, with 7 Canadian chart hits and 4 American, along with some hardware, such as 2 short listings for the Polaris Prize and a Juno award. The Verdict: Well worth it, plus, apparently the singers british!3.5 greatBrian Melo Livin' ItMost people are wondering who Brian Melo is. He won Canadian Idol back in the day and made a CD thats was quite good. Sure he didnt write all the songs and sure her needed a T.V show to finnally produce a CD but hey. Its not Half bad. The CD opens with Shine, one of the better songs off the album. It is soon followed by the track that made him famous, All I Ever Wanted. (The one the winner of the show automattically has to sing) Those two tracks are the two best tracks on the album, but Century, Livin It, Summertime and Obvious are all songs to remember to. The album peaked at 14th on the Canadian Charts as All I Ever Wanted went to number 11 and Shine crept to 69th. And hey, at least we know hes actually a good singer. And hold on! Brian is working on a second album The Truth as we speak. The Verdict: Good enough to go hunting in the discount bin for, though it is probably a rare find in the states.The Beatles Abbey RoadFound this album on a shelf and listened to every track thinking how I would review it. Seeing as the original came in 1969, its been a while since the release, let alone since there were 4 Beatles. The Beatles, half dead or not, were the Jonas Brothers of the 60's. Of course, a much more talented version, and a version that the male gender actually enjoyed listening to. The album Opens up with my favorite Beatles song, Come Together. The catchy song made me even more optimistic about the rest, especially when I had just heard Coldplay on the radio. The best songs on this album would have to be Come Together, OH! Darling, Octupus's Garden (was he high), Here Comes the Sun, You Never Give me Your Money, and the trio of Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam, and She Came in Through The Bathroom Window. So basically they almost had enough for an album inside of itself with the best songs. And the other songs keep pace as well, infact the 1969 album keeps pace with most of the newer music that dominates my shelves. The Verdict: Its good! And so is most of the Beatles work, so don't limit your vision to just this album.3.0 goodColdplay Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsUsually if I was reviewing Coldplay, I'd have to go to Shoppers Drugmart first for anti depresants. To get through the first song. This album though, coming from the veteran depressers, is actually OK! Sure it has some depressing moments, and don't let that stop you from the taking odd trip to Shoppers Drugmart. The opening track 'Life in Technicolor' is pretty good, and the album continues on its seemingly (for coldplay) merry, only semi depressing road. But Seriously. Highlight songs. Life in Technicolor, Viva la Vida, Violet Hill, Strawberry Swing and Lovers in Japan. The rest of the tracks are good, and Coldplay delivers pretty good spacefillers, even if a few do need one or two anti-depresants. The album wracked in 3 Grammy Awards, nominations for American Music Awards, Brit Awards, Q Awards, Peoples Choice Awards, NRJ Awards, and several countries MTV Awards, and brought home a total of 11 awards from various locations. The Verdict-worth buying but along the way..a stop at Shoppers might be worth while.2.5 averageAllstar Weekend SuddenlyI can't quite decide what to think of this group. Its clear they want to be more grown up then their fellow label mates such as the Jonas Brothers or Aly & AJ. They succeed at some points but the album also has weaknesses. First some history: They opened for the Jonas Brothers in some concert thing and got notest by the Brothers label, Hollywood Records. A year later, they brought out their first studio album. Though not full length it has strong points. But unfotunately, they sink down to Jonas worthy level. The band's 7 track EP has a good start with Hey Princess, A Different Side of Me and Dance Forever, though in the last 2 songs they repeat the track title one to many times. The next song Clock Runs Out is in my opinion the weakest on the album. The singer states 'he knows your not cool' that line is well..not cool. Track 5 Amy, is the slowest on the album and is OK, certainly not my favorite, but still OK material. The song Journey to the End of My Life is another sub-par track thats a little to much about the exact title. Him wanting to yes! You guessed it! Take a journey to the of his life. But for real. The album shows this band is certainly more grown up than the Jonas Brothers, and they dont have a TV show which is good. But they need to tone down some of the digitalizing theyve done. The verdict: The band needs to tour, and grow a little before before they can release a above average album.Owl City Ocean EyesOwl City (or Adam Young) 's latest full length album Ocean Eyes is to hidden behind the fluffy, over articulate, and strange lyrics for anyone to notice how talented Adam Young really is. To arange music in the way he does is takes a hell of a lot of talent. But seriously. The lyrics take an above average arrangement and album and turn it into a average, if not slightly below average album. Sometimes its so sweet it hurts. Don't get me wrong, the album has its moments, like Hello Seattle or Vannila Twilight, but seriously, only this guy could write a 3 minute song about..going to the dentist..like really? How in gods name did he pull that off? The album has songs you can listen to several times and think wow..this is pretty good. But then theres the other ugly side. The side where you think your going to puke cause Adam Young is trying to feed you to much cotton candy the worlds amazing words. Owl City just seems more than slightly to sweet for most, kind of like putting sugar on well...more sugar..and due to that has never received any major awards. The verdict: You wont be able to listen to the whole album at once so be careful. Maybe just download the ones you like, the whole album could be dangerous in the wrong hands.2.0 poorMetro Station Metro StationAfter doing my research and listening to the CD, i cant help but realize that the bands first tracks in the album are the semi hit sub par type, the type you hear on the radio sometimes and think, ehh. Or the kind thats not quite top 20 material. But as the album grows on so does your agitation. The last songs are a excuse to finish the album and make it full length. Its like when they ran out of ideas they gave Hannah Montana the idea of finishing the Album. 'Nuff said. The bands creators Mason and Trace met on the set of the Disney channel fave, Hannah Montana (they are the siblings of B-listers Mitchell Musso and Miley Cyrus) and apparently hit it off, and found two other semi emo looking dudes to help create a little band. This band is classic B-List. Throw in some sparkly guitars and man lets go! So they made a album, had a tour, got some tatoos together, and did some other B-list guy stuff. So where are they now? They've already broken up. So they're kinda like a 4 semi hit wonder I guess. Sigh, how many electro-emo-disneyish-b list-pop bands do you know that have made it past the four hit semi hit wonder stage anyways. Other than the Jonas Brothers. The lead man, Trace comes across as this hardcore kinda guy with tatoos and skinny jeans but hes playing well, sappy power chord filled love songs that manages to get some peoples feet tapping. Not mine, Mr. Cyrus. And I hope not many others. I must admit though, the song Shake It, the largest hit off the album did do me in and I thought was OK. I figured it could sneak into the top 20 without someone throwing a hissy fit. But if any other of there songs did, I'll be the first to hissy, dont you forget. The verdict: my guess for why the band broke up? lack of fan base. and maybe Hannah didnt like sharing the spotlight.Sam Barkwell Tears For You EP1.5 very poorJonas Brothers Jonas BrothersI feel like they should relable this album 'Nick Jonas & Co.' because despite the fact Joe Jonas is listed as the lead vocalist, Nick seems to sometimes do more of the sings, WHILE he plays guitar, unlike Joe, though Joe does play a mean tamborine! I dont know what the other one does, who cares about him anyways. The album begins with the song S.O.S which like the rest of the album, has a nice, skweaky 3 part harmony to go with it. But seriously to get down to buissness. Best songs on the album if I had to pick would have to be Goodnight & Goodbye and When you Look me in the eyes. The rest are either subpar or something I dont need to talk about. Though, due to there large tween popularity, the album raked in 13 various awards. The Verdict- if your a 10-13 year old girl..go for it..NO DONT.
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