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PHOENIX AMV'S

	Taproot Welcome released 2002 Quick Rating: 1.8 outta 5 Reviewer: Tom	Taproot is a group where the singer definately leads them forward...the frontmans voice stands out so that you could tell the band out of a handful presented. Suchas deftones, korn, disturbed, and other such bands. I was highly pleased with the first taproot cd...I listened to it quite often, and tried to figure out what the singer was saying. The second cd....based moreso around the lyrics it seems...but the quality of the music fails greatly. Nothing to find here--lyrics are good...but the way they are used in the songs just aren't tactful. The one outstanding song on the cd is poem. This is the only song that really got me moving and digging the cd. The song was so misleading , and promising at the same time. I wish the whole cd was poem material...but woefully its not. One can only get so much moaning and screaming. Its not to say every song except for poem is bad...but it seems the majority is, and it outweights the minority greatly. They have potential and talent...they just don't show it on this cd, I don't think.
	Foo Fighters One By One Released 2002 Quick Rating: 1 outta 5 Reviewer: Tom	The new foo fighters cd...lord what a train wreck this band has become...slowly digressing from the rock feel they started with, to pop, to pure utter shit. Dave Grohl...what were you thinking? Did you listen to any of the songs before putting this cd out? did you actually LIKE any of these songs?! I know I didn't. Track two, low, even started out with a fast drum sweep, and some hard riffs...and then dave grohl comes in, highly singing with a moan sound to it. Theres this total heavy, fast theme going, and hes sings, slow, high, and just overall not enjoyable. Hey...maybe this was the effect he was aiming for in his music--but I know I don't like the sound of it...sounds very out of place. After about the fourth song I seriously stopped listening to the cd. I couldn't put up with it anymore, it was just that unenjoyable. The color and the shape has got to be one of the better cds made...and they've fallen SO far since that cd. I want songs like monkey wrench, enough space, hero, everlong....not like disenchanted melody or halo. The air reaks of selling out, and its eminating from dave grohl. For shame. For shame My rating? 1/5 I did not find this cd enjoyable AT all. It gave me the urge to rip the cd out and throw...hell...shinia twain in. Yeah. thats right. Shinia twain. Ouch.
No Image Available	Trapt Trapt Released 2002 Quick Rating: 4.2 outta 5 Reviewer: Tom	My first impressions: A mad at gravity clone. The singer reminded me so much of mad at gravity...its just what I compared it to automatically. I heard headstrong and one other track...and I was like "Generic...but worth a listen to." I found myself putting the cd on and just zoning out to it...and the more I listened the more the sound got to me. I realized it was nothing like mad at gravity...Trapt has a sound of their own. Treading on the waters of heavy metal, but still keeping the softness and good wholesome rock, Trapt teeters on the edge of both, ranging from the heavier "Headstrong", to the lighter "stories". Its the kind of music where everything blends perfectly--The guitars, the drums, the bass, the vocals, all contour around each other to form an amalgamation of rhythm, that you can't help but love. It got me moving, and got me thinking. The vocals are usually easy to understand--thoughtfull lyrics, and meaningful. Reason: Not exactly my cup of tea...but I won't deny they have major talent. They have emotion, and energy, its just raw and untapped. The cd is loaded with great singles, and definately worth the look/listen. If you're a metal head like myself, it's good to have a good rock band to listen to..just to mellow out sometimes, and this is the perfect opportunity. Ranging from mellow to heavier sounds--its a massage to the ears.
No Image Available	Project 86 Truthless Heroes Released 2002 Quick Rating: 5 outta 5 Reviewer: Tom	My thoughts Wow. I don't know hot to possibly cohere words that can portray my love for this band. The minute I listened to "Your heros are dead" of the truthless hero cd...I was hooked. hopelessly longing for any more songs I could listen to from this band. "Your heros are dead, they're all in your head, when nothing is left we'll start again." Lyrics: I love the lyrics. Profound...making statements...twisting words around...I love it all Singer: At first I disliked him alot. It sounded like he was constantly straining his voice...but now i've listened to the cd multiple times...it just fits so well. It what makes him him, and what makes the band what it is. Its such a interesting sound...and it works. It definately works. Guitar: Nothing too fancy here...no intense guitar solos, no showing off--stricly by the books--and it sounds great. Simple, effective, riffs. Its all thats needed Drumming: supurb Bass: ditto The love I have for this band is amazing...every song just captivated me. It caught me by the balls and held on till I gave up, and I faught all the way. After hearing Your heros are dead....then the rest of the cd...was a big transition. I thought "great , one good single and the cd is shit"....but wow, was I wrong. Your heros are dead, is indeed a outstanding track...but the other ones have such power, such zest, such feeling. I STRONGLY reccomend you buy this cd, or download a few tracks and see what you think.
	Stone Sour Stone Sour released: 2002 Quick Rating: 4 outta 5 Reviewer: Tom	Corey taylor...the name strikes both hate and love in the name of music listeners. Stone sour being Corey taylors, of slipknot fame, side project, though stone sour was actually made before slipknot, it just wasn't happening then, but it is for sure happening now. The first track, get inside, is such a misleading song to put on as the first track...I know it was to me. I started listening to it and shouted out, mainly to myself, "SLIPKNOT SLIPKNOT SLIPKNOT; YOU JUST REMOVED TWENTY DRUMMERS AND RENAMED YOURSELF!"..but I kept listening...and listening and listening, untill I found myself liking the cd, and Corey taylors 'other' side. This is not pure guttural screaming depressing anti-god anti-everything bullshit. This is singing, mixed with emotion, with some screaming, with some deep lyrics. His true talent comes out in stone sour; not with slipknot. The last track, while chances are alot of people won't find it interesting, I found it highly entertaining. "Do you know what your post entails? do you serve a purpose or purposly serve. The value of a summer spent and a winter earned. for the rest of us there is always sunday, the day of the week that reeks of rest, but all we do is catch our breath so we can wade naked in the bloody pool and place our hand on the big black book, to watch the knife zig-zag between our aching fingers." Omega shows his mastery of words--rhyming--and overall ambience he creates with both his music and his lyrics. I'm not sure how to rate stone sour....I love the feeling...but some songs need work. Definately need to refine themselves and figure out what they want--soft pussy rock--hardcore screaming--or some good fashioned metal--the cd entails all three styles. A few hardcore songs...one or two soft songs, and a handful of fun metal. Judge it for yourself, but I give it ooooh....a 4/5 i'd say. I suggest you download a few songs, or see if a friend has the cd, it might be totally for you, or it might not be your bag, baby. Your choice, as always.
	Mindless Self Indulgence Alienating our audience (Live) released 2002 Quick Rating: 5 outta 5 Reviewer: Lord Rae	This Cd has some great live music, which if you can't make it to one of MSI's concerts is a hard thing to come by. The only bad thing about this cd is that since all of MSI's songs are short, having only 10 tracks on a cd means a very short listening experience. Around 22 minutes to be exact. Still while this cd is on you can't help but be entertained. Jimmy Urines' truly unique audience handling skills alone almost warrant a listen. But the real good thing here is the overall cohesive nature of the cd. It flows really well and keeps the tempo steady throughout. If your new to msi this might not be the vehicle for you. But if you have braved and survived (ie. Haven't sold it back to the store yet) both "Frankenstein Girls will seem strangely sexy" (2001) and the now out of print "Tight" (i've got my copy still) then this is probably just what you've been waiting for. I just wish it weren't so damn short!
	Loudermilk The Red Record Released 2002 Quick Rating 4.5 outta 5 Reviewer: Lord Rae	Loudermilk is an odd band. Just when you think you've pegged them down they squirm away on the next track into a completely new neighborhood. When I first heard one of their songs I nailed them as Smashin Pumpkins cover band at best. Then on the next song they had me almost singing along at the end. After a 3rd and 4th track I was caught. I lost my focus on trying to figure out what they were. Not emo, certainly not nu-metal and not really anything in between its a gem of a cd. A few tracks I have pegged for music videos although whether or not those happen depend on a few factors. Still the fact that I would think about them should give you an idea of what you can expect. They have power and pure raw emotion flowing through on songs I didn't think I'd ever like, despite my first listen. Basically its a cd that grows on you. It keeps growing on you till it takes over despite the fact the lyrics on one of the cds best songs makes absolutely no sense! "She is the famine, I am California He is Dakota, I am California" those two lines had me scratching my head for days.... but I was scratching my head to the beat dammit.